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Shadowsong #1
One Small Echo
Something is wrong inside her.
It’s changing her.
She chased her loved ones into the dark, and they stumbled out with monsters beneath their skin. Now they are less than they were, but destined for so much more.
If they survive training.
And if her new commander doesn’t kill her first.
The boy-prince she saved as a child is now the unforgiving, terrifying man in charge of her future. They are bound in a way neither can escape: two forces as opposite as sunrise and shadow, drawn together as inevitably as the dawn collides with the sky.
But don’t misunderstand.
This is not a love story.
The king has already decided that she will be married to one of his other sons—regardless of her opinion on the matter.
So let this be a story of war instead.
She will wage war on the magic awakening beneath her skin. On the power-ravenous king who would do anything to control her. On the many hands that seek to mould her, shape her, and shackle her.
But most of all … she will wage war on him. Prince Chasin. Her commander. Her tormentor.
Let this story end with a dagger in his treacherous heart.
Let her carve his influence from her soul.
Let her make him suffer as she has suffered.
Let her have this one, small thing.
~~~
One Small Echo is Book 1 of 3 in the Shadowsong series. This lush, dark romantasy will have bonded monsters, forbidden attraction, deadly trials, royal intrigue, and a true, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance, all set in a brutally lavish, high-stakes world where darkness means death. Grab a blanket, turn on your nightlight, and get ready.
For what you fear is already here.
It’s changing her.
She chased her loved ones into the dark, and they stumbled out with monsters beneath their skin. Now they are less than they were, but destined for so much more.
If they survive training.
And if her new commander doesn’t kill her first.
The boy-prince she saved as a child is now the unforgiving, terrifying man in charge of her future. They are bound in a way neither can escape: two forces as opposite as sunrise and shadow, drawn together as inevitably as the dawn collides with the sky.
But don’t misunderstand.
This is not a love story.
The king has already decided that she will be married to one of his other sons—regardless of her opinion on the matter.
So let this be a story of war instead.
She will wage war on the magic awakening beneath her skin. On the power-ravenous king who would do anything to control her. On the many hands that seek to mould her, shape her, and shackle her.
But most of all … she will wage war on him. Prince Chasin. Her commander. Her tormentor.
Let this story end with a dagger in his treacherous heart.
Let her carve his influence from her soul.
Let her make him suffer as she has suffered.
Let her have this one, small thing.
~~~
One Small Echo is Book 1 of 3 in the Shadowsong series. This lush, dark romantasy will have bonded monsters, forbidden attraction, deadly trials, royal intrigue, and a true, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance, all set in a brutally lavish, high-stakes world where darkness means death. Grab a blanket, turn on your nightlight, and get ready.
For what you fear is already here.
468 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 12, 2026
About the author
Jane Washington
32 books4,824 followersJane is a Wall-Street Journal bestselling author who spends all her time writing books and then telling people not to read them.
Find her here: https://linktr.ee/janewashingtonbooks
Find her here: https://linktr.ee/janewashingtonbooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 460 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨✨✨ Happy release day!! ✨✨✨
_______
Have you ever read a book that makes you want to re-read right after you finish it, cause you just can't let it go?
Review step 2:
...Words?
What I've loved
1 Snarky FMC meets potentially Tsundere Dark Prince-Commander while he’s trying to hold in his huge hungry beast. What could go wrong?
2 All the romantasy elements we love, but with a fresh, original perspective that never feels like warmed-up leftovers of other stories.
3 Cute monster on the run, makes a vicious power to be had. Psycho monsters everywhere in the dark. Candle, candle don't go out.
4 It flips the script on every overused trope. The found family? Already found. The perfect girl? A side character. The lead? A certified hot mess. You get an arranged marriage to the wrong guy and bonded monsters who view humans as gullible meat suits rather than friends.
It’s chaotic, and I love it.
Conclusions
You could argue that we’re left in the dark about the lore, the Godsguard, or how the rest of the realm actually functions. But here’s the thing: we’re following characters from a secluded valley with zero outside information. It makes perfect sense that we only know as much as they do.
I don’t see this as a lack of world-building; it’s a reflection of the protagonist’s reality. The "outside world" simply had no impact on her life until now.
This story is told from the inside out. When the book begins, the only world ending is the FMC’s. Her "apocalypse" is the discrimination and abuse her found family faces. These are stakes that feel painfully grounded in our own reality. I’m sure we’ll eventually find out the world is ending in a more "traditional" fantasy way, but for now, the stakes that hit closest to home are the ones that matter most.
Reverse "Bird Box" meets "Fourth Wing" meets "The Folk of the Air"'s Court of Shadows meets "GOT" and Alexis of "Blood of Hercules".
I feel like I want to throw all my other romantasy books in the fire after reading One Small Echo. Only their prettiness is saving them 👀
Warnings
Warning #1: The urge to immediately re-read is a common side effect.
Warning #2: Prepare snacks. Food descriptions are dangerously compelling, even when absurd.
Warning #3: High risk of flower-and-berry-related paranoia. Patients may find themselves obsessively scanning for hidden meanings.
The best thing about being an ARC reader is that you get the book before anyone else.
The worst thing about being an ARC reader is that if the book is like One Small Echo, you start waiting desperately for book 2 before book 1 is even out.
Review step 1:
Reading experience in GIFS
Pre-read
TBR change of plans! This naughty boy was sent to me before I expected! Aren't we all curious about it??
If I ever got another pet, I'd have to ask Jane for names.
After managing to name 11 main characters plus side characters in the Ironside series, she seems to have created a whole new set of pretty names for this series too!
_______
Have you ever read a book that makes you want to re-read right after you finish it, cause you just can't let it go?
Review step 2:
...Words?
What I've loved
1 Snarky FMC meets potentially Tsundere Dark Prince-Commander while he’s trying to hold in his huge hungry beast. What could go wrong?
2 All the romantasy elements we love, but with a fresh, original perspective that never feels like warmed-up leftovers of other stories.
3 Cute monster on the run, makes a vicious power to be had. Psycho monsters everywhere in the dark. Candle, candle don't go out.
4 It flips the script on every overused trope. The found family? Already found. The perfect girl? A side character. The lead? A certified hot mess. You get an arranged marriage to the wrong guy and bonded monsters who view humans as gullible meat suits rather than friends.
It’s chaotic, and I love it.
Conclusions
You could argue that we’re left in the dark about the lore, the Godsguard, or how the rest of the realm actually functions. But here’s the thing: we’re following characters from a secluded valley with zero outside information. It makes perfect sense that we only know as much as they do.
I don’t see this as a lack of world-building; it’s a reflection of the protagonist’s reality. The "outside world" simply had no impact on her life until now.
This story is told from the inside out. When the book begins, the only world ending is the FMC’s. Her "apocalypse" is the discrimination and abuse her found family faces. These are stakes that feel painfully grounded in our own reality. I’m sure we’ll eventually find out the world is ending in a more "traditional" fantasy way, but for now, the stakes that hit closest to home are the ones that matter most.
Reverse "Bird Box" meets "Fourth Wing" meets "The Folk of the Air"'s Court of Shadows meets "GOT" and Alexis of "Blood of Hercules".
I feel like I want to throw all my other romantasy books in the fire after reading One Small Echo. Only their prettiness is saving them 👀
Warnings
Warning #1: The urge to immediately re-read is a common side effect.
Warning #2: Prepare snacks. Food descriptions are dangerously compelling, even when absurd.
Warning #3: High risk of flower-and-berry-related paranoia. Patients may find themselves obsessively scanning for hidden meanings.
The best thing about being an ARC reader is that you get the book before anyone else.
The worst thing about being an ARC reader is that if the book is like One Small Echo, you start waiting desperately for book 2 before book 1 is even out.
Review step 1:
Reading experience in GIFS
Pre-read
TBR change of plans! This naughty boy was sent to me before I expected! Aren't we all curious about it??
If I ever got another pet, I'd have to ask Jane for names.
After managing to name 11 main characters plus side characters in the Ironside series, she seems to have created a whole new set of pretty names for this series too!
April 12, 2026
Maybe my expectations were too high because of my love for Ironside academy, but this was definitely more of a let down.
In regard to the romance, I knew going in that the fmc and mmc were likely going to have very few interactions, and that was definitely the case, and I actually prefer it that way when it comes to the first book in a fantasy romance series. I’ll be honest, I don’t understand the immediate obsession and possessiveness of Chasin. I’m not buying it. It was like zero to a hundred for me. There was no build up or well fleshed out romance arc.
The star of the show for me was Eiko’s bonded monster, Hymndrake. Funny and cute, but simultaneously still shallow? I think because this book is so short and it’s a fantasy romance, so much is missing.
I know this is only the first book in a fantasy series, but I would’ve liked more information on what exactly the Godsguard soldiers do. Trained Assassin’s but why exactly? The king rules all the lands there is, so it’s not like they’re trained to kill overseas enemies. Eiko is training to be a soldier — why? What is she going to do once she’s fully trained? We don’t know because it’s not explained. Why do they bond with these monsters from “The Quiet”, and how was it even discovered that they could? I would’ve liked further elaboration on the actual lore in regard to these monsters. There’s no political explanation or political lore to this world either, and very substantial lack of world building. I understand Eiko is blind, but blind doesn’t mean stupid, so I wouldn’t use her blindness as an explanation as to why this book is so lacking in world building and history. Again, this could’ve been a lot better if it was simply longer.
Another thing, Eiko suddenly started making potions mid way through?? With no teacher either. Just Chasin giving her a book and telling her to learn through trial and error. This could’ve been a way to create forced proximity but alas.
Overall, Eiko’s “training” was not training. She’s becoming an assassin why? Nobody knows. Just trendy tropes being thrown into the book for the sake of trendy tropes.
Something I loved from Jane’s previous books was the palpable tension between the love interests, and here it was severely lacking. I don’t care much for Chasin, atleast yet, so far he’s only obsessed for no fucking reason, and yeah we get his pov in the end. I hoped it would give insight a bit into why he’s supposedly obsessed and possessive over Eiko, but there isn’t one. He literally just is for no reason.
But I will say… there’s one scene in particular, where he talks to her by signing words on her skin, and he did it against her back while standing closely behind her. I liked when he would speak a word or two and sign the rest. And everytime he stuttered?? My heart.
I don’t care for Eiko, the book is marketed as having a blind fmc but she isn’t fully blind, there are times when she can see clearly. It’s just too much of a cost on her health to constantly use her sight. And chasin isn’t actually mute, it just hurts for him to talk, so he’s selective. All that to say, a falsely marketed book.
Didn’t enjoy the humor in this book either (too millennial for me. Like “dont talk to me till I’ve had my coffee” type humor), the apparent found family was barely developed, because again, this book is so short!! This had potential if it was just longer, and worked on longer.
In regard to the romance, I knew going in that the fmc and mmc were likely going to have very few interactions, and that was definitely the case, and I actually prefer it that way when it comes to the first book in a fantasy romance series. I’ll be honest, I don’t understand the immediate obsession and possessiveness of Chasin. I’m not buying it. It was like zero to a hundred for me. There was no build up or well fleshed out romance arc.
The star of the show for me was Eiko’s bonded monster, Hymndrake. Funny and cute, but simultaneously still shallow? I think because this book is so short and it’s a fantasy romance, so much is missing.
I know this is only the first book in a fantasy series, but I would’ve liked more information on what exactly the Godsguard soldiers do. Trained Assassin’s but why exactly? The king rules all the lands there is, so it’s not like they’re trained to kill overseas enemies. Eiko is training to be a soldier — why? What is she going to do once she’s fully trained? We don’t know because it’s not explained. Why do they bond with these monsters from “The Quiet”, and how was it even discovered that they could? I would’ve liked further elaboration on the actual lore in regard to these monsters. There’s no political explanation or political lore to this world either, and very substantial lack of world building. I understand Eiko is blind, but blind doesn’t mean stupid, so I wouldn’t use her blindness as an explanation as to why this book is so lacking in world building and history. Again, this could’ve been a lot better if it was simply longer.
Another thing, Eiko suddenly started making potions mid way through?? With no teacher either. Just Chasin giving her a book and telling her to learn through trial and error. This could’ve been a way to create forced proximity but alas.
Overall, Eiko’s “training” was not training. She’s becoming an assassin why? Nobody knows. Just trendy tropes being thrown into the book for the sake of trendy tropes.
Something I loved from Jane’s previous books was the palpable tension between the love interests, and here it was severely lacking. I don’t care much for Chasin, atleast yet, so far he’s only obsessed for no fucking reason, and yeah we get his pov in the end. I hoped it would give insight a bit into why he’s supposedly obsessed and possessive over Eiko, but there isn’t one. He literally just is for no reason.
But I will say… there’s one scene in particular, where he talks to her by signing words on her skin, and he did it against her back while standing closely behind her. I liked when he would speak a word or two and sign the rest. And everytime he stuttered?? My heart.
I don’t care for Eiko, the book is marketed as having a blind fmc but she isn’t fully blind, there are times when she can see clearly. It’s just too much of a cost on her health to constantly use her sight. And chasin isn’t actually mute, it just hurts for him to talk, so he’s selective. All that to say, a falsely marketed book.
Didn’t enjoy the humor in this book either (too millennial for me. Like “dont talk to me till I’ve had my coffee” type humor), the apparent found family was barely developed, because again, this book is so short!! This had potential if it was just longer, and worked on longer.
Review of advance copy received from Author
For fans of: The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy, Alchemised, Blood of Hercules, The Knight and the Moth, To Bleed a Crystal Bloom, and Dire Bound
Why? One Small Echo has the lyrical prose of Rachel Gillig and Sarah A Parker, dry humor like Bartholomew, Alexis, or Onion Boy, and the violence and oppression and rage of Dire Bound and Alchemised ✨
Tropes:
❃ blind fmc + mute mmc
❃ slow-burn, steamy enemies to lovers
❃ royal court intrigue, arranged marriages, oops married the wrong brother, princess training
❃ bonded monsters, oops bonded with a baby monster, assassin training
❃ commander x recruit, grumpy x chaos/sunshine
❃ lgbtq+ rep, body horror, snark and sass, lovable ensemble cast
5 flippin stars
I think my favorite part about this book is that EIKO ISN'T EVEN MEANT TO BE THE MAIN CHARACTER. Her bestie Rion is. Beautiful, graceful, courageous Rion, who goes through all the major tropes a romantasy fmc would experience. By all means, Eiko should be the side character we see adding tame worldbuilding comments while we follow Rion's journey through the capital as she joins the golden Godsguard and captures the attention of the royal family.
But we don't follow Rion. We follow Eiko, who, despite not possessing main character polish, possesses main character energy. Not because she's particularly extraordinary, unless you count her extraordinary ability to do things "for the plot". She's a hot mess express, and the monster she bonds with only exacerbates this. Everything with Eiko just snowballs, and it's so fun to watch.
But it isn't all laughs and absurdity in Lyra. There are some very dark topics and scenes, and with it, the most comprehensively supportive supporting cast. These characters make the decision to stick with one another at the beginning of this book, and they truly do. You can see their love and acceptance of each other in every scene, and it's the most showing over telling I've seen of platonic relationships in ages. They're going to be so traumatized, and I just want to give them all a big hug.
I think we know who the mmc is going to be, but I'm loving the other two competitors and all the tension between Eiko and Chasin. Kind of obsessed with sign language against skin and with not knowing which traits of him are his own vs his monster's.
Other things I'm loving: wee baby Hymn, food, gems, old men with sticks, poison, and the way Jane made me want to immediately go back and reread the book for clues
Mind your triggers, mind the gap, and hop aboard this journey with me 🚂
I'll probably revise this review upon second read.
Second read update: Nah, this story just continues to make me chuckle while also appreciating how full every character feels, despite their limited screen time. I can't wait to learn more about this world and where this larger plot is going.
Why? One Small Echo has the lyrical prose of Rachel Gillig and Sarah A Parker, dry humor like Bartholomew, Alexis, or Onion Boy, and the violence and oppression and rage of Dire Bound and Alchemised ✨
Tropes:
❃ blind fmc + mute mmc
❃ slow-burn, steamy enemies to lovers
❃ royal court intrigue, arranged marriages, oops married the wrong brother, princess training
❃ bonded monsters, oops bonded with a baby monster, assassin training
❃ commander x recruit, grumpy x chaos/sunshine
❃ lgbtq+ rep, body horror, snark and sass, lovable ensemble cast
5 flippin stars
I think my favorite part about this book is that EIKO ISN'T EVEN MEANT TO BE THE MAIN CHARACTER. Her bestie Rion is. Beautiful, graceful, courageous Rion, who goes through all the major tropes a romantasy fmc would experience. By all means, Eiko should be the side character we see adding tame worldbuilding comments while we follow Rion's journey through the capital as she joins the golden Godsguard and captures the attention of the royal family.
