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Eternity's Echo
Ellie Sullivan is dead.
She's also an unhappy ghost and grim reaper under protest. That's her job in the afterlife, you see -- to ferry the souls of the dead to their respective endings, happy or otherwise.
It's the worst job ever.
But the thing about being a reaper is that there's no retirement. No, Ellie's afterlife will be reaping. Forever. There's an endless number of souls to be reaped, after all...
The only time Ellie can be herself is when she steals away to visit her family. Invisible, she can see how they're slowly forgetting her, moving on with their lives. But she can daydream about another world -- one where she did not die...
But then the world ends.
When time freezes, Ellie and her fellow reapers realize the truth: this is the end of the world. Most of the reapers seem rather happy about the prospect...
Except Ellie.
The world ending means her family ends, too. It means the end of everything she once held dear, but threw away in a moment of regret...
Armed with a time-traveling pocket watch, Ellie gathers together a group of miscreants with one mission: stop the end of the world by re-starting time. And if on the way Ellie discovers something more, she won't complain --
Maybe she can even find a way to come alive again.
She's also an unhappy ghost and grim reaper under protest. That's her job in the afterlife, you see -- to ferry the souls of the dead to their respective endings, happy or otherwise.
It's the worst job ever.
But the thing about being a reaper is that there's no retirement. No, Ellie's afterlife will be reaping. Forever. There's an endless number of souls to be reaped, after all...
The only time Ellie can be herself is when she steals away to visit her family. Invisible, she can see how they're slowly forgetting her, moving on with their lives. But she can daydream about another world -- one where she did not die...
But then the world ends.
When time freezes, Ellie and her fellow reapers realize the truth: this is the end of the world. Most of the reapers seem rather happy about the prospect...
Except Ellie.
The world ending means her family ends, too. It means the end of everything she once held dear, but threw away in a moment of regret...
Armed with a time-traveling pocket watch, Ellie gathers together a group of miscreants with one mission: stop the end of the world by re-starting time. And if on the way Ellie discovers something more, she won't complain --
Maybe she can even find a way to come alive again.
- GenresFantasyParanormal
ebook
Published January 1, 2019
47 people want to read
About the author
H.C. Southwark
2 books10 followersH.C. Southwark lives somewhere close enough to touch mountains. The mountains are necessary because, according to Dante, they are closer to God. H.C. currently cannot get into space so she is stuck in Purgatorio rather than Paradiso. (H.C. would like to note it’s a shame people don’t read past Inferno.)
When not writing, she spends her time doing horrible tortures like intentionally reading Shakespeare in muppet voices. She picked up this habit during studying for her Ph.D., along with many other even more terrible ones. She is currently in recovery.
But mostly she writes stories about broken people who learn that magic can’t put them back together again — only love can.
When not writing, she spends her time doing horrible tortures like intentionally reading Shakespeare in muppet voices. She picked up this habit during studying for her Ph.D., along with many other even more terrible ones. She is currently in recovery.
But mostly she writes stories about broken people who learn that magic can’t put them back together again — only love can.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 27, 2023
Please note that this review contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the book.
(Please note that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
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All right.
My issues with this book were as follows. I hate having to do this honestly, but I do try to be honest in my reviews so...
In no particular order, here are the points I want to make with regards to this book.
(1) The following passage was really jarring :
“Hey Ellie!” Cookie cheered. Her teeth looked very white in her mouth, contrasting to her skin. Cookie could never help seeming like the Cheshire Cat—and part of that was because she was always grinning.
…So why is the only black main character named ‘Cookie’ rather than Ellie, or Shawn, or Niles, like the other characters? And why was it necessary to describe her like this – I found the description of her appearance above really ‘othered’ this character (i.e., made her seem outside the ‘norm’).
Why was this done to the only black main character in this story?
(2) This should have clearly been labeled as a Christian book, honestly. It was not, so I had no idea I was going to read a book about how the Christian worldview is the only correct one (there is a passing nod to Judaism and Islam not being entirely wrong either, but everything appears to relate to Christianity so I honestly got the feeling that even Judaism and Islam were not as RIGHT or CORRECT as Christianity). I honestly find this idea really offensive and intolerant, to be blunt.
Before everyone jumps on this review, please let me state that I am not against ‘Christian books’ but I do feel that these should be clearly labeled as such, in an effort to recognize the fact that not everyone on this planet is Christian. (Which is as it should be, IMHO. Please note that I do however take offense to the idea that Christians have the only correct interpretation of the universe. Yeah... nope.)
