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The Echoverse #1
Echoes
Washington
District of Columbia
United Republic of Earth
2712
_____
Twenty-three-year-old Adem Adamend has it rough. His name is ludicrous. His friends are few. And the only thing his "kid genius" status has gotten him at the Interdistrict Bureau of Intelligence is a boatload of extra work with no credit in sight.
Then hotshot lawyer Victor Manson is burned to death in his own back yard, and Adem finds himself using his unique skills to piece together the strangest crime he's ever seen. Strange because the only possible suspect Adem can pin the murder on...is a mythical beast. A dragon.
Before Adem can unravel the mystery of Manson's death, the Bureau loses jurisdiction to the secretive EDPA, an organization that investigates weird and deadly events. But Adem isn't one for giving up, so he takes it upon himself to delve deeper into EDPA's machinations, into the series of unfortunate events that led to Manson's demise.
And what he finds may change the way he views the world -- and himself -- forever.
District of Columbia
United Republic of Earth
2712
_____
Twenty-three-year-old Adem Adamend has it rough. His name is ludicrous. His friends are few. And the only thing his "kid genius" status has gotten him at the Interdistrict Bureau of Intelligence is a boatload of extra work with no credit in sight.
Then hotshot lawyer Victor Manson is burned to death in his own back yard, and Adem finds himself using his unique skills to piece together the strangest crime he's ever seen. Strange because the only possible suspect Adem can pin the murder on...is a mythical beast. A dragon.
Before Adem can unravel the mystery of Manson's death, the Bureau loses jurisdiction to the secretive EDPA, an organization that investigates weird and deadly events. But Adem isn't one for giving up, so he takes it upon himself to delve deeper into EDPA's machinations, into the series of unfortunate events that led to Manson's demise.
And what he finds may change the way he views the world -- and himself -- forever.
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2014
82 people are currently reading
1025 people want to read
About the author
Therin Knite
11Ìýbooks170ÌýfollowersTherin Knite was born and raised in backwoods Virginia, USA. Currently in her mid-twenties, Therin holds a degree in English and Finance from the College of William & Mary and recently retired from the hustle and bustle of Washington, DC to return to the homeland and pick up the quiet writing life.
Therin spends most of her time (when she's not writing) dreaming up new story ideas, studying Japanese, and slowly reading through the several-hundred-book backlog in her budding home library.
If she's not occupied with any of those things, then you can probably find her playing with her two cats or lurking in the shadows of various social media websites.
Therin spends most of her time (when she's not writing) dreaming up new story ideas, studying Japanese, and slowly reading through the several-hundred-book backlog in her budding home library.
If she's not occupied with any of those things, then you can probably find her playing with her two cats or lurking in the shadows of various social media websites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
October 22, 2015
Well, if you like this I'm sorry. I thought for a while it would get a 2 as I was "holding my own" for a while. I figured I'd get to the end of the book. But eventually I just decided it wasn't worth slogging my way through the thing. Thus my hands tied by a commitment I made back when that if I wouldn't (or couldn't) finish a book it gets 1 star.
I mean...how could a book that opens with a dragon attack and continues with a world of people who have "special powers?, a world where fantastic threats are afoot drive me so totally out of my mind with actual boredom?
You know one of my favorite types of storytelling in novels is the first person point of view. If it's done well it can make a re-readable book that stands for decades. Roger Zelazny's first Amber series has been with us for the said decades. Gulliver's Travels, Huckleberry Finn, To kill a Mockingbird and so many more classics. Also many wonderful current novels such as the Dresden series by Jim Butcher are first person.
Then again some simply don't care for the first person point of view. If that's the case well you're probably not going to be happy with the book from the get-go. But in my case I as I said I like the form of story telling. However it has to be "good first person". It has to be done giving you what you need to know without doing info dumps or on the other hand giving half understood words that apply to something you're not able to function without understanding.
I just came close to dropping off one time too many here. No while i know some got into the book and enjoyed it I'm not one. Plan to move on to something else.
I mean...how could a book that opens with a dragon attack and continues with a world of people who have "special powers?, a world where fantastic threats are afoot drive me so totally out of my mind with actual boredom?
You know one of my favorite types of storytelling in novels is the first person point of view. If it's done well it can make a re-readable book that stands for decades. Roger Zelazny's first Amber series has been with us for the said decades. Gulliver's Travels, Huckleberry Finn, To kill a Mockingbird and so many more classics. Also many wonderful current novels such as the Dresden series by Jim Butcher are first person.
Then again some simply don't care for the first person point of view. If that's the case well you're probably not going to be happy with the book from the get-go. But in my case I as I said I like the form of story telling. However it has to be "good first person". It has to be done giving you what you need to know without doing info dumps or on the other hand giving half understood words that apply to something you're not able to function without understanding.
I just came close to dropping off one time too many here. No while i know some got into the book and enjoyed it I'm not one. Plan to move on to something else.
December 23, 2015
5/5 � if you liked Inception and love Benedict Cumberbatch� I mean Sherlock as much as I do, then you’ll love this love child of sorts!
