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Rain of the Ghosts #1
Rain of the Ghosts by Greg Weisman
BY Weisman, Greg ( Author ) [{ Rain of the Ghosts (Rain of the Ghosts #01) By Weisman, Greg ( Author ) Dec - 03- 2013 ( Paperback ) } ]
Mass Market Paperback
First published December 3, 2013
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1212 people want to read
About the author
Greg Weisman
262 books134 followersGreg Weisman (BA Stanford, MPW U.S.C.) has been a storyteller all his life. His first professional work was as an Editor for DC Comics, where he also wrote Captain Atom.
Greg worked at Walt Disney Television Animation from 1989 through 1996. In 1991, Greg created and developed a new series for Disney: GARGOYLES, becoming Supervising Producer and Supervising Story Editor of that series.
In 1998, Greg became a full-time Freelancer. He wrote the new Gargoyles and Gargoyles: Bad Guys comic books for SLG Publishing, while producing, writing, story editing and voice acting for Sony’s The Spectacular Spider-Man. He then moved over to Warner Bros., where he produced, story edited, wrote and voice acted on the new series, Young Justice, as well as writing the companion Young Justice monthly comic book for DC.
Greg was a writer and Executive Producer on the first season of Star Wars Rebels for Lucasfilm and Disney, and he’s also writing the spin-off comic Star Wars Kanan: The Last Padawan. His first novel, Rain of the Ghosts, was published in 2013; its sequel, Spirits of Ash and Foam, arrived in bookstores in 2014.
Greg worked at Walt Disney Television Animation from 1989 through 1996. In 1991, Greg created and developed a new series for Disney: GARGOYLES, becoming Supervising Producer and Supervising Story Editor of that series.
In 1998, Greg became a full-time Freelancer. He wrote the new Gargoyles and Gargoyles: Bad Guys comic books for SLG Publishing, while producing, writing, story editing and voice acting for Sony’s The Spectacular Spider-Man. He then moved over to Warner Bros., where he produced, story edited, wrote and voice acted on the new series, Young Justice, as well as writing the companion Young Justice monthly comic book for DC.
Greg was a writer and Executive Producer on the first season of Star Wars Rebels for Lucasfilm and Disney, and he’s also writing the spin-off comic Star Wars Kanan: The Last Padawan. His first novel, Rain of the Ghosts, was published in 2013; its sequel, Spirits of Ash and Foam, arrived in bookstores in 2014.
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April 28, 2014
Teenage Rain Cacique lives in the Prospero Keys (known to locals as The Ghosts), a series of islands between Florida and the Bermuda Triangle. To her dismay, she's pretty sure she's going to spend the rest of her life there, catering to the tourists who come to enjoy the tropical weather and scenery. Her and her friend Charlie spend their last free days before school begins having as much fun as they can.
But while returning from a water skiing trip with friends, Rain learns of the death of a beloved grandfather, Sebastian, and she's convinced her life will never be the same.
Early on Greg Weisman gives us a great sense of the setting in RAIN OF THE GHOSTS, his clean prose leaving the storytelling unencumbered. It's easy to imagine the scenery as Rain moves through her world. Her parents run a bed and breakfast on the island, but she's resentful of the strangers who come and go in her life. The newest client is Callahan, a fellow from Australia whose odd behavior makes Rain suspicious. Right before Grandfather Sebastian's death, he gave her a bracelet given to him by his grandmother: not only is it unique-looking, but it seems that it makes Rain able to see ghosts. Even though she has no proof, she thinks Callahan wants to steal it.
Weisman's portrayal of teenage angst and perspective was well done, without being overboard or annoying. Rain and Charlie's feelings will seem real to YA readers; their interactions with each other and with the other teens on the island feel realistic. Unfortunately the brevity of the novel meant that much of what was introduced didn't go anywhere, leaving the resolution too open-ended to feel complete.
While RAIN OF THE GHOSTS has many strengths, where it was weakest was in the narrative style: we don't really learn "who" (other than his name) the narrator is until halfway through the book, but even after learning who it was I was confused, less about as to why than how it was done. As a result, the PoV character felt gimmicky, even if I get why Weisman did it--the limitations of a focused third-person narrative (say, Rain only) would have kept readers uninformed about what else was happening. It appears that there's a bigger picture than what Rain understands about her grandfather and the bracelet he gave her.
There are other people who are aware of her bracelet's magical properties and will do what they can to get it. Fortunately, Rain has unknown allies with special abilities of their own: the local bum Maq whose ability to see the future makes him less aware of the present, which makes him seem a little crazy; and Opie (our narrator) whose awareness of present events isn't limited to what he can physically see, which is why he knows everything Rain, Charlie, and others are feeling and what they're doing at any given moment. Even knowing this, the narrative style was confusing--awkward switches between the heads of several characters was difficult to follow. I think younger readers will be more flexible, though, and will probably even like it.
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS is a quick, fun read, with realism and fantastical elements woven together in satisfying ways. Even if the wrap-up left a lot of open questions, the ending was still exciting.
Recommended Age: 10+ interest level; 8+ for content
Language: None
Violence: Mild
Sex: None
***Find this and other reviews at Elitist Book Reviews.***
But while returning from a water skiing trip with friends, Rain learns of the death of a beloved grandfather, Sebastian, and she's convinced her life will never be the same.
Early on Greg Weisman gives us a great sense of the setting in RAIN OF THE GHOSTS, his clean prose leaving the storytelling unencumbered. It's easy to imagine the scenery as Rain moves through her world. Her parents run a bed and breakfast on the island, but she's resentful of the strangers who come and go in her life. The newest client is Callahan, a fellow from Australia whose odd behavior makes Rain suspicious. Right before Grandfather Sebastian's death, he gave her a bracelet given to him by his grandmother: not only is it unique-looking, but it seems that it makes Rain able to see ghosts. Even though she has no proof, she thinks Callahan wants to steal it.
Weisman's portrayal of teenage angst and perspective was well done, without being overboard or annoying. Rain and Charlie's feelings will seem real to YA readers; their interactions with each other and with the other teens on the island feel realistic. Unfortunately the brevity of the novel meant that much of what was introduced didn't go anywhere, leaving the resolution too open-ended to feel complete.
While RAIN OF THE GHOSTS has many strengths, where it was weakest was in the narrative style: we don't really learn "who" (other than his name) the narrator is until halfway through the book, but even after learning who it was I was confused, less about as to why than how it was done. As a result, the PoV character felt gimmicky, even if I get why Weisman did it--the limitations of a focused third-person narrative (say, Rain only) would have kept readers uninformed about what else was happening. It appears that there's a bigger picture than what Rain understands about her grandfather and the bracelet he gave her.
There are other people who are aware of her bracelet's magical properties and will do what they can to get it. Fortunately, Rain has unknown allies with special abilities of their own: the local bum Maq whose ability to see the future makes him less aware of the present, which makes him seem a little crazy; and Opie (our narrator) whose awareness of present events isn't limited to what he can physically see, which is why he knows everything Rain, Charlie, and others are feeling and what they're doing at any given moment. Even knowing this, the narrative style was confusing--awkward switches between the heads of several characters was difficult to follow. I think younger readers will be more flexible, though, and will probably even like it.
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS is a quick, fun read, with realism and fantastical elements woven together in satisfying ways. Even if the wrap-up left a lot of open questions, the ending was still exciting.
Recommended Age: 10+ interest level; 8+ for content
Language: None
Violence: Mild
Sex: None
***Find this and other reviews at Elitist Book Reviews.***
February 23, 2014
Note: My actual rating would be around 4.5 stars - but I feel like bringing up its average a bit. Rain of the Ghosts deserves it.
So, I initially decided to check this out due to the fact that I've been a fan of Greg Weisman's creations since I was 4. His animated TV series "Gargoyles" was one of the most formative and important works of fiction in my life, and I've also enjoyed his later works on Young Justice and Spec. Spiderman. To my knowledge this is his first novel, though he's written various comics - and for a first original series, this is really quite a good start.
The story takes place in the fictional Prospero - or "Ghost" to locals - Keys, near Florida, and appropriately, the Bermuda Triangle. It focuses on some local adolescents, overwhelmed by the constant presence of tourists in their home town. With their entire lives and livelihoods revolving around serving these privileged visitors and "Attack of the Killer Tourists" is a daily game, they're just looking for some time and space to call their own. The teenage protagonist, Rain Cacique, feels naturally trapped in her life of cleaning up after and catering to tourists in her parents' inn, and can't see her life improving at all after high school.
But instead of resigning herself to a lifetime of dull facilitation of other peoples' adventures, Rain wants her own. Rain herself is smart as a whip, headstrong and confident, impulsive enough to get herself into trouble, and clever enough to get herself out again. She's balanced out by her level-headed BFF Charlie, the prevailing cooler head who finds himself initially reluctantly pulled into Rain's storm of supernatural craziness and adventure.
One of my favorite elements is the fact that Rain always seems to have a song in her head. Gentle guitars fill her mind in quiet scenes, and when tension rises, up come the pounding drums. It's a great nuance I'm very glad was included, and makes it very easy to imagine the story's soundtrack.
"Rain of the Ghosts" is also just full of wonderful little touches of humor and references for sharp-eyed readers - like the wordplay around the terms "Keys" and "Rain." (Also, in the preview for Book 2 that accompanies the Kindle edition - Wendy, John and Michael? We see what you did there.) This is a story about passages, opening doors (and knowing how to use the Keys) and entering new phases of life. Familiar coming-of-age themes, but Weisman keeps the adventure fun and exciting. The prose can often be downright lovely, especially in the descriptions of the environment and small city life. He writes teenagers refreshingly well, often with excellent character insights and interactions.
I should also give special mention to how the book handles grief. It's likely spoiled already from some book descriptions, but early on, someone very important to Rain passes away, and a large portion of the story is her sorting through her devastation. Rain's thought processes and chaotic, sometimes desperately intense feelings ring entirely true. Weisman captures the turmoil of teenage emotion, and the deep wounds of loss. (Of course, being that this is a ghost story, that pain doesn't last very long for Rain at least...)
Most of all, I think, is the fact that Weisman never talks down to his audience. This is something I've noticed in all of his works I've seen - that despite the YA rating, and the fact that much mainstream writing and media for teenagers and young adults can be shallow and condescending, that is never a problem here. Weisman treats his young characters and readers with respect, giving their feelings and problems validation, along with the reassurance that they are strong enough to handle them.
As a final note, the book is written in first-person... but it's not Rain's POV. It's first-person omniscient, even, which means we get to see nearly everyone's thoughts and feelings. The revelation as to exactly whose eyes we're seeing through is unexpected, and I found delightful. It's an interesting writing choice that I've never seen before, and it's done quite well.
So yes! If you want a quick, fun read (I blasted through it in just several hours) with paranormal elements, real emotional pathos and catharsis, and sarcastic, well-timed dialogue, give Rain of the Ghosts a try. I'd recommend it strongly for teen readers, and older Weisman fans won't be disappointed either. Enjoy!
So, I initially decided to check this out due to the fact that I've been a fan of Greg Weisman's creations since I was 4. His animated TV series "Gargoyles" was one of the most formative and important works of fiction in my life, and I've also enjoyed his later works on Young Justice and Spec. Spiderman. To my knowledge this is his first novel, though he's written various comics - and for a first original series, this is really quite a good start.
The story takes place in the fictional Prospero - or "Ghost" to locals - Keys, near Florida, and appropriately, the Bermuda Triangle. It focuses on some local adolescents, overwhelmed by the constant presence of tourists in their home town. With their entire lives and livelihoods revolving around serving these privileged visitors and "Attack of the Killer Tourists" is a daily game, they're just looking for some time and space to call their own. The teenage protagonist, Rain Cacique, feels naturally trapped in her life of cleaning up after and catering to tourists in her parents' inn, and can't see her life improving at all after high school.
But instead of resigning herself to a lifetime of dull facilitation of other peoples' adventures, Rain wants her own. Rain herself is smart as a whip, headstrong and confident, impulsive enough to get herself into trouble, and clever enough to get herself out again. She's balanced out by her level-headed BFF Charlie, the prevailing cooler head who finds himself initially reluctantly pulled into Rain's storm of supernatural craziness and adventure.
One of my favorite elements is the fact that Rain always seems to have a song in her head. Gentle guitars fill her mind in quiet scenes, and when tension rises, up come the pounding drums. It's a great nuance I'm very glad was included, and makes it very easy to imagine the story's soundtrack.
"Rain of the Ghosts" is also just full of wonderful little touches of humor and references for sharp-eyed readers - like the wordplay around the terms "Keys" and "Rain." (Also, in the preview for Book 2 that accompanies the Kindle edition - Wendy, John and Michael? We see what you did there.) This is a story about passages, opening doors (and knowing how to use the Keys) and entering new phases of life. Familiar coming-of-age themes, but Weisman keeps the adventure fun and exciting. The prose can often be downright lovely, especially in the descriptions of the environment and small city life. He writes teenagers refreshingly well, often with excellent character insights and interactions.
I should also give special mention to how the book handles grief. It's likely spoiled already from some book descriptions, but early on, someone very important to Rain passes away, and a large portion of the story is her sorting through her devastation. Rain's thought processes and chaotic, sometimes desperately intense feelings ring entirely true. Weisman captures the turmoil of teenage emotion, and the deep wounds of loss. (Of course, being that this is a ghost story, that pain doesn't last very long for Rain at least...)
Most of all, I think, is the fact that Weisman never talks down to his audience. This is something I've noticed in all of his works I've seen - that despite the YA rating, and the fact that much mainstream writing and media for teenagers and young adults can be shallow and condescending, that is never a problem here. Weisman treats his young characters and readers with respect, giving their feelings and problems validation, along with the reassurance that they are strong enough to handle them.
As a final note, the book is written in first-person... but it's not Rain's POV. It's first-person omniscient, even, which means we get to see nearly everyone's thoughts and feelings. The revelation as to exactly whose eyes we're seeing through is unexpected, and I found delightful. It's an interesting writing choice that I've never seen before, and it's done quite well.
So yes! If you want a quick, fun read (I blasted through it in just several hours) with paranormal elements, real emotional pathos and catharsis, and sarcastic, well-timed dialogue, give Rain of the Ghosts a try. I'd recommend it strongly for teen readers, and older Weisman fans won't be disappointed either. Enjoy!
December 11, 2013
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Sometimes when I finish a book, I lean back, close my eyes and revel in the memories. After finishing RAIN OF THE GHOSTS, this wasn’t one of those times. Rather than revealing, I think I looked more like a dog after hearing a high-pitched whistle; the dog is trying to figure out what it heard, and I am trying to figure out what I read.
There isn’t an easy way to sum up RAIN OF THE GHOSTS. It’s told in the first person, but not Rain’s, or even her best friend Charlie’s. In fact, most of the story is told in what appears to be third person omniscient. The first person voice only turns up every now and then, like when the characters cross the narrator’s path, and its so rarely used it’s easy to forget that there’s a narrator until first person is used again. The first few times this happened, I had to stop reading because I thought it was an author error.
I won’t spoil and reveal who the narrator is, but I will say that I can only hope that as the Rain Cacique series progresses it’s explained further because I was head-scratching a lot once the reveal happened. On that note, there are a few elements of the story that would have done with a little more explanation, even if it is just the first in a series. A little mystery is good. Too much and it starts to be a frustrating read.
What I loved about RAIN OF THE GHOSTS was its characters. Rain was a very well-written young woman – on the eve of starting eighth grade – and one I very much wanted to spend more time getting to know. I especially liked her best friend, Charlie. His crush on Rain is adorable as is his ability to roll with the strange things happening around him because of it.
It will take a lot for this series to pull me back in for a second round. I’ve read other series where the first is the weakest link of them all and there is a certain joy in reading along as a writer develops his or her craft, but in this instance there was just too much confusion and too many moments of “wait…what?” going on to leave a lasting enough impression to carry me forward.
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS had me had a definite The Percy Jackson Olympians vibe going – primarily because of the protagonists’ ages, but also because the plot that’s put into motion feels more like a quest than a mystery. Unfortunately the story itself wasn’t as strong or as well-crafted.
Sexual content: N/A
Sometimes when I finish a book, I lean back, close my eyes and revel in the memories. After finishing RAIN OF THE GHOSTS, this wasn’t one of those times. Rather than revealing, I think I looked more like a dog after hearing a high-pitched whistle; the dog is trying to figure out what it heard, and I am trying to figure out what I read.
There isn’t an easy way to sum up RAIN OF THE GHOSTS. It’s told in the first person, but not Rain’s, or even her best friend Charlie’s. In fact, most of the story is told in what appears to be third person omniscient. The first person voice only turns up every now and then, like when the characters cross the narrator’s path, and its so rarely used it’s easy to forget that there’s a narrator until first person is used again. The first few times this happened, I had to stop reading because I thought it was an author error.
I won’t spoil and reveal who the narrator is, but I will say that I can only hope that as the Rain Cacique series progresses it’s explained further because I was head-scratching a lot once the reveal happened. On that note, there are a few elements of the story that would have done with a little more explanation, even if it is just the first in a series. A little mystery is good. Too much and it starts to be a frustrating read.
What I loved about RAIN OF THE GHOSTS was its characters. Rain was a very well-written young woman – on the eve of starting eighth grade – and one I very much wanted to spend more time getting to know. I especially liked her best friend, Charlie. His crush on Rain is adorable as is his ability to roll with the strange things happening around him because of it.
It will take a lot for this series to pull me back in for a second round. I’ve read other series where the first is the weakest link of them all and there is a certain joy in reading along as a writer develops his or her craft, but in this instance there was just too much confusion and too many moments of “wait…what?” going on to leave a lasting enough impression to carry me forward.
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS had me had a definite The Percy Jackson Olympians vibe going – primarily because of the protagonists’ ages, but also because the plot that’s put into motion feels more like a quest than a mystery. Unfortunately the story itself wasn’t as strong or as well-crafted.
Sexual content: N/A
October 22, 2018
Rain Cacique may have just hit puberty, but her future is already locked into place. Rain is going to stay here in the Ghost Keys near Florida, the Prospero Keys to outsiders, and serve the tourist industry in some way. Just like her parents and grandparents before her. She’s never going to see the outside world, to be a tourist herself, or have her own career. True, her grandfather did once leave the islands during the war, but that was long ago, and he doesn’t talk about it. She herself will never escape.
Or at least that’s what Rain assumes. When her grandfather dies, he leaves her an armband of two golden snakes intertwined, and strange things start to happen. With the aid of her best friend Charlie, new girl Miranda, and the mysterious Dark Man, Rain will have to face ghosts both literal and metaphorical to unlock the secrets of the Ghost Keys.
Greg Weisman is best known for his work on the popular animated show Gargoyles, including some writing credits. Rain was repurposed from a television project that fell through into a series of young adult novels. (Two are out, with a third planned.)
Good stuff: There’s a neat twist on the semi-omniscient narrator, and trying to figure out just what’s going on there is part of the fun. Also, I like the multiple layers of meaning in the title.
The writing does a good job of establishing Rain’s character and initial dilemma, as well as the special subculture of island kids she belongs to. There are plenty of exciting bits once we move past the long setup phase.
The Dark Man is a fun character, despite being scary at first. And the resolution to the Dark Man’s secret is very satisfying.
Less good: Charlie’s unrequited and unnoticed crush on Rain feels cliche, and perhaps unnecessary. Miranda, the girl who’s been so long away that the others mistake her for a tourist, is woefully underused.
The roots of this as a television series are painfully obvious in a scene towards the end which sets up a formula for each subsequent volume. (I think this will be less of an issue for actual young adults.)
Recommended for junior high readers on up.
Or at least that’s what Rain assumes. When her grandfather dies, he leaves her an armband of two golden snakes intertwined, and strange things start to happen. With the aid of her best friend Charlie, new girl Miranda, and the mysterious Dark Man, Rain will have to face ghosts both literal and metaphorical to unlock the secrets of the Ghost Keys.
Greg Weisman is best known for his work on the popular animated show Gargoyles, including some writing credits. Rain was repurposed from a television project that fell through into a series of young adult novels. (Two are out, with a third planned.)
Good stuff: There’s a neat twist on the semi-omniscient narrator, and trying to figure out just what’s going on there is part of the fun. Also, I like the multiple layers of meaning in the title.
The writing does a good job of establishing Rain’s character and initial dilemma, as well as the special subculture of island kids she belongs to. There are plenty of exciting bits once we move past the long setup phase.
The Dark Man is a fun character, despite being scary at first. And the resolution to the Dark Man’s secret is very satisfying.
Less good: Charlie’s unrequited and unnoticed crush on Rain feels cliche, and perhaps unnecessary. Miranda, the girl who’s been so long away that the others mistake her for a tourist, is woefully underused.
The roots of this as a television series are painfully obvious in a scene towards the end which sets up a formula for each subsequent volume. (I think this will be less of an issue for actual young adults.)
Recommended for junior high readers on up.
June 17, 2019
This rating is for myself. I believe that kids will enjoy this book a whole lot more. This was the kind of book I used to love reading when I was younger. It's full of adventure and mystery, not to mention ghosts. It's just the first part of what seems like a long series.
Audiobook - brilliant audio, with sounds. Definitely made the whole experience better. This will really be enjoyed by kids.
Audiobook - brilliant audio, with sounds. Definitely made the whole experience better. This will really be enjoyed by kids.
November 29, 2013
Thirteen-year-old Rain Cacique lives on an island in the Prospero Keys or, as the locals call them, the Ghost Keys. When she’s not helping out at her family’s inn, she spends much of her time biking around the island with her best friend Charlie trying to avoid tourists.
When her beloved grandfather, Sebastian Bohique dies, he leaves her an armband. When she puts it on, she can see ghosts, most specifically, eight men in WWII bomber jackets, who tell her that they want to go home. Soon, she and Charlie find themselves caught up in an exciting adventure concerning a dangerous thief, a decades old plane crash, a violent deity, and a mysterious cave.
Rain of the Ghosts is the first in a new paranormal series aimed at middle-graders. It’s told by a dog (I think) named Opie who, with his seemingly harmless old master (?), may be much more than he appears. The story begins rather slowly and much of the book seems to be a setup for future stories. Still, once the tale picked up, it was a lot of fun. Nice start to what looks to be an interesting series for readers ten and up.
When her beloved grandfather, Sebastian Bohique dies, he leaves her an armband. When she puts it on, she can see ghosts, most specifically, eight men in WWII bomber jackets, who tell her that they want to go home. Soon, she and Charlie find themselves caught up in an exciting adventure concerning a dangerous thief, a decades old plane crash, a violent deity, and a mysterious cave.
Rain of the Ghosts is the first in a new paranormal series aimed at middle-graders. It’s told by a dog (I think) named Opie who, with his seemingly harmless old master (?), may be much more than he appears. The story begins rather slowly and much of the book seems to be a setup for future stories. Still, once the tale picked up, it was a lot of fun. Nice start to what looks to be an interesting series for readers ten and up.
March 26, 2018
This is an odd one. In many ways, it feels like a television pitch, a very solid pilot for a series to come. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised as it comes from TV writer/producer Greg Weisman, of GARGOYLES and YOUNG JUSTICE fame. Set on a fictional set of Florida Keys, the tale follows young Rain as she comes to terms with the death of a loved one and her new ability to see ghosts. It's got an oddball narrator, some just plain weird ideas and a strange sense of pace. But it's also a good fun tale, even if it does feel like it shuts down just as it starts to develop.
A good start, but here's hoping Greg will have time to finish the tale in upcoming books.
A good start, but here's hoping Greg will have time to finish the tale in upcoming books.
December 5, 2013
An adventurous young girl, a magical armband, and mysterious ghosts
Rain of the Ghosts was so much more than I expected. The story slowly drew me in with it suspenseful story until the very end where I immediately wanted to crack open book two of the fabulous tale. Sure it has a spirited heroine with a great best buddy sidekick, thrills and adventure, and fascinating tropical setting, but what really surprised me was the compelling mystery in the storyline. It was much more than I had anticipated, and by the end of Rain of the Ghosts I realized the mystery was really only the beginning of a much larger and complicated one that I'm excited for with all it's possibilities.
"To Unlock a door, you need two things: A key and someone who knows how to turn it."
SETTING AND SUMMARY
Rain of the Ghosts takes place just on the edge of the Bermuda Triangle on a chain of tropical islands known as the Prospero Keys (or Ghost Keys as the local call them) where young teen Rain Cacique longs for adventure and excitement. It is the end of Summer, and by day Rain spends her vacation time with her best friend Charlie biking around the island playing madcap games of "Attack of the Killer Tourist" or just hanging out at a secret part of the island called the N.T.Z. (No Tourist Zone) where teens go to avoid local tourist.
One evening back at her parents Bed & Breakfast her grandfather, whom Rain adores and loves very much, decides it is time to give Rain a very special gift, one that has been in his family for generations. A golden armband of two snakes intertwined, clasping each others tails in their mouths. It is not until later, when Rain's grandfather passes away and she is heartbroken, that she discovers that she received much more from her grandfather than a golden armband, she received the ability to see Ghosts.
When a strange tourist is suspected of stealing her armband, Rain, with help of her best friend Charley, try to solve the mystery of the armband and why a ghost known as The Dark Man seems to be trying to tell her something important about it. Suddenly Rain is surrounded by the secret world of the Ghost Keys, a world of adventure, magic, and mystery.
CHARACTERS
Rain of the Ghosts is told from a mysterious character's point of view, nicknamed Opie, (third person omniscient) who just may be a dog, a ghosts, or something supernatural. It gives the reader a great insiders view of the story, but at the same time it took me a little longer to connect with some of the characters, especially Rain, whom I ended up really liking.
“I’m never going to do anything. I’ll never go anywhere.”
Rain is the type of girl who seeks adventure. She's not afraid of much, and you could easily picture her off fighting pirates or digging up treasure. Her worst fear is never being able to experience "real" adventure, to be stuck on her touristy island and never being able to travel. Once I got to know Rain's character, I really enjoyed her sense of adventure, independence and spirited personality. Her unflinching ability to accept the unknown and her zest for life. To see her character go from complaining of no adventure to being thrust into a world of ghosts, mystery and danger was really entertaining.
Sebastian Bohique, Rain's grandfather and a former World War II fighter pilot, has special bond with Rain and calls her his "Raindrop." He sees something special in his granddaughter, and admires her tenacity and sense of adventure. What I enjoyed most of all was the sense of connection and love he shared with Rain, and the thrilling role he plays in the larger aspect of the mystery.
Charlie Dauphin is Rain's best friend and sidekick in all her adventures. He's sweet, trusting, and a loyal friend to Rain. When others begin to worry about her seeing ghosts, he simply trust that she is telling the truth. There's a lot of funny moments in the story when Charlie attempts to talk to or see Rain's ghosts, often with hilarious results.
THE ROMANCE
There really isn’t a romance in Rain of the Ghosts, but Charlie does have has a sweet crush on Rain that I thought was really cute, and helped lighten up some of the suspense. What’s more important is the wonderful bond between Rain and her grandfather, and her friendship with Charlie.
WHAT I LIKED
I loved the whole mystery behind the armband and the magical factor it plays in the story. When I first picked up the book I was hoping for buried treasure, pirates, ghosts and curses. I was totally surprised and excited when the story went a bit of a different direction. I got my wish, but the author takes the story a step further with endless possibilities with the Zemi armband and the magic it holds.
