I’m going to need the Dr. Who showrunners to hire this author to write their next New Years special. The plot and tone of this book will be perfect for Dr. Who fans!

This book is set in a universe where the prime reality has dangerous, unstable echo worlds. Each echo is a bit different from prime - some in small ways, and some in huge, deadly ways.

Our MC, Kembral Thorne, is a investigator who travels into echos to rescue people who’ve slipped through the veil. This year’s NYE party is the first social event she’s attended since giving birth to her daughter. Sure, she’ll have to remind her boss she’s still on leave, avoid one of the city elders who clearly resents her meddling, and try to ignore the woman who betrayed her. But she’s looking forward to a night out!

Unfortunately for her plans, this NYE party enters a deadly, reality bending time loop. She quickly discovers the party is descending through echos, with each iteration getting increasingly bizarre and dangerous. She is the person best equipped to save everyone, but she won’t be able to do so alone.

The author prevents the plot from being repetitive by ensuring each reset brings new challenges and revelations. I don’t love the type of first person narration used in this book (very telling-instead-of-showing), but the plot hooked me from the first chapter, and the characters were charming enough to hold my attention. It was nice to have an older protagonist as I have reached an age where I often find teen MCs boring. This was a fun romp through a unique universe with fascinating characters!

I got bored ready what seemed to be the same thing over and over again. I understand that a good amount of dimensional/time travel is involved to the plot and title, but it become monotonous.

This book was *great* entertainment. It was exciting, clever, creative, and surprising - a great story growing out of a surprisingly simple (well, kinda simple) setup.

Kembral is a Hound, which is a somewhere between a cop and a private investigator. Her specialty is going to the layers of reality *below* the prime reality her city occupies, known as “Echoes.” People will sometimes fall into the Echoes; Kembral’s specialty is retrieving them.

Except right now she’s on leave. She is in fact a new mother, out for a New Year’s party after being ~~bullied~~ gently encouraged to leave her daughter in her sister’s capable hands for a few hours. The party is the social event of the season, and attendees include members of the city’s elite, some of her friends, some of her enemies, and Rika. Rika is something between a burglar, spy, and assassin, and she and Kembral have a *complicated* relationship that Kembral doesn’t want to think about too much.

She is under strict orders to *relax* and not engage in any Hound work at the party. Obviously things don’t proceed smoothly - specifically, the entire party falls down into the shallowest Echo. Some of the strongest denizens of the Echoes are playing some kind of game with the party - they race to kill a designated attendee, then time resets by a few hours (with no one but Kembral being aware of it), the party falls to a deeper Echo (things get more unearthly and more dangerous the further down you go), and things repeat.

There’s a lot in this that just makes it so much fun to read. The characters at the party whom we get to see again and again as the time loop repeats. Kembral’s relationship with Rika is a highlight, as they find themselves working together despite certain events in their recent past. The gradual reveal of everything that is going on, and all the implications thereof. The increasingly bizarre and unearthly environment as they go deeper with each iteration. And last but not least, Kembral’s status as a new mother. Her body isn’t in the condition she expects; she has a very new perspective on things now that she has someone at whom to worry about; and, due to not getting a good night’s sleep for months, she is absolutely *exhausted*.

The entire book was very clever and very fun. The ending was exceptionally satisfying, and ended on a very good hook for the second book. I’m looking forward to jumping on it when it arrives.

2.04!

I wanted to love this book so so so much!!! I just couldn't really connect to the writing style and I was so excited for this because the premise and the cover were was so interesting and Orbit always releases books that I end up liking so this one not being up to that level hurt. I just feel like whenever I sat down to read it I would pick up my phone or zone out and I would often feel like reading other books but that was like after the 30% because it made me dizzy honestly but before that I enjoyed it, I was liking it and I saw the potential but it just didn't deliver overall!!

I don't even want to talk about the characters because what is there to say, I thought I would get some dysfunctional dynamic between them but it was just so shallow and boring so I'll just talk about the worldbuilding and the plot. So, if you actually hear the idea of the world building, the whole concept and the way it's thought off, I would say that it is very well thought but the overall execution was not it and I feel like we needed more, we needed to get that basic foundation laid and move on from that. It is one of the few important things of a first book so I was bummed out :(

I felt like plot was interesting enough, it was captivating but the pacing it was laced with was poor for it, it was so slow that the whatever interest that I had vanished into thin air. It's not a bad book, it was just okay.
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I've been reading the arc for this one slowly and it's fun so far + the title and the cover are 🤌🏻

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher- Orbit books for an arc of this book.*

I liked some parts of this a lot, and then I liked some parts of this less. And I really did like the characters, and some of the qualms could be more "me" than the book? Great.

