Sisters Mabel and Tess live in what remains of southern Appalachia. They are eking out an existence among a small group of villagers. No one knows when the rains began, it has just always been. There is a legend passed down by the elders of a land with blue skies. Every 2 years the leaders send out a scouting party in search of this legend. Does it exist or is it just a myth? No one knows, so far no one has ever returned.
Claretta Maynard lives in North Carolina with her husband David, daughter Cayli and their dog Lewis, 2 birds Buttercup & Peanut and a fish named Snow-Heart. When she's not writing, she's reading and dreaming up the next tale.
It had potential. A Dystopian where things had been covered in constant rain and water? Where they had to come up with a new form of society?
Potential!
Wasted.
Not too short to have a proper Dystopian but this really just... Wasn't executed well. The characters didn't talk like normal teenagers, the main two were barely the focus after a certain point. Too much telling not enough showing. Shoddy world building.
And it was boring.
So.
BORING.
The problems were solved too easily, there was no character development. It just... Was boring. Nothing exciting happened, nothing was really worth noting. The two main characters felt too easily interchangable and they didn't act like teenagers either. They acted like little girls which lead to me picturing "Tess" and "Mabel" as children instead of the young adults they were supposed to be because they ACTED like children.
If your going to make YA, make your characters act their age, not like confused lost little children especially the elder of the two.
I have to say I really loved the concept of this book! I was excited to read the story, and find out more about the world these characters were living in. However, I feel like the book was poorly written and thus made it not live up to the concept. It felt like a rushed first draft that was never edited. Some scenes felt like they were going two different places at the same time, and we were often told what was going on, rather than being shown by the things people were saying or doing. I wanted to like it, I really did. But I could not look past the lack of meat in the story. We had the bones, and they looked promising, but then so little was added that made it worth taking interest in I know I will for sure NOT be reading more in this story. I wish I could take a look at it again once it is actually cleaned up and fixed. Like I said, the concept is really great, it was just not fully realized....at all...
I chose this rating because, its well written the characters are very convincing, and I enjoyed it. Now that being said, the book was too short, just as you start to understand the story line it ends. Its good but it could be great with more story and the feel of reading a whole book rather than a short article. I hope this helps the author and you the reader.
After reading many hundreds of past apocalypse and disaster books this is a breath of fresh air. I am looking forward to the next story , and will follow the authors endeavors. THANK YOU
The writing style is very simple but the storyline kept my attention enough to get the next book to find out what happens. New take on a Great Flood story.
I don't know if the version I received on kobo had something wrong with it, but I felt like half the book was missing. It feels like nothing was achieved, there was no climax to the book, and just when you felt like, 'o.k., now it's going to pick up.' ... it just ends! No wrap up, nothing to leave you for more, like someone tore out the last pages on you.
Aside from that, the thing that frustrated me the most was the fact some of the chapters would switch 'point of view' randomly between paragraphs. Then, halfway through I wasn't sure who the main characters were anymore. At first it was the two sisters. O.k., that makes sense. Then some boy it thrown in, I can work with that.
(SPOILERS for this next paragraph)
But 3/4's in when you throw in the mayor, and then at the very end some random who you think is going to be the evil protagonist, but who really only lasts 5 seconds cause he's really a kind hearted person, I don't even know what's what anymore. Honestly, it seemed like it could have been a really good book, but after spending only an hour (that's how long it took me) reading this, it just felt like a waste of time.
Maybe if this ever gets reworked, or they bring in a proper editor or something, I'll re-read it.. but until then.
Evidently, I didn't have the same issues that a lot of other reviewers had. Granted, I took the time to read the book a couple of times. Some reviewers complained about the "voice," or language. I didn't even stumble on the Appalachian location; I just thought the voice was from living a dystopian society devoid of many adults.
The first time I read this book, it was a bit confusing, but after I had read it, I kept thinking about what exactly was going on in the story, so I read it again, and I started to puzzle it together. I can see how that might be a turn off. Also, I'm not sure, but I think I read the original, unrevised version...and I still made some sense out of it.
As it turned out, I liked the story; I wondered at the end what happened next and I am interested in seeing where this story goes.
UPDATE: 9/12/15: I still think about this story off and on. To me that says the writer has something here. I might attempt to read this one again, and now that I see there is a book 2, I might download that and read it too.
The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world that is plagued by rain. People are living in small villages on whatever high ground can be found and a day when it is not raining is cause for celebration. Tess and Mabel are sisters who have been orphaned and do what they can to survive. Mabel, as the oldest, feels responsible for Tess, so when Tess takes off on her own one day, Mabel panics. Has something bad happened to Tess?
I found this story fascinating. As a post-apocalyptic story, I found the idea of a world where it constantly rained to be a new one. This is a short book and so the author puts you right in the middle of the drama from the start. I liked the characters of Tess and Mabel from the beginning, and the author definitely left me curious as to where the story would go in future installments. This is a great story for when your short on time.
I enjoyed this brief introduction to a post apocalyptic world in which the land has been flooded and its inhabitants struggle to survive by their wits and scavenging skills. The author introduces us to a small village in which Mabel, Tess and Jack live and work. The elders tell of a time when the land was dry; plant and animal life abounded. Every two years the village sends out a scouting party in the hope that there might be something better outside their world. So far no one has returned.
One day a new group of settlers arrives and threatens to destroy the balance of the village. Will they bring further misfortune or a message of hope? I would certainly be interested in reading Part 2.
I really enjoyed this book, it kind of reminds me of the movie Water World, but better. It takes place in a post apocalyptic world. One in which the land is covered with water and people are doing what they can to survive. Tess is the main character who wants to leave her sister, Mabel and what they call home to go and search for something better. I think the next series in this books will be even better as this one is just introducing readers to this new Watery World. Great job and a fast interesting read.
Good start to this series. Reminded me of the movie Waterworld with Kevin Costner. Good apocalyptic idea of flooded world and people searching for dry safe place to stay. Follows to teenage sisters whose mother disappearred on a quest to locate the "rumored" dry land. One thing I really liked about this is that there were still characters who weren't so cruel and selfish left in this world. In most apocalyptic fiction most characters have gone "LORD OF THE FLIES". This story still kept some with humanity. Looking forward to second in the series.
OK initially I was intrigued by this dystopian setting, kind reminiscent of the Noah story, but with more people surviving the great floods & rain, and how they might cope/endure. And then the problems started, this book just became very bland and did not grip me at all. I persevered hoping that something better will come along and make reading this worthwhile, but it just didn't, I'm sorry to say.
I had to DNF this about halfway through. Normally a short under 50 pages can hold my interest till the end. This one just couldn't speak to me - I couldn't get a feel for the time, the place, the people, you know, the basics. Lots of words on the page, but nothing impactful. So sorry, but pass.
I like this story, it reminds me of another but has its own special appeal. The main characters are two tough, young girls, just trying to live. I'm really looking forward to see where the story goes.
This is a totally different type of apocalyptic book then those I am use to reading. Different is good! The book is well written and the story line is very interesting. I define recommend this book.
Wonderfully descriptive, the writer puts you there without drowning you with description ( pun intended) , fast paced. I can't wait to read more, I need to know how this turns out.
A good opening with great potential, hopefully not to bleak as the story progress. Good character's that make you want to read on and discover what happens
This story was very very good. Way too short though. I would categorize this story as dystopian/end of world fiction. Can't wait to read the next book.