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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
Echoes of the Imperium by Nicholas and Olivia Atwater is darker than I expected.
After loving the prequel novella, I was anticipating more of a fun, cozy adventure. While Echoes does feature a found family dynamic (the crew has truly become a family, and no one is left behind), plenty of banter, and humor, it also includes some surprisingly grim moments. If you prefer to know what you’re getting into, be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in.
For me, the blend of swashbuckling action, sharp dialogue, and the harsh realities of war and conflict created a nice balance. It never tipped into grimdark territory with a relentlessly melancholy tone, but it also didn’t feel like a lighthearted romp with no consequences.
To give you a sense of the tone: at the start of the book, soldiers who’ve just lost a battle commit mass suicide, and the "souls" of those killed long ago are still wailing every night. This isn’t the cheerful adventure I expected from the novella.
That said, the book still manages to make you laugh out loud (I caught myself snorting and laughing out loud, weirding out my husband, who was sitting next to me). The banter, paired with the crew’s audacity in the face of authority and "big bad villains," was an absolute joy.
Nicholas Atwater’s narration is fantastic, with the characters' personalities coming through strongly in the performance. I felt like I was right at home with this motley crew of lovable weirdos. Each character has a distinct backstory and depth, making them feel real and engaging.
The crew is wonderfully diverse: a goblin captain, a teen girl with nimble fingers, a deaf sailor, a crew of gunnery ladies, a fairy, a priest of sorts, a tea-obsessed genius, and more. If you’re against the Imperium, you’re welcome.
Another highlight is the unexpected twists and turns. You might think you know where things are headed, only to be surprised along the way. The story strikes a great balance, often satisfying your expectations, while still managing to surprise you when you least expect it.
If you’re looking for something a bit different, something that isn’t too fluffy but still a lot of fun, with a crew you’ll grow to love, Echoes of the Imperium is a fantastic choice!
After loving the prequel novella, I was anticipating more of a fun, cozy adventure. While Echoes does feature a found family dynamic (the crew has truly become a family, and no one is left behind), plenty of banter, and humor, it also includes some surprisingly grim moments. If you prefer to know what you’re getting into, be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in.
For me, the blend of swashbuckling action, sharp dialogue, and the harsh realities of war and conflict created a nice balance. It never tipped into grimdark territory with a relentlessly melancholy tone, but it also didn’t feel like a lighthearted romp with no consequences.
To give you a sense of the tone: at the start of the book, soldiers who’ve just lost a battle commit mass suicide, and the "souls" of those killed long ago are still wailing every night. This isn’t the cheerful adventure I expected from the novella.
That said, the book still manages to make you laugh out loud (I caught myself snorting and laughing out loud, weirding out my husband, who was sitting next to me). The banter, paired with the crew’s audacity in the face of authority and "big bad villains," was an absolute joy.
Nicholas Atwater’s narration is fantastic, with the characters' personalities coming through strongly in the performance. I felt like I was right at home with this motley crew of lovable weirdos. Each character has a distinct backstory and depth, making them feel real and engaging.
The crew is wonderfully diverse: a goblin captain, a teen girl with nimble fingers, a deaf sailor, a crew of gunnery ladies, a fairy, a priest of sorts, a tea-obsessed genius, and more. If you’re against the Imperium, you’re welcome.
Another highlight is the unexpected twists and turns. You might think you know where things are headed, only to be surprised along the way. The story strikes a great balance, often satisfying your expectations, while still managing to surprise you when you least expect it.
If you’re looking for something a bit different, something that isn’t too fluffy but still a lot of fun, with a crew you’ll grow to love, Echoes of the Imperium is a fantastic choice!
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was darker than my usual read, but it was so well done. The themes are war, grief, and guilt were explored respectfully as well as mercy and repentance. I really liked all the characters and while it was a bit of a rough ride, I definitely think I'll be picking up the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War
Moderate: Suicide, Vomit
Thanks to Netgalley, Starwatch Press and Nicholas & Olivia Atwater for the eArc.
I was super excited to read this story from its blurb and cover. It felt like it was going to be an enjoyable read.
Unfortunately, I've have to DNF at 43%.
I love the story, the characters and the action. Yet, it feels like there is too much of all of it and I've struggled to stay engaged.
The action scenes seem to last forever, and it's a shame. I would of enjoyed more intimate moments between characters to further develop them. I found myself not caring what happened to them.
This is a great story for those who love dangerous, risky adventures amongst great world building.
3 stars.
I was super excited to read this story from its blurb and cover. It felt like it was going to be an enjoyable read.
Unfortunately, I've have to DNF at 43%.
I love the story, the characters and the action. Yet, it feels like there is too much of all of it and I've struggled to stay engaged.
The action scenes seem to last forever, and it's a shame. I would of enjoyed more intimate moments between characters to further develop them. I found myself not caring what happened to them.
This is a great story for those who love dangerous, risky adventures amongst great world building.
3 stars.
adventurous
dark
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It took me a minute to get into this book, but I ended up listening to it voraciously until it was done. Olivia Atwater is an auto-TBR for me, and this was no exception. The world she and Nicholas have created is a fascinating delight. They nearly dodged many of the over-played fantasy tropes, and while faeries and goblins do show up, it’s in unexpected ways. Nicholas Atwater does the audiobook perfectly. I’m very impressed and looking forward to the next book in the series.
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This would make for an excellent turn-based video game. There are loads of characters, majestic flying ships, a powerful magic system, and back-to-back battles.
As for a fantasy novel, I had a really difficult time staying engaged after the halfway mark. Once the battles never died down and all of the character development hinged on fighting I lost interest quickly. The plot was weakened by this because it made the characters feel superficial and one-note. I did appreciate the world building, and the political landscape contributed to the story quite a bit. The scenes did drag on though, which is odd considering how action packed this book is.
I was hoping for more of a connection between some of the characters like in Olivia’s books, so I’m sure that was one of my main letdowns when reading this book. Olivia is one of my favorite authors, so I’ll just stick with her solo works from now on. Nicholas is a great writer, but he’s just not for me.
As for a fantasy novel, I had a really difficult time staying engaged after the halfway mark. Once the battles never died down and all of the character development hinged on fighting I lost interest quickly. The plot was weakened by this because it made the characters feel superficial and one-note. I did appreciate the world building, and the political landscape contributed to the story quite a bit. The scenes did drag on though, which is odd considering how action packed this book is.
I was hoping for more of a connection between some of the characters like in Olivia’s books, so I’m sure that was one of my main letdowns when reading this book. Olivia is one of my favorite authors, so I’ll just stick with her solo works from now on. Nicholas is a great writer, but he’s just not for me.
I received this book as an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this swashbuckling adventure!
I would recommend that before you read this book, you read the prequel novella, A Matter of Execution. It’s not necessary to understand Echoes of the Imperium, but it does set you up mentally for it.
The authors did such a great job developing these characters and giving them so much depth, I really enjoyed how unique each of their personalities are. This eclectic cast is a crew on a pirate ship and their adventures give off major Firefly/Treasure Planet/Atlantis: The Lose Empire vibes. This is very much found family in action.
This book was quite fast paced (until around 75% where it does slow down, but it picks back up again at the end) we have a smuggling agreement gone terribly awry, airship battles, hidden identities, unholy aether, betrayal, goblin overlords (underlords?), not-quite-necromancy, otherworldly Fae... this book had so much going on (in a good way)!
I recommend this book to those who enjoy steampunk fantasy, pirates, fae, and serious socio-political topics like imperialism and the consequences caused by it. The found family trope is prevalent.
I would recommend that before you read this book, you read the prequel novella, A Matter of Execution. It’s not necessary to understand Echoes of the Imperium, but it does set you up mentally for it.
The authors did such a great job developing these characters and giving them so much depth, I really enjoyed how unique each of their personalities are. This eclectic cast is a crew on a pirate ship and their adventures give off major Firefly/Treasure Planet/Atlantis: The Lose Empire vibes. This is very much found family in action.
This book was quite fast paced (until around 75% where it does slow down, but it picks back up again at the end) we have a smuggling agreement gone terribly awry, airship battles, hidden identities, unholy aether, betrayal, goblin overlords (underlords?), not-quite-necromancy, otherworldly Fae... this book had so much going on (in a good way)!
I recommend this book to those who enjoy steampunk fantasy, pirates, fae, and serious socio-political topics like imperialism and the consequences caused by it. The found family trope is prevalent.
Thank you NetGalley, Olivia Atwater, and Nicholas Atwater for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I thought this was a delightful romp and really scratched an itch for me—pirate fantasy!!! One that I gelled really well with!!! Yay!!! I love the Atwaters’ character work and I think they built action nicely throughout the story. Also, I love steampunk, and I felt this delivered really well. This is funny and easy to read, and while I haven’t read the novella set in this world yet, I’m definitely eager to pick it up. I appreciated how real the characters felt and the general high octane nature of the story, and I will definitely re-read this when I’m looking for a fun pirate story.
adventurous
dark
funny
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Child abuse