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Red Rain #3
Andromeda
This is all your fault, Dad.
After destroying an experimental weapons factory, 17-year-old Philadelphia leaps off a train in a desperate attempt to escape from prison. But when the government thwarts her plan, she finds herself drugged and whisked away to an unknown location. There, a politician from her past offers her a plea bargain: Record a series of propaganda videos taking responsibility for acts of terrorism so the corrupt United government can cover its tracks, and she can go free. The offer seems too good to be true, and Philadelphia soon realizes that her patronizing captor also has something to hide. With her former enemy Dr. Nic as her only ally, Philadelphia races to find the truth before it's too late. Who is really in charge, and what do they want? Can Philadelphia use them to find her family, or will they use her to get something much worse?
Andromeda is the third novella in the Red Rain saga, a fast-paced Christian sci-fi series for teens and adults.
After destroying an experimental weapons factory, 17-year-old Philadelphia leaps off a train in a desperate attempt to escape from prison. But when the government thwarts her plan, she finds herself drugged and whisked away to an unknown location. There, a politician from her past offers her a plea bargain: Record a series of propaganda videos taking responsibility for acts of terrorism so the corrupt United government can cover its tracks, and she can go free. The offer seems too good to be true, and Philadelphia soon realizes that her patronizing captor also has something to hide. With her former enemy Dr. Nic as her only ally, Philadelphia races to find the truth before it's too late. Who is really in charge, and what do they want? Can Philadelphia use them to find her family, or will they use her to get something much worse?
Andromeda is the third novella in the Red Rain saga, a fast-paced Christian sci-fi series for teens and adults.
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First published September 6, 2022
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About the author
Rachel Newhouse
43 books40 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 26, 2023
This series, y’all. It continues to evolve as our main character continues to grow, and I am here for it. 👏👏👏
Speaking of Philly, she’s going through a lot in this one. 👀 Some heartbreaking revelations and choices from the past book continue, and I loved seeing her utilize her voice, find a role, and fight back in her own way. Some of the emotional things she went through, though, were so real and hard to read. Especially in her relationship with her father. 😭 *dashes off to write a virtual reality fanfic where she finally gets to just rest*
The Nic and Philly dynamic just intensifies and grows even better. (I know which ship I’m supposed to like, but I’m inclined to refuse.) Their irritation with each other but surprisingly similar goals was fabulous. 😂 And THAT TWIST!! Everything is thrown into such a different perspective now. 👀 Wowza.
A few minor characters from the first book show up again, and it was so interesting to see a more nuanced look at those who left or were left behind. I'll leave it at that. ;)
I really enjoyed this third installment in the series, and I can't wait to read the fourth!
CW: Descriptions of sudden deaths (one a suicide) including blood, both in flashbacks and on-page. Emotional distress, censorship, mentions of healing wounds and bodily fluids.
Speaking of Philly, she’s going through a lot in this one. 👀 Some heartbreaking revelations and choices from the past book continue, and I loved seeing her utilize her voice, find a role, and fight back in her own way. Some of the emotional things she went through, though, were so real and hard to read. Especially in her relationship with her father. 😭 *dashes off to write a virtual reality fanfic where she finally gets to just rest*
The Nic and Philly dynamic just intensifies and grows even better. (I know which ship I’m supposed to like, but I’m inclined to refuse.) Their irritation with each other but surprisingly similar goals was fabulous. 😂 And THAT TWIST!! Everything is thrown into such a different perspective now. 👀 Wowza.
A few minor characters from the first book show up again, and it was so interesting to see a more nuanced look at those who left or were left behind. I'll leave it at that. ;)
I really enjoyed this third installment in the series, and I can't wait to read the fourth!
CW: Descriptions of sudden deaths (one a suicide) including blood, both in flashbacks and on-page. Emotional distress, censorship, mentions of healing wounds and bodily fluids.
March 10, 2023
My favorite book in this series so far.😀 THOSE PLOT TWISTS THOUGH!!!!!!!!
February 1, 2023
Well, I was almost done with this whole series. Seriously, most of this book felt like so many dystopian plots. I will be honest enough to say that I haven't read dystopian novels because I usually find even looking at them makes me think they are dark, depressing, and rather dumb.
However, this book did take a couple of unexpected turns that had me wondering if I would enjoy it more than I thought I would. I'm at least going to give the next book a try.
But seriously, can we please let the plot of one teen girl against a one-world government a rest?
I did love how Phili made all her decisions based on what she thought God would have her do. This was done in a very teen way, but authentically. It's one of the big reasons I've kept reading.
However, this book did take a couple of unexpected turns that had me wondering if I would enjoy it more than I thought I would. I'm at least going to give the next book a try.
But seriously, can we please let the plot of one teen girl against a one-world government a rest?
I did love how Phili made all her decisions based on what she thought God would have her do. This was done in a very teen way, but authentically. It's one of the big reasons I've kept reading.
