I'd like to thank the publisher and also NetGalley for reaching out to allow me to give thoughts on a book they thought I'd be interested in.

I'll be honest. I only made it in 44% but I felt that that 44% was enough to allow me to voice an opinion which seems to reflect what others were saying in their own reviews upon completion.

I felt nothing for these characters, and I felt nothing for the story itself. The narrative voice is very confusing and lacks fluidity. I don't understand the supernatural aspects from a visual perspective. As a reader, and one who visualizes in their head as they read, I am supposed to view this story fluid as a film. The narrative piece does not give that fluidity so I am left with gaps in the picture - like a puzzle missing its pieces.

I had frankly no idea what was going on, and I had a vague idea that the whole point of the story had to do with a character who has no reflection ; an island that is haunted by bird creatures ; people who may not be who they say they are because they are mirror images of themselves gone rogue. ... The list goes on. There are ideas and plot points here that don't match with the story and the detail given.

I can't continue a book with this many issues.

An interesting concept, but it felt too familiar like it has been done before. The plot was dull and I felt that the creepy bits weren't really that creepy.

Actual Stars 2.5 Rounded Up⁣
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Doesn’t this cover scream creepy scary good?! That’s what I thought, and I’m a huge fan of thrillers and horrors so I was pretty excited to read this. I even read the book prior, Rules For Vanishing because I’ve heard they correlate without actually being a part of a series. I hate to say I did not really enjoy either book. ⁣
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Kate Alice Marshall has a wonderful writing ability that much is clear. She set the tone perfectly for a creepy, chilling book. But it just didn’t follow through. The characters fell flat, I didn’t really care either way what happened to the them, they just didn’t seem to have a real enough quality and I felt no connection. So suffice to say the romance involving Sophie the MC and Liam was something I could not get on board with. ⁣
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I think the way the story unfolded with mixed media told from video recordings and interviews of the events and then to the events themselves as they happened intermittently made it feel like a documentary or a story being told, not like something that was/had actually taken place. Maybe too much mixed media I’m not sure, but it took away something from the story, for me at least. It does seem like a lot of people really enjoyed that aspect. Also I thought there was way to much action. It was a bit overdone. Not enough time to absorb what was going on. ⁣
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The plot also just didn’t gel with me. This is why I don’t like Sci Fi. That is not the main element but there definitely were traces of it. The way everything was explained kind of confused me. Maybe I’m just not smart enough to get it! That is a definite possibility! 😂😂⁣
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I hate to slam a book this hard but I want to be honest about my feelings and I do believe Kate Alice Marshall has writing talent that needs to be explored. This book just wasn’t a hit for me. ⁣
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𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬

Kate has an incredibly unique voice in YA - I love the dark gothic feel that is in her previous books, which also came across in this one. This book was a fun ride that kept me turning pages long into the night. So very bing-able.

Our Last Echoes is a supernatural thriller that follows a young woman who wants to uncover the truth behind her mother's death because her memories of the day are vivid yet somehow also muddled. My favorite (albeit really specific) thriller trope is when the case is deemed "closed" but then major secrets are revealed that challenge the narrative about it that everyone had accepted, and Marshall did something really unique with that here.

In Our Last Echoes, our protagonist, 18-year-old Sophia Novak, lands an internship at the same research center that her mother worked at right before she died, and meets some of the same people who were there on the day. It doesn't help that the research center is located in a relatively remote area in Alaska, and that people have been going missing from that area for decades. As Sophia is attempting to piece together the story of what happened to her mother 15 years prior, she crosses paths with Abby, an entry-level employee at the research center who is trying to solve the mysteries of the unexplained disappearances. Once it becomes clear that Sophia's and Abby's missions are more intertwined than either of them would ever guess, the book becomes very twisty.

