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Echoes
“You’ve started a countdown equivalent to a nuclear bomb detonation. And once the weapon latches onto a goal, there’s not a person on earth who can change it.”
Emma White is the most dangerous weapon the world has ever seen.
She’s not a child; she’s a hurricane, an earthquake, a force of nature. She’s been trained as the world’s most deadly assassin – capable of stopping and starting wars as easily as others breathe. Under her skin crackles the type of power that most people only ever dream about.
And she doesn’t remember any of it.
Adrae Silverman is the Queen of the Night. She’s clothed in darkness and washed in royalty, and Emma is her newest conquest. She wants the kind of power Emma wields, and is willing to do whatever it takes to make Emma remember – and embrace – what she was created to do. She’s going to rise into the skies, one way or another.
But Emma has made a promise to protect humanity – from a past she can’t even recall. To keep it, she must find a way to defy Adrae, and she must do it without the help of the hurricane under her skin.
Set in a surprisingly normal, modern-day world, Echoes mixes contemporary with science fiction and is told from the scattered, poetical style of Emma’s thoughts. Stunning comparisons and Emma’s breathtakingly raw honesty weave a heartbreaking story of Emma’s attempt to protect humanity – from her own past.
NOTE: This is the first part of a duology following the emotional and inner journey of a girl with a form of PTSD. It focuses on the inward turmoil caused by the damage of a dark past and her journey to overcome it. The second part is set to release in Fall of 2018, and will complete the set - including answering many of the questions left unanswered in this first novel.
Emma White is the most dangerous weapon the world has ever seen.
She’s not a child; she’s a hurricane, an earthquake, a force of nature. She’s been trained as the world’s most deadly assassin – capable of stopping and starting wars as easily as others breathe. Under her skin crackles the type of power that most people only ever dream about.
And she doesn’t remember any of it.
Adrae Silverman is the Queen of the Night. She’s clothed in darkness and washed in royalty, and Emma is her newest conquest. She wants the kind of power Emma wields, and is willing to do whatever it takes to make Emma remember – and embrace – what she was created to do. She’s going to rise into the skies, one way or another.
But Emma has made a promise to protect humanity – from a past she can’t even recall. To keep it, she must find a way to defy Adrae, and she must do it without the help of the hurricane under her skin.
Set in a surprisingly normal, modern-day world, Echoes mixes contemporary with science fiction and is told from the scattered, poetical style of Emma’s thoughts. Stunning comparisons and Emma’s breathtakingly raw honesty weave a heartbreaking story of Emma’s attempt to protect humanity – from her own past.
NOTE: This is the first part of a duology following the emotional and inner journey of a girl with a form of PTSD. It focuses on the inward turmoil caused by the damage of a dark past and her journey to overcome it. The second part is set to release in Fall of 2018, and will complete the set - including answering many of the questions left unanswered in this first novel.
- GenresYoung Adult
478 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2017
5 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Marie
7 books59 followersMiranda Marie is 20 years old and lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She began writing when she was about 10 years old. Because she was dyslexic, reading was very difficult for her. Finding writing easier, she lost herself in worlds of her own making.
In 2015, she was diagnosed with a rare, disabling genetic syndrome called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Due to the restraints put on her by her health, most of her time is spent working on her writing/artsy endeavors and talking to her friends and family.
She participates in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) every fall, where she wrote and reworked Azalei’s Riders and Azalei's Strategy (published May 10th, 2017). She enjoys the community there, where she met many of her friends.
She has a fascination for turtles, as she believes they are basically mini dragons with built-in armor. She enjoys collecting turtle jewelry and knickknacks.
Learn more on her blog: http://jumpinginpuddles-lookingforsta...
Or connect with her on:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Azaleis-Ride...
Twitter - Miranda Marie @AzaleisRiders
Instagram - mirandamarieauthor
Tumblr: The Fire Rain Chronicles
In 2015, she was diagnosed with a rare, disabling genetic syndrome called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Due to the restraints put on her by her health, most of her time is spent working on her writing/artsy endeavors and talking to her friends and family.
She participates in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) every fall, where she wrote and reworked Azalei’s Riders and Azalei's Strategy (published May 10th, 2017). She enjoys the community there, where she met many of her friends.
She has a fascination for turtles, as she believes they are basically mini dragons with built-in armor. She enjoys collecting turtle jewelry and knickknacks.
Learn more on her blog: http://jumpinginpuddles-lookingforsta...
Or connect with her on:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Azaleis-Ride...
Twitter - Miranda Marie @AzaleisRiders
Instagram - mirandamarieauthor
Tumblr: The Fire Rain Chronicles
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 30, 2017
Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review and some social media promotion. Full disclosure part 2: I'm so glad I did because I enjoyed the heck out of this book!
I was a little unsure about the book in the beginning, honestly. I've had bad experiences with contemporary books and generally dislike the YA genre, but Echoes is eons away from your typical YA and so much better. I'm a huge fan of Broken Girl stories, and this one filled all the warm fuzzy spaces. There was also not a romantic subplot (or main plot), which I appreciate as contemporary romance does not float my boat. I appreciate how squeaky-clean the book was, as well--no language, no kissing, no sex scenes. I'd share this with my entire family without a second thought, and that's pretty impressive! Most books I read I have to warn them away from. And Natan's revelation at the end was one of my favorite parts of the entire book--it's rare to find a piece that integrates faith without seeming preachy or campy, and Echoes does it beautifully. I loved the characters and their interactions, particularly Emma and Natan's, of course. And the whole story had an air of mystery and intrigue that I enjoyed!
There were some things in the book I wasn't a huge fan of or didn't understand--for example, I'm a little confused on what, exactly, Emma's "weapon" was. I understand she's been altered (*tries desperately to avoid spoilers*) and that she has immense power, but I don't understand what that power is or does. Like, is it more of an energy-blasts-from-the-hands kind of power or an emotionless-super-assassin kind of power? Honestly, it's a pretty minor quibble. In some places, the writing style felt a bit bloated with simile and metaphor, but in other places the style was beautiful. I caught some typos, but I read an ARC, so those should be taken care of for you when you get the book!
Echoes releases on October 16, but is out for preorder right now (September 30)! 10% of preorder proceeds go to help hurricane victims here in the US, so go preorder yourself a copy--add a fabulous book to your tbr and do a good deed while you're at it! Besides helping people in need, you'll be supporting an amazing self-published author. So go! What are you waiting for?
Tl;dr: Echoes by Miranda Marie is a fabulous and refreshing book unsullied by the things I have come to absolutely hate in contemporary YA. I loved the characters, themes, and premise. Get yourself a copy and support an awesome self-published author!
I was a little unsure about the book in the beginning, honestly. I've had bad experiences with contemporary books and generally dislike the YA genre, but Echoes is eons away from your typical YA and so much better. I'm a huge fan of Broken Girl stories, and this one filled all the warm fuzzy spaces. There was also not a romantic subplot (or main plot), which I appreciate as contemporary romance does not float my boat. I appreciate how squeaky-clean the book was, as well--no language, no kissing, no sex scenes. I'd share this with my entire family without a second thought, and that's pretty impressive! Most books I read I have to warn them away from. And Natan's revelation at the end was one of my favorite parts of the entire book--it's rare to find a piece that integrates faith without seeming preachy or campy, and Echoes does it beautifully. I loved the characters and their interactions, particularly Emma and Natan's, of course. And the whole story had an air of mystery and intrigue that I enjoyed!
There were some things in the book I wasn't a huge fan of or didn't understand--for example, I'm a little confused on what, exactly, Emma's "weapon" was. I understand she's been altered (*tries desperately to avoid spoilers*) and that she has immense power, but I don't understand what that power is or does. Like, is it more of an energy-blasts-from-the-hands kind of power or an emotionless-super-assassin kind of power? Honestly, it's a pretty minor quibble. In some places, the writing style felt a bit bloated with simile and metaphor, but in other places the style was beautiful. I caught some typos, but I read an ARC, so those should be taken care of for you when you get the book!
Echoes releases on October 16, but is out for preorder right now (September 30)! 10% of preorder proceeds go to help hurricane victims here in the US, so go preorder yourself a copy--add a fabulous book to your tbr and do a good deed while you're at it! Besides helping people in need, you'll be supporting an amazing self-published author. So go! What are you waiting for?
Tl;dr: Echoes by Miranda Marie is a fabulous and refreshing book unsullied by the things I have come to absolutely hate in contemporary YA. I loved the characters, themes, and premise. Get yourself a copy and support an awesome self-published author!
January 16, 2021
*slowly closes book* *combusts from all the emotional pressure building inside me*
I don't usually read modern contemporary. It's a hard thing for me to get into because, to be frank, I don't like the modern world and prefer to use books to escape it.
And yet, Echoes, while based in this world I've always known, felt almost as if it was from a world all its own. And yet (yes, again) it felt like meeting an old friend for the first time (yes I know that doesn't make sense but it's still how it felt).
Preamble over. Let's get into the details.
PLOT:
As the author mentions in the interview at the end of the book, this was a character-based story. The plot is that of our dear main character, Emma, finding the truth about herself through another person, basically, despite the darkness of her past.
It was sweet, it was endearing, it was sad, and it was moving. It was not action-packed, it was soft and calm (but by no means slow) and deeply symbolic as it told this story.
I will admit that I went into this book with the wrong impression of it. What that impression was, I couldn't tell you, because I really don't know myself. That impression did have me confused at times as I tried to name what, exactly, this book was.
At the end of it, I found that this book was that of gentle discovery in a hurricane of pain.
CHARACTERS+WRITING STYLE:
I have to combine these two things for one very simple reason: The writing style is the main character, Emma. Every description, comparison, train of thought, it's all Emma.
I find this necessary to say because there some things about the writing style that I normally would have disliked, but because of this context, didn't.
Phrases, terms, and methods of saying things are repeated often. While I would normally brand that as a lesser experienced author's hand, I know from reading this (as well as Marie's other works) that this isn't so. Miranda Marie brilliantly used and reused these things in a way that gave a deeper look into Emma's mind and character.
It's not for a lack of creativity, but for an abundance of care for how Emma was shown to us, the readers, that these things are done. It just makes sense, when you read it, that Emma would latch on to these specific things and reuse it. It's what she knows, and if you've read the book, you know why that makes so much sense.
And if you haven't read it, well, you need to remedy that.
The other characters, Natan, Adrae, Daniel, as well as the others and even just passers-by, all showed their dimension through this writing style - through Emma's thought process and understanding - as well. We know them how Emma knows them, and Emma knows them how she knows everything; through symbolism. And as noted in this book, "symbolism [is] only a way of explaining the truth".
These characters were all well done. Natan is especially wonderful. The writing style is lovely and makes the atmosphere, no matter where the characters are at, seem to glow with color and detail. Seeing life through Emma's eyes makes me view my own world with more appreciation.
CONCLUSION:
Miranda Marie has again told a wonderful story that I am glad to add to my bookshelf. Everyone should read Echoes. The themes explored in it so real even if Emma's particular circumstances aren't.
If you read Echoes and found it was too non-action-y for you, well, the interview at the back at the book suggests that the sequel, "Mirage", is more exciting. So you should definetly go read that one now (I say, having yet to read it myself, because I have full confidence in the author's abilities).
All that being said, Echoes gets 5/5 stars from me. This is a great book. Reading it was time well-spent, and I look forward to reading the sequel.
I don't usually read modern contemporary. It's a hard thing for me to get into because, to be frank, I don't like the modern world and prefer to use books to escape it.
And yet, Echoes, while based in this world I've always known, felt almost as if it was from a world all its own. And yet (yes, again) it felt like meeting an old friend for the first time (yes I know that doesn't make sense but it's still how it felt).
Preamble over. Let's get into the details.
PLOT:
As the author mentions in the interview at the end of the book, this was a character-based story. The plot is that of our dear main character, Emma, finding the truth about herself through another person, basically, despite the darkness of her past.
It was sweet, it was endearing, it was sad, and it was moving. It was not action-packed, it was soft and calm (but by no means slow) and deeply symbolic as it told this story.
I will admit that I went into this book with the wrong impression of it. What that impression was, I couldn't tell you, because I really don't know myself. That impression did have me confused at times as I tried to name what, exactly, this book was.
At the end of it, I found that this book was that of gentle discovery in a hurricane of pain.
CHARACTERS+WRITING STYLE:
I have to combine these two things for one very simple reason: The writing style is the main character, Emma. Every description, comparison, train of thought, it's all Emma.
I find this necessary to say because there some things about the writing style that I normally would have disliked, but because of this context, didn't.
Phrases, terms, and methods of saying things are repeated often. While I would normally brand that as a lesser experienced author's hand, I know from reading this (as well as Marie's other works) that this isn't so. Miranda Marie brilliantly used and reused these things in a way that gave a deeper look into Emma's mind and character.
It's not for a lack of creativity, but for an abundance of care for how Emma was shown to us, the readers, that these things are done. It just makes sense, when you read it, that Emma would latch on to these specific things and reuse it. It's what she knows, and if you've read the book, you know why that makes so much sense.
And if you haven't read it, well, you need to remedy that.
The other characters, Natan, Adrae, Daniel, as well as the others and even just passers-by, all showed their dimension through this writing style - through Emma's thought process and understanding - as well. We know them how Emma knows them, and Emma knows them how she knows everything; through symbolism. And as noted in this book, "symbolism [is] only a way of explaining the truth".
These characters were all well done. Natan is especially wonderful. The writing style is lovely and makes the atmosphere, no matter where the characters are at, seem to glow with color and detail. Seeing life through Emma's eyes makes me view my own world with more appreciation.
CONCLUSION:
Miranda Marie has again told a wonderful story that I am glad to add to my bookshelf. Everyone should read Echoes. The themes explored in it so real even if Emma's particular circumstances aren't.
If you read Echoes and found it was too non-action-y for you, well, the interview at the back at the book suggests that the sequel, "Mirage", is more exciting. So you should definetly go read that one now (I say, having yet to read it myself, because I have full confidence in the author's abilities).
All that being said, Echoes gets 5/5 stars from me. This is a great book. Reading it was time well-spent, and I look forward to reading the sequel.
September 3, 2020
This book is a beautiful masterpiece told from Emma White's head. It's rather slow-paced because Emma's thoughts are all very poetic and made up of long analogies and analyses, but it's still engaging and entertaining and a beautiful read. I highly recommend it.
October 27, 2017
This wonderful book is the kind that is not for everyone. I'll say that up front so you don't read my review and try to argue with my points on it. ;) It's a very beautiful and lyrical style that flows through the book, so if you enjoy that sort of thing, you'll love this. It reads as...poetry in a thought form, is the best way I can describe it. The nervous and spontaneous and beautiful rhythm of the mind and its wonderings, through the eyes of one very intriguing, mysterious girl.
If you're expecting an action-packed story, this is not it. But it is deep and soulful and every word has careful meaning to it that by the end, the pieces all come together just enough to leave you wanting more. Just enough to understand this complex and incredible character who, quite frankly, it WOULD take an entire book to explain. And so you have Echoes. ;) It seems almost to me like a biography of the most beautiful sort, told from the depths of the mind of a character who you would hardly get to know otherwise. It's an unfolding of what she is like, in a story that would be far too confusing otherwise.
As such, the story is viewed very differently than most, because it is all from Emma's often skewed perspective. But it is beautiful and so real and true to her thought process that if you enjoy that sort of thing, this whole book will awe you.
There is still plot, of course, but this is not a fast-paced thriller kind of novel. It's Emma's journey, and discovery of things she hasn't realized--or doesn't remember. It's a look at life through her eyes, as she seeks out answers to her past, and herself.
For anyone who's read Shatter Me, I will close with this. If you fell in love with the style of Juliette's thoughts, this book is the deeper, more beautiful version of that, without the confusion and repetitively crazy edge to it. Take her poetic moments that made you want to reread them again and again and turn that into an entire book, and you have Echoes. ;)
If you're expecting an action-packed story, this is not it. But it is deep and soulful and every word has careful meaning to it that by the end, the pieces all come together just enough to leave you wanting more. Just enough to understand this complex and incredible character who, quite frankly, it WOULD take an entire book to explain. And so you have Echoes. ;) It seems almost to me like a biography of the most beautiful sort, told from the depths of the mind of a character who you would hardly get to know otherwise. It's an unfolding of what she is like, in a story that would be far too confusing otherwise.
As such, the story is viewed very differently than most, because it is all from Emma's often skewed perspective. But it is beautiful and so real and true to her thought process that if you enjoy that sort of thing, this whole book will awe you.
There is still plot, of course, but this is not a fast-paced thriller kind of novel. It's Emma's journey, and discovery of things she hasn't realized--or doesn't remember. It's a look at life through her eyes, as she seeks out answers to her past, and herself.
For anyone who's read Shatter Me, I will close with this. If you fell in love with the style of Juliette's thoughts, this book is the deeper, more beautiful version of that, without the confusion and repetitively crazy edge to it. Take her poetic moments that made you want to reread them again and again and turn that into an entire book, and you have Echoes. ;)
October 15, 2017
** I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. That in no way impacts my thoughts below**
Initially, I was hesitant to post this review because I don't want to stunt sales. That being said, I realized that if I was a reader, I would want to know all perspectives and so I've decided to post this in hopes that others like me may have the chance to view the book from an alternative perspective.
Echoes is a story of Emma White, a girl made into a deadly weapon who endured memory loss after nearly drowning during a hurricane. Emma is perceived as timid, shy, innocent and fragile, though inside her mind a storm rages seeking release from it’s cage.
Lost in her mind are the memories of who Emma really is and those who made her into this destructive weapon. When Emma is approached by a brother and sister claiming she belongs to a different life, offering to help guide her, she is unable to decipher what is real. Adrae is cool and cunning, dark as night and just as dangerous but her brother Natan is golden like the sun, spreading warmth and protection in his interactions with Emma.
The story follows Emma as she tries to keep her raging storms calm within as she struggles to escape the control of Adrae. Emma battles with her relationship with Natan, longing to protect him from Adrae and from herself.
