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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Review: http://bennitheblog.com/bookbiters/dissonance-by-erica-orourke/
Every choice leads to a new, parallel universe that branches off from the existing one. Del, short for “Delancey,” is a Walker, someone who can walk among these universes. She receives training so that she can help keep all the dimensions in harmony, but she is a natural born rule-breaker.
In Del’s home world, the popular and handsome Simon won’t give her the time of day. In other universes, however, “Echo” Simons—versions of Simon in these different worlds—actually exhibit interest in her. So Del starts spending more and more time Walking, often without the authorization of the Council of Walkers.
But soon she realizes that apart from her own crush, there’s something special about all versions of Simon. He’s unlike anyone else, and Del is determined to find out why.
I like to think that I have an open mind when it comes to the existence of other universes. However, I’ve never been a huge fan of universes that diverge based on human choices. While it’s possible that in another universe Stephenie Meyer lets Bella picks Jacob, I don’t believe an entire universe can spawn from choices—that’s a huge amount of mass and energy created from just about nothing. The idea of universe creation based on choices is also very species-centric and self-important. Do other animals’ choices matter? Insects? Butterflies that may choose to flap their wings differently?
If we accept the idea that choices—or at least, significant choices—can spawn new universes, people always seem to ignore that in the vast majority of universes, they probably don’t exist. Assuming human beings exist in the majority of universes, think about all the choices that had to be made to lead to your own existence. Even if the circumstances of your conception varied a little bit—a different sperm reached the egg, for example—you could have become an entirely different person. Apply that idea backwards in time, from your parents to your ancestors. Yeah, you probably don’t exist. (Except you do here, so congratulations!)
Erica O’Rourke tries to solve some of the problems above by designating one world as the “Key World.” Spin-off worlds are supposedly not “real”—though real enough for the Walkers to travel in them. Spin-off worlds obviously diverge from the Key World, but if a person dies in the Key World, his “Echoes” in the spin-off worlds start living on borrowed time—up to 20 years, tops. I don’t know if this idea is necessarily tenable. For example, Simon’s parents met working on a major crash site. The characters later find a universe where the crash never happened. Does Simon’s mom have other kids in that universe? Can a baby exist without a soul? In any spin-off universe that’s extremely divergent, there’s bound to be tons of dead babies or a lot of unexplainable infertility. I suppose the Council would just label those worlds as unstable and destroy/“cleave” them.
Walkers also don’t have Echoes that exist in other worlds. I understand that decision, storywise—multiplication of Walkers that can traverse universes would just create chaos. But then that undermines the entire multiverse theory presented here when normal citizens base their decisions on their interactions with Walkers.
Let’s look at one example: a normal Key World citizen decides whether to ask a Walker out on a date. In the Key World, he chickens out and decides not to. Because he could have summoned the courage to do so, a spin-off world in which he does is created. But in the spin-off world, the Walker has no Echo and does not exist, so there’s no date to go on unless the Walker decides to travel there.
Based on the explanations offered in the book, perhaps the Echo boy would soon forget that the Walker even existed, and the universes would converge again. Except they’d potentially diverge again once the Walker is back in the picture. If that’s the case, every Walker is a walking disruption to the fabric of time and space. I’m surprised the Council even allows Walkers to interact with regular people. I also wonder if Walkers have existential crises—if they’re not allowed to exist in other universes, do they even matter?
Multiverses are complicated, and it’s no small task to make them work. Some suspension of disbelief is required (also, “frequency poisoning” is largely not raised as an issue when Walkers become permanently “on the run” in other universes), but I was more than willing to indulge the theories behind Dissonance. What I liked most about Dissonance was the beauty of interpreting the multiverse/string theory as the strings on an instrument. Walking among worlds is a musical event, with music analogies abound.
Ultimately and unfortunately, it’s the characters that destroy the narrative. Most of them seem callous to the pain they inflict on others, and yet they themselves are egg shells that crack at the slightest offense. Our protagonist, Del just loves Walking and breaking the rules because she feels like it. Though she allows herself to feel guilt, she becomes extremely self-righteous when other people try to hold her responsible for her actions.
Del’s parents are quick to judge Del’s actions, even though they themselves have no time to raise or train her. Instead, they delegate those tasks to Del’s sister, Addie, or Del’s unreliable grandfather, Monty. When Del complains about her parents’ absence, they are offended. I understand their work is very important and integral to the plot, but I’m surprised no one except Del held them accountable.
Characters’ motivations are also either nonexistent, flimsy, or mercurial. For example, one second, Addie seems to betray Del, the next, she’s looking out for her. This flip-flops throughout the book, and I grew tired of keeping track. That said, I honestly believe that Addie seriously drew the short ends of all the sticks. She’s been given a world of responsibilities, and despite Del’s insistence that everyone thinks Addie is perfect, the way Addie is actually treated in the book is mostly terrible. I know we’re supposed to identify with the free-spirited Del, but Del isn’t just a break-the-rules-for-the-Greater-Good type of girl, she is every definition of irresponsible. She's an entitled teen who thinks her desires and whims are super important, and that you'd be denying her basic human rights if she couldn't act on her feelings, even when such actions threaten the existence of worlds.
The world in Dissonance is one worth exploring, but unfortunately, I didn’t care for the companions. I won’t be booking a return trip for the next installment of this series.
Review: http://bennitheblog.com/bookbiters/dissonance-by-erica-orourke/
Every choice leads to a new, parallel universe that branches off from the existing one. Del, short for “Delancey,” is a Walker, someone who can walk among these universes. She receives training so that she can help keep all the dimensions in harmony, but she is a natural born rule-breaker.
In Del’s home world, the popular and handsome Simon won’t give her the time of day. In other universes, however, “Echo” Simons—versions of Simon in these different worlds—actually exhibit interest in her. So Del starts spending more and more time Walking, often without the authorization of the Council of Walkers.
But soon she realizes that apart from her own crush, there’s something special about all versions of Simon. He’s unlike anyone else, and Del is determined to find out why.
I like to think that I have an open mind when it comes to the existence of other universes. However, I’ve never been a huge fan of universes that diverge based on human choices. While it’s possible that in another universe Stephenie Meyer lets Bella picks Jacob, I don’t believe an entire universe can spawn from choices—that’s a huge amount of mass and energy created from just about nothing. The idea of universe creation based on choices is also very species-centric and self-important. Do other animals’ choices matter? Insects? Butterflies that may choose to flap their wings differently?
If we accept the idea that choices—or at least, significant choices—can spawn new universes, people always seem to ignore that in the vast majority of universes, they probably don’t exist. Assuming human beings exist in the majority of universes, think about all the choices that had to be made to lead to your own existence. Even if the circumstances of your conception varied a little bit—a different sperm reached the egg, for example—you could have become an entirely different person. Apply that idea backwards in time, from your parents to your ancestors. Yeah, you probably don’t exist. (Except you do here, so congratulations!)
Erica O’Rourke tries to solve some of the problems above by designating one world as the “Key World.” Spin-off worlds are supposedly not “real”—though real enough for the Walkers to travel in them. Spin-off worlds obviously diverge from the Key World, but if a person dies in the Key World, his “Echoes” in the spin-off worlds start living on borrowed time—up to 20 years, tops. I don’t know if this idea is necessarily tenable. For example, Simon’s parents met working on a major crash site. The characters later find a universe where the crash never happened. Does Simon’s mom have other kids in that universe? Can a baby exist without a soul? In any spin-off universe that’s extremely divergent, there’s bound to be tons of dead babies or a lot of unexplainable infertility. I suppose the Council would just label those worlds as unstable and destroy/“cleave” them.
Walkers also don’t have Echoes that exist in other worlds. I understand that decision, storywise—multiplication of Walkers that can traverse universes would just create chaos. But then that undermines the entire multiverse theory presented here when normal citizens base their decisions on their interactions with Walkers.
Let’s look at one example: a normal Key World citizen decides whether to ask a Walker out on a date. In the Key World, he chickens out and decides not to. Because he could have summoned the courage to do so, a spin-off world in which he does is created. But in the spin-off world, the Walker has no Echo and does not exist, so there’s no date to go on unless the Walker decides to travel there.
Based on the explanations offered in the book, perhaps the Echo boy would soon forget that the Walker even existed, and the universes would converge again. Except they’d potentially diverge again once the Walker is back in the picture. If that’s the case, every Walker is a walking disruption to the fabric of time and space. I’m surprised the Council even allows Walkers to interact with regular people. I also wonder if Walkers have existential crises—if they’re not allowed to exist in other universes, do they even matter?
