Josslyn Drake knows three things about magic: it’s rare, it’s illegal, and always fatal. When Josslyn is caught up in a robbery gone wrong at the Queen’s gala and involuntarily infected by a dangerous piece of magic that allows her to step into the memories of the world’s infamous evil Warlock responsible for the death of her father, Josslyn is thrown into her worst nightmare.
Desperate to rid herself of the magic before anyone finds out and has her executed, or worse, the magic has enough time to corrupt her, Josslyn finds herself striking a deal with the enigmatic criminal, Jericho Nox, who was responsible for the robbery that started this whole mess. In exchange for the magic he was supposed to steal, Jericho will help her find someone who can extract it from Josslyn. Though neither party is thrilled, Jericho and Josslyn soon learn that what they thought they knew of the other isn’t the whole truth. And when things go from dangerous to deadly, they need to learn to trust each other, despite the secrets keeping them apart. In an empire built on lies, the truth may just be the weapon they need to get out of this alive.
It’s just so lovely to live in a world where a new Morgan Rhodes book is a thing that’s happening. As long-time fan of Rhodes and avid devourer of the Falling Kingdoms series (and still weeping that A Spirit and Thieves never got its justified last installment), I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Echoes and Empires. And I was not disappointed.
Josslyn’s the daughter of the late former queen’s advisor who, thanks to the queen’s benevolence and her best friend who’s the daughter of the current queen’s advisor, has lived a very privileged life so far. Of course, Josslyn has her insecurities and problems but she hides them well behind faked smiles and an extravagant attitude. I can’t quite explain it, but the beginning of this book read like a supernatural Gossip Girl: Josslyn, who’s desperate for people to only see what she shows them, learns that her so-called friends regularly talk behind her back and pity her—not for the very public and painful loss of her father after an attack, but because of the way she acts. Having that sting followed by being caught up in a robbery that leaves her infected by magic—the one thing that could not only ruin her reputation but cost her her life—isn’t exactly what you’d call a walk in the park.
Despite that dilemma, though, Josslyn is a headstrong, stubborn, and fierce character. Watching her try to come to terms with everything that’s happening to her and finding ways to fix it truly is an adventure all on its own.
Then, of course, there’s the unlikely alliance between Josslyn and Jericho that captivated me from the very beginning. I’m a sucker for forced proximity and having to work together when all you want is to rip each other’s heads off and this dream team certainly delivered. Jericho’s dark wit and hidden past made him as enigmatic as enticing. Pair that with his wrong beliefs about Josslyn who has depths to her that no one really knows about and you have one hell of a communication problem. On the other side, we have Josslyn who’s been told her entire life that magic is the devil incarnated. Having to deal with the disillusionment of her beliefs while also discovering new things about herself all while being dragged through the mud to find someone who can help her get rid of this magic kept me on my toes the entire time I was reading. This, in parts, is attributed to the hilarious back and forth banter—or squabbling—Jericho and Josslyn have got going. I loved how the seriousness of this novel—Josslyn basically adapting to a new reality and Jericho running out of time to get his hands on the magic for his employer—was infused with the two of them wanting to have the last word in every interaction. Safe to say, I can’t wait to see how their relationship is expanded on in future installments.
What I think I liked most about this book was the pacing. Firsts in fantasy series can be boggled down by info dumping or stretched endlessly to keep enough space for the sequels, but this felt like such a well-rounded novel. There was never a dull moment on Josslyn and Jericho’s journey and yet, the reader does get some “breathers” between shocking reveals. And speaking of shocking reveals, Echoes and Empires proves that Rhodes’ still got it when it comes to unpredictable plot twists. While I guessed one pretty early on, I was so focused on that upcoming reveal that I was completely blindsided by a few others that happen in here.
Beyond the incredible characters, the snarky yet undeniable chemistry and intrigues and lies that go well beyond Josslyn’s widest imaginations, the world this story is set in of course also delivers. Rhodes manages to paint a clear picture of the setting of this novel (and of the places Josslyn and Jericho end up during their quest) and invites readers into a truly fascinating world. It’s a sort of effortless world-building that’s so easily palatable and truly my favorite in fantasy. Rhodes doesn’t forfeit complex magic systems or place descriptions but instead makes them such an intricate part of the story that you feel like you get to know the characters through the setting, which I really appreciated. All in all, Echoes and Empires was an amazing read. Rhodes’ talent of captivating readers with her authentic characters and unexpected twists is as present as ever and I can’t wait for the sequel!
With an enemies-to-lovers romance, heaps of deceit and plot twists that will leave you reeling, Echoes and Empires is a promising first installment in Rhodes’ new YA fantasy series. Intoxicating, eye-opening, and magical, Echoes and Empires is perfect for fans of headstrong heroines and witty bad boys banding together to make some magic!
Echoes and Empires is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 4th 2022.
Will you be picking up Echoes and Empires? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
A snarky seventeen-year-old must team up with an enigmatic criminal to cure herself of dangerous forbidden magic in the first book of a new fantasy duology from Morgan Rhodes, the New York Times bestselling author of the Falling Kingdoms series.
Josslyn Drake knows only three things about magic: it’s rare, illegal, and always deadly. So when she’s caught up in a robbery gone wrong at the Queen’s Gala and infected by a dangerous piece of magic—one that allows her to step into the memories of an infamously evil warlock—she finds herself living her worst nightmare. Joss needs the magic removed before it corrupts her soul and kills her. But in Ironport, the cost of doing magic is death, and seeking help might mean scheduling her own execution. There’s nobody she can trust.
Nobody, that is, except wanted criminal Jericho Nox, who offers her a deal: his help extracting the magic in exchange for the magic itself. And though she’s not thrilled to be working with a thief, especially one as infuriating (and infuriatingly handsome) as Jericho, Joss is desperate enough to accept.
But Jericho is nothing like Joss expects. The closer she grows with Jericho and the more she sees of the world outside her pampered life in the city, the more Joss begins to question the beliefs she’s always taken for granted—beliefs about right and wrong, about power and magic, and even about herself.
In an empire built on lies, the truth may be her greatest weapon.
