The Memory Hunters is the first book in the science fantasy series The Consecrated, written by Mia Tsai, published by Erewhon Books. A proposal that dives into several subgenres, built around an archaeologist-scholar, that works retrieving memories for a museum (the comparison with Indiana Jones is quite suitable) and her guardian, in a story that touches politics, academic intrigues, status quo and a really imaginative post-apocalyptic world with a dash of sapphic romance.

Key is a memory hunter for the museum, but due to her lineage, she's destined to become a spiritual leader at her family's temple; Vale, her guardian, who comes from a more humble origin, is tasked with protecting her during the fieldwork, making them a great duo. When Key collects a memory that differs from the official storyline, she's quickly dismissed by her mentor; but Key doesn't stop, getting obsessed with it, needing answers about it, being unusually affected by it, losing moments, hours and days.
As Vale is the only one she can trust, they get together entangled in Key's obsessive search for answers, leading to a discovery that threatens to change the status quo; but they will only take it to a good port if they remain to stay together.

Tsai gifts the reader with a powerful main character duo, with an emphasis on the difference of their origins: Key comes from a rich family, allowing her to be more reckless in her decisions, ignoring the consequences; Vale is mostly who suffers the consequences of them, as she needs the pay for her family. Said that, they complement each other pretty well, despite that difference; and the slowburn yearning and tension that grows between them is simply delicious. 
The secondary cast is also well defined, especially making reference to how their role/status in this society defines their actions, trying to protect that even if that means a cost.

The worldbuilding is quite original, starting from the post-apocalyptic situation, to how mushrooms are used as conduits to access memories (only certain people), but also the piece memories have taken in the whole society; the loss of history and how it needs to be rewritten, pointing also at how certain interests can shape it, and even the class difference that is reflected in Key and Vale's backgrounds, how their worlds are different.
The pacing is well balanced, faster at the start, and slowing in the more complex parts; but always emphasizing the danger and the adventure our characters are living, even if sometimes is not as clear.

The Memory Hunters is an excellent science fantasy proposal, a novel that I totally recommend if your jam is intrigue and adventure mixed with a worldbuilding that is the perfect excuse for social commentary. Can't wait to see how Tsai shapes the second book in The Consecrated series.