(3) As someone with a background in public health, I found the depiction of one ‘sinner’ whose sin was gluttony to be really jarring, as well.
Obesity has long been associated with lower socioeconomic status in many countries including the United States (in other words, poorer and less educated segments of the population have tended to have higher rates of obesity, although the strength of this relation has reportedly changed over time). (1, 2)
What this relationship really emphasizes is that obesity is caused by ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. In other words, people don’t simply choose to be obese: they become obese because they live in neighborhoods where there are no parks, because they have no money to pay for activities (e.g., gym memberships and so on), because they live in ‘food deserts’ (3), because they grow up in homes wherein parents are working insane hours for wages that don’t even guarantee the presence of food on the table and a roof over their family’s head and who don’t have the $$ to hire someone to cook for their children when they are working or return home exhausted. (I could go on, but I think you get the picture here.)
So in my relatively informed opinion, it is really wrong and insulting to label people who suffer from obesity as ‘sinners’ who gave in to their ‘base urges’.
(4) In general this book was not very good. I found it rather disappointing (all my other issues with this book aside) that the main characters would apparently wind up in limbo for the rest of eternity… the end. I mean… that’s it? Talk about an unsatisfying ending.
References
1. Obesity and Socioeconomic Status. (https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/chil...)
2. Zhang Q, Wang Y. Trends in the Association between Obesity and Socioeconomic Status in U.S. Adults: 1971 to 2000. Obesity Research 2004; 12(10) :1622-1632.
3. Food deserts are actually a well-known issue, and are defined as geographic areas where people have limited access to a variety of healthy and affordable food. (See this reference: https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publ...)
(Please note that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
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*
*
*
*
*
*
All right.
My issues with this book were as follows. I hate having to do this honestly, but I do try to be honest in my reviews so...
In no particular order, here are the points I want to make with regards to this book.
(1) The following passage was really jarring :
“Hey Ellie!” Cookie cheered. Her teeth looked very white in her mouth, contrasting to her skin. Cookie could never help seeming like the Cheshire Cat—and part of that was because she was always grinning.
…So why is the only black main character named ‘Cookie’ rather than Ellie, or Shawn, or Niles, like the other characters? And why was it necessary to describe her like this – I found the description of her appearance above really ‘othered’ this character (i.e., made her seem outside the ‘norm’).
Why was this done to the only black main character in this story?
(2) This should have clearly been labeled as a Christian book, honestly. It was not, so I had no idea I was going to read a book about how the Christian worldview is the only correct one (there is a passing nod to Judaism and Islam not being entirely wrong either, but everything appears to relate to Christianity so I honestly got the feeling that even Judaism and Islam were not as RIGHT or CORRECT as Christianity). I honestly find this idea really offensive and intolerant, to be blunt.
Before everyone jumps on this review, please let me state that I am not against ‘Christian books’ but I do feel that these should be clearly labeled as such, in an effort to recognize the fact that not everyone on this planet is Christian. (Which is as it should be, IMHO. Please note that I do however take offense to the idea that Christians have the only correct interpretation of the universe. Yeah... nope.)
(3) As someone with a background in public health, I found the depiction of one ‘sinner’ whose sin was gluttony to be really jarring, as well.
Obesity has long been associated with lower socioeconomic status in many countries including the United States (in other words, poorer and less educated segments of the population have tended to have higher rates of obesity, although the strength of this relation has reportedly changed over time). (1, 2)
What this relationship really emphasizes is that obesity is caused by ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. In other words, people don’t simply choose to be obese: they become obese because they live in neighborhoods where there are no parks, because they have no money to pay for activities (e.g., gym memberships and so on), because they live in ‘food deserts’ (3), because they grow up in homes wherein parents are working insane hours for wages that don’t even guarantee the presence of food on the table and a roof over their family’s head and who don’t have the $$ to hire someone to cook for their children when they are working or return home exhausted. (I could go on, but I think you get the picture here.)
So in my relatively informed opinion, it is really wrong and insulting to label people who suffer from obesity as ‘sinners’ who gave in to their ‘base urges’.
(4) In general this book was not very good. I found it rather disappointing (all my other issues with this book aside) that the main characters would apparently wind up in limbo for the rest of eternity… the end. I mean… that’s it? Talk about an unsatisfying ending.