The book is told in a nontraditional format, combining traditional prose with interviews and video transcripts. It's obviously not for everyone, but I love books told in unique ways. Many of the video transcripts are from the day that Sophia's mom died 15 year prior to the beginning of the story, so we get to figure out what happened to her along with her, rather than it all being spelled out at the beginning.

Overall, this was a compelling, well-crafted YA thriller.

If you’re a fan of Kate Alice Marshall, the first thing to know about her latest book Our Last Echoes is that it’s a stealth new entry in the same world as Rules For Vanishing. For new readers, fear not, this book isn’t marketed as a sequel for good reason because it can stand on its own perfectly well and the main connection to the previous book is through a returning character who we’re introduced to through the eyes of a new protagonist, Sophia. While I whole-heartedly recommend picking up the earlier book because it’s phenomenal, it isn’t required reading before starting this one.

Our Last Echoes continues in the faux-documentary style that this author excels at with a selection of written transcripts from radio broadcasts or video interviews and excerpts from various sources like fan forums, articles and letters. These are scattered intermittently throughout the book, which is predominantly told from the first person perspective of Sophia Novak.

We know from the start that she has an ulterior motive for scheming her way into an internship on Bitter Rock island where she intends to unravel the mystery behind her mother’s supposed death. There is no time at all wasted in setting the scene with a hostile local as her first welcome to Bitter Rock, followed by more friendly folks who warn her against going outside in the night which Sophia promptly disobeys in order to stumble into shadowy mysterious figures who fade into the mist. No slow-burn here, the reader is instantly catapulted into bizarre happenings and spooky shenanigans from the get-go, and there is an abundance of spine-chilling creepiness yet to come!

It’s impressive just how much sheer creativity and unabashedly insane weirdness is on offer here with a wonderfully unique remixing of traditional horror tropes. Safe to say that you will never have read anything like it! Familiar tropes like Protagonist with Secret Connection to Small Town and Enter The Evil Doppelgangers are given a whole new twist here with a mind-bending mythology that pays off in the most incredible fashion. Things may get a bit confusing for some readers along the way, but the mysteries are answered (mostly) and the threads are tied up in a satisfying manner by the end, so stick out the wild rollercoaster ride!

As fascinating as the plot elements may be, the success of a book rests on its core characters and Our Last Echoes has an engaging cast – alongside our budding detective Sophia is the charming, self-deprecating Liam (son of the head scientist) and brashly confident paranormal expert Abby (our link to Rules For Vanishing). The three form a solid Scooby Gang as they team up to investigate the truth about what’s happening on Bitter Rock and discover what exactly happened to Sophia’s mother all those years ago. There is a budding romance between Sophia and Liam which isn’t really necessary, but neither is it overly distracting as the focus of the story is on the trio determinedly rushing in where angels fear to tread. The author also makes sure to develop a fun dynamic between Abby and Liam; where many YA novels would simply focus on plugging them into the Best Friend and Love Interest roles respectively, here they have an engaging banter that brings some much needed humour to lighten the mood in between life-threatening escapades.

This haunting and thought-provoking supernatural tale is best enjoyed at night so you can be thoroughly absorbed in the eerie atmosphere oozing from its pages. A beguiling, immersive narrative with sympathetic and relatable lead characters makes this an addictive read, highly recommended for all suspense/horror fans!

3.5/5

This was overall a good story, It did take a little while to actually finish it. At some parts of the story was a little confusing. The ending wasn't too bad, and overall I enjoyed this one.

THIS GEM IS MESMERIZINGLY INTRIGUING AND YOU WILL NOT WANT TO PUT IT DOWN!! THANK YOU TO THE PUB FOR ALLOWING ME THIS ARC. I WILL BE RECOMMENDING TO MY FOLLOWERS!!

Kate Alice Marshall freaks me out. When I read Rules for Vanishing, I couldn't even go to the bathroom on my own without my husband escorting me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me early access to this creepy AF book. If you are looking for a YA book that will keep you up at night, this is the one for you. The writing style, told in a collection of found documents and written confessions will give you CHILLS. Reading a book with an unreliable narrator/narration is a great way to get me sucked into a novel and this one does not disappoint.

Sophia's first memory is of drowning - only remembering the darkness and taste of the water as she gasps for air while going under. She remembers being pulled to safety only to never see her mother again. Though Sophia has never been in an ocean and her mother died years ago in a hospital, the mystery begins to unravel. A series of clues takes Sophia to the island of Bitter Rock where she meets Liam and Abby. People have been disappearing from Bitter Rock and leaving only their ghostly echoes behind. Sophia has to confront a past she may not be ready for.

I am a big thriller fan, but I've never been someone who could get into horror. While this isn't Stephen King esque, it is pretty gruesome and intense and there were several moments that I had to take a break to calm my heart rate down. But this book was so fantastic that I could get past all of the horror elements because I had to know what was going on. The mystery of this world, of Sophia's experience, and the disappearances on this island captivated me and I absolutely loved it!

One thing I love about thrillers is the mix formatting. It's not just prose showing us what's going on, but interviews, old tapes, and other mediums coming together to build the story. Honestly, during the tape segments, I could vividly picture everything that was happening. I could see this book like a movie in my mind playing out as I'm reading and that's probably why it terrified me so much. 

Now, I'm a big scardy cat. I can't watch horror movies because I am pretty meek with that and I will jump, scream, and cry during movies, if I haven't already covered my eyes while watching. But with books I can't look away and this one held me captive. Even some gruesome descriptions and images couldn't turn me away from the story. And I honestly thought the horror element was so well done. It wasn't over-kill, but it was suspenseful and it definitely freaked me out. I refused to read this book at night. 

One thing I had trouble with at first was our main character Sophia. Sophia is pretty straightforward and emotionless. She doesn't let herself get affected by things that make her sad or angry. She can control her emotions sometimes too well and it made her come across very cold and aloof. At first, I thought she was kind of a bitch. But the more I got to know her, the more I understand what was happening and sympathized with her. We really got to see her humanity when she was with Abby and Liam as they investigated what was going on. 

And I loved Liam. I loved his accepting nature, to not look at Sophia with disgust or like she was a freak. He believed her when she confessed what was going on and didn't discredit her. I loved how he balanced Sophia so well, letting her feel her emotions with him instead of shoving them away, being the cautious voice against her bravado. And Abby was also a good balance to Sophia - she forced her to keep going and be brave when she felt like she couldn't. Abby was the catalyst for this whole thing and finally getting to meet the whirlwind girl made the trio complete. 

Honestly this book was just so good. By the end, I was in astonishment and was so sad when there was nothing left to read. I didn't see the ending coming and I want more. I hope we can get a sequel or spin off because I need more of these characters and more of this world. 

Overall, love love love this book and I feel like I'm about to fall back into my thriller/horror phase again. This was just so well done and it's great for anyone looking for a terrifying read. Highly recommend!

I will be buying this book.

It was extremely tough to read on the kindle, the beginning was scrambled. Intriguing what I got to read without losing my sanity.

Our MC Sophia almost drowned when she was three years old. Sophia's memories of that time are hazy, but she knows that the accident claimed her mother and left her as an orphan. Freshly aged out of the foster system, Sophia gets a strange call and is told that her mother never actually died but disappeared from a mysterious island called Bitter Rock in Alaska. Sophia decides it's time to get some answers to what really happened all those years ago.

Let me just say that Kate Alice Marshall knows how to deliver a spine-tingling, atmospheric ghost story. As soon as Sophia gets to Bitter Rock, it is clear that nefarious things lurk around the island. There's this mysterious mist that comes out at night that the locals are adamant about not being caught in. Of course, lots of rumors and legends have been told, which includes people who just vanished without a trace.

From start to finish, I found myself tearing through this book. The atmosphere was chilling, and I definitely found myself looking over my shoulders at a few points in this story. I don't want to give anything away about the plot because the surprise of the reveals (which definitely threw me for a loop) were definitely some of the best parts about this book. The pacing was steady and at no point did I feel like the book lulled.

My only issue with the book was that I wasn't really sold on the romance between Sophia and Liam. There were times that I just felt that the chemistry was a bit forced especially with everything else that was going on, but again, just a small gripe. Otherwise, the book was fantastic.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for the arc of this title.

I really liked this one a lot. I'm not a horror person but love Stranger Things so I thought I'd give this one a try.

I won't get much into the plot other than to say that this story is about a girl who sets out to a creepy island in an attempt to find out what happened to the mother she hasn't seen since she was three years old.

What I liked:

- Interesting characters that I enjoyed getting to know
- A plot that keeps trailing you along wondering what on earth is happening
- A creepy overall atmosphere but not enough to scare off this wimp of a reader
- A brisk pace that keeps the story going at a nice clip

Overall I thought this was an enjoyable ride that would appeal to fans of Stranger Things or people who like their books a little bit on the creepy side.

Omg, this is a spooky story with likable characters and lessons to learn. It resonates with me by chapter 2 and I can't put it down anymore. The twists and turns are fascinating.

Rules for Vanishing was one of my first (thoroughly enjoyable) forays into YA horror, so I knew I wanted to read KAM's newest! Sure enough, Our Last Echoes caught me from the beginning. The concept was really fascinating, but I don't want to say more since the mystery aspect was a lot of fun, and I'd hate to ruin that for anyone. There were so many little details that stood out from the story and I quite enjoyed reading it. 3.5 stars!

Thank you Penguin Teen for providing a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Our Last Echoes is written in such a unique narrative, similar to that of Illuminae, or if you prefer show comparisons, shows like the X-Files and Twin Peaks.

After Sophia’s mother Joy suddenly disappears, leaving Sophia growing up in different foster homes. Fifteen years later, after receiving a strange phone call, Sophia decides it’s time to go back to where it happened. Her hometown of the Island of Bitter Rock. Where she’s determined to find out what happened to her mother. Bitter Rock is unfortunately known for several disappearances throughout the years. Could they be connected to Sophia’s mom?

Is she ready to find out the truth?

Our Last Echoes promises mystery, a creepy atmosphere, and characters you’ll be wondering whether they’re here to help, or make it harder for Sophie to find out the truth.

This fast paced novel, is so descriptive, it also reminds me of Stranger Things in a the sort of way that connects the supernatural and disappearances. So many ‘If you like this, then you must read this’ titles! I cannot wait to listen to the audiobook, I know it will bring that extra new perspective to the characters and the plot.

Bitter Rock island in Alaska is known for two things, it's avian research center, and its unexplained mass disappearances. Sophia Novak has always been told that her mother died in Montana, but when someone sends her a photograph that suggests otherwise, and connects Sophia and her mother to Bitter Rock, Sophia knows she has to go see for herself.
This book was like the best scary movie playing in my head. I would say it leans towards supernatural/paranormal horror, and there is definitely a lot of spooky imagery that I can't get out of my head even days later. It's told in a mixed-media format, and includes transcripts of video footage and interviews while Sophia tries to figure out what is going on on Bitter Rock, and what it has to do with her and her mother. I found this book quite scary, which I loved, and there were long stretches where I couldn't put it down because I was so sucked in. Towards the end, the pacing began to fall apart a bit for me and things got a little convoluted, but I was still so invested in the mystery and the characters. Definitely recommend for horror fans!

