The World Between the Rain
Marina is about to turn thirteen, but feels out of place and overwhelmed by her feelings since her Dad died one year ago. Her eleven-year-old sister Seri appears to be doing just fine, while their Mam has kept everything in their lives clean, tidy and chaos-free. Until the morning Marina notices something is wrong with the rain …
A strange sleeping sickness also seems to be affecting most of the inhabitants of their small rain-soaked village in the West of Ireland, including their Mam. Things get even stranger when the girls’ mysterious grandmother arrives and takes them to her home. Here, Marina finds herself slipping from this world into the world between the rain, where she will meet strange creatures, new friends, old gods and a danger that threatens both worlds.
This is a story about sadness, loneliness, the depths of grief and self-discovery told through a unique fusion of mythology, fables and fantasy. The world is drawn in rich, visual language which is also used to convey Marina’s emotions in imaginative ways. Marina is a well-rounded and detailed character, however, some of the other major characters appear to be less finely drawn and more space could also have been given to explore the relationship between the sisters.
The story moves at a brisk pace, with plenty of action to keep readers turning the page. It is sure to appeal to readers who love stories of adventures featuring fantastical and magical elements.