Twenty-three-year-old Adem Adamend has it rough alright. In a time and age where alliterative names are a norm and if you cross the wrong person you could be murdered by a dragon controlled by someone in a dream � or an echo, they like to call it. You’d think being the one of smartest people in the world you’d be safe, right? Wrong. Adem is an emotionally stilted and arrogant genius who for some reason decides to join the IBI � a futuristic FBI � gets intrigued by a mysterious case of the lawyer who was murdered by something that doesn’t make any sense� a dragon. When he finds out what echoes are and how unsettling they are, he takes it upon himself to emerge himself into the case entirely, even when the IBI loses jurisdiction to the EDPA. Who the hell are the EDPA and who do they think they are? Well, Adem finds out � along with so much more.
First things first, going into this book I was a bit skeptical because I don’t do indie books as much as I should. However, Therin is a pro when it comes to literary work. To start things off, the narration was perfect for the book. Adem Adamend is someone who knows everything and has no shame in letting you know how wrong you are. That is so relatable and realistic for a genius who is still young but so high up in his career. He is smarter than anyone is his department and helps everyone on their crimes � going so far as solving a majority of them � only to get no credit, but for some reason he loves this job. It is the only place he feels like home.
The book, to me is so damn memorable because of a plethora of reasons: Adem has his own mind palace. That’s literally what that is. If you ever saw the series Sherlock, and you remember when Sherlock has his mind palace � then you are aware of what I am talking about. And in the book Adem reminds me so heavily of Sherlock and I love it. He feels emotions and does not know what they are � or he sees them in other’s faces but can’t quite put his finger on what they are feeling. Not to mention he can read anyone and anything� except for Dynara � his Irene Adler. He can’t read her and that bothers the hell out of him. I love it. Add a grumpy commander who just so happens to believe him and a believable best friend that is stumped most of the time and there you have it. A futuristic � almost as good � Sherlock!
The dialogue is realistic. His mind palace is realistic and you don’t know who you can trust. But fighting crimes in reality and drifting in a dream world makes this a Sherlock and Inception love child. Honestly. From the intriguing characters and the intriguing plot, Theirn makes her own and makes it well known that she is not ripping off any story lines. She does an amazing job at making them her own. I can’t go into detail anymore of how much I loved this.
Twenty-three-year-old Adem Adamend has it rough alright. In a time and age where alliterative names are a norm and if you cross the wrong person you could be murdered by a dragon controlled by someone in a dream � or an echo, they like to call it. You’d think being the one of smartest people in the world you’d be safe, right? Wrong. Adem is an emotionally stilted and arrogant genius who for some reason decides to join the IBI � a futuristic FBI � gets intrigued by a mysterious case of the lawyer who was murdered by something that doesn’t make any sense� a dragon. When he finds out what echoes are and how unsettling they are, he takes it upon himself to emerge himself into the case entirely, even when the IBI loses jurisdiction to the EDPA. Who the hell are the EDPA and who do they think they are? Well, Adem finds out � along with so much more.
First things first, going into this book I was a bit skeptical because I don’t do indie books as much as I should. However, Therin is a pro when it comes to literary work. To start things off, the narration was perfect for the book. Adem Adamend is someone who knows everything and has no shame in letting you know how wrong you are. That is so relatable and realistic for a genius who is still young but so high up in his career. He is smarter than anyone is his department and helps everyone on their crimes � going so far as solving a majority of them � only to get no credit, but for some reason he loves this job. It is the only place he feels like home.
The book, to me is so damn memorable because of a plethora of reasons: Adem has his own mind palace. That’s literally what that is. If you ever saw the series Sherlock, and you remember when Sherlock has his mind palace � then you are aware of what I am talking about. And in the book Adem reminds me so heavily of Sherlock and I love it. He feels emotions and does not know what they are � or he sees them in other’s faces but can’t quite put his finger on what they are feeling. Not to mention he can read anyone and anything� except for Dynara � his Irene Adler. He can’t read her and that bothers the hell out of him. I love it. Add a grumpy commander who just so happens to believe him and a believable best friend that is stumped most of the time and there you have it. A futuristic � almost as good � Sherlock!
The dialogue is realistic. His mind palace is realistic and you don’t know who you can trust. But fighting crimes in reality and drifting in a dream world makes this a Sherlock and Inception love child. Honestly. From the intriguing characters and the intriguing plot, Theirn makes her own and makes it well known that she is not ripping off any story lines. She does an amazing job at making them her own. I can’t go into detail anymore of how much I loved this.
February 28, 2017
This book feels like a sci-fi meets CSI read, set in America a hundred years from now. A witty, entertaining, and exciting read!
January 27, 2014
4.5/5 Stars
This review and many others can be found on my blog -
Echoes is an action-packed sci-fi mystery, full of twists and turns!
The negatives:
Not quite enough futuristic elements.
While there were definitely some interesting futuristic sci-fi elements in this book, I could have used even more! Besides a few interesting gadgets and people who change their appearance using mods, life in 2712 didn't seem that much more advanced.
What I LOVED:
Adem.
Adem was an incredibly interesting character because of his ability to read people. He was like Sean on Psych, only even more so. Adem is brilliant (the seventh most intelligent person in the world, we're told), but somewhat emotionally stunted due to the murder of his mother when he was only six years old. Because of her murder, he has dedicated his life to using his skills to help solve crimes - and is hoping to eventually solve the mystery of his mother's death. Even though Adem doesn't have a ton of emotional depth, he makes up with it because of his sense of humor - which brings me to my next point ...
Dry wit.
Adem's narration is filled with a sort of dry wit. In some ways, it reminded me of Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (or maybe his Dirk Gently series), but a lot less wacky. Adem is constantly parenthetically commenting on the circumstances around him in ways that made me laugh - a big plus in my book!
Echoes (dreams).
I'm not always a big fan of straight-up mysteries or crime novels, but the slightly paranormal/sci-fi element of this book is what made it for me. You see, you find out relatively early on in this book that the murder is not just any murder (you may have gathered that from the fact that it says in the synopsis that the murder was committed by a dragon). Adem discovers that the real culprit behind the murder is able to manipulate his dreams - and make them come to life. The result is a true nightmare! There were quite a few twists and turns in this book as Adem tries to solve the murder (coming very close to death several times). One of the major twists, I did see coming, but another one was a big surprise to me and I thought it was brilliant!
I would highly recommend this book to fans of sci-fi or crime novels/mystery (who don't mind a sci-fi element). I give it 4.5/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
This review and many others can be found on my blog -
Echoes is an action-packed sci-fi mystery, full of twists and turns!
The negatives:
Not quite enough futuristic elements.
While there were definitely some interesting futuristic sci-fi elements in this book, I could have used even more! Besides a few interesting gadgets and people who change their appearance using mods, life in 2712 didn't seem that much more advanced.
What I LOVED:
Adem.
Adem was an incredibly interesting character because of his ability to read people. He was like Sean on Psych, only even more so. Adem is brilliant (the seventh most intelligent person in the world, we're told), but somewhat emotionally stunted due to the murder of his mother when he was only six years old. Because of her murder, he has dedicated his life to using his skills to help solve crimes - and is hoping to eventually solve the mystery of his mother's death. Even though Adem doesn't have a ton of emotional depth, he makes up with it because of his sense of humor - which brings me to my next point ...
Dry wit.
Adem's narration is filled with a sort of dry wit. In some ways, it reminded me of Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (or maybe his Dirk Gently series), but a lot less wacky. Adem is constantly parenthetically commenting on the circumstances around him in ways that made me laugh - a big plus in my book!
Echoes (dreams).
I'm not always a big fan of straight-up mysteries or crime novels, but the slightly paranormal/sci-fi element of this book is what made it for me. You see, you find out relatively early on in this book that the murder is not just any murder (you may have gathered that from the fact that it says in the synopsis that the murder was committed by a dragon). Adem discovers that the real culprit behind the murder is able to manipulate his dreams - and make them come to life. The result is a true nightmare! There were quite a few twists and turns in this book as Adem tries to solve the murder (coming very close to death several times). One of the major twists, I did see coming, but another one was a big surprise to me and I thought it was brilliant!
I would highly recommend this book to fans of sci-fi or crime novels/mystery (who don't mind a sci-fi element). I give it 4.5/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
February 7, 2014
I've read a lot of indie books and I've got to say, from the cover all the way through to the end, this book rates in the top 1% with its eye-catching cover and polished, error-free writing. And the writing itself was engaging, flowing, and descriptive, providing my unimaginative brain with some amazing imagery.
Adem Adamend's sense of humor had me chuckling several times, even during some of the intense action sequences. He's a very likeable character I enjoyed spending time with and his talent of reading people and the way he solved crimes was unique.
The dream sequences immediately brought Inception (a completely amazing movie) to mind and allowed the author creative leeway in adding some uncommon details to the mystery (dragons!). Although I'm a sci-fi fan, I don't usually enjoy books that portray a completely unfamiliar world, so I appreciated that the world-building in Echoes wasn't such a foreign concept.
For me, personally, I would have liked to know more of Adem's backstory - how he got where he was, when he discovered his special abilities, more about his mother, etc. As this is the first book in a series, maybe more of this will be revealed in the future.
Overall, I felt this was a wonderful debut for a first time author filled with action, suspense, twists, and some wry humor along the way. I'll be looking for the followup to Echoes.
This review is based on a digital copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Adem Adamend's sense of humor had me chuckling several times, even during some of the intense action sequences. He's a very likeable character I enjoyed spending time with and his talent of reading people and the way he solved crimes was unique.
The dream sequences immediately brought Inception (a completely amazing movie) to mind and allowed the author creative leeway in adding some uncommon details to the mystery (dragons!). Although I'm a sci-fi fan, I don't usually enjoy books that portray a completely unfamiliar world, so I appreciated that the world-building in Echoes wasn't such a foreign concept.
For me, personally, I would have liked to know more of Adem's backstory - how he got where he was, when he discovered his special abilities, more about his mother, etc. As this is the first book in a series, maybe more of this will be revealed in the future.
Overall, I felt this was a wonderful debut for a first time author filled with action, suspense, twists, and some wry humor along the way. I'll be looking for the followup to Echoes.
This review is based on a digital copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2014
Therin Knite's writing style is easy to comprehend, and free-flowing. I can easily relate to some of the banters and phrases he tried to convey. Over all, i enjoyed ECHOES. It was a new kind of reading experience for me. Fresh ideas as others say. It was full of actions and twists and turns set in a very distant future. I like Adem, Jin and Umbrella girl. But it lacks emotional touch that can add readers to relate more. Readers like me whom sensitive enough to know that slight romanticism will never hurt, thus will add more interest and lasting effect in every minds and heart. Im a newbie in science-fictions but ECHOES is one sure read that i will recommend to others. One sure read that i would want to know more.
NOTE: *This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. * THANK YOU therin knite
NOTE: *This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. * THANK YOU therin knite
January 25, 2014
The first thing that struck me about Knite's debut effort was its professionalism. Like the cover, Knite's prose is refreshingly polished, and anyone on the fence about reading indie/self-pub fare can rest easy. Fans of Neal Stephenson will find a lot to enjoy here. Those looking for a more cerebral read, however, may find Echoes falls a bit flat.
While there were moments of fine character work that shined through, overall the story lacked in emotional resonance and preferred to pile on the action, to my personal distaste.
I'm nevertheless quite pleased I stumbled across Therin Knite, and look forward to seeing him come into his own in future offerings.
While there were moments of fine character work that shined through, overall the story lacked in emotional resonance and preferred to pile on the action, to my personal distaste.
I'm nevertheless quite pleased I stumbled across Therin Knite, and look forward to seeing him come into his own in future offerings.
February 6, 2014
3.5 stars.
Echoes was a cross between Sherlock Holmes meets Criminal Minds meets Douglas Adams (at least stylistically for Adams). For a first time author, this was a brilliant work. I'm not a fan of sci-fi, but I would suggest this novel to anyone looking for a quick and engaging year. I have to give props - I did not see the end coming. Typically, I can guess the "who-dun-it" but I was surprisingly thrown for a loop. The writing was good, didn't sound forced, not hideously descriptive, and I loved the phrase, "By the old gods."
Echoes was a cross between Sherlock Holmes meets Criminal Minds meets Douglas Adams (at least stylistically for Adams). For a first time author, this was a brilliant work. I'm not a fan of sci-fi, but I would suggest this novel to anyone looking for a quick and engaging year. I have to give props - I did not see the end coming. Typically, I can guess the "who-dun-it" but I was surprisingly thrown for a loop. The writing was good, didn't sound forced, not hideously descriptive, and I loved the phrase, "By the old gods."
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February 9, 2014
I was hooked from the very first line. It was that good. The writing is excellent, typos nonexistent, the plot and characters believable. And that ending! Those last thirty or so pages were unexpected and made me laugh and cry. An amazing read, especially for a first time author. I can't wait for the sequel.
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March 4, 2018
Adem is an agent at IBI, a genius who can put together details to profile crime scenes and quickly find the culprit. But when a high-profile lawyer meets his death by dragonfire, Adem has the first case he's having trouble cracking. Where did the dragon come from? Where did it go? And who wants this particular lawyer dead? But as Adem keeps digging, he realizes his case encompasses something far beyond what he expects . . .
I dislike arrogant jerk characters, so Adem took a while to stop annoying me. And the present tense did not help at all.
I did like the story, however. In this future high-tech society, something like a dragon is initially assumed to be someone's escaped lab experiment, but the actual truth is stranger still. Adem is observant and intelligent, but childlike in a lot of his mannerisms, which other characters sometimes call out. And his habit of mentally reconstructing crime scenes is fun to read.
It's also nice to see Adem's tight friendship with Jin. They're very different, and Adem doesn't seem to like Jin very much, but some unspecified event has created this loyalty and support, and it endures despite everything else that comes up. I hope it stays as a friendship. It's getting very hard to find stories that focus on friendship rather than romance.
And of course, the various dysfunctions of his government agency are a good source of humor. There's a lot of laughs throughout.
Overall this is a fun story and I'm interested to see where the series goes from here. I rate this book Recommended.
See my reviews and more at
I dislike arrogant jerk characters, so Adem took a while to stop annoying me. And the present tense did not help at all.
I did like the story, however. In this future high-tech society, something like a dragon is initially assumed to be someone's escaped lab experiment, but the actual truth is stranger still. Adem is observant and intelligent, but childlike in a lot of his mannerisms, which other characters sometimes call out. And his habit of mentally reconstructing crime scenes is fun to read.
It's also nice to see Adem's tight friendship with Jin. They're very different, and Adem doesn't seem to like Jin very much, but some unspecified event has created this loyalty and support, and it endures despite everything else that comes up. I hope it stays as a friendship. It's getting very hard to find stories that focus on friendship rather than romance.
And of course, the various dysfunctions of his government agency are a good source of humor. There's a lot of laughs throughout.
Overall this is a fun story and I'm interested to see where the series goes from here. I rate this book Recommended.
See my reviews and more at
September 13, 2020
The first thing that struck me about Knite's debut effort was its professionalism. Like the cover, Knite's prose is refreshingly polished, and anyone on the fence about reading indie/self-pub fare can rest easy. Fans of Neal Stephenson will find a lot to enjoy here. Those looking for a more cerebral read, however, may find Echoes falls a bit flat.
While there were moments of fine character work that shined through, overall the story lacked in emotional resonance and preferred to pile on the action, to my personal distaste.
I'm nevertheless quite pleased I stumbled across Therin Knite, and look forward to seeing him come into his own in future offerings.
While there were moments of fine character work that shined through, overall the story lacked in emotional resonance and preferred to pile on the action, to my personal distaste.
I'm nevertheless quite pleased I stumbled across Therin Knite, and look forward to seeing him come into his own in future offerings.
December 10, 2015
Washington
District of Columbia
United Republic of Earth
2712
_____
Twenty-three-year-old Adem Adamend has it rough. His name is ludicrous. His friends are few. And the only thing his "kid genius" status has gotten him at the Interdistrict Bureau of Intelligence is a boatload of extra work with no credit in sight.
Then hotshot lawyer Victor Manson is burned to death in his own back yard, and Adem finds himself using his unique skills to piece together the strangest crime he's ever seen. Strange because the only possible suspect Adem can pin the murder on...is a mythical beast. A dragon.
Before Adem can unravel the mystery of Manson's death, the Bureau loses jurisdiction to the secretive EDPA, an organization that investigates weird and deadly events. But Adem isn't one for giving up, so he takes it upon himself to delve deeper into EDPA's machinations, into the series of unfortunate events that led to Manson's demise.
And what he finds may change the way he views the world -- and himself -- forever.
_____
What do you do when a killer can hide behind his dreams?
What do you do when a murder weapon ceases to exist?
And how do you stop a villain who can conjure up nightmares and burn you from the Earth in the blink of an eye?
Adem Adamend is about to find out.
- - - - -
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: a special snowflake who is also entertaining and arrogant; the fantasy and originality in this read are beyond awesome; the concept, while not original, has unique twists and changes; an effective use of red-herring
If there were a way to seep a writer's genius through the pages of their works, Therin Knite would be at the TOP of my “need to steal� list. I mean seriously, this woman has definite writing chops—and I'm supremely jealous.
I think the thing I envy about Therin Knite most is her unlimited amount of unique and creative ideas. She starts readers off running, thrusting them into the midst of a story and explaining the important details as needed, instead of attempting to dump a bunch of confusing information in the first few chapters. The plot is well-paced and set up perfectly. In fact, Therin Knite puts everything into creating red-herrings so obviously unobvious, you'll have yourself believing it MUST be the answer...only to realize the answer is about a million miles off from that. The concept of this read is also, while not original, filled to the brim with Knite's unique flair and ideas.
Her style is also unique—inventive in all the right ways, gorgeous in the rest. It's not hard to get caught up in the story or her descriptions—she makes things so real, you'll leave the read believing her creations actually exist. It's easy to imagine these characters off the page—because the author makes it easy. Same with her world-building: the details are so inventive, so well-described, so realistically woven into realism you'll begin to wonder if such things might have ALWAYS existed...and been overlooked or ignored.
As always, the snark and witty banter are out of bounds with this read (yes, I did just quote Guy Fieri.) Adem Adamend is an arrogant, pompous, special snowflake of a character—of course, the last of this might be attributed to being in the wrong line of work at the beginning of this book, so I won't hold that against him. But what he has in genius and intellect, he makes up for in awkward social engagements and ridiculous reactions.
His character pair, Dynara, also balances him out nicely—she has the same level of snark and wit, but she also pulls Adem out of his own genius. She forces him to think outside the box, she challenges him to figure out things on his own, and she doesn't make it easy. Instead, she settles back, gives him just enough clues to get him by...and waits for him to figure it out. Their interactions are entertaining and at times squee-inducing. They're just so adorable, you won't be able to do anything but love them.
Once again, Therin Knite blew me away with her beautiful prose, awesome plotline, and endearing characters. I will be picking up Epitaphs (Echoes #2) in the very near future, in anticipation of the soon-to-be-released third book! I'd definitely recommend to lovers of sci fi/fantasy, thrilling adventures, and awkward geniuses. If you haven't read a book from Therin Knite yet, I'd recommend you start with this one—I promise you won't regret it. I can't wait to see what the world has in store for Adem and Dynara next!
District of Columbia
United Republic of Earth
2712
_____
Twenty-three-year-old Adem Adamend has it rough. His name is ludicrous. His friends are few. And the only thing his "kid genius" status has gotten him at the Interdistrict Bureau of Intelligence is a boatload of extra work with no credit in sight.
Then hotshot lawyer Victor Manson is burned to death in his own back yard, and Adem finds himself using his unique skills to piece together the strangest crime he's ever seen. Strange because the only possible suspect Adem can pin the murder on...is a mythical beast. A dragon.
Before Adem can unravel the mystery of Manson's death, the Bureau loses jurisdiction to the secretive EDPA, an organization that investigates weird and deadly events. But Adem isn't one for giving up, so he takes it upon himself to delve deeper into EDPA's machinations, into the series of unfortunate events that led to Manson's demise.
And what he finds may change the way he views the world -- and himself -- forever.
_____
What do you do when a killer can hide behind his dreams?
What do you do when a murder weapon ceases to exist?
And how do you stop a villain who can conjure up nightmares and burn you from the Earth in the blink of an eye?
Adem Adamend is about to find out.
- - - - -
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: a special snowflake who is also entertaining and arrogant; the fantasy and originality in this read are beyond awesome; the concept, while not original, has unique twists and changes; an effective use of red-herring
If there were a way to seep a writer's genius through the pages of their works, Therin Knite would be at the TOP of my “need to steal� list. I mean seriously, this woman has definite writing chops—and I'm supremely jealous.
A single dollop of raspberry donut filling. That is what prevents Victor Manson's seventy-seventh death by dragon.
