Echo of the Evercry

I enjoyed reading this, it did everything that I was hoping for in this type of book, the description did a great job in creating this world and having the reader engaged. I enjoyed how good the characters were and thought they were written perfectly. E. J. Dawson has a great writing style that left me wanting more.

"Larissa curtailed her wonder and sat in the chair before an ornate desk. The desk bisected the gallery, an odd position, barely enough room to pass on one side. Theras stood behind it and lit a few more candles. It did little to banish the gloom; they may as well have been in deepest night for all the intimacy of the setting. “You have doubts.” Theras swept aside her skirt to sit in the gnarled chair behind the desk, carved in twisted, meandering shapes. “About the magic you sense, rather strong in the untrained, but that is why we chose you.”

Reminiscent of more modern fantasy books like The Black Witch by Laurie Forest, this book tells the tale of a girl who feels she is meant for the path she has always been taught is wrong. Captivating and lovable, this book has you hooked from the very beginning and will have you unable to keep from turning the page to continue. Cant recommend enough

Magic, secrets, adventure, and a few plot twists are what you have in store with this amazing book of fantasy! Larissa, the main character, begins the story uncertain of where she belongs. She has lived her life serving the Fair Lady and has been training to be a knight but she doesn't like to fight. When her trial to complete her training comes, it sets in motion the rest of the story. Larissa begins a new path as a darkkin, a wielder of magic, that has her hearing the call of the Evercry, the chaos of the world and it's magic. With an adventure that gives a Wheel of Time vibe, Larissa faces danger as she uncovers parts of her past and her future while figuring out who she can trust and who is thwarting her every move. I loved being along for the ride!

My favorite quote from the book speaks to those times in our lives that have a crossroad and we aren't certain which way to go: "We sometimes find ourselves in situation outside of our control, but it isn't the end, or what defines us. You'll do well with the darkkins. You have the call of magic within you."

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for sending this electronic book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story! I thought it was clever and well written. It had me hooked right from the start, to finish!

I usually don’t go for this genre but the plot had grabbed my attention and it did not disappoint!

Thank you for the chance to read and review to give my honest feedback.

Echo of the Evercry is a high stakes fantasy filled with magic, secrets and twists that leave you vying for more. The story begins with our female main character Larrisa Westwynn struggling to find where she truly belongs as a knight in training for the Fair Lady's order, a sisterhood whose sole purpose is to hunt sorcerers that are corrupted by what is known by Evercry. However Larrisa finds herself unable to kill, much to the disapproval of her absent mother. Larrisa also finds herself harbouring a dangerous and sinful secret; she is drawn to magic and feels its pull continue to grow stronger and stronger. After failing her graduation test into knighthood, Larissa finds herself being welcomed by the darkkins, a group of people who study and wield magic in the fight against the Evercry. A message from her mother whom went missing on a mission years prior arrives, urging for Larrisa's help in defeating a formidable sorcerer that only she can defeat. Desperate to help save her mother, Larrisa embarks on a journey which is what the majority of this book is centered around. I personally really enjoyed the pacing of this book. Nothing felt too rushed or overlooked, nor was I finding my bored with the story dragging. The magic system is unique and the story itself is very immersive. I found myself on a journey with Larrisa as a character as she works to discover who she is as she faces dark truths about the sisterhood and her heritage. I definitely recommend giving this book a read.

How amazing it is when books surprised you and surpass your expectations. I really enjoyed this book: I loved the magic system and story-telling. It's a great high fantasy with bad ass women coming into their own. I loved the main trio of women and how different each of them were. This book is full of magic, secrets, adventure, and a few plot twists that will have you at the edge of your seat at some points. I would highly recommend this story to lovers of epic fantasy and extensive world building and intriguing and interesting characters.

I received and reviewed an ARC, but my review has not been influenced in any way by the author or publisher.

History is not always sung by heroes. It is sometimes written by the villains who told their story first.

In Dawson's Echo of the Evercry, it can be hard to work out who is a hero and who is a villain. Yes, there are characters that are fighting against the evils of magic users gone bad. And yes, there is clearly a problem with the corruption that stems from unchecked use of magic. But it's not ever that simple in the real world, nor is it simple here.
There is a lot of conflict in this book, between characters and between factions. What keeps it interesting is that while the cause of conflicts is often apparent, it's not always what it first seems, and there is often not a 'good' and 'bad' side. Dawson has created characters that are complicated, have mixed feelings, don't always act in their own best interest, and sometimes need a good slap over the back of the head... in other words, they are people.
Mild spoilers ahead, read at your own risk.
<spoiler>There are a faction of knights, called to destroy the magic users who have been corrupted by power. The knights are well trained, respected (or feared), and powerful. But they also rely on their own magic users to know their enemy. But who is the enemy, really?</spoiler>
The lead cast are all women, with a matriarchal organisation of great power. Men exist in this world, have positions of authority and otherwise, but are not the focus of the story at all. There are hints of romance, but much more than that there is a classic story of growing up being forced into a way of life that is not by choice, and learning that you have a choice.
I heartily recommend this book, and I'm left wanting to know what happens next.

I love it when you get blindsided by a book you went into with no real expectations and you get sucked into the world so completely it's like you've been transported there.

Echo of the Evercry was a fantastic mix of a large number of good things. From likable, and flawed characters, to complex and often twisting plotlines and sub-plots that folded upon themselves so much it was this writhing mass of uncertainty that just dragged the reader along with it.

Delicious world building, a structured, yet flawed set of lore and beliefs, magic and mayhem all mixed in with a youthful, but not childish, cast of young women. Characters with differing strengths and weaknesses, hidden pasts and pre-planned futures, the way they play off each other and work together, was well crafted and kept my interest the entire story.

Do I have questions about what's going to happen after the events in this book? Yes. Is this part of a series or trilogy? I don't know, but I sure hope so. Will I read more by this author? Absolutely!

If you're a fan of epic fantasy, of magic and spells, grand fantasy settings and colourful and rich world-building I think you'll enjoy this book. The writing is honed and well edited with a clear voice and engaging lilt. It will leave you wanting to keep reading well past your bedtime, and fill your dreams with haunting wolfish cries.

Are there things in the story I'd change? Yes, but this isn't my story, it's Larissa's and that means the reader gets to be a witness to all that she endures and enjoys. Every weary step and hot bath.

Covering themes like not belonging, dealing with expectations of our elders and coming to terms with having to question the things we've been told are true our entire lives, this book allows the weight of those themes to breath and be explored fully by not only the characters, but the reader also.

Why not 5 stars? The opening, although hook enough to keep me reading, did drag on a little, and the first chapter or two took a little time to get into. I think this is a slight disservice to an otherwise strong and thoroughly enjoyable book.

**Note: I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley**

This is definitely my preferred genre, and with the sheer volume of reading I do, it is not often I read a book and argue (in my head at least!) with the characters, or find myself actively hoping for one outcome over another - that is the power of this book. The world and character building are such that you will be drawn into the world, actively wanting one result or another. It is truly an immersive and enjoyable story, remenicient of my favorite epic fantasy stories. I am really hoping to read a lot more in this world.

This is Larissas story; It is a retelling of her quest, of her coming into her own, of her echo of the evercry. Filled with adventure, magic, bad ass female knights (and creatures and castles too) we're thrown into a world with an abundance of FMCs, it's a sisterhood- yes, while men do still exist in this world, the women are the ones mostly running all factions with the fair ladys order being of most importance here.

The world building was so immersive, it sucks you right in. Add fantasticly written complex main characters and this book has everything you want from a fantasy read. I have definitely been left me wanting more of the story!
(Crossing my fingers hoping its gonna be a series 🤞🏻)

I would definitely say to grab this one for anyone into fantasy reads; it's written beautifully and worth the read.

I thought Larissa was a wimp, but I had to retract that thought when she was given a responsible task. It was an ominous one filled with deceit, betrayals, and anger. Left with no other choice, Larissa went with her inner feelings. The story was okay, but I wasn’t keen on the ending.

“History is not always sung by the heroes. It is sometimes written by the villains who told their story first.”
Plot- ★★★★
Characters- ★★★★
World building- ★★★
POV- Single pov from the FMC

This book was given to me, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, adventure and bad ass female characters. In the book we get to follow Larissa on her journey to save her mother and to accept herself. I found it hard to get into the book the first chapters, it was a bit hard to understand how it all worked. However, once I got a better understanding of it all, I was hooked. I was also pleasantly surprised to learn there were no romance in this book at all! It focuses more on friendship between the girls and the obstacles they must face on their journey. There are many twists and turns, and I could not have predicted the end at all.

There were a few instances where I got a bit bored and lost in what was happening. Some fight scenes were just overly complicated in my opinion, and it all mushed together into a blur of words.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would love if there were more to come. I would give a small CW, there are mentions of SA, child-abuse and suicide.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

A world where magic is seen as a darkness and knights are trained to kill to protect. Here we find Larissa, who doesn’t want to kill, and is someone drawn to magic. Maybe she is just what the land needs! This is a fantasy story with strong capable women in a Matriarchal society. A twisting tale of half lies and full lies. A sad tale with what ending? A tale of discovery and belief in what? A tale of friendship and maybe love? The answers can be found in this book that seems to be the beginning of a wonderful fantasy saga. Wonderful? Yes! Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Thank you to E. J. Dawson and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

E.J. Dawson's "Echo of the Evercry" takes readers on an enthralling adventure through a world where magic is both feared and embraced. Larissa, our resilient protagonist, struggles to reconcile her inner desires with societal expectations. In a sisterhood dedicated to hunting down corrupted sorcerers, Larissa's aversion to killing sets her apart. But beneath her facade, a growing affinity for magic lies dormant, waiting to be unleashed.

