Reviews

Echo by Alyson Noël

marleer's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars
This book was a fun read, but nothing more. It was very well written, but the plot and the characters stay incredibly weird and also a little unrealistic. I couldn't really relate to the characters, just like with all other books of Alyson Noel. I'm trying out the next one, though.

bookishnicole's review against another edition

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4.0

Talk about an ending. I did not see the ending of this book coming at all. I had to admit that when I went into this book I was feeling a little ambivalent. The first book was good, but not great, but I started a series and so I wanted to see it though. I have to say though, I felt that this book was better then the first.

For starters I felt that Daire grew a lot more from where she was in the first book, and throughout this book. I was, however, shocked to find some of her actions insta-lovey since it was only about a month since the end of the first book. Maybe that was why it felt less insta-love because it was the second book.

One of my favorite parts of reading this book was the use of multiple narrators, namely Daire and Dace (which was still confusing). I was also disappointed that her mom, who makes a surprise appearance, wasn't more upset that her daughter was out all night, all she says is "I hope you were safe." Everything about Jennika says that she should have flown off the handle about this.

I was sad about how the way this book had to go, but I loved that the plot from the first book, the battle against the Richters and the training of Daire. I wish I could talk more about it, but I don't want to give away too many of the major plot points, but for me the ending made this book.

tinysierra's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

1.25

TLDR:
  • The romance is unbelievable.
  • The writing is still bad.
  • Read Elatsoe by Dacie Little Badger instead. 

I liked this book a little better than the first one. 

The Duel POV between Daire and Dace made the story more interesting.

I loved that we got to see more of the side characters. We got to see Daire and Dace hang out with Xotichl, Lita, and Auden. We get introduced to a new character, bringing more drama. Jacy and Crickett aren’t really fleshed out at all, but they’re not too important, anyway. 

I think it’s interesting that when we see Dace with Xotichl, he seems to treat her more delicately than her other friends do. He has to stop himself from helping her when she doesn’t ask for it and remind himself that she can take care of herself. Maybe it’s to show how he’s so full of goodness, he can’t help but want to watch out for her? Or maybe it’s just because he’s a man, idk.

This is one of the rare YA books where the protagonists parents (mothers) are present and actively trying to look out for them, even if they seem a bit overbearing. 

The writing is a twinge better in the fact that there are less huge chucks of dialogue. But, I wanna know who let Alyson describe Xotichl eyes as “blue/gray” every single time. Who let her do that? I find that even more offensive than Dace’s “icy-blue” gaze LOL like what the heck. Why is there a slash? Why couldn’t she just say blue? Why couldn’t she alternate or use different descriptive words?

I am not one to critique romances very often. I am usually happy accept any form of insta love as being legit. But I can’t with Daire and Dace. This book picks off like 2 weeks after the end of Fated, so we don’t get to see their relationship progress any before this book starts. What we get to see when this book starts is them having making out and then having sex. There is more to relationships than sexual intimacy so it really annoys me that this is all we see from them before they’re forced to “break up” because of the whole prophecy. We get to see them lusting after each other, talking about how they can’t live without each other, but why? Why do they love each other? Because they’re fated to be together. That’s it. There’s no build up. It’s not believable to me. They love each other because the story says they’re supposed to and that’s it. The lock and key thing is cute but again, they state in the text that they’ve only been together for six weeks. They hardly know each other enough to know they want to spend forever together. 

Also, it’s weird to me that Daire’s vision quest was to become reborn as a Seeker but Dace’s vision quest was to stop Daire from failing her task. Dace’s purpose is only to further Daire’s growth… not to grow as a person himself, separate from her, or even separate from Cade. I could be wrong (maybe I just don’t have faith in Alyson Noël’s writing), but I have doubts that this was truly to demonstrate that he’s the Echo. I believe it was just to show how fated Daire x Dace’s relationship is. 

