ECHO Academy

Dimension Drift #4

by Christina Bauer

"Miss Meimi is indeed a transcendent," says Father. "But we differ on a single point, son. SHE’S MINE."

A Prince Of No Value
On planet Umbra, Thorne is known as the weak prince, extra brother and human-shaped punching bag for his father, Cole, Emperor of the Omniverse. Thorne never expected to find his transcendent soul mate. But when the prince connects with Meimi Archer, the human girl becomes Thorne’s transcendent and his world…

…until Cole decides to abduct her.

Now the prince of no value will do anything to protect what’s most precious. Meimi.

A Girl Geek With A Problem
Science prodigy Meimi Archer attends ECHO Academy, an elite high school located under Earth’s Boston Dome. That part is cool. Then she finds herself separated from her boyfriend, Thorne, due to a supposedly unbreakable exile void. Not okay.

Meimi pulls together a band of classmates and misfits. Her goal? Break through the exile void. Her problem? Headmaster Conway, the man who runs ECHO Academy. Conway wants to use Meimi’s exile void annihilator for an invasion of Umbra. Meh. Meimi’s not worried--she’ll take the Headmaster down while still reuniting with Thorne, easy peasy. Only trouble is, who’s that shadowy figure following Meimi everywhere? And why does it feel like Umbra may actually be invading Earth somehow?

In ECHO Academy, secrets are revealed, plots uncovered, and transcendence is only a few pages away. Don’t miss this jam-packed adventure of 40,000+ words.

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Romance

330 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2020

About the author

Christina 'CEE BEE' Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes young adult romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too. Christina lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby. She loves to connect with her fans at ChristinaBauerAuthor.com.

ANGELBOUND ORIGINS
About a quasi (part demon and part human) girl who loves kicking butt in Purgatory's Arena
1. Angel bound
2. Scala
3. Acca
4. Thrax
5. The Dark Lands
6. The Brutal Time
7. Armageddon
8. Quasi Redux
9. Clockwork Igni
10. Lady Reaper
11. Reaper Games
12. Angry Gods

ANGELBOUND OFFSPRING
The next generation takes on Heaven, Hell, and everything in between
1. Maxon
2. Portia
3. Zinnia
4. Rhodes
5. Kaps
6. Mack
7. Huntress
8. Gage
*This is a finished series

ANGELBOUND LINCOLN
Events of Angelbound from Lincoln's POV
1. Duty Bound
2. Lincoln
3. Trickster
4. Baculum
5. Angelfire

ANGELBOUND XAVIER TRILOGY
The story of the Archangel Xavier
1. Archenemy
2. Archnemesis
3. Archangel

FAIRY TALES OF THE MAGICORUM
Modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance
1. Wolves And Roses

2. Moonlight And Midtown

3. Slippers And Thieves

4. Shifters And Glyphs

5. Bandits And Ball Gowns

6. Fire And Cinder

7. Fairies And Frosting

8. Towers And Tithes
9. Mirrors And Mysteries
10. Rapunzels And Powers

DIMENSION DRIFT
Dystopian adventures with science, snark, and hot aliens
1. Scythe
2. Umbra
3. Alien Minds
4. ECHO Academy
*This is a completed series

PIXIELAND DIARIES
The story of sassy pixie, Calla, and her elf crush, Dare
1. Pixieland Diaries
2. Calla
3. Dare
*This is a completed series

BEHOLDER
Where a medieval farm girl discovers necromancy and true love
1. Cursed
2. Concealed
3. Cherished
4. Crowned
5. Cradled
*This is a completed series

VAMPIRES OF THE DAEMONVERSE
Adult fantasy written under my pen name, CEE BEE
1. Violins and Vampires
2. Veils and Vampires
3. Vixens and Vampires
4. Valor and Vampires

Reviews

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult / Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5

*Thoughts*

ECHO Academy is the second (actually 4th) installment in author Christina Bauer's Dimension Drift. Things you should know. First, there are two prequels called Scythe and Umbra. Scythe is the story of Meimi Archer one of the most intelligent young scientists in this world who created something that led to being discovered by the wrong people. Umbra follows the second main character, Thorne, who is from Umbra an Omniverse where his father is Emperor. Thorne meets Meimi after making good on one of his father's promises.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ECHO Academy is the last part of the Dimension Drift series and concludes the story between Thorne and Meimi.

After stopping one world takeover, Meimi, Zoe, and Chloe are left trying to re-open an exile void so they can return to Umbra to be with their transcendents. Thorne is also trying to find a way to be with Meimi WITHOUT her becoming his stepmother!

This NEEDS to be read as a series otherwise you won't know what the hell is going on! It is very fast-paced with lots of "dimension" science mentioned. I enjoyed the characters and how they interacted with each other. One surprise wasn't really a surprise (Conway) but I liked how it was incorporated into the story and made it all make sense.

Although we have a HEA ending, I am hoping from hints given in the book, that this is not the last we have seen of our characters from Umbra. A thoroughly enjoyable series that I have no hesitation in recommending and a brilliant conclusion.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 13, 2020

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly advised to read the prior books (including the prequel). This series is awesome. Full with futuristic, science fiction, depth and detail. This group of young adults put on a show that will have you wanting so much more.

Meimi, Thorne, Cole, Chloe, Zoe, and even Conway find a way to pierce you. Whether it be by falling for them, hating them, trying to figure them out, or just seeing where things will go. I learned with the prequel you get a lot of what you didn't know you were looking for. Meimi is a very strong, independent, resourceful young woman. She finds a way to make it happen. She does not give up.

Christina Bauer finds a way to give you a story that invites you to become friends with her and all the characters she create. You fall in love with the vividness of the worlds she creates and invites you to explore.

Having this latest installment in the Dimension Drift gave me an extra high during this time of lock-in for most of the country/world. Come on in and explore a new different world and allow your mind to be free.

[Esther Haddie's Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

For everyone looking for a fun, adventure-filled dystopian read. Stop your searching. ECHO ACADEMY is the second book in the Dimension Drift series by Christina Bauer. There are also two prequel stories. We reunite with Meimi, the kickass heroine, and the swoony Thorne.

I have had the amazing opportunity to read the previous book in the series. So I have long awaited the follow-up. I was not disappointed. Christina Bauer is an author to watch. She knows her craft and executes it perfectly, setting the bar high when it comes to SciFi and dystopia. I do not wish to spoil this book, so I strongly recommend reading the first one, in the event you haven't. One thing I will say is SHEESH! I was not expecting that.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in the participation of a blog tour with XpressoBookTours. This is my voluntary review.

[Mikkayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Echo Academy is the fourth and last book in the Dimension Drift series.

I was really conflicted about this book. I was really looking forward to this one. It had such a promising story description. Each book has been filling in the gaps that the previous left. Some felt intentional, others may have not been. But this last book didn't have room for plot holes, it needed to fill in all the gaps and answer all the questions about why things might have happened how they did. Even if it was with some technical explanation that I wouldn't quite understand, since the characters are super smart and know all the sciency, alternate dimension stuff. There were some intriguing new ideas introduced, but in a story as complex as this, it needs to be either simply explained or very well explained, and it was somewhere in the middle. The ideas were there but tons of loopholes could be seen in the theories, and with characters of such a high intellect, they would've found those.

That being said, I have thoroughly enjoyed the little robots and sentient in the stories. They were given a cute sense of humor that lightened the story and added a good laugh here and there.

The plot of the story has a lot of potential, and I did enjoy it for the most part. But I found myself struggling to finish it, despite wanting to know the ending. It felt a little bit rushed and not as carefully thought out. There were just a few too many plot holes that I couldn't get past.

Thank you NetGalley and Monster House Books for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packed to the gills, this is a read which grabs and races forward, leaving the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end.

Meimi now attends ECHO Academy, where the Headmaster plans to use her and her friends for his evil plot. That's not what bothers Meimi. Her boyfriend, Thorne, has been forced to the Exile Void, a place where she supposedly can't reach him. Not that something like that can stop Meimi, especially with her two friends backing her up. Meanwhile, Thorne is busy with his father, who wants to take Meimi as his own wife to secure his hold on the throne. And that's just the beginning.

While this is the second book in the series, it slips in after the others have already been released. It fills in several questions, which still were left unanswered and definitely adds to the characters and plot. Especially the plot. There is so much going on in this book, that there isn't a chance to get bored. Each plot has more underlying plots, creating an extremely complicated, woven web. Secrets abound, and the answers hold even more surprises than first appears. Simple is simply not the word for this book. And this makes an exciting read, which rounds off the series in the most unexpected ways.

I would not recommend reading this book as a stand-alone, since it does smooth out the plot holes and jumps from the rest of the books. But then, this is an exciting series all around, and not one that should be missed.

I received an ARC and read this in one sitting.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

As you all know (and I've written in my reviews of the previous instalments) I'm not a great sci-fi enthusiast but this series is more 'alternate universe' and slightly 'dystopian' than 'spacey', so who knows... if you're looking for a clean and easy teen/early YA read, this series might be for you!

That said, I hate to admit it, but I didn't like the book :'( (I'm sorry!!!)
It had a lot of potential, but I just didn't feel it :(

Character development was a tad lacking. I wish we would have gotten to know Meimi and Thorn (and, of course, the other characters) better. Instead, it felt like we quickly glossed over some thoughts and feelings and moved on to the next thing on the agenda. I mean, there were some big revelations going on, but our power couple just kept on going, taking everything in stride and moving on.
Swapping pov was, as always, a great touch, especially since Meimi and Thorne were both stuck on different sides of an exile void.

Pacing and flow were not good. It felt rushed and a tad chaotic from start to finish with very short, very fast-paced chapters.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book and while I'm happy that the story arc seems to be finished for Meimi and Thorne, I'm sure more adventures are possible with the other brothers and their transcendents :-)
Although I must admit, I'm not sure if I will read them, it just feels a tad too YA for me and I really really would have liked some more depth into the story.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

ECHO Academy is the fourth (and last) book in the Dimension Drift series (if you count the prequels as books one and two). This one picks up right where Dimension Drift leaves off, with a little bit of extra detail added at the beginning to flesh out a few of the events from the previous book.
I was really excited about the finale, and I can say I wasn't disappointed. Meimi is stuck at ECHO Academy with a nasty Headmaster who wants her to help invade Umbra. Thorne is stuck on Umbra, trying to find his way back to Meimi. But when the secrets of the past come to light in the present, the future turns into an uncertain race against time. Will the pair reunite, or will everything come crashing down around them?
I enjoyed the conclusion of the series. I liked that there were some intriguing new details that cropped up to make things even more dire for the characters. There was definitely a lot going on for both Thorne and Meimi. Things got a little crazy there at one point. But the ending made it all worthwhile.
I think the only downside was it did feel a little bit rushed, and I would have liked a smidge more action/adventure/crazy stuff going on. That's just me, though.
Fans of the series, or just fans of dystopian fantasy, will enjoy the finale that is ECHO Academy.
4 stars!

[anie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dimension Drift series was a perfect reminder on what sci-fi it suppose to be, mind-blowing science, intriguing storyline & a whole lot of awesomeness.

Echo Academy is a fast-paced story, filled to the brim with action & unexpected twists and turn.

The story starts with an expanded scene from Alien Minds, Meimi, and Throne standing up to Cole. They seem to be winning for a time until Cole sends Meimi back to Earth and opens an exile void between the worlds. Their connection is severed and it doesn't look too good.

But Meimi is not one to bow down before a challenge. She figures out a way to reach back to Thorne. All she needs is a magnetic storm, a little bit of tech, help from her best friends, and some ECHO Academy students, oh, and her parent's super-secret lab. No biggy. :) On the other side, Thorne is working on his way back to Meimi and it takes him on a painful road to the past, where he discovered the truth about his parents.


It's one of those books (series), that you can't put down. I was on the edge of the seat from first till the last age.

I love Meimi, she has an unbreakable spirit. There are obstacles on every turn and she faced them head-on, with a little bit of ingenuity and a whole lot of spirit.

It was a little bittersweet to come to an end of the story. On one hand, the ending couldn't be better and on the other, I just wish there were like 6 more books with Meimi and Thorne. :)

received from Xpresso Book Tours

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christina Bauer packs a lot into Echo Academy. Meimi has to save Umbra. Get her transcendent back. Stop a gang war and make them work for her. Don’t get dead. Oh, and avoid her sister and the headmaster while she is at it. (laugh) No sweat. Even her friends gave pause on this whole plan. Bauer writes a fun adventure for everyone.

I think this is another book that could have been split into two so that the incredible secondary cast that she created could participate more. They got kind of left behind in this book as Meimi and Thorne did things on their own while other cool characters were introduced. I do not think this is a four book series. I definitely think this book could have been two and easily fleshed out due to the current cast and the interesting new people brought in. (Did I just sound redundant? hmmmm)

This is not to say that Meimi and Thorne did not bring it because they did. Action. Snarky one-liners. Science geekery. And last minute save the day theatrics. All there. Christina Bauer made sure that we were going to get front seats to one heck of a storm.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This next novel in the series was an enjoyable read, continuing Thorne and Meimi's adventures on Umbra and Earth. Both know they are each others transcendents and want to be together, but Cole, Thorne's father and current emperor separates them with an exile void. But Thorne and Meimi are stubborn and will find their way back to each other. Thorne is determined to get to Meimi and stop his father's crazy plans of claiming her for himself, but he needs to understand the past before he can continue in the present. Meimi controls sentient and is very intelligent, but also learns things about her own upbringing. Not only are they battling Cole, but there are others who want power for themselves. Thorne was considered weak in sentient, but has now become stronger due to him and Meimi being transcentdents. Together, they are stronger and the universe is depending on them stop the evil that has been developing for years.
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mrs. Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorne has found his transcendent and is happy, that is until his father, the Emperor of the Omniverse, kidnaps her. His one mission? He will do anything to find and protect Meimi. Meimi may be separated from Thorne, but she won’t let that stop her from breaking through the exile void. Of course, this wouldn’t be a Dimension Drift book without some backstabbing by an adult in charge. Will Meimi be able to keep the exile void annihilator away from the headmaster? Will Meimi and Thorne be reunited?

ECHO Academy is the fourth book in the Dimension Drift series. Bauer wastes no time jumping into the new storyline, yet she does leave a few nuggets of information about the first books for those who have not read them in close proximity. This story, just like the first three, is full of adventure, twists, and secrets. It seems that the series is complete, but every reader knows that a story never ends. If Bauer decides to continue the Dimension Drift storyline, I will be looking for that book.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This next novel in the series was an enjoyable read, continuing Thorne and Meimi's adventures on Umbra and Earth. Both know they are each others transcendents and want to be together, but Cole, Thorne's father and current emperor separates them with an exile void. But Thorne and Meimi are stubborn and will find their way back to each other. Thorne is determined to get to Meimi and stop his father's crazy plans of claiming her for himself, but he needs to understand the past before he can continue in the present. Meimi controls sentient and is very intelligent, but also learns things about her own upbringing. Not only are they battling Cole, but there are others who want power for themselves. Thorne was considered weak in sentient, but has now become stronger due to him and Meimi being transcentdents. Together, they are stronger and the universe is depending on them stop the evil that has been developing for years.
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Myreadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Monster House Books and the Netgalley website for allowing me to read this book.

The story takes place on the planet Umbra where we find Thorne who is a weak prince who serves as a punching bag for his father, the emperor of the omniverse. Thorne didn't expect to find his soul mate and he's going to bond with Meimi Archer a human. But Cole decides to kidnap her. And the prince will do anything to protect her.

As for Meimi, she's a science geek and she's at the Echo Academy, a kind of elite high school under a dome in Boston, and she's going to get separated from Thorne. She and a group of friends try to cross the void.

A book read in one sitting, I was so hooked on the story that it was so gripping, addictive, captivating, full of suspense and twists and turns with very endearing characters. Can't wait to read the whole series.

[Bertha Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

With ECHO Academy the story of Meimi and Thorne ends... I can't wait to read the stories of Justice - Zoe and Slate - Chloe.
In the previous book, Cole opens an exile void, sending Meimi back to Earth and closing all connection between Umbra and Earth, thus separating Meimi and Thorne. This book is based on the premise that Meimi and Thorne must find a way to destroy the void in order to be together. Meanwhile, some of the mysteries of the story are revealed, such as Janais' true motives, how Cole became Emperor of the Multiverse, who Meimi is, and what really happened to her parents.
It is a very entertaining story, which can be enjoyed by everyone.

[Brandy Mulder · Rating 5 out of 5]

More secrets, more lies, more plots within plots, why isn't there more Meimi? Lol. I have felt the need for more after each book! I highly recommend reading the series in order especially with this one as it starts moments after the end of the last book. In these pages we find out more about the lies hidden in Thorne's parent's past and Meimi's parent's past as well as how they are tied together. Getting through the banishment isn't going to be easy and it's going to take some unreliable new allies to make it happen.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was a good as the previous book. I enjoyed seeing how Thorne and Meimi changed and grew stronger. They make a great team. Learning more about their families and friends was fun and enlightening.
The characters are all well-developed and it is easy to feel their emotions.
The cover and title of the book are a fit for the story.
The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along.
I highly recommend this book to adults and teens. It's a great adventure.

[Brandi Wolfertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting on this book since I read the last word in the last book, Alien Minds. I definitely recommend you read the previous books or you might get really confused and won't get out of it everything that you're intended to. This book was AMAZING! And blew me away with all the twists and turns with the plots, the surprises I didn't see coming and the chemistry between the characters that only gets better as you go! This is a must-read for sure!

[Anna Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good addition to this series. I like Meimi and Thorne. I liked finding out the history for both Meimi and Thorne. I look forward to the stories for Thorne's brothers. Always a great adventure with Ms. Bauer.


Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Andrea Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can guarantee with a Bauer book that you're going to get MORE the longer you read into a series. More twists, more secrets, more adventure, more romance, more WANT for the next in the series!

Meimi and Thorne are #goals and their romance is so fun to follow. Great character development, hilarious banter (as always) and just a fun ride!

Recommend!

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meimi Archer attends high school at ECHO Academy. Meimi has finally gotten her memories back after losing them in Alien Minds. Meimi had found her transcendent soul mate, Thorne but when ECHO Academy opens Meimi and Thorne are together but Thorne's father comes in and informs Thorne that Meimi is his transcendent. Cole bands Meimi from the planet Umbra and sends her out into the void where Thorne can never see her again.

But Meimi has every intention of seeing her boyfriend/transcendent again not matter what Cole says and sets out making a plan to get back to her soulmate Thorne. Meimi enlist the help of her friends to help her reunite with Thorne. She will let nothing or no one stand in her way of breaking her exile void.

There is one person standing in Meimi's way and that is the headmaster at ECHO Academy. Headmaster Conway wants Meimi to help him invade Umbra. Meimi has no intentions of invading the planet but she doesn't let the headmaster in on her secret as she figures she can deal with him at the same time she is breaking the void for her own reasons.

When I was reading ECHO Academy I could see the whole thing playing out in my head like a movie especially when Meimi was being taken into the void. I could just see her interacting with Thorne as she was being taken away I could see all the colors around Meimi as she is floating in the air facing Thorne. I saw them as they are floating there with all the different colors filling the room and running from their bodies in a line, with their arms stretching out toward each other as their fingertips touch as she is fading away into the dark her form fading more and more as she disappears from view leaving Thorne standing there looking where she had been just moments before. It was so pretty in my head.

ECHO Academy would be so awesome to see on a movie screen. Christina's writing is so descriptive that it makes it so easy to see it in your head as you are reading. Her writing pulls you in from the first page and hangs on way after you have read the last word, leaving you wanting more. I can't wait to read more in the Dimension Drift world and from Christina Bauer.

I highly recommend ECHO Academy and any of Christina's books to anyone looking for a great read. One click yourself a copy of ECHO Academy today!