A review by eldane
The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was, perhaps, one of the strangest epic fantasies I've ever read! I was not expecting elf-vampire-warriors or an insectoid alien invasion OR a steampunk flair, but somehow The Ninth Rain managed to weave them all together beautifully. I loved all of the characters, especially Vintage, and found the mystery of the Jure'lia and Ebora wholly compelling. The pace is a little slow, but it's a 600 page book so it's not entirely surprising. That said, the pace does pick up quite quickly once you reach the last third or so, and I was SEATED the entire time. The action and descriptions are so unique and detailed, and the little journal entry-epigraphs added a nice touch of worldbuilding. I am really eager to see what happens in the next book.
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