But we don't follow Rion. We follow Eiko, who, despite not possessing main character polish, possesses main character energy. Not because she's particularly extraordinary, unless you count her extraordinary ability to do things "for the plot". She's a hot mess express, and the monster she bonds with only exacerbates this. Everything with Eiko just snowballs, and it's so fun to watch.
But it isn't all laughs and absurdity in Lyra. There are some very dark topics and scenes, and with it, the most comprehensively supportive supporting cast. These characters make the decision to stick with one another at the beginning of this book, and they truly do. You can see their love and acceptance of each other in every scene, and it's the most showing over telling I've seen of platonic relationships in ages. They're going to be so traumatized, and I just want to give them all a big hug.
I think we know who the mmc is going to be, but I'm loving the other two competitors and all the tension between Eiko and Chasin. Kind of obsessed with sign language against skin and with not knowing which traits of him are his own vs his monster's.
Other things I'm loving: wee baby Hymn, food, gems, old men with sticks, poison, and the way Jane made me want to immediately go back and reread the book for clues
Mind your triggers, mind the gap, and hop aboard this journey with me 🚂
I'll probably revise this review upon second read.
Second read update: Nah, this story just continues to make me chuckle while also appreciating how full every character feels, despite their limited screen time. I can't wait to learn more about this world and where this larger plot is going.
Want to Read
June 27, 2025OMG YES WE WILL BE FED AFTER IRONSIDE😭😭 THANK YOU QUEEN
March 18, 2026
I was not prepared for how much I was going to like this book but I’m officially obsessed!
The book follows Eiko, our badsss FMC who is blind as a result of a childhood incident involving one of the King’s sons.
A decade later, Eiko and her friends jump on a train to escape the city and Eiko accidentally becomes bonded to a monster that lives inside her body. The group are forced to undergo military training with their monsters for the King’s army.
Eiko ends up training under Prince Chasin, the same prince she once saved as a child. Eiko struggles to control the monster living inside her, has to learn to adapt with her new powers and survive the dangerous training, whilst also fighting for her independence.
I feel like my shoddy little summary does not do this book justice. I flew through this book in half-a-day and was cackling the entire time. Eiko and her monster (Hymm) were so adorable and hilarious together. Hymm was a childish, adorable little shit stirrer and I hope we get more of his sass as the series progresses.
“They’re waiting,” Hymn whispered.
“Manifest,” she thought right back at him.
“Yes, that’s what they’re waiting for.”
She groaned internally. “That was supposed to be an order.”
“Oh, sorry. Try again?”
She mostly wasn’t jealous.
“I can feel how jealous you are,” Hymn pointed out. “It’s honestly shocking how jealous you are. I wasn’t expecting it to burn so badly. Are you okay?”
“What in the dark is this?”
“An arousal response,” Hymn responded helpfully.
“That’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking.”
The romance is a slow burn which is my faaaaaave trope and I can’t wait for book 2 to see how this progresses. I won’t say too much as I don’t want to spoil anything but hot damn…
I loved how Eiko’s friends and family supported her without taking her independence away. I was worried how it would be managed but the author nailed it for me and even the other trainees/ warriors made small adaptions to support her.
If you’re looking for something unique, fun and easy to read I could not recommend this series more.
This book features:
- A strong FMC who is blind
- A grumpy commander MMC who is mute.
- Found family
- Enemies to lovers
- Commander x recruit
- Forbidden love
- Monsters
- An arranged marriage
I received an advanced copy for free through the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book follows Eiko, our badsss FMC who is blind as a result of a childhood incident involving one of the King’s sons.
A decade later, Eiko and her friends jump on a train to escape the city and Eiko accidentally becomes bonded to a monster that lives inside her body. The group are forced to undergo military training with their monsters for the King’s army.
Eiko ends up training under Prince Chasin, the same prince she once saved as a child. Eiko struggles to control the monster living inside her, has to learn to adapt with her new powers and survive the dangerous training, whilst also fighting for her independence.
I feel like my shoddy little summary does not do this book justice. I flew through this book in half-a-day and was cackling the entire time. Eiko and her monster (Hymm) were so adorable and hilarious together. Hymm was a childish, adorable little shit stirrer and I hope we get more of his sass as the series progresses.
“They’re waiting,” Hymn whispered.
“Manifest,” she thought right back at him.
“Yes, that’s what they’re waiting for.”
She groaned internally. “That was supposed to be an order.”
“Oh, sorry. Try again?”
She mostly wasn’t jealous.
“I can feel how jealous you are,” Hymn pointed out. “It’s honestly shocking how jealous you are. I wasn’t expecting it to burn so badly. Are you okay?”
“What in the dark is this?”
“An arousal response,” Hymn responded helpfully.
“That’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking.”
The romance is a slow burn which is my faaaaaave trope and I can’t wait for book 2 to see how this progresses. I won’t say too much as I don’t want to spoil anything but hot damn…
I loved how Eiko’s friends and family supported her without taking her independence away. I was worried how it would be managed but the author nailed it for me and even the other trainees/ warriors made small adaptions to support her.
If you’re looking for something unique, fun and easy to read I could not recommend this series more.
This book features:
- A strong FMC who is blind
- A grumpy commander MMC who is mute.
- Found family
- Enemies to lovers
- Commander x recruit
- Forbidden love
- Monsters
- An arranged marriage
I received an advanced copy for free through the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 9, 2026
The way this book has absolutely no plot to speak of 😩 usually when characters are forced to enrol in a military-style academy where you bond to a magical creature, there’s at least a tenuous reason. Like, they’re learning to fight so they can win the war against the corrupt government, or maybe another kingdom won’t leave them alone so they’ve gotta pull out all the stops. This book though?? Literally what is the point in all of it? Is there a rebellion? Are we gearing up to fight another evil king of all from the neighbouring islands? I’m asking because there is absolutely no reason for any of what’s happening to even be happening. There’s just nothing??
The fmc? Don’t even get me started. Classic insufferable NLOG, stubborn and snarky, all the boys are fawning over her, eats constantly but still so ✨skinny✨ that she’s actually dying from starvation, despite eating for 5. Ozempic culture has infected our fantasy realms now. She eats SO MUCH that the other characters are looking on in horror while she crams mountains of food into her mouth (this happens multiple times), and the next day her friends are staging an intervention because she’s just skin and bone and they think she’s hours from death because of it. The reason for all of this is even stupider btw.
One of the selling points for this book is the inclusivity of the fact that the fmc is blind. Disability representation! Except she can toggle her blindness at will. Using her powers to make her able to see again burns thousands of calories every time, so even though she’s eating us out of house and home, she’s still skinny and tiny and frail, yet somehow she was accepted into the assassin branch of the military academy. Who her future targets are is never explained.
The mmc might as well not exist. He’s such a nothing character because the few scenes he actually appears and does something memorable, the fmc is ignoring everything and talking to her pet creature in her head. Said pet creature is also irritating as fuck btw, he’s wimpy and pathetic and adds nothing of value. Sometimes pathetic can even be good, but not this time. It’s just a neverending stream of ‘please don’t let them find me!! Don’t let them eat me!! Eiko!!’ Whine whine whine whine whine shut UP!!!!
So we’ve established that the plot is not there and the characters are awful, but what about the romance? Reader, there is no romance. There’s not even a hint of romance. There’s no slow burn, no build, no tension, no interest. There are two characters who dislike each other, and then suddenly one of them kisses the other. Immediately what follows is the ending’s ✨big reveal✨, but it fell completely flat because the world has no lore whatsoever and the characters are dull at best so I just don’t care about them at all. So the only scene in this book that could be considered romantic is actually not romantic at all because it’s shoved aside to make way for the plot. The plot that hasn’t existed for the entire book and is now being forcibly dragged in even though the structure is just not there.
This last one is a minor gripe, but too many of the character names are too similar. I was listening to the audiobook and I couldn’t remember who was who because so many of the names start with the same letter and have similar sounds. Also the fmc’s ‘don’t talk to me unless I’ve had my coffee… merp’ vibes were incredibly, unbearably cringe. Adding that in was absolutely egregious.
It seems kind of obvious to say now, but I did not like this book. It’s worse because it started out good, I was into it, it seemed like it was going in a great direction and with some world building it could have been a decent story. It unfortunately veered off into uncharted territory along the way and now I’m just upset that I didn’t DNF. I wasted 6 hours and an audible credit on this. Only one of those things I can get back. This is the first and last time I take recs from that particular bookstagram influencer. I was sold a character-driven fantasy romance palette cleanser of a story with sizzling tension and vibes that were gonna be make giggle and kick my feet. I did not get that. I am baffled at the fact that the reception this book has received is so overwhelmingly positive. Taste is obviously entirely subjective, but what are we actually grading here?? There’s genuinely nothing to rate because nothing fucking happened!! I initially gave this book 2 stars because I was at the very least able to finish it. But it’s been about 18 hours since then and I no longer believe that it deserves that additional star from me, so I’ve revoked it. 1 star for you. I will not be continuing this series.
