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Red Rain #6
Operation Thunderbird
You are not a hero, Andromeda.
The year is 2076. Earth is ruled by a one-world government. In order to maintain unity, all citizens must deny their national, racial, and religious identities—or suffer the consequences.
Seventeen-year-old Philadelphia Smyrna lives two lives. To the government, she’s Andromeda, the adopted daughter of an influential family. To the “unassimilated,” she’s Blue Fire, the figurehead of a revolution. Under her leadership, the movement is gaining steam—until the government retaliates by ordering the mass relocation of the unassimilated to Chinese work camps. Philadelphia realizes she must call for war before all her friends are lost. Her opportunity comes when she’s invited to the government’s biggest gala of the year, giving the revolution the chance to take down the United from the top. But to succeed, Philadelphia must do the one thing she promised she’d never do: kill.
Operation Thunderbird is the sixth book in the RED RAIN series, a fast-paced Christian sci-fi adventure that’s perfect for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and LEFT BEHIND.
The year is 2076. Earth is ruled by a one-world government. In order to maintain unity, all citizens must deny their national, racial, and religious identities—or suffer the consequences.
Seventeen-year-old Philadelphia Smyrna lives two lives. To the government, she’s Andromeda, the adopted daughter of an influential family. To the “unassimilated,” she’s Blue Fire, the figurehead of a revolution. Under her leadership, the movement is gaining steam—until the government retaliates by ordering the mass relocation of the unassimilated to Chinese work camps. Philadelphia realizes she must call for war before all her friends are lost. Her opportunity comes when she’s invited to the government’s biggest gala of the year, giving the revolution the chance to take down the United from the top. But to succeed, Philadelphia must do the one thing she promised she’d never do: kill.
Operation Thunderbird is the sixth book in the RED RAIN series, a fast-paced Christian sci-fi adventure that’s perfect for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and LEFT BEHIND.
Paperback
Published July 25, 2023
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Newhouse
42 books39 followersRachel 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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 30, 2023
I feel like I held my breath this entire book (except for THAT ONE MOMENT when my dreams literally came true).
Is this where the series and I part? Whoa, are we going there??? Did that just happen? Ewww, medical details? Oh my gosh, Stanyard! That's the girl I know. What, what, what? Breathe, Kate.
I loved this one, needless to say, especially the emotional throwback scene and the new, clever settings that were so much more than just a backdrop. Also, I'm a fan of a good dystopian training scene.
It was also neat to see how rocky Philly's healing and coming of age journey truly is, and once I caught where we were going with things, I really liked what the author did.
The cliffhanger though. 👀👀
I look forward to the series continuing. 😉
Best quote that's not a spoiler: “We always come prepared to vandalize,” Dowe returned.
CW: Medical details including sci-fi modifications, killing sims, and implied swearing.
Is this where the series and I part? Whoa, are we going there??? Did that just happen? Ewww, medical details? Oh my gosh, Stanyard! That's the girl I know. What, what, what? Breathe, Kate.
I loved this one, needless to say, especially the emotional throwback scene and the new, clever settings that were so much more than just a backdrop. Also, I'm a fan of a good dystopian training scene.
It was also neat to see how rocky Philly's healing and coming of age journey truly is, and once I caught where we were going with things, I really liked what the author did.
The cliffhanger though. 👀👀
I look forward to the series continuing. 😉
Best quote that's not a spoiler: “We always come prepared to vandalize,” Dowe returned.
CW: Medical details including sci-fi modifications, killing sims, and implied swearing.
July 27, 2023
Wow!
This book is fantastic! Action, tension, consequences for bad decisions…Philadelphia gets put through the ringer and has to make some hard decisions that will change the course of the rest of her life. It’s a great installment with a heart-pounding ending.
This book is fantastic! Action, tension, consequences for bad decisions…Philadelphia gets put through the ringer and has to make some hard decisions that will change the course of the rest of her life. It’s a great installment with a heart-pounding ending.
October 7, 2023
Wow, wow, WOW!
And I thought the stakes couldn't get higher! The characters come together for a final climax, the action gets more life-threatening, the danger more intense...
And it's not over yet!!!
And I thought the stakes couldn't get higher! The characters come together for a final climax, the action gets more life-threatening, the danger more intense...
And it's not over yet!!!
Read
April 2, 2025**2025 reread** Man, I forgot how much of a JERK [redacted] was in this book.
Don't make me regret redeeming you, pal. I can and still will kill you.
Don't make me regret redeeming you, pal. I can and still will kill you.
April 16, 2024
Oh my goodness! I can't say enough about how exciting this book was to read!
First of all, during my Bible class, I got a little insight into why Philadelphia's last name is Smyrna. In the book of Revelation, one of the 7 churches is named Smyrna. Jesus' warning to this church is as follows: "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death," (Rev. 2:8-11, NIV). To me, this was a whole revelation of what Philadelphia's purpose was from the start of the series, and how the character of Philidelphia was formed.
*Slight spoilers from here on out*
Second of all, the inner and spiritual turmoil throughout this book is amazing! When Philidelphia first started fidgeting with the idea that she may have to kill to win the war, it gave me a feeling that something wasn't right. I looked back at scriptures that said "thou shall not kill," but also verses that said to stand up against governments that went against God's word. I thought of righteous war and why God would permit that, but I also thought about how God wouldn't want people to sin to bring good. The whole time that Phili was working through this spiritual battle, I was working right along with her, doing my research and thinking about what I would do in her situation. Mrs. Newhouse does an incredible job at making her readers think and dive deeper into their own faith.
Lastly, I love Mrs. Newhouse's writing style. Parts of her writing I find very similar to poetry and how it is formed. The way she paces the book, but is also able to convey details, is something I admire and want to provide throughout my own writing. Mrs. Newhouse is an amazing writer and storyteller, and I can't wait to see where this series takes her in life.
First of all, during my Bible class, I got a little insight into why Philadelphia's last name is Smyrna. In the book of Revelation, one of the 7 churches is named Smyrna. Jesus' warning to this church is as follows: "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death," (Rev. 2:8-11, NIV). To me, this was a whole revelation of what Philadelphia's purpose was from the start of the series, and how the character of Philidelphia was formed.
*Slight spoilers from here on out*
Second of all, the inner and spiritual turmoil throughout this book is amazing! When Philidelphia first started fidgeting with the idea that she may have to kill to win the war, it gave me a feeling that something wasn't right. I looked back at scriptures that said "thou shall not kill," but also verses that said to stand up against governments that went against God's word. I thought of righteous war and why God would permit that, but I also thought about how God wouldn't want people to sin to bring good. The whole time that Phili was working through this spiritual battle, I was working right along with her, doing my research and thinking about what I would do in her situation. Mrs. Newhouse does an incredible job at making her readers think and dive deeper into their own faith.
Lastly, I love Mrs. Newhouse's writing style. Parts of her writing I find very similar to poetry and how it is formed. The way she paces the book, but is also able to convey details, is something I admire and want to provide throughout my own writing. Mrs. Newhouse is an amazing writer and storyteller, and I can't wait to see where this series takes her in life.
July 25, 2023
Mrs. Newhouse has outdone herself again. As we head toward the final third of the series as currently planned (she's promised a total of nine "main books" and eight "side stories"), Operation Thunderbird brings together pretty much all of the previously-unresolved threads from previous entries in the series and showcases the characters' growth and maturity, with thematic resonance and touches of subtle humor woven together with her trademark "can't put it down" narrative voice. This may be Mrs. Newhouse's best book yet---and I say that even though there were several places where I noticed myself thinking that something about the pacing or plot ordering felt not quite right, and that she could have used a few more weeks in planning and/or revision.
(Between the rerelease of Crook Q on Amazon, which is if anything an over-early estimate of Mrs. Newhouse's official relaunch of herself and the series, and the publication of this book she's averaged one new book or story---counting rereleases and omnibuses, but not Patron-exclusives---every forty-three days, and this is the first sign of that breakneck pace affecting the quality even slightly in my estimation.)
Past entries in the series have kept me hooked despite the dystopian genre; in this story, while the situation continues to be dark for Philli and company, I didn't even notice that genre background as something to think about (and so I forgot to make that usual mention in my review on my blog). I'm looking forward to seeing how Mrs. Newhouse brings the series to a close in the coming months.
I received an advance electronic copy of this book as a financial supporter on the author's Patreon.
(Between the rerelease of Crook Q on Amazon, which is if anything an over-early estimate of Mrs. Newhouse's official relaunch of herself and the series, and the publication of this book she's averaged one new book or story---counting rereleases and omnibuses, but not Patron-exclusives---every forty-three days, and this is the first sign of that breakneck pace affecting the quality even slightly in my estimation.)
Past entries in the series have kept me hooked despite the dystopian genre; in this story, while the situation continues to be dark for Philli and company, I didn't even notice that genre background as something to think about (and so I forgot to make that usual mention in my review on my blog). I'm looking forward to seeing how Mrs. Newhouse brings the series to a close in the coming months.
I received an advance electronic copy of this book as a financial supporter on the author's Patreon.
May 16, 2024
At this point I really wouldn't mind if Stanyard took a dive off a cliff. He's so anoying.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews