Title: The Echo Room
Author: Parker Peevyhouse
Genre: YA, Science Fiction
First published: September 11th 2018
Publisher: Tor Teen
Finished reading: August 3rd 2018
Pages: 320
“He’d known other empty places, knew how quickly they could fill with dread.”
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Tor Teen in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
When I first saw this book mentioned, I was immediately intrigued by both cover and blurb. There is just something about it that sounds dark and menacing; the promise of a very good dark thriller, especially with the potential amnesia angle. What I can say is that The Echo Room definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. It’s one of those books that either works for you, or it doesn’t… And sadly I belong to the second group. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot to avoid ruining surprises, but let’s just say it’s more appropriate to call The Echo Room a science fiction read rather than a dark thriller. And I think I appreciated the whole idea behind this book a lot better than reading the actual story. There is no doubt that the author has thought up something really inventive and has come up with an original way to tell this story. Like the main characters, we are completely left in the dark about crucial information that would make it easier to understand what is really going on… While this can add a lot of intrigue when done right, I don’t think I actually appreciated this technique in The Echo Room. I mostly felt the story was too vague and strange to be actually able to connect to it. I wasn’t sure about the writing either, as the chapters just felt way too repetitive and didn’t manage to keep me interested. Like I said before, I understand the reason behind this repetition and I find the idea itself ingenious; I just didn’t enjoy actually reading it. I had problems with the main characters as well… Especially Rett came over as a bit whiny. Overall I thought The Echo Room was based on a very ingenious and inspiring idea, but unfortunately I liked the idea of this book a lot better than reading the actual story. This might just have been because The Echo Room simply isn’t for me, so if you are into science fiction and don’t mind repetition, you might just have a blast reading this one.
When Rett wakes up on the floor of a cold and dark room, he doesn’t know where he is or how he got there. The worst part is that he is locked in… and he is not alone. A girl named Bryn is trapped in the room with him, and neither trusts the other. Instead of working together, they each try to find out what is really happening and how to get out… They realize they will have to work together if they ever want to escape, but can they really trust each other?
If you like science fiction, are looking for something different and don’t mind repetition in the plot, you will probably enjoy The Echo Room a lot better than I did. I still really like the idea behind this story, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to enjoy actually reading it. Between the lack of crucial information, repetitive chapters and lack of connection to the story and characters I had a hard time making it to the final page, although things did improve later on. The story was just too strange and vague for me… But like I said before, the problem might just have been me.
You can also find me at Goodreads. Twitter. Instagram. Facebook. Bloglovin’.
Great review such a shame it didn’t work for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh well, we can’t like them all, can we? 😉
LikeLike
Bummer. I’m sorry it wasn’t a favorite of yours. Repetition is definitely something I like — nor is science fiction. Great review, though.
LikeLike
Yeah, sci-fi isn’t my favorite genre either, and repetition doesn’t tend to work for me… A shame there isn’t a warning in the blurb, or I probably would have stayed away from this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Potential gone the wrong way 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh well, at least I tried right? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
You did your best!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, with the cover and the blurb I would have jumped on the book myself. Definitely not the joy of joys when you find out that it’s really not what you expected… I doubt anyone really enjoys repetition…
There have been books on NG that I look and think – Ooh, I want, and then the blurb has something like – the 18 year old boy relives his day over and over again until…- and I am noping out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I would have stayed away from this one as well if there would have been a hint about the repetition in the blurb! It’s not my favorite technique at all… And it only works well in a few cases (like Evelyn Hardcastle, which was simply BRILLIANT).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review Yvonne. Sorry this one wasn’t for you. The summary sounds interesting and I can see why you thought it would be a dark thriller.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah I think the blurb is a bit misleading… Oh well, I do hope others will enjoy it better.
LikeLike
Great review! I don’t think this one is for me though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah I guess this is a story that either works for you or it doesn’t.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fab, honest review! I hate when a books marketed genre turns out to be nothing like you expected!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it is classified as sci-fi and time travel, but it’s not obvious at all if you read the blurb itself… My main problem was with the endless repetition though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sucks! Hopefully your next read is better!
LikeLiked by 1 person