Dissonance

Dissonance #1

by Erica O'Rourke

Some decisions have unimaginable consequences.

Every time someone makes a choice, a new parallel world is spun off the existing one. Eating breakfast or skipping it, sneaking out instead of staying in bed—every decision creates an alternate universe in which an Echo self takes the road not traveled. As a Walker who can navigate between these realities, Del is training to help keep the dimensions in harmony.

When Del secretly starts to investigate other dissonant worlds, she get tangled up with an Echo of her longtime crush. She knows she shouldn't keep seeing him. But as Del persists, she uncovers a truth that the Council of Walkers is trying to hide—a secret that threatens the entire multiverse.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Paranormal, Time Travel, Fiction

484 pages, Hardcover

First published March 13, 2014

About the author

I write books about girls who make their own fate and fall for boys they shouldn't.

I live outside Chicago. I like to travel but I'll never really leave this city.

I prefer cookies to cake (even cupcakes), television to movies, and autumn to all the other seasons.

I like sushi, naps, coffee, and driving stick shift.

I hate fish, emoticons, bridges, and talking about myself.

Click here for more about me.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads

To make the cake batter, throw in an incredibly flawed and rule-breaking girl, and then mix it in with a strong sibling dynamic slowly then chuck it in the oven and bake it in a sci-fi backdrop. Serve the cake with a heavy dollop of bad romance and a sprinkle of headache ensuing info-dumps, and there you have it: Dissonance.

Delancey Sullivan is a Walker. It’s not that she's special and skilled enough to become one, but because this ability runs in the family. Each time someone in the Key World (our world) makes a decision ; an alternate universe is created, which the Walkers refer to as an Echo. People like Del have the ability to sense these pivots they can travel to these Echoes. Their job is to maintain peace and harmony in these Echoes so nothing comes to interrupt with the Key World. Another thing about Walkers is that they all have perfect pitch. (AND MY GAWD AM I JEALOUS. I AM A MUSIC STUDENT AND DO YOU KNOW HOW BAD I WANT TO HAVE PERFECT PITCH?!) Anyway, it helps them detect the discord in an Echo world among other things, which I think is insanely awesome. How often do you get sci-fi that incorporates music as a key element?

There is a strong sibling presence in Dissonance. Del’s sister, Addie, is known as the rule-follower, the star student, and the perfect child. She’s brilliant at everything she does and hates it when things aren’t going perfectly. Then you have Del, who is practically the opposite. Del skips class, breaks every single rule in the book and has an attitude. Total. Badass. While I did have issues with Del at the start of the novel, she soon clicked with me for how flawed and realistic she was. As for the sister relationship, Addie and Del were evidently the representations of the North and South Poles at the start of the novel. They also happen to be just as cold to one and another and just as far apart. While the two didn’t end up being attached at the hip by the end of the novel, it’s evident that the frost has started to melt between the two of them. I can see further growth between the two in the future installments, for sure.

My sole criticism for this novel lies in how huge this novel is. It’s not that I hate fat books, but more often than not, it’s a clear indicator how much shaving off this book could have used. There were many paragraphs (sometimes even pages) that I just skimmed briefly because they felt utterly irrelevant. I did enjoy the even and well built up pace of the novel, but some parts of it really didn’t require being here. That said, skimming this book isn’t a fabulous idea either because the info-dumping is a total pain in the ass. Words were thrown around and for a while, I was damn confused. I skipped a paragraph and then I was like “Gah! WHAT THE HELL IS AN ECHO? WHAT IS A BREAK? WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?!” Okay not as dramatic but you get my gist.

I know that several reviewers probably all brought this up but the romance clearly wasn’t O’Rourke’s strong point. Honestly, I kind of wish it never even existed because it just made me want to skim and skim and skim. IT WAS THAT BAD, OKAY? Basically, Del keeps bumping into Simon in Echoes but in the Key World, Simon never bothers to even remember her name. Suddenly, after like 1/3 of the book, he decides to start noticing Del and well, terrible romance ensues. I mean, there were cute moments, but not for one moment was I sold on it because of how unrealistically it unravelled and Simon is so bland.

Furthermore, while this book had a great pace, it never seemed to be going anywhere. It’s like the book was running around corners but it took 4 right turns and ended up back nowhere; completely lost. The plot is utterly lacking, for I don't feel like this book has a true complication. Sure, Simon is shady, and Del must past her test but other than that, there wasn’t much of a plot at all.

Dissonance did have its imperfections, but despite that, Del’s refreshing personality, Addie and Del’s sibling arc and the world building were all highlights here. I found O’Rourke’s newest to be rather entertaining, and I’ll definitely needing to read book 2.

~Thank you Simon and Schuster Australia for sending me this copy!~

[Giselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly well thought-out with fascinating world building, Dissonance is a really good sci-fi with a heavy dose of romance.

Delancy is a Walker, she has a genetic ability to manipulate matter and visit alternate worlds created by the choices people make. Walkers monitor and fix anomalies that affect the key world. I was wary of this premise at first, it's something that could have been a huge flop if the world building was lacking, fortunately it's anything but. It's clear that a ton of research - not to mention creativity - went into crafting the world inside Dissonance. It has an impressive amount of detail, it's ambitious, and, more as a warning: it's also hard to grasp. Kinda like the Tempest series by Julie Cross; it's a series I highly appreciated for its intricate, but mind-boggling time-travel science, while others simply found themselves overwhelmed and lost inside the labyrinth of worlds and possibilities. Dissonance could be just as easily baffling, but for those who enjoy this kind of carefully executed sci-fi that takes a perplexing concept like alternate realities and makes it work, this is one book that won't disappoint you. You just have to give it all your attention - it's not a light read.

Scientific technicalities aside, the world is also described with great cinematic qualities. It involves threads of musical frequencies through which the worlds are connected and can be traveled, and I could clearly picture it all in my mind. How they manipulate the threads to walk, how a world gets cleaved, how a break feels; it's all so descriptive and rich. On the other hand, this also makes us wish for more. The book had so much potential that went untapped. We could have seen alternate worlds that would have blown our minds. O'Rourke clearly has the writing style and creativity to pull off all kinds of unimaginable alternate realities, but instead we stuck with almost identical worlds from ours. I did enjoy this book for what it was, but it could have been much more.

What we do get a lot of are thought-provoking conversations, some about choices and "what-ifs", others about the echoes: are the people "real"? Is cleaving moral? It offers an extra layer of depth to the story. It also drums up conspiracies and hints of a secretive society which, I'm sure, will make for a great 2nd/3rd book. This book does run on the long side - some things could easily have been shaved down - though, personally, I was having too much fun with the concepts and world-building to be bored.

I hope you like romance with your sci-fi! While it didn't bring out all the feels, it's got a forbidden love aspect, a unique twist, and they do have great chemistry. Simon just never truly clicked with me; I didn't find him all that compelling. The mystery surrounding him and his echoes does keep his storyline intriguing, however. The most compelling character, without a doubt, falls to Del's grandpa. I loved their easy relationship, and his practical, often rebellious behaviour is quite amusing. It makes up for the drag that her sister is, thankfully. Then there's Del's friendship with Eliot. I wanted him to be the love interest so badly, and I hated how Del lead him on. Being in denial of his feelings for her doesn't make it okay; she very well knew what his deal was (EVERYONE knew!!). Aside from this, I liked Del as a protagonist. She's stubborn and daring, and I rooted for her while she defied ALL of the rules! >.<

All in all, Dissonance is likely to be a hit or miss for some. The impressively well crafted concept and attention to detail is what I loved the most. It's a book I would recommend to fans of the Tempest series, and it also reminded me a bit of Crewel (science-wise, this one is not a dystopian).

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

[Aimee · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, it's been a while since I read this one. I actually read it last year, since I was excited when I got the eARC and just dived right into it without considering the fact that the publish date was nine months later--so please do forgive me if I make a few fact-related errors in my review.

Dissonance had a very powerful concept. I was so intrigued by the world Erica created and wanted to keep learning about it. Clearly a lot of research went into the world and its technicalities.

That being said, the world was interesting and all, but there were a lot of technical terms that could be confusing for some. These terms are explained, but the explanations used deep words and messy thought constructions that I had trouble really getting a good grasp on what was what in Delancy's world. Why yes, there were a ton of info-dumps concerning all the terminologies related to the parallel universes.

Now, I wasn't able to connect with any of the characters. It could have been the only-okay writing, but I didn't feel what the characters felt, nor did I want to. I was kind of just... detached to all the characters. I appreciated Del's kind of confident attitude and how she has this rebellious teen thing going on. We just didn't "click", sadly. And there were times when her confidence exploded and turned into arrogance.

Simon was pretty boring. I really didn't care for him, or the insta-love he and Del shared. This is one of those books where the romance kind of ruins its potential. Well, not really ruins, per se. It just lessened the book's credibility in my eyes. I think I would have liked the novel a bit more without the romance.

Another thing I had issues with was how the events leading up to Simon & Del's relationship were all so convenient and rushed. Everywhere Del would go, Simon would be there. This is one of the things that I notice a lot in YA romances that make me roll my eyes the most. Doesn't it get on your nerves?

Let's not forget that this book is humongous. At almost 500 pages, I'll admit that I did skip some paragraphs while reading. A lot of scenes felt like fillers and could have been cut out, really. This story could've been squeezed into around 400 pages or so. I would've been more into it if I didn't keep thinking that I still had a lot more pages with a lot more info dumps to go, thank you very much.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing me with a review copy of this book, in exchange for a honest review.*

This is now, officially, my favourite book of 2014. I am left beyond words and it was so astonishing and absolutely recommended.



What can I say? Erica O'Rourke has left me speechless and absolutely wanting more. But since this was an ARC, I have to wait even longer for the sequel, which will will be released in who knows when. But, I'm not here to complain, I'm here to awe and fangirl and bawl and freak out over this absolute masterpiece out of a book.

This is about kick-ass rebel Delancey Sullivan, who is a Walker, which is a person who can walk in between parallel universes, well sort of. There are billions and trillions of worlds, worlds that were made when a choice in the key world (the world that Delancey and her family live in, the regular world) was formed. The other worlds are opposites of what could've happened, because you know, we all wonder what could've happened or what would've happened if we made a specific choice. When Del accidentally cleaves in another world (thanks to her bitchy sister) she is kicked out from Walking by the Council, the head and "government" of all Walkers. But of course, Del doesn't follow the rules and still continues to travel in between the worlds, and she keeps encountering with the boy that she has always loved, Simon Lane. She encounters with his shadows, his Echoes, the copies of him in the other worlds, and ends up falling in love with each and every one of them. And then she falls in love with the real Simon from the key world, and she discovers some secrets about Walkers that she's never known about. Romance, action, thrill, this book has everything you're looking for in a YA novel.

From the start, I was absolutely addicted to this novel. Absolutely addicted. By 20 pages, I already had it at a 5/5 rating, and I was so excited and was loving it. Everything about it was unique, fun and special. Some people have stated that they think this book was too long- NO. I would've loved it if the book turned out to be 1000 pages, I'd seriously read anything and everything from this brilliant author and series. For being almost 500 pages, so much happened, and so quickly. The book was so fast paced and it was an absolute roller coaster ride. Things happened, and I kept getting surprised. Erica O'Rourke kept surprising me all the time, and I never knew what to expect. Plot twists? Absolutely.

I love this concept. It's a mix of science-fiction and dystopia, if you ask me. The world is falling apart, and secrets are unraveling about the universe. There are people who know things, people who are absolutely clueless, and people who will know things. There is no equality, and this is what makes it even more addicting because you want the society to be equal and fair. This isn't time-traveling, and this isn't a total parallel universe thing. It's different, and I don't know how the author created such a magnificent brilliant idea that I know, will captivate millions of readers when the book releases in July.

There were some moments when I got a little bored with this, but the middle-end just made up for it. But I don't care about the moments that bored me, this book was almost perfection, and that never happens.



The writing was brilliant, did I mention that clearly? Everything was written perfectly for the novel and there weren't like any mistakes, coming from an ARC. I'm absolutely pleased with that aspect.

The characters certainly deserve a HUMONGOUS round of applause. *claps for thirty hours* They were just amazing. I loved Delancey, and her voice. Even though she was moody and a total troublemaker, I loved her, and her attitude certainly fit for this type of role in this situation. We need someone brave and different, not a whiny brat who doesn't know what to do with her life. Delancey was just perfection, and she was the best female protagonist, like ever, and that's amazing coming from this stern judge over here. *nods*

And then we have Simon...



So bad. I'm begging you here, baby.

I love it how Delancey was the one who had to care for him and take risks for him, and Simon was the little baby who needed to be taken care of. That's just so beautiful. *tears up* But seriously, he's so fucking hot. No other words. I'm taken, everyone! But, now I have to go and find this beautiful masterpiece in the Echoes. :( I hope that Del will find my babe.

The relationship Del has with her grandfather is beautiful and unique. I have never, ever seen such a nice relationship like this. It's so cute and UGH! gets me lost for words. :)

Overall, this book was amazing, amazing, amazing. The ending left me speechless and wanting more, right now. I need the sequel right now, no words. Cliffhanger endings like this just kill me so bad. :( This was just so good and will blow your mind and cause you to think. A definite favourite, and watch me re-read this soon. x)

[Jeann (Happy Indulgence) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review appears on Happy Indulgence - Check it out for more reviews!

You’d need a physics degree to understand Dissonance, which talks about alternate dimensions in a complex, scientific, confusing way. It took me 2 weeks and multiple books in between to get through it, because every time I picked it up it made my brain hurt.

There’s the Key World, which is the original world where Walkers originate, a secret society of people who can travel through alternate dimensions. They cleave worlds that aren’t needed anymore. Then you’ve got frequencies, echoes, Baroque events, and a whole bunch of technical terminology I couldn’t wrap my head around. Even the little explanations before some chapters didn’t really help, along with the info dumping throughout the book, such as:

The concept of alternate dimensions was fascinating though, where every decision creates an alternate dimension that these Walkers can travel to to set the world right. I loved the role of the Walkers in the world and how original and complex the world building was. I’ve read a few books which simply take place in alternate realities, without attempting to explain the science of the universe, and Dissonance makes a good attempt at it…if only it were easier to understand.

Most of the book revolves around the romance, which was disappointing because I couldn’t connect to Del or Simon. Del is brash, stubborn and rebellious, who constantly made decisions I didn’t agree with. She’s attached to Simon, in each multiple world, and rebels against the system and constantly endangers her life and those around her. She lets her feelings for Simon get in the way of safety, logic and her duty to the Key World. Simon was perfectly sweet…and boring.

It wouldn’t be a YA romance without a love triangle, which was rather forced here. Elliot, who is Del’s best friend, spends a lot of his time being jealous and whining about Del rather than showing us why he’s even a suitable candidate.

Del and her sister Addie were constantly at odds with one another. Addie is the prim, perfect stickler for the rules and Del is the rebel, which wasn’t surprising that they didn’t get along, but it would have been nice to see at least some of their love for one another.

Dissonance approached alternate dimensions in a novel and complex way, with heavy world building on the science behind it. Unfortunately, a lot of the technical concepts went over my head, and I couldn’t appreciate it for what it was. A lot of the book focuses on a romance, which took over the whole book, and I couldn’t connect with the characters. I wanted to read more about the work of the Walkers, the alternate realities, instead of a book bogged down by a romance. The search for a good book on alternate realities continues…

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Giselle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every decision made by an Original springs a new world. These are called Echoes. Parallel universes up the wazoo, this world was enthralling, invigorating and all-around creative. I'm in love with the amount of effort and thought that came into this science fiction book because it sprung up so effortlessly. The detailed universes and concepts took me a while to understand but repetition is key in any book and I finally understood it by the end. 

Del is this ultimate rebel, but I also couldn't help but see how extremely selfish she was. All the things that she did had the largest consequence. Her entire family and best friend even told her of these repercussions and she still went and did it. I think that was the point though. She did it all for love. All her actions proved how head-strong she was and that she believed she was doing it all for the right reasons. I wasn't a big fan of the love triangle, but it made sense. Del didn't pick the guy that I wanted, but I'm hoping he finds someone else who is more worthy of his love. She is clearly smitten with her first love even if I didn't find him all that wonderful to begin with. My favourite secondary character had to be Monty. He brought so much wit and personality to the drab landscape, and the fact that he was looking for Rose after all that time? Well it made me love him even more. 

Read this one if you're looking for a twisty-turny sci-fi adventure full of time travelling and romance! I sure enjoyed it.

RATING 3/5

QUOTES

"Truth is as fluid as water, as faceted as diamonds, as flawed as memory." (83)

"Because bravery comes easily when there's no cost to it." (119)

"If people love you because you're perfect, what happens when you screw up?" (168)

"Perfect is boring. No challenge to it." (195)

"Wanting to believe something doesn't make it true, the same way wanting someone doesn't make them yours." (277)

"Why bother saving a live when you can end it?" (454)

"Watch someone's lies closely enough, and they'll give away the truth." (479)

[snowplum · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're one of my 6 friends, you may have noticed that I haven't read/reviewed a book in several weeks. This is partly because I'm writing one, so that's awesome. But it's also partly because I've been stuck on this book which is decidedly NOT AWESOME. I've been reading this book in mostly 15-25 page sessions that sap my will to read like the DMV saps your will to breathe.

This book ought to be awesome. I really liked the premise (that we live in the Key World and every time choices are made, Echo Worlds form, and some of them fade out quickly because the choices aren't ultimately Important, but others linger because the choices lead to radical differences... and that sometimes the Key World gets information it shouldn't get from the Echos, and special people, the Walkers, have to deal with it), and I felt like the book came out of the gate seeming a bit more intelligent than average, so I was excited. But then little things started to bother me.

At first I thought my objections might be a little too nitpicky to be valid, because I'm such a music person and there are a lot of musical details in this book that are slightly off. Things like saying a string vibrates in the the frequency of e-minor, when a single string's vibration can't have a mode, only a pitch... So, see, if you share my objection there, we are on the same page; but if you think what I just said is gobbledy-blobbledy-blah then you would not be bothered by the types of things that were annoying me in this book.

But then the lead girl, Del, displays one of the worst cases ever of Young Adult Novel Female Reasoning, and I was ready to throw the book across the room.

Say you're a girl named Del and you <3 a boy named Simon. IRL (aka the Key World) he doesn't know you exist, but in Echo Worlds, you chat him up, charm him, and occasionally make out with him at will. Then, suddenly, IRL he gets interested in you, pursues you, and you start making out. Then you find out that he has "dreams" where he talked to you, knew you, and you kissed. Would you think:

a. AWESOME! Thank you Echo Worlds and Unexplained Phenomena!
b. WAAAAAAH! He doesn't really like me. He's just confused because his alt-selves like me.

If you chose option a, you're like me and would be annoyed by the book. Because book Del chooses option b, since she needs to have every possible version of low self-esteem and dumb book girl thinking.

Oh, then IRL Simon finds out about Del making out with Alt-Simon, and when she breaks up with Alt-Simon, IRL-Simon GETS MAD AT HER and has a fit and isn't even sure whether he's having a fit because she was "cheating on him with himself" or because she treated his alt-self poorly or what.

There's also a nearly-obligatory best-male-friend storyline where he's in love with her and she mostly pretends not to know it and uses him until things explode. So boo to that.

And the book doesn't end at all, just cliffhangs into a sequel that could eat up another few weeks of my 2015 if I let it. Waaah.

I can see why some people think this book is smart, and it's certainly theoretically a good break from vamps and wolves and zombies; but in the end I thought it was a hash of a great premise with strange pacing, inconsistent psychology for the main characters, and too many little annoyances to let me sustain my immersion in the story. A real shame.

[shady boots · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! The terminology got a little confusing at times, like I needed a full Walker textbook to refer to, but overall it was quite an intriguing and fun read. Curious to know what the sequel will be like.

[ᒪᗴᗩᕼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dissonance: Inharmonious or harsh sound; discord; cacophony.

Book Title: Dissonance
Author: Erica O'Rourke
Series: Dissonance #1
Source: Kindle E-Book (Library)

While not really a quote…I wondered, just exactly what the definition of dissonance was, so I looked it up and I have to say it's actually a suitable title for this series and the first book within it.

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3.8/5 --I think this story overall could have done without the love triangle. It was unnecessary to me, but who knows, maybe it has a purpose yet to be disclosed.
The Feels: 3.5/5
Theme: 4/5
Flow: 4/5 --Told in way that is actually not entirely inconceivable. Her terminology for the science behind the parallels is generally easily absorbed.
Backdrop (World Building): 4/5 --Interesting concepts.
Originality: 4/5
Book Cover: 4/5 --Both covers are pretty, but I like the one with the girl barefoot in the dress, better. Mine was actually white with colored origami on it, which is pertinent to the book.
Sex Factor: none
Ending: 3.5/5 --Mostly confusing, but overall it was compelling with a lead in for book 2. Cliffhanger: --yeah, pretty much…

Will I continue the series? I think so.


The front of the book says: Every action has consequences…even falling in love. This story is all about consequences, good ones, bad ones and everything in between. Every major decision creates a parallel world and every small decision creates branches from that. This makes the # of parallels infinite and that much more difficult to grasp. That can make the story difficult to grasp. With that being said I liked this more than I thought I would, based on the reviews I read. Ultimately I was able to grasp, maybe not fully, but it's a work in progress, so I think I would like to give it a shot…and see where it goes.

[Nasty Lady MJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

To see full review click here

I had always been fascinated with the infinite worlds. If done correctly a story about world hoping would be spectacular. But as Dissonance was it sucked. Or at least this version of Dissonance. See after being so disappointed with this book and giving up after 107 pages, I decided that I wanted to travel to another world where I loved this book. So, after binge watching lots of episodes of Ancient Aliens and other fringe theories about dimensional travel on H2, I was ready to build myself a fictional dimension portal and hack my way with my Dissonance loving self. For this review I will refer to myself as The Original MJ (or MJ) my counterpart will be referred as MJ Without a clue (or Clueless).

MJ: Why, just why?

Clueless (Shrugs) It was a good book, what can I say? You didn’t like it?

MJ: Well, the world building was interesting. But it was way too long and these characters…I wanted to rip out all their hair, make them sacrifice victims in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and force them to watch twelve hour marathons of Sophia the First.

Clueless: You really hate that show.

MJ: I babysit. You find you hate that, anything to do with Dora, and Fruity Pebbles . And why are cartoons today so dumb?

Clueless: You are digressing.

MJ: Obviously, I don’t want to talk about this book.

Clueless: But it’s sooooooooo good. Del and Simon…

MJ: Del is an idiot. And Simon, well the real version or original dimension version is hardly there. How can I like him?

Cluless: He’s cute.

MJ: He’s a book character. You can’t actually see him. And besides having shaggy hair, how do you know he’s cute?

Clueless: I just do. Del and his relationship is just cute.

MJ: He just touches her leg and bam it’s insta love. Please tell me, you don’t like instant love?

Clueless: Instant love? How was it instant? He touched her leg. That’s relationship building.

MJ: Have you ever read Anna and the French Kiss?

Clueless: What?

MJ: Does Stephanie Perkins not exist in your reality? Dear lord, read that book and play close attention to the Thanksgiving scenes and then talk to me.

One hour later.

Clueless (Puts Anna down): Bloody hell. What was that?

MJ: Actual romance. Unlike this book.

[Miniikaty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primer libro de una trilogía que inicia muy bien, con ingredientes más que suficientes para que guste y quieras seguir leyendo. Me ha enamorado todo lo que me he encontrado entre sus páginas, esa mezcla de ciencia ficción, viajes a mundos alternativos, amor, secretos y acción. Es original aunque se haya visto antes cosas de este tipo pues la forma que tiene de contarlo Erica es genial, mágica y transmite todo lo que siente Del, la protagonista. Además, la historia cuenta con muchos giros argumentales y sorpresas que cambian la historia y nos dejan con la boca abierta, hay partes más lentas donde parece que se repiten las escenas pero luego todo toma un significado y la belleza que se esconde es magnífica.

Reseña completa: http://letraslibrosymas.blogspot.com....

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling, unpredictable, absolutely brilliant YA sci-fi romance. Dissonance was a fantastic read. I totally loved this book! From the impeccably explained science of parallel universes, to the endless supply of unpredictable twists, and to the super sweet romance, this book was amazing.

The world building in this book was perfect. With a concept as complex as parallel worlds, it would be very easy to get lost in the middle of all the science and still not be able to understand what's going on. But the author did a great job in describing the science behind the worlds and in a way that didn't feel like info dumping. It was slowly revealed and explained in a way that made sense, without leaving any holes. From the actual parallel worlds, to the Echoes of the real people in the Key World, to the Walkers who have the ability to travel between worlds, everything was well described. I really have to commend the author for that because she did a brilliant job.

Del was a lovely heroine. She wasn't perfect. She made mistakes and acted recklessly more than once. She got herself and her friends and family into a ton of trouble. But, she was also very strong, determined, and not afraid to jump into any situation if she thought she would be doing good. She was cleverer than most people ever gave her credit for and she was basically a badass. I really liked her character.

Simon was an interesting character. At first, it was difficult to get to know him, since we would see other versions of him and not as much of the real him. But the other versions (his Echoes) were parts of him, so they were all still confident, clever, and very sweet. And, all that applied to the Original. Like Del, he made mistakes, but he was strong and definitely brave enough to do whatever was necessary to keep his loved ones safe. I absolutely adored him.

The romance was very sweet. I liked how it unfolded slowly and gave it time for their feelings to really deepen. Del and Simon were so sweet together and a perfect match. I thought they were a lovely couple.

I really liked the secondary characters in this book and how they were treated. Eliot, Del's friend, was such a sweet guy who was always their for his best friend. Abbie, Del's sister, came across as a perfectionist type snob at first, but we see deeper into her character as the book went on and she proved to be a clever Walker who would do anything to ensure the safety of the Key World. Monty, Del's grandfather, was interesting on his own right and came with more than one surprise. I thought all three of them were great.

The plot was steadily paced. It didn't move quickly, more like deliberately. It allowed the story to unfold on its own time and the whole parallel universe thing to be explained fully. I was hooked the entire way through. There were tons of twists that kept me on the edge of my seat and more than one surprise that I never saw coming. I really enjoyed the story and the ending has me excited for book 2. Can't wait to read it!

Dissonance was a brilliant YA sci-fi romance. I absolutely loved this book. It had romance, twists, thrills, and several surprises in store. And all of it was amazing. YA lovers, this book is a must read.



*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Vir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un 3,5 en realidad

Disonancia, por una parte, me ha maravillado con ese complejo y original mundo de realidades paralelas con sus normas y terminología propias; pero por otra, sus personajes y sus relaciones me han dejado algo indiferentes al parecerme lo mismo de siempre. Aún así, ha logrado sorprenderme y atraparme con su trama tan bien desarrollada y todas las sorpresas que se van desvelando poco a poco.

http://lavidasecretadeloslibros.blogs...

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Dissonance by Erica O'Rourke
Book One of the Dissonance series
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 22, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from 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.

What I Liked:

Ooo, I liked this book a lot! I'm not sure if I was expecting to like it, before reading it, but I can say that I've been waiting to read this book for over a year, and not just because S&S released the gorgeous cover early. I'm really fascinated with the concept of parallel worlds. O'Rourke approaches the concept in an interesting (and slightly confusing) way. I'm hooked!

Del is a Walker, one who can enter and leave Echo worlds, which are like parallel worlds, but they aren't real. They're worlds that exist because of choices - they are Echo worlds, the worlds that don't technically exist, because a different choice was made. Del makes a mistake and cleaves a world (meaning, she unraveled it, made it not exist anymore), and suddenly, it seems like her actions have serious consequences. Something is very wrong with the other Echo worlds, and Del, being Del, is determined to figure it out, despite the fact that she is all but banned from Walking.

I LOVE the awesome world (worlds?) that O'Rourke has created! I can't imagine the amount of research and imagination and creativity that must have went into perfecting the world/worlds of this book! Everything is very complex, tangled, intertwined. Keep in mind, this book is NOT a time-travel novel. Nothing Del does in the Echo worlds affects what goes in the Key world. Except for making that Echo world disappear. But that turns out not to be her fault, as readers should expect. There is something greater afoot, something bigger than just one world being cleaved by a slightly unskilled girl. I loved all of the complications of the alternate worlds, all of the quirks and risks, the simple things (like the frequencies), and the big ones (like the inversions).

Del is reckless and fearless - it's very clear in this book. In so many YA books, we see "strong" heroines who are actually girls who are terrified of making decisions. In this book, Del doesn't even think about her decisions - it seems to be intrinsic to her, to break the rules, to keep Walking, to keep seeking out Echo Simon (and real Simon). I love this fearlessness in her. It's very reckless, and sometimes foolish, but it's a wonderful quality to have, in my opinion.

I love Simon, the male protagonist. This book is super long, and a good portion of this book is about him specifically. Del keeps seeing him everywhere in Echo worlds - and the thing is, none of the Echo should even SEE her, let alone recognize her. In real life, Simon thinks he's day-dreaming, so he doesn't think what he sees in the Echo worlds are real. But Simon is a huge part of Del's focus. Why can he see her? Why does his Echoes remember in each Echo world? And why does she care about him so much, both the Echoes and the real him (which are technically the same person)?

Simon is a cocky guy, but he is also persistent and sweet. I do love that combination, especially in a guy. We get to know more about Echo Simon (all the variations), and we get to know more about real Simon, and while I really like Doughnut Echo Simon, real Simon is my favorite. Obviously, not only is he a plot point and pivotal character in this novel, but he is also a love interest. Him and Del don't have the easiest relationship (thanks to all the Walker secrecy), but I do like them together.

Speaking of the romance... I liked the romance. I liked the chemistry between Del and Simon. I liked the on-and-off tension, the flirting, the hot-and-cold act. Usually I'd get sick of it quickly, but I loved the back-and-forth between Del and Simon. I thought there would be a love triangle, but thank goodness that "leg" of the love triangle is one-sided. Never mind that I mentioned anything about a love triangle. Think DEL AND SIMON. Because that's that.

I liked that this book focused a bit on relationships (other than romance). Del spends the book furious at her sister, who basically turned her in when she made the mistake of cleaving the Echo world (despite the fact that Del saved Addie's life, when Addie the Perfect Walker froze up). I didn't like Addie at all, but she had her merits and uses. I didn't really like Eliot, Del's best friend, though he definitely had his uses. He's a genius, but he seriously needs to get laid. There is also Del's relationship with her parents - for the duration of this book, it seems like Del is pissed at her parents for going with her punishment for cleaving the world, and pissed at them for never being there. Totally understandable. And finally, there is Del's relationship with her grandfather, Monty. I liked Monty, even until the end.

Basically, I really enjoyed this book! I don't think I need to say anymore. I'll definitely be catching the second book (thank goodness there will be a second book)!

What I Did Not Like:

I think one of the only things that I didn't really like was the amount of terms that I really didn't understand too well. Like, the Baroque world, and inversions. I can kind of figure out that inversions are sort of like ripples in the world, or wrinkles? Maybe? I'm not even sure. Because that sounds too much like a Break. And Baroque worlds? I've got nothing.

There is a lot going in this book, both directly relating to the alternate worlds and indirectly relating to the alternate worlds, so there is plenty of room for confusion in this book in general. I had a bit of trouble with the alternate words and the terms (as I mentioned), as well as some of the limitations and rules of the Echo worlds, but I think a re-read as well as the sequel might solidify my understanding of the parts of the alternate worlds that I don't currently understand.

Would I Recommend It:

If you're a science fiction person, then DEFINITELY! I'm going to give a solid maybe, if you're not a science fiction person. This book is long and very heavily involved in the alternate worlds and the science of everything. The romance definitely fills in the book though. So. There's that.

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars because of the slightly confusing elements, and the slightly cliff-hanger-like ending. I'm not saying anything else about the ending though. Read the book for yourself, you'll see what I mean!

[Jessica | Bookish Serendipity · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent book for me. Not stellar but not terrible by any means. The world-building was incredible, actually! I really liked the idea of a "Multi-verse" and the Walkers who can travel from one world to another. The basic concept is that every choice that a person makes creates a spin-off world that shows what would have happened if the person had made a different decision. The Council of Walkers runs the show, sending Walkers on missions to fix broken worlds. If you get in trouble with the Council ...



Unfortunately, after Del gets in trouble with the Council, she is suspended and refused a license. I had a hard time connecting with Del. She is a bit of a slacker; she skips class frequently and doesn't bother listening to the rules, even if they are perfectly reasonable. I tend to lean towards do-gooder characters so this might just be personal opinion. You may very well like her!

And ... the romance. It's not exactly a secret that I am not a romance fan (there are exceptions, however!) so I can be quite picky. One thing for sure is that I really, really didn't like the love interest Simon Lane. He ignores Del for half of the novel and then they are suddenly together. One second Del is the love of his life, the next he is furious with her.



This book ended with a cliffhanger, which made me curious about what is going to happen next. I hope there is going to be a sequel since there are plenty of unresolved questions. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it, even if just for the incredible world-building!

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A definite page turner. I loved Monty and definitely hope we will see more of him. The emotion in this book was palpable. It focused a little too much on the romance side, but I am not one for romance so it probably had just the right amount. Here we have the requisite side kick who is in love with the protagonist. That felt a little too familiar. The "science" behind the world in which the book is written is quite complex. I'm not sure I got to wrap my head around most of it. O'Rourke does a good job of explaining it.

This book dealt with love and loss. We sympathize with Monty and want to see him reunited with Rose. I love his quirkiness. He kinda reminds me of Columbo. He seems like he is bumbling around, but really he knows all along whodunnit.

It certainly asked some deep questions. Are we the sum total of our choices? This doesn't leave much room for the nature side of the argument. If a world exists where your personality is so drastically changed like Simon's then there is nothing innate within you. It does emphasize how important each decision is to a life though. A good message for teens. Decisions can affect you in the future, and I think the book does a great job at getting that message across.

[Sophia Sardothien · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending is so freaking frustrating as I'm not planing to read the second one xD

Overall it was a decent read wasn't the best, the world building was sort of confusing from times to times but comprehensively it makes sense. But the plot was not really rich, it felt like nothing really has happen until the very end.

I really did not like the romance, it was extremely forced and painful however comparing with A thousand pieces of you (another alternative reality book) I find this one way better xD

I would recommend this book if you are looking for something unique or alternative universe category books.

[Sarah {Literary Meanderings} · Rating 3 out of 5]

My full review can be found on my YouTube channel here: Dissonance by Erica O'Rourke

[Nafiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a long time, a YA novel that I actually really enjoyed. Huzzah!

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Dissonance is a unique sci-fi book that blew me away. It is confusing at first and I will admit that it takes a while to grasp everything that is going on, but it is so worth it!

Opening Sentence: IT SEEMED LIKE A LOUSY WAY TO REMEMBER someone: two aging strips of wood nailed together in the shape of a cross, stuck into a weed-choked ditch on the side of the road.

The Review:

You make choices every day, some are big — others are small, but they all shape your life. Do you ever wonder what would happen if you made different choices? Would your life be on a completely different route then the current one you’re on? Well, Delancey Sullivan doesn’t have to wonder — she knows. In her world every choice that is made creates an echo or in other words a parallel world that takes the path of the choice not chosen. There is no limit to how many echoes can exist, they keep going on forever but no one knows about them besides the people known as Walkers. The Walkers can travel throughout all the different versions of the world, and they are charged with keeping all the dimensions in harmony.

The only way you can become a Walker is to be born with it, it is a genetic gene that is passed on. Delancey loves being a walker and she has outstanding talent with it. Walking through the different dimensions has always been easy for her, but that’s not all the Walkers do, they also have rules and Delancey has never been the best at following rules. If it is possible you are not suppose to interact with the echoes in the other world, but Delancey keeps finding herself flirting with the echo of a boy she has always liked. In real life he doesn’t even know she exists but in the parallel worlds he is totally different. But soon the parallel worlds start to blend into real life and if Delancey can’t figure out how to fix it there will be severe consequences.

Delancey was a great character, but it took me a little while to like her. When I first met her I loved how witty and smart she was. She didn’t care what other people thought of her and she had a refreshing voice. But there were some things that irritated me about her like how insecure she was when it came to boys. I didn’t like that she let boys dictate so many of her decisions. She also tended to ignore her problems instead of trying to solve them and that got a little frustrating. But the more I got to know her the more I liked her and eventually I ended up really loving her as a character. She is very caring, sweet, and surprisingly she really stood up for what she believed in and I respected that. Overall, I ended up loving her and I can’t wait to continue her story.

I have to talk about the boys and yes, there are two of them. I wouldn’t say that it is really a love triangle because of them is completely one sided, but technically there were two potential love interests. The first one is Delancey’s best friend, Eliot. He is a fellow Walker and they grew up together. Eliot is brilliant and has been Delancey’s closet friend her entire life. Their friendship has always seemed to be completely platonic, but because the Walkers have to mate with other Walkers to keep up their population, there was always that underlining possibility that they could be more. I really liked Eliot, he believes in Delancey and is there for her whenever she needs him. He’s a little socially awkward but I found that endearing and part of his charm. I don’t see him being a love interest in the future books, but it is a possibility.

Then there is the gorgeous, Simon. He is a popular good looking guy that has his pick of girls. Up until recently, he didn’t even know Delancey existed, but surprisingly that didn’t make me like him any less. It wasn’t a big surprise he didn’t know her because she never made an effort to put herself out there for him to notice her. Once he does they hit it off right away and their romance is adorable. It is very hot and cold at first, but they have pretty intense chemistry. At first I wasn’t a big fan of Simon, but that quickly changed. He ends up being an amazing guy that is just misunderstood. He doesn’t open himself up to very many people because he has lost a lot in his life. He has a huge heart and if you are lucky enough to become someone he cares about he will do anything for you. Simon melted my heart and I ended up loving him.

Dissonance was a very unique story filled with romance, adventure, and suspense. It was way different than I was expecting but in a really good way. I have read plenty of books that have parallel worlds but O’Rourke brings her own unique spin to it in her story. As you can probably tell from the description there is a lot going on in the story and I will admit that I did get a little confused at times. But I felt by the end of the story, I was able to grasp what was going on with everything. So if you end up reading this, don’t give up in the middle because it does all make sense by the end. There were also a few times that I felt that the pacing was a little rushed which may have also contributed to me feeling a little lost at times, but even though this story had some flaws, I still loved it. It instantly gripped my interest and I found that I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. It was such an engaging plot line that was easy to get engrossed in. I also was very surprised by some of the twists that were presented. This is always a huge plus for me since I don’t generally get surprised while reading books. I actually really liked the ending even though it was a slight cliffhanger, but more than anything it just left me really excited to read the next book. Overall, even with its flaws, I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great young adult book with lots of action and romance!

Notable Scene:

IT SHOULDN’T BE SO EASY TO END A WORLD. When you think about it, unraveling the fabric of reality should require more effort than clipping your nails. As it turns out, all you need to do is find the right thread and yank.

Or hold on to the thread while your sister yanks you.

The strings slid away with such force I thought they’d slice my fingertips, the remaining fabric slack and gauzy. The ground at our feet warped like a Salvador Dalí painting, nearby trees going liquid and limp, the sky a smear of blue and white.

“What did you do?” Addie looked around wildly.

“It wasn’t my fault! You grabbed me!” A line of silver shot from the playground to the pond, which turned gray and began to fade.

FTC Advisory: Simon Teen/Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Dissonance. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Jen Ryland]

Liked this overall. The world building was interesting and the writing very clear. Looking forward to starting Resonance!

[Jana (Nikki) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at my blog, There were books involved...

-----------------------------

I've been looking forward to this book for more than a year. According to Goodreads, I added it to my TBR on April 9, 2013 - I still remember reading the blurb for the first time and going YES THIS. I NEED THIS. WHY SO FAR AWAY?! Obviously, with books that inspire this sort of excitement, there's the very real possibility that your excitement will get the better of you, and the book will end up disappointing you. =/ And to be honest, Dissonance ... well...

Dissonance TOTALLY LIVED UP TO MY EXPECTATIONS!! Hahahaha, you thought I was going to say it disappointed me, didn't you?! Okay well, if you follow me on Twitter you know I was flailing about this book as I read it, so maybe you guys knew. And if you follow me on Goodreads you might know... and if you saw my rating, above, you probably know... Okay, maybe I wasn't as subtle just now as I thought. :P

But seriously, Dissonance was amazing. For three main reasons:

 
1. The Worldbuilding

Did you read the blurb, above? The world in Dissonance is pretty much exactly like ours, and is set in the present-day (more or less). In this world, though, there's a secret group of people (Walkers) who have the ability to travel between all the infinite worlds in the multiverse - Echo worlds which spring up after every choice that a normal human being (an Original) makes. According to the Walkers, the Key World is the only "real" world, and the Echos are just offshoots of possibility. Walkers are tasked with keeping the Echos in harmony with our Key World, to keep the Key World safe and the Echos from becoming too dangerous and unstable.

Time is not static. You can never get a choice -- or a moment -- back. The best you can do is witness the effects.

- Dissonance, ARC, page 101

Yes, it is as cool as it sounds. And it just gets better. This whole system is based on music. Walkers literally have to keep the strands of the Echos and Key World in harmony with each other. They literally tune the universes to resonate with each other. Those that are too unstable, the Walkers are forced to "cleave", unraveling that branch of Echo Worlds and keeping the rest of the worlds safe. I mean... AHHHHH. So flipping cool, I can't even. There's a lot of explanation required to impart all this information, and some people might find it a little info-dumpy, but holy crap, I have no problem with that when it means more explanations of how this flipping amazing multiverse works. I loved every second of the worldbuilding in this, and just... yes. It does not disappoint. Every part of it is intriguing and it hit ALL THE RIGHT NOTES (see what I did there?). XD

 
2. The Characters

Delancy, aka Del, is the main character, and Dissonance is told from her point of view. Del is seriously one of my favorite main characters I've read in a LONG time. She's incredibly talented at Walking, and she loves everything about it. She has an innate talent that she desperately wants to hone. But while she's super good at Walking, she's also a bit of a rule-breaker (understatement). Del tends to think she knows best about a lot of things, and that she can handle a lot more than people think she can. Oftentimes these things are true, but they're certainly not always true.

As far as they were concerned, I needed training. Someone to hold my hand while I took baby steps, when all I wanted to do was to run.

- Dissonance, ARC, page 5

Del's cockiness leads her to make some pretty huge mistakes -- throughout the book, but possibly most notably in the beginning, which spurs the rest of plot on. As a result of her actions, she's forbidden from Walking alone, and she has to train with her sister instead of going to her official Walker classes. Of course, Del doesn't exactly stick to her sister's lesson plans, especially when she starts noticing weird coincidences and learns of an anomaly in the multiverse that has people seriously worried. Many of Del's decisions are stupid and impulsive, but there was something about her drive and talent - and her ability to question her own beliefs and choices - that had me rooting for her no mater what she was doing.

"People die not because of what they did or didn't do. It's not their choice. It just... happens. Why bother choosing if the world's going to do what it wants regardless? What's the point in trying to make a difference?"

"Because it matters."

- Dissonance, ARC, page 225

Simon Lane is an Original who goes to Del's (normal) high school. Del has had a crush on him for years, but he doesn't really notice she exists until they're paired up for a project in music class. The weird thing is, as Del continues to Walk to Echo worlds, she keeps running into Simon's echos everywhere - and there's something about him, in every world, that she keeps falling for.

The most powerful choices are the ones that disrupt the status quo -- that break free of momentum and push into the unknown.

They're also the most terrifying.

- Dissonance, ARC, page 250

I really liked Del's and Simon's relationship, despite some stupid decisions on Del's part. (Have you picked up on the fact that she makes bad choices? She does. I still love her.) There's something immediately compelling about Simon's echos, and eventually Original Simon, that I loved. His character also spurs a lot of debate in Del's own mind about the "reality" of echos and Echo Worlds, which was incredibly interesting.

 
3. The Family Dynamics

Something else that Dissonance does so, so right, is its portrayal of Del's family. Even though her parents are largely absent, which is typical in YA, they are very much an important part of Del's life, and of the story itself - which is pretty atypical. When they are present, they are actually portrayed as real, actual people, not just annoying parental figures - which, hello, YAY. And despite the fact that they're Del's parents and her rule-breaking self is disgruntled with them a lot of the time, she really does love them fiercely. There's one scene where something happens (not gonna say what)... but I actually got a little teary, not gonna lie.

I also really liked Del's sister -- as a character -- despite her actions often being pretty unlikeable. Del's relationship with her sister isn't the best, but they try. And her sister also makes some serious mistakes, as well. (I just love that the characters are allowed to be stupid and selfish, but they also end up questioning and learning from those actions.)

By far my favorite relationship in this book was that of Del and her grandfather, Monty. Monty has been instrumental in training Del as a Walker as she grew up, and he has such intense belief in Del's ability and in her instincts. It was so fantastic to see this kind of familial bond be such a huge part of the story. That's rare, and it was so well-done here.

One small issue...

The only thing I had a true issue with in Dissonance was the ending. I can't talk about specifics because holy major twists and spoilers (which were all awesome)! But there's a LOT going on in the last ~15%ish of the book - a lot of stuff happening really quickly. After a fantastic and basically perfect first 400 pages, the last sections were pretty jam-packed, and ended up feeling rushed to me after being in a nice groove for so long. I got rather confused with everything that was going on with the Echos and Echo Worlds and inversions and bad frequencies... It got pretty complicated. The rest of the book's music-based sci-fi-science was absolutely fascinating and I was riveted, but the ending was just too much too fast, for me, so I got a bit cross-eyed for a while.

But, OMG THE VERY END. I love cliffhangers because they give me feels, but holy crap. The ending will make you NEED the next book IMMEDIATELY.

 
In conclusion...

I really, really liked Dissonance . I'd hyped it up so much in my head because I adore books about parallel universes - and the multiverse in this book absolutely did not disappoint. I loved the characters, the family dynamics, pretty much everything about this book. I'm probably going to have to go back and reread the ending to alleviate some of my confusion, but come on - when weighted against the awesomeness that was the rest of this book, that's such a tiny issue.

The more you care, the fewer choices you have. If you care enough, sometimes there's only one. A single, impossible way forward, and you have to take it. Because it's the only way to live with yourself.

- Dissonance, ARC, page 409

Bottom line: Read this book. And then cry with me over the fact that I haven't found ANY information about when the sequel is coming out. ;_;

--

There were books involved...

[Alexa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is way too long for its own good. If it would have been a few hundred pages shorter, and a lot of the unnecessary romance cut out in the process, I'm sure I would have enjoyed this MUCH better.

Because in the end, the heavy focus on the romance was what killed this book for me. The first time Simon (a version of him, anyway) and Del kiss is on page 100, which is way too early in my books, and I mean it's not like the book has to rush anything since it's 500 freaking pages. The next thing that bothered me about their relationship was how stereotypical and clichéd it was. Star-athlete man-whore with a troubled past and a not-so-great home life, falling for the under the radar underdog, although he only first noticed her because he had to work with her on a project for school. That doesn't sound familiar at all. I admit I'm not being completely fair with the novel, because it's essentially my own fault for having read so many books and come across this trope so often that this cow has been milked one too many times for my tastes, so I'm sure readers who haven't had the misfortune of reading about cases like these before won't be as annoyed.
Anyhow, I for my part couldn't stop rolling my eyes at them right from the beginning and I knew how their relationship would progress every step of the way, and it happened just how I thought it would. Ultimately, it was just boring and lame and too sappy, how Del risks everything for this boy, thinking she's "meant to be with him" or some shit like that. Ugh.

The main plotline suffers dearly for the annoying romance, not coming into play basically at all up until way after page 300, really. It just baffles me, how inconsequential the first 300 pages truly are, in a 500 page book. This isn't supposed to happen! Damn it. When it did come into play, though, it was well thought out and you could feel how much effort and thought the author has put into this project every single page. It's nice to see an author actually taking the time to set up such a great and detailed world, even though I have to admit, as someone who has always had failing grades in music up until I could drop it, I did not get any of the musical mumbo jumbo or the metaphors connected with it. Since all of the how's and do's of this Walker thing were explained via those music metaphors, the concept of this is still lost on me. How... how does that work with those strings? Like, does she really just lift her hand and pull some strings out of thin air? Huh?! There's a scene where she's tweaking those strings, but they are special strings connected to a person and she had to stand close to that person, but she kept her fingers under a table so the one involved wouldn't see her pulling the strings? Does everyone see the strings, or did she just do it so they wouldn't catch her making weird hand gestures? I don't know man, it was mysterious and incomprehensible, but it was definitely there.

The characters.... I don't know. I'm kind of really sympathetic towards Eliot, the poor guy, but he was just another good ol' cliché that I have come across a million times in literature: the childhood best friend who's hopelessly in love with the heroine and jealous of the athlete jerk because he thinks he'll just cause his sweetheart heartache and misery. The whole set-up really reminded me of City of Bones, not to mention that the main love interest's name is Simon Lane. I can't tell you how many times I misread it as Simon Lewis.
Nevertheless, the only character I really liked was Monty, although he was kinda annoying too whenever he encouraged Del's crazy affair with Simon, other than that I also liked the dynamics between Del and her sister Addie, it was really interesting to see that particular kind of love/hate sibling relationship, especially with two sisters since I personally only know it in the brother/sister way, as I only have a brother and no sisters.

In the end, I think the second half was a lot better than the first half, since it finally focused more on the actual plot of the book than the stupid romance, but it was also just waaay too long. Its length and the pointlessness of said length really drove me to desperation a few times over, with me contemplating dropping the book entirely multiple times. Ultimately, if you don't mind stereotypes and a big emphasis on romance, this is your book. Sadly, it wasn't for me, even though I was so pumped for it.

This review also appears on my blog.

[Anna (Enchanted by YA) · Rating 5 out of 5]

***I received the ARC eBook free as a review copy from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review***

Let’s just take a moment to thank the Gods for Edelweiss…

I am over the moon that I got the chance to read this book, because in the end I loved it more than I thought I would (which is a lot). I want to put the things out there that I didn’t necessarily like so much, just to get it over and done with because I’m not going to lie, there were a few things. For example there was quite a bit of information dropping. Completely understandable when the world Erice O’Rourke created was so complicated and original, but you’d think that being 500 pages long they could space out the definitions of all these physics terms (I can’t say that sucking at physics helped, even when it was all fiction). The fact it was so long was my one other, not necessarily complaint but criticism. A lot happened in the book and that’s undeniable, but I feel as if it could have been shortened and maybe then other readers would give it a better shot.

Now then, that is literally my only criticism because generally I loved every part of the book. It had plenty of action along with mystery, but it also made you think about the choices you make yourself. The story follows a girl called Delancey who as a Walker can travel to different time dimensions that feature the result of a path someone didn’t take in the real world aka Key World, when they made a decision. Everyone’s had those “what if” moments where they wondered what would have happened if they made a different choice, ranging from what they had for breakfast to which colleges to apply for, but Delancey knows. She can explore these infinite worlds knows as Echoes; it’s all she’s ever known and loved.

This concept alone is brilliant (if overwhelming), and when you add in corrupt leadership and enough lies to go around you’re always waiting with bated breath for what will happen next. I thought that I knew what would happen, but right at the end everything was turned on its head and you learn that some of the characters weren’t who you thought they were.

Delancey is a great character, and from the start she was easy to relate to and understand. As she said herself in the book, all the roles are taken in her family including the perfect daughter and all that leaves is trouble. But even when she embraces this with open arms and a smart mouth, you can see there’s more to her. This is what Simon sees, and unlike Delancey I didn’t like him from the start; any version of him. When he opened up and you saw that he was more than just the good looking jock with a new girl on his arm every month, I realised (and forgive the cliché phrase) he was simply misunderstood. His huge heart and caring demeanour stole my heart, and I’m desperate to follow his and Delancey’s story in the next instalment.

No doubt it will be filled with even more obstacles that could break any relationship or anyone full stop. Eliot, Delancey’s best friend and fellow Walker certainly doesn’t help the situation, and while it’s not so much of a love triangle because it’s clear from the start how one-sided it is, I see even more of a strain on their friendship in the future. It’s not something they can change in a different world either.

I would definitely recommend this book, it’s not one that you can put down half way through and since it does get really complicated my best advice would be to stick with it because everything makes sense in the end when you have one of those light bulb moments. The ending, while not just being a cliffhanger made me really eager for the next and I think this is the only downfall of an ARC because it makes the wait even longer!

Posted on: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk/

[Diamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giveaway on my blog right now for a copy of this OR Resonance! HERE
Review originally posted on my blog @ Dee's Reads

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“ Consequences are like people: hard to predict and harder to change." -114

I have a penchant for parallel worlds. ;) Parallel worlds are just so fascinating to think about, especially with hot guys roaming about. Now if we consider multiple versions of one guy in particular…by the name of Simon, well, then that is very much on point. I am happy to say Dissonance really had a great concept and I loved loved how the world was set up (or worlds, rather).

Del is the main character, and kind of a rebel. She has a talent for “walking” through other worlds, like her whole family — they’re known as “walkers” and are born with the genetic predisposition. As with lots of parallel dimension books there is a lot of world building, which is to be expected. I won’t say too much of the mechanics though because it’s somewhat confusing at first (or at least, it was for me). That’s actually the only reason I marked it down a star, which is really near perfect as this book is it was a bit complex which I fear is unavoidable BUT it provided with a really great tapestry of information to draw on and felt very “real” which I liked.

Each chapter begins with a quote from the textbooks for the Walkers, what they learn about traveling and the responsibilities thereof (there are a lot). Del soon learns that there are heavy repercussions for doing what she wants on a whim and she kind of gets in major trouble for that along the way. Her older sister is a bit of a know-it-all and her grandfather is probably the closest person to Del and has taught her a lot about how to travel but her obedience is ultimately what is called into question.

I also really did like Simon and how she met different “Echoes” of him (aka—versions of him in different lives). At first I thought it was a little cheesy how he was like the popular guy who never gave him the time of day and dated the cheerleader and blah blah. But, then when we met an Echo of Simon and things started happening that is when I started to actually think oh, okay…maybe I misjudged this! His character deepened, and I have to say all the characters really deepened. Even Del’s older sister who I really disliked in the beginning started to really grow on me when they spent more time together. There is definitely a lot of character complexity—especially with Simon because we get to see him in so many worlds, and then strange things start happening. It’s defiantly one of those books where like 300 pages in you’re like *woosh* you have that pit in your stomach because you suddenly care so much about what is happening. Time just flew by while I was reading, *pun intended*

All in all I have to say Dissonance was a really great read. If you love parallel worlds and the concept of a world where people have the capability to travel from world to world and ALL the ethical issues and morality that would be breached (or would they) by doing that…then this book is right up your alley. Maybe you’re just into contemporary books with that hint of fantasy element in there? Well, then Dissonance would also suit you just fine. Whether you are a fantasy buff, sci-fi sister, or contemporary gal… I think Dissonance has something for you.
(I apologize for that last cheesy sentence, it’s almost midnight, and the cheesy-ness is in full force O.o )

[JoLee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Featured in Reading on a Theme: Parallel Realities and Multiple Dimensions on Intellectual Recreation.

Books about parallel or divergent realities are kind of my thing right now, but, even so, Dissonance is really something special.

Delancey Sullivan is a Walker. She has the ability to move between the parallel realities that are created when choices are made. Del gets in trouble with the Consort, the governing body of the Walkers. She is also drawn to the Echoes of Simon, a boy she has a crush on in the Key World, but who has yet to notice her. At the same time, there is a problem in the Echoes, and it begins to affect the Key World.

There's a lot going on in this novel. The world building is fabulous. I love how Walking between worlds is closely associated with music. The worlds are built with strings that have different frequencies and can be off key or tuned. The Walkers are are all excellent musicians. The ties between the Key World and the Echoes are fascinating, and as the novel progresses, it's clear that the multiverse is more mysterious than the Consort would have anyone believe.

Walking is genetic, and Del comes from a family of Walkers. Dissonance deals with family issues. Addison is the perfect child. Del is always getting in trouble. Del doesn't feel like her parents have time for her. The novel deals with both of these issues. Del's grandmother was lost in the Echoes before Del was born, and her grandfather, Monty, has spent his life looking for her and teaching Del. Monty is a mentor as well as a grandfather. He is one of the most complex characters in the book. His loss greatly affects Del, and much of the novel revolves around the repercussions of this sorrow.

The Consort has a sinister air. It's lies, half-truths, and manipulations will no doubt play larger roles in the coming sequels.

Delancey is a type of character that we see a lot in Young Adult fiction. She is exceptionally talented, but she is also reckless, headstrong, and overly confident. These traits get Del into trouble. Her passion almost always triumphs over reason.

I am such a fan of Erica O'Rourke's new novel. I am excited to see what she has in store for us as the series continues.

Dissonance is out July 22nd, 2014.

Review copy from Edelweiss.

[Tiffany (About to Read) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dissonance is just one of THOSE books. You know? Can’t put it down. Won’t eat or drink anything for hours and limit trips to the bathroom because you just must. keep. reading.

I honestly can’t say enough good things about this one. It was just amazing. Everything from the characters to the world building was impeccable and it’s clear that a lot of hard work went into this little gem.

Our main character, Del is rebellious, funny, and most of all a free thinker. She looks at things critically and refuses to follow the rules just because someone told her to. If they seem arbitrary, silly, or even incorrect, she will seek out the truth and do her best to find the right course of action. She can also be a bit selfish and purposely blind to things that may be a little inconvenient for her (like other people’s feelings). I hate to say it, but that aspect of her personality reminded me a little bit of my high school self. And her blatant disregard for rules reminded me a bit of one of my best friends. No wonder I liked her so much.

The supporting cast was equally well developed and I really enjoyed reading about Simon, Elliot, and Addie. Every character in this novel is solid and well-developed. Anyone of them could probably be the main character because their personalities are so strong and well defined. I’m very much looking forward to reading more about all of them.

And there is the plot. Wow. Oftentimes, you’ll find strong characters OR a strong plot. But seldom do you find a novel where they are equally matched. The multiverse that O’Rourke created was fascinating. And since Del is on a never ending quest to do things her own way, we end up learning some unique and surprising things about the multiverse right along with her.

After finishing Dissonance, I have so many questions I need answers to and I am so anxious to see what happens next. It is going to be a long, long wait for the next one, but I know it will be worth it. This is definitely a must read. We’re only half way through the year, but I can tell this will be one of my favorite novels of 2014.

[Gisbelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

My thanks to Simon & Schuster

Point of View: Single (Delancey Sullivan)
Writing: First Person | Past Tense
Setting: Chicago
Genre: Sci-Fi/Paranormal | Multiverse

I actually liked the concept of this book. It was different. Besides, multiverse is probably the only Sci-Fi subgenre that I usually enjoy, so I was excited to read this book. The pretty cover was a plus. Sadly, it turned out too confusing and dragging for my taste.

The characters were nicely developed. Okay, some were a little strange. But I didn't have problem with that. Not much anyway. The part that I was so annoyed was the wording. It was so hard for me to get into the story. I didn't know what was what was going on besides Del was kind of a rebel. There were too many technical words related to "the Walkers" that made the book so confusing. I had to go back and check quite a few times just to make sure I got it right. It was exhausting.

Overall, it was not the book for me.

[Crystal ✬ Lost in Storyland · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of my first thoughts upon starting this novel was: Del is kind of a brat. Not a great way to start a relationship, and unfortunately, the feeling just got stronger the more I read. Del doesn't seem to have a strong regard for the rules. At first, I decided to give her a chance. Sam from Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall also starts out as a brat but changes into a beautiful, strong, kind-hearted character after all.

The problem with Dissonance, however, is that no character motivation is provided for why Del thinks and acts the way she does, making it harder for me to connect with her than it already was. She's into Simon Lane but doesn't seem to know anything about him other than the general facts that most anyone can list. She goes on a Walk by herself even though her parents forbid her to do so with good reason—and the things that happen during the Walk only prove their point. Del even suggests hiding what happened during her Walk from the Council. Seriously? At that point, I didn't have the heart to continue the story and see what happens.

DNF at 9%


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For more of my reviews, visit my blog Imaginary Reads.

[Hafsah Faizal · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world where every decision has a solid impact, Delancey Sullivan is a delinquent. Falling into trouble is one of her best skills and she doesn’t want to let up on that anytime soon.

Erica O’Rourke’s latest, DISSONANCE, is a wonderful read. While the terminology and workings of the Walker world bordered on confusing, the story itself slowly built a tower that collapses right at the end, stealing your breath away. It was expertly done.

Delancey is a breath of fresh air. Instead of simply being a different person, as is common in YA, she deliberately chooses to be different. To go against the rules set by the Consort—the governing powers over the Walkers.

Del is a Walker, a person who can cross from one world to another. In the world of DISSONANCE, the number of worlds is beyond infinite. Because every decision creates a new world. Decide to eat pancakes instead of toast for breakfast? A new world is created, in that instant, where you eat toast for breakfast. Seriously.

Read my full review here