WHAT I HAD A HARD TIME WITH
Rain of the Ghosts is a fairly short book, about 240 pages. After getting use to the third person (mysterious) point of view, and the mystery was really starting to unfold, it ended. I’m greedy, it had a great ending that I loved, but I wanted more.
RATING: 4 Stars. I really liked it.
RECOMMENDED
Rain of the Ghosts has great Young Adult appeal with it's intriguing mystery, two adventurous teens, tropical island setting, and a magic that is only now just being explored. I cannot wait to see where the author goes with the Rain of the Ghosts series.
PLEASE NOTE
A courtesy review copy of this book was provided by St. Martin's Griffin via NetGalley in exchange for my fair review. Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for the review opportunity!
Rain of the Ghosts was so much more than I expected. The story slowly drew me in with it suspenseful story until the very end where I immediately wanted to crack open book two of the fabulous tale. Sure it has a spirited heroine with a great best buddy sidekick, thrills and adventure, and fascinating tropical setting, but what really surprised me was the compelling mystery in the storyline. It was much more than I had anticipated, and by the end of Rain of the Ghosts I realized the mystery was really only the beginning of a much larger and complicated one that I'm excited for with all it's possibilities.
"To Unlock a door, you need two things: A key and someone who knows how to turn it."
SETTING AND SUMMARY
Rain of the Ghosts takes place just on the edge of the Bermuda Triangle on a chain of tropical islands known as the Prospero Keys (or Ghost Keys as the local call them) where young teen Rain Cacique longs for adventure and excitement. It is the end of Summer, and by day Rain spends her vacation time with her best friend Charlie biking around the island playing madcap games of "Attack of the Killer Tourist" or just hanging out at a secret part of the island called the N.T.Z. (No Tourist Zone) where teens go to avoid local tourist.
One evening back at her parents Bed & Breakfast her grandfather, whom Rain adores and loves very much, decides it is time to give Rain a very special gift, one that has been in his family for generations. A golden armband of two snakes intertwined, clasping each others tails in their mouths. It is not until later, when Rain's grandfather passes away and she is heartbroken, that she discovers that she received much more from her grandfather than a golden armband, she received the ability to see Ghosts.
When a strange tourist is suspected of stealing her armband, Rain, with help of her best friend Charley, try to solve the mystery of the armband and why a ghost known as The Dark Man seems to be trying to tell her something important about it. Suddenly Rain is surrounded by the secret world of the Ghost Keys, a world of adventure, magic, and mystery.
CHARACTERS
Rain of the Ghosts is told from a mysterious character's point of view, nicknamed Opie, (third person omniscient) who just may be a dog, a ghosts, or something supernatural. It gives the reader a great insiders view of the story, but at the same time it took me a little longer to connect with some of the characters, especially Rain, whom I ended up really liking.
“I’m never going to do anything. I’ll never go anywhere.”
Rain is the type of girl who seeks adventure. She's not afraid of much, and you could easily picture her off fighting pirates or digging up treasure. Her worst fear is never being able to experience "real" adventure, to be stuck on her touristy island and never being able to travel. Once I got to know Rain's character, I really enjoyed her sense of adventure, independence and spirited personality. Her unflinching ability to accept the unknown and her zest for life. To see her character go from complaining of no adventure to being thrust into a world of ghosts, mystery and danger was really entertaining.
Sebastian Bohique, Rain's grandfather and a former World War II fighter pilot, has special bond with Rain and calls her his "Raindrop." He sees something special in his granddaughter, and admires her tenacity and sense of adventure. What I enjoyed most of all was the sense of connection and love he shared with Rain, and the thrilling role he plays in the larger aspect of the mystery.
Charlie Dauphin is Rain's best friend and sidekick in all her adventures. He's sweet, trusting, and a loyal friend to Rain. When others begin to worry about her seeing ghosts, he simply trust that she is telling the truth. There's a lot of funny moments in the story when Charlie attempts to talk to or see Rain's ghosts, often with hilarious results.
THE ROMANCE
There really isn’t a romance in Rain of the Ghosts, but Charlie does have has a sweet crush on Rain that I thought was really cute, and helped lighten up some of the suspense. What’s more important is the wonderful bond between Rain and her grandfather, and her friendship with Charlie.
WHAT I LIKED
I loved the whole mystery behind the armband and the magical factor it plays in the story. When I first picked up the book I was hoping for buried treasure, pirates, ghosts and curses. I was totally surprised and excited when the story went a bit of a different direction. I got my wish, but the author takes the story a step further with endless possibilities with the Zemi armband and the magic it holds.
WHAT I HAD A HARD TIME WITH
Rain of the Ghosts is a fairly short book, about 240 pages. After getting use to the third person (mysterious) point of view, and the mystery was really starting to unfold, it ended. I’m greedy, it had a great ending that I loved, but I wanted more.
RATING: 4 Stars. I really liked it.
RECOMMENDED
Rain of the Ghosts has great Young Adult appeal with it's intriguing mystery, two adventurous teens, tropical island setting, and a magic that is only now just being explored. I cannot wait to see where the author goes with the Rain of the Ghosts series.
PLEASE NOTE
A courtesy review copy of this book was provided by St. Martin's Griffin via NetGalley in exchange for my fair review. Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for the review opportunity!
July 24, 2020
This was really good. I may be biased because I like Weisman so much, and I thought a lot about my niece during the book. I also listened to the audio play version which really allowed the book to shine. While Weisman's narration wasn't fantastic, all the actors, music, and mixing were phenomenal! I think the only thing that dropped it down a star for me was how short the book was. There are a bunch of points where the book seemed rushed, that I would have liked to have seen more flesh on the bones, though I know it was written that was for the target audience. Still, really enjoyed it!
June 22, 2019
Okay, for younger audience. The full cast audio version was nice.
January 7, 2021
I just finished this myself and am gonna read it with my wee man too. I reckon he'll really enjoy it, especially when the ghosts come in and dealing with Callahan ;)
November 25, 2013
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS is an interesting and captivating paranormal tale about one girl's discovery that she can see ghosts and the mission she undergoes to help them leave this world.
This book is told from the third person omniscient point view with a mysterious all-knowing narrator telling the story of Rain. I thought this was a great choice because it let you into everyone's head to see how they reacted to certain situations. The narrator is named Opie--we find out later--but I wasn't exactly sure what Opie was. I couldn't tell if it was a ghost, human, dog, girl, boy? It wasn't the focus of the story so was never made 100% sure. We just know that this Opie knows everything about the present and has a mission to get Rain to discover who she is and what she can do. Rain lives on one of the Prospero Keys, aka the Ghost Keys to the locals. She helps run her parents inn where her grandfather lives, as well. One night he gives her a mysterious bracelet that seems to glow whenever Rain wears it. Little does she know, this bracelet lets her into the other realm and allows her to see, and hear, ghosts.
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS is an upper MG novel that has lots of YA appeal. Rain is 13 but acts wise beyond her years. She's not afraid to wander around by herself at night, she takes matters into her own hands, and she's not afraid to follow a scary adult male who knows way more than she does. I thought she was a very enjoyable character and I loved her tenacity. When she set her mind to something, she was going to do it, despite how internally scared she was. Rain's best friend Charlie was a great addition to the story. He, unlike Rain, can't see ghosts. He spends most of the time hearing Rain's one-sided conversation speaking to the wind. He never knows exactly what is going on but he's such a loyal friend that he went right along with Rain and her crazy plans. I loved that about him! He was extremely trusting and never once bailed because he thought Rain was psychotic for believing she can communicate with ghosts.
The plot was a bit slow at the beginning. We get to see Rain in her natural element: fleeing from tourists, hanging out with her best friend, and moseying around the inn. I liked getting to see into her life but it's not why I picked up this book. The plot significantly picked up around page 90 and I couldn't have been happier. We finally get to see what this bracelet was capable of, what the ghosts wanted, and what Rain was going to do about it. Rain and Charlie finally starting asking questions and were determined to get answers, even if that meant getting themselves in dangerous situations. I was just as curious as they were and was excited to get to discover the secrets with them.
This book ended all too fast. At only 205 pages, I wished it had lasted longer. Once the main action got started, I wanted to get more in depth with it. This had a nice and complete ending but I'm excited to see what happens in the next book. Rain discovers something that is only the beginning and I'm curious what she discovers in the next one. If you're looking for a light and adventurous read with an intriguing plot and paranormal activity, I would encourage you to give RAIN OF THE GHOSTS a chance!
I received a finished copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This review can be found at: The Bookish Daydreamer
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS is an interesting and captivating paranormal tale about one girl's discovery that she can see ghosts and the mission she undergoes to help them leave this world.
This book is told from the third person omniscient point view with a mysterious all-knowing narrator telling the story of Rain. I thought this was a great choice because it let you into everyone's head to see how they reacted to certain situations. The narrator is named Opie--we find out later--but I wasn't exactly sure what Opie was. I couldn't tell if it was a ghost, human, dog, girl, boy? It wasn't the focus of the story so was never made 100% sure. We just know that this Opie knows everything about the present and has a mission to get Rain to discover who she is and what she can do. Rain lives on one of the Prospero Keys, aka the Ghost Keys to the locals. She helps run her parents inn where her grandfather lives, as well. One night he gives her a mysterious bracelet that seems to glow whenever Rain wears it. Little does she know, this bracelet lets her into the other realm and allows her to see, and hear, ghosts.
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS is an upper MG novel that has lots of YA appeal. Rain is 13 but acts wise beyond her years. She's not afraid to wander around by herself at night, she takes matters into her own hands, and she's not afraid to follow a scary adult male who knows way more than she does. I thought she was a very enjoyable character and I loved her tenacity. When she set her mind to something, she was going to do it, despite how internally scared she was. Rain's best friend Charlie was a great addition to the story. He, unlike Rain, can't see ghosts. He spends most of the time hearing Rain's one-sided conversation speaking to the wind. He never knows exactly what is going on but he's such a loyal friend that he went right along with Rain and her crazy plans. I loved that about him! He was extremely trusting and never once bailed because he thought Rain was psychotic for believing she can communicate with ghosts.
The plot was a bit slow at the beginning. We get to see Rain in her natural element: fleeing from tourists, hanging out with her best friend, and moseying around the inn. I liked getting to see into her life but it's not why I picked up this book. The plot significantly picked up around page 90 and I couldn't have been happier. We finally get to see what this bracelet was capable of, what the ghosts wanted, and what Rain was going to do about it. Rain and Charlie finally starting asking questions and were determined to get answers, even if that meant getting themselves in dangerous situations. I was just as curious as they were and was excited to get to discover the secrets with them.
This book ended all too fast. At only 205 pages, I wished it had lasted longer. Once the main action got started, I wanted to get more in depth with it. This had a nice and complete ending but I'm excited to see what happens in the next book. Rain discovers something that is only the beginning and I'm curious what she discovers in the next one. If you're looking for a light and adventurous read with an intriguing plot and paranormal activity, I would encourage you to give RAIN OF THE GHOSTS a chance!
I received a finished copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This review can be found at: The Bookish Daydreamer
December 18, 2014
this review will go live on the blog 12/03
Thirteen-year-old Rain Cacique and her parents live on a series of islands in the Bermuda Triangle known as the Prospero Keys, the Ghost Keys to the locals. The height of tourist season is upon the Keys and the Caciques' home/inn is currently serving as a haven for some very odd guests - including the creepy Callahan. Rain's only escape is an area of the jungle dubbed the NTZ: No Tourist Zone. It is in the jungle that Rain and her friends find peace and quiet and, more importantly, no camera-snapping, flower shirt-wearing tourists.
Shortly before Rain's beloved grandfather dies, he gives her a special armband and Rain discovers it grants her the ability to see ghosts and spirits. In an attempt to put her grandfather's soul to rest, Rain aids his spirit in one final mission - but it soon becomes clear that Rain isn't the only one who knows about the armband's power.
Rain of the Ghosts is a tiny morsel of a novel, barely clocking in at 200 pages. In those pages, however, is a thoroughly engrossing and enchanting tale. The story is seen through the eyes of Opie, Rain's ever-present guardian. To be honest, I'm still not entirely sure just what Opie was - at times I thought both he and Maq (his partner and sidekick of sorts) were spirits or humans. Toward the end of the novel I got the impression they were dogs, yet there were scenes where Maq speaks with people. In the end I reached the conclusion that, in a novel like Rain of the Ghosts, it makes sense that it doesn't make sense. That said, I'm hoping the sequel will provide some answers!
While Opie is the story's narrator, he sees all and knows all, providing some wonderful insight into what the characters are feeling and thinking. It also sets up a potential romance quite nicely - or a possible heartbreak. Rain's best friend Charlie has been harboring a long-time crush while Rain is totally oblivious. Rain of the Ghosts was romance-free, and I'm looking forward to what lies in store for these two.
The magical element was superb and one I think many readers will enjoy. There was that fantasy side without being overtly paranormal and it worked. Rain is the only person able to see and communicate with these spirits, which makes things wildly entertaining in the scenes where Charlie attempts to help out. 'Bastian, Rain's grandfather, was a pilot in WWII and carried the weight of regret with him his entire life. He led his men through multiple battles only to be the only survivor of a horrific accident back home. He can't rest until he makes amends and Rain is the key.
The novel ends by opening the doors to a mystery: why is Rain's armband so special? Why are other people looking for it? Why are there eight more? Rain of the Ghosts is chock-full of genres: it's one part paranormal, one part mystery, a dash of coming-of-age and I had a wonderful time reading it. The setting was great, the characters were fantastic. The writing was a bit on the simple side - think more Middle Grade than Young Adult - but its fast pace and short chapters made Rain of the Ghosts a delightful one-sitting read. Its sequel, Spirits of Ash and Foam comes out in May and I'm eager to jump back into the Ghost Keys and find out what happens next!
Thirteen-year-old Rain Cacique and her parents live on a series of islands in the Bermuda Triangle known as the Prospero Keys, the Ghost Keys to the locals. The height of tourist season is upon the Keys and the Caciques' home/inn is currently serving as a haven for some very odd guests - including the creepy Callahan. Rain's only escape is an area of the jungle dubbed the NTZ: No Tourist Zone. It is in the jungle that Rain and her friends find peace and quiet and, more importantly, no camera-snapping, flower shirt-wearing tourists.
Shortly before Rain's beloved grandfather dies, he gives her a special armband and Rain discovers it grants her the ability to see ghosts and spirits. In an attempt to put her grandfather's soul to rest, Rain aids his spirit in one final mission - but it soon becomes clear that Rain isn't the only one who knows about the armband's power.
Rain of the Ghosts is a tiny morsel of a novel, barely clocking in at 200 pages. In those pages, however, is a thoroughly engrossing and enchanting tale. The story is seen through the eyes of Opie, Rain's ever-present guardian. To be honest, I'm still not entirely sure just what Opie was - at times I thought both he and Maq (his partner and sidekick of sorts) were spirits or humans. Toward the end of the novel I got the impression they were dogs, yet there were scenes where Maq speaks with people. In the end I reached the conclusion that, in a novel like Rain of the Ghosts, it makes sense that it doesn't make sense. That said, I'm hoping the sequel will provide some answers!
While Opie is the story's narrator, he sees all and knows all, providing some wonderful insight into what the characters are feeling and thinking. It also sets up a potential romance quite nicely - or a possible heartbreak. Rain's best friend Charlie has been harboring a long-time crush while Rain is totally oblivious. Rain of the Ghosts was romance-free, and I'm looking forward to what lies in store for these two.
The magical element was superb and one I think many readers will enjoy. There was that fantasy side without being overtly paranormal and it worked. Rain is the only person able to see and communicate with these spirits, which makes things wildly entertaining in the scenes where Charlie attempts to help out. 'Bastian, Rain's grandfather, was a pilot in WWII and carried the weight of regret with him his entire life. He led his men through multiple battles only to be the only survivor of a horrific accident back home. He can't rest until he makes amends and Rain is the key.
The novel ends by opening the doors to a mystery: why is Rain's armband so special? Why are other people looking for it? Why are there eight more? Rain of the Ghosts is chock-full of genres: it's one part paranormal, one part mystery, a dash of coming-of-age and I had a wonderful time reading it. The setting was great, the characters were fantastic. The writing was a bit on the simple side - think more Middle Grade than Young Adult - but its fast pace and short chapters made Rain of the Ghosts a delightful one-sitting read. Its sequel, Spirits of Ash and Foam comes out in May and I'm eager to jump back into the Ghost Keys and find out what happens next!
September 2, 2016
A sarcastic teenage girl--that's original. (Deliberate irony--don't laugh at me.) Rain hits all the clichés: She feels trapped and worries that her life isn't going to go anywhere, she thinks school starting is the end of the world, she back-talks to her parents but not enough to be a Really Bad Kid, she has a lifelong friend who's a boy and who has found to his astonishment that he has developed Feelings for her. All things considered, she was an okay/mediocre heroine with some growing up to do both literally and as a character.
The narration is very dry. I know the target audience is about 7-12, but in any novel, I like to see a little color in the vocabulary. This was written in the kind of style someone without too much imagination would speak--full of sentence fragments and empty, non-descriptive words. At one point, Rain is described as "having a stiff-upper-lip thing going on." That wasn't something a character said in dialogue; it was in the narration. If I want to hear about a "thing" someone "has going on" I'll listen to tweens talking to each other. Also, the narration doesn't follow any rules. The first-person narrator presumably is telling the whole story, but he isn't there for most of it, so the omniscient author wantonly flits in and out of anyone's mind. Anarchy. It's implied that the
The story is neither compelling nor believable. The events of the plot are exciting in that OMG-we're-flying-in-a-plane-piloted-by-freaking-zombies-this-is-the-best-day-ever kind of way, but the narration and corny dialogue rather kill it. I feel like a terrible person because I liked the part where the kids were underwater because they could not talk. Besides, the Treasure Hunt Formula doesn't even try to be anything other than it is. Words literally appear on the wall saying Find the other eight items over the course of eight books. Rain and Charlie never find out why (or even ask why) they need to collect all these things or what it all has to do with the dead WWII pilots. I didn't buy their having to wait all those years to "complete their mission." I guess that goes along with ghost mythology (unfinished business), but it doesn't work as a device.
