Yare’s Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory is an ambitious and immersive novel. I knew I would like it because I thoroughly enjoyed The Tower of Mud and Straw - a novella it’s based on. I wasn’t disappointed - the book combines elements of speculative fiction, political intrigue, and personal conflict and does all of it very well. It also expands and completes the story from The Tower.

There’s a lot to appreciate here. I’ll start with the world-building which is stunning - intricate politics and cultural differences make the story layered and satisfyingly complex. The protagonist, Shea Ashcroft, is a conflicted and morally ambiguous character who struggles to keep his personal integrity throughout the events. Hard stuff. Brielle, who was a secondary character in the Tower of Mud and Straw, now shines with a fully fleshed-out backstory that makes her one of the novel’s most unforgettable characters.

Barsukov’s rich, metaphor-laden prose won’t work for everyone, but I liked an almost poetic touch it adds to the narrative. His attention to detail, coupled with unconventional storytelling, makes Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory a rewarding, if sometimes dense, read.

One of the most exciting aspects of the novel is how it revisits the original story from the Tower of Mud and Straw while delivering answers to the questions fans of the novella had. The “Director’s Cut” approach to the first half of the novel makes things clearer, while the second half pushes the narrative forward with fresh revelations, deeper character development, and new perspectives.

The antagonists, particularly the devious leader inspired by historical figures like Putin and Crown Prince Rudolf, are definitely bad guys, but not simply bad guys - their histories and reasoning are convincing. Their cat-and-mouse games with Shea keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Sleeping Worlds stands out as a daring and original work. Its take on unreliable narration and the relationship between reader and author felt fresh to me. Readers looking for a novel that challenges traditional genre boundaries should absolutely check Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory.