User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Echoes by Alice Reeds is the type of book that when finished I had to pick my jaw back up off the floor and thought about throwing my Kindle. And as much as that sounds like I hated this one I really didn’t, it’s actually rather brilliant. Talk about a book that will mess with your mind…
I don’t want to say too much about Echoes as you can tell the blurb is really kind of cryptic as to what you are getting and that’s a good thing, it’s one that you want to go in fresh and let the story slowly unfold around you.
So what I will say… the opening chapter is Fiona and Miles on a plane that crashes and leaves them stranded on an unknown island. The second chapter takes a reader back to before they got on the plane and gives more into the how and why they are together. From then on it alternates the story here and there.
I know this book is not going to be for everyone but if you like a fast paced adventure with a bit of romance you may want to give it a try. The one thing that I see folks not liking is the ending, it’s a bit open ended to where you can see it either continuing or leaves a lot to your own imagination. I’d actually be fine either way as this one was one heck of a ride to get there as it messes with your mind more than a lot of psychological thrillers out there and I loved that so I’d definitely recommend giving it a try.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
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Rating: really liked it
Echoes is so cryptic I'm still trying to work out the title. Trust nobody. Fear everything. This is a mystery suspense read which I couldn't put down.
Fiona is a special girl. She is the current Florida State lightweight kickboxing champion. She trains hard and dedicates her time to being the best. She knows her strengths but school work isn't one of them. She's an average student with a talent in sport.
Miles is Mr rich and popular. He's also intelligent, fluent in other languages and knows computer tech. These two on paper are opposites, but somehow they landed the same internship. A trip to Germany to work with Briola Bio Tech. This is a trip of a lifetime, but Miles and Fiona aren't friends. In fact they are more like enemies. They don't get along at school. They don't have the same friends and they are from completely different backgrounds. If only the company was the biggest problem with this trip.
Echoes is written from Fiona's point of view. Imagine this; your memory is a little clouded but you find yourself in a plane wreckage on a desert island with the one person you never thought you'd need anything from. Your memory is a little hazy and reality is a little unclear. Your task isn't easy in fact it's not even certain. Everything you think you know will be questioned. Trust nobody.
This book is beautifully crafted together with two stories. The first is the desert island the second is the what if. -They made it to Germany but the internship isn't what it advertised.
An echo is a sound caused by a reflection of sound waves. Echoes (this book) is a reflection of memories both present and alternate. As this novel unfolds the cracks begin to show. Maybe they went to Germany? Maybe the plane isn't what it seems? Maybe someone is messing with them?
Also while we are on the topic of echo it is also Miles surname (still trying to work out the title).
Fiona and Miles have a history but you know what they say about love and hate. It's a fine line and sometimes a misunderstanding can blur them. It seems fate is giving them a helping hand in the romance department even if the rest of their life is changing forever.
Echoes is a full length story but will leave you ready for the next adventure. Not all questions are answered, but I was happy with the ending. I liked this book so much, of course I want a sequel!
Echo's probably suited for the young adult audience + as it has some juicy action scenes and I'm not talking about romance.
5 stars out of 5.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review and I've joined the blog tour. My date 8th August. Happy reading.
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Rating: really liked it
This is a very fast read that keeps you turning the pages just to find out what exactly is happening only to get to the end and find out that this will not be a stand-alone book and you're not getting any answers. A very suspenseful storyline, no doubt, but full of the typical YA book themes and clichés. With that being said, teens will love this book and that is the intended audience after all.
3 1/2 ⭐
I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
I requested a copy of this novel purely on reputation. A few blogger friends of mine said that this was supposed to be good and I trust their opinions, so I requested a review copy. I never read the blub, so I was in for a wild ride. Echoes is a young adult novel about survival with a bit of a science fiction twist. It was pretty good and kept me reading because I was so curious about what would happen next.
The characters were mediocre in my opinion. They were your run of the mill young adult male and female characters. They didn't feel like anything special. They weren't badly written or anything, they were just ordinary and a bit boring. By themselves they didn't stand out, but that was okay. This happens in a lot of young adult books, and if the plot and rest of the book is really good, a lot of time no one notices.
The plot was pretty interesting and really is what kept me reading. There were two alternating realities, one where Miles and Fiona were stranded on an island. That was the reality that I found most interesting. It felt similar to Cast Away at some times. In both that movie and this book people were trying to survive on an abandoned island that they had crash landed on. Cast Away is one of my favorite movies, partly because I love survival stories. I find it interesting trying to make it in the wild all alone and Miles and Fiona had to work to survive.
In the other reality, Miles and Fiona are stuck in Berlin where they were supposed to have a summer internship. The connection between the two realities and the plot where someone was after them kept me guessing. I felt curious and had questions that kept me reading throughout the whole book. But unfortunately some of those questions never got answered, the ending leaves you hanging without wrapping up some pretty important plot points.
The writing was more tell than show in some parts. For example, I was told about how Fiona's relationship with her father affected how she acted with male authority figures rather than shown that through her behavior and her actions. I think this was part of the reason that I never felt emotionally connected to the characters or the story. A lot of big moments fell flat and no matter what the characters went through it felt like it was conveyed in the same tone. The writing wasn't bad, it just failed to grip me emotionally.
The pacing was kind of slow, but the writing was good enough and the plot interesting enough that I kept reading. I expected it to be a lot better than it was though. I think that since I never felt emotionally connected to the characters it made the novel fall flat for me. It was okay, but it really wasn't anything special, I could take it or leave it. The ending was really disappointing though, I expected a lot of things to be explained and was left without some necessary explanations. It wasn't even a cliff hanger, rather than an unfinished story.
Rating: really liked it
*Disclaimer: An e-ARC of Echoes by Alice Reeds was provided to me by Entangled Teen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.--
Initial Post Reading Thoughts:Well, this defintitely had ALL the twists and turns. However, it doesn't answer half of the questions that you will have, but it does set up for a sequel...
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What I LikedThe mystery. This book is hella intriguing all thanks to the crazy mystery throughout the entire thing. You literally don’t know what the hell is going on right from the very start of this novel, all the way until the very end. I still have no idea what the heck I just read, and I kind of like that? It reminded me of one of those really good Netflix series that literally gives you the bare minimum when it comes to answers (*cough* Dark *cough*), that literally makes you beg for more. A.K.A. I would love to read the sequel as soon as possible…because there will be a sequel right? There has to be a sequel.
The alternating timelines. I love a book with alternate timelines. What was special about them in this case is that you really think you know which timeline came first, but as you read on you stop and think…wait, did this happen BEFORE the other sequence of events?! It isn’t clearly labeled in terms of time, only in place (ie. Berlin, The Island) so really, you have no clue. Also, the ending really makes you question what came first, or if it was even real in the first place. Mind = Blown.
The concept. Honestly, this felt super creative to me. I would watch the heck out of this if it were turned into some sort of television/Netflix series. It definitely has that ‘it’ factor that makes it stand out from the rest.
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What I Didn’t LikeThe writing style. Unfortunately, the writing style wasn’t really doing it for me. It felt long-winded at times and over explanatory. I found myself skimming at times so I could get to the point/action again. It wasn’t all bad, but I think it could have used a bit more polishing.
The pacing. As mentioned above, there were moments that dragged a little. Maybe that was partially a personal thing as I really wanted to know what was going to happen next and I really wanted more answers, so maybe my brain just wanted to skip everything else, but the pacing felt off to me. There were moments that went by so quickly while others did not, which caused me to take a little longer to read this novel than I would have liked.
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Overall, Echoes has so much potential! It is creative and really keeps you captivated and wanting more answers! I really do want to read the sequel (cause there will be a sequel…RIGHT?!) and see how the author grows. But mostly, I need to know WHAT THE HECK is happening!
Rating: really liked it
This review was originally posted on Books of My HeartReview copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Echoes, is the first book the
Echoes duology, maybe trilogy I'm not sure but it will twist your head and make you wonder the entire time what is going on, much like this show Lost or The Maze Runner. What is real, what is happening, who can be trusted. Well the short answer is I still really don't know, and I love it.
