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The Necessity of Rain
Since the dawn of time, life has been comfortable and predictable. The gods have wrested pockets of Creation from Chaos, formed civilizations, and built entire realities. Now, the nature of Creation is changing and the Divine are losing their divinity.
Rosemary, daughter of the God of Creation, can no longer deny this when a strange delegation from Dawnland braves the paths through Chaos and survives. Come to negotiate trade and protection agreements with the Divine
of Meadowsweet, it is the butterfly woman who so captivates Rosemary. The weight of her sorrow, the heaviness of her secrets.
For the soul is a battleground. Clouds are massing along the horizon, and Rosemary...
She must survive the storm.
Rosemary, daughter of the God of Creation, can no longer deny this when a strange delegation from Dawnland braves the paths through Chaos and survives. Come to negotiate trade and protection agreements with the Divine
of Meadowsweet, it is the butterfly woman who so captivates Rosemary. The weight of her sorrow, the heaviness of her secrets.
For the soul is a battleground. Clouds are massing along the horizon, and Rosemary...
She must survive the storm.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2023
29 people are currently reading
1259 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Chorn
34 books502 followersSarah has been a compulsive reader her whole life. At a young age, she found her reading niche in the fantastic genre of Speculative Fiction. She blames her active imagination for the hobbies that threaten to consume her life. She is a freelance writer and editor, a semi-pro nature photographer, world traveler, three-time cancer survivor with hEDS, and mom to two. In her ideal world, she’d do nothing but drink lots of tea and read from a never-ending pile of speculative fiction books. She has been running the book review blog Bookworm Blues since 2010, editing full-time since 2016, and currently works freelance and as the staff editor for Grimdark Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
July 2, 2024
This is a difficult book to read, but wonderfully worth the journey.
If you've read anything by Sarah Chorn, you know that emotion is the river running through her stories. Even still, The Necessity of Rain was drowning in it. When I say this book was difficult to read, I mean that the three main characters *feel* so deeply, that at times I felt exhausted keeping up with their intense emotions. I didn't binge this book—I couldn't. I consumed it a little at a time and let its sorrow be my companion.
Like her other books, I expect this will not find mass appeal in the indie market—like I said, it's a difficult book, heavy and draining. And yet, it deserves to be read. Whether you've already experienced loss (either of those you love or of your own self) or whether it is on its way, this story will heal you.
If nothing else, I feel like a more empathetic person after finishing this book, and I can't think of a more beautiful outcome.
If you've read anything by Sarah Chorn, you know that emotion is the river running through her stories. Even still, The Necessity of Rain was drowning in it. When I say this book was difficult to read, I mean that the three main characters *feel* so deeply, that at times I felt exhausted keeping up with their intense emotions. I didn't binge this book—I couldn't. I consumed it a little at a time and let its sorrow be my companion.
Like her other books, I expect this will not find mass appeal in the indie market—like I said, it's a difficult book, heavy and draining. And yet, it deserves to be read. Whether you've already experienced loss (either of those you love or of your own self) or whether it is on its way, this story will heal you.
If nothing else, I feel like a more empathetic person after finishing this book, and I can't think of a more beautiful outcome.
October 15, 2023
This review was originally posted on Before We Go Blog
Every once in a while, you come across that rare book that just feels special, that completely transcends any other reading experience you have ever had. That was this book for me.
The Necessity of Rain wasn’t simply an astonishingly amazing read, but it was a book that I lived, breathed and experienced with every fibre of my being. It both broke me and healed me in ways I wasn’t expecting, and I will forever be grateful for that.
Chorn doesn’t follow the rules of traditional storytelling, but instead she is sowing seeds that slowly bloom into one breathtaking cohesive garden in the end. The non-linear storytelling might feel disorienting at times, but it fits this story and I promise you can trust the process. This story will go where it needs to go, and by the end you will be left awe-struck by the sheer beauty that is contained within these pages.
All you really need to know before going in is that this is, at its heart, a very raw and delicate story about three women who are all facing change, in all its devastating and beautiful forms. And as the title suggests, this book gently explores the storms that we need to weather in order to change and grow. Because how can we blossom without a little rain?
“Nothing ever ends, it just changes.”
Now, very often with these types of thematically rich stories, I can feel a bit detached from the characters because they feel like empty vessels to convey a message. But here, the opposite couldn’t be more true.
There are three main POV characters who we follow in both the ‘Then’ and the ‘Now’, which allows the reader to really get to know them intimately by showing their growth and development over a longer span of time. I truly appreciated that all of these characters are allowed to be messy, to be vulnerable, and to just be painfully and beautifully human. Queer characters, disabled characters, mentally broken characters, they are all here, and they are allowed to be (or become) their true authentic selves. And heck, even the non-human characters feel more realistic and have more emotional depth than the majority of all the other fictional characters I have come across, which makes this such a special and unbelievably relatable and memorable cast of characters.
““You are so silent, but your pain is loud,” the goddess whispers so softly I can barely hear it. “You can break now. No one is watching. It does not have to be beautiful.”
And so…
I do.”
Speaking of non-human characters, I absolutely loved Chorn’s depiction of gods here. If you like the gods-walking-among us trope, then you have come to the right place. The Divine are these awe-inspiring majestic beings, yet they are also imbued with so much human emotion and fiery passion which makes them fully come to life on the page. And what I maybe loved most about them here, is that their divinity and their Creations come at a cost, which they are fully willing to pay. We enter this world at a time when the Divine are starting to be faced with their mortality, and that leads to such a beautiful exploration on the meaning of life and the way we can live on through the things we leave behind.
No matter what your background is or what your life experiences are, I can guarantee you that this story will resonate with you on a deep emotional level, because Chorn has somehow captured the essence of what it means to be human.
This story truly hinges on the complicated and often painfully realistic interpersonal relationships between all these characters, be they platonic, familial, romantic, or something wholly unique in between all those things. It is not a romance story, but it is a story about love in all its devastating beauty. And because of the poignant writing, all the highly emotional interactions between the characters, both the joyful and the painful ones, become even more intense.
“I wanted to walk into the sea when you left... Not because I longed to drown, but because I finally wanted to be held by something that refused to let me go.”
Yet, for all that this story is so beautifully human, it’s somehow also utterly magical because of Chorn’s trademark imaginative and immersive worldbuilding. The world that she brings to life here is so breathtakingly gorgeous and I was simply entranced from the very first page.
Each Divine has Created their own authentic arbor, a little pocket world if you will, that rebelliously exists in a sea of Chaos. And to me, entering this world felt similar to travelling to a new country in the sense that you are just dropped into a new place that might feel slightly overwhelming, but which also fills you with childlike wonder.
I absolutely adored that there is a true sense of depth and wholeness to this world that made me feel like I could step into any one of these fantastical Creations and explore them in all their glory if I wanted. This world is so well-realised and Chorn really tickled my imagination in a way that very few authors can.
Speaking of prose… this level of wordsmithing is simply unbelievable. From reading Chorn’s earlier works, I already knew that her prose is just soul-stirringly gorgeous, but holy fuck did she outdo herself here.
The vivid imagery and beautiful metaphors create this ethereal, fever dream-like quality that so perfectly fits this utterly mesmerising story. Every single word is simultaneously a punch to the gut and a healing balm to your soul, which makes this already powerful story even more impactful.
I particularly loved that this isn’t just flowery writing for the sake of flowery writing, but there is actual meaningful flower symbolism woven into the narrative. And that symbolism beautifully highlights the rich themes of love, loss, grief, mortality, (self-) acceptance, hope, growth and change that lie at the heart of this story. How Chorn can capture so much nuance and emotion in a few words is just beyond me, and I will forever admire her for it.
"“Life is not all pain and loss, Isra. No storm lasts forever.” He captures my gaze and holds it warm in his own. “Someday, you will learn to breathe again.”"
Now, I could gush on and on about this story for hours, but I’d rather you just go discover this stunning story and world on your own.
These are the types of reading experiences that I am always on the hunt for, the ones that are tragic but filled with heart and hope, that take you on a wild emotional rollercoaster, and that make you feel like you are living the story yourself. It takes a lot for me to tear up over a book, but Chorn got me here, multiple times, and I absolutely love her for it.
I highly implore you to read this book, especially if you like intensely character-driven stories that are filled to the brim with emotional turmoil. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is one of the most imaginative, immersive, breathtaking, memorable and impactful stories I have ever read in the entire SFF genre. It’s without a doubt one of my new all-time favourites, and I already can’t wait to re-read it over, and over, and over again.
Thanks to the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Every once in a while, you come across that rare book that just feels special, that completely transcends any other reading experience you have ever had. That was this book for me.
The Necessity of Rain wasn’t simply an astonishingly amazing read, but it was a book that I lived, breathed and experienced with every fibre of my being. It both broke me and healed me in ways I wasn’t expecting, and I will forever be grateful for that.
Chorn doesn’t follow the rules of traditional storytelling, but instead she is sowing seeds that slowly bloom into one breathtaking cohesive garden in the end. The non-linear storytelling might feel disorienting at times, but it fits this story and I promise you can trust the process. This story will go where it needs to go, and by the end you will be left awe-struck by the sheer beauty that is contained within these pages.
All you really need to know before going in is that this is, at its heart, a very raw and delicate story about three women who are all facing change, in all its devastating and beautiful forms. And as the title suggests, this book gently explores the storms that we need to weather in order to change and grow. Because how can we blossom without a little rain?
“Nothing ever ends, it just changes.”
Now, very often with these types of thematically rich stories, I can feel a bit detached from the characters because they feel like empty vessels to convey a message. But here, the opposite couldn’t be more true.
There are three main POV characters who we follow in both the ‘Then’ and the ‘Now’, which allows the reader to really get to know them intimately by showing their growth and development over a longer span of time. I truly appreciated that all of these characters are allowed to be messy, to be vulnerable, and to just be painfully and beautifully human. Queer characters, disabled characters, mentally broken characters, they are all here, and they are allowed to be (or become) their true authentic selves. And heck, even the non-human characters feel more realistic and have more emotional depth than the majority of all the other fictional characters I have come across, which makes this such a special and unbelievably relatable and memorable cast of characters.
““You are so silent, but your pain is loud,” the goddess whispers so softly I can barely hear it. “You can break now. No one is watching. It does not have to be beautiful.”
And so…
I do.”
Speaking of non-human characters, I absolutely loved Chorn’s depiction of gods here. If you like the gods-walking-among us trope, then you have come to the right place. The Divine are these awe-inspiring majestic beings, yet they are also imbued with so much human emotion and fiery passion which makes them fully come to life on the page. And what I maybe loved most about them here, is that their divinity and their Creations come at a cost, which they are fully willing to pay. We enter this world at a time when the Divine are starting to be faced with their mortality, and that leads to such a beautiful exploration on the meaning of life and the way we can live on through the things we leave behind.
No matter what your background is or what your life experiences are, I can guarantee you that this story will resonate with you on a deep emotional level, because Chorn has somehow captured the essence of what it means to be human.
This story truly hinges on the complicated and often painfully realistic interpersonal relationships between all these characters, be they platonic, familial, romantic, or something wholly unique in between all those things. It is not a romance story, but it is a story about love in all its devastating beauty. And because of the poignant writing, all the highly emotional interactions between the characters, both the joyful and the painful ones, become even more intense.
“I wanted to walk into the sea when you left... Not because I longed to drown, but because I finally wanted to be held by something that refused to let me go.”
Yet, for all that this story is so beautifully human, it’s somehow also utterly magical because of Chorn’s trademark imaginative and immersive worldbuilding. The world that she brings to life here is so breathtakingly gorgeous and I was simply entranced from the very first page.
Each Divine has Created their own authentic arbor, a little pocket world if you will, that rebelliously exists in a sea of Chaos. And to me, entering this world felt similar to travelling to a new country in the sense that you are just dropped into a new place that might feel slightly overwhelming, but which also fills you with childlike wonder.
I absolutely adored that there is a true sense of depth and wholeness to this world that made me feel like I could step into any one of these fantastical Creations and explore them in all their glory if I wanted. This world is so well-realised and Chorn really tickled my imagination in a way that very few authors can.
Speaking of prose… this level of wordsmithing is simply unbelievable. From reading Chorn’s earlier works, I already knew that her prose is just soul-stirringly gorgeous, but holy fuck did she outdo herself here.
The vivid imagery and beautiful metaphors create this ethereal, fever dream-like quality that so perfectly fits this utterly mesmerising story. Every single word is simultaneously a punch to the gut and a healing balm to your soul, which makes this already powerful story even more impactful.
I particularly loved that this isn’t just flowery writing for the sake of flowery writing, but there is actual meaningful flower symbolism woven into the narrative. And that symbolism beautifully highlights the rich themes of love, loss, grief, mortality, (self-) acceptance, hope, growth and change that lie at the heart of this story. How Chorn can capture so much nuance and emotion in a few words is just beyond me, and I will forever admire her for it.
"“Life is not all pain and loss, Isra. No storm lasts forever.” He captures my gaze and holds it warm in his own. “Someday, you will learn to breathe again.”"
Now, I could gush on and on about this story for hours, but I’d rather you just go discover this stunning story and world on your own.
These are the types of reading experiences that I am always on the hunt for, the ones that are tragic but filled with heart and hope, that take you on a wild emotional rollercoaster, and that make you feel like you are living the story yourself. It takes a lot for me to tear up over a book, but Chorn got me here, multiple times, and I absolutely love her for it.
I highly implore you to read this book, especially if you like intensely character-driven stories that are filled to the brim with emotional turmoil. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is one of the most imaginative, immersive, breathtaking, memorable and impactful stories I have ever read in the entire SFF genre. It’s without a doubt one of my new all-time favourites, and I already can’t wait to re-read it over, and over, and over again.
Thanks to the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 19, 2023
I've wanted to read a Sarah Chorn book for ages, and I finally got around to it.
The Necessity of Rain is a small story, with very big emotions. It reminded me a bit of Rothfuss' Slow Regard of Silent Things, as there is little actual plot, but wonderful prose.
This book is all about the characters, their grief, their growth and their hopes. I loved how divers the cast was, from amazing disability representation, over LGBT inclusion, to neurodivers patterns. I also loved the depiction of gods which made them both more human and more estranged than I'm used to.
There are three main characters, each going through their own growing pains while finding themselves.
I don't know if you ever saw the meme, but this book reminded me a lot of this:
"People talk about caterpillars becoming butterflies as though they just go into a cocoon, slap on wings, and are good to go. Caterpillars have to dissolve into a disgusting pile of goo to become butterflies. So if you’re a mess wrapped up in blankets right now, keep going.”
This is how it feels with these characters. It's messy, it's hard, it's painful, but ultimately it's hopeful.
My only problem was the three voices being a bit too similar, so I had trouble keeping them apart at times. As my eyes are bad I used text to speech, which means I didn't "see" the character names and time frames, as they are set within beautiful chapter art, which the TTS can't pick up on. The time lines were pretty easy to follow anyway, but I didn't always know exactly who was on the page, which I usually pick up on easily just by voice and behaviour.
I also didn't really get a complete feel for the world, which has butterfly and plant people as well as normal humans. I had a bit of a problem connecting these in my mind. As it's much more about the emotions and insides, this didn't really hamper my enjoyment of the story.
Overall this was a great and emotional read that doesn't why away from the big feelings, and allows the focus to fully fall on the humanity of the characters, and their evolving.
The Necessity of Rain is a small story, with very big emotions. It reminded me a bit of Rothfuss' Slow Regard of Silent Things, as there is little actual plot, but wonderful prose.
This book is all about the characters, their grief, their growth and their hopes. I loved how divers the cast was, from amazing disability representation, over LGBT inclusion, to neurodivers patterns. I also loved the depiction of gods which made them both more human and more estranged than I'm used to.
There are three main characters, each going through their own growing pains while finding themselves.
I don't know if you ever saw the meme, but this book reminded me a lot of this:
"People talk about caterpillars becoming butterflies as though they just go into a cocoon, slap on wings, and are good to go. Caterpillars have to dissolve into a disgusting pile of goo to become butterflies. So if you’re a mess wrapped up in blankets right now, keep going.”
This is how it feels with these characters. It's messy, it's hard, it's painful, but ultimately it's hopeful.
My only problem was the three voices being a bit too similar, so I had trouble keeping them apart at times. As my eyes are bad I used text to speech, which means I didn't "see" the character names and time frames, as they are set within beautiful chapter art, which the TTS can't pick up on. The time lines were pretty easy to follow anyway, but I didn't always know exactly who was on the page, which I usually pick up on easily just by voice and behaviour.
I also didn't really get a complete feel for the world, which has butterfly and plant people as well as normal humans. I had a bit of a problem connecting these in my mind. As it's much more about the emotions and insides, this didn't really hamper my enjoyment of the story.
Overall this was a great and emotional read that doesn't why away from the big feelings, and allows the focus to fully fall on the humanity of the characters, and their evolving.
June 21, 2023
5 stars are not enough, this book deserves all the stars in the sky. I will have a full (but probably not coherent) review up when I am no longer bawling my eyes out. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND ESSENTIAL.
**
Holy shit.
This book.
THIS BOOK.
THIS FREAKING BOOK (that has me welling up as I write about it).
I can’t even say that this is going to be my favourite book of the year, because I think this may be my favourite book of all time. Anyone who has followed me for any time at all, will know that my favourite book is another by Sarah Chorn – Seraphina’s Lament, and while it will forever more have a special place in my heart for so many reasons, I think The Necessity of Rain has crept into all the spaces in my heart and stolen its place. I needed this book like plants need water. I had an inkling of that from reading early forms, and certain elements were like having a bell rung in my heart, and the finished book has hammered that point home.
I knew that this book was going to be emotionally devasting. I knew. And yet I was not prepared for the full impact of The Necessity of Rain. This is a book that has distilled the very nature of what it is to be human, and all the complicated, tangled mess that is and transformed it into an artform. This is a beautiful book inside and out, the cover is stunning, and I can’t wait to have a physical copy in my hands, and the chapter headers by the incredibly talent Allegra Pescatore are just the cherry on the top. But the beauty of this book is far more than its appearance. Chorn is undoubtedly known for her prose, and it is truly beautiful in this book, spinning word webs to distil emotion into something so tangible, and so terribly, achingly beautiful that it feels like you could reach out and touch it, and yet don’t for fear of seeing it shatter.
‘We are, none of us, whole, riddled with wounds and trying to plaster them over as best we can. Yet here I had found someone who neither expected me to be strong, nor minded that I was crumbling.’
Before I lose myself in the full depths of this book, I do have to talk about the worldbuilding. Chorn is known for building fascinating, beautifully realised words from the weird west setting of The Songs of Sefate, to the bleak, apocalyptic world of Seraphina’s Lament, but she has well and truly outdone herself in The Necessity of Rain.
Firstly, there is her take on the Divine. I adore books that involve the gods, especially those that are directly involved in the lives of mortals, and Chorn has taken that to a whole new level. Her Divine live, breathe and love and die with their mortals. Their divinity comes at a cost, creation a joy and a burden – and the time to pay the piper for that creation is coming. Who else would sit down and ask who Gods pray too when they are afraid? Or talk about how they love and break, or try to exist when their very nature sets them apart. There is a wonderful moment where one of the Divine confesses to being unable to understand the passage of time, asking for help to learn just that.
Little details, but powerful ones.
Then there are the creations themselves. Meadowsweet is a city of multiple worlds, with many of the Divine having their own arbors within it’s confines. Lands, and peoples that they have sacrificed parts of themselves to create and serve. Honestly, I would love to just read endless stories of those living in those arbors to drink in all the fantastical elements that Chorn has woven into these pages, and the breadth of this is breath-taking. I love that while sometimes we are only afforded glimpses into an arbor as a character travels, but it gives the feeling of a whole, wider world left to explore (something I love to feel in a book), and it also gives us a framework for envisioning the other creations that the Divine who have left Meadowsweet have created. For example, Divine Forge – we don’t see his creation at all, but it is so easy to imagine what it could be. And honestly, that for me was such a strong theme of this book – the power of imagination and memory, from the Divine themselves, to the characters as individuals. The idea that creation and memory stretch on, through life and death and dreams, and that even what might seem forgotten will linger in some in between place.
The Divine themselves are as varied and magical as their creations, with aspects of their individual elements woven into the very physicality of their existence and Chorn manages to balance the otherworldliness with solid characters that we can grasp hold of with both hands. Of the Divine, my favourites just in terms of how their divinity is portrayed must be Father Terra and Divine Forest, but the top spot is taken by Father Luna – by the least ‘human’ of the Divine, the one who has given the most of himself. Perhaps I am little biased because of how his character has developed, but there are beautiful, devasting moments where we are accorded glimpses into how he has become what he is, and he just shines for me.
“Each day my Divinity wanes a bit more, and each day, Rosemary, I feel a little more alive in a way I never have before. Is that not worth celebrating? I understand moments now, my heart, and I cherish them. Will you not cherish them with me?”
Then there is the creeping, growing decline of the Divine as the nature of creation and their relationship with chaos changes. How do gods die? Usually with blood and thunder, and world ending events. Not here. Chorn instead uses the Divine to tread the paths between life and death, to look at the long loss that comes from knowing time is slipping through your fingers like sand from an hourglass, and death the twilight that creeps closer with each passing hour. These otherworldly beings are rendered most human in these moments. Which seems incredibly fitting, after all, what is the Divine, but mortality raised high?
If there is an antagonist in this book, it is change and loss. It is those unstoppable forces that every human has railed against at some point or other. There is no fight against the slow creep of time, of encroaching death, and no matter how much we might fight it, change will occur – some good and some bad. The Necessity of Rain confronts and embraces those elements in their full and in myriad ways, speaking to the variety of human experience.
“Linger in the doorway, uncle. Do not… do not just leave.”
How many of us have had that moment, pleading against inevitability? How many of us have seen loss and the change it brings, and seen it as the enemy, and resented the person who is dying? How many times have we wished we could those last moments over? Maybe not personally, but they are all very human experiences, and here we see them play out on the edge of a knife that cuts. Chorn also doesn’t only look at the change in this sense though, we have a character who is betrayed and saved, torn away from her family and war-torn home and thrust into a new life she didn’t choose; we have a daughter returning home to find that many things are still the same, and she is the one who has change; and another surrounded by looming loss but also promise, and who must change through acceptance and reaching out. Loss and grief are not the province of death alone, and I think that is why The Necessity of Rain will have such a wide-ranging resonance, because even if you have been blessed not to encounter that final grief yet, change is something we all face in some form or another.
“On purpose,” she says. “Always. Forever.”
The Necessity of Rain is also an exploration of acceptance, both fighting it, giving and receiving it and embracing it. From the very beginning we see Rosemary wrestling with her disability, and how she perceived herself and how she feared the Divine would perceive her, which is a thread throughout, and one that resonated strongly throughout. We see Belladonna having to accept how her mother is (and oh, oh that relationship hurt) and that despite the situation she must make a choice in order to live her life. And we see Isra fighting to accept the life that she has now and being confronted with the acceptance of the Divine closest related to her own Goddess and the second chance offered to her.
And we see the Divine accepting their fate. Embracing it even. And there is power in finding that acceptance, especially in self-acceptance, and Chorn channels that throughout all the characters – and we see them bloom and become whole, even in the shadow of death, as they make that journey.
‘Just because I have never seen your like, does not make you wrong. The best songs are the ones I have never heard before.”
Coming back to what I said about Rosemary, I absolutely can’t not talk about the representation in this book. This is an element that I have always loved about Chorn’s work and again it feels like she has taken it to new heights in this book. There is so much to this character, and this is just one of the many threads that have made her such a compelling character, but how it is done, from how she wrestles with it, how others react to it – both negative and positive – to the adaptations, are done with just so much grace and care. This is not limited to Rosemary either, we see several of the Divine in various stages of their life who have limitations and adaptations that need to be made, and it’s a part of this world and story without a second thought. There is also a consideration of serious illnesses, and dementia and not just of those who are enduring those conditions and the impacts and changes that has brought to their lives, but to the effect it has on those around them. (It was the relationship between Rosemary and her mother, that told me I needed this book). Everything is a ripple, one that feeds into another, and sets off another set of ripples, and no one ripple dominates.
Then there are the relationships, because this is also very much a love story – and what could be more true of human life. No matter what else is happening, love – whether platonic, familial or romantic – is always going to be part of that, and Chorn delves into just what that can mean. From the negative, a love twisted by loss, or abandoned because a choice had to be made, to the positive – the acceptance of a child, the reunion of lovers, to that of finding the family meant for you. One of my favourite relationships is that of Muse and Rosemary (there is a scene early on between them that had me welling up); and another is the one between Isra and Divine Forest. And of course, at its heart this is the story of Rosemary, Isra and Belladonna, and Chorn has woven a beautiful, complex relationship between them, and the end of the book left my heart warm with hope for them.
The characters in this book are all wonderfully realised, and even the ones I dislike (side-eyes a certain parent) are compelling because the depth of the emotion is there, and you can see how everything has come to where it’s at. Rosemary, Isra and Belladonna undoubtedly steal the show, and it would absolutely not be the same story without any one of them, they are all as essential as the others. However, I think if I had to choose an absolute favourite character in this book, my heart has been well and truly stolen by Divine Forest. I’m not sure whether it’s his calm acceptance of the fate that is befalling him, or the fact that in the face of that creeping loss he reached out and offered hope to Isra. The chapters with him were absolutely some of my favourites, and there is a scene in his arbor with the people that live there, that just absolutely devasted me.
‘I picture this room, empty. My life, bereft. The world so large and frightening and I, alone to face it. No safe harbor. No port in the storm.’
The Necessity of Rain is a meditation on the many faces and forms of grief. Chorn has always had an immeasurable talent for opening up the human heart and exposing the myriad colours of emotion to her readers, but in this book, she has outdone herself. This an intensely personal book, and yet it will speak to everyone in some way, because its heart carries everything that is so essential to our experience. There were so many points that resonated with me on a personal level, and it is the kind of book that will speak differently to each and every reader.
While this book is a devasting read, especially when it finds those points of resonance. It is also a book about hope, and acceptance and of life not just enduring and surviving but moving on and thriving. ‘Nothing ever ends, it just changes’ is repeated throughout, and really if you want to cut open the heart of this book, that is the key message. Death is a change. Life is a change. Moving on is a change. Asking for help is a change. Accepting yourself or someone else is a change. Change happens, it can’t be stopped no matter how much you might try and stop it, but that does not make it a bad thing.
This is a book that I will revisit in the dark moments, and the light. It is a tender lance for old wounds, a balm against new ones. It is grief and change and life in all it’s rawest forms. As I said in my brief review that first night, this book deserves all the stars in the sky, and is an exquisitely beautiful yet essential read. You’ll need tissues on hand for when you read it, but what you will gain in return is priceless.
**
Holy shit.
This book.
THIS BOOK.
THIS FREAKING BOOK (that has me welling up as I write about it).
I can’t even say that this is going to be my favourite book of the year, because I think this may be my favourite book of all time. Anyone who has followed me for any time at all, will know that my favourite book is another by Sarah Chorn – Seraphina’s Lament, and while it will forever more have a special place in my heart for so many reasons, I think The Necessity of Rain has crept into all the spaces in my heart and stolen its place. I needed this book like plants need water. I had an inkling of that from reading early forms, and certain elements were like having a bell rung in my heart, and the finished book has hammered that point home.
I knew that this book was going to be emotionally devasting. I knew. And yet I was not prepared for the full impact of The Necessity of Rain. This is a book that has distilled the very nature of what it is to be human, and all the complicated, tangled mess that is and transformed it into an artform. This is a beautiful book inside and out, the cover is stunning, and I can’t wait to have a physical copy in my hands, and the chapter headers by the incredibly talent Allegra Pescatore are just the cherry on the top. But the beauty of this book is far more than its appearance. Chorn is undoubtedly known for her prose, and it is truly beautiful in this book, spinning word webs to distil emotion into something so tangible, and so terribly, achingly beautiful that it feels like you could reach out and touch it, and yet don’t for fear of seeing it shatter.
‘We are, none of us, whole, riddled with wounds and trying to plaster them over as best we can. Yet here I had found someone who neither expected me to be strong, nor minded that I was crumbling.’
Before I lose myself in the full depths of this book, I do have to talk about the worldbuilding. Chorn is known for building fascinating, beautifully realised words from the weird west setting of The Songs of Sefate, to the bleak, apocalyptic world of Seraphina’s Lament, but she has well and truly outdone herself in The Necessity of Rain.
Firstly, there is her take on the Divine. I adore books that involve the gods, especially those that are directly involved in the lives of mortals, and Chorn has taken that to a whole new level. Her Divine live, breathe and love and die with their mortals. Their divinity comes at a cost, creation a joy and a burden – and the time to pay the piper for that creation is coming. Who else would sit down and ask who Gods pray too when they are afraid? Or talk about how they love and break, or try to exist when their very nature sets them apart. There is a wonderful moment where one of the Divine confesses to being unable to understand the passage of time, asking for help to learn just that.
Little details, but powerful ones.
Then there are the creations themselves. Meadowsweet is a city of multiple worlds, with many of the Divine having their own arbors within it’s confines. Lands, and peoples that they have sacrificed parts of themselves to create and serve. Honestly, I would love to just read endless stories of those living in those arbors to drink in all the fantastical elements that Chorn has woven into these pages, and the breadth of this is breath-taking. I love that while sometimes we are only afforded glimpses into an arbor as a character travels, but it gives the feeling of a whole, wider world left to explore (something I love to feel in a book), and it also gives us a framework for envisioning the other creations that the Divine who have left Meadowsweet have created. For example, Divine Forge – we don’t see his creation at all, but it is so easy to imagine what it could be. And honestly, that for me was such a strong theme of this book – the power of imagination and memory, from the Divine themselves, to the characters as individuals. The idea that creation and memory stretch on, through life and death and dreams, and that even what might seem forgotten will linger in some in between place.
The Divine themselves are as varied and magical as their creations, with aspects of their individual elements woven into the very physicality of their existence and Chorn manages to balance the otherworldliness with solid characters that we can grasp hold of with both hands. Of the Divine, my favourites just in terms of how their divinity is portrayed must be Father Terra and Divine Forest, but the top spot is taken by Father Luna – by the least ‘human’ of the Divine, the one who has given the most of himself. Perhaps I am little biased because of how his character has developed, but there are beautiful, devasting moments where we are accorded glimpses into how he has become what he is, and he just shines for me.
“Each day my Divinity wanes a bit more, and each day, Rosemary, I feel a little more alive in a way I never have before. Is that not worth celebrating? I understand moments now, my heart, and I cherish them. Will you not cherish them with me?”
Then there is the creeping, growing decline of the Divine as the nature of creation and their relationship with chaos changes. How do gods die? Usually with blood and thunder, and world ending events. Not here. Chorn instead uses the Divine to tread the paths between life and death, to look at the long loss that comes from knowing time is slipping through your fingers like sand from an hourglass, and death the twilight that creeps closer with each passing hour. These otherworldly beings are rendered most human in these moments. Which seems incredibly fitting, after all, what is the Divine, but mortality raised high?
If there is an antagonist in this book, it is change and loss. It is those unstoppable forces that every human has railed against at some point or other. There is no fight against the slow creep of time, of encroaching death, and no matter how much we might fight it, change will occur – some good and some bad. The Necessity of Rain confronts and embraces those elements in their full and in myriad ways, speaking to the variety of human experience.
“Linger in the doorway, uncle. Do not… do not just leave.”
How many of us have had that moment, pleading against inevitability? How many of us have seen loss and the change it brings, and seen it as the enemy, and resented the person who is dying? How many times have we wished we could those last moments over? Maybe not personally, but they are all very human experiences, and here we see them play out on the edge of a knife that cuts. Chorn also doesn’t only look at the change in this sense though, we have a character who is betrayed and saved, torn away from her family and war-torn home and thrust into a new life she didn’t choose; we have a daughter returning home to find that many things are still the same, and she is the one who has change; and another surrounded by looming loss but also promise, and who must change through acceptance and reaching out. Loss and grief are not the province of death alone, and I think that is why The Necessity of Rain will have such a wide-ranging resonance, because even if you have been blessed not to encounter that final grief yet, change is something we all face in some form or another.
“On purpose,” she says. “Always. Forever.”
The Necessity of Rain is also an exploration of acceptance, both fighting it, giving and receiving it and embracing it. From the very beginning we see Rosemary wrestling with her disability, and how she perceived herself and how she feared the Divine would perceive her, which is a thread throughout, and one that resonated strongly throughout. We see Belladonna having to accept how her mother is (and oh, oh that relationship hurt) and that despite the situation she must make a choice in order to live her life. And we see Isra fighting to accept the life that she has now and being confronted with the acceptance of the Divine closest related to her own Goddess and the second chance offered to her.
And we see the Divine accepting their fate. Embracing it even. And there is power in finding that acceptance, especially in self-acceptance, and Chorn channels that throughout all the characters – and we see them bloom and become whole, even in the shadow of death, as they make that journey.
‘Just because I have never seen your like, does not make you wrong. The best songs are the ones I have never heard before.”
Coming back to what I said about Rosemary, I absolutely can’t not talk about the representation in this book. This is an element that I have always loved about Chorn’s work and again it feels like she has taken it to new heights in this book. There is so much to this character, and this is just one of the many threads that have made her such a compelling character, but how it is done, from how she wrestles with it, how others react to it – both negative and positive – to the adaptations, are done with just so much grace and care. This is not limited to Rosemary either, we see several of the Divine in various stages of their life who have limitations and adaptations that need to be made, and it’s a part of this world and story without a second thought. There is also a consideration of serious illnesses, and dementia and not just of those who are enduring those conditions and the impacts and changes that has brought to their lives, but to the effect it has on those around them. (It was the relationship between Rosemary and her mother, that told me I needed this book). Everything is a ripple, one that feeds into another, and sets off another set of ripples, and no one ripple dominates.
Then there are the relationships, because this is also very much a love story – and what could be more true of human life. No matter what else is happening, love – whether platonic, familial or romantic – is always going to be part of that, and Chorn delves into just what that can mean. From the negative, a love twisted by loss, or abandoned because a choice had to be made, to the positive – the acceptance of a child, the reunion of lovers, to that of finding the family meant for you. One of my favourite relationships is that of Muse and Rosemary (there is a scene early on between them that had me welling up); and another is the one between Isra and Divine Forest. And of course, at its heart this is the story of Rosemary, Isra and Belladonna, and Chorn has woven a beautiful, complex relationship between them, and the end of the book left my heart warm with hope for them.
The characters in this book are all wonderfully realised, and even the ones I dislike (side-eyes a certain parent) are compelling because the depth of the emotion is there, and you can see how everything has come to where it’s at. Rosemary, Isra and Belladonna undoubtedly steal the show, and it would absolutely not be the same story without any one of them, they are all as essential as the others. However, I think if I had to choose an absolute favourite character in this book, my heart has been well and truly stolen by Divine Forest. I’m not sure whether it’s his calm acceptance of the fate that is befalling him, or the fact that in the face of that creeping loss he reached out and offered hope to Isra. The chapters with him were absolutely some of my favourites, and there is a scene in his arbor with the people that live there, that just absolutely devasted me.
‘I picture this room, empty. My life, bereft. The world so large and frightening and I, alone to face it. No safe harbor. No port in the storm.’
The Necessity of Rain is a meditation on the many faces and forms of grief. Chorn has always had an immeasurable talent for opening up the human heart and exposing the myriad colours of emotion to her readers, but in this book, she has outdone herself. This an intensely personal book, and yet it will speak to everyone in some way, because its heart carries everything that is so essential to our experience. There were so many points that resonated with me on a personal level, and it is the kind of book that will speak differently to each and every reader.