References
1. Obesity and Socioeconomic Status. (https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/chil...)
2. Zhang Q, Wang Y. Trends in the Association between Obesity and Socioeconomic Status in U.S. Adults: 1971 to 2000. Obesity Research 2004; 12(10) :1622-1632.
3. Food deserts are actually a well-known issue, and are defined as geographic areas where people have limited access to a variety of healthy and affordable food. (See this reference: https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publ...)
March 13, 2021
Unlike other grim reapers, Ellie doesn’t want the world to end—at least not today, not when her family is still alive and breathing, not when they’re finally happy. So, against all odds, she decides to stop the apocalypse.
It’s rare to find a book that makes me question things about my own life and choices. Eternity’s Echo evokes a lot of empathy, not just for the characters and plot, but for life in general—how beautiful and cruel it can be. Who doesn’t love it when philosophy is weaved into a fantasy story that talks about life, death, and meaning? I started the book with no expectations, but I ended up with a new perspective and a strange sense of serenity that I hope I can keep for a long time.
H.C. Southwark has a beautiful, descriptive writing style that pulled me into Ellie’s inner and outer worlds. Ellie is well-rounded and surprisingly twisted. At first, I thought she was just another snarky teen, but as the story flowed, I began to see where she came from. She’s realistic and flawed, beautifully broken.
My only concerns about Eternity’s Echo are:
- The story includes detailed scenes of suicide. It can be triggering, and I think there should be a warning.
- The girl on the cover doesn’t look like Ellie at all. Where are the red coat and the scarf around her neck? I wish I could see a picture of the Ellie I know and love.
Overall, I am grateful for the chance to read Eternity’s Echo, and I’ll definitely read more of H.C. Southwark's work.
It’s rare to find a book that makes me question things about my own life and choices. Eternity’s Echo evokes a lot of empathy, not just for the characters and plot, but for life in general—how beautiful and cruel it can be. Who doesn’t love it when philosophy is weaved into a fantasy story that talks about life, death, and meaning? I started the book with no expectations, but I ended up with a new perspective and a strange sense of serenity that I hope I can keep for a long time.
H.C. Southwark has a beautiful, descriptive writing style that pulled me into Ellie’s inner and outer worlds. Ellie is well-rounded and surprisingly twisted. At first, I thought she was just another snarky teen, but as the story flowed, I began to see where she came from. She’s realistic and flawed, beautifully broken.
My only concerns about Eternity’s Echo are:
- The story includes detailed scenes of suicide. It can be triggering, and I think there should be a warning.
- The girl on the cover doesn’t look like Ellie at all. Where are the red coat and the scarf around her neck? I wish I could see a picture of the Ellie I know and love.
Overall, I am grateful for the chance to read Eternity’s Echo, and I’ll definitely read more of H.C. Southwark's work.
November 2, 2022
The universe will end someday. Be it today, tomorrow or some day in the future it will end. “Eternity’s Echo” gives us a look into the possibility through the eyes of Ellie, a young reaper. Reapers are not born but made as a consequence of a bad decision. Reapers are task to collect the souls of the dead, weigh the soul and guide them to their afterlife – Heaven or Hell. For the last three years Ellie has been assigned to the accident squad. Normally reapers cannot be seen by their clients; however one day she was seen and the client crosses the road only to be hit by a truck. Did Ellie cause the death of the client? Many of her clients begged for another chance, just one more day. But everyone has a date they are scheduled to die and it is fixed. When time literally stops, everyone living thing on the planet freezes. Could this be the end of the world? Ellie’s fellow reapers seem to rejoice in the apocalypse. Ellie doesn’t understand their joy; in fact she doesn’t understand why everyone is not trying to stop it. She is determined to find a way. In many ways this story is very disturbing and for some it will be hurtful. The story addresses despair, hope, anger, and bad choices but also the promise that the soul continues to exist. It is up to us to make better choices and to accept what may come our way. This book is well worth reading.