I think the thing I envy about Therin Knite most is her unlimited amount of unique and creative ideas. She starts readers off running, thrusting them into the midst of a story and explaining the important details as needed, instead of attempting to dump a bunch of confusing information in the first few chapters. The plot is well-paced and set up perfectly. In fact, Therin Knite puts everything into creating red-herrings so obviously unobvious, you'll have yourself believing it MUST be the answer...only to realize the answer is about a million miles off from that. The concept of this read is also, while not original, filled to the brim with Knite's unique flair and ideas.
Her style is also unique—inventive in all the right ways, gorgeous in the rest. It's not hard to get caught up in the story or her descriptions—she makes things so real, you'll leave the read believing her creations actually exist. It's easy to imagine these characters off the page—because the author makes it easy. Same with her world-building: the details are so inventive, so well-described, so realistically woven into realism you'll begin to wonder if such things might have ALWAYS existed...and been overlooked or ignored.
Heterochromia lady has crept up to us like a snake in a sea of rainbow-colored glass. Too-severe mod cheeks give her dyed turquoise lips a dollish smile, and the proportions of her body have been stretched and thinned to make her fit the silhouette of a designer store mannequin. Even in a room full of half-remembered dreams, she looks like a walking storybook character.
As always, the snark and witty banter are out of bounds with this read (yes, I did just quote Guy Fieri.) Adem Adamend is an arrogant, pompous, special snowflake of a character—of course, the last of this might be attributed to being in the wrong line of work at the beginning of this book, so I won't hold that against him. But what he has in genius and intellect, he makes up for in awkward social engagements and ridiculous reactions.
His character pair, Dynara, also balances him out nicely—she has the same level of snark and wit, but she also pulls Adem out of his own genius. She forces him to think outside the box, she challenges him to figure out things on his own, and she doesn't make it easy. Instead, she settles back, gives him just enough clues to get him by...and waits for him to figure it out. Their interactions are entertaining and at times squee-inducing. They're just so adorable, you won't be able to do anything but love them.
The draon explodes into a swarm of butterflies. They blow past us, a couple landing on my face and chest. They're black and blue, beautiful, harmless things. The bulk of them scatter into the heavy winds, and poorly hidden bystanders begin to emerge from their cover to watch the spectacle recede. Someone starts to clap, and the muffled fever catches on before igniting into a shower of senseless cheers.
“Dynara,� I murmur.
â€Ô¨±ð²õ?â€�
“Did I just turn a dragon into butterflies?�
Once again, Therin Knite blew me away with her beautiful prose, awesome plotline, and endearing characters. I will be picking up Epitaphs (Echoes #2) in the very near future, in anticipation of the soon-to-be-released third book! I'd definitely recommend to lovers of sci fi/fantasy, thrilling adventures, and awkward geniuses. If you haven't read a book from Therin Knite yet, I'd recommend you start with this one—I promise you won't regret it. I can't wait to see what the world has in store for Adem and Dynara next!
January 18, 2019
I'm not sure if this book falls into the science fiction or fantasy category. Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed it as it is quite different from my usual high fantasy reads. I will say that I initially identified the main character as how I would envision Young Sheldon as an adult. Far more that the adult Sheldon in the Big Bang Theory.
I was intrigued at the idea of a government agency assigned to investigate rogue dreams that are capable of doing harm to the dream's people and places. There is a satisfying conclusion and yet the mastermind is still unknown and at large.
I was intrigued at the idea of a government agency assigned to investigate rogue dreams that are capable of doing harm to the dream's people and places. There is a satisfying conclusion and yet the mastermind is still unknown and at large.
April 4, 2018
This story is a very interesting concept on dreams. The writing kept me reading to find out who the bad guy was and what the secret was. But, thus book didn't really blow me over. It didn't keep me engaged enough to keep reading the rest of the series.
April 21, 2018
Great enjoyable story, suspense and mystery that holds the reader
Great enjoyable story, suspense and mystery that holds the reader. A well written suspenseful story of dreams and the select persons who can make dreams do what they want.
Great enjoyable story, suspense and mystery that holds the reader. A well written suspenseful story of dreams and the select persons who can make dreams do what they want.
March 6, 2018
secretive government agencies can go into dreams; dreams can bleed over into real life . Dragon!
March 11, 2018
A good read.
I found myself enjoying the characters and their stories. My dreams have always been very real and this book was an enjoyable waking dream. Totally enjoyable. lol
I found myself enjoying the characters and their stories. My dreams have always been very real and this book was an enjoyable waking dream. Totally enjoyable. lol
May 24, 2018
some where between 2 and 3 stars for this. It kept me engaged enough to finish it but it really was kind of weird.
September 20, 2018
Interesting characters and technology. It felt very fresh.
March 31, 2020
Very good book, I've also read book 2 in the series of what I assume is at least a 3 series story. The problem, book 3 was never written, sad really cause it is a very good series.
May 4, 2020
It's just a dream, right?
This takes daydreaming to a whole new level. Throw in a couple of spy agencies and a young flatfoot and you've got one hell of a story.
This takes daydreaming to a whole new level. Throw in a couple of spy agencies and a young flatfoot and you've got one hell of a story.
