Title: Dissonance (Dissonance #1)
Author: Erica O'Rourke
Release Date: July 22, 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 496
Source: ARC provided by publisher

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

In this inventive romantic thriller, Del has the power to navigate between alternate realities—and the power to save multiple worlds.

Delancey knows for sure that there is more than one universe. Many more. Because every time someone makes a choice, a new, parallel world is spun off the existing one. Eating breakfast or skipping it, turning left instead of right, sneaking out instead of staying in bed—all of these choices create alternate universes in which echo selves take the roads not traveled. Del knows all of this because she’s a Walker, someone who can navigate between the worlds, and whose job is to keep the dimensions in harmony.

But Del’s decisions have consequences too. Even though she’s forbidden from Walking after a training session goes horribly wrong, she secretly starts to investigate other dissonant worlds. She’s particularly intrigued by the echo versions of Simon Lane, a guy who won’t give her the time of day in the main world, but whose alternate selves are uniquely interested. But falling for Simon draws Del closer to a truth that the Council of Walkers is trying to hide—a secret that threatens the fate of the entire multiverse.  

My Thoughts: 
It only took two words to convince me that I needed to read Erica O'Rourke's Dissonance. Those words? Parallel. Worlds. Imagine the idea that every time you make a decision, an Echo world is created that branches away from our original Key World; it's a reflection of the consequences that come with making a choice and the path not taken. Now imagine you could travel through all these worlds. Anywhere. Anytime. After all, we are constantly making choices. Wouldn't that be amazing? I absolutely love the infinite possibilities of parallel worlds. Now you see why there was no way I could resist Dissonance.

Del has always loved being a Walker, a rare genetic ability that allows a person to traverse through alternate worlds. But after accidentally cleaving an Echo world on an assignment that should have been routine and easy, nearly getting her older sister Addie and herself killed in the process, Del is treading on thin ice. The Consort is threatening to take away Del's ability to Walk if she doesn't comply with their laws and now Addie will be closely supervising her every move. 

Del long ago stopped trying to meet the high expectations of her parents. Addie is the perfect daughter while Del is the problem child of the family, constantly bending rules and barely passing her grades at school. Del and Addie's clashing personalities has strained their relationship as sisters for years and their forced close proximity isn't helping. While Addie is content to blindly follow the Consort, Del cannot act the same way; she's much too curious and reckless. When Del sets out to clear her name, she begins to suspect that the Consort is hiding secrets, and that it's all connected to the mysterious, growing instability of the Echo worlds...

I didn't know Dissonance was part of a series when I began reading it, so I sure was taken aback by the ending and the realization that I would have months of waiting ahead to find out what happens next. Erica O'Rourke has taken great care in steadily building up the suspense, leaving readers anxious for answers in the sequel. I can't wait to read Resonance — Del's story is far from over!

Thanks so much to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing this review copy!