No one messes with Callahan! This made me snort out loud. Jill does not like villains who speak in the third person. On the topic of the villain:
I wanted to like this so much! I know Greg Weisman is capable of telling stories like tapestries that penetrate you to your very soul. This was not that. Maybe you need to write an adult novel. Seriously, cut completely loose and write a sweeping fantasy epic--the kind that takes a chapter-long digression to tell the backstory of a minor character. I'll wait as long as it takes.
The narration is very dry. I know the target audience is about 7-12, but in any novel, I like to see a little color in the vocabulary. This was written in the kind of style someone without too much imagination would speak--full of sentence fragments and empty, non-descriptive words. At one point, Rain is described as "having a stiff-upper-lip thing going on." That wasn't something a character said in dialogue; it was in the narration. If I want to hear about a "thing" someone "has going on" I'll listen to tweens talking to each other. Also, the narration doesn't follow any rules. The first-person narrator presumably is telling the whole story, but he isn't there for most of it, so the omniscient author wantonly flits in and out of anyone's mind. Anarchy. It's implied that the
The story is neither compelling nor believable. The events of the plot are exciting in that OMG-we're-flying-in-a-plane-piloted-by-freaking-zombies-this-is-the-best-day-ever kind of way, but the narration and corny dialogue rather kill it. I feel like a terrible person because I liked the part where the kids were underwater because they could not talk. Besides, the Treasure Hunt Formula doesn't even try to be anything other than it is. Words literally appear on the wall saying Find the other eight items over the course of eight books. Rain and Charlie never find out why (or even ask why) they need to collect all these things or what it all has to do with the dead WWII pilots. I didn't buy their having to wait all those years to "complete their mission." I guess that goes along with ghost mythology (unfinished business), but it doesn't work as a device.
No one messes with Callahan! This made me snort out loud. Jill does not like villains who speak in the third person. On the topic of the villain:
I wanted to like this so much! I know Greg Weisman is capable of telling stories like tapestries that penetrate you to your very soul. This was not that. Maybe you need to write an adult novel. Seriously, cut completely loose and write a sweeping fantasy epic--the kind that takes a chapter-long digression to tell the backstory of a minor character. I'll wait as long as it takes.
November 24, 2013
Welcome to the Prospero Keys (or as the locals call them: the Ghost Keys), a beautiful chain of tropical islands on the edge of the Bermuda Triangle. Rain Cacique is water-skiing with her two best friends Charlie and Miranda when Rain sees her father waiting for her at the dock. Sebastian Bohique, her maternal grandfather, has passed away. He was the only person who ever made Rain feel special. The only one who believed she could do something important with her life. The only thing she has left to remember him by is the armband he used to wear: two gold snakes intertwined, clasping each other’s tails in their mouths. Only the armband . . . and the gift it brings: Rain can see dead people. Starting with the Dark Man: a ghost determined to reveal the Ghost Keys’ hidden world of mystery and mysticism, intrigue and adventure.
Rain of the Ghosts gripped me from the first page itself. Firstly, the narrator wasn't clear - the events were described by a character but seemed to shift perspectives. It wasn't until the middle of the book when the narrator was made clear, and that itself was such a great surprise. The book opens with Rain and her best friend Charlie being pursued and the way it was described and the way it turned out to be - if is an awesome twist. The beginning of the story seems so normal, and then the paranormal elements blend in. Events unfold and Rain starts to see ghosts, including one familiar one. The ghosts are tied to her and she is supposed to help move on. But the best part was the climax - it really opened up the world to even more adventure. I can't give out any spoilers but I loved the development and what it means for future books and whether it has anything to do with mythology.
As the book is fairly short (125 pages in the ARC), the pacing is brisk and the writing supplements this very well, without sacrificing on detailing. The characters subtly are revealed to have so much more going on behind and each seems to have a mystery, even those who are just mentioned in passing. I was constantly questioning why the character had the particular reaction and did Rain's dreams mean much more than just dreams. As I said before, the book has interesting and well-timed twists, and really unexpected reveals. Also, with the whole nearly isolated island atmosphere, you have the New Orleans like feel to the book. A really good read!
Received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Rain of the Ghosts gripped me from the first page itself. Firstly, the narrator wasn't clear - the events were described by a character but seemed to shift perspectives. It wasn't until the middle of the book when the narrator was made clear, and that itself was such a great surprise. The book opens with Rain and her best friend Charlie being pursued and the way it was described and the way it turned out to be - if is an awesome twist. The beginning of the story seems so normal, and then the paranormal elements blend in. Events unfold and Rain starts to see ghosts, including one familiar one. The ghosts are tied to her and she is supposed to help move on. But the best part was the climax - it really opened up the world to even more adventure. I can't give out any spoilers but I loved the development and what it means for future books and whether it has anything to do with mythology.
As the book is fairly short (125 pages in the ARC), the pacing is brisk and the writing supplements this very well, without sacrificing on detailing. The characters subtly are revealed to have so much more going on behind and each seems to have a mystery, even those who are just mentioned in passing. I was constantly questioning why the character had the particular reaction and did Rain's dreams mean much more than just dreams. As I said before, the book has interesting and well-timed twists, and really unexpected reveals. Also, with the whole nearly isolated island atmosphere, you have the New Orleans like feel to the book. A really good read!
Received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
September 13, 2015
I‘m about as big a Greg Weisman’s fan as they come. “Spectacular Spider-Man” was by far the best adaptation of Spider-Man in any non-comics medium and “Young Justice” showcased his talents at writing young people and expertly weaving together long form narratives with a large cast.
And then there’s:
So yeah, Weisman has earned a lifetime pass from me and is a certified “best dude.”
To say I was excited for “Rain of the Ghosts” was an understatement, and to say I was left disappointed a sad truth.
The story is about a young woman, Rain Cacique, a young woman who lives on an island right off the Bermuda Triangle. Rain is particularly close to her grandfather and is devastated when, early in the novel, he passes away. With his passing, Rain inherits his armbands, armbands that give her the mystical properties to see ghosts.
It’s an interesting premise, but ultimately the book is brought down by two things. First is underdeveloped characters – we don’t know much about anyone else who inhabits these islands other than names and maybe a token trait or two. The world feels very barren, and without the budgetary constraints of a TV series, there’s no reason for this.
But even more perplexing is the narrative voice. For most of the book, it felt like it was told from the third person omniscient, but at parts, it seemed like it was told from varying narrators. The end makes it a little clearer but… I don’t know. I think coming into this after reading “The Book Thief,” which is a book with a fascinatingly unique narrative, made this one all the more frustrating.
Of course, it probably feels like I’m being too harsh on this one, especially in comparison to the rating I gave it, but that’s only because I’ve come to expect a certain quality from years of 5 Star Weisman work. Rain herself is a likable character and the overall premise interesting. Hopefully the issues is do have with this volume are ironed out in the upcoming sequel.
kit: Twitter | Tumblr
And then there’s:
So yeah, Weisman has earned a lifetime pass from me and is a certified “best dude.”
To say I was excited for “Rain of the Ghosts” was an understatement, and to say I was left disappointed a sad truth.
The story is about a young woman, Rain Cacique, a young woman who lives on an island right off the Bermuda Triangle. Rain is particularly close to her grandfather and is devastated when, early in the novel, he passes away. With his passing, Rain inherits his armbands, armbands that give her the mystical properties to see ghosts.
It’s an interesting premise, but ultimately the book is brought down by two things. First is underdeveloped characters – we don’t know much about anyone else who inhabits these islands other than names and maybe a token trait or two. The world feels very barren, and without the budgetary constraints of a TV series, there’s no reason for this.
But even more perplexing is the narrative voice. For most of the book, it felt like it was told from the third person omniscient, but at parts, it seemed like it was told from varying narrators. The end makes it a little clearer but… I don’t know. I think coming into this after reading “The Book Thief,” which is a book with a fascinatingly unique narrative, made this one all the more frustrating.
Of course, it probably feels like I’m being too harsh on this one, especially in comparison to the rating I gave it, but that’s only because I’ve come to expect a certain quality from years of 5 Star Weisman work. Rain herself is a likable character and the overall premise interesting. Hopefully the issues is do have with this volume are ironed out in the upcoming sequel.
kit: Twitter | Tumblr
April 14, 2014
This review and others can be found on Cozy Up With A Good Read
I had a few issues with this story, I can say I was intrigued by the cover and the synopsis but I felt that this story did not completely live up to expectations. I really was taken with the idea that Rain is able to ghosts, and that there is a mystery lurking in the island. I am usually intrigued by ghost stories, and there were times where the book had me interested and wanting to understand more of what was happening, but I think it fell short by the end.
I felt that the characters came off younger than I was expecting them to, and it made the story difficult at times. Rain also seemed to have an attitude that did not sit well with me through this story, the way she acted was like she was better than her friends and it got on my nerves. Her friend Charlie had a weird way about him as well, and I think these characters were not fleshed out enough. In a way, I loved how devoted Charlie was to helping Rain with anything, but at the same time it seemed like that made him very open to being taken advantage of...
The biggest issue I had with this book though was the narration aspect, it is told from the perspective of a completely different character, and it felt disjointed and confusing a lot of the time. It's not defined how this other character knows everything that is going on, or even who this character actually is (until near the end, and even then I was still confused). Then other times I felt that the narration did jump to the view of Charlie or Rain... it just seemed a bit all over the place.
