REVIEW: Echo by E.K. Blair

Let me start by warning you that Echo is absolutely NOT for the faint of heart. If you are triggered by the stuff you expect in a 'dark romance', then do yourself a favor and really think about whether this is the book for you. If you decide that this is the book for you, welcome to the fucked world of Elizabeth. 

It had been a while since I'd read Bang and within chapters my first despairing thought was: How will she come back from this..from everything that's happened? Her plight seemed so hopeless and I just wanted stick her in a good therapy program. What the characters in Echo do to themselves and to each other is consistently wretched, inconceivable, and unforgivable and there were times when I felt sorry for Elizabeth, angry with her, or angry for her. As you can see I was conflicted, constantly. 

As much as Bang tried me, this one did too. In both novels I tried, and sometimes failed, to wrap my brain around what these characters did--sometimes their actions were despicable, other times understandable--part of me recoiled and part of me understood the desire for vengeance. I wish I could say more but I promised not to be spoiler-y and I will keep that promise. Let's just say that by the end of Echo I was emotionally spent, as I suspect the author and some of the characters may have been (haha), and I just don't know how Elizabeth can keep going at this rate--she's got to be empty and without any emotional reserves, right? How will she propel herself forward?! Where will she find hope? See goodness? How can she overcome all of this? 

Obviously a lesser writer would not have me so engaged in all of these questions and feelings and while I often felt disgust, anxiety, and concern at what was happening on the page, I recognize that it is E.K. Blair's talent that evokes all of these emotions.

Now, let's see what Hush has in store for us.

It's been said the longest echo ever measured lasted 75 seconds, but I can assure you, this will last much longer. The bang deafened the world around me, muting everything into nullity, allowing the reflection of its destruction to live far beyond its intended life. 

It will follow me forever, destroying me—destroying you.

You want answers? 

So do I.

Find out more about E.K. Blair and her books here.