3.5 stars. This was a suspenseful, apocalypse-ish tale with a lot of timely sci-fi tricks to keep its pace moving forward. I downloaded the book solely based on its interesting title and the fact that it was "available now" via NetGalley. I'm new to this gig, so I thought I'd try it. I'm glad I did. The story itself is interesting, suspenseful, and engaging. I might also put it into the horror or thriller category, as some of the scenes are downright disturbing (laced with the basest behavior of human nature at its meanest level). The narrative relies on some terrifying end-scenarios for man's interference with environmental problems out in the Western U.S. (you know: wildfires, droughts, and landslides--oh my!). I'm saving this recommendation for the print version of the book, however, because I have a few critiques to disclaim before recommending the audiobook version of this text to anyone.

First: the author reads the novel (uh-oh!). Sometimes this can add a lot (Christopher Buehlman does a great job of reading his own books!), but I fear no one told Dr. Matt Ritter that he may not be the best man for the job. The delivery is too banal, and the recording itself was oddly low-rent (most of the words beginning with "p" and "b" popped and hissed as he said them, which was terribly distracting). The recording also included a redundant "rain-shower" sound effect between every chapter. Now, perhaps this could have added ambiance or atmosphere if it were varied (throw in some thunder! a light drizzle? footsteps in puddles? hail?!); instead, the short chapters were punctuated with the exact same Homedics' generic "rain" sound effect you probably threw away in the early 2000s. To be frank--I hate added music and/or sound effects of any kind with any of my audiobooks--just a personal preference. The story is enough!

My hope is that NetGalley will give this info to the publishers who will right the wrongs and publish a better audiobook in the future. Until then, you might be better off with the printed word.

File Under: No One is Singing in the Rain Here

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received the audiobook via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After a 100 year drought the scientists figured out a way to make it rain, unfortunately the rain has become toxic and is killing people.

The story is interesting and I like that the audiobook is narrated by the author, so you hear it as he intended. I appreciate the commentary on how science is ignored and then blamed for problems. The characters were a bit two dimensional and did not invoke much of an emotional response.

Trigger warning: death of children, violence, talk of miscarriage

I absolutely hate doing this but I could not finish this book. I made it to chapter 6 and had no idea what was going on or if there were characters or if it was all just exposition. The narrator reads the book like he's bored Eeyore and reading the phone book. Everything is in the same monotone voice that sounds little sad and I can't handle it. I don't need crazy voices or anything but some sort of inflection to differentiate between characters who are talking would be nice. I feel like the writing might be good so perhaps I'll give the physical book a try someday. As it stands now, I cannot recommend this book.

In a land of forced labor camps and waning oil fields, poverty-stricken agricultural communities support the metropolis of Salinas City and the authoritarian Valley Administration in their unending war against neighboring nations. In desperation, the Valley Administration intensifies their search for rainwalkers, who are believed to be powerful weapons in the border wars, by forcing children housed at Valley schools into the rain to be screened for resistance.

War hero Willie Taft lives a quiet agrarian life until the Administration abducts him and his wife, separating them from their daughter. Although his wife is killed during their escape, Willie continues his journey to rescue their daughter. He faces mortal challenges from the Administration military force, the sociopath bounty hunter on his trail, and the ever-present toxic rain. Time is running out as he fights his way through the Valley back to his daughter’s school before she is forcefully screened with other children in the deadly rain.
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The concept was intriguing as the title states. Who, what, where, why sadly I still want to know. There was a little story but not any paths. It felt all over the place. Now, I do understand the premise; however I still feel there could have been more continuity, and explanation on the rainwalkers. They were what drew me to the book.

Also, I think this may be more of a Young Adult book.

I liked the concept, finished the book, unfortunately found it lacking.

The narrator (the author) was dry, and I liked that. I took it as a commentary of the events as they were happening.

Thank you NetGalley and Pacific Street Publishing for accepting my request to read and review The Rainwalkers.

#NetGalley
#PacificStreetPublishing
#TheRainwalkers
#MattRitter
#Audiobook

**please note due to low rating I will not be leaving a public review for this book as I have not paid for it.**

I could get into this book due to the narrator. The thing I love most about audiobooks is the narrators ability to suck you in and make it play out like a movie in your head, but in this case I found that the narrator was talking at me like he was bored himself reading the story.

As for the book I am going to see if it's available on kindle because the premise of it sounds so interesting.

So this star rating is based solely on the narrator

I thought I would love this book! The dystopian setting, a father desperately searching for his daughter, and rain that kills everyone except the Rainwalkers!?? Sign me up!!! Unfortunately, this did not live up to it's huge potential. The characters were all so bland and the Rainwalkers felt like they were barely even part of the story. Also, why can the rain kill people but the people can hug wet Rainwalkers and not die?!? 🤔

The author narrates which, in this case, was a mistake. Some authors give so much life to their characters and stories, but Matt Ritter does the exact opposite. I felt ZERO emotion from him. Every character sounded exactly the same and there was no life in his voice. I could also hear pages turning during the reading, which isn't a huge deal, but it was a bit distracting. The other thing I didn't care for was the rain sounds interlude between EVERY chapter! It was terrible! And by the 5th time someone "whispered loudly" I actually yelled, out loud, THAT'S JUST TALKING!!!
I know these are all minor beefs, but they all added up to a very irritating read/listen.

One reason I enjoyed this story is how conceivable it is. Rainwalkers is an all too possible and slightly futuristic novel. Scientists sought to solve the devastating drought in a once robust land with genetically engineered rain clouds. Despite their best intentions, this man-made rain turned out to be lethal to humans. Rumor is, there are some people who are not affected by the toxic rain... these select people are known as rainwalkers. The book focuses on Willie Taft, who is ex-military and will stop at nothing to be reunited with his daughter after being separated by the authoritarian Administration.
The good intentions gone wrong, parents stopping at nothing to save their child, and the powerful governing body having no qualms of sacrificing few for "the greater good", it is easy to see why this story feels conceivable -especially now in 2021. The book did take a while to make me feel invested but it is made up for it as the story continued. This is the kind of story that stays with you and I am very glad that I had the privilege to read it.
I physically read as well as listed to the audio version of this book. Matt Ritter himself narrated the audio and was the perfect voice for Taft. I look forward to reading another novel by Ritter.

I really liked the premise and storyline of this novel. It’s a cautionary tale for today’s world. It warns that if we do not change our treatment of the earth we will find ourselves in a dystopian future the likes of which will rival our worst nightmares.
The story opens onto a future world where rain, the life giving force necessary to maintain life on earth, has turned deadly to all living creatures. This is a man made disaster. In the distant past there was the hundred years drought. Scientists seeded the clouds with a bacteria and the rains came causing the land in the valley to become fertile and productive again. But soon the bacteria mutates causing any creature caught out in it to die. To complicate matters a war broke out against their neighbors years ago and continues to the present with no end in sight. Additionally the Administration of “The Valley” is becoming increasingly hawkish and paranoid about their neighbors and scared because the rains seem to becoming more frequent and deadlier. There are rumors that people are now dying while dry. Is just inhaling the foul odors that come with the rains enough to kill someone?
Our protagonist is Willie Taft a decorated war veteran who along with his wife has escaped from a government forced labor camp where they were raising crops for the war effort. They had committed no crime and were not rebels. Willie’s wife dies in the attempt to flee. Despite his grief, Willie is frantic to reunite with his daughter Helen who was left behind at her school with all the children whose parents had also been “collected”. Willie has become aware that the government has begun leaving children out in the rain to find rainwalkers, people who are rumored to be able to survive the rains.
So you see, it’s a great story. Unfortunately it’s also one that has plot holes big enough to drive a truck through. I cannot go into the holes further without adding spoilers that can ruin the story. Despite this flaw I was able to suspend disbelief long enough to enjoy the book.
I “read” this book as an audiobook. I don’t think this was the best choice for me. The audiobook is narrated by the author. I think this was a mistake on the publisher’s part. Mr. Ritter though an inventive writer is not an actor. The result was a narrative delivered in a flat monotone With very little voice differentiation between characters. With little excitement reflected in the narrator’s voice much of the tension that builds as we head to the climax is lost.
Despite the flaws I did enjoy the story. I would recommend this novel to those who like Dystopian Fiction or anyone who just enjoys a good story. I do recommend you get a print version though!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and Netgalley. This fact in no way influenced my review.