Multiverses are complicated, and it’s no small task to make them work. Some suspension of disbelief is required (also, “frequency poisoning” is largely not raised as an issue when Walkers become permanently “on the run” in other universes), but I was more than willing to indulge the theories behind Dissonance. What I liked most about Dissonance was the beauty of interpreting the multiverse/string theory as the strings on an instrument. Walking among worlds is a musical event, with music analogies abound.
Ultimately and unfortunately, it’s the characters that destroy the narrative. Most of them seem callous to the pain they inflict on others, and yet they themselves are egg shells that crack at the slightest offense. Our protagonist, Del just loves Walking and breaking the rules because she feels like it. Though she allows herself to feel guilt, she becomes extremely self-righteous when other people try to hold her responsible for her actions.
Del’s parents are quick to judge Del’s actions, even though they themselves have no time to raise or train her. Instead, they delegate those tasks to Del’s sister, Addie, or Del’s unreliable grandfather, Monty. When Del complains about her parents’ absence, they are offended. I understand their work is very important and integral to the plot, but I’m surprised no one except Del held them accountable.
Characters’ motivations are also either nonexistent, flimsy, or mercurial. For example, one second, Addie seems to betray Del, the next, she’s looking out for her. This flip-flops throughout the book, and I grew tired of keeping track. That said, I honestly believe that Addie seriously drew the short ends of all the sticks. She’s been given a world of responsibilities, and despite Del’s insistence that everyone thinks Addie is perfect, the way Addie is actually treated in the book is mostly terrible. I know we’re supposed to identify with the free-spirited Del, but Del isn’t just a break-the-rules-for-the-Greater-Good type of girl, she is every definition of irresponsible. She's an entitled teen who thinks her desires and whims are super important, and that you'd be denying her basic human rights if she couldn't act on her feelings, even when such actions threaten the existence of worlds.
The world in Dissonance is one worth exploring, but unfortunately, I didn’t care for the companions. I won’t be booking a return trip for the next installment of this series.
Review: http://bennitheblog.com/bookbiters/dissonance-by-erica-orourke/
Closer to 3.5
Dissonance has a very creative and complex world, that was hard to fully grasp. By the middle of the book I had an understanding of some of the world's features but not all. The story was a bit too slow and some parts were dragged out.
As for the characters, I didn't really connect with any of them. However, I did like Del, especially her relationship with her grandfather.
Overall, the story was unique and I'll most likely continue with the series to find out what happens.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads
Dissonance has a very creative and complex world, that was hard to fully grasp. By the middle of the book I had an understanding of some of the world's features but not all. The story was a bit too slow and some parts were dragged out.
As for the characters, I didn't really connect with any of them. However, I did like Del, especially her relationship with her grandfather.
Overall, the story was unique and I'll most likely continue with the series to find out what happens.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads
I picked up this book for one word in the blurb - multiverse. That, and the fact that the cover is gorgeous.
"Every choice we make is both a sacrifice and an opportunity."
It has always blown my mind to think that every time we make a choice, there could be an alternate you living the results of the other choice, or choices. The take on the multiverse was interesting, using music and frequencies, and those not in the "Key World" being Echoes. I felt myself getting lost with the plotline at times, but it came together at the end, with a somewhat cliffhanger.
The YA romance aspect of this book was cliché - strong-minded girl protagonist, popular jock love interest, equally popular and slightly snarky ex-girlfriend of the love interest, and a boy best friend who happens to be in love with the protagonist.
I liked the use of the musical terminology, but it took some getting used to. I found myself frequently having to revisit pages or the short chapter introductions to remind myself of the definitions. But overall, I enjoyed the book and I look forward to reading the sequel.
[Edit: Thank you to my unofficial editor, Brandon!]
"Every choice we make is both a sacrifice and an opportunity."
It has always blown my mind to think that every time we make a choice, there could be an alternate you living the results of the other choice, or choices. The take on the multiverse was interesting, using music and frequencies, and those not in the "Key World" being Echoes. I felt myself getting lost with the plotline at times, but it came together at the end, with a somewhat cliffhanger.
The YA romance aspect of this book was cliché - strong-minded girl protagonist, popular jock love interest, equally popular and slightly snarky ex-girlfriend of the love interest, and a boy best friend who happens to be in love with the protagonist.
