Review by djr6090 -- The Crystilleries of Echoland

[djr6090]

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

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Crystilleries of Echoland, written by Dew Pellucid, and illustrated by Andy Simmons and Tal Boldo, is a young adult fantasy that takes place in a sparkling setting where the rules of physics are suspended and anything is possible. The premise of the story is that each of us has a translucent reflection. This is a being who is born at the same time we are, and who resides in Echoland. We are Sounds. They are Echos.

Will Cleary is the only Sound who has ever returned from Echoland. As a toddler, Will and his twin sister, Emmy were spirited away. Emmy remained lost, but Will returned with a wolf, a raven, and a substance that looked like neon seaweed. Now, at age twelve, Will is determined to bring Emmy home. Will’s pets lead him to a magic coin that provides passage to Echoland. Once there, Will discovers that his Echo is royalty, Prince William, who needs the magic coin to ascend to the throne of Echoland. But first, the Prince must clear his father’s name to assure peace in the kingdom. He hopes to make many positive changes, such as the abolishment of the Law of Death. In Echoland, once a Sound dies, his or her Echo is hunted down and assassinated by hideous beings called Fate Sealers. Therefore, since the dark forces can do away with the Prince by killing Will Cleary, Will must disguise himself and hide out in the Orphanage of Castaway Children.

Will arms himself with a crystillery, a magic stone manufactured to resurrect memories. He and his friends, Peter (a castaway child) and Auralius (a half-Echo), brave many hazards on the road to Olam Shone. Their mission is threefold. First, they must prove that Prince William’s father did not die in an attempt to rob the mythical utopia. Second, they are charged with finding cold-fire mushrooms and introducing them into Echoland for their energizing properties. And third, they hope to return the treasure of the ancients that will finally allow Sounds and Echos to live in harmony. Quite an assignment for twelve-year-olds, don’t you think?

The Crystilleries of Echoland followed an unpredictable trail of fanciful activities that constantly surprised me. It was teeming with extraordinary characters. There were so many that it was easy to miss hints of a character’s hidden motivations. The central theme was friendship and loyalty between the young heroes. They exhibited a tolerant attitude and unflagging optimism throughout. I liked the book’s unique racial symbolism. The see-through skin of the Echoes is contrasted against the solid skin of the Sounds. You can’t help but feel sorry when Auralius, a half-Sound, is labeled a Mongrel. Sadder still is the practice of hunting half-borns and torturing them. But, the author turns the tables on those with closed minds in a way that was both complex and unforgettable. Young readers are sure to absorb the value of an open-minded relationship and benefit from the anti-racist message.

I also liked the way the author plays with words throughout the book. For example, she writes herself into the story as a librarian named Dew Pellucid. The word ‘pellucid’ means easy to understand or crystal clear. It might be more accurate to say that the author took her pen name from the character, since this is not the only one of Tal Boldo’s aliases. To provide yet more color for the offbeat and wildly innovative universe she has created, Tal Boldo teams up with digital artist Andy Simmons. Their surrealistic color plates are stunning.

On the downside, The Crystilleries of Echoland contains some pretty nightmarish fiends. The Fate Sealers are horrid, but picture your dead pets becoming inhabited by the transparent essence of an Echo that would otherwise have become a Fate Sealer! And how might you react to see your nurse slough off her skin to become a potent enemy? Very young readers might find this unsettling. I know I did.

Thank goodness, the book contained no errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation. There were so many intricate twists in the narrative that it would have been impossible to navigate had it not been so well edited. My rating of four out of four stars results from the incredible complexity and imagination embodied in this work. As a fairy story for young adults, the over-sixteen audience might find it a bit juvenile. Nevertheless, I recommend it to fantasy lovers of any age. It has all the elements to dazzle the senses and challenge the imagination. Why should the kids have all the fun?

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The Crystilleries of Echoland
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[Bambiears]

Thank you so much for the review.

I think I would enjoy the suspence and story line should I get the chance to read it some day.

Great reveiw!

[djr6090]

I appreciate the compliment. This really was an extraordinary fantasy.