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Echoes of Bellek
Memory is a gift.
It's also a curse.
When Cyrus Arbritrem refuses to marry the crown princess of Osmaria, his father disowns him. He is cast out into the world, plagued by loneliness and memories of his troubled childhood. He’s becoming the man he never intended to be, finding solace in drugs and alcohol. His life is spiraling out of control. It's only a matter of time before he gets caught up in another dangerous situation - one that may cost him everything.
Tessa, a fiery woman with a passion for flowers, lights the spark of hope for a better future in his heart. She holds tight to her own secrets as she cares for her ailing father. Secrets that may threaten their budding relationship. Cyrus grasps his second chance, determined to move beyond the memories that haunt his nightmares.
His chance at happiness is within reach, but a darkness is rising that desires the power Cyrus doesn’t know he possesses. Will he survive to shine brightly, or will the darkness destroy him?
This book contains themes and situations some adult readers may find triggering.
It's also a curse.
When Cyrus Arbritrem refuses to marry the crown princess of Osmaria, his father disowns him. He is cast out into the world, plagued by loneliness and memories of his troubled childhood. He’s becoming the man he never intended to be, finding solace in drugs and alcohol. His life is spiraling out of control. It's only a matter of time before he gets caught up in another dangerous situation - one that may cost him everything.
Tessa, a fiery woman with a passion for flowers, lights the spark of hope for a better future in his heart. She holds tight to her own secrets as she cares for her ailing father. Secrets that may threaten their budding relationship. Cyrus grasps his second chance, determined to move beyond the memories that haunt his nightmares.
His chance at happiness is within reach, but a darkness is rising that desires the power Cyrus doesn’t know he possesses. Will he survive to shine brightly, or will the darkness destroy him?
This book contains themes and situations some adult readers may find triggering.
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2022
18 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Morrigan Gaines
5 books23 followersMorrigan Gaines is a queer, neurospicy author of chaotic fantasy whose childhood running free in the Maine woods and nature education background inspire many of her novels.
Her character-driven stories showcase cozy, diverse worlds that feature mental health representation, a side helping of romance, and journeys of self-discovery.
When she’s not writing books or homeschooling her four kids, she can be found pursuing another ADHD-driven craft fixation, reading with her high-school sweetheart, or escaping the world by hiding in the forest.
Her character-driven stories showcase cozy, diverse worlds that feature mental health representation, a side helping of romance, and journeys of self-discovery.
When she’s not writing books or homeschooling her four kids, she can be found pursuing another ADHD-driven craft fixation, reading with her high-school sweetheart, or escaping the world by hiding in the forest.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 30, 2024
A fantastic read
A great adventure dea
ling with many difficult topics. The characters were well developed, even the despicable ones.
The plot was intriguing and twisted. The cliffhanger ending left me wondering and wanting more.
A great adventure dea
ling with many difficult topics. The characters were well developed, even the despicable ones.
The plot was intriguing and twisted. The cliffhanger ending left me wondering and wanting more.
October 25, 2022
Absolutely Fantastic
Echoes of Bellek far exceeded my expectations. I was looking for an escape, and got an adventure in the process.
Cyrus is a proud, trustworthy, loyal man, faced with an awful choice. His father, the duke, gives him an ultimatum.
Follow orders, or leave everything he’s ever known behind.
He chooses loyalty - to his friends.
With a sack of essentials, his horse, and some coin his mother insisted he take, Cyrus goes off to live his life as a regular person.
Regular people aren’t haunted by memories though. Not everyone has trauma and nightmares knocking at their door every time they close their eyes.
Soon the coin runs low.
The drinks from the pub aren’t enough for mental peace and quiet.
Pride is swallowed.
Trust is left at the door.
And his loyalty is only to himself.
Thing is, no matter how self-centered a person is, and how much they believe they’re the main character, the world continues to turn even as they fall apart. Just because they’re the one telling the story, doesn’t mean they are needed to tell it. They were just the poor soul caught in the middle.
Thank you Morrigan Gaines for giving us this magical world. I can’t wait to read more.
Echoes of Bellek far exceeded my expectations. I was looking for an escape, and got an adventure in the process.
Cyrus is a proud, trustworthy, loyal man, faced with an awful choice. His father, the duke, gives him an ultimatum.
Follow orders, or leave everything he’s ever known behind.
He chooses loyalty - to his friends.
With a sack of essentials, his horse, and some coin his mother insisted he take, Cyrus goes off to live his life as a regular person.
Regular people aren’t haunted by memories though. Not everyone has trauma and nightmares knocking at their door every time they close their eyes.
Soon the coin runs low.
The drinks from the pub aren’t enough for mental peace and quiet.
Pride is swallowed.
Trust is left at the door.
And his loyalty is only to himself.
Thing is, no matter how self-centered a person is, and how much they believe they’re the main character, the world continues to turn even as they fall apart. Just because they’re the one telling the story, doesn’t mean they are needed to tell it. They were just the poor soul caught in the middle.
Thank you Morrigan Gaines for giving us this magical world. I can’t wait to read more.
January 20, 2023
Echoes of Bellek
This was a book that was recommended to me by a TikTok app. I am so grateful as this was an amazing book. I can not wait to find out what happens next. This was well written and very entertaining.
This was a book that was recommended to me by a TikTok app. I am so grateful as this was an amazing book. I can not wait to find out what happens next. This was well written and very entertaining.
October 28, 2022
This only part one and I am hooked. I was hoping for more magic in this one but it flow really well and told and lay out the characters back story before the magic. Over all I really enjoy it and read it a day. Can't wait for the next part.
October 23, 2022
I loved this character-driven romantic fantasy by Morrigan Gaines. Her writing transported me to a different place and time. I couldn't put it down.
