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'The Echorium Sequence' is a fantasy trilogy by Katherine Roberts. The trilogy comprises Song Quest (1999), Crystal Mask (2001), and Dark Quetzal (2003).
The trilogy follows the tales of The Echorium; the singers located on the Isle of Echoes. In the first book, Song Quest, the major characters were singer Rialle, and Kherron, followed by Renn and Shaiala in Crystal Mask. In Dark Quetzal, the major characters included are Kyarra and Caell. The trilogy follows each generation carrying on from the previous generation in each book starting with Rialle and Kherron. The series features creatures such as nagas, centaurs and half-creatures. The trilogy is aimed at young teens.

Contents

Plot summary

Song Quest

Crystal Mask

Characters

Major characters

Minor characters

Awards

See also

External links

Plot summary

Song Quest

In Song Quest, the reader is introduced to the first major character Rialle and her friend Frenn including other minor characters. The plot focuses around the merlee - a half-creature; half fish, half man. The merlee are slaughtered for their eggs by the Karch which they believe will help cure their Karchlord of his illness. The Singers decide to investigate further and visit the Karchlord himself. The illness was a trick to get rid of the Karchlord as Frazhin wanted revenge on the Singers. Frazhin captures Rialle and Kherron, the Karchlord and his loyal soldiers must defeat the Khizpriest Frazhin and his men at the Singer Island. They march towards Southport (on the west coast) and sail towards the island to save it before Frazhin obliterates the Echorium. With help from half creatures, they are able to stop Frazhin's invasion.

Crystal Mask

In Crystal Mask, the setting begins at the same starting place as the previous novel (at the Echorium) only several years later. Crystal Mask introduces new major characters - Novice Renn, Shaiala and Erihan. Reappearances include Second Singer Kherron and Rialle. Frazhin also appears again as the villain who has now married Aunt Yashra who have both set up a palace called the Khizalace in the Sunless Valley. The story focuses around Shaiala, a girl who has grown up with centaurs throughout her childhood. She is brought to the Echorium for treatment as she has no memory of how she ended at up the Echorium. They find she reacts violently to khiz crystals and immediately suspect Frazhin. They journey to the mainland, taking Renn as he is able to communicate with Shaiala who speaks the half-creature's language (the language the centaurs speak).
Note that adults cannot speak the half-creature's language as they lose the ability with age.
They eventually find out that Frazhin is held up at the Sunless Valley and conducting a child snatching organisation in which they take orphans from towns and take them to the Khizalace to be trained as their own breed of singers. It is another attempt to destroy the Singers but it fails as the Singers gain allegiance with the Kalerei who help them defeat Yashra and her husband Frazhin.

Characters

Major characters

★ 'Singer Kherron' - becomes the Second Singer of The Echorium in Crystal Mask. Features in Song Quest, Crystal Mask and Dark Quetzal

★ 'Singer Rialle' - mother of Renn, sensitive to the songs of half-creatures. Features in Song Quest, Crystal Mask, and Dark Quetzal

★ 'Singer Renn' - son of singer Rialle. He is able to understand half-creature speech. He features in Crystal Mask and Dark Quetzal

★ 'Singer Kyarra' - Frazhin's daughter, raised on the Isle of Echoes. She features in Dark Quetzal

★ 'Shaiala' - human child brought up by centaurs. Features in Crystal Mask and Dark Quetzal

★ 'Erihan' - son of Horse Lord Nahar. Features in Crystal Mask and Dark Quetzal

★ 'Aunt Yashra' - mother of Kyarra. Features in Crystal Mask and Dark Quetzal

★ 'Frazhin' - uses khiz crystals to manipulate humans and half-creatures. Features in Song Quest, Crystal Mask and Dark Quetzal

★ 'Lord Nahar' - father of Erihan and leader of the Kalerei. Features in Crystal Mask and Dark Quetzal

★ 'Night Plume' - is a Quetzal, half-man and half-bird corrupted by Frazhin's use of the khiz crystal. Features in Dark Quetzal

Minor characters

★ 'Singer Caell' - novice singer, can communicate with half-creatures. He features in Dark Quetzal

★ 'Singer Graia' - first singer, features in all 3 books, Song Quest, Crystal Mask, and Dark Quetzal

★ 'Singer Toharo' - Second Singer in Song Quest but gets killed during a cave-in.

★ 'Singer Eliya' - features in Song Quest as First Singer. Dies due to poor health and old age.

★ 'Lord Zorahan' - leader of the Harai. Features in Dark Quetzal

Awards

'Song Quest' - Winner of the Branford Boase Award

See also

★ Khiz

★ The Echorium

★ Isle of Echoes

External links

★ Katherine Roberts homepage

★ Reviews of all 3 books