What I Liked:

So, I really enjoyed the characters in this one, and I also loved the premise. And, the action really picked up as the book went on. I loved the relationship that Kembral and Rika had going on, too. It was complex and snarky and wonderful. Also, the concept of the "Echoes" was really unique! Even when I didn't totally "get" it, I appreciated it!

What Left Me Wanting More:

Honestly, just the worldbuilding and lack of answers. I know it is a series so I did not expect all the answers, but I did hope to understand more of the world, and what made these "echoes", and basically answers to any of the questions I had.

Bottom Line: Loved the characters and concept, just wanted more in terms of worldbuilding and answers.

This book pulled me in immediately. I loved the dynamic between Kembral and Rika—their “will they, won’t they” professional rivalry was so entertaining and added a lot of tension to the story. I love that our characters go from a happy New Year's celebration to being thrust into this deadly game against their will. The time crunch gave the story a sense of urgency that kept me turning the pages, and the mystery behind everything was super compelling. The Groundhog's Day vibe fits perfectly with the idea of second chances, that maybe you could get it right this time. I also appreciated the way the book captured how overwhelming early motherhood can be—it felt very real.

The world was so interesting and I would have loved to know more. Prime is the everyday reality and below that there are 12 layers of reality and they get weirder as you go further down. The idea that a person could just slip into a different level of reality was fascinating. I liked the focus on the Moon. At the beginning of the party, Kembral notes that people are dressed in more muted tones because it's a Sickle Moon and how they might change into something more silvery for the upcoming Snow Moon. That was such a neat detail that made it feel more unique.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you like mysteries with high stakes and a bit of reality-bending weirdness, I’d definitely recommend it!

Thank you @NetGalley and @OrbitBooks_US for the eARC and the opportunity to explore the 12 layers. I can't wait for Book 2!!!

A fun fantasy adventure with interesting world-building and compelling characters. I enjoyed the romance, but it did leave me wanting more (I suppose that’s what the sequel’s for!)

The concept of this story is wild and I love it. Kembral Thorne ends up at a party and is stuck in a time loop while sinister figures are fighting to name the year and essentially end up with a magical advantage in the coming year. She and her now nemesis, Rika, end up investigating what is actually happening and what they need to do to stop it.

So of course we have some enemies-to-lover happening between these two and it is a very nice slow-burn full of subtle yearning and lots of tension and clashing between the two. These characters are so much fun and easy to love and root for because of all of their flaws. And while not being a parent myself, everytime Kembral paused before making a decision and thought about her newborn baby, it felt so real and that detail was so nice to see in the story.

If you’re looking for an intriguing SFF locked-room mystery with a time loop from hell, and a lesbian romance full of yearning, then you really need to pick this one up.

Thank you to @orbitbooks_us for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This book just wasn't for me. I think I should have DNF'd this one, but I kept pushing through hoping it would get better... it didn't.

I think the story had a super fun premise and potential, but just wasn't one that held my interest. To me it felt repetitive and superficial when I was really looking for a book that had a lot of depth. Also, this book could have been A LOT shorter. There were a few fun twists near the end, but it didn't make the book feel worth it.

The plot to this is so good, trapped room murder game with a heroine that has to jump to realities to save everyone. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
But I did find myself becoming bored towards the end of the book.

Kembral Throne is at a party, two months after giving birth to her daughter. She's ambivalent about being out on her own; she needs some time for herself, but is worried about leaving her daughter alone with a sitter.

Kembral is in the corner, unsure if she can even make conversation with other adults, exhausted from too little sleep, when she sees her rival, Rika Nonesuch. Kembral is a Hound, a good investigator with lethal skills, while Rika is a Cat, a burglar. The two are rivals, and are uncomfortable with each other, particularly after something that occurred between them some time before, the content of which we aren't told about till later in the book. Kembral is qualified to travel to different echoes (multiverses) of Prime, their world, where there are similarities, such as magic, but also increasingly disturbing and unusual beings and creatures.

Kembral notices a large, unusual grandfather clock in the big room, and an intriguing young girl by it. But she's more concerned by Rika's presence, and is sure something bad is likely to happen, consequently. But what actually happens is not anything she envisaged, when everyone starts dropping dead around her.

Then, the grandfather clock bongs, and things reset, but a little bit different from their world, and everyone is alive again. Only Kembral realizes what has occurred (they're in an echo). She tries to awaken others to their situationbut with no success, as again violence happens, then resets. Each time the cycle repeats, Kembral realizes that they are in a different echo and it's with some difficulty that she manages to awaken Rika to their plight, at which point the two begin arguing constantly and working together to find a way to save everyone from the increasingly perilous echoes and return them all to Prime.

This was such a fun, fast-paced and funny story. The pacing is breakneck, and there's lots of amusing dialogue, abrupt violence, intrigue, a bunch of mysteries, including why this is happening.

Kembral's fatigue and ambivalence are so well rendered, and the realization that functioning with little sleep is just part of her life now. She's physically slower, but she's forced to think through her actions, and consider their effects on her daughter's wellbeing. Very real and well considered, and very welcome to see a main character as a new mother who has to balance saving the world while feeling incredibly vulnerable.

I found the dialogue clever and loved the banter between Kembral and Rika as they work together. The romance was wonderfully well balanced with the action by author Melissa Caruso, and I'm looking forward to what happens next, particularly with all the realizations and revelations.

I listened and read this novel. I am a longtime fan of Moira Quirk's voicework, so this novel was such a pleasure to listen to. Quirk embodies Kembral's exhaustion and stubbornness, while rendering Rika's words with an undercurrent of sly humour. I loved Dona Marjorie and Pearson's voicings also, with Pearson's cluelessness about the rigours of new motherhood coming through with humour but also with the fondness Kembral has for him. I am anxious to read/listen to the next installment.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Orbit Books and to Hachette Audio for these ARCs in exchange for my review.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Kembral Thorne is a Hound who just recently had a baby. During her first night out since having her baby, she gets tossed into a murderous time loop that she must find a way to stop. Working with other people around her who are also stuck and must find a way to escape and go back to the real world.

I do wish there was some more world building in this book in general. You kind of just get thrown right in and are forced to figure it all out on your own so if you give this book a try, make sure you're paying close attention. You get introduced to Hounds, Cats, Echoes, blink stepping, and more without any real explanation about any of it/what it all means, you just get told a million times until you get a better understanding of it all. This goes for the characters as well.

Kembral wasn't really likeable and I found her pretty annoying in general. She was supposed to be the best Hound with a badass reputation, and one of the only ones who can blink step, which is extremely rare and she's sought after because of it, but she just didn't really meet the expectations that I had for her. Most of the time, she seemed a bit unsure, while other times she really did do her best, especially as time went on. However, I didn't know if this book was really about the time loop or how much she misses her baby (who was safe with her sister and NOT in the violent time loop with her) half the time because that's what her focus was on. It was a bit excessive and found that it dragged my attention away from what was actually happening in the story.

As the book went on, the time loop also became pretty repetitive. At first, it was a really fun concept that I wanted to read more of, but after over 400 pages of essentially the same thing happening, it got a bit old. I do feel that a good amount of the book could have been cut and everything still would have been just fine, and maybe even better without all of the unnecessary things, that just ended up dragging the story out even more.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

It's a murder mystery groundhog day with time magic, what else could you want?

It starts with a party and very minimal worldbuilding... I suspect this is intentional as you are just as lost as Kem, learning what's happening as she does. It played well with the story, but I didn't appreciate it when I started. The good stuff starts at about 10%, you'll know it when you see it.

Kem is a grounded character with a bold streak of courage, albeit very tired. It pairs very well with Rika, who was a much more smokey, elusive mystery to unfurl. The dynamic between the two kept everything interesting throughout the scenes, allowing it to remain fresh regardless of the nature of the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed the different echo and moon details, how they progressed and evolved as the story did. It nailed the spirit walking vibes from video games in its hazy, semi-delirious creepiness.

While this is set to be a series, it does tie up nicely with no cliffhanger at the end. However, I would most definitely pick up any future installments.

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the ARC, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was definitely a fascinating read. This reality bending fantasy murder mystery still has me wondering what I just finished reading. Eleven levels of differing realities, the same party happening on each one, murders, political intrigue, and even a little romance are all included in this book.

At first I felt that the events happening on each level were too repetitive and I was skeptical that I would enjoy the book. Then the fun started, and more was revealed with each layer, exposing the plot behind the murders happening on each level. And I really started to enjoy it.

An interesting concept and great execution, this book was highly enjoyable, and I hope to read more of Kembral’s adventures in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit books for sending me an advanced copy of this book.

I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book originally - who doesn’t love a time-turner like story. And I was really excited to get a chance for an early review!