From the moment I delved into the pages of this mesmerizing fantasy tale, I found myself captivated by Larissa's journey. The author beautifully portrays a Matriarchal society, where strong and capable women take center stage. Larissa's path is one of self-acceptance, as she grapples with her unique abilities and finds her place in a world that demands conformity.

The world-building in "Echo of the Evercry" is simply exquisite. E.J. Dawson effortlessly transports readers into a realm brimming with vivid imagery and intricate details. From the grand halls of the sisterhood to the menacing creatures they face, every setting is brought to life with immersive descriptions. I felt as though I was walking alongside Larissa, experiencing the wonders and perils of this enchanting world firsthand.

One aspect that truly impressed me was the author's skill in crafting complex characters. Larissa, in particular, resonated deeply with me. Her relatability and likability drew me in, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. The development of her character, as well as the surprising twists and turns, kept me on the edge of my seat. E.J. Dawson expertly weaves a tapestry of friendships, betrayals, and unforeseen revelations, ensuring that the story never loses its momentum.

While the pacing of the narrative was generally engaging, there were a few instances where I felt a bit lost in the intricacies of the plot. Some fight scenes seemed overly complicated, momentarily muddling the overall flow of events. However, these instances were minor in comparison to the sheer enjoyment I derived from the book as a whole.

"Echo of the Evercry" is a refreshing departure from conventional fantasy novels, as it places a strong emphasis on friendship and personal growth rather than romance. Larissa's bonds with her fellow comrades drive the narrative forward, highlighting the power of unity and loyalty. The absence of a romantic subplot only served to enhance the richness of these relationships.

In conclusion, E.J. Dawson's "Echo of the Evercry" is a remarkable debut that left me yearning for more. The author's masterful storytelling, combined with the enthralling world-building and compelling characters, creates an unforgettable reading experience. Larissa's quest for self-discovery and the echoes of the Evercry will resonate with readers who appreciate fantasy, adventure, and strong female protagonists. I eagerly await the continuation of this enchanting saga, hoping to unravel more secrets and delve deeper into the magical realm crafted by E.J. Dawson.

A beautiful world, the story is so well described that you feel like you’re there. An absolute whirlwind of a story with relatable characters and a storyline that keeps you hooked from the get go.

This is definitely an author I’ll keep my eye out for and hoping this story arc continues somewhere down the line.

Thank you to Netgalley and E.J Dawson for this ARC!

Trigger warning sexual assault of a child. First in a series.
As a nonathletic, book nerd I find the main character relatable. Darkkin, sounds nefarious, I like that. The Matriarchal society is interesting. Has at least one LGBTQIA+ character, though nothing really happens in that vein (which I like, there are too few books devoid of romance) Good character development and relationship progressions. Took me only one day to read, despite being a fantasy (which usually take me a bit longer).
Overall a good book

This book sucked me in almost immediately. Amazing world building, badass female characters finding themselves, plot twists. Just read this book! Totally worth it.

Thoroughly recommend this book - a woven tail of magic, adventure and sisterhood involving female knights and dark magic. The author has created a magic world that envelops you and draws you in. I can’t wait for a sequel. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy. I will be seeking out more works by this author

Oh. Oh wow. I went into this book with little knowledge of the author and their story telling style and oh wow was I blown away! This book checks all the marks for me and has peeked my interest in checking out the author’s other stories.

Echo of the Evercry is a fantastic Fantasy with a setting that is fully fleshed out with backstory, religion, and large world. The author dives into beautiful details of the world and paints a myriad of images to immerse one into their creation.

Characters: Main Female protagonists, wide range of personality, growth, and dynamics, engaging dialogue, relatable fears and desires. Their drives and personal story arcs make sense and fit well into the plot and with each other. 10/10

Plot: Twists and turns and when you think all the secrets have been revealed, hi, there’s more! It keeps you on the edge of your seat and turning the page rapidly, aching to know what happens next. The action is riveting and keeps you invested. The rhythm of the story is well plotted out, allowing for breaks between plot reveals and high action sequences that are just long enough to digest what happened and short enough to keep the pace of the story going.

The story has a Wheel of Time’s aes sedai vibe that I absolutely loved. (I’m sure it helps that the aes sedai are one of my favorite parts of the WoT series)

I would absolutely recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun quick Fantasy read!