I do think this book is geared towards a younger audience, and I think the series will be interesting as it continues on. There were parts that were intriguing and that will keep some readers coming back to understand more about the mystery behind this island. In the end, the book was too short and things happened to quickly for me to get into the series.
I had a few issues with this story, I can say I was intrigued by the cover and the synopsis but I felt that this story did not completely live up to expectations. I really was taken with the idea that Rain is able to ghosts, and that there is a mystery lurking in the island. I am usually intrigued by ghost stories, and there were times where the book had me interested and wanting to understand more of what was happening, but I think it fell short by the end.
I felt that the characters came off younger than I was expecting them to, and it made the story difficult at times. Rain also seemed to have an attitude that did not sit well with me through this story, the way she acted was like she was better than her friends and it got on my nerves. Her friend Charlie had a weird way about him as well, and I think these characters were not fleshed out enough. In a way, I loved how devoted Charlie was to helping Rain with anything, but at the same time it seemed like that made him very open to being taken advantage of...
The biggest issue I had with this book though was the narration aspect, it is told from the perspective of a completely different character, and it felt disjointed and confusing a lot of the time. It's not defined how this other character knows everything that is going on, or even who this character actually is (until near the end, and even then I was still confused). Then other times I felt that the narration did jump to the view of Charlie or Rain... it just seemed a bit all over the place.
I do think this book is geared towards a younger audience, and I think the series will be interesting as it continues on. There were parts that were intriguing and that will keep some readers coming back to understand more about the mystery behind this island. In the end, the book was too short and things happened to quickly for me to get into the series.
January 7, 2015
Reading this book, I was immediately frustrated by the quality of the writing. It was as though I was reading a children's book (and I have no problems with children's books), yet this book was geared toward young adults. As a teenager, I fit into this category. I did not appreciate the writing. The author overly simplified the writing in such a way that I felt belittled and--though it was most likely unintentional--an air of condescension.
If you are writing with a specific audience in mind, do not offend them in the process. This is a tip that it seems many "young adult" writers have never heard before.
Commas were misused. Ellipses were misused in such a way that, apparently, everyone paused or trailed off far too frequently. There were sentence fragments all over and several run-on sentences.
The narration was a disaster. I have a feeling thy the first-person, omniscient narrator will actually play a part in later books, but he played absolutely no part in this book, so much so that it could have been a third-person narrative for most chapters as he was not even there when the events occurred (because omniscience, you see). It was just bad.
The plat was also awful. It jumped around all over the place, and there was no consistent trail to follow. There are many different plots that fragment the story, which makes it seem even more like a children's books--but a particularly bad one.
As it says about Rain's best friend near the end, "He wasn't sure what they were supposed to do here."
Honestly, I was not sure either. There was no reasoning behind any of it.
The characters, though not necessarily stereotypical--were cardboard. They we're float and had no motives. There was nothing about them that made them good characters.
If, despite this review, you still wish to read this book (the cover is rather attractive) and you know me, borrow it. Do not waste your money or the library's money on this boon.
If you are writing with a specific audience in mind, do not offend them in the process. This is a tip that it seems many "young adult" writers have never heard before.
Commas were misused. Ellipses were misused in such a way that, apparently, everyone paused or trailed off far too frequently. There were sentence fragments all over and several run-on sentences.
The narration was a disaster. I have a feeling thy the first-person, omniscient narrator will actually play a part in later books, but he played absolutely no part in this book, so much so that it could have been a third-person narrative for most chapters as he was not even there when the events occurred (because omniscience, you see). It was just bad.
The plat was also awful. It jumped around all over the place, and there was no consistent trail to follow. There are many different plots that fragment the story, which makes it seem even more like a children's books--but a particularly bad one.
As it says about Rain's best friend near the end, "He wasn't sure what they were supposed to do here."
Honestly, I was not sure either. There was no reasoning behind any of it.
The characters, though not necessarily stereotypical--were cardboard. They we're float and had no motives. There was nothing about them that made them good characters.
If, despite this review, you still wish to read this book (the cover is rather attractive) and you know me, borrow it. Do not waste your money or the library's money on this boon.
December 1, 2013
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I had a big crush on the cover when I saw it, it was impossible for me not to read this new novel. Secondly there is the synopsis: ghosts, a good plot and a mystery to solve.
Rain is a girl who lives in an idyllic spot near the Bermuda triangle with her friends Charlie and Miranda. But overnight, her grandfather dies, leaving her and her family destroyed, given the closeness they had. But before dying he gives Rain a brassard, something kept in the family. And since she has it, something very strange happens to her: it looks like she can see ghosts when no one else can. But when a strange man comes to their island, she knows something isn’t right with him, and our heroine is determined to understand what is happening, or even learn the past of her grandfather to learn the truth.
I thought it was quite intriguing to find out what was happening and to follow Rain and Charlie. I wondered where the author was going to lead us more than once and I must admit that even at the end of story I found that some items were not developed enough. It is quite interesting to understand what was going on and I was curious to see what the newcomer really wanted from her, but I confess that I had a hard time getting attached to the characters. And so it was a bit difficult for me to be really interested in the end about all that was happening. However, we can read the novel fairly quickly since it is not very long. But I think wasn’t for me.
I think I expected too much from the story with such a cover and I was a little disappointed but I’m sure the story will appeal to others.
My English review
I had a big crush on the cover when I saw it, it was impossible for me not to read this new novel. Secondly there is the synopsis: ghosts, a good plot and a mystery to solve.
Rain is a girl who lives in an idyllic spot near the Bermuda triangle with her friends Charlie and Miranda. But overnight, her grandfather dies, leaving her and her family destroyed, given the closeness they had. But before dying he gives Rain a brassard, something kept in the family. And since she has it, something very strange happens to her: it looks like she can see ghosts when no one else can. But when a strange man comes to their island, she knows something isn’t right with him, and our heroine is determined to understand what is happening, or even learn the past of her grandfather to learn the truth.
I thought it was quite intriguing to find out what was happening and to follow Rain and Charlie. I wondered where the author was going to lead us more than once and I must admit that even at the end of story I found that some items were not developed enough. It is quite interesting to understand what was going on and I was curious to see what the newcomer really wanted from her, but I confess that I had a hard time getting attached to the characters. And so it was a bit difficult for me to be really interested in the end about all that was happening. However, we can read the novel fairly quickly since it is not very long. But I think wasn’t for me.
I think I expected too much from the story with such a cover and I was a little disappointed but I’m sure the story will appeal to others.
May 9, 2014
Seeing the recently departed is not always a joyous occasion, even when you live on an Island named after the dead. Those that have passed on are meant to move on to another plane of existence, where they can choose another life path to follow. They are not meant to linger, but instead move up to embrace the next level of life. This book is about a girl named Rain that lives on an Island called Prospero Keys or Ghost Keys by the locals. It is here that an undiscovered World War II tragedy occurred. Rain is a young teenage girl that is very close to her grandfather, who is a WWII veteran. During the summer her grandfather dies suddenly. Before his death he gives her a bracelet that has been handed down in the family for many generations. Once worn Rain begins to see the ghosts of WWII soldiers. How is it that these soldiers are coming to haunt Rain and why are they asking her for help? How is it that the bracelet that her grandfather gave her is magical? What is the secret that her grandfather has kept for over 40 years?
This book was an interesting read. My grandfather was also in WWII so I could relate to the story. I enjoyed the plot of the story and how the author gave a little history with his book. It is not every day that an author has young adult female character in a B-17 bomber. I thought that was a hoot! The whole book was very new and refreshing for me. I honestly can say that I have never read another book like this one in the young adult section. I strongly recommend this for all readers. I don’t see why it has to be limited to just young adults. I honestly think anyone can enjoy a book like this. Great job author.
This book was an interesting read. My grandfather was also in WWII so I could relate to the story. I enjoyed the plot of the story and how the author gave a little history with his book. It is not every day that an author has young adult female character in a B-17 bomber. I thought that was a hoot! The whole book was very new and refreshing for me. I honestly can say that I have never read another book like this one in the young adult section. I strongly recommend this for all readers. I don’t see why it has to be limited to just young adults. I honestly think anyone can enjoy a book like this. Great job author.
April 22, 2015
I'm going to give this four stars because although it's kind of confusing, I loved that the pace picks up and it's a quick read. It's obvious that we only got a small piece of the puzzle with this book, and I wish that we'd been given a little more answers a little earlier on--it was all so abrupt in the end it was hard keeping up with the new information.
That being said, it was a fun ride. If I look at just the story featured in the pages, and not the continual story, it's a fun plot with a great original story. Skeletons flying a plane!? Who wouldn't like that!? There was magical elements without being over the top about it, and I could appreciate the bits we did see. I particularly loved Hurricane Julia, and I will admit I'd like to learn more about her story. I had this extremely vivid vision in my mind of her.
I really loved Rain and Charlie. Rain is the epitome of teen angst in a thirteen-year-old--old enough to have all the attitude but not old enough for the maturity. I thought I was all mature at thirteen--I know now that was not the case. And Rain is a good example of that as well, a pretty darn accurate representation of it. I loved Charlie's acceptance of her and all her weird shenanigans. I also loved that we had a dark-skinned female and male lead, fancy that! It was accurate to what I remember at least about that age.
