Dissonance by
Erica O'Rourke
My rating:
5 of 5 stars
Summary:
Delancy Sullivan has
always known there’s more to reality than what people see. Every time
someone makes a choice, a new, parallel world branches off from the
existing one. Eating breakfast or skipping it, turning left instead of
right, sneaking out instead of staying in bed ~ all of these choices
create an alternate universe in which an echo self takes the road not
travelled and makes the opposite decision. As a Walker, someone who can
navigate between these worlds, Del’s job is to keep all of the
dimensions in harmony.
Normally, Del can hear the dissonant
frequency that each world emits as clear as a bell. But when a training
session in an off-key world goes horribly wrong, she is forbidden from
Walking by the Council. But Del’s not big on following the rules and she
secretly starts to investigate these other worlds. Something strange is
connecting them and it’s not just her random encounters with echo
versions of the guy she likes, Simon Lane.
But Del’s decisions
have unimaginable consequences and, as she begins to fall for the Echo
Simons in each world, she draws closer to a truth that the Council of
Walkers is trying to hide ~ a secret that threatens the fate of the
entire multiverse.
My Thoughts:
I absolutely LOVED this book!!! I already knew going in that I'd love the writing, having read some of her books before, and I wasn't disappointed.
It's about a girl named Delancey, Del for short. Del is a Walker (no, she's not a zombie). Walkers are people who are able to travel though parallel worlds that are created by choices. Walking is genetic. I love the idea of parallel universes, alternate realities, multiverses, etc. but reading about them in fiction can sometimes feel like slogging through a physics text book *double-yawn*
O'Rourke made the multiverse so accessible and readable, so thanks for that! The world she created, or rather worlds, in this book are so textured and layered, and she made the rules completely understandable. I loved the idea that the worlds are woven together with strings of frequencies, and Walkers have the ability to hear these frequencies. Because of this genetic ability, all Walkers have excellent musical talent.
The parallel worlds created from choices are called Echoes. Every choice, whether it's tiny and insignificant, or huge and important, creates an Echo. A new path branching off from the original path. And every person, called Originals, has an Echo as well, from all of their different choices throughout their life. The main world, or our world, is called the Key World. And sometimes, Echo worlds become out of tune and can effect the Key World. That's where Walkers come in. They maintain the health and stability of the Key World. Sometimes, Echoes are just too far gone or "sick", which can hurt the Key world. Those need to be Cleaved, or cut off, from the Key world.
The Walkers are governed by the Consort, a shady organization that isn't at all transparent. There have been problems with some of the Echoes, and the Consort, along with Del's parents, are scrambling to fix them. Del is a bit of a delinquent and has a hard time following rules, whereas her sister, Addie, is the exact opposite. Del is passionate and sometimes very reckless. This gets her into trouble with the Consort. While she's placed on restriction, she has to work more closely with her sister, with whom she has never been close.
I enjoyed the sisters' relationship, although sometimes I wanted to smack Addie upside the head! But, there was more to her than I initially thought. I loved Del...and, yes, there were many times I was shaking my head at her and saying, "You know this won't end well."
She never listened to me though ;)
Del looks up to her addled Grandpa, Monty, who is quite the character. Her parents are usually too busy to be around very much, and both sisters are bitter about that in different ways.
And then there's Simon Lane...an abundance of Simons, if you will :) Simon is the guy at school Del has had a crush on forever, but doesn't know she exists. Until she meets one of Simons' Echoes in one of the Echo worlds. This Echo Simon most definitely notices her, along with many other Echo Simons in different worlds. This is fun stuff here, folks! When Original Simon finally notices she exists, the romance really starts. Oh Simon *swoons*.....if only I had my own Echo Simon ;)
I loved the budding relationship between Del & Simon. It felt real and not rushed or forced. They're both forces to be reckoned with, which made some of their dialogue very fun indeed!
I'm really excited to see where this story goes...I seriously need the next book now! I loved that the book ended with a tiny inkling of hope (please, please, please!!!) after what took place in the final act.
I'm keeping my eye out for an Echo Simon!
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