Rainwalker's by Matt Ritter (IBPA) 4 Stars Book 3.5 Stars Audio

Publication Date 11/11/19 Audiobook time 7 hrs 35 mins Book 256 Pages

Synopsis

Finalist Winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Award IAN Book of the Year Award Shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award RAINWALKERS is a story set in the not-so-distant future in a crumbling version of John Steinbeck's Salinas Valley, after the breakup of the United States. A once rich and prosperous agricultural land is now a war-torn nation-state known only as The Valley. To combat chronic droughts, scientists seeded clouds with genetically engineered bacteria that created regular rains but unintentionally made the rains lethal to humans. Anyone caught in the rain dies within seconds, yet there are rumors of people who survive... known as rainwalkers. 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.

My Review

3.5 stars audiobook 4 for book. The storyline for this book is brilliant and so realistic. I loved the fact science means this book could actually happen. So its more a realistic dystopia read as the author is a scientist. I listened to the audiobook and the authors voice was very nice but because the author was the narrator and used to writing non fiction this showed on the audiobook. He read very clearly although a little fast for my liking. There seemed to be a lack of rise and fall in his voice and pauses that creates the atmosphere and tension that is within the book. So im more inclined to recommend the actual book and not the audiobook. The range of characters were very good, it was easy to either love or hate them. You could tell from the storyline that the book was exciting and gripping and would be a real page turner and reading the book I would of felt the tension. As the author didn't portray his brilliant work of fiction in the best of lights. However please don't be put off reading this book, just maybe avoid listening to the audiobook if its the atmosphere and tension you love in a book. If you like a fast paced audiobook and concentrate only on the storyline this audiobook is for you. Always try the sample first to see if the audiobook is for you. If not get the book im sure you won't be disappointed. Many thanks to the author and publishing team a wonderful actual science based believable science fiction dystopia for us all to enjoy.