Echo in Amethyst

Uncommon Echoes, Book 3

By: Sharon Shinn

Narrated by: Emily Bauer

An Echo and an Original

Lady Elyssa despises her echoes - the creatures who look just like her and copy her every move. But it’s only the echoes that mark her as a high noble, someone elite enough to marry the king’s youngest son, Jordan. She can’t get rid of the echoes, so instead she amuses herself by torturing them when no one is looking.

But there’s something Elyssa doesn’t know: Her casual cruelty has brought one of the echoes to life. And this echo, Hope, is learning to think and speak and act on her own. And there’s something else Elyssa doesn’t know: Hope has witnessed her secret meetings with revolutionaries bent on starting a war and overthrowing the king. And Hope has made friends in high places - very high places.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase Echo in Amethyst, you’ll also find in your Audible Library a map which will help you explore the world of the Uncommon Echoes series.

©2019 Sharon Shinn (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC.

Why? Scratching my head with so many questions.

I stumbled upon this series thanks to Audible Originals. I was charmed by the series, even though it seemed a bit high school romance for me. There was a lot of oh-my-god-he-looked-at-me-I-must-melt. I appreciated the kingdom of the seven jewels. I really liked the level headedness of the king and princes. I thought each main character was well developed enough to care about their wellbeing. I enjoyed how everything happened “after the meal” in all three books.

I am left with questions though (spoiler alert):
1. Why isn’t this one book? This could have been one book written from three different perspectives. I feel like I just listened to the same story three different times from three minor players viewpoints.
2. Why don’t we ever hear from Margaret, her maid, the junior inquisitor, the king’s step daughter, or anyone else from the first two books ever again?
3. Was the whole point of all these books was for Jordon to get engaged to an echo? Why are we continuely left in limbo? You couldn’t have added another couple of chapters tying up loose ends? The kingdom celebrating the marriage of Hope and Jordon, they have many heirs, and at some point get to end the farce of Alyssa. Cormick, the king, the maid, the step-daughter, the daughter and the kingdom find peace, prosperity, and moderate happiness in their lives. The End.
4. If Hope could feel Alyssa’s thoughts, moods, and vicarious pleasures, Why couldn’t Alyssa feel Hope doing all the things?

So many questions.

couldn't put this down!

I tried so hard not to skip ahead to know what would happen next. this captured my attention to the fullest!!!

Amazing Books... Must read!

fantastic... want more.... couldn't put it down... listened to it at night... kept me awake...

Good ending to the series

The story begins with the events of the first book as told by an Echo of one of the side characters- the mean fiancé of the second prince, Elyssa. I found the story of her Echo coming to consciousness intriguing and enjoyed their contrasting motivations and experiences to the same events. The political and court intrigue built up in the previous books come to a point and a satisfying but rushed ending. This final book follows the same formula of the previous books- witty conversation, court intrigue, a simple mystery with one unexpected twist at the end, and a sweet, believable romance that brings out the best of the main character but doesn’t define her.

Terrible Narrator

If I didn't know better, I would have thought this was the author's first book. The story felt juvenile and predictable and the characters weren't very well developed. But the narrator REALLY ruined it. Her trembly, whiny, little girl voice had a distinct nails on chalkboard quality for me. I will avoid anything else from her.

I hope this is not the end of this series

Another great addition to the series. I hope this isn't the last we see of this world. My only criticism would be I would have liked to see some of the political aspects fleshed out a bit more. Very impressed with the entire series but it left me wanting more :)

Is she an echo...or not?

Mysteries only mount in the third book of the Uncommon Echoes series. Lady Elyssa is not only conniving, but brutal to her three echoes, and she targets her animosity on one echo in particular: Hope, Just as abuse to humans has devastating consequences, Hope has many scars from years of repeated abuse. She also has some independence too...very unusual for an echo! As this drama unfolds, the king's youngest son, Jordan, prepares to marry Elyssa--though he doesn't love her. Jordan's heart really goes to Hope. Even so, if the kingdom is going to be saved, Elyssa and Jordan must wed. Tensions mount and what happens next will leave you racing to the end.

Story line imaginative sorry to have sexual encounters ruin a good read

Story line creative & imaginative but found I fast forwarded a lot because of sexual encounter descriptions. Sorry author felt pressure to add scene. Won’t refer her new & exciting books to others.

predictable but comforting

This is the most painfully predictable and plodding of the Echoes series but it’s also comforting in the fantasy it sets up and I guess in some of its predictability, which works for me since I use audiobooks to fall asleep. Really not a fan of this voice actor, who seems to only have one or two male and female voices in her repertoire. (The voice actor for Summers at Castle Auburn is much better for a much better book.)

Bummed out because the other two are amazing

Really disappointed in this one unfortunately. I love love loved the other two books in this series, but this one has a very dark and twisted side that was a little disturbing for me.