May 31, 2023
An interesting idea, and unusual, which is always a bonus in this genre. Reasonably easy to get into, and well written. Not stunning, but a good read.
March 28, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
Therin Knite has written an action packed book; ‘Echoes�. ‘Echoes� held me captive from the beginning to the end. The characters are strong. The plot is strong. The writing is excellent!
‘Echoes� is a fast-paced book, carrying the reader from one exciting experience to another. I found it hard to put the book down for the night. I wanted to read it all. Therin Knite writes action, betrayal, death, delusions, drama, dreams, murder, mystery, and suspicions throughout his first novel.
The main character, Adem, is arrogant, believable, a genius, humorous, and logical. Adem is surrounded with strong characters, each with his/her own unique personalities; His geeky best friend, Jin; His boss, Briggs; and the mysterious Dynara.
The novel is set in the future; 2712, to be exact. ‘Echoes� is a great debut novel, for the author, Therin Knite. Therin’s writing is amazingly descriptive and engaging.
I highly recommend ‘Echoes� for fantasy lovers, paranormal and science fiction lovers. I also recommend it to investigative/mystery lovers. Oh, and did I mention a dragon. Yes, there is a dragon in the story!
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Therin Knite has posted the first chapter on his website:
Therin Knite has written an action packed book; ‘Echoes�. ‘Echoes� held me captive from the beginning to the end. The characters are strong. The plot is strong. The writing is excellent!
‘Echoes� is a fast-paced book, carrying the reader from one exciting experience to another. I found it hard to put the book down for the night. I wanted to read it all. Therin Knite writes action, betrayal, death, delusions, drama, dreams, murder, mystery, and suspicions throughout his first novel.
The main character, Adem, is arrogant, believable, a genius, humorous, and logical. Adem is surrounded with strong characters, each with his/her own unique personalities; His geeky best friend, Jin; His boss, Briggs; and the mysterious Dynara.
The novel is set in the future; 2712, to be exact. ‘Echoes� is a great debut novel, for the author, Therin Knite. Therin’s writing is amazingly descriptive and engaging.
I highly recommend ‘Echoes� for fantasy lovers, paranormal and science fiction lovers. I also recommend it to investigative/mystery lovers. Oh, and did I mention a dragon. Yes, there is a dragon in the story!
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Therin Knite has posted the first chapter on his website:
July 24, 2016
No sense repeating the summary, since that's been done plenty. Echoes is a compelling story and a great first effort from the author. I had to rush to Amazon and buy the next in the series to see what else can be done with this premise.
A couple of things drive me crazy about this book, though. Like so many centuries-away stories, very much of the 21st (or even the 20th) Century remains. Descriptions of city blocks or suburban homes sound very much like today, vehicles sound rather like advanced Tesla models, and people still use internal-combustion weapons (ok, I made that phrase up, but what better way to describe a weapon that still fires bullets?)
Also, like many self-published works the one thing that is really lacking is a good editor. Simple mistakes pile up and detract from the overall experience. Seriously, the word is "fazed," not "phased." "A sight for sore eyes" is a GOOD thing, not a bad one. And one sticks a new magazine into a bullet-shooting weapon, not a "clip." Plenty of other mistakes along these lines, but I didn't write them down as I read so I don't remember them all.
I hope that Therin keeps writing stories this interesting, and I hope the editing improves as well.
A couple of things drive me crazy about this book, though. Like so many centuries-away stories, very much of the 21st (or even the 20th) Century remains. Descriptions of city blocks or suburban homes sound very much like today, vehicles sound rather like advanced Tesla models, and people still use internal-combustion weapons (ok, I made that phrase up, but what better way to describe a weapon that still fires bullets?)
Also, like many self-published works the one thing that is really lacking is a good editor. Simple mistakes pile up and detract from the overall experience. Seriously, the word is "fazed," not "phased." "A sight for sore eyes" is a GOOD thing, not a bad one. And one sticks a new magazine into a bullet-shooting weapon, not a "clip." Plenty of other mistakes along these lines, but I didn't write them down as I read so I don't remember them all.
I hope that Therin keeps writing stories this interesting, and I hope the editing improves as well.
March 12, 2014
I am a big fan of paranormal/sci fi investigator series starring geeky males who manage to save the (world, universe, humanity) despite their less-than-heroic backgrounds; think Charles Stross's Laundry Files or Jonathan Woods's Arthur Wallace series. Therin Knite's Echoes is a wonderful addition to this genre.
As is apparent from the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ summary, Echoes takes place several hundred years from now, when America has become part of the United Republic of Earth. Knite drops several casual hints about a "Fall" which led to this new geopolitical structure, but the back story is not developed - something I hope Knite remedies quickly in the next volume of the series, not because lack of that story diminished my enjoyment of Echoes, but because I'm sure that story is equally fascinating. I can't say much about the plot without spoiling it, but suffice it to say that Echoes was a fast and entertaining read that left me ready to hit the "Buy" button for the sequel.
I received a free copy of Echoes from Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review.
As is apparent from the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ summary, Echoes takes place several hundred years from now, when America has become part of the United Republic of Earth. Knite drops several casual hints about a "Fall" which led to this new geopolitical structure, but the back story is not developed - something I hope Knite remedies quickly in the next volume of the series, not because lack of that story diminished my enjoyment of Echoes, but because I'm sure that story is equally fascinating. I can't say much about the plot without spoiling it, but suffice it to say that Echoes was a fast and entertaining read that left me ready to hit the "Buy" button for the sequel.
