Book Review: ‘Echoes And Empires’ By Morgan Rhodes

Review by Lauryn Angel

I’ll be the first to admit that since March 2020, I’ve read quite a few fantasy novels. Really, a lot of them. They’re perfect for taking my mind off what’s going on in the real world. And in the case of YA fantasy novels, they’re often light reads, which is exactly what my brain needs sometimes. To that end, I picked up Echoes and Empires, the latest novel from Morgan Rhodes. The novel is set in a world in which magic is deemed evil, and anyone who is even suspected of using it is thrown into prison.

I have to confess that I almost put this novel right back down again, as the main character, Josslyn Drake, is extremely unlikeable. I love a challenging protagonist, but Joss is a 17-year-old mean girl who is used to getting her way, and is, well, rather vapid. All she seems to care about is how she looks and who’s looking at her. The novel’s opening at a royal gala showcases just how vain and shallow she is, and when Joss overhears her friends gossiping about her, I assume readers are supposed to feel empathy for her, but I really felt nothing.

Luckily, the book recovers from this rocky start with the introduction of Jericho Nox, who steals a magical artifact from an exhibition in the palace – accidentally exposing Joss to the artifact’s magical contents. Now Joss has been contaminated with magic and left with the choice of facing the Queen’s wrath or following Nox in the hope of finding a cure. And this is where things get interesting.

The plot takes quite a few twists and turns, some of which are predictable, but many of which kept me guessing about what would happen next. I have to say that my enjoyment of the novel increased with each complication of the plot. By the end of the novel, Joss had grown quite a bit as a character, but she still had quite far to go. Luckily, this is the first half of a duology, so I expect to see more growth in the second book, as well as the resolution of the romantic tension. Mostly, though, I’m looking forward to the reveal of the big-bads, who are often referred to in this book, but have not actually appeared in the story yet.

If you’re looking for a quick, easy read, Echoes and Empires will do the trick. Just don’t expect a lot of plot resolution, as this book is merely the introduction of the world of Regara, with a “to be continued” ending.