OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Crystilleries of Echoland" by Dew Pellucid.]

The Following is a review of The Crystilleries of Echoland by Dew Pellucid.

In the midst of thousands of children disappearing from all over the world, one returns. That boy is named Will Cleary. He and his twin sister, Emmy, went missing as toddlers. Only Will returned with a wolf and raven in tow. Before Will's thirteenth birthday, his pets tell him a secret that only a few know.

There is another world below Will's feet. That world is a reflection of his own. Every person in our world has an "echo" or an exact replica of themselves. When a Sound or Echo dies, law decrees that the other must be killed in the same exact fashion to bring balance to the two realms. Will is part of a key to bringing about changing this law so that no Sound or Echo needs to live in fear.

The Crystilleries of Echoland by Dew Pellucid was a twisting tale that left me on the edge of my seat. The author's voice was unique and I found myself instantly falling into the plot of the book. The illustrations included at the beginning of each chapter helped me form a better picture of the differences between "Sounds" and "Echoes". The Sounds are humans from the world above. The Echoes are their reflections. Once I could grasp the difference between the two, the book was riveting.

While this book is marketed towards young adults, I do find that a few of the scenes are graphic in nature and not suitable for middle school aged children that struggle with gore. One of the more shocking scenes depicted bodies frozen in ice and while the scene was not described in great detail, it could prove unsettling for younger children.

I am giving this book a 4 out of 4 stars. The book was action-packed, exceptionally edited, and would suit more than just the young adults it is being marketed towards. I would not suggest reading this book on the computer application for Kindle, as it did change the formatting of the book. The format left one letter, the chapter, and opening illustration on one page while continuing on another which can be confusing for readers when reading on the computer. The beginning of chapter six felt rushed and condensed in the opening scene. Despite these minor issues, I do believe this book is well-deserving of the six awards that it has received during 2018.

******
The Crystilleries of Echoland
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Like Rangerkay's review? Post a comment saying so!

This is a great review! I loved the fact that you did point out the fact that this book is suited for adults also. I often find many children's books have a different, deeper meaning when you read them as an adult.

I agree that this is a book that it would be best if parents read first to determine if it was right for their middle-grade reader, or at least read the book with the child, so that problematic areas can be discussed and dealt with right away.