March 22, 2023
Outrunning your past is an impossible task especially when you choose to remember little of it.
Morrigan Gaines' novel "Echoes of Bellek" is a character-driven exploration of Cyrus Arbritrem, a disgraced noble with a traumatic past. When he chooses honor and loyalty over his father's greedy dealings, he is forced to make his way through a cold and cruel world alone. Are his attempts to bury the past in booze and drugs enough to grant him peace? Or is he digging his own grave?
"Echoes of Bellek" is the first book of the "Chronicles of Osmaria", a fantasy series that follows the hidden tendrils of magic and those characters shaped by them. There's the promise of adventure, passion, and heartache as the world enters a new era. Our entrance into Osmaria and the rest of the continent is slowly paced, centered on the one character who doesn't know of mages, magic, or even war. And while it is not the start we are used to, the series is fascinating. It is easy to fall into the story, with so many characters that are diverse and multi-dimensional. There's something for everyone here.
Cyrus endures so much, but the truth of his character never changes. He hits many low points throughout the novel and deals with his trauma in ways a hero would never approve of, but through it all, we still see that he aims to remain honorable. Cyrus is the underdog, and "Echoes of Bellek" is very much about him coming into his own.
Warnings: This novel did contain themes of violence, sexual assault, suicide idealization, abuse, drug use, and alcoholism. Gaines did not disregard the gravity of such scenes and handled those scenes in ways that were not gratuitous.
To the readers looking for new works with new intentions, I recommend "Echoes of Bellek". This exploration of Cyrus' character, both the good, the bad, and the ugly is insightful and sobering. And, while it may take on a slow and nihilist start, Cyrus is the very hero we've all come to love, with the truth of his past evident for us to see. We get to grow with him and once this story ends, you best be ready for the next one.
Morrigan Gaines' novel "Echoes of Bellek" is a character-driven exploration of Cyrus Arbritrem, a disgraced noble with a traumatic past. When he chooses honor and loyalty over his father's greedy dealings, he is forced to make his way through a cold and cruel world alone. Are his attempts to bury the past in booze and drugs enough to grant him peace? Or is he digging his own grave?
"Echoes of Bellek" is the first book of the "Chronicles of Osmaria", a fantasy series that follows the hidden tendrils of magic and those characters shaped by them. There's the promise of adventure, passion, and heartache as the world enters a new era. Our entrance into Osmaria and the rest of the continent is slowly paced, centered on the one character who doesn't know of mages, magic, or even war. And while it is not the start we are used to, the series is fascinating. It is easy to fall into the story, with so many characters that are diverse and multi-dimensional. There's something for everyone here.
Cyrus endures so much, but the truth of his character never changes. He hits many low points throughout the novel and deals with his trauma in ways a hero would never approve of, but through it all, we still see that he aims to remain honorable. Cyrus is the underdog, and "Echoes of Bellek" is very much about him coming into his own.
Warnings: This novel did contain themes of violence, sexual assault, suicide idealization, abuse, drug use, and alcoholism. Gaines did not disregard the gravity of such scenes and handled those scenes in ways that were not gratuitous.
To the readers looking for new works with new intentions, I recommend "Echoes of Bellek". This exploration of Cyrus' character, both the good, the bad, and the ugly is insightful and sobering. And, while it may take on a slow and nihilist start, Cyrus is the very hero we've all come to love, with the truth of his past evident for us to see. We get to grow with him and once this story ends, you best be ready for the next one.
February 25, 2023
I came across this novel on TikTok and thought it would be a good fit for me being novella length and fantasy. The book started out very strong and I was intrigue. However, there was a mid-book slump I struggled with. Most of the time the slump resolves around the 70% mark. However, in this novella the big reveal didn’t occur until 90% mark. It was an interesting reveal and I’m glad I pushed through the slump to get to the ending.
I think there were some missed opportunities with the Cyrus’s lineage as well as hinting more toward the big reveal at the end of the book. There were some hints however I think they could have been reflected on or highlighted more.
I also just wanted a little more from Tessa and Cyrus. They did have some nice scenes in the beginning of the book and some nice scenes toward the end too. I just wanted maybe more tension leading up to the connection.
Overall, it’s a decent read if you are looking for a coming of age fantasy novella with a hint of spice. My score is mostly reflected by the pacing issues.
I think there were some missed opportunities with the Cyrus’s lineage as well as hinting more toward the big reveal at the end of the book. There were some hints however I think they could have been reflected on or highlighted more.
I also just wanted a little more from Tessa and Cyrus. They did have some nice scenes in the beginning of the book and some nice scenes toward the end too. I just wanted maybe more tension leading up to the connection.
Overall, it’s a decent read if you are looking for a coming of age fantasy novella with a hint of spice. My score is mostly reflected by the pacing issues.
January 6, 2026
DNF. 2.5 rounded up.
I think this book was an expectations issue for me, as well as a preferences issue. Overall, the quality of the writing was fantastic. I just personally don't care for the character explorations that we're seeing here. And from reading the basic premise of book 2, this felt like a prequel in a way.
I also wasn't expecting the really heavy focus on alcoholism and drug usage, which is subject matter I tend to avoid in books.
Overall, the book itself wasn't bad, just wasn't to my preferences.
I think this book was an expectations issue for me, as well as a preferences issue. Overall, the quality of the writing was fantastic. I just personally don't care for the character explorations that we're seeing here. And from reading the basic premise of book 2, this felt like a prequel in a way.
I also wasn't expecting the really heavy focus on alcoholism and drug usage, which is subject matter I tend to avoid in books.
Overall, the book itself wasn't bad, just wasn't to my preferences.
March 2, 2023
I’m often wary of trying new, unknown authors, but this one pleasantly surprised me. I was hooked from the first line. 5 stars!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews