The Perpetual Rain

The Chronicles of Trellah #1

by T.S. Graham

Sophina Murray has known nothing but happiness in her thirteen years of life, but that all changes when a tragic boating accident claims the life of her beloved father. To make matters worse, a bizarre and unprecedented weather anomaly has formed in the sky over Thomasville, Maine, the remote fishing village she calls home, focusing the eyes of the world on her once-peaceful community.


Sophina awakes one stormy night to witness her little brother being kidnapped by a monster so heinous it nearly defies description. Her account of the event leads authorities to suspect she knows more about the abduction than she is letting on. Forced to act on her own, Sophina follows a chain of evidence to the basement of her neighbor, a former mentor of hers who cut herself off from society months earlier. There, Sophina finds a mysterious substance that opens a gateway to another dimension, where she discovers ancient civilizations, dangerous creatures, and a dark, menacing force that is holding her brother hostage. But can Sophina save him before she falls victim to the countless hazards this alien realm holds?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Naznin Azeez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me put the FACT right in your face. This is a fabulous book, which if ever made into a movie, would witness people throng the theaters to watch it again and again, for it would be a visual treat indeed to see the Trellah on a huge screen!. Ok, now read ahead :)

There are only 14 chapters in this ebook. With just about 164 pages, this is a very quick read. The protagonist Sophina, which is a lovely name by the way, is described as a strong willed and mature-for-her-age girl, from a town called Thomasville. I love how neatly the first chapter, aptly named The Perpetual rain, introduces us to the ' mysterious situation' and to Sophina's family. I could feel how interesting the story was building itself to be. The author, in very simple words, puts across emotions that pull on your heart's strings. It was simple things like being stuck in the house with family, while a storm rages on outside. But how the family bonds together in times of peril is captured beautifully and it really moved me to the point of tears.

From the 4th chapter on, the parallel universe of Trellah was revealed in such details that I was shuddering with horror. I have a very fertile imagination and as I read and imagined those things, it made me fearful of the nightmarish creatures, explained so well in it. Trellah is a magical world with magical creatures, nightmarish creatures, two headed sea creatures, gigantic trees and more!.

The author has extremely vivid imagination and that is how he conjured up such an idea of the world of Trellah. He didn't make Sophina's journey to Trellah easy, by any means, which turned this into a gripping story. Had he made her into a superhero who could face all obstacles with ease, this would have been a very weak and boring plot.The wrath of nature which Thomasville has to face is depicted in a way that I am so glad I have never had to see anything like that in my life. Tornadoes, heavy rain, sleet and every imaginable forces of natures thunders down on Thomasville.
There are times when questions arise in my mind and I just wait around for them to be answered. If it's not answered at all in the book (which means the author hasn't giving complete thought to the plot), I feel frustrated when I reach the end of the book. However, in this book, no questions are left unanswered, which is impressive. Another thing I noticed is that there is nothing superfluous in the entire story line. The emotions, characters and just about everything is just right.

All in all, this is a very well-thought of, fabulous and very imaginative book, perfect to be read by people from any walks of life. Kudos to T.S. Graham for bringing out such a fantastic book. I applaud him for his work. I simply cant get my head around the fact that this is his debut novel!!. I seriously can't wait to read the second installment, named Storm on the Horizon, Book Two in the Chronicles of Trellah Trilogy!..

I give this book 5/5, which by Goodreads standards mean that ‘it was amazing’!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, so good! Frightening and exciting, with an amazing and strange world to explore, this book has me on pins and needles for the next in the series!

[Teressa Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chronicles of Trellah, Book One: The Perpetual Rain is a thrilling, scary, empowering fantasy book for teenagers and young adults. Sophina is a strong female character, and a good role model, as is her teacher/mentor Mrs. Tanner. I enjoyed the beautiful description in this book - so vivid that I could almost smell and taste the wonders Sophina found in the parallel universe of Trellah, not to mention picture in my mind's eye the grandeur of the landscape.

My favorite part of the book is the underlying theme of consequences. Sophina realizes how her little brother is affected by her teasing. Mrs. Tanner realizes her mistake in hiding herself away. Many people in this book screw up and deal with the consequences good or bad. I also like the juxtaposition between the Trellian idea of justice and Earth justice.

Trellian justice:"My son will be punished for what he has done," responded Talfore with an unexpected lack of emotion, "not rewarded for what he will not do in the future."

Earth justice: "Sophina, you'll find that your life won't be defined by the mistakes you make; it's the lessons you learn from those mistakes that are important."

Which version is better? The author doesn't say - it's a thought-provoking question that I believe YA readers will enjoy discussing.

[Darlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is full of imaginations. Maybe a little like Alice in Wonderland with a Fringe-ish kind of Twist. However, the book has the horror that I feel like it is well complimented the adventurous storyline. Apart of the adventure, the story started with mysteries. I know it sounds as if the book is complicated read, but trust me, the author did it well to make simple with words and full of emotions. Sophina, losing her father and a missing brother are very tough for a 14-year old girl to accept and face it alone. Of course, with no one to be with her, looking for her brother is the best way to avoid her from being lonely forever. And now I know why the author love Sophina the most (please read the interview below!). As I love Harry Potter and The Lords of the Ring, I love the magical things the author included in the book. Simple words to describe things in sentences made my imaginations easy. Even with simple words, not too much unneeded details, the characters in the books are actually quite well-developed. It has a progress which increased, at the right pace towards the ending. Until I reached the last page, I never thought the story is already ended. For a debut novel, I think T.S. Graham made his bid well.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book, what a great fun story about Sophina a fourteen year old girl, whose father is lost at sea and her little brother kidnapped, no one believes her about what did it. Her favorite teacher that lives next door, behaves suddenly very strange. Sophina doesn't trust it, when she sees a strange light she goes to check it out, convinced it has to do with her brothers kidnapping. The town they live in has to deal with weird storms. Soon thing go from bad to worse.

She follows her teacher through a portal into the world of Trellah and there a wonderful adventure starts. She gets confronted with scary stuff, but she is determine to find her brother and bring him home safe. She has to go through a lot before that happens. she meets all kinds of creatures, scary, hostile and friendly. If she will find her brother and get out of the strange world, that is for you to find out. I loved every minute of this book and read it in one sit. I look forwards to a sequel!

I received a copy of this book for a honest review.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

T.S.Graham has created a young adult fantasy that will take your imagination to a whole new dimension. Thirteen year old Sophina is a fiesty young lady who has lost her father and just watched her brother be abducted. Sophina doesn't know how but she MUST find a way to recover Elliot from the hands of that monster.

Chronicles of Trellah introduces many different creatures and characters along Sophina's rescue attempt. Some are helpful some are incredibly dangerous. One big twist, a powerful and young heroine and a world the regular imagination just can't conceive. I recommend Chronicles of Trellah for young adults.

I received a complimentary copy of The Chronicles of Trellah for reviewing purposes. All opinions shared are my own.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

T.S. Graham pens "The Chronicles of Trellah" in an original story line with very vivid writing that is rare to find. His characters are well developed, believable and realistic. A totally fascinating book that will keep you turning the pages. I look forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommended for YA and adult readers.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed this book. It can be read by any age from YA up. The story kept me engaged the whole way. Every time I thought our young heroine would fail she rose to the occasion (or luck, karma, fate whatever) saved the day and the adventure continued. I loved the characters, the plot, the ageless quality of writing. I felt really refreshed after finishing and wondering just what might be next. Good job!

[Ruby Ridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really enjoyable adventure that just begs to be made into a movie with Sophina (love the name) being a perfect heroine.
Recommended to everyone - not a long book, please read it.
Will there be a book #2? This is a hard act to follow.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. Well written, excellent character development, and a very different story lone.

[Mary Teresa Reno · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm an avid reader and can tell you that The Chronicles of Trellah: Perpetual Rain is truly one of the best books I've ever read! Listed as a YA novel, it is really for all ages, like HP. Completely absorbed me into another world, which is what I look for in a truly great read of this genre. The writer's gift of being able to paint a parallel world in your mind and describe it so vividly, complete with it's never-been-done before races, animals, plant life, food, clothing (loved the boots!) and languages, is an artistic quality I admire and envy. Rare is the author who can do this while creating a riveting story line as well! I also really enjoyed the smooth transitions and connections back and forth between a small coastal town in Maine where strange and stranger things keep happening; to the totally engrossing parallel world of Trellah and it's wild and wonderful races of characters et al. The main character and heroine, Sophina, has lots of spunk and determination; as well as an emotional depth for her age that has you rooting for her from the get go. Her supporting cast of characters are such a delight and/or fright, keeping you guessing with some just who's side they are really on. Great balance of characters, action, frights, beauty, sadness, humor, wisdom and surprises in this story as well. Living in Maine myself, one of the many scenes I really enjoyed in this book takes place in the local Grange Hall where Trellah meets Maine in a frightening yet funny way. Boy would I have liked to have been there! My best description of this book without giving away any of the story - not a spoiler fan personally - is think HP meets SyFy's "Haven" TV series. I can't wait for the next book to come out, especially so I can find out who really has the missing vial from Mrs. Tanner's house! I have a few ideas, but nothing's a sure thing until I actually read the next volume! Perpetual Rain is one of those books that for me is one to read more than once. I first read it last year and recently read it again because I love the world the author has created and was in the mood to be mentally back there. Would totally love to see this on the big screen or as a TV series! Oh and one request on casting - would love to see Richard Armitage as one of the male leads from Trellah and Brendan Fraser as one of the good guys in Maine please!!!!! Just sayin.... :) I highly recommend this book for YA and Adults alike. The hardcover edition is beautifully illustrated as well. As the holidays are fast approaching, it would be a wonderful gift for fantasy fans of all ages on your holiday gift list!