This story has so much potential to be great. The idea of a girl who was raised and altered to be a deadly weapon and machine of destruction is not a new concept and one that has the potential to captivate readers. Emma’s mysterious past and abilities are intriguing and have the potential to hook readers into craving the next page, desperate for answers to the burning questions racing through their mind.
The most prevalent problem with this story is that there is too much mystery. From the very beginning, readers are introduced to characters with very little information. Adrae and Natan, major players throughout the story, are thrust into the plot without any inclination as to who they are or why they’re there. We know that they were hired by Daniel, Emma’s brother, and that they live with their parents who we learn are very rich. Other than that — we know quite literally, nothing.
Now, this wouldn’t necessarily be an issue if we at least knew why Daniel’s character is important to the story line. Daniel is Emma’s brother who hires Adrae to take care of Emma, but we never learn anything about his relationship with Emma. Why doesn’t he want to be around Emma? Why would he abandon her? Why does he have ‘government contacts’ that are referenced in the end? Why does he help Emma after everything that happens? How does he know what she really is? These are all questions that should have been answered in order to justify much of the reasoning behind why people are looking for Emma.
Additionally, as we learn more about Adrae and Natan, we learn that Adrae is cold and manipulative, but Natan is kind and endearing. That’s all we know about these two characters throughout the entire story. We know that Adrae want’s to use and exploit Emma and her powers, but why? What is her job? What is her overall goal? How did she even learn of Daniel and Emma and how does that all play into the overarching plot of Emma losing her memories?
Natan and Emma’s relationship is the only thing that truly seemed planned out completely from the start of the story. It was evident from the beginning these would be our “love interest” storyline characters. What’s confusing about this relationship is that it comes out of nowhere. Emma speaks very little due to her constant restraint, yet Natan seems to fall for her without any interaction between the two of them. I can appreciate the fragility Emma has, and the desire to want to protect her, but to seemingly jeopardize his entire world for this girl he knows for mere days without any spoken dialogue between them seems like a stretch and unrealistic even for fiction.
What takes away from this story the most is the writing style. This story was 474 pages long and I would argue that around 200+ of those pages were devoted to unnecessary metaphors and simile descriptors that took away from the story rather than aided it. Dialogue often drives plot through characters and because our main character is basically mute for most of the story, it doesn’t surprise me that we’re given a lot of insight into her thoughts. The problem is that the insight we’re given is so full of metaphor that the reader is left confused to what is actually happening.
I found the overuse of the metaphor of Emma’s “hurricane” and “echoes” to be exhausting towards the end of the book. Yes, this is the title, and yes, that is how her memories were wiped, but it felt so forced and contrived to continuously refer to her conflicting thoughts in that manner. I think the beauty of good writing is the ability to leave subtle references to things that leave the reader saying “aha! there it is!” yet nothing in this book was subtle. Repetition clogged all of the descriptions leaving the reader bored by the time they are able to get to the actual point of the description. This is especially difficult to read through because there is so little dialogue happening.
I think I understand the author��s approach to the use of metaphor and simile considering the lack of dialogue. I assume this was intended to provide context and imagery for the reader to immerse themselves into the emotions and experiences of the characters. Unfortunately, I don’t think that approach was successful. I spent so much time reading about additional ways to describe one emotion that I forgot what was happening in terms of plot and character interaction.
In terms of world-building, I really don’t think there was much attention given to this. We learn that Emma is a girl who was altered to be a weapon of destruction but we know nothing about the world in which she lives. Why is this weapon necessary? What’s happening in the world that requires people to invest in this type of experimentation? How was she chosen? Who are the big villains of the story that Emma is ultimately defying by not going along with being used as a weapon?
There was just SO much missing from this story. I truly couldn’t tell you what the problem is for this world. It’s clear that the sub-plot is that Emma has no memories and is trying to get away from the cruel intentions of Adrae, but without knowing who Adrae is or why she wants Emma, or ANYTHING surrounding why Emma is so valuable to these people with money, it’s hard to understand where this story intends to go. Is this a fantasy? Is Emma powerful in some fantastical way? Is this a dystopian society that has descended into some type of turmoil due to war or economic crisis? Are Emma’s powers more physically based like a trained assassin? Is this science fiction since there are computerized elements surgically placed in her brain? The readers aren’t told and aren’t able to guess based on the information given.
Like I said — I think there is potential here, I just think the author has to decide what type of story this is. I think there is a lot of work to be done developing these characters, giving them purpose and meaning in the story, since Emma is the only one who isn’t sure of her past. I think this is a world that would benefit from being defined. Readers need some background knowledge in order to see the purpose behind these character interactions. I think the relationship between Emma and Natan is missing reason — two people can care for each other but there’s just so much missing as to what draws Natan to Emma that it’s confusing and appears forced.
Overall, I think there needs to be way less metaphorical description and much more real, direct, world building. This story could benefit from dual points of view — seeing situations from Natan’s point of view would give readers access to dialogue they crave and miss from Emma’s point of view, but also give readers insight into his motivations behind his feelings towards Emma. The use of metaphor and simile is ultimately the thing that really made me struggle to get through the first 200 pages. I truly believe that much of what’s written took away from the pace of the novel and actually distracted from the story. Perhaps we will get more answers in the second book, as I assume there will be a second. Unfortunately, I don’t think even a second novel can account for all the gaps presented in the first book.
Ultimately, writing style is important for a reader to engage in a story and I just did not connect with this writing style. Perhaps other readers might connect better to this style of writing and find things that I wasn’t able to.
Initially, I was hesitant to post this review because I don't want to stunt sales. That being said, I realized that if I was a reader, I would want to know all perspectives and so I've decided to post this in hopes that others like me may have the chance to view the book from an alternative perspective.
Echoes is a story of Emma White, a girl made into a deadly weapon who endured memory loss after nearly drowning during a hurricane. Emma is perceived as timid, shy, innocent and fragile, though inside her mind a storm rages seeking release from it’s cage.
Lost in her mind are the memories of who Emma really is and those who made her into this destructive weapon. When Emma is approached by a brother and sister claiming she belongs to a different life, offering to help guide her, she is unable to decipher what is real. Adrae is cool and cunning, dark as night and just as dangerous but her brother Natan is golden like the sun, spreading warmth and protection in his interactions with Emma.
The story follows Emma as she tries to keep her raging storms calm within as she struggles to escape the control of Adrae. Emma battles with her relationship with Natan, longing to protect him from Adrae and from herself.
This story has so much potential to be great. The idea of a girl who was raised and altered to be a deadly weapon and machine of destruction is not a new concept and one that has the potential to captivate readers. Emma’s mysterious past and abilities are intriguing and have the potential to hook readers into craving the next page, desperate for answers to the burning questions racing through their mind.
The most prevalent problem with this story is that there is too much mystery. From the very beginning, readers are introduced to characters with very little information. Adrae and Natan, major players throughout the story, are thrust into the plot without any inclination as to who they are or why they’re there. We know that they were hired by Daniel, Emma’s brother, and that they live with their parents who we learn are very rich. Other than that — we know quite literally, nothing.
Now, this wouldn’t necessarily be an issue if we at least knew why Daniel’s character is important to the story line. Daniel is Emma’s brother who hires Adrae to take care of Emma, but we never learn anything about his relationship with Emma. Why doesn’t he want to be around Emma? Why would he abandon her? Why does he have ‘government contacts’ that are referenced in the end? Why does he help Emma after everything that happens? How does he know what she really is? These are all questions that should have been answered in order to justify much of the reasoning behind why people are looking for Emma.
Additionally, as we learn more about Adrae and Natan, we learn that Adrae is cold and manipulative, but Natan is kind and endearing. That’s all we know about these two characters throughout the entire story. We know that Adrae want’s to use and exploit Emma and her powers, but why? What is her job? What is her overall goal? How did she even learn of Daniel and Emma and how does that all play into the overarching plot of Emma losing her memories?
Natan and Emma’s relationship is the only thing that truly seemed planned out completely from the start of the story. It was evident from the beginning these would be our “love interest” storyline characters. What’s confusing about this relationship is that it comes out of nowhere. Emma speaks very little due to her constant restraint, yet Natan seems to fall for her without any interaction between the two of them. I can appreciate the fragility Emma has, and the desire to want to protect her, but to seemingly jeopardize his entire world for this girl he knows for mere days without any spoken dialogue between them seems like a stretch and unrealistic even for fiction.
What takes away from this story the most is the writing style. This story was 474 pages long and I would argue that around 200+ of those pages were devoted to unnecessary metaphors and simile descriptors that took away from the story rather than aided it. Dialogue often drives plot through characters and because our main character is basically mute for most of the story, it doesn’t surprise me that we’re given a lot of insight into her thoughts. The problem is that the insight we’re given is so full of metaphor that the reader is left confused to what is actually happening.
I found the overuse of the metaphor of Emma’s “hurricane” and “echoes” to be exhausting towards the end of the book. Yes, this is the title, and yes, that is how her memories were wiped, but it felt so forced and contrived to continuously refer to her conflicting thoughts in that manner. I think the beauty of good writing is the ability to leave subtle references to things that leave the reader saying “aha! there it is!” yet nothing in this book was subtle. Repetition clogged all of the descriptions leaving the reader bored by the time they are able to get to the actual point of the description. This is especially difficult to read through because there is so little dialogue happening.
I think I understand the author��s approach to the use of metaphor and simile considering the lack of dialogue. I assume this was intended to provide context and imagery for the reader to immerse themselves into the emotions and experiences of the characters. Unfortunately, I don’t think that approach was successful. I spent so much time reading about additional ways to describe one emotion that I forgot what was happening in terms of plot and character interaction.
In terms of world-building, I really don’t think there was much attention given to this. We learn that Emma is a girl who was altered to be a weapon of destruction but we know nothing about the world in which she lives. Why is this weapon necessary? What’s happening in the world that requires people to invest in this type of experimentation? How was she chosen? Who are the big villains of the story that Emma is ultimately defying by not going along with being used as a weapon?
There was just SO much missing from this story. I truly couldn’t tell you what the problem is for this world. It’s clear that the sub-plot is that Emma has no memories and is trying to get away from the cruel intentions of Adrae, but without knowing who Adrae is or why she wants Emma, or ANYTHING surrounding why Emma is so valuable to these people with money, it’s hard to understand where this story intends to go. Is this a fantasy? Is Emma powerful in some fantastical way? Is this a dystopian society that has descended into some type of turmoil due to war or economic crisis? Are Emma’s powers more physically based like a trained assassin? Is this science fiction since there are computerized elements surgically placed in her brain? The readers aren’t told and aren’t able to guess based on the information given.
Like I said — I think there is potential here, I just think the author has to decide what type of story this is. I think there is a lot of work to be done developing these characters, giving them purpose and meaning in the story, since Emma is the only one who isn’t sure of her past. I think this is a world that would benefit from being defined. Readers need some background knowledge in order to see the purpose behind these character interactions. I think the relationship between Emma and Natan is missing reason — two people can care for each other but there’s just so much missing as to what draws Natan to Emma that it’s confusing and appears forced.
Overall, I think there needs to be way less metaphorical description and much more real, direct, world building. This story could benefit from dual points of view — seeing situations from Natan’s point of view would give readers access to dialogue they crave and miss from Emma’s point of view, but also give readers insight into his motivations behind his feelings towards Emma. The use of metaphor and simile is ultimately the thing that really made me struggle to get through the first 200 pages. I truly believe that much of what’s written took away from the pace of the novel and actually distracted from the story. Perhaps we will get more answers in the second book, as I assume there will be a second. Unfortunately, I don’t think even a second novel can account for all the gaps presented in the first book.
Ultimately, writing style is important for a reader to engage in a story and I just did not connect with this writing style. Perhaps other readers might connect better to this style of writing and find things that I wasn’t able to.
January 2, 2021
Actual rating 4.75
I could fangirl about this novel for hours.
All of the symbolism and the poetry ties together so wonderfully. There’s so much to get from every word, and I will be rereading this many times because there’s so much hidden meaning to mine from this whole thing.
The themes are orchestrated so perfectlyy. Emma and Natan are darlings and they have the best relationship and I loved it so much.
The resolution of the character arcs was also so perfect and so satisfying. Honestly, read it; it’s breathtaking and honestly super thrilling.
The style of this novel is striking; the perfect blend of poetry and prose. The only thing for me that was wrong with this book (hence the missing quarter star) was that some places I had to go back and read again because my focus would slide over some of the poetic bits.
There’s also absolutely no content in it either, which is one of my favourite things about Miranda Marie.
As a writer myself, there’s a lot to glean from this book in terms of thematic elements, what sorts of metaphors work and when to bring them up more than once. This book is incredible and I will be enjoying it over and over again.
I could fangirl about this novel for hours.
All of the symbolism and the poetry ties together so wonderfully. There’s so much to get from every word, and I will be rereading this many times because there’s so much hidden meaning to mine from this whole thing.
The themes are orchestrated so perfectlyy. Emma and Natan are darlings and they have the best relationship and I loved it so much.
The resolution of the character arcs was also so perfect and so satisfying. Honestly, read it; it’s breathtaking and honestly super thrilling.
The style of this novel is striking; the perfect blend of poetry and prose. The only thing for me that was wrong with this book (hence the missing quarter star) was that some places I had to go back and read again because my focus would slide over some of the poetic bits.
There’s also absolutely no content in it either, which is one of my favourite things about Miranda Marie.
As a writer myself, there’s a lot to glean from this book in terms of thematic elements, what sorts of metaphors work and when to bring them up more than once. This book is incredible and I will be enjoying it over and over again.
January 11, 2018
This book is amazing. I’ll just start with that. This book is wonderful. The style, the characters, the plot… It’s just wonderful.
I had the privilege of reading excerpts of this book, since Miranda (Mandy) and I are in the same writing group (which in no way affects this review, because this book can more than stand on its own), and I immediately fell in love with the poetic writing style and intricate characters. Every excerpt just piqued my interest more, and by the time I was finally able to buy Echoes I was dying to read it. Unfortunately, I’d made it a reward for reaching my goal of 100k for NaNoWriMo (which I didn’t come close to), so I waited to read it until sometime in December (although I did cheat on a couple of chapters on days that I met my daily goal. Shhh).
Now I’ve finally been able to read the whole thing, and I love it even more. Fair warning, the style isn’t for everyone, and it crosses the lines in genre, but Mandy did an excellent job executing it. The writing style is poetic and unlike anything I’ve ever read, told from a limited third-person POV that allows the reader to see Emma’s fascinating, unique way of thinking and seeing things. Emma sees symbolism in anything and draws incredibly poetic parallels between things in her description. It’s gorgeous to read, and even though there’s very little dialogue, you never really get tired of reading the long descriptions because they’re so beautifully written.
The characters are incredibly well-developed, the two most prominent characters (Emma and Natan) being particularly distinct from any other characters I’ve seen. Emma is shy, and her quirks are well thought out and shown clearly and in a way that makes her particularly stand out as developed and unique. She doesn’t talk much, but that doesn’t detract from her character (or the story, for that matter) in the slightest.
The character relationships are another thing I really admire in this book. The contrast between Natan and Adrae (and their relationship in general), (**minor spoiler ahead**) the way that Natan protects Emma, etc. Mandy is excellent at skillfully writing the dynamics between characters so that they seem real. (And you ship couples way easier than in the majority of popular YA fiction. Or anything else for that matter.)
Overall, Echoes is definitely worthy of five stars, and I highly recommend it. :)
Originally posted on Scribes & Archers
I had the privilege of reading excerpts of this book, since Miranda (Mandy) and I are in the same writing group (which in no way affects this review, because this book can more than stand on its own), and I immediately fell in love with the poetic writing style and intricate characters. Every excerpt just piqued my interest more, and by the time I was finally able to buy Echoes I was dying to read it. Unfortunately, I’d made it a reward for reaching my goal of 100k for NaNoWriMo (which I didn’t come close to), so I waited to read it until sometime in December (although I did cheat on a couple of chapters on days that I met my daily goal. Shhh).
Now I’ve finally been able to read the whole thing, and I love it even more. Fair warning, the style isn’t for everyone, and it crosses the lines in genre, but Mandy did an excellent job executing it. The writing style is poetic and unlike anything I’ve ever read, told from a limited third-person POV that allows the reader to see Emma’s fascinating, unique way of thinking and seeing things. Emma sees symbolism in anything and draws incredibly poetic parallels between things in her description. It’s gorgeous to read, and even though there’s very little dialogue, you never really get tired of reading the long descriptions because they’re so beautifully written.
The characters are incredibly well-developed, the two most prominent characters (Emma and Natan) being particularly distinct from any other characters I’ve seen. Emma is shy, and her quirks are well thought out and shown clearly and in a way that makes her particularly stand out as developed and unique. She doesn’t talk much, but that doesn’t detract from her character (or the story, for that matter) in the slightest.
The character relationships are another thing I really admire in this book. The contrast between Natan and Adrae (and their relationship in general), (**minor spoiler ahead**) the way that Natan protects Emma, etc. Mandy is excellent at skillfully writing the dynamics between characters so that they seem real. (And you ship couples way easier than in the majority of popular YA fiction. Or anything else for that matter.)
Overall, Echoes is definitely worthy of five stars, and I highly recommend it. :)
Originally posted on Scribes & Archers
September 5, 2024
5+ stars. As soon as I started reading this book I was hooked. I was absolutely unable to put it down. I don’t think I’ve been “hooked” so strongly before by any other book. I loved it so much. The poetic prose. The drama. The beauty. The descriptions. The comparisons. Natan. I loved it all. Natan is my new favourites male character. <33 I read this book in a few days and skimmed over several parts to get to the end quicker. Some weeks later I picked it up again and reread the whole thing. It takes a good book to be able to hold such a quick reread. This is now one of my absolute favourite books. I love it so much and I CANNOT wait to read the sequel. ^_^
Content: A forehead kiss, some touching (holding her head in his hands, holding her hand, placing his hands on her arms), and one place where Natan rubs a salve on a bruise Emma has on her stomach.
A Favourite Quote: “I believe in something else, too. I believe in forgiveness, and grace, and the fact that, in the end, there’s a power of love and good stronger than all our darkness put together. The only thing I don’t believe are the words ‘lost cause.’”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: ...she made her way up the steps and across the porch. The boards played a soft, creaking melody beneath her worn sneakers until she paused beside the doorway.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Whoever paid who, it’s obvious he didn’t want you around. How do you think he’s going to react when we waltz into his apartment saying ‘honey, we’re home’?”
“Wouldn’t… say that. Isn’t… our home,” she finally replied[.] The words only drew a chuckle from him[.]
“Do you always take everything so literally?”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
Content: A forehead kiss, some touching (holding her head in his hands, holding her hand, placing his hands on her arms), and one place where Natan rubs a salve on a bruise Emma has on her stomach.
A Favourite Quote: “I believe in something else, too. I believe in forgiveness, and grace, and the fact that, in the end, there’s a power of love and good stronger than all our darkness put together. The only thing I don’t believe are the words ‘lost cause.’”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: ...she made her way up the steps and across the porch. The boards played a soft, creaking melody beneath her worn sneakers until she paused beside the doorway.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Whoever paid who, it’s obvious he didn’t want you around. How do you think he’s going to react when we waltz into his apartment saying ‘honey, we’re home’?”
“Wouldn’t… say that. Isn’t… our home,” she finally replied[.] The words only drew a chuckle from him[.]
“Do you always take everything so literally?”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
October 6, 2017
I received a free ARC of Echoes from Miranda Marie in exchange for an honest review. Miranda Marie has masterly crafted a world in which a girl is considered a weapon: one that can start and end wars. Emma, the main character, finds herself traded between individuals that all want to use her in some way. What makes this difficult for Emma is the fact that she doesn't necessarily remember who she is or what she did. Miranda Marie has done a glorious job creating a distinct world where power is money. The greed of these characters portrays the appalling side of humanity, where people want actions for things that are not appropriate.
The characters that the author constructed have been very well thought out and executed. Emma is a weapon, she has been trained to be powerful. However once she loses her memory, she realizes that she doesn't want to go back to what she once was. Emma is a very smart individual that doesn't talk too much because she knows how powerful words are. When Emma finds herself taken in by a family, she finds herself creating different relationships with the two twin siblings of the family. Although Emma attempts to stay unattached, Natan (one of the twins) is a kind soul that just wants to be friendly. They soon form a relationship that I found was comforting and sincere. As a reader, I became to like Natan very quickly and wanted to him to be protected and carefree; same as Emma, who makes it her mission to free Natan from the grasps of Adrae (the other twin). Adrae is the one that had captured Emma in order to hone her back into a weapon and remind her of what she used to be. However, Emma is stronger than Adrae had anticipated and with the new mission Emma created for herself (save Natan); it leaves Adrae to have to go through much more than she had expected.
Although the beginning of the book is really slow, that is actually how most books are. It's not that events aren’t happening, it is more that the writing style of the author is unique and I need time to get used to it. Many books that I read are full of dialogue, whereas Echoes does not contain much at all. Once I had gotten into the book, I realized how refreshing it was to read such a new and fascinating writing style. Miranda uses a sense of sophistication and symbolism throughout her novel to show different personalities that people can have throughout the world and what to look out for. This book was made so that each word slips off the tongue and melts into another, making it effortless to read through each chapter and easily the entire book.
I would definitely recommend this book to readers that have read a lot of similar books because Echoes has been able to refreshed my reading palate and has given me a whole new outlook on how writing styles should be executed. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters and becoming immersed into this strangely modern world. I am currently going through a reading slump because of how this book has changed my perspective on all others. I cannot wait for more people to read this book, so that I can fully talk about how I feel. Also I am anticipating a second book, so that I will be able to once again live through Emma’s life and re-immerse myself into this poetic world.
The characters that the author constructed have been very well thought out and executed. Emma is a weapon, she has been trained to be powerful. However once she loses her memory, she realizes that she doesn't want to go back to what she once was. Emma is a very smart individual that doesn't talk too much because she knows how powerful words are. When Emma finds herself taken in by a family, she finds herself creating different relationships with the two twin siblings of the family. Although Emma attempts to stay unattached, Natan (one of the twins) is a kind soul that just wants to be friendly. They soon form a relationship that I found was comforting and sincere. As a reader, I became to like Natan very quickly and wanted to him to be protected and carefree; same as Emma, who makes it her mission to free Natan from the grasps of Adrae (the other twin). Adrae is the one that had captured Emma in order to hone her back into a weapon and remind her of what she used to be. However, Emma is stronger than Adrae had anticipated and with the new mission Emma created for herself (save Natan); it leaves Adrae to have to go through much more than she had expected.
Although the beginning of the book is really slow, that is actually how most books are. It's not that events aren’t happening, it is more that the writing style of the author is unique and I need time to get used to it. Many books that I read are full of dialogue, whereas Echoes does not contain much at all. Once I had gotten into the book, I realized how refreshing it was to read such a new and fascinating writing style. Miranda uses a sense of sophistication and symbolism throughout her novel to show different personalities that people can have throughout the world and what to look out for. This book was made so that each word slips off the tongue and melts into another, making it effortless to read through each chapter and easily the entire book.
I would definitely recommend this book to readers that have read a lot of similar books because Echoes has been able to refreshed my reading palate and has given me a whole new outlook on how writing styles should be executed. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters and becoming immersed into this strangely modern world. I am currently going through a reading slump because of how this book has changed my perspective on all others. I cannot wait for more people to read this book, so that I can fully talk about how I feel. Also I am anticipating a second book, so that I will be able to once again live through Emma’s life and re-immerse myself into this poetic world.
February 15, 2019
Echoes by Miranda Marie
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for participating in the sequel’s cover reveal on Instagram.
Rating: 2/5 stars
Synopsis:
Emma is the most dangerous weapon in the world, trained to spread destruction, but doesn’t remember any of it. The Night Queen Adrae tries to trigger her into remembering, wanting her as her weapon. Her brother Natan does see the human side in Emma, and thus supports her more and more.
My thoughts:
First of all, I’ve read other books by this author and was excited to see whether id love this one just as much. I didn’t.