So in conclusion, if you want a book with a likeable fmc, a found family vibe with interesting side characters, a strong bonded creature that fills gaps in the fmc’s character, romance that makes you feel anything, or literally any kind of overarching plot… you need to go somewhere else because you will not find it here 😬
The fmc? Don’t even get me started. Classic insufferable NLOG, stubborn and snarky, all the boys are fawning over her, eats constantly but still so ✨skinny✨ that she’s actually dying from starvation, despite eating for 5. Ozempic culture has infected our fantasy realms now. She eats SO MUCH that the other characters are looking on in horror while she crams mountains of food into her mouth (this happens multiple times), and the next day her friends are staging an intervention because she’s just skin and bone and they think she’s hours from death because of it. The reason for all of this is even stupider btw.
One of the selling points for this book is the inclusivity of the fact that the fmc is blind. Disability representation! Except she can toggle her blindness at will. Using her powers to make her able to see again burns thousands of calories every time, so even though she’s eating us out of house and home, she’s still skinny and tiny and frail, yet somehow she was accepted into the assassin branch of the military academy. Who her future targets are is never explained.
The mmc might as well not exist. He’s such a nothing character because the few scenes he actually appears and does something memorable, the fmc is ignoring everything and talking to her pet creature in her head. Said pet creature is also irritating as fuck btw, he’s wimpy and pathetic and adds nothing of value. Sometimes pathetic can even be good, but not this time. It’s just a neverending stream of ‘please don’t let them find me!! Don’t let them eat me!! Eiko!!’ Whine whine whine whine whine shut UP!!!!
So we’ve established that the plot is not there and the characters are awful, but what about the romance? Reader, there is no romance. There’s not even a hint of romance. There’s no slow burn, no build, no tension, no interest. There are two characters who dislike each other, and then suddenly one of them kisses the other. Immediately what follows is the ending’s ✨big reveal✨, but it fell completely flat because the world has no lore whatsoever and the characters are dull at best so I just don’t care about them at all. So the only scene in this book that could be considered romantic is actually not romantic at all because it’s shoved aside to make way for the plot. The plot that hasn’t existed for the entire book and is now being forcibly dragged in even though the structure is just not there.
This last one is a minor gripe, but too many of the character names are too similar. I was listening to the audiobook and I couldn’t remember who was who because so many of the names start with the same letter and have similar sounds. Also the fmc’s ‘don’t talk to me unless I’ve had my coffee… merp’ vibes were incredibly, unbearably cringe. Adding that in was absolutely egregious.
It seems kind of obvious to say now, but I did not like this book. It’s worse because it started out good, I was into it, it seemed like it was going in a great direction and with some world building it could have been a decent story. It unfortunately veered off into uncharted territory along the way and now I’m just upset that I didn’t DNF. I wasted 6 hours and an audible credit on this. Only one of those things I can get back. This is the first and last time I take recs from that particular bookstagram influencer. I was sold a character-driven fantasy romance palette cleanser of a story with sizzling tension and vibes that were gonna be make giggle and kick my feet. I did not get that. I am baffled at the fact that the reception this book has received is so overwhelmingly positive. Taste is obviously entirely subjective, but what are we actually grading here?? There’s genuinely nothing to rate because nothing fucking happened!! I initially gave this book 2 stars because I was at the very least able to finish it. But it’s been about 18 hours since then and I no longer believe that it deserves that additional star from me, so I’ve revoked it. 1 star for you. I will not be continuing this series.
So in conclusion, if you want a book with a likeable fmc, a found family vibe with interesting side characters, a strong bonded creature that fills gaps in the fmc’s character, romance that makes you feel anything, or literally any kind of overarching plot… you need to go somewhere else because you will not find it here 😬
wishlist
March 9, 2026more jane washington? hell yeah. sad it’s not an rh but blind fmc x mute mmc? i’m sat.
IM COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL THIS IS IN MY HANDS
IM COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL THIS IS IN MY HANDS
June 6, 2026
When Eiko was ten years old, she went to catch a glimpse of the royal family and instead witnessed the king’s youngest son undergoing the Silencing.
In this world, there are monsters that can share a human body in exchange for granting abilities. That process is called the Silencing. Usually, it’s something adults choose for themselves, but not in the case of a power-hungry king willing to sacrifice his own son. Eiko saves the prince but refuses to bond with a monster herself and loses her eyesight as a result.
Ten years later, Eiko, her brother, and several of their friends find themselves on the path to joining the Godsguard, the kingdom’s elite royal guard. During their own Silencing, Eiko ends up bonded to a baby demon who seems completely useless but begs her to save him. When they arrive in the capital, they are greeted by none other than Prince Chasin, the youngest of the three royal brothers. He is now the commander of the Godsguard, bears horrific scars across his neck, hosts the most powerful and terrifying demon in the kingdom, and barely speaks. Well, technically he does speak, just not very much.
Thanks to her demon, Eiko regains a form of sight, and her training begins. Chasin keeps throwing dark looks her way and playing mind games, the king decides to marry Eiko and her friend off to his older sons, and Eiko’s supposedly useless demon turns out to be incredibly rare and incredibly powerful. To make matters worse, this society is deeply hostile toward women who choose not to marry and toward queer people in general.
If this sounds full of fantasy romance clichés, that’s because it absolutely is. But for me, this is one of those books that takes familiar tropes and makes them feel fresh. Yes, there’s military training, but the prince doesn’t spend his time humiliating the heroine in combat. Instead, he may or may not poison her coffee. Yes, the seemingly weak heroine is secretly bonded to a powerful creature, but we still haven’t seen the full extent of that power. Yes, she’s forced into a royal engagement, but not to the prince she’s supposed to end up with. I genuinely have no idea how any of this is going to be resolved, and I’m excited to find out.
Eiko was probably my favorite part of the book. Her impulsiveness is exactly what led to her blindness in the first place, yet she remains every bit as reckless and adventurous as she was before. And the slow burn? Absolutely brutal. At one point I was convinced it was moving too slowly, and then we got the collar scene. Suddenly I understood the vision.
I also appreciated that Eiko’s romantic life isn’t completely straightforward. She has a complicated history with her brother’s friend, some confusing feelings about her fiancé, and a healthy amount of hatred directed at Chasin. I looked up Jane Washington’s previous books and discovered that she mostly wrote reverse harem romances, which briefly made me nervous. So far, though, this doesn’t seem to be heading in that direction, and I sincerely hope it stays that way.
Washington’s writing style deserves special mention. Her prose is vivid and engaging, and it did a lot to smooth over some of the book’s weaker aspects. I especially loved Eiko’s conversations with her baby demon and her sarcastic internal monologue. That said, there were moments when some of the dialogue and expressions felt a little too modern for the setting.
Overall, I had a great time with this one. I even spent the last 20% reading on public transport, something I almost never do because it’s terrible for my eyes. But I was too invested to wait until I got home. I needed to know what happened next.
In this world, there are monsters that can share a human body in exchange for granting abilities. That process is called the Silencing. Usually, it’s something adults choose for themselves, but not in the case of a power-hungry king willing to sacrifice his own son. Eiko saves the prince but refuses to bond with a monster herself and loses her eyesight as a result.
Ten years later, Eiko, her brother, and several of their friends find themselves on the path to joining the Godsguard, the kingdom’s elite royal guard. During their own Silencing, Eiko ends up bonded to a baby demon who seems completely useless but begs her to save him. When they arrive in the capital, they are greeted by none other than Prince Chasin, the youngest of the three royal brothers. He is now the commander of the Godsguard, bears horrific scars across his neck, hosts the most powerful and terrifying demon in the kingdom, and barely speaks. Well, technically he does speak, just not very much.
Thanks to her demon, Eiko regains a form of sight, and her training begins. Chasin keeps throwing dark looks her way and playing mind games, the king decides to marry Eiko and her friend off to his older sons, and Eiko’s supposedly useless demon turns out to be incredibly rare and incredibly powerful. To make matters worse, this society is deeply hostile toward women who choose not to marry and toward queer people in general.