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging and imaginative story that captured my interest immediately, the tale combines mystery and adventure as a young girl journeys unexpectedly to another dimension in a relentless search for her younger brother. Fast paced, this novel pulsates with eerie, gothic overtones that kept me greedily eating up the pages to find out what calamity would next befall the spunky Sophina and her small party of would-be rescuers.

I felt a profound empathy, also, for Sophina’s mother; her pain became mine as she searched during the horrific, unnatural storm for her missing children. Traipsing through the mud, drenched by the unrelenting rain, and barely escaping several harrowing close shaves from flying debris and falling trees; she struggles to maintain her sanity in this dire emergency.

If I have a gripe, and it’s relatively minor, it is with the constant and consistent formality when addressing or speaking of others that is prevalent throughout. Certainly, a twelve-year-old girl would be expected to be respectful of her teachers and other elders; however, I expect shared adversity would cause most relationships to become closer and those sharing the experience would naturally address each other with less formality. The characters depend on each other in order to survive, but only rarely did the social boundaries of propriety and good manners get breached.

This novel sent my imagination gallivanting into overdrive. It is a wholesome book that will appeal to readers regardless of age. The ending was satisfying, but there are still plenty of unresolved issues to be explored in the following installments.

This book was given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.

Reviewed by Laurie-J

[Jen Blood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich, well written YA mystery/fantasy, The Chronicles of Trellah follows thirteen-year-old Sophina Murray as she struggles with the recent loss of her father. To add to her problems, a bizarre, endless rainstorm has been plaguing her town of Thomasville, Maine, for nearly a month. When Sophina sees her brother kidnapped by a monstrous creature in the night, she knows her luck can't possibly be that bad: something is clearly rotten in the state of Maine. What follows is an action-packed, fantastical thrill ride as Sophina follows her former teacher into a parallel universe filled with strange creatures and an even stranger landscape. With TRELLAH, Graham has created a richly-textured world that kids and adults alike will be riveted by, and Sophina is a smart, savvy heroine well worth following. The language is accessible but never condescending, and the ties that bind Sophina's family are heartfelt and uplifting. Wonderful start to a series I'm looking forward to following to the end!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd like to thank Promotional Book Tours and the author for allowing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a very well-written and detailed fantasy book. I found some of the details of the world were explained a little too late in the book for my liking. Some of the creatures you only got a description of later in the book, so for some times you're reading terms and names of creatures that you don't understand or can't visualize.
When I started reading this book, it gave me the feeling that this would be a great fantasy book for middle graders, 4th grade onward But as I continued reading, there are some scenes that are a little too intense for the younger readers. So when the synopsis says "parental guidance", please take it seriously. I wouldn't give it to any child under 12 to read.
Overall though, its a good read. I like Sophina, she's a strong girl who is determined to find her brother no matter what she faces.

[Topher Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl's efforts to come to grips with her father's disappearance and to rescue her kidnapped brother lead her into a parallel dimension where she discovers powers and strength she never imagined she possessed. The world of Trellah is described in stunning, vivid prose that bring you into that world and compel you to stay and explore. The story contains many twists and surprises that satisfy throughout.

Hard to believe something of this quality is a debut! Some will label it YA, but I think this only works in defining the lower reading age. As someone in his 40s, I found myself staying up late to find out what happened next.

[Jerri Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Chronicles Of Trellah, The Perpetual Rain By Author T.S. Graham was provided to Me In Exchange For And Honest Review. This Book Takes You To And Alien Realm Of Lifestyle After A MicroBurst Storm Causes Problems On Earth in A Neighborhood Where A Few Children Are Abducted. The Book Tells The Story Oh How The Family,s of These Children Work Together To Seek Out And Find The Them. As They Search Together They Encounter Many Strange Alien Creatures Living Out Their Different Alien Lifestyles. I Consider This Book Very Interesting And A Wonderful Read. This Book Is Perfect For Young Adults Who Enjoy Sci-Fi. I Give This Book Five Stars. Thank you. Jerri Davis

[Lovisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little read. I really enjoyed the magic and mystery that surrounded the world of Trellah and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. The author really brings the colorful world of Trellah to life and the danger that lurks in the shadows have a genuine feel. The use of Sophina's personal tragedies to entice her into the dark clutches of the sailor is both thrilling and unnerving. The character development is well done and as the reader I felt the intensity of emotions the characters were going through. I liked how the author managed to end this first book but maintain the mystery enough to get you excited for the next book in the series.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!