Echo

I can honestly say I read both book in one afternoon I absolutely couldn’t put it down great Yasmine Maher you kept me on the edge the whole time.

LOVED this book! So unique and cool—amazing writing, amazing world building, and I truly can’t wait enough for more from this author. 5/5 stars, well-deserved.

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read Echo.

I feel like I just kinda fell into this story. We start off at a wedding and the story starts to rapidly progress from there. The MC learns she’s a witch, she finds out there’s a prophecy about her, and discovers there’s monsters in the world. Instead of feeling like an info dump, this was actually really attention grabbing and had me hooked from the first chapter. I liked how fast paced this story was, I liked the characters, and I liked how this book was written. I would definitely recommend this to others.

Echo Blackwood appears to be your average college student, studying law with a cute boyfriend who is a doctor. The adventure begins at her sisters Tara's wedding when the guest is attacked by monsters. From that moment, Echo's life changes she learns that she is a witch. Not just any witch, a Blackwood witch, a name synonymous with using black magic to create an immortal monster. Now Echo needs to learn magic because she is the Chosen Witch to destroy the monster her ancestor created. This story follows Echo through learning magick, seeking her grimoire, and fighting many battles. She does this with Kirby and Vanna, who help with the fighting and the teaching. Echo's relationship hits a snag, she drops out of college as she focuses more and more on learning and perfecting her magic for the final battle that will determine the survival of humanity. It is a faced paced read once you understand the author's style, it is a truly riveting book.

This is the story of a previously-unknown magical world with family secrets, other dimensions, special powers and a race to save our world. The imagery is so unique and rich that you are fighting alongside Echo. The story will draw you in, and you will feel Echo's inner struggle and her determination to win the war. I loved the flashbacks that helped to clarify her family's past. And Echo's blending of light and dark magic kept the outcome in a state of flux until the end. A truly original story that I greatly enjoyed in one sitting!

Reading the opening pages I thought this is going to be a good story, reading on I found a story that was well written, complex and captivating, with a cast of well developed characters. Well worth a read. What’s going to happen next, I can’t wait to find out. Thank you to Fables and Facts publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine freely given.

The Review

The author did such an incredible job of crafting a memorable and captivating fantasy and paranormal read. The book immediately grabs the reader’s attention, balancing great character development and hinting at a challenging backstory with the horrors and thrills of the supernatural threat facing the protagonist and her new allies. The backstory and history of the cast of characters were so intricately detailed and did an amazing job of keeping the reader invested in the narrative.

Yet it was the wealth of mythology and world-building the author did that kept me invested in this story overall. The way the author built up the family drama in Echo’s life and childhood and made it feel just as impactful as the apocalyptic nature of the threat they all faced was a great sign of the author’s creativity and focus on character-driven narrative. The journey that led Echo to discover her dark powers, her connection to the villainous Jivar, and the struggle to balance her hope to save the world with the destructive aspect of her gifts made this such an intriguing plot.

The Verdict

Thought-provoking, entertaining, and action-packed, author Yasmine Maher’s “Echo: The Curse of the Blackwood Witches” is a must-read urban fantasy novel of 2022. The drama, adrenaline-fueled narrative, and shocking twists and turns in the story will have readers hanging off of the author’s every word.

Witches, prophecies, hidden power, and don't forget the end of the world as we know it! Add in some hellish creatures, lost family, and a touch of Butterfly Effect and its a fast- moving adventure that will keep you reading into the night.

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this. I really enjoyed the book and will recommend it to others.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. Echo goes from a normal girl to a witch. It is a lot for her to struggle with. The struggle of being a good witch or will she be taken over by the dark magic. She makes connections along the way and she has to figure out if she going to follow in her ancestor's footsteps for the evil she now faces was created by that ancestor. I am trying to not give away too much. It is really worth the read. The world this takes place in is amazing, great fight scenes and the adventure is just even to add to the fast pace of this book.

Echo is quite a character. Strong, intelligent, witty, but even she isn't quite prepared for the revelation that she is a witch, a powerful one, who according to a prophesy is the only one who can save the world from a dastardly evil enemy. Don't you just hate it when that happens! What follows is totally awesome as we follow and watch Echo's journey as she grows, blooms and develops her powers to be ready for the inevitable showdown on the horizon. The weight and pressure of knowing how much she, and the rest of the world has to lose, knowing she is the only one... An enjoyable and exciting ride, I was hooked from the first page!