The seventh perfection

A woman questions the eclectic citizens of a realm obsessed with power and memory in this innovative and rewarding fantasy from Polansky (The Builders). As servant of the God-King Ba'l Melqart, specially trained Manet is the only Amanuensis, or "slave-recorder," who has mastered the seventh perfection: she's capable of remembering every detail of every minute of her life. When Manet discovers a locket containing the hologram of a unknown woman, she traverses her ancient, unnamed city to find anyone who can identify the subject, interviewing an ex-lover, a cyborg, a warrior priest, and a sentient plant, among others. The story unfolds almost entirely through these conversations, and only the interviewee's responses are recorded, leaving the reader to imagine Manet's questions. This single-sided dialogue reflects a society run on lies, propaganda, and a one-sided knowledge of history. As the eccentric interviewees attempt to identify the woman in the locket and relay what they can remember of the ascent of the God-King, it becomes increasingly clear that in this vast totalitarian city, propaganda has replaced truth and memory can be manipulated. While readers will crave more details about this world, the unique, challenging way the mystery unfolds presents a delightful puzzle. This is sure to impress. Agent: Sam Morgan, the Lotts Agency. (Sept.)

In this stand-alone fantasy, a high-ranking subject of a theocracy built on the embers of a revolution threatens to upend the social order again in her quest for answers. Years ago, the artist Laqip, the student Amata, and the soldier Kiri led a revolution all the way up the Spire, where Kiri toppled the Divine Empress and took her place as the God King Ba'l Melqart; his beloved companions never returned. Today, a young woman named Manet serves the God King as an Amanuensis, having successfully achieved the seven perfections of body and mind. When someone sends her a locket bearing the image of an unknown woman, Manet puts all her considerable skills to bear in pursuit of the woman's identity, aggressively questioning a variety of people at all levels of society, from brothel guard to fortuneteller to religious authority, leaving a trail of blood (her own and others') behind her as she learns new truths about Kiri, Amata, and Laqip…and herself. The use of second person seems to have become a more popular choice for SF/fantasy writers in recent years, and Polansky wields it expertly here, with all the different characters addressing themselves directly to Manet. Since we never hear Manet's thoughts or what she says (except in one section), we are forced to figure out who she is and what her goals are based on what the other characters say and how they respond to her. She is a protagonist-shaped point of focus around which the story forms, an open window through which readers can observe every conversation and monologue, accreting knowledge as they are directed to a seemingly inevitable conclusion. A fascinating concoction of metropolitan fantasy, mystery, puzzle, character study, and oblique fable. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.