September 15, 2021
llie, a reaper, will for ever and all time serve her occupation. There is no retirement. The one blessing of her employment is that she is able to see her earthly family. They cannot see her, but still she can watch them and take joy from knowing they are doing well. But then everything freezes. The end of the world is near! The other reapers are content, with the end of the world their jobs will end as well. But Ellie knows that means she will never see her family again. So she gathers a group of misfits and goes about trying to stop the apocalypse. HC Southwark is a brilliant and gifted author. He has a way of crafting his story, masterfully interwoven with progressive world building, action, and delving deeply into his characters persona without overdoing one thing or another. This novel has a way of reaching into the readers soul and asking you to consider perhaps some different ways of looking at life itself. I highly recommend this novel. I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the book with no monetary compensation
March 12, 2021
I’m not religious. I have watched TV shows based on Reapers and demons, and the such. That said, I noticed ‘hints’ of one of my more favorite shows in this book. It took longer to read, as I kept setting it down to consider the questions it raised.
‘Eternity’s Echo’ is well written. It leads with questions a thinking person would ask. Questions still unanswered, though they seem to get answered in here. I just have 1 question for HC Southwark, have you attended a seminary college? No judgement if you have or haven’t. Probably a rhetorical question.
Ellie is a young girl who is a thinker. She questions everything, from breathing, to reasons for life and death and why they occur. I am afraid I will give the story away if I say more.
Many will enjoy this story of awakening from selfish desires and of changing the world. Give it a read.
‘Eternity’s Echo’ is well written. It leads with questions a thinking person would ask. Questions still unanswered, though they seem to get answered in here. I just have 1 question for HC Southwark, have you attended a seminary college? No judgement if you have or haven’t. Probably a rhetorical question.
Ellie is a young girl who is a thinker. She questions everything, from breathing, to reasons for life and death and why they occur. I am afraid I will give the story away if I say more.
Many will enjoy this story of awakening from selfish desires and of changing the world. Give it a read.
August 24, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I got lost in it (in a good way!) due to the great characters and plot. I had a hard time putting it down.
I'm not sure I'd call this a religious based story because there is some cursing (very little) but there's also a lot about God, including some conversations about the Bible and Bible verses. It's not your classic good vs. evil, but it does boil down to that essentially.
I think the topics of suicide and death, and Heaven and Hell were dealt with in a gentle, understanding way.
*I highly urge you to find H. C. Southwark's website, where you'll find the secret extra ending of this book. It's really beautiful! And I already liked the ending of the published book.
I'm not sure I'd call this a religious based story because there is some cursing (very little) but there's also a lot about God, including some conversations about the Bible and Bible verses. It's not your classic good vs. evil, but it does boil down to that essentially.
I think the topics of suicide and death, and Heaven and Hell were dealt with in a gentle, understanding way.
*I highly urge you to find H. C. Southwark's website, where you'll find the secret extra ending of this book. It's really beautiful! And I already liked the ending of the published book.
December 5, 2021
Reapers ... hell's clean-up crew. How does someone become a reaper? They weren't all good people when alive, and they don't all become good people when they're put to work. Some were (and remain) scumbags - but they have a job to do. The scumbags take pleasure in tormenting those about to die, the others feel sorrow. But isn't that the way it is while alive on earth, too? At the end of time, where does everyone go? Does anything happen when time stands still or does entropy take over? There are a number of paradoxes in this story, but it'll make you think.
September 23, 2020
A good size book not a shorty.
What happens when you die.
Does it really make any difference if you commit suicide.
Is God real ,this book will help you decide.
The end was not what i expected,i thought i had worked it out silly me.
This book kept me clued to my iPad until i finished .
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Told in great detail with amazing characters and a few twists and turns.
You will love this book.
What happens when you die.
Does it really make any difference if you commit suicide.
Is God real ,this book will help you decide.
The end was not what i expected,i thought i had worked it out silly me.
This book kept me clued to my iPad until i finished .
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Told in great detail with amazing characters and a few twists and turns.
You will love this book.
January 20, 2021
I found this book to be insightful about what happens after death. It made me think about what I believe. I did received an ARC for this review.
In issues of belief, it is natural that people are passionate about discussion on sin and what influences where you go. This book explores that premise. I think the author does an ok job of laying the book out. It was probably a little too long for me. Otherwise, a decent read.
In issues of belief, it is natural that people are passionate about discussion on sin and what influences where you go. This book explores that premise. I think the author does an ok job of laying the book out. It was probably a little too long for me. Otherwise, a decent read.
March 2, 2023
I received an advance review copy of this book and I'm leaving an honest review voluntarily.
I absolutely loved this book! The characters were well developed and believable. Nothing better than a snarky, strong female heroine who has only one desire, to stop the world from ending. A lot of this book had my mind thinking and examining my own faith. The ending was too beautiful for words, still shedding a tear or two. I can highly recommend this book.
I absolutely loved this book! The characters were well developed and believable. Nothing better than a snarky, strong female heroine who has only one desire, to stop the world from ending. A lot of this book had my mind thinking and examining my own faith. The ending was too beautiful for words, still shedding a tear or two. I can highly recommend this book.
August 4, 2021
Although the story was well written, I could not get really interested in the characters. I kept reading in hopes that would change, but it didn’t.
The story provides an different view on the Apocalypse and the afterlife. It was cohesive.
I think this will appeal to others. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.
The story provides an different view on the Apocalypse and the afterlife. It was cohesive.
I think this will appeal to others. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.
September 4, 2021
I really enjoyed reading Eternity’s Echo. This was different from other Reaper books I’ve read- more real to me. My only objection was the Christian “Rightness”. There was no real reason to say that the Jesus freaks had it right. More good people could have gone to heaven. But otherwise, the book was pleasant to read.
October 23, 2022
I love the setting and general theme. This story had so much potential. There was enough of a story and character building to keep me reading, but not enough to love the book. By the end, there were so many unanswered mysteries, the ending was completely unsatisfying. These loose ends detracted from the overall message rather than supported it.
December 6, 2024
I really struggled to get into this book. The writing is good, but I didn't feel any connection to the characters. I've read another book by this author that I preferred, this one just wasn't my cup of tea. There are interesting themes around death, the afterlife, etc but without the characters drawing me in enough.
January 30, 2021
I didn’t hate the book, I just felt more and more as I went along that I disliked it and didn’t want to continue with it. I felt no connection, no spark, no need to keep reading so I didn’t finish it.
I received a free copy of this book and chose to write a review.
I received a free copy of this book and chose to write a review.
September 13, 2023
I thought that this story started well and initially I found it entertaining, amusing, and engaging. But, the second half seemed to slow and change direction in a way that did not work for me. It seemed maudlin at times.
January 22, 2021
Wasn't really my cup of tea. It was an interesting enough book, but i just didn't vibe with it.
February 21, 2021
Loved this book, twists and turns which characters who capture your heart and mind, well worth a read, I’m hoping there is more to this book, maybe a second
April 12, 2023
Interesting premise but it had trouble holding my attention
August 18, 2021
I am so glad that I picked this book to start my day. And while I finished this in several hours, which could either mean that the book was short or that I'm simply a fast reader, the book didn't seem incomplete in any sense. It was a wonderful, fulfilling read that had me wiping tears near the end.
Ellie was part of a team of reapers, their job being to collect souls of the dead. But she, and many others among the reapers, had regrets with their death. But the thing is, you can't change the past. Or so they said.
Ellie wasn't the best character; she was often rude at times, a bit too snarky, and bitter. But, like any person, she had layers to her personality. Reasons why she became who she is. And that lay with the family she left behind when she died.
Then the end of the world came, the apocalypse. The reapers had a new job, or basically their old job multiplied by a billion; they had to reap everything. Souls, plants, buildings. Why? Because time had stopped and the stars were falling. But Ellie couldn't accept that. She had to find a way to stop it.
My rating for the book would be around 4.3 stars. But since I loved the way the story eventually progressed and ended, I give it 4.8, rounded up to 5. Trigger warning though, there are several mentions/implications of suicide and death throughout the story.
I received a free copy and chose to write a review.
Ellie was part of a team of reapers, their job being to collect souls of the dead. But she, and many others among the reapers, had regrets with their death. But the thing is, you can't change the past. Or so they said.
Ellie wasn't the best character; she was often rude at times, a bit too snarky, and bitter. But, like any person, she had layers to her personality. Reasons why she became who she is. And that lay with the family she left behind when she died.
Then the end of the world came, the apocalypse. The reapers had a new job, or basically their old job multiplied by a billion; they had to reap everything. Souls, plants, buildings. Why? Because time had stopped and the stars were falling. But Ellie couldn't accept that. She had to find a way to stop it.
My rating for the book would be around 4.3 stars. But since I loved the way the story eventually progressed and ended, I give it 4.8, rounded up to 5. Trigger warning though, there are several mentions/implications of suicide and death throughout the story.
I received a free copy and chose to write a review.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews