The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has been dissected from just about every angle, but the spotlight almost always lands on the same three names: Link, Zelda and Ganondorf. Hyrule is full of people who were there the whole time and never got a single chapter of their own – and that is exactly the gap a new book called Echoes of Hyrule sets out to fill.
A story told by the people standing in the background
Echoes of Hyrule was written by Anna-Victòria Teixidó under the pen name “Kurusonna” and collects stories told from the perspectives of NPCs who appear in Ocarina of Time without ever becoming protagonists. The stories are arranged chronologically, starting before the events of Ocarina of Time and eventually moving past the borders of Hyrule itself. Link still shows up throughout, but here he works as a connecting thread rather than the hero at the center of the frame.
If that approach sounds familiar, it is because The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom already shifted the camera onto Princess Zelda. Echoes of Hyrule pushes the idea one step further and hands the narration to the side characters.
Two editions and what is inside them
The book is available in two versions and both contain the same 332-page hardcover: 17 x 24 centimeters, thread-sewn binding.
- Deluxe Edition – €25.95, includes the hardcover book, an Ocarina of Time GP Card print and two exclusive bookmarks.
- Hero of Time Edition – €35.95, sold only through the Game Press website. On top of the book it adds an Ocarina manual, a character map for the individual stories, two art prints, two exclusive bookmarks, an Ocarina of Time GP Card and a numbered certificate.
The volume also features a prologue by Carlos Martínez “Seijurou”, interior illustrations by María Lozano “Maiku” and cover artwork by Víctor Polonio. You can find both versions on the Game Press store pages for the Deluxe Edition and the Hero of Time Edition.
It is not a Nintendo product
This is important before you reach for your wallet: neither edition is official. Game Press explicitly states that Echoes of Hyrule is not affiliated with Nintendo. What you are buying is a fan interpretation of characters and events around the Hero of Time, not a licensed companion book. That does not make it any less interesting as a reading experience, but do not expect canon.
Where to go next
The timing is hard to ignore, because plenty of fans are currently looking ahead to the Ocarina of Time remake on Switch 2 – the game has its own Nintendo store page, and we broke down how preorder bonuses differ depending on the retailer. We also covered the Mineru’s Construct amiibo, and everything else from the series is collected in our Zelda news hub.
FAQ
It is a 332-page hardcover book that retells the world of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time through the eyes of minor NPCs. The stories run in chronological order, beginning before the events of the game and later moving beyond Hyrule.
No. Game Press states clearly that Echoes of Hyrule is not affiliated with Nintendo and is not an official product. It is a fan-created interpretation.
The Deluxe Edition costs €25.95 and includes the book, an Ocarina of Time GP Card print and two bookmarks. The Hero of Time Edition costs €35.95 and adds an Ocarina manual, a character map, two art prints, two bookmarks, a GP Card and a numbered certificate.
Yes, he appears throughout the book, but he is not the protagonist. He serves as the thread that connects the individual stories together.
That edition is limited to the Game Press website, so it is not sold through other stores.