I received this ARC from Publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Dissonance by Erica O'Rourke Published by Simon and Schuster on 2014-07-22
Pages: 496
Source: ARC from Publisher
Goodreads
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’m a sucker for a good time travel or alternate universe book and Dissonance by Erica O’Rourke hit the spot! It puts a unique spin on multiple realities that I just couldn’t get enough of! (Note: There is no time travel! I just get the same feeling whenever I read books that travel from our reality to a parallel one!)
In Del’s world each decision a person makes creates branches (other realities.) Only the Walkers (a secret group of people with the ability to travel between realities!) know of these branches. As you can imagine there are all kinds of rules and truths that govern how these branches are formed and how the Walkers deal with them. Each chapter starts with definitions or excerpts from Walker text books that deal with these rules and truths. I loved how much these taught me about the framework for the story. They really help the reader to understand the world Del is a part of. I was so impressed by all the different facets of Walkers and the multiverse (our reality plus all the others that spring from it!) the author gives us!
I also really loved seeing the ways the different characters interact. Del lives with her parents, her “perfect” older sister, and her somewhat crazy grandfather. Her best friend is a boy she has known her whole life. And then there’s the non-Walker boy from school who she just can’t seem to stop thinking about. All of these relationships are important to Del and shape her (and therefore the story!) in some way. I think my favorite was the relationship between Del and her grandfather. He may be missing a few marbles which makes him an incredibly interesting character to read about! Never a dull moment!
Dissonance by Erica O’Rourke is a book I recommend savoring! Once it’s over you’ll want more, and waiting even a day will seem like too long!
Twitter Chat!
I have the privilege of hosting a twitter chat with Erica O’Rourke TOMORROW at 7pm Central time! Join in and ask Erica questions using #DissonanceChat! I’ll be giving away a signed finished copy to one lucky participant! #DissonanceChat! Wednesday! July 23! 7pm Central time! Don’t miss out!!!
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