Kembral, the main character whose POV we read from, was definitely unique and interesting. So much of her thoughts focused on her new baby, which we have yet to meet. But I think Rika really stole the show. I adored Rika’s character - she was cunning, loyal, and mysterious all at the same time. The clockmaker was also a close second in my book as well - I’m excited to see how that plays in moving forward! And for anyone who isn’t quite loving it, I encourage you to try and make it to the end because that was definitely my favorite part.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing the eARC for an honest review. I look forward to the rest of the series!

While the premise sounded interesting and something I would like, I found myself simply unable to finish the book as it just failed to engage me in any way. I kept falling asleep every time I tried reading it

I made it about 56% of the way through the book and did not feel the need to go on. The premise of the book sounded great and I enjoyed the theming of this mystery. The side characters being introduced in the manner that they were while fitting for the setting the main character finds themselves in made it a bit hard to keep track of who they were and especially hard to understand why I should care about them and their outcome. The world building had a lot of potential but the way that it was told became repetitive and cumbersome because it felt like a "an then this is happening because..." "Okay" kind of moment. Not as bad as info dumping but not as good as delicately weaving the world building so I could gather details through context instead of verbal disclosures.

I assume there would be a romance between the main character later in the story, but at the moment I think it would keep out of character because she seemed so invested in her newborn baby. I think this character will resonate with some readers, but the talk about her child was a little much for me.

Series Info/Source: This is the 1st book in the Echo Archives. I got this on ebook from NetGalley to review.

Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is very creative and intriguing, the characters were awesome, and I enjoyed how twisty, turny the plot was. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book but it definitely exceeded any expectations that I had. This is the first book I have read by Caruso, I do have "The Obsidian Tower" on my wish list to read at some point as well.

Kembral Thorne is on maternity leave when she decides to go to a work party, just to have a few hours with other adults. It's the year-turning party, and as long as she can dodge offered work (she is on leave) and politics, she should have a lot of fun. Then people start to die, and she is forced to work or die herself. As the clock ticks on, she drops down into further unrelated layers of reality. Yes, she can time hop, but this is quickly getting out of control, the clock keeps resetting and the party keeps dropping further away from the Prime reality...this many layers down, things start to get beyond strange. She finally relents and calls on her nemesis, Rika Nonesuch, to help her figure out what is going on and hopefully stop the party members from getting killed again and again.

I absolutely adored this book. The characters are realistic and easy to engage with, and I loved them all so much. Poor Kembral never wanted to have a child but is doing her best to be a good mother. The doctors told her hopping through time wouldn't affect the fetus and now here she is finally trying to get a break and ending up in total chaos. Rika and Kembral have unfinished business, a date gone wrong, and horrible betrayal when Kembral thought they had something good going on. Rika has a lot of secrets and skills, and one of the big ones is the reason she betrayed Kembral in the first place. Even the side characters are incredibly well done with excellent depth.

I loved having a main protagonist that is a new mom and thought this was portrayed very accurately; the tiredest I ever was in my life was as a new mom trying to work a full time job and earn a second college degree at the same time...not recommended.

Then there is the world-building, oh my goodness, there is so much going on here that is intriguing and unexpected. From the idea of godlike players fighting to name a year to all these layers of reality on top of each other, I really enjoyed the world here. I loved how you never knew what to expect after you dropped down into a new layer of reality. There were a lot of twists and turns in the plot, which I enjoyed as well. At its heart this story is a who-dun-it mystery with some interesting and unexpected twists.

The pace is non-stop and I was always engaged in the story. I struggled to put this book down. The writing was easy to read and flowed well. The dialogue is campy and fun. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I really loved this first book in The Echo Archives. I enjoyed the wonderful characters, the unique world-building, and the intriguing unexpected plot. This was fast-paced with a lot of action and some campy fun humor as well. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Kembral Thorne is a new mom, going out for the first time since giving birth to a New Year's Party. Kem is an investigative bounty hunter, but instead of finding and bringing back criminals, she saves and finds children and pets who find themselves falling through layers of realities called Echos. So when the party she attends starts to devolve into chaos, and the entire party starts to fall through Echo layers and people are being killed she can't help but use her skills to figure out what is going on and stop it before it is too late.

The magic system, and the world building in this one was so fascinating. In the acknowledgements the author describes that is book came from the idea of a novel set in "at a party that sank through different layers of reality and kept getting weirder and more dangerous" and that is the perfect way to describe it. The elements of solving a mystery also very much worked for me. The nature of the novel is a time loop and thus does end up feeling very repetitive if you read it mostly in one sitting. Also be prepared that although the book summary does mention a sapphic romance, this book is all setting up for that relationship, it doesn't quite come to fruition in this instalment and it felt like a tease to me. I am excited to see where this story does and what comes of the actions of this book.