Review by AvidBibliophile -- The Crystilleries of Echoland

[AvidBibliophile]

[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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You step into a library, and there before you, behold a book encased in glass, the same page always curiously on display. A jar of glowing plants catches your eye, as a loyal wolf and falcon lurk protectively in the periphery.

The Crystilleries of Echoland is a fantasy tale of a parallel world, where luminescent porch balls, spirit holograms, bubble-blowing fairies, and levitating pets dance across the pages with a rare sort of enchantment. In this mirror image reflection of our own world, each living human has a corresponding Echo, and for every breathing Echo, we are their complementary Sound. But while these Echoes are aware of the duplicated duality, and exist as translucent boys and girls made of diaphanous mist, Sounds bumble along through life as fully-fleshed, clueless creatures of chance.

In this fantasy book by Dew Pellucid, Alaskan toddlers Will and Emmy suddenly go missing when they are two years old. But while Will quickly makes an inexplicable reappearance one week later, he and his parents spend the next decade in a daze, searching endlessly for his long lost twin in “that place beyond the pond.” The Lake of Eternal Ice is believed to be a passageway between the realms, but an Echo and his Sound must both be present in order to unveil the hidden passageway to Olam Shoné.

Secretly living within Will’s realm are two Echoes, Damian and Deá. For the past ten years, they have cloaked themselves inside the animal bodies of his pets, an aging wolf and falcon. As it turns out, they were the beings responsible for guiding him back home all those years ago. They remain here as sentries, keeping protective watch over Will, for he has no clue his own survival ensures the existence of another, and in Echoland, his doppelgänger is destined to rule the kingdom. It turns out there is an ominous Law of Death that keeps everything universally balanced, and Fortune Tellers have been sent to spy on the Sound realm. Once a Sound dies, these soul accountants trigger Fate Sealers back in Echoland to promptly kill that soul’s corresponding Echo.

I thoroughly enjoyed the kaleidoscopic array of character voices, especially the croaking Fate Sealer who speaks in a manner similar to Gollum from Lord Of The Rings. I found myself delighted by the whimsical imagery, turkey-flavored water fountains, and clever descriptions of common conditions, such as “cryogenic amnesia” being used to describe a brain freeze. The schoolteachers even have fun nicknames like Drinkwater, Tinkerbell, and Frankenstein, and I was delighted by the inclusion of oxymorons like “flames of ice.”

From an audibly narrated standpoint, I felt there was a confusing overlap of terminology in some of the descriptive examples. For instance, when a character is said to be “…clapping the old man’s shoulder soundlessly,” the reader has already been so conditioned to hear the words Echo and Sound and think of people that it’s challenging to quickly unlink the association from proper noun back into adjective form. I was also surprised by repeated inclusion of the word “incredulously,” as it seemed more advanced than the diction that surrounded it.

Themes of grief, loss, nightmares, monsters, murder, torture, sibling loyalty, an inattentive parents are present, but so are the indescribable childhood bonds with pets and the joy of secret hiding places. No grammatical errors were evident in the audible narration of this title, and there was no profanity or erotic material present.

I feel this book would be appropriate for any young adult audience, especially those that enjoy the Tales of the Peculiar and Miss Peregrine’s series. Many other reviews have also mentioned a likeness to Harry Potter as well, but I feel they all exhibit fantastical similarities in story style.

I am gladly giving this book 4 out of 4 stars for being creatively rendered and professionally presented. Once you step into this fantasy world of gems and bubbles, shimmering capes, floating eyeballs, memory crystals, and magical coins, you’ll be forever transformed!

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The Crystilleries of Echoland
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[Wyland]

I like the attempt or curiosity this book brings about life and what is behind it. Through fantasy anything is possible. Thank for the wonderful review.

[rumik]

This must be a great book since it was BOTM, and all the reviews I've read of it were positive. Will try it out sometime. Thanks for the review!

[AvidBibliophile]

I like the attempt or curiosity this book brings about life and what is behind it. Through fantasy anything is possible. Thank for the wonderful review.

Oh most definitely, and thanks! Can you imagine, if just for one day, what it would be like if we could step into a fantasy world full of endless possibilities, magic, companion beasts, and gravity-defying adventures?!

[AvidBibliophile]

This must be a great book since it was BOTM, and all the reviews I've read of it were positive. Will try it out sometime. Thanks for the review!

Thanks for the feedback, and to be honest, it truly reminded of the "Miss Peregrine's" tales of peculiar children and time looping adventures of evasion and survival. And this was only the second audiobook I have ever listened to, but I think I would have enjoyed the story to a greater degree if I could have read it for myself visually.

[RetiredOBNurse]

I love the fantasy and magic and smells and feels of all this book brings to the table! A wonderfully written review that would make anyone want to go to the land of the unknown....

[AvidBibliophile]

I love the fantasy and magic and smells and feels of all this book brings to the table! A wonderfully written review that would make anyone want to go to the land of the unknown....

Thanks! This author definitely weaves a tale of magical fantasy that would look great translated onto a giant movie screen.

[Victoria Ahiaba]

Ohhh, living in a world where everything you know to be real is actually not real is magical.

And it also seems to be bond with the twins....

The review is wonderfully wonderful.

[Victoria Ahiaba]

Ohhh, living in a world where everything you know to be real is actually not real is magical.

And it also seems to be bond with the twins....

The review is wonderfully wonderful.