“Epic and engrossing. Magic pulsates through every page.” –Kirkus, starred review ”…a compelling, satisfying romantic adventure with metafictional undertones.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review “A marvelous, enchanting tale about the power of love and stories.” –Rosamund Hodge, New York Times bestselling author of Cruel Beauty ”…beautifully written retelling…” – School Library Journal … author of Cruel Beauty
”…beautifully written retelling…” – School Library Journal
Echo Alkaev’s safe and carefully structured world falls apart when her father leaves for the city and mysteriously disappears. Believing he is lost forever, Echo is shocked to find him half-frozen in the winter forest six months later, guarded by a strange talking wolf–the same creature who attacked her as a child. The wolf presents Echo with an ultimatum: if she lives with him for one year, he will ensure her father makes it home safely. But there is more to the wolf than Echo realizes.
In his enchanted house beneath a mountain, each room must be sewn together to keep the home from unraveling, and something new and dark and strange lies behind every door. When centuries-old secrets unfold, Echo discovers a magical library full of books- turned-mirrors, and a young man named Hal who is trapped inside of them. As the year ticks by, the rooms begin to disappear and Echo must solve the mystery of the wolf’s enchantment before her time is up otherwise Echo, the wolf, and Hal will be lost forever.
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Beauty and the Beast variant
There is so much to love about Echo North — a magic library (yes please), a cursed house, a scarred and resilient heroine, a compelling and mysterious boy…
The story is reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast (although it’s actually a retelling of a lesser-known fairy tale: East of the Sun, West of the Moon). But there’s a quest at the end with a twist that was completely unexpected!
I highly recommend this book for readers of fantasy or fairy-tale retellings. It’s beautifully written and engrossing. And it leads into Meyer’s upcoming book Wind Daughter, which I am eagerly awaiting!!
Meyer’s voice is so rich and lyrical. You won’t be surprised to hear that she’s also a musician.
This book had some lovely fairy-tale vibes. As someone who is familiar with “East of the Sun, West of the Moon”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Tam-Lin”, it was fun to see all the various fairy-tale pieces falling into place throughout the story. Joanna Meyer put a fun twist on so many of the classic parts of these tales and created her own engaging story. A very magical, whimsical read certain to enchant lovers of fairy-tales and fantasy!
A little slow but it was entertaining to read and I am such a sucker for a beauty and the beast retelling
I want to sew a house together. She sews a house together. It was a brilliant idea, and the creativity the author brings to the story just keeps coming.
A fascinating take on my fairy tales, including The Beauty & The Beast and Tam Lin. I really loved how this story was still original but included aspects of fairy tales that I loved. The story is well-crafted and makes you want to escape to the woods and have a story of your own. I definitely recommend and considered this to be one of my favorite YA fantasy books!
If you like your Robin McKinley and Naomi Novik fairy-tale fantasy, give this one a go, really enjoyed it!
This book was filled with rich characters that had great tension and attraction that played out in a wonderfully crafted magical world that complemented the entire story wonderfully!!
TCY
[3.5 out of 5 stars]
This book includes a magical library, and a piano-playing girl who grows up in a bookstore. It was inspired by the works of Robin McKinley, Edith Pattou, and Dianna Wynne Jones. It’s a retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon. The characters are believable, the prose flows naturally, and I read it in one evening. The main theme is the power of love (it’s referred to as the “old magic”). HOW IS THIS NOT THE GREATEST YA BOOK EVER?!
That’s what I’ve been asking myself ever since completing ECHO NORTH (in, ahem, one evening). The ingredients are perfection itself, but the flavor is not. At it’s worst, this book reminds me of an enormous Persian rug: red and orange and yellow and green all scrambled into a disturbing cacophony of color and stuffy, unnatural design. Doesn’t that sound dreadful? Really, it’s not a bad book, it’s actually much better than most contemporary young adult fiction. I think my main problem is that it contains too much of a several good things. This is probably a book I should have read slowly, savoring each chapter. (Really wish I would have known that before reading, it could have made all the difference! I’m adjusting my rating accordingly.)
Enough negativity! If you want to know why you should read, see paragraph 1. If you want to avoid making the mistake I made, see paragraph 2.
The bottom line: This is a great book (I want to read more by Joanna Ruth Meyer), and my disappointment was mostly my fault. Highly recommended, especially if you’ve read and enjoyed HUNTED by Meagan Spooner (the flavor is very similar, though I prefer HUNTED to ECHO NORTH).
Best quotes:
“Wild house and unpredictable wolf aside, I didn’t care WHERE I’d promised to stay for a whole year, as long as there was something to read.” [p. 74]
Hal: “Must you always know a story ends happily before you feel equal to beginning it?”
Echo: “. . . Sometimes the adventure is enough.”[pp. 123, 124]
“Books are very dull without someone to share them with.” [p. 139] (nice idea, but I’m living proof that it isn’t always true)
“What is the oldest magic?”
“Love. That is what created the universe, and that is what will destroy it, in the end.”. [p. 146]
“It isn’t about deserving, Hal. It never was. . . . The old magic is stronger than guilt or betrayal. Stronger than everything she did to you, and to me. It’s stronger than time.” [p. 380]