{"id":7141,"date":"2026-08-27T10:03:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T10:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=7141"},"modified":"2026-08-27T10:03:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T10:03:29","slug":"echo-of-atlantis-the-umdedu-codex-by-k-p-gillen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=7141","title":{"rendered":"Echo of Atlantis: The \u016amd\u00ebd\u016d Codex by K.P. Gillen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ancient prophecies, awakening powers, and an academy for the gifted are reimagined in this sprawling YA novel about the allure of power beyond imagination.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s one thing to be able to move objects with your mind, see the future, and read people\u2019s thoughts. It\u2019s another to study alongside other kids with abnormal abilities and face the ethical question: do you use your powers to uplift society and make the world a better place? Or do you, drawn by the warmth of the sun, go on a long quest to become the most powerful being in the universe?<\/p>\n

Four teenagers, Kelly, Kyle, Isabella, and Alejandro, had ubiquitous teenager concerns at one point, but now they must make a choice that will confront a centuries-long battle between restraint and ambition, one that already claimed a casualty seventeen years before they were born.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Echo of Atlantis: The \u016amd\u00ebd\u016d Codex<\/em> begins the tale with that very war. Within the contemporary world, there is a secret society of Atlantea descendants, whose ancestors arrived on Earth through a dimensional portal. Originally, they were Watchers, a self explanatory role. However, some saw the vulnerable human population and enslaved them, even fathering children, many of whom carry uncontrollable abilities. The Eirinia, a different group of watchers, sought to protect humanity and destroyed the portal in the process. The survivors dispersed across the globe; some decided to band together to teach the descendants how to control their abilities and guard their gifts.<\/p>\n

One such gifted man, Maximilian Obsidian, became completely enthralled in the idea of ushering in a new era of humanity. One without electricity, and where he, of course, would rule.<\/p>\n

The Elders, exceptionally gifted and long-standing members of these secret societies, united to stop him before his vision could take shape. Among them, Elijah Brightwater, the leader of this peacekeeping group, manages to put an end to Maximilian\u2019s regime. For now at least. Even with Maximilian\u2019s defeat, the question still lingers on everyone\u2019s mind: who are the four stars mentioned in the prophecy? And will they decide to shine in goodness, or be shrouded in darkness?<\/p>\n

Echo of Atlantis<\/em> is a well-crafted coming of age story that feels fresh within the YA fantasy landscape. Isabella\u2019s character arc is particularly original. She\u2019s immediately introduced as extremely ambitious, opinionated, and tough. She has no qualms advocating for her viewpoint, as she vehemently argues about becoming an influencer over doing the Awakening ceremony with her mother. She\u2019s not afraid to want power and see the benefits that having it does.<\/p>\n

The book does not treat her as a power-hungry young woman archetype with no depth. In fact, those around her see her brilliance and abilities as something to celebrate and only worry about her constant isolation. She\u2019s not punished for being ambitious, but rather comforted for feeling outcasted.<\/p>\n

Another thing that stands out is the cost. This book is not interested in flashing superpowers around with no repercussions, but rather, focusing on the consequences that come with certain abilities. Is it ethical to read people\u2019s minds? What can happen if you see too much of the future? These questions are integral to the character development. They don\u2019t learn just how to use their newfound skills but that every decision has a price. And some characters may already be in moral debt.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d gladly recommend Echo of Atlantis<\/em> to YA readers who enjoy exploring magic through an ethical and moral lens. It includes many historical references, strong characters, and an academy full of secrets waiting to be discovered.<\/p>\n

The post Echo of Atlantis: The \u016amd\u00ebd\u016d Codex by K.P. Gillen<\/a> appeared first on Independent Book Review<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ancient prophecies, awakening powers, and an academy for the gifted are reimagined in this sprawling YA novel about the allure of power beyond imagination. It\u2019s one thing to be able to move objects with your mind, see the future, and read people\u2019s thoughts. It\u2019s another to study alongside other kids with abnormal abilities and face […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7141"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7141"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7141\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7141"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7141"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7141"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}