While this book is a devasting read, especially when it finds those points of resonance. It is also a book about hope, and acceptance and of life not just enduring and surviving but moving on and thriving. ‘Nothing ever ends, it just changes’ is repeated throughout, and really if you want to cut open the heart of this book, that is the key message. Death is a change. Life is a change. Moving on is a change. Asking for help is a change. Accepting yourself or someone else is a change. Change happens, it can’t be stopped no matter how much you might try and stop it, but that does not make it a bad thing.
This is a book that I will revisit in the dark moments, and the light. It is a tender lance for old wounds, a balm against new ones. It is grief and change and life in all it’s rawest forms. As I said in my brief review that first night, this book deserves all the stars in the sky, and is an exquisitely beautiful yet essential read. You’ll need tissues on hand for when you read it, but what you will gain in return is priceless.
July 10, 2023
Disclaimer: Sarah Chorn provided me with an eARC, but this does not affect my opinion of this book.
Rating 5 out of 5 Stars
I am not sure if I can do this book justice but let me try…
Necessity of Rain is a book I didn't know I needed. It is a fragile work of art with "flowery" prose full of metaphors and heartbreaking emotion.
I am by no means a prose snob, and to be honest, I like the more straightforward writing more than the so-called purple or flowery prose, but in this novel it makes so much sense. It is a fantasy world full of blooming beauty with real flowers, and this style of prose fits in perfectly. It is a story about emotions, about grief, loss, change, about disability, the struggle of life and love, about family, friends, the search for purpose and everything in between. A journey that grabs you, shakes you, holds you, lets you fall, and catches you just before you hit the ground.
I don't want to go into too much detail because I think this masterpiece should be savored blind, without too much context. (If you think you need some more context there are a lot of other really great reviews about this book. I am looking at you Esmay or Craig.) You should take your time to soak it all in, let the words work their magic, and let yourself get sucked into a unique and extraordinary world. A world so beautiful and fragile, so delicate and heartwarming, yet so full of struggle, inner conflict and change.
As I said, it was an emotional rollercoaster, and it is not your typical fantasy novel. It is a journey through human and divine emotions packed into about 300 pages. It is a book that will stay with you much longer than you think, a novel that is outstanding and worth a try for anyone who loves to immerse themselves. Who loves to get lost and forget their surroundings.
Don't get me wrong, it might not appeal to everyone because of the prose, but let me tell you, if you give it time, read it slowly and let it all sink in, you might understand why it is such a beautiful piece of art.
Lastly, I want to mention that I don't usually reread, but this might be the first book that I do. This fall seems perfect for me, don't ask me why, but I think it will be perfect for the season.
Now, do me a favor and pick up a copy of this book. For me, it is time to dive deeper into Sarah's work and discover her other books.
Rating 5 out of 5 Stars
I am not sure if I can do this book justice but let me try…
Necessity of Rain is a book I didn't know I needed. It is a fragile work of art with "flowery" prose full of metaphors and heartbreaking emotion.
I am by no means a prose snob, and to be honest, I like the more straightforward writing more than the so-called purple or flowery prose, but in this novel it makes so much sense. It is a fantasy world full of blooming beauty with real flowers, and this style of prose fits in perfectly. It is a story about emotions, about grief, loss, change, about disability, the struggle of life and love, about family, friends, the search for purpose and everything in between. A journey that grabs you, shakes you, holds you, lets you fall, and catches you just before you hit the ground.
I don't want to go into too much detail because I think this masterpiece should be savored blind, without too much context. (If you think you need some more context there are a lot of other really great reviews about this book. I am looking at you Esmay or Craig.) You should take your time to soak it all in, let the words work their magic, and let yourself get sucked into a unique and extraordinary world. A world so beautiful and fragile, so delicate and heartwarming, yet so full of struggle, inner conflict and change.
As I said, it was an emotional rollercoaster, and it is not your typical fantasy novel. It is a journey through human and divine emotions packed into about 300 pages. It is a book that will stay with you much longer than you think, a novel that is outstanding and worth a try for anyone who loves to immerse themselves. Who loves to get lost and forget their surroundings.
Don't get me wrong, it might not appeal to everyone because of the prose, but let me tell you, if you give it time, read it slowly and let it all sink in, you might understand why it is such a beautiful piece of art.
Lastly, I want to mention that I don't usually reread, but this might be the first book that I do. This fall seems perfect for me, don't ask me why, but I think it will be perfect for the season.
Now, do me a favor and pick up a copy of this book. For me, it is time to dive deeper into Sarah's work and discover her other books.
December 3, 2025
My words will fail to capture the marvel and beauty encased within this book, as this is one of those books whose essence isn't encapsulated in the plot, thrills and action but in the cut throat emotionally driven meanings one derives from the flow of events
It seeks to illuminate and heal even as it draws you to the depth of the raw pain people experience through the 3 POVs in the story
I have not read such an emotionally charged standalone novel like this one and as a result I am definitely going to read everything this woman has written
If you cherish simple but poetic literary writing you will adore this book, and I heavily recommend it
It seeks to illuminate and heal even as it draws you to the depth of the raw pain people experience through the 3 POVs in the story
I have not read such an emotionally charged standalone novel like this one and as a result I am definitely going to read everything this woman has written
If you cherish simple but poetic literary writing you will adore this book, and I heavily recommend it
June 25, 2023
Heartfelt. Inspired. Visionary.
Just three words many I could have used to describe this beautiful book.
Full review can be found here:
https://fanfiaddict.com/the-necessity...
Just three words many I could have used to describe this beautiful book.
Full review can be found here:
https://fanfiaddict.com/the-necessity...
August 7, 2023
Heartbreaking. Breathtaking. Beautiful.
The Necessity of Rain pulls no punches with its raw, emotional storytelling and deeply nuanced characters. Woven in threads of enchanting prose, Chorn crafts a deep examination on love and loss, holding on and letting go, death and grief, and acceptance and conformity that grips you from page one, despite the pain that may lay ahead.
The pain is never a bad thing, mind - it's such an integral part of the story and perfectly encapsulated by the line, "Rain is necessary, my heart, for how else will flowers grow?" Several moments left me in shambles, not only because of the deep connection the author is able to create between the reader and the characters, but also because of a personal relation I felt to some the circumstances surrounding the characters. At several points, I felt I had to put the book down because I felt altogether too broken to continue that I would have done this beautiful book a disservice by continuing on until I had time to sit and digest it all.
And you know what? That's okay. That's the mark of a perfectly crafted emotional story, and heavy emotion runs at the heart of this story. No shot felt cheap, no blow felt low, and everything hit just right. Get the tissues - you'll need 'em.
The Necessity of Rain pulls no punches with its raw, emotional storytelling and deeply nuanced characters. Woven in threads of enchanting prose, Chorn crafts a deep examination on love and loss, holding on and letting go, death and grief, and acceptance and conformity that grips you from page one, despite the pain that may lay ahead.
The pain is never a bad thing, mind - it's such an integral part of the story and perfectly encapsulated by the line, "Rain is necessary, my heart, for how else will flowers grow?" Several moments left me in shambles, not only because of the deep connection the author is able to create between the reader and the characters, but also because of a personal relation I felt to some the circumstances surrounding the characters. At several points, I felt I had to put the book down because I felt altogether too broken to continue that I would have done this beautiful book a disservice by continuing on until I had time to sit and digest it all.
And you know what? That's okay. That's the mark of a perfectly crafted emotional story, and heavy emotion runs at the heart of this story. No shot felt cheap, no blow felt low, and everything hit just right. Get the tissues - you'll need 'em.
February 8, 2024
What to say about this book? How about this to start:
This is a masterclass in prose and emotion.
I didn't know what I was in for when I dove into The Necessity of Rain. For authors I trust, I don't tend to read the blurbs.
Good riddance—no blurb could capture the essence of this book.
Each chapter, each scene writhes with emotion—earned emotion, I should add. Sometimes it's joy, wonder, or love; sometimes pain, sorrow, regret, and fear. Most often, all are present, for TNoR does nothing if not capture the complexities of the soul and the heart.
Admittedly, our three protagonists start out sounding kind of similar in voice. But soon, the intricacies of their characters come to light, and each have their own separate, but shared, journeys that they travel.
Not a physical journey, for the most part—we revolve around similar locations, those most impactful, where the characters must endure the grief of losing those they love. Yet that grief pupates them into something new and beautiful. Even if that beauty is broken. Especially so.
For this book celebrates what is thought to be broken. Those with disabilities. Sensitivities. Markings that make them different from those around them. It sees those people—all of us, in our own ways—and cradles and accepts us for who we are.
I can't do it justice. All I can say is read the book. I cherished this story and feel a bit more open to the world for having read it. A bit more accepting of both rain and sunshine.
There's so much more depth to it than I've plumbed. So many layers left untouched. The symbolism in the plants. The allegory of environmental degradation.
But those are best discovered, I think. Just know you're in safe hands. And this is not a book to be rushed—treasure it while it lasts.
This is a masterclass in prose and emotion.
I didn't know what I was in for when I dove into The Necessity of Rain. For authors I trust, I don't tend to read the blurbs.
Good riddance—no blurb could capture the essence of this book.
Each chapter, each scene writhes with emotion—earned emotion, I should add. Sometimes it's joy, wonder, or love; sometimes pain, sorrow, regret, and fear. Most often, all are present, for TNoR does nothing if not capture the complexities of the soul and the heart.
Admittedly, our three protagonists start out sounding kind of similar in voice. But soon, the intricacies of their characters come to light, and each have their own separate, but shared, journeys that they travel.
Not a physical journey, for the most part—we revolve around similar locations, those most impactful, where the characters must endure the grief of losing those they love. Yet that grief pupates them into something new and beautiful. Even if that beauty is broken. Especially so.
For this book celebrates what is thought to be broken. Those with disabilities. Sensitivities. Markings that make them different from those around them. It sees those people—all of us, in our own ways—and cradles and accepts us for who we are.
I can't do it justice. All I can say is read the book. I cherished this story and feel a bit more open to the world for having read it. A bit more accepting of both rain and sunshine.
There's so much more depth to it than I've plumbed. So many layers left untouched. The symbolism in the plants. The allegory of environmental degradation.
But those are best discovered, I think. Just know you're in safe hands. And this is not a book to be rushed—treasure it while it lasts.
June 26, 2023
The Necessity of Rain is a beautifully written, emotionally captivating fantasy narrative with brilliant character work, an engrossing fantasy setting and a writing style to die for.
When I came into this book, I had no expectations, which usually for me means the story could contain almost anything and I'd probably be pleasantly surprised. So color me shocked, a fool, any number of terms to refer to my idiocy when I stumbled upon one of the greatest emotional journeys in literature.
Now, I have to preface this with the sort of disclaimer that makes one wonder why I even read the book in the first place: I'm not a very emotional reader. I don't cry over scenes, I don't grow powerfully attached to characters. It's both a boon and a curse, as you can imagine. But this is one of those books where I felt strongly for it in spite of that, which is seriously impressive in my eyes. In only 300 pages Sarah Chorn manages to establish both a deeply engrossing world, and tell the tragic tales of three separate, distinct characters.
I cared about these characters. And not just because I related to them, like I usually do; yes, I felt a powerful attraction towards Rosemary's sense of loneliness, of feeling unneeded and unnecessary in a world where everyone who loves her seems to leave her. And I felt an affinity for Belladonna, the woman in constant conflict with a family member who still wants to decide who she is and what's right for her, without letting Belladonna have that choice for herself. Yes, I related to them, but in all honesty I'm not sure that's what impacted my affinity towards them. It wasn't even just because they were well written, like I tend to use as an excuse—no matter how true it is. I think it's because over the span of this novel they show significant growth, change, undergo heartbreak, and when push comes to shove, they make the best decisions possible. I was so happy over some scenes for nothing else except the fact I was rooting for what happened.
I want to stop and give a shout out to the world of The Necessity of Rain, because I think it might get swept under the rug in comparison to the wonderful character building showcased throughout the book. Meadowsweet, the Hall, Dawnland, Chaos, the arbors of each Divine, all resonate so strongly that it's seriously impressive the tone and atmosphere these locations create. Sarah Chorn showcases not just an ability to write compelling, heart-wrenching characters, but also an ability to craft a world so familiar yet different from our own that it left me wishing at times to focus even more on that world than I would have hoped. And she accomplished this with little more than vivid descriptions, character interactions, and careful use of imagery and real life 20th century aesthetics. Speakeasies, automobiles, trollies. Gramophones for music, jazz bands frequenting restaurants and more. Divine Muse's arbor will be stuck in my head forever as a location on the growing list of fantasy locales that make me love music and art more than I already do.
Finally let me touch on the prose, because that also deserves the highest of praise. To be blunt, this prose has the sort of style, grace and beauty I would only dream of being able to approach. Words are weaved wonderfully, metaphors and similes used in ways that elicit imagery all on their own. Callbacks and running themes brought to life by beautiful descriptions that only serve to highlight the tragic, yet wonderful story being told about overcoming grief, loss and love. It's a perfect writing style to craft a perfect emotional story, and I think people would be hard pressed to find many books that stand the test of quality as The Necessity of Rain in this department.
I have never read a book by this author before. As I mentioned at the beginning, I had no expectations going in. So please, if you believe no one else, if you sit at your desk and feel as if the rest of the community is somehow lying to you, let my words get through: The Necessity of Rain is a beautifully written, emotionally captivating fantasy narrative with brilliant character work, an engrossing fantasy setting and a writing style to die for. If you hold even a shred of empathy for characters, give even a hint of care toward the needs, desires and love of those other than yourself, I feel you will love this novel, and I implore you to read it. For some people they will feel called out; for others, they will be happy in reading a narrative about realistic, well-realized characters who undergo the pain of loss and grief. And if somehow that doesn't intrigue you? Give it a chance anyways, because there's something here for everyone to love.
There's a lot I'd love to mention here too, but don't have a lot of words to do so: the use of flower symbolism (with an entire glossary!), how disability is handled, how grief is handled, how love is handled. I felt so fondly for the craft of this novel that any information I see about it just makes me... happy.
So, to close out this review, and because I have not yet mastered the narrative device often called a "proper ending," I just want to share my personal favorite quote, no context, no real spoilers, though I don't blame you for being done reading right here if you wish not to read it. Though please do leave here and purchase the book immediately, if that is what you choose. But, the quote:
What is the world without its favorite song?
This is a largely one off line, connected in ways I will not spoil but with meaning that I personally believe sums up the energy of this novel.
What is the world, what is the world of the observer, without their favorite song, or whatever may give them purpose? Does the life of Rosemary, Belladonna, or Isra matter without those things, or people, who may be considered their songs?
Or maybe, even if they're our favorites, all songs end eventually, and will live on through us and those who come after. I believe that's the lesson I learned, most of all, from The Necessity of Rain.
Thank you to the author for sending me a free eARC for this unbiased review. Your generosity will not be forgotten and I appreciate this so much!
When I came into this book, I had no expectations, which usually for me means the story could contain almost anything and I'd probably be pleasantly surprised. So color me shocked, a fool, any number of terms to refer to my idiocy when I stumbled upon one of the greatest emotional journeys in literature.
Now, I have to preface this with the sort of disclaimer that makes one wonder why I even read the book in the first place: I'm not a very emotional reader. I don't cry over scenes, I don't grow powerfully attached to characters. It's both a boon and a curse, as you can imagine. But this is one of those books where I felt strongly for it in spite of that, which is seriously impressive in my eyes. In only 300 pages Sarah Chorn manages to establish both a deeply engrossing world, and tell the tragic tales of three separate, distinct characters.
I cared about these characters. And not just because I related to them, like I usually do; yes, I felt a powerful attraction towards Rosemary's sense of loneliness, of feeling unneeded and unnecessary in a world where everyone who loves her seems to leave her. And I felt an affinity for Belladonna, the woman in constant conflict with a family member who still wants to decide who she is and what's right for her, without letting Belladonna have that choice for herself. Yes, I related to them, but in all honesty I'm not sure that's what impacted my affinity towards them. It wasn't even just because they were well written, like I tend to use as an excuse—no matter how true it is. I think it's because over the span of this novel they show significant growth, change, undergo heartbreak, and when push comes to shove, they make the best decisions possible. I was so happy over some scenes for nothing else except the fact I was rooting for what happened.
I want to stop and give a shout out to the world of The Necessity of Rain, because I think it might get swept under the rug in comparison to the wonderful character building showcased throughout the book. Meadowsweet, the Hall, Dawnland, Chaos, the arbors of each Divine, all resonate so strongly that it's seriously impressive the tone and atmosphere these locations create. Sarah Chorn showcases not just an ability to write compelling, heart-wrenching characters, but also an ability to craft a world so familiar yet different from our own that it left me wishing at times to focus even more on that world than I would have hoped. And she accomplished this with little more than vivid descriptions, character interactions, and careful use of imagery and real life 20th century aesthetics. Speakeasies, automobiles, trollies. Gramophones for music, jazz bands frequenting restaurants and more. Divine Muse's arbor will be stuck in my head forever as a location on the growing list of fantasy locales that make me love music and art more than I already do.
Finally let me touch on the prose, because that also deserves the highest of praise. To be blunt, this prose has the sort of style, grace and beauty I would only dream of being able to approach. Words are weaved wonderfully, metaphors and similes used in ways that elicit imagery all on their own. Callbacks and running themes brought to life by beautiful descriptions that only serve to highlight the tragic, yet wonderful story being told about overcoming grief, loss and love. It's a perfect writing style to craft a perfect emotional story, and I think people would be hard pressed to find many books that stand the test of quality as The Necessity of Rain in this department.
I have never read a book by this author before. As I mentioned at the beginning, I had no expectations going in. So please, if you believe no one else, if you sit at your desk and feel as if the rest of the community is somehow lying to you, let my words get through: The Necessity of Rain is a beautifully written, emotionally captivating fantasy narrative with brilliant character work, an engrossing fantasy setting and a writing style to die for. If you hold even a shred of empathy for characters, give even a hint of care toward the needs, desires and love of those other than yourself, I feel you will love this novel, and I implore you to read it. For some people they will feel called out; for others, they will be happy in reading a narrative about realistic, well-realized characters who undergo the pain of loss and grief. And if somehow that doesn't intrigue you? Give it a chance anyways, because there's something here for everyone to love.
There's a lot I'd love to mention here too, but don't have a lot of words to do so: the use of flower symbolism (with an entire glossary!), how disability is handled, how grief is handled, how love is handled. I felt so fondly for the craft of this novel that any information I see about it just makes me... happy.
So, to close out this review, and because I have not yet mastered the narrative device often called a "proper ending," I just want to share my personal favorite quote, no context, no real spoilers, though I don't blame you for being done reading right here if you wish not to read it. Though please do leave here and purchase the book immediately, if that is what you choose. But, the quote:
What is the world without its favorite song?
This is a largely one off line, connected in ways I will not spoil but with meaning that I personally believe sums up the energy of this novel.
What is the world, what is the world of the observer, without their favorite song, or whatever may give them purpose? Does the life of Rosemary, Belladonna, or Isra matter without those things, or people, who may be considered their songs?
Or maybe, even if they're our favorites, all songs end eventually, and will live on through us and those who come after. I believe that's the lesson I learned, most of all, from The Necessity of Rain.
Thank you to the author for sending me a free eARC for this unbiased review. Your generosity will not be forgotten and I appreciate this so much!
August 17, 2023
5/5 Stars
Sarah Chorn captures emotional vulnerability, articulates it with beauty and treats it with dignity in this incredible story of loss, change and love.
I’ll admit, I went into this blind and was my first-time reading Sarah Chorn’s books. What compelled me to read this The Necessity of Rain was all the feedback I had heard from the ARC readers. It was described as a book that made readers cry, hit them with such emotional impact and that was it, I knew I needed to read this.
I was surprised to find that the Authors Note at the beginning had me choking up, setting the stage for the kind of experience I was in for.
Let’s start with the story, it follows three POVs; Isra a survivor of Dawnland and displaced from her home and family. Rosemary, suffering from physical disability and chronic pain, she only wishes for her mother’s well-being and Belladonna returned from Dawnland to confront the past the ran away from.
Seeing these three separate stories come together was emotional evoking. There were several moments I found myself reflecting on my own past or helped give me new perspective. This is the kind of read that will allow readers moments of retrospection, and for those who have never encountered the heart aches within the story, will still find the beauty and perhaps a better understanding of others throughout the scenes.
In addition, the character work along with their arcs are thoughtfully done. From the circumstances the characters go through to their reactions, it was easy to see how much care and planning went into every moment.
Now I will say, as the story explores characters in their darkest times it can be emotionally taxing. However, it was incredibly rewarding to read. Despite the heavy parts breaking my heart as I read, the story was masterfully expressed and quickly knit my heart back together again. This left me with a full heart by the time I was done reading and I will never forget that feeling.
In terms of the prose, it’s poetic yet accessible. While the themes are often complex, Sarah Chorn expresses them with simplicity, showing her skill with writing and storytelling.
So, the story was beautiful, the characters were well developed but what about the world?
Simply put, it was stunning. The world is immersive and feels like something built out of a fairytale. Gods and their divine creations fill every inch of the world with creativity and magic, while also weaving in powerful messages about the costs of their power and mortality. I often found myself immersed in the world and it’s one that I’ve come to miss since finishing the book.
With that being said, I think it’s important to mention that I nearly DNF’d the book at 80% and it’s not what you think. I simply reached a point that was triggering for me. I can’t say exactly what since it would be a spoiler, but I will say it’s written in a way that’s meant to be a beautiful development in the story line. However, due to my own past experiences it triggered a negative memory and made it hard to continue.
After a bit of thought, I decided to finish the book. There had been incredible moments and compelling writing up to that point, that it outweighed the negativity I felt with this one development.
The reason I think it’s important to mention this is due to the various topics that are covered within this story that may be sensitive areas for readers. It can be a difficult read as Sarah Chorn goes right for the aches in your heart but in the most compassionate way I’ve seen in writing.
So, was it worth it to finish the book? Absolutely!
Every aspect of this book was beautiful, with impressive worldbuilding and storytelling. Despite the development that hit negatively for me, I still think back on this book fondly and would love to return to it some day.
I’d highly recommend this for readers looking for a fairytale fantasy filled with emotionally driven storytelling.
Sarah Chorn captures emotional vulnerability, articulates it with beauty and treats it with dignity in this incredible story of loss, change and love.
I’ll admit, I went into this blind and was my first-time reading Sarah Chorn’s books. What compelled me to read this The Necessity of Rain was all the feedback I had heard from the ARC readers. It was described as a book that made readers cry, hit them with such emotional impact and that was it, I knew I needed to read this.
I was surprised to find that the Authors Note at the beginning had me choking up, setting the stage for the kind of experience I was in for.
Let’s start with the story, it follows three POVs; Isra a survivor of Dawnland and displaced from her home and family. Rosemary, suffering from physical disability and chronic pain, she only wishes for her mother’s well-being and Belladonna returned from Dawnland to confront the past the ran away from.
Seeing these three separate stories come together was emotional evoking. There were several moments I found myself reflecting on my own past or helped give me new perspective. This is the kind of read that will allow readers moments of retrospection, and for those who have never encountered the heart aches within the story, will still find the beauty and perhaps a better understanding of others throughout the scenes.
In addition, the character work along with their arcs are thoughtfully done. From the circumstances the characters go through to their reactions, it was easy to see how much care and planning went into every moment.
Now I will say, as the story explores characters in their darkest times it can be emotionally taxing. However, it was incredibly rewarding to read. Despite the heavy parts breaking my heart as I read, the story was masterfully expressed and quickly knit my heart back together again. This left me with a full heart by the time I was done reading and I will never forget that feeling.
In terms of the prose, it’s poetic yet accessible. While the themes are often complex, Sarah Chorn expresses them with simplicity, showing her skill with writing and storytelling.
So, the story was beautiful, the characters were well developed but what about the world?
Simply put, it was stunning. The world is immersive and feels like something built out of a fairytale. Gods and their divine creations fill every inch of the world with creativity and magic, while also weaving in powerful messages about the costs of their power and mortality. I often found myself immersed in the world and it’s one that I’ve come to miss since finishing the book.
With that being said, I think it’s important to mention that I nearly DNF’d the book at 80% and it’s not what you think. I simply reached a point that was triggering for me. I can’t say exactly what since it would be a spoiler, but I will say it’s written in a way that’s meant to be a beautiful development in the story line. However, due to my own past experiences it triggered a negative memory and made it hard to continue.
After a bit of thought, I decided to finish the book. There had been incredible moments and compelling writing up to that point, that it outweighed the negativity I felt with this one development.
The reason I think it’s important to mention this is due to the various topics that are covered within this story that may be sensitive areas for readers. It can be a difficult read as Sarah Chorn goes right for the aches in your heart but in the most compassionate way I’ve seen in writing.
So, was it worth it to finish the book? Absolutely!
Every aspect of this book was beautiful, with impressive worldbuilding and storytelling. Despite the development that hit negatively for me, I still think back on this book fondly and would love to return to it some day.
I’d highly recommend this for readers looking for a fairytale fantasy filled with emotionally driven storytelling.
June 23, 2023
If it were possible to give this book more stars I would. This is easily my new favorite book. The imagery, the beauty, the raw emotions tore my heart open and sewed it shut over and over again. Sarah’s books will forever be must reads for me because I cannot get enough.
July 8, 2023
This book was breathtakingly beautiful 😍 It was quite a bit out of my comfort zone and so there were moments when I had a hard time wrapping my head around this world and it's characters, but I was very invested in the overall story. I don't think it will be for everyone, but for those who are intrigued it definitely has some beautiful ideas it explores.
June 28, 2023
Once I can recover enough from this book, and form some more coherent thoughts I'll write and post my review.
May 31, 2024
Wow.
Breathtakingly beautiful book.
I know I cannot ever do justice to this book by writing a review but just know that after losing my father, I have kept a lot of feelings locked up within myself. And this book, these characters spoke all of that emotion out loudly in ways I cannot even begin to explain.
I felt my heart being scribbled into the pages of this book and I don't think there is anything more painfully beautiful thing than that.
This may not hit everyone like it did to me but if you have ever experienced loss then please do give it a try.
Breathtakingly beautiful book.
I know I cannot ever do justice to this book by writing a review but just know that after losing my father, I have kept a lot of feelings locked up within myself. And this book, these characters spoke all of that emotion out loudly in ways I cannot even begin to explain.
I felt my heart being scribbled into the pages of this book and I don't think there is anything more painfully beautiful thing than that.
This may not hit everyone like it did to me but if you have ever experienced loss then please do give it a try.
July 1, 2023
What a beautiful story of love, loss and change in a world of chaos and creation. The worldbuilding is so good, and I was totally in awe.
July 13, 2023
left me speechless
This book is beyond anything I have read before. It seeped into me, like a beautiful ache, and I hated to see it end. This gorgeous creation is captivating, sad , and brilliant. Sarah Chorn is a jeweler, choosing words that glitter and cut and shine for maximum impact and shatters me every time. If you don’t know this author, you should.
This book is beyond anything I have read before. It seeped into me, like a beautiful ache, and I hated to see it end. This gorgeous creation is captivating, sad , and brilliant. Sarah Chorn is a jeweler, choosing words that glitter and cut and shine for maximum impact and shatters me every time. If you don’t know this author, you should.
July 2, 2023
Beautiful prose, gorgeous world, and fascinating characters. And, a damn good story too.
Unlike others, I did not shed any tears while reading this book; I do not normally become overly emotional when reading. But it does deal with highly emotional- no, heart-breaking issues - and Ms. Chorn writes them exceptionally well.
Rosemary's disability was likewise handled exceptionally well, and in a highly relatable manner for those of us with mobility issues.
Overall, a highly recommended read.
Unlike others, I did not shed any tears while reading this book; I do not normally become overly emotional when reading. But it does deal with highly emotional- no, heart-breaking issues - and Ms. Chorn writes them exceptionally well.
Rosemary's disability was likewise handled exceptionally well, and in a highly relatable manner for those of us with mobility issues.
Overall, a highly recommended read.
September 6, 2023
This book, like everything I have read of Sarah Chorn's, is exquisite. It's achingly beautiful, and deals with loss, love, and tragedy so prettily. My first 5 star review of the year.
September 30, 2025
DNF @ 68%
September 24, 2025
We read about three women whose families are divine beings, and how they cope with grief, adapt to change, and hold on to hope as these beings fade away. Ot was very poetic; even though it’s short, it’s not something you finish in one sitting, but it truly felt like a dream. Throughout the whole book, it was as if we were inside a fairytale. I had never read anything like it before, and I really loved it.
Rosemary, Isra, and Belladonna’s character voices felt quite similar, and at times I had to check which one I was reading. That’s my only criticism. Other than that, it was perfect.
Rosemary, Isra, and Belladonna’s character voices felt quite similar, and at times I had to check which one I was reading. That’s my only criticism. Other than that, it was perfect.
Read
November 26, 2023I knew this book was going to be emotional and beautiful when reading the authors foreword. Sarah Chorn said “I have a locked room in my soul, a place where I keep moments in amber.” I just stopped and thought am I ready to read this. I’m so glad I did! The story is so evoking and lyrical. The use of imagery throughout creates a deep and meaningful read. The exploration of change, growth and grief transcends other books I have read to understand humanity and emotions. I believe the author poured her soul into this. I don’t feel I can rate it stars as it’s more than a goodreads rating of stars. I think everyone should read this book at some point in their life and revisit it when needed.
August 1, 2023
One of the single most affirming, lyrically beautiful books I've read this entire year.
"The Necessity of Rain" makes the gods into people. It is a book that positively brims with experience and passion. Bursting at the seams with emotion, compassion and affirmation. The story is told is a non-linear fashion, a path of branching and connecting vines that help to contextualize each and every moment that comes both before and after.
The Divine are beings that love, live, and dwell with mortals who divinity comes with a cost. A collection of absolutely fantastic characters who know their time is steadily slipping and who must (or already have) come to grips with the inevitable. It's the story of Rosemary, Isra, and Belladonna, wrestling with disability and grief and so much more human for it. IT's a story of love, forgiveness, and finding oneself. Of blooming, and becoming whole. But also accepting how whole you were to begin with.
Nobody turns a phrase life Chorn can. Each word is packed with emotion to bursting. Beautiful, strong, and sometimes devastating while being affirming. It's a book that leaves a thorn in your heart, but one you're glad is there when you realize it.
This deserves all the stars. It's a firm reminder that it's okay to be weak and vulnerable, and there's a strength in that.
"The Necessity of Rain" makes the gods into people. It is a book that positively brims with experience and passion. Bursting at the seams with emotion, compassion and affirmation. The story is told is a non-linear fashion, a path of branching and connecting vines that help to contextualize each and every moment that comes both before and after.
The Divine are beings that love, live, and dwell with mortals who divinity comes with a cost. A collection of absolutely fantastic characters who know their time is steadily slipping and who must (or already have) come to grips with the inevitable. It's the story of Rosemary, Isra, and Belladonna, wrestling with disability and grief and so much more human for it. IT's a story of love, forgiveness, and finding oneself. Of blooming, and becoming whole. But also accepting how whole you were to begin with.
Nobody turns a phrase life Chorn can. Each word is packed with emotion to bursting. Beautiful, strong, and sometimes devastating while being affirming. It's a book that leaves a thorn in your heart, but one you're glad is there when you realize it.
This deserves all the stars. It's a firm reminder that it's okay to be weak and vulnerable, and there's a strength in that.
June 28, 2023
Instead of a story with defined acts, reactions, and linear timelines, Sarah Chorn is using the complex emotions of her characters to tell this story. Precisely accenting the layers of contradictions in love, loyalty, grief, or anger, she has a breathtaking ability to pinpoint emotional description so clearly that it will force you to relive your own experiences.
You know how smells can yank you right out of your daily routine and into a memory so clear that your other senses start recalling the rest of that scene? Sarah Chorn does that with unique and vivid emotional details.
There's a tendency to purposely ignore negative feelings for those we love. By framing both the love and pain we feel at the exact same time, Chorn's words heal as they rip open wounds we try to ignore.
I do want to emphasize that this is not your common fantasy. As I said, this is not a book made of a hard outline with events, reactions, solutions, and resolutions. There is a plot, and there is plenty happening that will leave you curious about what comes next. But rather than focusing on a hard story, this book focuses on the emotional story.
There's a lot of talk right now in SFF about literary vs genre fiction, but I prefer the way Sarah Chorn defined the differences -- this is a lyrical fantasy.
You know how smells can yank you right out of your daily routine and into a memory so clear that your other senses start recalling the rest of that scene? Sarah Chorn does that with unique and vivid emotional details.
There's a tendency to purposely ignore negative feelings for those we love. By framing both the love and pain we feel at the exact same time, Chorn's words heal as they rip open wounds we try to ignore.
I do want to emphasize that this is not your common fantasy. As I said, this is not a book made of a hard outline with events, reactions, solutions, and resolutions. There is a plot, and there is plenty happening that will leave you curious about what comes next. But rather than focusing on a hard story, this book focuses on the emotional story.
There's a lot of talk right now in SFF about literary vs genre fiction, but I prefer the way Sarah Chorn defined the differences -- this is a lyrical fantasy.
May 18, 2025
Beautifully written, lots of symbolism and all that bollocks so you’ve got to be in the mood for this book. Not a huge amount actually happens but still v moreish. Was confused who was a butterfly and who was a sort of human/ god made out of leaves but got the idea. It’s about grief and love and all kinds of emotions but not a clue why everyone was suddenly growing old and weak and dying ??? Alas, it didn’t really matter
Wasn’t sure whether to go 4 or 5 stars, 4 felt too harsh so have 5 Sarah luv x
Wasn’t sure whether to go 4 or 5 stars, 4 felt too harsh so have 5 Sarah luv x
January 19, 2025
so so so beautiful
Read
January 16, 2026Dropped
This book is not for me.
This book is not for me.
July 11, 2023
This is the second title I have read by this author and I am impressed with the quality and fluidity of her prose.
This story is compulsive, emotional and melancholic. Told from three POV's the narrative flips between past and present events and the end product was a joy to read.
Highly recommend this book 📚
This story is compulsive, emotional and melancholic. Told from three POV's the narrative flips between past and present events and the end product was a joy to read.
Highly recommend this book 📚
August 16, 2023
This was one of the most touching and beautifully crafted novels I’ve read in a long while. Even though it’s largely about grief and loss, it’s full of hope and healing rather than being depressing. Highly, highly recommend.
Rep: All three POV characters are sapphic, one is a physically disabled cane & wheelchair user, and another has sensory issues.
CWs: anxiety & i think panic attacks?, death of a parent, loss of home due to war/bombings, emotionally abusive mother, some sort of fantasy dementia/alzheimer’s, homophobia (from family), grief, loss
Love sapphic books, too? Let's be friends! Booktok | Twitter
Rep: All three POV characters are sapphic, one is a physically disabled cane & wheelchair user, and another has sensory issues.
CWs: anxiety & i think panic attacks?, death of a parent, loss of home due to war/bombings, emotionally abusive mother, some sort of fantasy dementia/alzheimer’s, homophobia (from family), grief, loss
Love sapphic books, too? Let's be friends! Booktok | Twitter
February 12, 2024
Sarah Chorn writes deeply emotional stories. I haven’t read anything she has published and not loved it. I, like many others, had to read this at a slower pace. I couldn’t continue at times because it resonates it’s pain, joy, and sorrow all the way into my bones. Beautifully wrought and profound.
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