I also hate how heteronormative/allonormative this series is. Auden and Xotichl are paired up. Jennika had someone propose to her. Paloma and Chay are a thing. I’m not saying that there can’t be multiple couples in a book but it just gives off the vibe that you can’t be single and happy, especially when we see Lita still so hung up on being broken up with by Cade. It’s not the fact that she’s upset about being broke up with, it’s the fact that she’s upset that she’s single. Because single = miserable in most people’s minds. This is a super damaging mindset that leads to real people staying in toxic relationships because they’re afraid of being alone.

I know the scene where Cade almost sexually assaults Daire is supposed to show how disgusting he is as a character and how overpowered she is at the moment but it made me sick. Dace also brings up quite a few times how upset he is that his mothers assault lead to his and Cade’s conception. 

I understand why the Seeker is connected to the elements but why does Paloma say that an important job of the Seeker is to control the weather? Is she supposed to prevent climate change? Maybe I’m thinking about this too hard lol

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readerluna's review against another edition

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4.0

Well-written

linedalbro's review against another edition

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5.0

Daire Santos burde være glad - hun er sammen med sin drømmefyr (bogstavelig talt), Dace, hun er godt i gang med sin træning som søger og har fået nogle gode venner i high school. Desværre er alt ikke fryd og gammen, for Daire og Dace fik ikke alle de udøde Richtere ud af Underverdenen, så nu er den forurenet og på vej til at dø, hvis ikke Daire og Dace gør noget.

Men i alt det mørke, er der alligevel lys - for Daire og Daces kærlighed vokser hele tiden, men efter de har givet sig til hinanden fuldstændig, dukker Daces bror, Cade, op og ødelægger stemningen. Han fortæller Dace om hans opvækst og om hvor meget stærkere han bliver hver gang Daire og Dace er sammen, tænker på hinanden, sender hinanden kærlighedsfyldte blikke. Dace beslutter at den eneste måde de kan redde hinanden og udslette Cade, er ved at de skal holde sig fra hinanden - men er det nu også så nemt som Dace tror?

Daire lærer mere og mere om magien omkring sig og er overbevidst om at hun må slå Cade ihjel for at redde alle, men det hele tager en uventet drejning da Dace gør det som Daire har frygtet allermest - og hvordan kommer man tilbage fra det?

Denne bog er mindst ligeså spændende som nr. 1, hvis ikke mere! Der sker noget hele tiden, virkelig spændende! Samtidig begynder vi at se historien fra Daces synsvinkel, hvilket gør at man får et indblik i hans opvækst og hans følelser, som vi ikke fik i nr. 1. En rigtig spændende bog - glæder mig allerede til nr. 3, da den her slutter med noget af en cliffhanger!

duhitskatie's review against another edition

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5.0

Wow I have to say I really love this book! I am completely blown away on how good it was. The ending was completely insane. What a cliff hanger! I'm on edge caught between wanted to get the next to want to wait. I love this book much better than the immoral series. It was thrilling romantic sad funny beautiful I can't even begin to explain the words I have. Daire is such a better hero than Ever. She's strong brave smart loving and amazing. Dace is on the Ever side silly mistakes but in the end he loves her as much as she loves him. Wonderful read!

crystall_library's review against another edition

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1.0

I was really disappointed in this book. I really enjoyed the first book in the Soul Seekers series, Fated. I liked the worldbuilding, the relationship between Daire and Dace, the concept of the Echo. But I had too many complaints about this book. Mainly with Cade. I feel like I could have liked him more if he had some actual development and clearer motivations. Though, I think the attempted rape scene was a little much (that’s an understatement.) I think it would be nice if there were a YA book where the female MC wasn’t assaulted, or at least that addresses it properly afterward. 

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pollyroth's review against another edition

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3.0

This book was better than the last. The only confusing part is the ending...
Dace and daire are perfect!! Their romance is soooooooooooooo much better this book!

abigaltackett's review against another edition

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5.0

I loved the book can't wait for the next one

luckyliza13's review against another edition

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3.0

I hate that I get addicted to these series & now have to wait 5 months for the next book!! This 2nd in the series is better written than the first. Hopefully the 3rd will be worth the agonizing wait.