I love when a book blindsides me in the best one and this absolutely did that! If you are on the hunt for romance, this is not the book for you. If you are searching for drama, action, plot twists thrown at you that leave you second guessing who the villain really is grab this. Just do it. I absolutely need more from this world and this author.

Echo of the Evercry was such a captivating read. NA Epic high fantasy that was fast paced from start to finish and a different take on the magic system than I’ve read before. If you loved the political intrigue of the Cruel Prince or Fourth Wing, this is for you.

Larissa was such a relatable character and her development arc was one of my favourite parts of the story as you really see her find herself, becoming the assertive, strong woman she is. The story actually embodies a lot of women empowerment, featuring very few male characters which I enjoyed.

It’s also rare for me to not predict a plot twist but I did not see that ending coming and can’t wait to see what the next book brings!!

⚔️Plot twist
⚔️Political Intrigue
⚔️Found Family
⚔️Quest
⚔️Magic

Title: Echo of the Evercry
Author: E.J Dawson
Publisher: BooksGoSocial
Publishing Date: July 1, 2023
Pages: 339
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

I really loved the whole premise of this book, and the story was amazing. The lore and the complexity of the Evercry and the world that E.J Dawson built was amazing and thoroughly enjoyable.
It took me a while to get through it, which I don't really understand why. I really loved the story and the characters and the plot was great! I just didn't get super invested in it and I found myself distracted while reading it.
That being said though, I would HIGHLY recommend. I think perhaps the mood reader in me was really looking for something else at the time and I think that my mood doesn't reflect the talent and level that this book deserves!
I found myself really thinking a lot about the Everlight from Critical Role's Vox Machina... Although the only significant comparison would be the name. I think it threw me a little bit and kept me from immersing myself completely into the story.
Definitely the book deserves at least 4 stars. I would even go so far was to say if I pick up this book again one day I may up it to 4.5 or even 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for sending this book for review consideration! All opinions are my own.

lthis was a great fun for me! i was fortunate to acquire an e-ARC of this book. it's a great fantasy with badass women characters taking centre stage. the first few chapters of the book were difficult for me to get into because it was difficult to grasp how everything functioned. but once you understand it you’ll be immediately drawn into the world. there’s a bit of romance hint but it is not focused on that at all. i adored the core trio women and how distinctive they were from one another. this book is an intricate tale of magic, adventure, and sisterhood featuring female knights and dark magic, with a magical world that will engulf and captivate you until the very end.

thank you to the author and netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The world building and character development in this book was strong. Even though early on, I did get a little bogged down in the intense world building, I know it was necessary for the full development of the storyline.

Main character, Larissa is well fleshed out. You know almost from the beginning what her weakness is....that she feels like she's let her mother down by not fulfilling many of her responsibilities as a fighter. Also, she has a strong attraction to magic which is often dangerous in her world since it can corrupt and then destroy you.

Larissa travels on a search for her mother and along the way, she finds something else about herself and grows and maturers. She will also learn that people aren't always what they appear to be and that she can't just reliability by looks alone.

Overall, a well=written book with very satisfying characters and storyline. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

This book was a surprise for me. I was hoping for an easy read, nothing special. But Wcho of the Evercry is not an easy read,not something you would pick and just skim through it. It's an absolute page turner. From the beginning you are thrown into the plot and you have to understand it. But there's magic in it. Author easily showed the way the world is functioning, and I love how it is working. I love magic and swords. Love the way they were cooperating.

I am in love with this book.

I seem to be drawn to sisterhood stories lately and this was no exception. I really loved seeing Larissa's character develop and come to terms with the magic in her. The fact that we get to see the cast of darkkins in the story really gave it an interesting dimension, we're not seeing the story from the society's heroes' eyes. The journey she went through was a ride ! So many things happened, it doesn't let any time for boredom, it's action packed, and not pretty. Harsh with the external and internal battles Larissa had to fight, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for action, character development, hidden truths and plot twists !

This book was such a lovely surprise that once I started I found it hard to put down. The world building was rich and the plot was fast paced which is something I really enjoy. There a couple several plot twists that I didn’t see coming and a few I did. I love the complex lore and history of magic that this book had. It was really well written and easy to understand.
The characters were well developed and had plenty of depth to them.
This story follows our main character Larissa who doesn’t end up on the path she expected. Larissa is drawn to magic when she knows what happens if you use it. Larissa ends up on a quest to save her mother only for dark truths to come to light. She also learns secrets about the sisterhood she did not expect. From the beginning to the end you can see how much Larissa develops as a character and how she learns to own her abilities.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series for this one! I definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and the author for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love a magical realism book and this one was no exception. I requested this on a whim because it sounded good and I am so glad I did because I loved it!
I have a complete book hangover now, this was a totally immersive magical experience and I wish I could relive it!

Echo of the Everycry is an epic fantasy that has so many good ingredients it's hard to know where to begin.