Customer Reviews

Hidden Echoes

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I read this book years ago and loaned it to my boss. She loved it and I never got it back. I loved this book. I agree that the story had a rather ambitious plot/evolution. Jefferies' originality is outstanding in this piece. I honestly found a personal visual feast throughout this book. I want to read it again now that I have read other genres of writers. The book's complex plot and its depth remind me of early Dean Koontz works that seemed to take on to much breadth. I have a little nostalgia towards meatier books as I notice the more books put in print by many authors tend to water down their imagery and complexity. I don't want a fast read in a fantasy novel I want visual beefiness. I also like a novel that doesn't rely on environments that are familiar; it cheapens the fantasy.

I usually like to write something positive in a review but I'm finding it difficult this time. It's hard to define what's wrong with Hidden Echoes: the idea is good, the characters reasonably original - but you can't help feeling it's lacking something. The writing is stilted and seems to be trying to describe everything and still remain slick, which it fails to do. And some of the dialogue honestly makes you cringe. Apart from that, it's a basic fantasy novel, if not a wholly original concept - this world and others will end if some mighty task is not completed by certain people - with some interesting bits and descriptions which catch the eye.

I thought this was quite an interesting book depicting parallel worlds. I think it provided just enough escapism without getting too intense although some parts of the book really fed my imagination!! I used this book to "rest" between the serial books I prefer to read. I liked the mix of character personalities and the beasties. I keep looking for a follow-up book as the ending left just enough of an opening to for a sequel.