An Echo Through Time by Nicholas Licalsi

A mind-bending, perspective-shifting novel about self-knowledge, fate, and the tragic nature of young love, An Echo Through Time by Nicholas Licalsi is a thrilling and original read.

Todd has moved through a thousand lifetimes across countless universes, but when this unassuming “time lord” chooses a peaceful finale to his endless journey, he realizes that some answers still elude him. After sharing his secret powers with his high-school sweetheart, Gretchen, she dies in a horrible accident, driving Todd to find some universal timeline where her compassion and understanding survive beyond March 21st. When thousands of accidental deaths escalate into murder, Todd suspects that some other inter-universal power is involved – one that might be hunting him as well.

Conceptually, this is a complex and imaginative novel, but it explores plenty of common themes – appreciating the limited time we have, being open and honest with those you care for, and accepting the inevitability of the unknown. As a work of YA fiction, it doesn’t disappoint in terms of introspective character development and a good bit of drama, but some of the narration is occasionally over-explained, even for younger readers. There are also some sequences that feel redundant, especially in a narrative that cycles through the same day multiple times, but the pace of the novella is generally engaging and upbeat.

The darkness and intensity of the plot is unavoidable, as is the underlying tension of death vs. immortality, but for readers who want a thought-provoking sci-fi plunge, Licalsi delivers in a major way.