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chickenafraido's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, maybe 4 for entertainment value?
I enjoyed this one a lot more than I anticipated.
The political intrigue was very interesting and we certainly had a unique perspective for this book. I expected to be bored to tears listening to an echo learn about the world but I think it was well managed for the most part.
At the same time, the ease with which Hope navigated her new awareness seemed a bit like lazy writing to me. Everything she'd learned through Elyssa-osmosis seemed very cherry-picked to suit the story, with no real rhyme or reason as to why she attained some things and not others. Still, I think it kept me more engaged as a reader to not be so bogged down in the character development.
The end to the war, though, seemed almost too lazy to excuse. We've spent the last 3 books hearing all about the tensions between provinces, and how everyone is on the cusp of war. Finally it all comes to a head, and we spend only the closing 20% of the last book hearing about it. Not only that, but the actual resolution of tensions comes about through convenient divine intervention. Again - lazy writing.
Overall, I think this trilogy/series had a lot of potential, and I can only wish it had been fulfilled. The characters Shinn gives us are intriguing, and the setting even more so, but the world building definitely fell by the wayside in these novels. Perhaps I'm too accustomed to expansive high fantasy, but I can't help but be a little disappointed.
I enjoyed this one a lot more than I anticipated.
The political intrigue was very interesting and we certainly had a unique perspective for this book. I expected to be bored to tears listening to an echo learn about the world but I think it was well managed for the most part.
At the same time, the ease with which Hope navigated her new awareness seemed a bit like lazy writing to me. Everything she'd learned through Elyssa-osmosis seemed very cherry-picked to suit the story, with no real rhyme or reason as to why she attained some things and not others. Still, I think it kept me more engaged as a reader to not be so bogged down in the character development.
The end to the war, though, seemed almost too lazy to excuse. We've spent the last 3 books hearing all about the tensions between provinces, and how everyone is on the cusp of war. Finally it all comes to a head, and we spend only the closing 20% of the last book hearing about it. Not only that, but the actual resolution of tensions comes about through convenient divine intervention. Again - lazy writing.
Overall, I think this trilogy/series had a lot of potential, and I can only wish it had been fulfilled. The characters Shinn gives us are intriguing, and the setting even more so, but the world building definitely fell by the wayside in these novels. Perhaps I'm too accustomed to expansive high fantasy, but I can't help but be a little disappointed.
chelseas_reads's review
4.0
despite DNFing the second one, I really enjoyed echo in amethyst. some of the events are the same as the first book, however told in a different perspective. I like that these books are linked but I didn't need to finish the second one in order to enjoy this one.
rebeccazh's review
5.0
i loved the self-actualization process. wish more of the novel focused on it.
aphelia88's review against another edition
4.0
"I longed for freedom, but what if it destroyed me? I had never even walked out of a room of my own volition. How could I manage an entire life?" ~ Hope, Elyssa's Echo (157)
"The garden was not nearly so attractive in the winter, with no flowers in bloom and all the fountains dry, but there was still much to admire. The spiky skeletons of bare trees stenciled dramatic patterns across the cloudless sky; evergreens whispered together in shadowed groves, sharing their memories of summer. Ivy climbed in runners of blazing scarlet across gazebos and sundials and shivering statues." (311) (one of my favourite examples of the lovely imagery Sharon Shinn writes)
While a nice love story, I was disappointed that there was no epic finale to the trilogy, as I was hoping. As far as I know, no future books are planned, which seems a shame as the world - especially the mystery of the existence of the Echoes - was so intriguing.
Lady Elyssa from Alberta has never made her dislike of her three Echoes a secret. Seen as the only match for Prince Jordan, she is conflicted by her involvement with a member of the anti-Elite rebellion. Elyssa has also been cruel ever since she was a child.
She once thought she saw a spark of awareness in one of her three Echoes and ever since she physically tortures them, looking for some sign of reaction. Unbeknowst to Elyssa, the pain has served to fully awaken one of the Echoes while the others remain empty vessels.
This Echo must piece herself and her world together through overheard conversations and stolen glances, while pretending to be as empty as obedient as others of her kind to avoid more torment from Elyssa. It is not until she communicates her existence to Prince Jordan that he seeks her out and gives her name, Hope.
The political tensions of the last two books come to a head, but it is the covert love story between Hope and Prince Jordan that truly captives, making the politics pale in comparision. Because the timeline goes back and compresses the events of the previous two novels, familiar characters make cameos and the same events are seen from a different angle. Unfortunately, neither Brianna or Chessie makes an appearance, and it would have been nice to have an update on their lives.
Overall, an interesting trilogy with an intriguing premise that doesn't quite live up to its full potentional. I was also hoping for more from the gemstone theme and connection, that the jewellery each character wears would be a key to their story, or a source of magic.
I was also very much hoping to some illumination as to the purpose and changing roles of the Echoes. Sharon Shinn is a wonderful writer and her stories are always delightful to read; this is no exception, but the books feel a little unfinished. I hope she will return to the world of The Seven Kingdoms and its mysterious Echo clones someday!
"The garden was not nearly so attractive in the winter, with no flowers in bloom and all the fountains dry, but there was still much to admire. The spiky skeletons of bare trees stenciled dramatic patterns across the cloudless sky; evergreens whispered together in shadowed groves, sharing their memories of summer. Ivy climbed in runners of blazing scarlet across gazebos and sundials and shivering statues." (311) (one of my favourite examples of the lovely imagery Sharon Shinn writes)
While a nice love story, I was disappointed that there was no epic finale to the trilogy, as I was hoping. As far as I know, no future books are planned, which seems a shame as the world - especially the mystery of the existence of the Echoes - was so intriguing.
Lady Elyssa from Alberta has never made her dislike of her three Echoes a secret. Seen as the only match for Prince Jordan, she is conflicted by her involvement with a member of the anti-Elite rebellion. Elyssa has also been cruel ever since she was a child.
She once thought she saw a spark of awareness in one of her three Echoes and ever since she physically tortures them, looking for some sign of reaction. Unbeknowst to Elyssa, the pain has served to fully awaken one of the Echoes while the others remain empty vessels.
This Echo must piece herself and her world together through overheard conversations and stolen glances, while pretending to be as empty as obedient as others of her kind to avoid more torment from Elyssa. It is not until she communicates her existence to Prince Jordan that he seeks her out and gives her name, Hope.
The political tensions of the last two books come to a head, but it is the covert love story between Hope and Prince Jordan that truly captives, making the politics pale in comparision. Because the timeline goes back and compresses the events of the previous two novels, familiar characters make cameos and the same events are seen from a different angle. Unfortunately, neither Brianna or Chessie makes an appearance, and it would have been nice to have an update on their lives.
Spoiler
Elyssa's character also does not have any hint of redemption; despite her awful behaviour, it seemed there might be some heart in her somewhere or at least that she might take a chance to change, if it was given. But she remains completely without happiness.Overall, an interesting trilogy with an intriguing premise that doesn't quite live up to its full potentional. I was also hoping for more from the gemstone theme and connection, that the jewellery each character wears would be a key to their story, or a source of magic.
I was also very much hoping to some illumination as to the purpose and changing roles of the Echoes. Sharon Shinn is a wonderful writer and her stories are always delightful to read; this is no exception, but the books feel a little unfinished. I hope she will return to the world of The Seven Kingdoms and its mysterious Echo clones someday!
tyrshand's review
3.0
There were certainly many interesting twists in this book, but I don't think it spoke to me as much as the prior two because Alessa seemed mostly a one note brat (though with occasional glimmers of almost being someone with actual convictions) and her Echo was blandly nice. I also never really got a good sense of when she would actually know something. It kind of seemed random. And then all the fighting nobility seemed... very dramatic and certainly didn't seem to think through things at all. Really, despite having a goddess who is partly devoted to justice, the whole justice system seemed very murky -- particularly the concept of murder.
And then there is some lingering dissatisfaction with a plot point from earlier in the series...
And then there is some lingering dissatisfaction with a plot point from earlier in the series...
Spoiler
So the king and princes seem to be sympathetic characters in this one, but I still have an incredibly hard time respecting these men who let their sexual harassing/rapist brother run around and do whatever he wanted just because he is family... And then execute Marguerite for protecting herself. Now, I do get that being executed means that she gets her personal happy ending... But that is certainly not by royal design. AND her Echoes had to die. That was sad enough, but the implications are even worse after this book... How sentient were hers at the execution? But maybe I'm viewing the point of the series wrong. What seems to be a common theme is that being woman can be incredibly terrible because of society's views. This fantasy society is just as bad as ours and is not going to change? I also really wanted the anger of the noble's daughters to have an affect on the king... But apparently there was none. Only Alessa acted, and it's almost understandable... If only she'd actually seemed to care about Marguerite. Hope never quite got much agency. She was doing a bit by the end, but her freedom didn't come directly from her own actions. I honestly was expecting some combination of Alessa's lack of character development and the Goddess' anger at ill treatment of Echoes to lead to Hope either wresting control of herself and the Echoes from Alessa or to Alessa losing the rest of her personality and becoming a mindless Echo for Hope.lindca's review against another edition
3.0
This story moved at a far slower pace than the first two, making it difficult to stay engaged. Because most of the timeline followed the events of those first two books, though from a different perspective, there also was less suspense about what would happen, making for a less satisfying read. Still, Shinn created an interesting world and this final book in the trilogy tied up the various plotlines well.
merrinish's review
5.0
This one was my favorite of the three of these. The first novel explained the world, the second expanded it, and the third flipped it completely on its head. I loved Hope, loved the romance and the intrigue.
indigo_han's review
4.0
My favourite out of the trilogy. There were a few storylines left hanging, but it was great to see the first two books from a different perspective. PLUS seeing a character come to a well deserved nasty end!