Echo (novel)

infobox Book |
name = Echo
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Francesca Lia Block
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = HarperCollins
release_date = 1 August 2000
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 224 pp
isbn = ISBN 0064407446
preceded_by = Violet and Claire
followed_by = Wasteland (Block novel)

"Echo" fantasy novel by Francesca Lia Block, published in 2000 by Harper Collins. It follows the life of Echo, who, in her teens, meets a boy with angel wings, for whom she still finds herself waiting for years later. Some chapters are, however, almost completely dedicated to lives of her friends, family and boyfriends.

Plot summary

Echo feels overshadowed by her beautiful, angel-like mother, Eva, and lacks the attention of her artist father, Caliban. The summer her father is diagnosed with cancer, she encounters Storm, a boy with angel wings, and falls in love with him, but he tells her it is not the right time. She leaves for school in autumn, where she starts dating a poet Thorn, with whom she lives until she develops an eating disorder and drops out of school.

Eva refuses to accept Caliban's death, and believes a white horse that mysteriously appears in her garden is a reincarnation of her husband.

Echo meets Nina and her boyfriend Mark, both of them obsessed with sports and perfect bodies, and aspires to be like them. Even after she is warned by Nina's brother Skye, whom she rather likes, she continues their friendship, which ends with them completing a blood sacrifice on her.

Smoke is a talented musician, who leaves the love of his life, Wendy, and their ill baby daughter, Eden, in faith he poisons everything he touches. As a little girl, Eden predicts Smoke will fall in love with Echo, and he does, years later. He loves Eden more, however, which seems to end their relationship.

Valentine is flirtatious, glamorous and beautiful, and Echo wishes to be just like her. She leaves her behind however, when heading for a new life in New York, where she finally starts painting again. Valentine, after losing her job, turns to prostitution. In New York, Echo finally meets Storm again. She realises that before he could love her, she had to love herself.