If this sounds full of fantasy romance clichés, that’s because it absolutely is. But for me, this is one of those books that takes familiar tropes and makes them feel fresh. Yes, there’s military training, but the prince doesn’t spend his time humiliating the heroine in combat. Instead, he may or may not poison her coffee. Yes, the seemingly weak heroine is secretly bonded to a powerful creature, but we still haven’t seen the full extent of that power. Yes, she’s forced into a royal engagement, but not to the prince she’s supposed to end up with. I genuinely have no idea how any of this is going to be resolved, and I’m excited to find out.
Eiko was probably my favorite part of the book. Her impulsiveness is exactly what led to her blindness in the first place, yet she remains every bit as reckless and adventurous as she was before. And the slow burn? Absolutely brutal. At one point I was convinced it was moving too slowly, and then we got the collar scene. Suddenly I understood the vision.
I also appreciated that Eiko’s romantic life isn’t completely straightforward. She has a complicated history with her brother’s friend, some confusing feelings about her fiancé, and a healthy amount of hatred directed at Chasin. I looked up Jane Washington’s previous books and discovered that she mostly wrote reverse harem romances, which briefly made me nervous. So far, though, this doesn’t seem to be heading in that direction, and I sincerely hope it stays that way.
Washington’s writing style deserves special mention. Her prose is vivid and engaging, and it did a lot to smooth over some of the book’s weaker aspects. I especially loved Eiko’s conversations with her baby demon and her sarcastic internal monologue. That said, there were moments when some of the dialogue and expressions felt a little too modern for the setting.
Overall, I had a great time with this one. I even spent the last 20% reading on public transport, something I almost never do because it’s terrible for my eyes. But I was too invested to wait until I got home. I needed to know what happened next.
June 5, 2026
Wow... I am severely flabbergasted! Amazing plot, REAL slow burn romance, unique magic system and what an ending, I am in complete utter shock while horrorized at the same time...
Added bonus: blind FMC with a really strong personality and sarcasm, loved this fact and how the disability was developed throughout the story.
Added bonus: blind FMC with a really strong personality and sarcasm, loved this fact and how the disability was developed throughout the story.
March 24, 2026
I went into this book with full intentions of being a responsible adult.
I was supposed to work and study.
Instead, this turned into toilet breaks at work where I was very obviously reading on my Kindle app. Then it escalated into me reading during meetings I should have been paying attention to. Probably. Most likely. We will not delve into it.
After work, I was again supposed to study. Cause you know. My job depends on passing this exam.
That also did not happen.
Somewhere between I’ll just read a bit and what do you mean it’s 1am, I was emotionally wrecked, internally screaming, and genuinely offended that the book ended when it did because I needed more immediately.
The start is phenomenal. No slow build, no patience required. It grabs you straight away and quietly ruins your day by making you think about it constantly instead of doing literally anything you’re meant to be doing.
Now. Eiko.
Eiko is blind, sarcastic, chaotic, and absolutely does not operate based on logic. She misses things she shouldn’t, ignores things she absolutely should not ignore, and makes decisions that had me staring at the page like: girl… be serious — while fully knowing I would do the exact same thing. She is messy, funny, and unintentionally unhinged. I felt seen. I felt represented. She is my spirit animal.
And then there’s Chasin.
Mute. Mostly.
One big ars***.
There is no banter — and that’s what makes it even better. He doesn’t push her buttons with words. He does it with presence, silence, timing, and very deliberate choices. Every interaction feels loaded. Every moment is intentional. He is infuriating in a quiet, calculated way that makes you want to scream and keep reading at the same time.
And listen — Hymn.
I love Hymn.
I want my own little monster. Immediately. No notes. No questions. Just yes.
The dynamic in this book is tense in a way that creeps up on you. It’s not loud. It’s not dramatic. It’s constant. And it works dangerously well.
This is an incredible start to a highly addictive series. The kind of book that sneaks into your workday, sabotages your study plans, emotionally compromises you at 1am, and leaves you staring at the ceiling thinking how am I supposed to function now.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely.
Did it ruin my productivity and study time?
Yes.
Do I regret it?
Not even slightly.
I need the next book.
And my own little monster.
I was supposed to work and study.
Instead, this turned into toilet breaks at work where I was very obviously reading on my Kindle app. Then it escalated into me reading during meetings I should have been paying attention to. Probably. Most likely. We will not delve into it.
After work, I was again supposed to study. Cause you know. My job depends on passing this exam.
That also did not happen.
Somewhere between I’ll just read a bit and what do you mean it’s 1am, I was emotionally wrecked, internally screaming, and genuinely offended that the book ended when it did because I needed more immediately.
The start is phenomenal. No slow build, no patience required. It grabs you straight away and quietly ruins your day by making you think about it constantly instead of doing literally anything you’re meant to be doing.
Now. Eiko.
Eiko is blind, sarcastic, chaotic, and absolutely does not operate based on logic. She misses things she shouldn’t, ignores things she absolutely should not ignore, and makes decisions that had me staring at the page like: girl… be serious — while fully knowing I would do the exact same thing. She is messy, funny, and unintentionally unhinged. I felt seen. I felt represented. She is my spirit animal.
And then there’s Chasin.
Mute. Mostly.
One big ars***.
There is no banter — and that’s what makes it even better. He doesn’t push her buttons with words. He does it with presence, silence, timing, and very deliberate choices. Every interaction feels loaded. Every moment is intentional. He is infuriating in a quiet, calculated way that makes you want to scream and keep reading at the same time.
And listen — Hymn.
I love Hymn.
I want my own little monster. Immediately. No notes. No questions. Just yes.
The dynamic in this book is tense in a way that creeps up on you. It’s not loud. It’s not dramatic. It’s constant. And it works dangerously well.
This is an incredible start to a highly addictive series. The kind of book that sneaks into your workday, sabotages your study plans, emotionally compromises you at 1am, and leaves you staring at the ceiling thinking how am I supposed to function now.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely.
Did it ruin my productivity and study time?
Yes.
Do I regret it?
Not even slightly.
I need the next book.
And my own little monster.
March 9, 2026
One Small Echo by indie author Jane Washington is the first book in the Shadowsong series and I AM LOSING MY MIND! I stayed up until 3:30 in the morning binge reading because I quite literally couldn’t put it down. I only had a physical copy of the arc so I pilfered a flashlight from my daughter’s fort building kit and used my phone for annotations/notes. I completely reverted to my base form — a feral gremlin reader — and it was invigorating.
Jane’s new fantasy romance series breathed life back into reading for me. The humor felt tailor-made for my brand of quirk and unlocked all of my laughs: I giggled, guffawed, belly laughed, cackled. Our FMC’s devotion to emotional avoidance & laughing through the pain will resonate with anyone whose default coping mechanism is humor.
Jane has crafted such an original story in a world where monsters wait in the darkness threatening to break your mind and bind you to them. A bond is the only way for a monster to obtain its corporeal form, which wants to wear you like a meat suit and break you. Those crazy or desperate enough to attempt & survive a bonding become recruits for the Godsguard — elite, revered and magically inclined soldiers in service to the king.
Our FMC is blind. Our MMC is mute. Their chemistry is palpable and often reminiscent of a predator hunting prey. Our rag tag found family is a wildly endearing beautiful cast of misfits that have looked out for each other since childhood.
One Small Echo is perfect for fantasy romance fans of banter, sarcastic & sassy FMC, intimidating & possessive MMC, arranged marriage, deadly bonding & elite training, royal court intrigue, bonded monsters, commander x recruit and an intense slow burn romance.
I am FERAL for this series! One Small Echo releases March 12th with book two slated to be released later this year. A big thank you to Jane for gifting me this e-arc. I am officially on my knees begging for more!
Jane’s new fantasy romance series breathed life back into reading for me. The humor felt tailor-made for my brand of quirk and unlocked all of my laughs: I giggled, guffawed, belly laughed, cackled. Our FMC’s devotion to emotional avoidance & laughing through the pain will resonate with anyone whose default coping mechanism is humor.
Jane has crafted such an original story in a world where monsters wait in the darkness threatening to break your mind and bind you to them. A bond is the only way for a monster to obtain its corporeal form, which wants to wear you like a meat suit and break you. Those crazy or desperate enough to attempt & survive a bonding become recruits for the Godsguard — elite, revered and magically inclined soldiers in service to the king.
Our FMC is blind. Our MMC is mute. Their chemistry is palpable and often reminiscent of a predator hunting prey. Our rag tag found family is a wildly endearing beautiful cast of misfits that have looked out for each other since childhood.
One Small Echo is perfect for fantasy romance fans of banter, sarcastic & sassy FMC, intimidating & possessive MMC, arranged marriage, deadly bonding & elite training, royal court intrigue, bonded monsters, commander x recruit and an intense slow burn romance.
