Echo McCool - S O'Neill Review

Many authors have attempted to do what Mr Driscoll does with Echo McCool, but few have succeeded. It's a very traditional story but at the same time new. It feels like a timeless classic has been updated to appeal to kids today. I was watching Sherlock Holmes on BBC One the other day and it put me in mind of how the makers of that show have updated an old idea to make it appeal to viewers today. Mr Driscoll has done the same here with children's fiction.


The stars, Jason and Echo, complement each other very well. Mr Driscoll does not give in to temptation and just have Jason 'do a Pygmalion' on Echo - instead he has them learn from and help each other. Yes, Jason is resourceful and has modern knowledge, but Echo is uniquely skilled, sharp not to mention self-sufficient. "I know not ring the police" she says, but I think she is not just saying she does not know who the police are - I think she is intelligent enough to work that one out for herself - instead she is saying "I would not ever use the police." Echo's strength is reflected in other ways too: e.g. Jason derides Echo's medieval language and tries to teach her how people speak today ("All this perchance and thou art stuff - no one speaks like that any more. It's better to say perhaps and you are.") Echo then explains to him how "thee" differs from "you" and how modern language is actually a dumbed down version of what she speaks - it's less specific. I found this a joy to read as when I have read books like this before, the authors have tended to make the person from the past seem stupid when in fact they are just not educated about modern things. In many ways though they are cleverer.


I also like how Mr Driscoll combines Lord of the Rings-style mythology with modern day action. Going from a dryad netherworld to a couple of working class blokes cutting down a tree really underlines the differences between the main characters' worlds, and he makes each character seem believable.


The story ends on a high note and the promise of more adventures to come, and I am looking forward to reading more about Echo and Jason and their journey together. 

Echo McCool - "Very Impressed" - Rashell Paravak Review

I'm a 34 year old mother of 2 and loved this book. I don't think it's only for children and young teens. It definitely has an appeal and literary "goodness" that adults can fall for as well. I'm proud to admit that I'm a fan of Echo McCool. For me personally, my favorite genres are MG and YA. I think that no matter what age you are you can relate at some point in your life to the emotion in these genres.
I like Echo McCool, my oldest son loves it, it's an amazing story that is worth the time to read!

Echo McCool - "An Adolecent and Young Teen Masterpiece" - Glen Cantrell Review

The writing is smart and swift. An Adolecent and Young Teen Masterpiece as I headed above. As a fifty-year-old adult, I enjoyed this tremendously. It's because of the Author, Roger K. Driscoll's technique of holding the reader's attention and he does so with conviction. This story is a definite page turner of fantasy. Buy this today if not for your son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter.

Echo McCool - "My 11-year-old niece absolutely loved it!"

I purchased this book for my 11 year old niece, and she absolutely loved it! It was one of her books that she wouldn't stop talking about. The other day I was sorting through my kindle library and started reading this book on a whim and I actually ended up reading the entire thing myself.

It's a great read for kids, with lots of action and very descriptive writing. And if you happen to be an adult who appreciates a well-written story, then I'd recommend it to you also. 5 stars!

Echo McCool - Andy McMiles Review

I bought Echo McCool Outlaw Through Time for my eleven-year-old daughter. We read it together and we both loved it. This is a fun book for any age and it can appeal to both boys and girls. That is pretty powerful in my opinion. It is a real growth experience for the young reader and it helps with growing up, and learning about the great adventure that is life. Thank you so much to the author Roger Driscoll for the hard work and beautiful imagination.

Echo McCool - "A Novel to Rival the Rest" - Doug, Brooklyn Review

I think that the world will be hearing a lot more of Echo McCool. I thought her character was so well created and the blend of being a wielder of magic, with the self-abilities of a fighter was excellent. The fact that she is not just another human, but of dryad blood adds the icing on the cake for me. So many authors re-use fantasy characters that have been written a thousand times before (not that this is always a bad thing), but I loved the fact that this was something new and created fresh in the authors imaginative mind. I like the pace, which keeps moving forward, never hitting dull "dead zones" where you end up skimming through half of the book.

Soooooo, in a nutshell this book rocks!! = )

Echo McCool - "Huge Fan of this Book" - Sarah Boyd Review

Prior to reading this I was hooked on works by author Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl). Echo McCool has a very similar sense of writing and sweeps readers away into a world of magic and mayhem. Echo is probably one of the coolest female leads in any book I've ever read (and that says a LOT considering I read a ton of books).
I think that any YA readers of the fantasy genre will fall just as hard as I did for this book. I would LOVE for this author to do a book signing in my area so I could pick at his brain a bit about the book. The concept is just so uniquely original that it stands out a mile from others. Absolutely incredible. I think it would be great if Echo McCool becomes the next big series.

Echo McCool - "This Book Blew Me Away" - Bomar Habasu Review

With so many poorly written works coming out on the market, it's almost discouraging to go hunting for a gem. Luckily for fans of fantasy, Echo McCool is here!! My friend read this first and wouldn't stop urging me to give it a try. Finally I did after procrastinating for months and absolutely loved it!

The story is filled with adventure, suspense, mystery, and sooo much more. I think the author has an incredible way of allowing readers to see, smell, and feel what is happening in the story. From the moment Jason crossed paths with Echo, I knew I was going to be in for a wild ride.

This book d id not disappoint and I think readers of all ages are going to enjoy it. Can't wait to read more!!