Plus: ghosts! Ghosts are always fun. Always.
(I received this in a First Reads giveaway.)
That being said, it was a fun ride. If I look at just the story featured in the pages, and not the continual story, it's a fun plot with a great original story. Skeletons flying a plane!? Who wouldn't like that!? There was magical elements without being over the top about it, and I could appreciate the bits we did see. I particularly loved Hurricane Julia, and I will admit I'd like to learn more about her story. I had this extremely vivid vision in my mind of her.
I really loved Rain and Charlie. Rain is the epitome of teen angst in a thirteen-year-old--old enough to have all the attitude but not old enough for the maturity. I thought I was all mature at thirteen--I know now that was not the case. And Rain is a good example of that as well, a pretty darn accurate representation of it. I loved Charlie's acceptance of her and all her weird shenanigans. I also loved that we had a dark-skinned female and male lead, fancy that! It was accurate to what I remember at least about that age.
Plus: ghosts! Ghosts are always fun. Always.
(I received this in a First Reads giveaway.)
April 6, 2014
Hold the phone: you're telling me that Greg Weisman - the guy who created Gargoyles and Young Justice - wrote a book? A *series* of books even?
NO TIME FOR QUESTIONS JUST GET IN THE CAR!!
OK, so having actually *read* the book in question... well it wasn't for me. It's an interesting book with a good premise - a young girl living in the Prospero Keys (locally known as the Ghost Keys) is given the ability to see and interact with ghosts after her grandfather gives her a gold bracelet that later proves to be a Taino fetish called a Zemi. Over the course of this (surprisingly short) book, Rain and her best friend Charles try to sort out the mystery of why she can suddenly see ghosts and just what is the mysterious "mission" they keep asking her to finish for them. Throw in a few hints that are going to set up the rest of the series aaaaand scene.
It's a bit of a confusing read at times. The book is narrated in first person omniscient, leaping from character viewpoint to character viewpoint without warning - sometimes in the same *paragraph* nevermind within the same chapter or even page - and the narrator is only peripheral to the story. The book itself is all set up and very little resolution and as a result features far more questions than actual answers.
Now for all it's flaws, it's well written and engaging. But it feels very YA - almost self-consciously so with certain characters - and just... yeah. Not really for me.
NO TIME FOR QUESTIONS JUST GET IN THE CAR!!
OK, so having actually *read* the book in question... well it wasn't for me. It's an interesting book with a good premise - a young girl living in the Prospero Keys (locally known as the Ghost Keys) is given the ability to see and interact with ghosts after her grandfather gives her a gold bracelet that later proves to be a Taino fetish called a Zemi. Over the course of this (surprisingly short) book, Rain and her best friend Charles try to sort out the mystery of why she can suddenly see ghosts and just what is the mysterious "mission" they keep asking her to finish for them. Throw in a few hints that are going to set up the rest of the series aaaaand scene.
It's a bit of a confusing read at times. The book is narrated in first person omniscient, leaping from character viewpoint to character viewpoint without warning - sometimes in the same *paragraph* nevermind within the same chapter or even page - and the narrator is only peripheral to the story. The book itself is all set up and very little resolution and as a result features far more questions than actual answers.
Now for all it's flaws, it's well written and engaging. But it feels very YA - almost self-consciously so with certain characters - and just... yeah. Not really for me.
May 13, 2021
Overall it was good, if it a bit odd. The whole thing is narrated by Opie, a , but most of the intrigue of that concept is lost because he barely comes into the story; for long stretches of time you can forget that this book isn't in third person.
The plot is also a bit weird. For the most part it's a basic ghost story: protagonist sees ghosts, finds out they died trying to do a thing, she helps them complete that thing, they move on. But then the end throws out I feel like Weisman didn't quite grok the novel format. Setup like that could work for the pilot episode of a TV show, but with a novel it comes off as disjointed, even if you know there are future books to set up.
(As a minor note, I felt like the ghostly goal was a bit contrived and lackluster. "Trying to sell war bonds when the war was basically over" doesn't seem like an important enough mission to be barred from the afterlife over.)
Anyway, those criticisms aside, it was a pretty good story. I'm writing this after finishing the sequel, which I really enjoyed, so I think this series is worth checking out.
The plot is also a bit weird. For the most part it's a basic ghost story: protagonist sees ghosts, finds out they died trying to do a thing, she helps them complete that thing, they move on. But then the end throws out I feel like Weisman didn't quite grok the novel format. Setup like that could work for the pilot episode of a TV show, but with a novel it comes off as disjointed, even if you know there are future books to set up.
(As a minor note, I felt like the ghostly goal was a bit contrived and lackluster. "Trying to sell war bonds when the war was basically over" doesn't seem like an important enough mission to be barred from the afterlife over.)
Anyway, those criticisms aside, it was a pretty good story. I'm writing this after finishing the sequel, which I really enjoyed, so I think this series is worth checking out.
July 18, 2017
Rain of Ghosts is a fantasy novel about a girl (Rain) who sees ghosts and sets out on an adventure in a group of islands called the Prospero Keys. The Prospers Keys are known to locals as the Ghost Keys. Rain receives a bracelet from her grandfather shortly before he dies.
I choose to read this book because I am a big fan of Gargoyles, and have also enjoyed other series by Greg Weisman, such as Spectacular Spider-Man and Young Justice.
This book reminds me of various adventure books that I had read as a kid. It involves a girl receiving an artifact that gives her powers. It also involves the artifact getting stolen and the quest to get it back. I enjoyed the ghost theme to the story. I also enjoyed the short chapters. I wish it was slightly longer though. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I choose to read this book because I am a big fan of Gargoyles, and have also enjoyed other series by Greg Weisman, such as Spectacular Spider-Man and Young Justice.
This book reminds me of various adventure books that I had read as a kid. It involves a girl receiving an artifact that gives her powers. It also involves the artifact getting stolen and the quest to get it back. I enjoyed the ghost theme to the story. I also enjoyed the short chapters. I wish it was slightly longer though. I look forward to the next book in the series.
December 8, 2013
Y.A. supernatural story with strong female lead!
I decided to get this because the author, Greg Weisman, has been the creative force behind several really great cartoons (most especially: Gargoyles! He's already given me so many good stories I thought the least I could do was get his debut novel for my Kindle.
My verdict is: it's pretty good. There's not a lot to it--it's very much set up to be the first chapter in a series, so not only is it short, but it doesn't fully dive into much of what it's setting up. I like the characters; Rain herself can be a little much, but that seems to be on purpose.
I will say that the book gets an entire extra star because the major action setpiece is, to be frank, totally bitchin'. It would be pretty great for this book to be made into a movie just to get to see that sequence on screen.
I decided to get this because the author, Greg Weisman, has been the creative force behind several really great cartoons (most especially: Gargoyles! He's already given me so many good stories I thought the least I could do was get his debut novel for my Kindle.
My verdict is: it's pretty good. There's not a lot to it--it's very much set up to be the first chapter in a series, so not only is it short, but it doesn't fully dive into much of what it's setting up. I like the characters; Rain herself can be a little much, but that seems to be on purpose.
I will say that the book gets an entire extra star because the major action setpiece is, to be frank, totally bitchin'. It would be pretty great for this book to be made into a movie just to get to see that sequence on screen.
January 27, 2014
I have a feeling the story will evolve into something great. Greg Weisman is a master at thinking of creative plots and building up a great story. I have faith that this series will get really interesting further along it goes. This book felt more like the first couple chapters of a larger story. I wasn't a big fan of the narrator, it was kind of awful, but whatever. There was lack of development with many of the characters and the plot. It was his debut novel, with practice and support, I know he will develop a great series.
February 1, 2014
Rain of the Ghosts was probably a 4.5 star book. I say this because the book is in first person but they don't tell you from who's perspective until chapter four. That and near the end the book seemed to be picking up pace and trying to finish the story in a certain number of pages. other than those two things the book was amazing. The character Rain is very defined and seems like she could be a real person. All of the characters had their own personalities and that made them come to life within the pages. I can not wait to read the next book when it is published.
October 23, 2013
I was quite pleased with this book. There was some confusion over the main character's name (Rain) and the actual weather event several times, but it appeared to be the intent of the author. The story winds along nicely, not too fast or too slow. Even though this is the first of a series of books, it would've been fine to read alone. The plot resolved itself. I will watch for the rest of the series. Nice job, author! (Received a free copy)
December 7, 2013
Sometimes when I finish a book, I lean back, close my eyes and revel in the memories. After finishing RAIN OF THE GHOSTS, this wasn’t one of those times. Rather than revealing, I think I looked more like a dog after hearing a high-pitched whistle; the dog is trying to figure out what it heard, and I am trying to figure out what I read.
Read the rest here
Read the rest here
May 16, 2014
Rain of the Ghosts is an exciting YA story with some good characters. Our protagonist, Rain, and her friends feel a lot like I did when I was becoming a teenager, and they have an interesting adventure. There are ghosts, and a mystery to be solved, with surprises, danger, and more. As an adult reader, this is a pretty quick read, but you'll want to finish it anyway. Weisman builds up a neat world with some well-rounded characters, and we get set up for the rest of the series.
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