I am FERAL for this series! One Small Echo releases March 12th with book two slated to be released later this year. A big thank you to Jane for gifting me this e-arc. I am officially on my knees begging for more!
March 13, 2026
5 stars!!! (spoiler free)
Another amazing book by Jane Washington!! As usual her writing was beautiful. This was dark, mysterious, romantic and sometimes funny!! I really enjoyed the world and unique magic system of bonded monsters and the court intrigue. The disability rep was also fantastic!! (blind fmc and mute mmc) I loved our FMC Eiko, she is so strong! The side characters were also fantastic, I loved all of her friends. There's also a fantastic slow-burn romance. I just purchased a physical copy to support an indie author and I need book 2 immediately!
Thank you to the author Jane Washington and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Another amazing book by Jane Washington!! As usual her writing was beautiful. This was dark, mysterious, romantic and sometimes funny!! I really enjoyed the world and unique magic system of bonded monsters and the court intrigue. The disability rep was also fantastic!! (blind fmc and mute mmc) I loved our FMC Eiko, she is so strong! The side characters were also fantastic, I loved all of her friends. There's also a fantastic slow-burn romance. I just purchased a physical copy to support an indie author and I need book 2 immediately!
Thank you to the author Jane Washington and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 26, 2026
Jane Washington always builds really immersive worlds. She thinks of every little detail. Honestly, she even knows how absolutely devastated readers are after reading her books because we have to wait for the next one. It's torture, and I think she revels in it. My tears will happily fuel her though because I think this is her best work yet.
One Small Echo follows Eiko, a resilient FMC, who lost her vision at 10 years old. She didn't lose her sass though. When she unexpectedly finds herself sharing her body with a demon, things really get wild. Eiko's commander - the boy she sacrificed her eyesight for - is mute, so difficulty in communication is even more of a challenge.
The language is so descriptive. You will feel everything from happiness and excitement to fear and despair. You'll also feel hunger because I think somewhere along the line Jane missed her calling to be a food critic.
I loved all the banter, sarcasm, and denial. I loved the characters and the plot. I do not have adequate words to describe how much I loved this whole dang book.
There's quite a bit of found family: between her two best friends (Rion and Ky) and her brother's best friend (Ren), Eiko has surrounded herself with loved ones.
Thank you Jane Washington for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
One Small Echo follows Eiko, a resilient FMC, who lost her vision at 10 years old. She didn't lose her sass though. When she unexpectedly finds herself sharing her body with a demon, things really get wild. Eiko's commander - the boy she sacrificed her eyesight for - is mute, so difficulty in communication is even more of a challenge.
The language is so descriptive. You will feel everything from happiness and excitement to fear and despair. You'll also feel hunger because I think somewhere along the line Jane missed her calling to be a food critic.
I loved all the banter, sarcasm, and denial. I loved the characters and the plot. I do not have adequate words to describe how much I loved this whole dang book.
There's quite a bit of found family: between her two best friends (Rion and Ky) and her brother's best friend (Ren), Eiko has surrounded herself with loved ones.
Thank you Jane Washington for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
March 17, 2026
Jane Washington I owe you my LIFE after Ironside!!
Want to Read
November 14, 2025I will read anything Jane writes
Review of advance copy received from Autorin bzw. Autor
My god, I really liked this book! I've read it in less than a day, because I couldn't put it down. The only thing I don't like is that I have to wait for the next books in the series. I can't wait to read them.
I like how disability and LGBTQ get a platform here, but unlike many other books and films it doesn't feel forced. It flows just naturally into the storyline.
I can't begin to guess where Jane is going with this series and I LOVE that. I've read so many books that the storylines often kinda merge and usually I can foresee what's happening from miles away. But never with Jane's books. I can't foresee that!
I will not write down anything regarding the storyline or the characters here, as I don't want to spoiler you. You will just have to see (read) for yourselves!
Just so much: we are in January and I know this series is going to be one of my highlights of the year.
I like how disability and LGBTQ get a platform here, but unlike many other books and films it doesn't feel forced. It flows just naturally into the storyline.
I can't begin to guess where Jane is going with this series and I LOVE that. I've read so many books that the storylines often kinda merge and usually I can foresee what's happening from miles away. But never with Jane's books. I can't foresee that!
I will not write down anything regarding the storyline or the characters here, as I don't want to spoiler you. You will just have to see (read) for yourselves!
Just so much: we are in January and I know this series is going to be one of my highlights of the year.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Brutal, dark, and unbelievably addictive. This new series from Jane Washington will take you hostage as it overpowers your imagination and rips your heart to shreds.
Waiting for the next bad thing to happen I found that I was equal parts horrified and mesmerized by the dangerous setting. We need things... desperately to happen in the future books. Stabby, poisonous things, because a revenge arc is the sweetest of all.
With a heroine who's so very unheroine like, she's clumsy, uses humor as a defense, makes the worst of decisions. Eiko's so very human like, she's brilliantly relatable, and that draws you in. Of course, she's the best heroine even if this tale would've been unputdownable from any of the friend group's points of view. While Eiko isn't the most beautiful one, the wittiest, the strongest, I think she's the bravest and most resilient one of the bunch. What's not to love? JW excells at taking damaged heroines and making them weave their way into your heart, making their pain your own, and leaving a lasting impression that won't leave your memory.
If the idea of bonded monsters, enemies to lovers romance, a world bleeding with peril, and ride or die friends piques your interest, this is for you!
Waiting for the next bad thing to happen I found that I was equal parts horrified and mesmerized by the dangerous setting. We need things... desperately to happen in the future books. Stabby, poisonous things, because a revenge arc is the sweetest of all.
With a heroine who's so very unheroine like, she's clumsy, uses humor as a defense, makes the worst of decisions. Eiko's so very human like, she's brilliantly relatable, and that draws you in. Of course, she's the best heroine even if this tale would've been unputdownable from any of the friend group's points of view. While Eiko isn't the most beautiful one, the wittiest, the strongest, I think she's the bravest and most resilient one of the bunch. What's not to love? JW excells at taking damaged heroines and making them weave their way into your heart, making their pain your own, and leaving a lasting impression that won't leave your memory.
If the idea of bonded monsters, enemies to lovers romance, a world bleeding with peril, and ride or die friends piques your interest, this is for you!
April 20, 2026
W Plot and side cast / L romance
Pre-review:
I love a slutty heroine who has sex and loves sex and has all those fuckbois around her. I don't want or need a virginal little nun. But if the endgame is monogamy, can we please leave out the feelings?? I want my main characters to be SINGLE and AVAILABLE and ready for a relationship, not in the middle of their high school romance thank you
Death to the love triangles!!!
It took me until halfway through to figure out that the heroine is not in fact bringing her boyfriend into the harem, since this is MF. I dread and dislike love triangles. I hate being baited into caring for someone and then having them rejected, them turning out to be giant assholes after all, or better yet, dead so the happy couple can move on. Other people are not the stepping stone to your happiness.
Anyway I am still reading and enjoying this immensely, but I wish Ren was part of the endgame because as of right now, he has so much more depth than the MMC, who we know nothing about except he's huge & hot.
Pre-review:
I love a slutty heroine who has sex and loves sex and has all those fuckbois around her. I don't want or need a virginal little nun. But if the endgame is monogamy, can we please leave out the feelings?? I want my main characters to be SINGLE and AVAILABLE and ready for a relationship, not in the middle of their high school romance thank you
Death to the love triangles!!!
It took me until halfway through to figure out that the heroine is not in fact bringing her boyfriend into the harem, since this is MF. I dread and dislike love triangles. I hate being baited into caring for someone and then having them rejected, them turning out to be giant assholes after all, or better yet, dead so the happy couple can move on. Other people are not the stepping stone to your happiness.
Anyway I am still reading and enjoying this immensely, but I wish Ren was part of the endgame because as of right now, he has so much more depth than the MMC, who we know nothing about except he's huge & hot.
Review of advance copy received from Author
if you loved Jane's Tempest series, this one is for you!!!
Eiko is stubborn, feisty and caring. she stumbles... literally stumbles into the deep end of danger with all her friends. The slow burn between the multitude of suitors gives readers anticipation on who she chooses. Hymn is honestly the cutest sidekick Jane could have written.
This is going to be the next romantasy favorite from Jane!!
Eiko is stubborn, feisty and caring. she stumbles... literally stumbles into the deep end of danger with all her friends. The slow burn between the multitude of suitors gives readers anticipation on who she chooses. Hymn is honestly the cutest sidekick Jane could have written.
This is going to be the next romantasy favorite from Jane!!
March 18, 2026
One Small Echo
Shadowsong #1
by Jane Washington
I am stunned.
I absolutely devoured this. Responsibilities? Ignored. Sleep? Optional. This story had me in a chokehold from start to finish.
The world is lush and dangerous, layered with political intrigue, deadly training, bonded monsters, and magic that feels dangerous and feral. It’s dark, high-stakes romantasy done right.
Eiko is such a powerful FMC. She is strong but not invincible, sharp without losing her vulnerability and totally messy and chaotic lol. Watching her navigate training, manipulation, and the awakening magic inside her was gripping.
I adored her dialogue with Hymn, laugh-out-loud funny. The sarcasm. The banter. I loved it. It added such a needed spark of humor in an otherwise dark and brutal world.
“Hey, so … no big deal or anything, but today I almost bit off the hand of a castle attendant for confiscating my cream puffs.”
Prince Chasin? The tension is real. This is true enemies-to-lovers energy. Very slow burn. Painfully so. But earned and in line with the story, it was perfect.
That ending though? Brutal.
I cannot wait to dive into book two. I need more of the lore, the Godsguard, the princes, and I am absolutely ready for the revenge arc to unfold.
Tropes & vibes:
* true enemies to lovers
* slow burn
* royal court intrigue
* arranged marriage
* bonded monsters
* assassin training
* commander x recruit
* grumpy x chaos
* disability representation (blind FMC, mute MMC)
* body horror chills
* lovable ensemble cast
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Thank you so very much Jane Washington for the review copy, all opinions are my own.
Shadowsong #1
by Jane Washington
I am stunned.
I absolutely devoured this. Responsibilities? Ignored. Sleep? Optional. This story had me in a chokehold from start to finish.
The world is lush and dangerous, layered with political intrigue, deadly training, bonded monsters, and magic that feels dangerous and feral. It’s dark, high-stakes romantasy done right.
Eiko is such a powerful FMC. She is strong but not invincible, sharp without losing her vulnerability and totally messy and chaotic lol. Watching her navigate training, manipulation, and the awakening magic inside her was gripping.
I adored her dialogue with Hymn, laugh-out-loud funny. The sarcasm. The banter. I loved it. It added such a needed spark of humor in an otherwise dark and brutal world.
“Hey, so … no big deal or anything, but today I almost bit off the hand of a castle attendant for confiscating my cream puffs.”
Prince Chasin? The tension is real. This is true enemies-to-lovers energy. Very slow burn. Painfully so. But earned and in line with the story, it was perfect.
That ending though? Brutal.
I cannot wait to dive into book two. I need more of the lore, the Godsguard, the princes, and I am absolutely ready for the revenge arc to unfold.
Tropes & vibes:
* true enemies to lovers
* slow burn
* royal court intrigue
* arranged marriage
* bonded monsters
* assassin training
* commander x recruit
* grumpy x chaos
* disability representation (blind FMC, mute MMC)
* body horror chills
* lovable ensemble cast
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Thank you so very much Jane Washington for the review copy, all opinions are my own.
January 31, 2026
This book would be great for fans of One Dark Window. I just feel like it has such similar vibes and it has a monster creature that you will fall in love with, just like The Nightmare. I will also liken this book to Blood of Hercules, only in the humor aspect being very dry and sarcastic.
Jane Washington is the queen of slow burn and world development. She is also the Queen of Why Choose but this one is M/F so, for those of you who aren't a fan of RH you may rejoice and dive into the beauty that is JW books!
Tropes:
* blind FMC + mute MMC
* slow-burn tension
* Arranged Marriage to the Wrong Brother
* Assassin Training / Princess Training
* Banter and Sarcastic Humor
5 stars is not enough to give this book. This book gets ALL of the stars... seriously. Infinity of stars.
I loved that Jane smashed the status-quo window with our FMC. She is the most side-character main character that I have ever seen. She is the one that is clumsy, chaotic, sarcastic and overlooked the majority of the time. She pales in comparison to her best friend, Rion, who attracts all the attention. She felt more relatable as she wasn't "the girl next door". Not only does she break down the barriers of being Blind, she is food driven and ... girl, same. She bonds with a weak monster and has to struggle with the limitations that brings in a world that values power and strength.
The Found Family is the best that I have read in a long time. The characters really rely on and support each other throughout the story. They choose each other, time and time again, and you can feel the love they have for one-another just pouring off the page. It was so beautiful to read and I can not wait to see how the next book treats our rag-tag group, especially with the cliffhanger and what happened right before.
I think my favorite part of the story though is the humor. The way the author handled Blind Jokes, most of them coming from Eiko herself, had me laughing so hard. She is so chaotic and sarcastic and I just fell in love with her in the first chapter of the book and not once did my thoughts waver or change. Her exchanges with Hymn were some of my favorite!
Thank you to the author for a free copy of this book in exchange for my thoughts.
Jane Washington is the queen of slow burn and world development. She is also the Queen of Why Choose but this one is M/F so, for those of you who aren't a fan of RH you may rejoice and dive into the beauty that is JW books!
Tropes:
* blind FMC + mute MMC
* slow-burn tension
* Arranged Marriage to the Wrong Brother
* Assassin Training / Princess Training
* Banter and Sarcastic Humor
5 stars is not enough to give this book. This book gets ALL of the stars... seriously. Infinity of stars.
I loved that Jane smashed the status-quo window with our FMC. She is the most side-character main character that I have ever seen. She is the one that is clumsy, chaotic, sarcastic and overlooked the majority of the time. She pales in comparison to her best friend, Rion, who attracts all the attention. She felt more relatable as she wasn't "the girl next door". Not only does she break down the barriers of being Blind, she is food driven and ... girl, same. She bonds with a weak monster and has to struggle with the limitations that brings in a world that values power and strength.
The Found Family is the best that I have read in a long time. The characters really rely on and support each other throughout the story. They choose each other, time and time again, and you can feel the love they have for one-another just pouring off the page. It was so beautiful to read and I can not wait to see how the next book treats our rag-tag group, especially with the cliffhanger and what happened right before.
I think my favorite part of the story though is the humor. The way the author handled Blind Jokes, most of them coming from Eiko herself, had me laughing so hard. She is so chaotic and sarcastic and I just fell in love with her in the first chapter of the book and not once did my thoughts waver or change. Her exchanges with Hymn were some of my favorite!
Thank you to the author for a free copy of this book in exchange for my thoughts.
March 21, 2026
5 stars. No notes. Absolute perfection.
One small echo has such a unique magic system and it really didn’t feel like a copy and paste from other romantasy books, even though we get a lot of the tropes we all love.
Our FMC is so unbelievably relatable.
I adored the found family / friendships vibes throughout the whole book… and the humour in this book is incredible. I laughed so many times.
And our MMC? I folded like a pretzel for this man.
Who knew someone who couldn’t speak could create so much tension and yearning!
I’m obsessed. I cannot wait for book 2!
One small echo has such a unique magic system and it really didn’t feel like a copy and paste from other romantasy books, even though we get a lot of the tropes we all love.
Our FMC is so unbelievably relatable.
I adored the found family / friendships vibes throughout the whole book… and the humour in this book is incredible. I laughed so many times.
And our MMC? I folded like a pretzel for this man.
Who knew someone who couldn’t speak could create so much tension and yearning!
I’m obsessed. I cannot wait for book 2!
March 15, 2026
YES. Just a big fat yes to everything that is this book. Yes to the banter. Yes to the wit. Yes to the plot and what will probably come next. Yes to the cute baby. Yes to the well developed characters. Yes to this wonderful family of friends. Literal goosebumps while finishing this book.
Did Not Finish
March 19, 2026Dnf page 245
This was a big disappointment after reading Washington’s Ironside Academy series. Whereas that was pure fun, this was not. My major issues are listed below:
1. The Fmc is listed as blind and repping disabilities, but she’s not actually blind due to her “monster’s” help. Same with the MMC he’s listed as mute, but sometimes he can speak 🙃 I’m not saying this doesn’t make them disabled, it’s just misleading in terms of the way they communicate. It was also very confusing.
2. This was not enemies to lovers. This was potential mentor/mentee to lovers I guess. They never actually do anything to one another to make them enemies. She actually saves his life at the beginning.
3. The fmc had special girl syndrome galore. She’s the most beautiful, has the most “special” monster, and all the guys are after her magical golden girlness.
4. The fmc is with an other man for more than half of the book, but also not really bc they would just sometimes have s@x and heavy petting sessions and really had no noticeable feelings for one another.
5. The strong usage of millennial/gen z speak in a high fantasy book just really took me out of the narrative. It wasn’t even used comically, it was just annoying.