Some parts of the story were just too unbelievable and weird, sometimes even without a real reason. There was no tension, no fear, no:“Will they make it? The characters just talked and talked and Emma thought and thought for twenty pages or so, then some weird decisions were made and the next train of thought arrived. I often felt bored and couldn’t really bring myself to care.
I liked the idea of a super trained protagonist, but then again, it does easily make her a Mary-Sue like character. The romance was weird for me; I just couldn’t understand where that was coming from. Also, I never understood how a teenager girl can be the Night Queen and have so much power. That seemed a bit over the top at times.
The world building was confusing, since it was very much like our world, but still not really and some events just felt surreal.
However, the biggest problem for me was the style. Sometimes there were five or more pages filled with metaphors and nothing more. It slowed down everything and was too much. You could edit half of it and the story wouldn’t suffer. Also, I know that Echoes and Hurricanes are the topic here, but I swear, if I hear another metaphor including them…!
Another problem was that I could never connect to anything in this book emotionally. Because of the style, I think.
I give a bonus for the cover, because it does look lovely!
And so this book gets two stars.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for participating in the sequel’s cover reveal on Instagram.
Rating: 2/5 stars
Synopsis:
Emma is the most dangerous weapon in the world, trained to spread destruction, but doesn’t remember any of it. The Night Queen Adrae tries to trigger her into remembering, wanting her as her weapon. Her brother Natan does see the human side in Emma, and thus supports her more and more.
My thoughts:
First of all, I’ve read other books by this author and was excited to see whether id love this one just as much. I didn’t.
Some parts of the story were just too unbelievable and weird, sometimes even without a real reason. There was no tension, no fear, no:“Will they make it? The characters just talked and talked and Emma thought and thought for twenty pages or so, then some weird decisions were made and the next train of thought arrived. I often felt bored and couldn’t really bring myself to care.
I liked the idea of a super trained protagonist, but then again, it does easily make her a Mary-Sue like character. The romance was weird for me; I just couldn’t understand where that was coming from. Also, I never understood how a teenager girl can be the Night Queen and have so much power. That seemed a bit over the top at times.
The world building was confusing, since it was very much like our world, but still not really and some events just felt surreal.
However, the biggest problem for me was the style. Sometimes there were five or more pages filled with metaphors and nothing more. It slowed down everything and was too much. You could edit half of it and the story wouldn’t suffer. Also, I know that Echoes and Hurricanes are the topic here, but I swear, if I hear another metaphor including them…!
Another problem was that I could never connect to anything in this book emotionally. Because of the style, I think.
I give a bonus for the cover, because it does look lovely!
And so this book gets two stars.
November 13, 2017
So good!
The beginning is a little slow and if you don't like beautiful, metaphorical imagery and poetic, lyrical writing this book probably isn't for you, but as a person who loves all of that, I found my match. ;) And also, the message of the story is beautiful and the story itself is amazinf, and ugh!!! *feels*
The ending swept me off my feet, as did Emma and Natan. ^-^ (also looking forward to seeing more of Tasha in the sequel. ;D)
Happy reading~!
(Thank you so much Miranda for daring to write honestly and bravely despite the stigmatisms surrounding lyrical writing. You're my hero. ^-^ <3)
The beginning is a little slow and if you don't like beautiful, metaphorical imagery and poetic, lyrical writing this book probably isn't for you, but as a person who loves all of that, I found my match. ;) And also, the message of the story is beautiful and the story itself is amazinf, and ugh!!! *feels*
The ending swept me off my feet, as did Emma and Natan. ^-^ (also looking forward to seeing more of Tasha in the sequel. ;D)
Happy reading~!
(Thank you so much Miranda for daring to write honestly and bravely despite the stigmatisms surrounding lyrical writing. You're my hero. ^-^ <3)
August 11, 2021
So good. I took two months to finish this book because I wanted to fully appreciate the writing. The poetic writing style is beautiful - the author says not everyone likes it, but I'm definitely a fan. This book put words to things I've been feeling my whole life. In many ways Emma's emotional journey is a metaphor for mental health, and I think people struggling with mental illness might like to check this book out.
I'll edit this review later with some of my favorite quotes - I highlighted so much in this Kindle book. This goes on my favorites shelf. I could relate so much to Emma (well, apart from the super-powerful-weapon part) and so many of the quotes felt like the author had looked inside my head and written down my thoughts.
First half was 5 stars, second half was 4, rounding up to 5. The second half felt a little slower (except for Part 5, which had me glued to the pages). What a gorgeous book. I already want to reread it and I'll be anxiously awaiting the sequel.
I'll edit this review later with some of my favorite quotes - I highlighted so much in this Kindle book. This goes on my favorites shelf. I could relate so much to Emma (well, apart from the super-powerful-weapon part) and so many of the quotes felt like the author had looked inside my head and written down my thoughts.
First half was 5 stars, second half was 4, rounding up to 5. The second half felt a little slower (except for Part 5, which had me glued to the pages). What a gorgeous book. I already want to reread it and I'll be anxiously awaiting the sequel.
December 24, 2019
I very much enjoyed this book. The unique and lyrical writing style, the depth and charm of the characters...It was so refreshing. The author really put her heart and soul into this book and it shows.
My only complaint would be that some of the transitions between places were hard to follow, but given the main character and her way of thought it made a lot of sense so I don’t give this any real downfall.
I’m also just going to just take a moment to talk about Emma, the main character. I loved loved loved her depth. You weren’t reading about her, you seemed to become her. Miranda Marie did not hold back on us with Emma’s heart and thoughts, and I loved that. It’s something I fail to see in most books these days.
(This book and this style isn’t for everyone, but I recommend it highly. It’s beautiful. Very much looking forward to the next installment ^0^)
My only complaint would be that some of the transitions between places were hard to follow, but given the main character and her way of thought it made a lot of sense so I don’t give this any real downfall.
I’m also just going to just take a moment to talk about Emma, the main character. I loved loved loved her depth. You weren’t reading about her, you seemed to become her. Miranda Marie did not hold back on us with Emma’s heart and thoughts, and I loved that. It’s something I fail to see in most books these days.
(This book and this style isn’t for everyone, but I recommend it highly. It’s beautiful. Very much looking forward to the next installment ^0^)
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