The Midnight Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐¾

Echoes of Hollow and Ember

TC Jenson

Echoes of Hollow and Ember is a delightfully ambitious debut featuring masterful worldbuilding, unique magic and lore, and a Chosen Ones prophecy that doesn’t fall into stereotypes.

Our two main characters, Leola and Juniper, are sisters who’ve only ever known a life without magic. So when a mysterious artifact jolts them out of their reality and strange new allies from a secret society revere them as “The Prophesied Pair,” the girls are forced to grapple with their identities, hidden magic, and worst of all… the leader of a fascist regime.

This book kept me riveted, as I really never knew what to expect! Jenson played with illusions, time, elemental magic, and more, meaning that truly anything could happen on the next page.

The ties to the USA’s history of slavery and racism absolutely cannot be ignored. In this book, skin color is not the topic of discrimination, which reminds the reader through our jaunt through slave labor camps and a discriminatory modern society that systemic oppression could happen to anyone — though it’s crystal clear exactly whose history we are viewing. Told through the eyes of two Black women, this is a haunting story reflecting our nation’s past and mirroring our potential future.

I really enjoyed the sisters’ dynamic, the side characters, and the primary love interest. In fact, both of the two main male characters were walking green flags, which I love because in a dystopian society I really don’t need the MMCs to be walking disasters too.

I cannot wait for the second book, as this one raised so many questions for me about the Underground, the girl’s parents and pasts, and the general history of the realm.

Also, quick sidebar, but the COVER of this book (by J.N. Ignacio) is absolutely stunning! The combination of gorgeous art and prolific prose makes this book a must-have for your physical bookshelf.

⭐⭐⭐⭐¾

Echoes of Hollow and Ember can be purchased here.

Book 2, Echoes of Void and Ruin, releases on June 18th, 2026. For physical copies you’ll have to wait til release day, but the ebook can be preordered here!