First Light

Red Rain #5.5

by Rachel Newhouse

The story of a beloved “villain”—and the betrayal that turned a scientist into a madman.

Nic has always been too smart for his own good. The son of the scientist responsible for putting humans on Mars, Nic plans to follow in his father’s footsteps. But when his father is cruelly punished for being “unassimilated,” Nic vows to create an apocalyptic weapon and free the world from United control. Seeking allies, Nic charms his way into the upper ranks, where he meets Min, a high-ranking official with revolutionary plans of her own. Min offers Nic unlimited funding and legal protection. But in exchange, she wants the one thing he can’t give: his heart.

First Light is a prequel story in the RED RAIN series, a fast-paced Christian sci-fi adventure that’s perfect for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and LEFT BEHIND.

Genres: Dystopia

Kindle Edition

Published June 6, 2023

About the author

Rachel Newhouse is an author, wife, secretary, and Sunday school teacher from Kansas City, Missouri. Her obsessions are sci-fi, dystopian, and kid lit. When she’s not writing, she’s cooking Asian food, growing chilis that are too spicy to eat, and watching wildly age-inappropriate shows like My Little Pony and Gravity Falls with her husband, Joe. She also really likes glitter. You’ve been warned.

Reviews

[Angie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow...this...this was so revealing. Just incredible! Yes, obviously even young Nic had some issues he definitely needed to work on. And some, heh, eccentricities that haven't changed that much. But seeing him struggle and try and be hurt for trying to do the right thing--and then the whole thing with Asia. Wow, this made me even more terrified of Asia! (Okay, Min, but we're going with Asia.) But more than anything, the scenes between him and his dad. Oh, my word, my hearrrrrrrt!!! Especially the bit in the observatory--I think I almost cried. And then to know that after that he actually gave it up??? Until, you know, the unspeakably evil thing happened, but still... I have come to appreciate Nic slightly more as the series progressed (though to be fair, it wasn't possible to appreciate him much less than initial impressions...), but this one put me fully in his camp and rooting hard for his eventual redemption for the very first time. <\3<3<\3

[Jonathan Lovelace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tragic backstory of a beloved villain that readers never asked for but will love anyway. aka the Red Rain equivalent of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, except actually good.

The star rating above is a compromise between my delight in the same "couldn't put down" narrative voice as Mrs. Newhouse has consistently produced in nearly everything of hers I have ever read, and the feelings of "I can't look!" and "When will it end?" that the events and character development induced in my "sympathetic/empathetic-reader" soul. The story is excellently written, but even less to my taste than usual.

With what amounts to a brief framing story (the first and last chapters) connecting this story to the events of Book 5 specifically and the preceding volumes in general, the bulk of this story is the account of how "Dr. Nic" descended from a maladjusted but idealistic scientific prodigy to the basically nihilistic mad scientist we see in the rest of the series—from his point of view.

The last time we had a story from Nic's perspective (Prisoner 120518), I called it "delightfully madcap," as we romped through the off-the-wall schemes he developed on the fly as he sought to break himself and Philli out of Rott Prison. The tone, and content, of this story takes us back in the direction of Project 74 (though mercifully not as far as the original fanfic version of Crook Q), reminding me of the "Un-Man" speeches in Perelandra (which I am glad to have read all the way through once, and do not expect to ever want to read again because of that very section).

If you're like me, trying to avoid dystopias in fiction as in real life and preferring happy endings but somehow having gotten hooked by this series, you might want to give this one a miss. On the other hand, if you enjoy dystopian fiction as a genre, or stories in which you "get into the head" of a villain, this should be right up your alley; Rachel Newhouse is an excellent writer.

(I received a "free" advance e-copy as a financial supporter on Mrs. Newhouse's Patreon. This review is in part condensed from my initial review on my blog.)

[Rachel Newhouse]

Guess what's releasing in audio and paperback tomorrow!!

I know I spend a lot of time raving about my audiobook narrators, but LISTEN, Eric really proves himself with this production. He does a fantastic job of taking Nic from nihilistic to having a soul to back again, and the way he narrates Mr. Von is just... *cries in tragic backstory* I'm so happy with the finished product and can't WAIT to hear how Eric narrates Books #7.

[Dylan West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Newhouse's Finest Writing Yet

I knew this book would be good. I didn't know it would be *this* good. First Light gets so many things right. Nic is characterized so clearly that I feel like I know him. He's not interesting just because he's snarky, but because he thinks deeply and makes keen observations that go beyond the obvious. The romance in this book feels real and cliche-free, which is an achievement unto itself. And I kept stopping to admire the writing:

-"And her lips were, like always, the color of murder."
-"...the hum of generators and monitors fading like the breath leaving a dying man"
-"Dad's face erupted in a smile like a forgotten volcano."
-"That's just where I liked my neighbors: in a different time zone."
-"His voice nearly cracked from the sheer weight of the pain it carried."
-"...he was so pale, with his white lab coat and even whiter hair, that he probably would have reflected light like the moon. It looked like God had gotten careless and bleached the entire man in the washer."
-"Her frazzled curls stood on end as she stomped about my office, waving her arms. She was like a little frilled lizard--doing everything she could to make herself appear bigger and more threatening."

I think readers who haven't read any of the prior books could still enjoy this. This is one of those rare works that I'll be going back to reread in the future. If you haven't read it for the first time, you're in for an experience.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my most favorite yet!!!! <<<< It's Nic's story!!! >>>> The timing for his backstory is superb -- don't skip ahead to this one because so much of Book 5 (and the books prior!) offers helpful insights. But seriously, you GOTTA READ THIS!

Also! There is STUNNING dialogue snippets about Christ's resurrection, the essence of Christianity -- which is the basis for the ENTIRE Red Rain series!!! The decisions Nic makes, the lengths he goes to do the right thing (which is not necessarily the kindest because, well you know, he has a temper and is easily annoyed!)...

No spoilers ... but throughout Red Rain you get the sense that Nic has a heart under that cold, scientific exterior. It's a wonder Newhouse kept his story from bursting out before this because here we see his temper, his annoyance -- and his vulnerability -- at its fullest.

[Jessica Goeken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and easy to read.

This snapshot into Nic’s past was fun to read. I enjoyed seeing bits and pieces of his personality fall into place. Found a few surprises in there as well.