I liked the use of the musical terminology, but it took some getting used to. I found myself frequently having to revisit pages or the short chapter introductions to remind myself of the definitions. But overall, I enjoyed the book and I look forward to reading the sequel.
[Edit: Thank you to my unofficial editor, Brandon!]
I liked Dissonance a lot, but I wonder if I would’ve liked it more if I hadn’t read so many books lately with similar plots. I think the author did a good job and I do feel like if I liked the romance more, I would’ve been more invested in the story.
The plot moved at a good pace and the reader is thrown into the action immediately. I didn’t totally love how technical the first half became when discussing how certain gifted people could move through parallel worlds. I felt like it slowed down the book a bit and made my interest wane.
I liked the main character and I found her relatable. I thought her relationship with Simon was sweet at first, but the back and forth between them was a little tiresome. I did enjoy her relationship with her grandfather. I always enjoy a lovable old crazy grandparent in YA books that turn out to be the voice of reason.
What I liked most about the book was the different worlds Del traveled to. I thought it was fun to read about the differences and how the splits had occurred. It was especially interesting to see Del’s interactions with the alternates in the parallel worlds.
Fans of YA books with a mix of romance and sci-fi would likely enjoy Dissonance.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!
The plot moved at a good pace and the reader is thrown into the action immediately. I didn’t totally love how technical the first half became when discussing how certain gifted people could move through parallel worlds. I felt like it slowed down the book a bit and made my interest wane.
I liked the main character and I found her relatable. I thought her relationship with Simon was sweet at first, but the back and forth between them was a little tiresome. I did enjoy her relationship with her grandfather. I always enjoy a lovable old crazy grandparent in YA books that turn out to be the voice of reason.
What I liked most about the book was the different worlds Del traveled to. I thought it was fun to read about the differences and how the splits had occurred. It was especially interesting to see Del’s interactions with the alternates in the parallel worlds.
Fans of YA books with a mix of romance and sci-fi would likely enjoy Dissonance.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!
Dissonace by Erica O’Rourke is a Sci-Fi Alternate Universe ride that I was happy to take.
Alternate Universes spawned from decisions are definitely my thing. I absolutely loved the way they were conceived in Dissonance. Each decision we make creates an Echo off the key world. Those other Echoes live as normal just as the Key world does, however sometimes the echos are absorbed by other echoes, sometimes they are destroyed and sometimes they find themselves merged back into the Key world. Walkers, like Del, are the people who can travel between these universes keeping “order” and making sure nothing damages the Key world. The walkers have their own form of government called the Consort. So that’s the gist but Erica really expands on how the consort works versus what a walker's job is. I also loved that at the beginning of each chapter it takes a small snippet of information from walker textbooks.
The Sci-Fi awesomeness definitely sucked me in but I also enjoyed the characters. Del is the kind of girl who teachers raise their fist in air and shake as they yell Delancy Sullivan, cursing her name. She is hard headed and doesn’t really listen to anyone. She can be selfish and isn’t always thinking about how her actions might have an impact of other people. So basically, she’s a teenager. I did find Del to be impulsive but I liked the fact that she is clever and able to think on her feet. She doesn’t spend time wallowing about things she takes action. I also love the origami stars she leaves behind in each world.
Simon is a cute boy and you kind have to combine all his echoes in your head to make him one character. Even though she had different experiences with Simon every time she ran into him, the basics are still Simon. I liked the romance between them, I thought it was cute and sweet. I liked their cute banter.
Elliot is a good friend to Del and I think she does know that. They have that awkward, he is in love with her and she pretends he’s not so that it isn’t awkward. Which makes it awkward. Especially when she starts getting together with Simon but at the heart of it all Elliot and Del are still best friends.
Del’s relationship with her family is kind of different. It’s not they are not close but with her parents constantly off on a secret mission it seems a little strained. They get pissed that she doesn’t always follow the rules but they aren’t exactly there to enforce them. I did like her relationship with her Grandpa Monty which makes the ending even more interesting. Addie, Del’s sister, seems to hate her most of the time. Sometimes you see that and then at the root you know they love each other. I wasn’t exactly seeing that with them.
I loved the plot and the way it was laid out. I loved the writing, the romance and the characters. These are big books but I’m not sure if you could cut anything out because of all the information that needs to get through. I would recommend this for a Sci-Fi lover like me.
I actually got the second book for review but needed to catch up reading this first. I didn’t realize how big the books are so I’m a little behind. Resonance came out July 24th! So you can binge read like me! I should have my review up this weekend!
Alternate Universes spawned from decisions are definitely my thing. I absolutely loved the way they were conceived in Dissonance. Each decision we make creates an Echo off the key world. Those other Echoes live as normal just as the Key world does, however sometimes the echos are absorbed by other echoes, sometimes they are destroyed and sometimes they find themselves merged back into the Key world. Walkers, like Del, are the people who can travel between these universes keeping “order” and making sure nothing damages the Key world. The walkers have their own form of government called the Consort. So that’s the gist but Erica really expands on how the consort works versus what a walker's job is. I also loved that at the beginning of each chapter it takes a small snippet of information from walker textbooks.
The Sci-Fi awesomeness definitely sucked me in but I also enjoyed the characters. Del is the kind of girl who teachers raise their fist in air and shake as they yell Delancy Sullivan, cursing her name. She is hard headed and doesn’t really listen to anyone. She can be selfish and isn’t always thinking about how her actions might have an impact of other people. So basically, she’s a teenager. I did find Del to be impulsive but I liked the fact that she is clever and able to think on her feet. She doesn’t spend time wallowing about things she takes action. I also love the origami stars she leaves behind in each world.
Simon is a cute boy and you kind have to combine all his echoes in your head to make him one character. Even though she had different experiences with Simon every time she ran into him, the basics are still Simon. I liked the romance between them, I thought it was cute and sweet. I liked their cute banter.
Elliot is a good friend to Del and I think she does know that. They have that awkward, he is in love with her and she pretends he’s not so that it isn’t awkward. Which makes it awkward. Especially when she starts getting together with Simon but at the heart of it all Elliot and Del are still best friends.
Del’s relationship with her family is kind of different. It’s not they are not close but with her parents constantly off on a secret mission it seems a little strained. They get pissed that she doesn’t always follow the rules but they aren’t exactly there to enforce them. I did like her relationship with her Grandpa Monty which makes the ending even more interesting. Addie, Del’s sister, seems to hate her most of the time. Sometimes you see that and then at the root you know they love each other. I wasn’t exactly seeing that with them.
I loved the plot and the way it was laid out. I loved the writing, the romance and the characters. These are big books but I’m not sure if you could cut anything out because of all the information that needs to get through. I would recommend this for a Sci-Fi lover like me.
I actually got the second book for review but needed to catch up reading this first. I didn’t realize how big the books are so I’m a little behind. Resonance came out July 24th! So you can binge read like me! I should have my review up this weekend!
Such a great read. The world-building is well-developed, the dialogue is spot-on, and the pacing is swift, but most of all, I found myself incredibly invested in all of the character relationships. This book was almost impossible to put down (I tried and failed to put it down for almost two hours when reading in bed). Ms. O'Rourke creates realistic relationship dynamics like nobody's business.
I was slightly hesitant about this book since it's classified "teen romance," which can be a bit much to take (think the neediness of Bella in Twilight). But man can Erica O'Rourke write an independent, dominant female! I absolutely loved Del's character and the way O'Rourke uses string theory and music to help develop Del's world. I've been a huge music person since I was young, and dissonance in music is used as a way to tell if an alternate world is stable or unstable. Del is a "walker" who are individuals that can go between worlds and "tune" or destroy them in order to keep the Key World (our world) safe. When the boy Del has a crush on begins appearing in almost all of the world she visits and causes some interesting fluctuations in these worlds, she knows something is wrong... but once he notices her in school, does she really want to make it right?
This book is full of interesting characters, who you're never quite sure you can trust, and a family story at its core (who can Del really trust in her family?). But, the thing I was most impressed with was O'Rouke's world-building. The idea that a new world is created each time someone makes a choice, and the choice you do not choose becomes an alternate universe that plays out differently is so fascinating to me. I definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book... now I just have to impatiently wait for the sequel...
This book is full of interesting characters, who you're never quite sure you can trust, and a family story at its core (who can Del really trust in her family?). But, the thing I was most impressed with was O'Rouke's world-building. The idea that a new world is created each time someone makes a choice, and the choice you do not choose becomes an alternate universe that plays out differently is so fascinating to me. I definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book... now I just have to impatiently wait for the sequel...