Like Post Apocalyptic Adventure? Sinister Dystopias? This is for you.

💛 If your ears prick up at the words “killer rain” then add this to you audio shelf. The premise is well-executed, with thoughtful development of the origin of the rain as well as its dystopian aftermath.

💚 If, like me, you enjoy the general thought exercise of spending time in a broken world, you won’t mind that it takes a few chapters for the plot to get going, And once it does, it’s a genuinely exciting race against time with sky high stakes.

❤️️ In a nutshell, we have likable characters fighting to survive in a grim reality. There’s a hint of romance, a scientific bent and a heap of camaraderie to keep things exciting. My only critique plot-wise is that I a shame that this is interspersed with a bit too much descriptive prose.
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SOUNDBITE

🎧 Author Matt Ritter does a decent job reading his own work, but it is just that: A reading, I feel a professional narrator is needed to do this justice and would be a worthwhile addition. In particular, they would differentiate scenes and characters more clearly. They would also inject more energy into the performance.

🎧 The rain sound effect interludes were too frequent and just a touch too long. I could see them as good between acts, but not between every chapter.
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SHALL I COMPARE THEE TO...

This is very similar in nature to the work of A G Riddle, particularly his The Origin Mystery series. Like Ritter, Riddle puts the science in the centre of his fiction and has children as a focal point of his plot.

Rainwalkers
By Matt Ritter

Really looks at the reality of science gone wrong. History tells us that mistakes happen when science is pushed for the betterment of Mankind. This book looks at the devastating results when science is used to solve one problem but is pushed too far. That nature can and will change the out come, and it's not always desirable. This is a dark look not only into science but politics. The fact that we can change our environment doesn't mean we should. It's a post apocalypse story with a strong moral warning that should be heard.

This story takes place in an easily imaginable future. Matt Ritter did an amazing job at creating a story around human nature and describing how good intentions can go so dreadfully wrong for everyone.

It just isn’t the book for me. I also listened to the audiobook version. Ritter has an amazing voice. It was just too flat for me, I prefer more of a performance when I’m listening.

This was a very thought provoking dystopian audio. I really enjoyed (if that is the right word) and got very involved in the story.

I would thoroughly recommend this and the narration really suited it.

I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.

The Killing Rain

A story set in a sad future where science while trying to create an end to the drought have created a killing rain. Only a few are not affected by the rain, those few are called rainwalkers.

Willie, his wife, and his daughter Helen have a good life until the collection. The administration forces of the valley have been collecting people and putting them in labor camps. While escaping the labor camp Willie's wife is killed but he travels on to find his daughter.

Willie must find his daughter before the administration forces her and her classmates to stand in the killing rain so they can find rainwalkers to use for their sinister reasons to fight their warring enemies. He must evade a bounty hunter hot on his trail to take him back to the labor camp.

Who can he trust to help and who is part of the Administration. Can he find Helen in time or will he be captured or worse perish in the killing rain.

This book was fast paced and the sound effects of the rain were awesome. The narrator did a great job. I think the audio books are so much better when read by the author. It was a good book and I enjoyed listening to it.

Thanks to Matt Ritter for both writing it and narrating it (what a great job), for Pacific Street Publishing for publishing it and for NetGalley for making it available for me to read and review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced audio book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Interesting premise of what could happen if we mess around too much with Mother Nature. Rain has become toxic to humans and animals. There are rumors that some people can survive the rain.

Willie has been separated from his daughter and is desperate to get back to her.

I gave up on this after about 15%. It just didn't hold my attention -- I felt like I'd read this before in other dystopian adventure type books.