Our Last Echoes is a haunting story with a clever twist on the urban legend trope of people going missing without a trace, think Roanoke style. When Sophia Novak ages out of the foster care system, she follows a tip from a girl named Abby; Abby tells her that everything Sophia thought she knew about her past was all a lie and if she wants the truth, she’ll have to travel to the remote island of Bitter Rock in Alaska. Under the guise of wanting to learn about terns, Sophia travels to the Landon Avian Research Center (LARC) where her mother, Joy once worked right before she died. There she meets a whole host of people, living and dead (Echoes), both leading her to a past she’s forgotten. Dangerously violent Echoes of those who’ve walked the island once before are seen in the mist and they want something from Sophia and they’ll stop at nothing to bring her in to their world to achieve their goal.

OLE is such an atmospheric and uniquely original story about lost legends and old worlds, Gods that came before and the people who would blindly try to free them not knowing the costs. Ms. Marshall brings the creep factor in a big way and I was here for it. Looking at my reflection in the mirror for a while will be a little unnerving and forget about this March fog we’ve got going on! The plot was quick and the characters easy to connect with and become emotionally invested in. OLE’s is one of those books where I really couldn’t foresee how it would end and the ending was filled with satisfying twists and also a bit of a cliffhanger that I am hoping will lead to an additional book!

All the stars for this supernatural horror story with a hint of magical realism that gave me all the chills I was looking for!

My thanks to Penguin Teen for gifting me this DRC in exchange for my review!

"Even the echo of a god is a dangerous thing."

Who just found a new favorite author? This girl! Loved... absofreakinglutely LOVED this book. It was mixed parts horror, urban legend creepy and even tidbits of family bonds and strength. If you follow me on bookstagram you know I have a thing for the otherwise strange and obscure and this novel checked off all of the boxes. Parallel (echo) worlds, urban legends, things in the mist, your reflection not necessarily "reflecting," secluded and downright creepy island with generations of people going missing. Think Roanoke but slightly more nuts and a heck of a lot more skin crawl.

The atmosphere is chill-down-the-spine delicious. I made the mistake of reading a lot of this at night and definitely had moments of looking over my shoulder into the shadows. Marshall has a talent of setting the stage to draw the reader in, the mystery slowly builds and the character development was really well done. There is more than just creepy monsters and I was impressed to find myself laughing at banter and loving the odd family dynamics. There's a message of the power of a mother's love for her children that fit the plot, adding that horror movie ray of hope. Slight romance but nothing that takes over the plot or makes your eyes roll thankfully.

The setup makes me feel like this could be a Netflix series (hear that Netflix?? Wink wink.. nudge nudge). Alternating POVs as well as back and forth between video transcripts (mixed media writing) from past to present. There are instances where the characters transition from one "world" to the next and I am even more impressed with the fluid flow of this in the chapters. A lot of times this can get really confusing but I had no issues following the scene changes. I adored this novel and look forward to grabbing her other books.

If you're squeamish this may not be for you. I do think overall it could've been shorter but honestly I was so engrossed half the time that I blame my impatience on the need to know the ending. There are graphic scenes of disfigured creatures, gore and other horror atrocities. I really hope that Marshall does a second book to cover Abby and her story. I am hands down all for that!

Thank you Penguin Teen for the gifted arc in exchange for an honest review. I also need to thank you for another new author to add to my shelves!

From my blog: Always With a Book:

This is the first book I've read by Kate Alice Marshall and I really liked it. It definitely had some supernatural elements to it, which I don't typically gravitate towards, but here in this book it just worked.

This story really kept me engaged from start to finish. I don't typically read a whole lot of YA or horror but this one didn't seem very scary as a whole, but more creepy and spooky, which was fine by me. It is definitely very atmospheric and I loved that, and I appreciated the legends and how they were worked into the story. I also loved the way the mixed media was worked into the story - the videos, the interviews, the dialogue from the past and present - that really kept things interesting and the book moving.

While this isn't my typical genre - YA or horror, every once in a while, I like stepping out of my comfort zone and something about this book called me to and I'm glad I took a chance on it because it worked for me. I will definitely be checking out more of this authors work and seeing what other books are similar.