I haven't been reading a lot of YA lately. I don't know if I've outgrown it a little or if the tropes have just gotten a little redundant and obvious that I've lost interest in so much of it. But that said, this is one of the few YA novels that have gripped my attention in awhile and I'm sure that has everything to do with the what the heck is going on aspect of the book. Even after the ending I'm still not entirely sure and I don't think you will be either.
Miles and Fiona have never gotten along well in school but both are picked for an internship with a pharmaceutical company in Europe and will be working with with each other for the duration or at least that is what they thought. The story is only told from Fiona's PoV and alternates between an island she and Miles have crashed on, and Berlin, the city they showed up in for an internship that isn't at all what it seems. I seriously spent the entire time trying to figure out which location timeline came first. Did they go to Berlin and forget before being put on an island or is it the other way around? Also wtf is going on with this pharmaceutical company that they got the internship with and what is their role in Miles and Fiona being totally lost and confused as to what is going on.
I will say, it did keep me at the edge of my seat wondering what is really happening most of the book and even at the end I was interested in jumping into the next book right away. There were plenty of unexpected twists for readers to ponder and enjoy. I only have one complaint, and I make this with a lot of YA, is there is the romance happening that is a bit slow and quick for me all at the same time. Miles and Fiona have been adversaries most of there time knowing each other and then stuck together they realize, hey maybe there is more to this other person than I thought and O.o I might really like them. Like kiss a lot like them. It is sweet and cute but I'm older so it was a bit boring to me but perfect for the YA crowd.
Overall, a nice jaunt into the unknown and a solid thriller/mystery. The characters are pretty cool dealing with some teen stuff and while coming from very different backgrounds they found a lot of common ground. Now I just hope to find out more about the circumstances that led them into the arms of an evil pharmaceutical company and their machinations.
Narration: I know Christina Traister from the Harmony Black series and have really enjoyed her in that performance. So it was no surprise to really enjoy her narration of
Echoes. She does first person narration really well and while there was one character I thought sounded very much like another all the other characters were very discernable to me. She kept the mysterious feel of the story running strong throughout. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Rating: really liked it
I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Entangled Publishing, LLC.
When Fiona wins an internship to Briola Tech in Berlin, it’s a dream come true. The only downfall is that she’s sharing the experience with her arch-nemesis, Miles, a swaggering rich boy who goes out of his way to humiliate her at school. They arrive in Berlin only to discover that there is no Briola Tech, and someone doesn’t want them to leave the city. In alternate chapters, Fiona and Miles never arrive in Germany at all; their plane has crashed on a desert island, leaving them stranded with little hope for rescue. What is Briola, and what do they really want with Fiona and Miles? More importantly, can she trust him when everyone they meet seems to be part of the conspiracy?
Interesting premise, wobbly execution. The book is well-paced between the two narratives that it’s telling, and when one gets slow, it’s able to switch to the next to keep things moving. Fiona and Miles face a number of challenges, both in Berlin and on the island, but after a while (particularly in the Berlin narrative) it grows repetitive. Paranoia and conspiracy aren’t sustainable vibes in the long term, and the longer the book went on, the less I cared about the answers. It was already well past my willingness to believe. (I was also having terrible Lost flashbacks, but that’s a different issue.) Toward the end of the novel, the Berlin timeline just… tapers off and never resurfaces, which is a problem for both the structure and the overall plot.
The writing isn’t bad; there are some issues with modifier phrases and an over-use of adverbs (simply, actually), but it’s not overly distracting. Occasionally, the dialogue is almost indistinguishable from the narrative and not quite believable for teenagers. Miles has a very pretentious way of ending his questions in “no?” that I’ve never heard another human use in actual speech. The book rests almost solely on those two characters, and half of them aren’t bad. I like Fiona. She’s smart, resourceful, and fully capable of defending herself. Her kickboxing champion angle is interesting, but the fight scenes are fast and poorly described, so I never got as good a sense of it as I wanted. Her development, particularly in the aspect of her fear of authority, is shaky, but I give it points for the attempt. Miles is utterly typical: rich, handsome, sure of himself and, for the most part, uninteresting. There’s a distinct thread of enemies-to-lovers romance, if that’s your thing.
The real problem is that it’s like reading two separate books (desert island fanfic au), and the biggest downfall is that the novel fails to bring them together in any satisfactory way. It’s not just that Echoes leaves off on a major cliffhanger; it’s that it makes no attempt to explain how two sets of events featuring the same characters have happened simultaneously. Given the tenuous explanations that are offered for other aspects of the plot, I’m not sure I trust a sequel to clear it up for me. It’s entertaining escapism, but I’m not planning to continue with the series.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
Rating: really liked it
RATING - 4 1/2 stars
This was simply amazing. I had little to no problems with it. This is my favorite thriller, settled. Full review when I get home.
Rating: really liked it
This was like baby Lost met baby Jason Bourne with even a bear to complete the package...and I was 200% down with it.
I will give this book so much credit - I had no clue what was going on the entire book but not in that weird confusing way. I literally had no clue where this book was heading and how these two events were connected and what was going to be the end result. I sort of guessed a bigger reveal about halfway through but I totally didn't see the why behind it or how it was going to unfold. And yeah, I sort of called the very last epilogue, but I mean, other than thatttttttttttt, this book had me forever questioning what was going on, just how deep down a rabbit hole are we, and WAS I ABOUT TO BE IN THE LAND OF SMOKE MONSTERS WITH LOST OR ABOUT TO FIGHT SOME CRIME WITH BLUE HAIRED JASON BOURNES???
I think Reeds did just an absolute amazing job with the settings. We have two settings: the Island and Berlin. I felt the rush of the city, the grit, the crowds, the fresh air of the park our people ran in - it felt like Berlin each time we were back in this time. And the Island? Omigosh, I could feel the humidity, hear the little jungle sounds and the incessant bug noises, feel a slight breeze from the water, feel the sand in my toes. I felt immersed in both of the settings.
Also, in most flipping back and forth stories, I always end up enjoying one part of the story more than the other - it's a fact that I've just made up that 98.9% of the time, one part will always be more interesting than the other. However, Reeds made both of them captivating and intriguing. I didn't know where the mystery was going for each of the story, so I kept eagerly wanting to get back to each side to find out if I could sniff out another little clue like I was Scooby Doo. Or probably Velma, since Scooby just runs away and gets snacks...wait, no, no, that's right, that's totally more me.
I found the characters were okay. I liked them well enough, but I never really connected them super deeply. However, I felt they were good enough to cheer on for, and they did pretty well leading this mystery story along. I wish there was a bit more to them, but overall, they were good.
I wasn't a major fan of the romance, but it was okay. A ship might have sailed in the book, but it sadly wasn't my feels for these two. It was okay, though.
The pacing was pretty good. I felt like there were a few moments where I got bored, but then the story would pick right back up and I would have to know what was going on. I could have done without the whole chapter on learning how to kickbox, but it did go to the characterization of our narrator.
Overall, this was a really captivating and intriguing read. I never really knew what was going on, and I enjoyed that so much. It's been a while for a book to trip me up so much, and I loved trying to put on my Sherlock hat to figure out if we were all about to be in the Sixth Sense or if this was the next Mission Impossible. There were a few slow moments, but everything else was pretty good or okay.Pick this up if you're looking for the next book to give you a mind trip. 4 crowns and an Ariel rating!
Rating: really liked it
Echoes will mess with your mind.
When Fiona and Miles won an internship at Briola Tech in Berlin, they thought the only problem was to share this experience together.
Since her first day in school, Fiona has hated Miles after he humiliates her and calls her pathetic.
Now she needs to decide if she can trust him, because nothing is making sense.
After their plane crashed on a deserted island on their way to Berlin, Fiona and Miles need to find out what happened because it seems their plane crashing wasn’t an accident.
