Review: The Mimameid Solution by Katherine Kempf
Blurb:
Ragnarök was only the beginning.
For fans of the Red Rising series, Snowpiercer and The Arc of a Scythe, The Mimameid Solution is a compelling start to a post-apocalyptic trilogy about survival, resilience and finding your place in the world.
Five years after the world he knew collapsed in ecological disaster, Lysander is back in his homeland of Old Scandinavia with his companions, Magdelena and Linnaea. The atmosphere is full of ash, the days are cold and dark and they are constantly under threat from the Celts, who have invaded and are burning the countryside in their wake. When a rogue group of soldiers led by a fiery Lieutenant named Petra offers them refuge in a place called Mimameid, they are tempted by a chance at safety.
But when Mimameid turns out to be more than he bargained for, Lysander must take control of his own fate and decide whether to stay or to go.
Review:
The Mimameid Solution was a really enjoyable epic I could not put down. I was swept away by the futuristic tech juxtaposed by the frozen wasteland of what the world has become and the old world roots that made their way back to the surface in the wake of devastation. The characters jumped off the page and into your heart, for better or worse, and I couldn’t help but rush through the chapters. Katherine’s writing makes the read so enjoyable and if you're one for details, she's got you covered.
We open in what’s left of an ash ridden, cold, dank Scandinavia, following Lysander, a brilliant engineer, with his friends Magdelena and her daughter Linnaea trying desperately to survive. They are met face to face with Petra and her party, soldiers of sorts offering to bring the group to the safety of Mimameid. As the group makes their way to their destination and beyond, the world and characters start to peel back their layers to reveal this beautiful epic. And though the plot took a bit of a backseat in the first half, I thought that was actually pretty wonderful. The depth we were allowed to venture with this crew was really nice and I think necessary for where the story feels like it wants to take us in future books.
“What she felt was the pull of home. And it felt so raw, like the landscape of the North Country being pulled free from the receding ice. The frozen layers that protected her heart were melting away. The wild North was calling to her.”
And that was because the world building in this book was really amazing. Kempf took the time to let the world develop, and though the pacing was on the slow side the first half of the book, I felt like it was totally worth the build. You really get to experience the atmosphere of their world affected by ecological disaster and the power struggles that were born from it, and the sanctuary of Mimameid that stands in stark contrast to what's above the surface. I was in love with all the Norse and Celtic vibes, and what those identities mean to the different characters. The dynamics of a dystopian Scandinavian world with modern weapons and cool sci-fi tech built within, but lots of primitive social structures in it’s post apocalyptic state were very cool. For a lover of politically heavy worlds, it was really fun to follow this story. Just as you think everything is fairly black and white, Kempf keeps you on your toes, even giving a bit of an Orwellian feel at times.
“The whirring of the parallel ventilation systems made him smile in a way that only a machine he had repaired ever could.”
These characters were wonderful. You had a wide cast to enjoy, with different, and a lot of times conflicting, motivations. Lysander and Petra were great points of view, and Arthur really grew on me. Magdalena and Linnaea’s relationship was a great addition, and I liked how a wide range of ages were represented in the story. There were beautiful found family moments and I was definitely interested in the romance, though I wish there was a little more development and would love to see where it all goes in books to come. The deaf representation was really lovely, and the author’s awareness for it throughout the book was done so well. I loved how it didn’t seem like the author favored or focused on a particular sex with her writing style, all of her characters were so well rounded and believable, and she really took the time to give them identities within and outside themselves. This makes for a story you become really invested in. I didn’t want to see these characters lose each other, and it’s really comforting to have some good left in their hearts amidst this very bleak world.
This slow paced story left so much room for rich description, and I drank in every adjective. The suspense sprang every word to life on the page. I had the extreme privilege of winning an annotated copy from the author and it is a true treasure. She dove into some amazing research behind the scenes to make this book come to life in such a beautiful, meaningful way. I know that this trilogy will become an absolute favorite and I can’t wait to read more!
“She’d seen what Petra hadn’t even known until that moment. That her love was a far more powerful force than her hate. And far more destructive.”
This book is special and one I will likely reread when in a slump to get me back to the core of why I love what I do. It gave me the best cinematic vibes, reminding me of The Hunger Games, The Last Kingdom, The 100 and yes, Snowpiercer.
If you want a small glimpse into this world, you can check out Katherine Kempf’s Cornish Steel, a short story in the world of The Mimameid Solution that is a treat, and give you a look into Arthur’s origins, and free when you sign up for her email list, or you can grab it on Amazon. I loved this story so much and know once you read it you'll want to jump right into The Mimameid Solution.