Echo McCool - "Truly Loved this Book! Classic Adventure - J Malliet Review

I bought this book on a recommendation and my son and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so I'll recommend it to you. A great book knows no age barrier. It reminds me of the Lemony Snicket books. The author combines crisp narrative with sharp, witty dialogue and not a word is wasted. The characters stay true throughout in this classic adventure story. This is a perfect example of well-written, well-edited fiction for 'tweens. There's nothing too graphic here so no worries for parents. The mystical parts aren't too complicated and the author weaves them effortlessly into the story without pulling you out of the narrative.

Well done. We are looking forward to more adventures from Echo and Jason!

Kids' book sells out

BEVERLEY: WHSmith in Toll Gavel has had to restock with new copies of Molescroft author Roger Driscoll's children's book Echo McCool Outlaw Through Time after selling out.

The story about a magical medieval girl is set in a mythical place called Oswaldley but based on locations in and around Beverley.

It was named in the top ten best reads of 2011 by the website www.goodreads.com

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Kids-book-sells/story-12729951-detail/story.html 

The Best thing that's Happened in the UK since Transportation

From the blog of award-winning Australian author Mark Dapin

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Fantastic news for the thousands of overseas readers of this blog: King of the Cross is now available from amazon.co.uk at the I-lose-about-ten-dollars price of £4.99. It's being sold as "used-like new" from Oswaldley Bookstore, but all copies are actually new and Oswaldley is my mate Roger. Other dealers stock it, but only Roger's are new. Buy it for your friends and family in the UK for Easter (it's more traditional than a chocolate egg) or pesach (it tastes better than a burnt offering). It's the ideal gift for birthdays, weddings, funerals, Anzac Day, Liberation Day (Italy) and the May Day holiday.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/King-Cross-Mark-Dapin/dp/1405039620/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1303030550&sr=8-3
And if you are a young adult, or used to be a young adult, or know somebody who's a young adult, you should also buy Roger's own book, Echo McCool, Outlaw Through Time.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Echo-McCool-Outlaw-Through-Time/dp/1908105267/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303030961&sr=1-1
Imagine the thrill of owning two books by people who used to live in the same house. You can't buy that sort of experience.
Well, obviously, you can. But you couldn't until last week.

http://markdapin.blogspot.com/2011/04/best-thing-thats-happened-in-uk-since.html#comments

Echo McCool - Author's debut book in top ten list

A BEVERLEY author has just seen his first published work named as one of this year’s top ten books.

Roger K Driscoll’s children’s book Echo McCool Outlaw Through Time was picked out for praised by independent literature comparison website www.goodreads.com

The children’s fantasy novel aimed at nine to 12-year olds is also now on sale at WHSmith book store in Toll Gavel, Beverley.

Mr Driscoll from Curlew Close, Molescroft, said: “I’ve been scribbling for years but this is the first one that’s been published, it took a lot of practice.”

The author grew up in the Beverley area and was inspired to write because of his enjoyable childhood playing out from dawn till dusk.

His story about a magical medieval girl linking up with a 12-year-old runaway is set in a mythical place called Oswaldley.

“Oswaldley is really Beverley, Witch Wood is Burton Bushes and Hazelby is Driffield. I don’t have any children myself and it’s difficult to say why I chose to write children’s books, they chose me.

“I think it depends on what sort of time you had when you were that age. I had a great time.

“I lived not far from where I live now and we used to play out all the time. I don’t think that happens so much.

“Sometimes we went raking off for miles.”

Mr Driscoll is a former legal executive who was made redundant in 2008 and used his redundancy money as an “advance” so he could take time out to write.

He was able to secure a deal with Grosvenor House Publishing, one of the directors of which is the respected Yorkshire author GP Taylor.

He said: “I wouldn’t say my career has ended but it’s on hold. It was difficult to do both at the same time because legal work is quite taxing. You end up shoe-horning in the writing.”

Whatever happens, anyone who enjoys Echo McCool Outlaw Through Time can be assured there is a sequel on the way.

Echo McCool, Outlaw Through Time - "Debbie" Review

I bought this book for my 12 year old son. He loved it!


I would recommend this book for children of this age, there was no bad language, extreme violence or anything which could offend - Yet at the same time the story is fast paced, the writing excellent and (according to my son) the book brilliant.


Already awaiting the sequel. 

Echo McCool - Diane Cornwall Review

I read this book, to see what all the fuss was about, but I have to say I was NOT disappointed. The story begins in a Robin Hood type era and in the first chapter we meet Echo, the 12-year-old half-dryad girl of Wicca Forest. She is chased by a forester called Wulfric because there is a bounty on her head. Wulfric fires an arrow that has lethal poison on the tip of its blade. It nicks Echo's arm but because of her dryad heritage she can heal herself of even the most deadly of diseases, by touching living wood. She escapes from the forester and hides inside a hollow oak tree. There she hibernates for centuries though her soul never leaves her body.


The story then cuts to the present day when a 12-year-old boy called Jason Fleeting is in hospital, in a coma after falling out of a tree. He has a near death experience and finds himself in a kind of heaven known as the Edge of Time. He meets the spirit of Fenella, Echo's mother, who tells Jason that he too is part dryad. Fenella tells him that the tree containing Echo is soon to be cut down. She gives him a task, to rescue Echo from the fallen tree. Fenella returns Jason to life and a few days later, he rescues Echo as planned. Once Echo has fully recovered, she and Jason set off on an incredible adventure to solve the mystery of Jason's mother's murder, and to rescue his abducted sister.


Unlike some children's stories, this one builds up to a truly exciting climax and I would recommend Echo McCool Outlaw Through Time to all able readers in the 9 to 12 age group. Fantastic book!