In an alternate reality, Fiona and Miles arrive in Berlin, but they find out Briola Tech doesn't exist and it looks like someone is making sure they can't leave the city.
They need answers, their life depends on it. What is Briola? Who's behind the deception? And most importantly, why do they have memories of being in Berlin, when they never were? Or where they?
Echoes is filled with mystery and suspense that you won't be able to put down.
Fiona is a lightweight kickboxer champion who isn’t socially accepted at her private school for not having the same resources as the other rich students. Although her grades aren’t overachieving, she has a scholarship due to her kickboxing training.
After being chosen for an internship in Berlin, the last thing on her mind was that she would be paired with the person she hates the most, Mr. Rich Miles Echo.
Miles is the typical rich guy but with straight A’s.
Now they need to overcome their differences to help each other to stay alive.
I don’t even know what to say, with that incredible ending I couldn’t wait and started the second book before writing this review.
I
loved Echoes. Usually I go straight to YA Fantasy although sometimes I like a little bit of mystery but there aren't a lot in the YA section. Echoes is perfect because of this.
Most of the time I didn’t know what was happening, and not because it was confusing, but because there was this whole mystery involving why Fiona and Miles were suddenly on an island after their plane crashed, yet they had memories of being in Berlin when they never were. Or where they?
I will say sometimes the pacing was slow, and when you start to feel kinda bored because nothing is happening then BAM something major happens and the book picks up or they discover little pieces of why they could be there and you want to continue reading.
If you’re a fan of the Lost series, this book is perfect for you. Enjoy the ride while your mind is blown. Echoes is filled with mystery and romance. You won’t hesitate to buy the sequel, Fractures, when you read it’s epic ending.
Rating: really liked it
I loved the back and forth banter between Fiona & Miles. They started off really despising each other but ended up being the only person the other could trust in the whole world.
This story takes the reader on a whirlwind of ups and downs and you are left wanting so much more. All I can say is that this better be a series because I need to see what happens with these characters from here.
I had zero problems with starting the book and continuing. It gripped my attention from the first chapter and kept me just as entertained the whole way through. There is a roller coaster of events and you never knew which direction you would be thrown in next or what may happen next. I really liked the dual direction the writer had taken with time/place. It is hard to explain but once you read the book, you can get a better understanding.
There is a love story that does blossom while reading but the book is not based on that alone which was lovely in itself. I really enjoyed this plot driven read and highly suggest it for any mystery/sci-fi fan!
Rating: really liked it
I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book!This was so confusing but in the best possible way. In this story we follow Fiona and Miles who are enemies, they are not fond of eachother at all.
When they are both heading out on a plane to Berlin, the plane crashes on an island. All they have to survive is eachother and they discover that them being stranded seems too convienant.
So I really liked this book. I thought the character were really cool and their interactions with eachother were everything, their banter and jokes were just laugh worthy.
The romance was perfectly paced out and it was a main aspect of the story but still didn't overshadow the thriller/mystery points of the story.
So this hits shelves on the 7th August 2018 and I am so looking forward to hearing your views on this book.
Rating: really liked it
Hmm...thriller/mystery plus romance? Okay, I'm open to it
Rating: really liked it
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.I love how simple the synopsis is! It says just enough to make you curious, but not enough to give anything away. That's definitely a good thing with this one, because there is
a lot going on. I had so many questions and only a vague idea of what was happening. I felt just as lost as Miles and Fiona.
However, the romance felt forced and unnecessary. They were two teens that disliked each other but found themselves tossed together under dire circumstances. Flirting, feeling
zings of electricity, and doing anything even remotely romantic felt wrong. They were stranded and fighting for their lives, unreliable hormones should have been the furthest thing from their minds. Although, a truce that turned into a friendship would have been understandable and more likely in their situation.
I also didn't like how many times Fiona made a reference to her kickboxing. Yes, you have fighting skills and know how to stay calm in stressful situations, but you do not have to compare every single scenario with how it related to your training. I loved how strong and determined Fiona was, but I felt like that fact was thrown in my face way too often. Miles is an arrogant asshole, Fiona is strong and quick on her feet... I grasped the concept in the beginning and didn't like how frequently it was repeated.
