The Echo of the spiral

Something ancient has stirred beneath the sea. And one girl can hear its call.

Set in the fading coastal town of Brackmouth-on-Sea, The Echo of the Spiral follows Mara Ellison, a quiet, observant teenager who notices what others don’t. When a violent storm exposes strange patterns along the shoreline and the tide begins acting in ways it never has before, Mara finds herself drawn into a mystery far older and deeper than anyone suspects.

As buried shapes emerge from the sand and government forces rush to contain whatever is awakening, Mara uncovers something she cannot explain, something alive, ancient, and attuned to her. What begins as a quiet curiosity soon becomes a global shift, with spirals, signals, and a power that resonates through thought, feeling, and memory.

Part coming-of-age story, part slow-burning speculative mystery, The Echo of the Spiral is a grounded yet visionary novel about perception, connection, and the forgotten frequencies that bind us to the earth and each other. A story where climate, consciousness, and courage intertwine, this book is as much about what we carry in silence as what we choose to speak out loud.

For readers drawn to the edges of reality, to the voices beneath the noise, and to the truths buried just beneath the surface; this is your signal.

“Unsettling in the best possible way.”
This book doesn’t shout. It hums, it whispers, and it gets under your skin. I kept thinking about it days after finishing it. It’s not about jump scares or flashy sci-fi, it’s about noticing. About feeling things before they’re explained. I wish I had this book when I was 14.
Elise M., secondary school teacher

“A quiet revolution.”
It starts in a small coastal town and ends somewhere much bigger, but the beauty of this book is how slowly it builds. Mara’s sensitivity isn’t treated as weakness; it’s her strength. That’s rare in fiction. Especially for younger readers navigating a noisy, distracted world.
Tom K., parent and former youth worker

“The best YA I’ve read in years.”
Finally, a story that respects the reader’s intelligence. No gimmicks. Just atmosphere, character, and deep emotional resonance. The pacing is deliberate, the writing sharp but never showy. Think His Dark Materials meets Arrival, with a dash of Skellig.
Mina A., author and reviewer

“I gave this to my daughter. Then I read it myself.”
She devoured it. Then I picked it up and was surprised by how layered it was. It speaks to grief, climate anxiety, adolescence and the strange power of being someone who sees more than they’re meant to. Quietly stunning.
Paul D., father of two

1. Sensitivity is a form of intelligence.
   Mara’s ability to notice, feel, and sense subtle shifts isn’t portrayed as odd, it becomes essential. The book teaches that emotional depth and quiet perception are powerful tools, not weaknesses.
    
2. You’re not broken, you’re tuned differently.
   For readers who feel out of place in noisy environments or fast-moving social structures, the story offers a gentle affirmation: maybe it’s the world that’s out of sync, not you.
    
3. Nature remembers.
   The spiral becomes a motif of ancient memory and non-verbal communication. There’s a subtle but powerful environmental message, one that avoids preaching. The Earth holds patterns. Sometimes they echo back.
    
4. Truth isn’t always comfortable.
   When Mara speaks her truth publicly, she’s mocked. But she doesn’t stop listening to herself. This arc quietly prepares young readers for the pain and courage involved in speaking up; especially when the world isn’t ready.
    
5. Not everything needs to be explained.
   The novel refuses to hand-hold or over-explain the mysterious elements. It respects ambiguity. That in itself is a lesson in trust in the reader, and in the idea that not all truths fit neatly into words.
    
6. Community matters, even when it falters.
   While Mara faces isolation, she’s not entirely alone. There are adults who care, friends who try, and the suggestion that real connection can still be found—even in a cynical world.