6. The fmc weighs 5 pounds and makes a point to be constantly eating and thinking about food. Idk why that bothers me it just does.
7. The fmc had the mind of a toddler but was supposed to be 20 years old. I’ve read ya books with 15 year old leads who were more mature recently.
This was a big disappointment after reading Washington’s Ironside Academy series. Whereas that was pure fun, this was not. My major issues are listed below:
1. The Fmc is listed as blind and repping disabilities, but she’s not actually blind due to her “monster’s” help. Same with the MMC he’s listed as mute, but sometimes he can speak 🙃 I’m not saying this doesn’t make them disabled, it’s just misleading in terms of the way they communicate. It was also very confusing.
2. This was not enemies to lovers. This was potential mentor/mentee to lovers I guess. They never actually do anything to one another to make them enemies. She actually saves his life at the beginning.
3. The fmc had special girl syndrome galore. She’s the most beautiful, has the most “special” monster, and all the guys are after her magical golden girlness.
4. The fmc is with an other man for more than half of the book, but also not really bc they would just sometimes have s@x and heavy petting sessions and really had no noticeable feelings for one another.
5. The strong usage of millennial/gen z speak in a high fantasy book just really took me out of the narrative. It wasn’t even used comically, it was just annoying.
6. The fmc weighs 5 pounds and makes a point to be constantly eating and thinking about food. Idk why that bothers me it just does.
7. The fmc had the mind of a toddler but was supposed to be 20 years old. I’ve read ya books with 15 year old leads who were more mature recently.
Read
June 28, 2025I’m sat
March 14, 2026
I had no idea what to expect of this latest offering from author Jane Washington, after loving her ‘Ironside Academy’ series… and she delivered something so completely different and yet so intriguing!
We get a compelling FMC who, while blinded as a result of a selfless act at 10 years old, is strong, sassy in the best way, and both subtly aided and accompanied through life by her found family and devoted brother. We then get introduced to a world in which monsters are very real, human and not, and bring magic as well as harm… and so the adventure begins.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, the first instalment of a new series (I need book two ASAP!), with many twists and turns, some foreshadowed while other mysteries were held tightly by the author, yet to be revealed.
Oh and let’s not forget the deliciously escalating tension between two long-fated characters…
I found a few descriptions overly long, when I wanted to move on to action and dialogue (I would have appreciated more of the latter), but loved that this was refreshingly different to the usual romantasy fare.
And yay for disability representation, especially in a way that simultaneously highlights strength.
We get a compelling FMC who, while blinded as a result of a selfless act at 10 years old, is strong, sassy in the best way, and both subtly aided and accompanied through life by her found family and devoted brother. We then get introduced to a world in which monsters are very real, human and not, and bring magic as well as harm… and so the adventure begins.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, the first instalment of a new series (I need book two ASAP!), with many twists and turns, some foreshadowed while other mysteries were held tightly by the author, yet to be revealed.
Oh and let’s not forget the deliciously escalating tension between two long-fated characters…
I found a few descriptions overly long, when I wanted to move on to action and dialogue (I would have appreciated more of the latter), but loved that this was refreshingly different to the usual romantasy fare.
And yay for disability representation, especially in a way that simultaneously highlights strength.
March 18, 2026
oooh this one was so FUN! This is definitely another one of those true slow burns.
The beginning takes on this dark whimsy that I haven't encountered in a long while.
The banter is TOP NOTCH! If you ever enjoyed the antics of Toph from The Last Air Bender then this one is it!
I tried to pace myself with this book because I didnt want it to end and I ate it UP!
I am so excited to see where the story takes us. The pacing of the romance very much reminds me of Plier (one of Jane Washington's previous series) but just like with that series I KNOW my patience will be rewarded in the future.
I am looking forward to the next book
The beginning takes on this dark whimsy that I haven't encountered in a long while.
The banter is TOP NOTCH! If you ever enjoyed the antics of Toph from The Last Air Bender then this one is it!
I tried to pace myself with this book because I didnt want it to end and I ate it UP!
I am so excited to see where the story takes us. The pacing of the romance very much reminds me of Plier (one of Jane Washington's previous series) but just like with that series I KNOW my patience will be rewarded in the future.
I am looking forward to the next book
May 20, 2026
I have to admit, it was a very slow start for me, but after Ironside Academy, in Jane we trust!
And then? I was completely hooked. Honestly, I felt addicted to the story.
The dance.
The poison.
The claiming.
The training.
The signing on her back.
The whispers.
And yes — even the choking!!
Chasin, the man, the god. I officially have a new book boyfriend, and nobody can tell me otherwise.
But…the woman he wants is married to his brother. The next book is going to be so good.
“Eiko chose death.”
And then? I was completely hooked. Honestly, I felt addicted to the story.
The dance.
The poison.
The claiming.
The training.
The signing on her back.
The whispers.
And yes — even the choking!!
Chasin, the man, the god. I officially have a new book boyfriend, and nobody can tell me otherwise.
But…the woman he wants is married to his brother. The next book is going to be so good.
“Eiko chose death.”
June 13, 2026
This book was the definition of a 3 ⭐️ read for me.
There was stuff I liked.
Stuff I didn’t.
The plot and characters were enough to keep me going but didn’t fully grab me.
I loved that the FMC was blind and the MMC was mute but the author didn’t commit to it! She could see “magically” and he could talk “painfully”. I would have much preferred her to commit to it.
Also the names were basically all the same. Ky, Kaito, Chasin, Corven, Ceran. Girl, what are you doing?! Listening to the names on audio was a nightmare.
Other than that, I liked the overall concept and would possibly continue on in the series but I will most likely forget everything about this book by Tuesday.
There was stuff I liked.
Stuff I didn’t.
The plot and characters were enough to keep me going but didn’t fully grab me.
I loved that the FMC was blind and the MMC was mute but the author didn’t commit to it! She could see “magically” and he could talk “painfully”. I would have much preferred her to commit to it.
Also the names were basically all the same. Ky, Kaito, Chasin, Corven, Ceran. Girl, what are you doing?! Listening to the names on audio was a nightmare.
Other than that, I liked the overall concept and would possibly continue on in the series but I will most likely forget everything about this book by Tuesday.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Is it too early to declare best book of the year? Upon finishing this book, I was overcome with an immense feeling of giddy excitement. For what I just read, for the characters, the plot, and for what's to come.
One Small Echo introduces you to characters that will have you invested pretty early on. I definitely went from laughing to crying all in one chapter. This one will get you in the feels for sure.
I adore the FMC, Eiko, so much, and her support system of friends are an absolute bonus. As for the MMC, there is something about the way Jane writes possessive, obsessed, and unhinged men. Like omg, the tension and yearning keeps this slow burn romance sizzling. I can't wait to see how this progresses in the next book.
Overall, I loved the play on monsters in this and how they are portrayed in this world (symbiotes anyone? iykyk). Also, Eiko's arc from being so vulnerable in the beginning to becoming such a strong lead was amazing to read. After that shocking ending, I cannot wait to see what Eiko's going to become next. I may have just unlocked my newest obsession and I'm sure I've discovered another top tier series by this author.
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩
🗡Arranged Marriage (oh this adds such a layer to the story)
🗡Disability and LGBTQ rep (loved this!)
🗡 A very bad villian (so there's this one guy... that I loathe)
🗡Thee very best friends anyone could have (the mom in me was very worried for them)
🗡A tiny baby monster that may not be such a tiny baby monster (it's still a mystery)
🖤
One Small Echo introduces you to characters that will have you invested pretty early on. I definitely went from laughing to crying all in one chapter. This one will get you in the feels for sure.
I adore the FMC, Eiko, so much, and her support system of friends are an absolute bonus. As for the MMC, there is something about the way Jane writes possessive, obsessed, and unhinged men. Like omg, the tension and yearning keeps this slow burn romance sizzling. I can't wait to see how this progresses in the next book.
Overall, I loved the play on monsters in this and how they are portrayed in this world (symbiotes anyone? iykyk). Also, Eiko's arc from being so vulnerable in the beginning to becoming such a strong lead was amazing to read. After that shocking ending, I cannot wait to see what Eiko's going to become next. I may have just unlocked my newest obsession and I'm sure I've discovered another top tier series by this author.
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩
🗡Arranged Marriage (oh this adds such a layer to the story)
🗡Disability and LGBTQ rep (loved this!)
🗡 A very bad villian (so there's this one guy... that I loathe)
🗡Thee very best friends anyone could have (the mom in me was very worried for them)
🗡A tiny baby monster that may not be such a tiny baby monster (it's still a mystery)
🖤
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