I received a free copy of Echoes from Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2016
"Echoes" by Therin Knite is a very original, creative and ambitious novel.
Adem is a highly intelligent and gifted crime scene investigator who attracts the envy of his older colleagues and through his arrogance also their anger.
A change of jurisdiction complicates the murder investigation that Adem thinks involved a dragon.
Set several centuries in the future there are a lot of things which have changed but bureaucracy and human nature have not.
At the heart of the story is a great crime investigation with fast pacing and strong plotting. The characters you will both love and hate. I particularly enjoyed the unexplained bond between Adem and his side-kick Jin. There is a lot of potential there for the next instalments of the series.
For science fiction fans there is a lot to enjoy, too, although I feel the scene could have been explained a bit more to give a clearer idea about life in the 28th century.
Like other reviewers have said: not everything in this novel comes together perfectly but there is a lot to be enjoyed and to be admired about it and I would definitely recommend the book, author and series all the same and am glad I picked it up.
Adem is a highly intelligent and gifted crime scene investigator who attracts the envy of his older colleagues and through his arrogance also their anger.
A change of jurisdiction complicates the murder investigation that Adem thinks involved a dragon.
Set several centuries in the future there are a lot of things which have changed but bureaucracy and human nature have not.
At the heart of the story is a great crime investigation with fast pacing and strong plotting. The characters you will both love and hate. I particularly enjoyed the unexplained bond between Adem and his side-kick Jin. There is a lot of potential there for the next instalments of the series.
For science fiction fans there is a lot to enjoy, too, although I feel the scene could have been explained a bit more to give a clearer idea about life in the 28th century.
Like other reviewers have said: not everything in this novel comes together perfectly but there is a lot to be enjoyed and to be admired about it and I would definitely recommend the book, author and series all the same and am glad I picked it up.
July 8, 2014
Flipping amazing, especially for a first book. It had my favourite mix: good characters (an overly and overtly intelligent intelligence agent, breaking the rules of rookie-hood by overachieving [making his senior colleagues look comparatively rubbish]), compelling world building (a post-post-apocalypse where humanity has more fancy technology than you can poke a designer cosmetic modification at), and intriguing plot (who is that lady with the sunglasses and the umbrella, and what’s the deal with the giant firebreathing dragon that’s selectively torching suburban addresses, right under the nose of this world’s FBI equivalent?). Counting it as a lucky find for me.
!MILD SPOILER DANGER FOR THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH!
If I had to offer any criticism it would be just that I wanted some of the conflict to go back and forth a little more towards the end. The big-bad became ever so slightly impotent, and I wanted to see them turn the tables again (even if only once) before the end. So basically, I wanted another scoop of fictional-battle-icecream...
I give Echoes four-out-of-five deadly dream sequences.
!MILD SPOILER DANGER FOR THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH!
If I had to offer any criticism it would be just that I wanted some of the conflict to go back and forth a little more towards the end. The big-bad became ever so slightly impotent, and I wanted to see them turn the tables again (even if only once) before the end. So basically, I wanted another scoop of fictional-battle-icecream...
I give Echoes four-out-of-five deadly dream sequences.
July 13, 2014
Fascinating Premise...
I found this book through the author’s blog and was intrigued by its description. It takes place in the year 2712 in Washington, DC, United Republic of Earth. Adem Adamend is an under-appreciated, 23-year-old genius who solves crimes for the IBI (Interdistrict Bureau of Intelligence). When Adem identifies a dragon as the impossible suspect in the murder of a high-profile lawyer, the highly secretive EDPA takes over the case. But Adem can’t drop his interest in the case, and he soon finds himself enmeshed in a deadly game.
Though it took me a while to get into the story, once I wrapped my head around it, I had to hang on to keep up. The premise of Echoes is fascinating though to explain it here would spoil the story. Suffice to say, Knite’s imagination will take you places you didn’t know you could go. Knite has created a colourful cast of characters, but I would have liked to see them invested more emotionally in the story. At times their reactions and motivations seemed thin.
Echoes is an impressive debut novel. I look forward to reading more from Therin Knite and would recommend Echoes to those who enjoy dystopian or speculative fiction.
I found this book through the author’s blog and was intrigued by its description. It takes place in the year 2712 in Washington, DC, United Republic of Earth. Adem Adamend is an under-appreciated, 23-year-old genius who solves crimes for the IBI (Interdistrict Bureau of Intelligence). When Adem identifies a dragon as the impossible suspect in the murder of a high-profile lawyer, the highly secretive EDPA takes over the case. But Adem can’t drop his interest in the case, and he soon finds himself enmeshed in a deadly game.
Though it took me a while to get into the story, once I wrapped my head around it, I had to hang on to keep up. The premise of Echoes is fascinating though to explain it here would spoil the story. Suffice to say, Knite’s imagination will take you places you didn’t know you could go. Knite has created a colourful cast of characters, but I would have liked to see them invested more emotionally in the story. At times their reactions and motivations seemed thin.
Echoes is an impressive debut novel. I look forward to reading more from Therin Knite and would recommend Echoes to those who enjoy dystopian or speculative fiction.
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