An Echo of Children was, for me, an okay read that didn’t fully deliver on its initial promise. The setup hints at something dark and unsettling. There are moments where Campbell’s skill in building atmosphere shines—particularly in the early scenes. One sequence at the amusement park where Thom experiences disturbing visions stands out as especially eerie and sets the tone for what seems like it could have been a truly chilling story. Unfortunately, the tension never quite sustains at the same level.

While the book has a handful of twists and unsettling ideas, much of the second half began to feel repetitive. The constant push-and-pull with Jude trying to speak with Dean, only for Allan and Coral to intervene, became predictable and diluted the suspense. Similarly, characters like Kendrik and Leigh felt underdeveloped and left me questioning why they were included at all, as they didn’t seem to add much to the progression of the story.

That said, there were parts I genuinely appreciated. Jude emerged as the most compelling character—her instincts, courage, and refusal to simply stand by gave the book some much-needed momentum. Dean was also engaging, particularly as the pressures around him mounted. Allan and Coral, while frustrating, were effective characters in their own way—portrayed with a mix of religious fervor and suffocating control that made them the type of people you “love to hate.”

The ending, however, left me wanting more clarity, as several character arcs felt unresolved. Overall, An Echo of Children has flashes of strong atmosphere and character work but falls short of being a standout. For me, it landed as a decent, middle-of-the-road read rather than something unforgettable.