There were a few times I had to go along with something I didn't believe or agree with, but it was necessary to keep the story moving forward. Miles and Fiona did a few things that likely would not have worked in real life, but needed to work to get them out of one situation or another. Most adults wouldn't be that gullible or oblivious.
Echoes was a weird, trippy story that left me guessing the entire time. The information we're given was vague and only enough to keep me curious about the ending. I wanted to know why these two teenagers were abandoned and unable to reach anyone that mattered. From the beginning we know something creeptastic is going on, but it isn't until the very end that we discover exactly...
Exactly what? What happened at the end? I have no idea. I think I have more questions now than I did at the beginning. Have you seen Lost? It feels a lot like a YA version of Lost, but the ending isn't really an ending... or is it? I don't know if this was intended as a stand alone (it should be), but the ending was
ugh. I did not go through that mindfuck to get to an ending that wasn't an ending. It didn't even feel like a cliffhanger, but like the story was left unfinished.
In the end,
Echoes will make you question everything and everyone. The characters were okay, but I never felt attached to them. The author
tells you a lot about who they are and why they act a certain way, but I would have liked drawing those conclusions for myself. I like it when I'm able to discern things based on how a character acts, rather than being told what makes them who they are.
I don't think I'll read the second book (if there is one), but this was a quick read with a somewhat interesting story. I
did want to know what happened to them, but since that wasn't really answered, I feel like I wasted all the time I invested in this book.
Rating: really liked it
Let me start by saying that I went into this book pretty skeptical after the first couple chapters. I still have some issues with it, but I can’t give it anything less than 4 stars. Based on overall plot/mystery/suspense, this is easily a 5-Star story. But there were some things that held me back from rating it as such (discussed below in the Cons Section, if you are interested).
This book at times felt like a mix of Lost, Hunger Games, and Maze Runner. Maybe a little bit of Inception, too. It follows two story lines, and the reader is left trying to decide which one is real, or if both (or neither) somehow are. Can I just say I really loved this? Because I did!
The mystery and suspense had me turning the pages frantically at times, desperate for answers. I love a good mystery, and this did not disappoint. However, our questions, ultimately, are not answered; the book ends with no real explanations, and left off as a bit of a cliff-hanger, so I am REALLY hoping there is a sequel in the works. For me, usually, the reveal in this type of book ends up being a disappointment/let down, so maybe ending it this way was good. It left me wanting more, still unable to stop thinking about it and trying to come up with my own theories.
Overall - awesome story! Though it wasn’t perfect, the plot kept me guessing (still guessing!) and wanting more. I’m very excited to see how it all plays out, if there is in fact a sequel some day. I would definitely recommend it to others.
The Cons:
1) The characters, for me, were not that likable. Miles grew on me as we learned more about him, but Fiona just never did. She just seemed too constantly antagonistic, in both her actions and thoughts.
2) There were a couple instances of “teen-speak” that just didn’t fit. “So extra.” “What even.” It just didn’t feel natural, like the author was trying to appeal to the Tumblr audience. Maybe teens really do talk like that these days, but the characters were also portrayed as relatively well-spoken and intelligent individuals, so these phrases jarred me out of the story every time. In this same vein, all the pop culture references (Instagram, Teen Wolf, and many others) at times felt a little much.
3) I won’t say there were any glaring pot holes, per se, but plot points/devices hit pretty thin ice at times. I won’t give examples, but there were times when rationales or explanations seemed pretty thin/fragile - like you shouldn’t think too hard about it or you’d start scratching your head.
4) At times, it felt like the story was a little long-winded or rambling (kind of like my review, thanks for noticing). Explanation is, of course, a good thing, but sometimes it was a little too much.
HOWEVER, all that said, I still really LOVED this book! You can’t beat an awesome plot that keeps you guessing. I can deal with those “cons” when the plot is this good.
*I received an advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
