Magical Echo

Echo Branson #5

by Linda Kay Silva

There are a lot of bodies buried in the Las Vegas desert, and Echo has to work doubly hard not to end up one of them. Between murderous antics of supernaturals who are off the grid, and becoming mired in a murder investigation with too many unanswered questions, Echo and company must navigate the treacherous waters of the Vegas strip. As Echo realizes there is an enemy within her ranks, she must call on the one person who wants nothing more to do with her, as well as accept help from some of the most unlikeliest allies. Can Echo solve the murder before becoming the killer's next victim? Does she, at last, have what it takes to lead her people through the darkness of Vegas and back into the light? And, perhaps most importantly, what magical secret lies dormant within Echo waiting patiently to come to life?

Genres: Fantasy, LGBT, Lesbian

326 pages, Paperback

First published April 24, 2013

About the author

Linda Kay Silva, a.k.a. Storm, lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her partner and a menagerie of animals. She wakes up happy, laughs all day long, and lives a life that had included African safaris, Thai temples, riding Harleys, and floating down rivers on bamboo rafts. By day, she is a World, American, British, Asian, and Women’s Literature Professor at a military university. By night, she is a lover of all things zombie-esque and will watch any movie where a zombie eats a human being. She’s has been known to offer parts in her books to her students, who touch her life as much as she hopes she touches theirs. She is proud to be with Sapphire Books and looks forward to a long and satisfying writing career with them. Linda Kay prides herself on responding to everyone who has ever written her, and she encourages you to join her and Sapphire Books on Facebook.

Linda Kay Silva is the recipient of the 2013 Alice B. Medal for her body of work.

aka Alex Westmore

Reviews

[Terry Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Echo Branson is now mentor of the supernaturals. In this latest blockbuster adventure, Echo and her team of both supers and naturals are out investigating a murder in Las Vegas. A rogue gang of independent supers are wreaking havoc. Echo and her team are working flat out to find out who is behind the murder. Will they find out who is in charge? Or will they become statistics of the mindless killing?

Echo soon finds out she has an enemy close to her. Who is betraying her? Will Echo discover the traitor in time to stop bloodshed?

Whilst Echo is desperately trying to find answers and protect herself and her team, she discovers a magical secret, a secret that has remained hidden all her life. What is it? More importantly, will it show itself in time to save them all?

I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed all the Echo series. But I can honestly say, this is the best in the series so far.

The story is a fast paced, exciting, thrilling, edge of the seat page turner from page one. I simply couldn’t put this down. A true rollercoaster ride of ups and downs and twists and turns.

Echo and the rest of the characters are all well formed, multidimensional and a true delight to get to know. For diehard Linda Kay Silva fans, there is an appearance from Delta Stevens, The Storm series. It’s always a pleasure to meet Delta.

You can read this book as a standalone. There is enough background for it. But, I would strongly advise you read the whole series. There is no point in missing out on hours of brilliant reading. The main story did end, but there is a little bit of a cliff-hanger to lead the story on to the next in the series. I’m absolutely champing at the bit now for book six. It can’t be published soon enough.

[Leisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad addition to the series, though it seemed to go in circles at times and suffered from lack of a good editor (on one page, Nick is referred to as "Mrs. Harper" not Mr. Harper, and the background info about the "Compound" etc. is repeated several times in one chapter). The book lacked a sense of urgency - Echo kept trying to convince us, the readers, that she cared at all about what she was doing in Las Vegas, but I never bought it. It could have been a tactic of the author because Echo was never really convinced either, but it read as sloppy. The big reveal was a let down. So, not my favorite in the series, BUT it still has great characters and interesting world-building, so I am still on board with the series as a whole.

[willowdog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Echo, a supernatural empath, and her cohorts, are asked by the High Council of Others to help solve a murder in Las Vegas and reign in some renegade supernaturals. Speculative fiction that does a good job of providing background information in this continuing series featuring these characters so that the work stands on its own.

[Kristin Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book I could not put it down. I love the relationships between the Characters. That is one of the things I love most about reading Linda Kay Silva's books. This was defiantly a page turner.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, LK has kept me wanting more. This is a must read

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

2013 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)