October 14, 2022
A fitting end (for now…)
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a fitting end to the series (for now…) with a lot of action and excellent pacing. I enjoyed seeing Philli come into her own and begin making her own decisions, decisions which are more assertive and intentional than they’ve been in the past. This is plenty of room left open for the story to continue and it will be interesting to see where the author decides to go next.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a fitting end to the series (for now…) with a lot of action and excellent pacing. I enjoyed seeing Philli come into her own and begin making her own decisions, decisions which are more assertive and intentional than they’ve been in the past. This is plenty of room left open for the story to continue and it will be interesting to see where the author decides to go next.
September 5, 2022
Andromeda is the third "main" entry in the series Mrs. Newhouse began ten years ago with Red Rain, and in my opinion the best one yet.
We rejoin teenage "Mennonite-looking" pacifist Philadelphia Smyrna and her one-time nemesis mad(-cap) scientist Dr. Nic as they have leaped from the frying pan into what turns out to be the fire: security footage from the action climax of Crook Q (which showed the events from Philli's perspective) and Prisoner 120518 (from Dr. Nic's), with Philli prominently visible in the collapse of a prison she had no reason to be in, has gone viral on the Internet despite the best efforts of the United's censors, and she and Dr. Nic are recaptured by officials from "the United", who extort her into making a series of videos "taking responsibility" for this "terrorism".
Andromeda combines some of the best features of the previous entries in the series, including the page-turning suspense of Red Rain, Dr Nic's madcap schemes (falling apart) as in "Prisoner 120518", and masterfully interwoven backstory as in "Project 74". And added to all of that is a finely crafted roller coaster of plot twists.
Reading the story from Philli's first-person perspective is again a strong point of Andromeda (unlike Crook Q); there's very little on-screen action, but as she is confronted with revelation after revelation about her past and tries to reveal enough to the world without revealing too much to her captors, it is illuminating and engrossing to be "in her head".
Enough of the plot twists are corrections to what Philli thought she knew from Red Rain that I don't recommend Andromeda as the entry point to this series; a reader who hasn't read Red Rain first (or who has forgotten most of it) will most likely be either confused or bored. On the other hand, I think that most of the necessary background from Crook Q and/or "Prisoner 120518" is ably summarized in Andromeda's opening scene, so while I do recommend reading those earlier stories, I don't consider them required prerequisites to understand and enjoy Andromeda.
In my opinion Andromeda is the best entry in the series so far; I look forward to seeing what happens in Book 4.
(This review is condensed and adapted from a longer review on my blog.)
We rejoin teenage "Mennonite-looking" pacifist Philadelphia Smyrna and her one-time nemesis mad(-cap) scientist Dr. Nic as they have leaped from the frying pan into what turns out to be the fire: security footage from the action climax of Crook Q (which showed the events from Philli's perspective) and Prisoner 120518 (from Dr. Nic's), with Philli prominently visible in the collapse of a prison she had no reason to be in, has gone viral on the Internet despite the best efforts of the United's censors, and she and Dr. Nic are recaptured by officials from "the United", who extort her into making a series of videos "taking responsibility" for this "terrorism".
Andromeda combines some of the best features of the previous entries in the series, including the page-turning suspense of Red Rain, Dr Nic's madcap schemes (falling apart) as in "Prisoner 120518", and masterfully interwoven backstory as in "Project 74". And added to all of that is a finely crafted roller coaster of plot twists.
Reading the story from Philli's first-person perspective is again a strong point of Andromeda (unlike Crook Q); there's very little on-screen action, but as she is confronted with revelation after revelation about her past and tries to reveal enough to the world without revealing too much to her captors, it is illuminating and engrossing to be "in her head".
Enough of the plot twists are corrections to what Philli thought she knew from Red Rain that I don't recommend Andromeda as the entry point to this series; a reader who hasn't read Red Rain first (or who has forgotten most of it) will most likely be either confused or bored. On the other hand, I think that most of the necessary background from Crook Q and/or "Prisoner 120518" is ably summarized in Andromeda's opening scene, so while I do recommend reading those earlier stories, I don't consider them required prerequisites to understand and enjoy Andromeda.
In my opinion Andromeda is the best entry in the series so far; I look forward to seeing what happens in Book 4.
(This review is condensed and adapted from a longer review on my blog.)
April 26, 2023
I really enjoyed this installment in the series. While I loved Red Rain as a standalone, the continuing series has been very satisfying. Mainly because who doesn't love seeing Nic interact with everyone? I loved Phili's honest reaction to everything going on and the continuing story unfolding.
November 25, 2022
Interesting Reveals
I can't specify what the interesting reveals are without spoiling the story, but let's just say things will be... recontextualized. I felt this was slower paced than book 2 and featured less action, but the writing is still solid. If you've read the earlier books in the series, definitely read this one, too. Along that line, I'll be moving on to Aurelius...
I can't specify what the interesting reveals are without spoiling the story, but let's just say things will be... recontextualized. I felt this was slower paced than book 2 and featured less action, but the writing is still solid. If you've read the earlier books in the series, definitely read this one, too. Along that line, I'll be moving on to Aurelius...
January 7, 2026
Wowwwww. How many times can we flip what we think we know on its head in a single book? This bodes absolutely terribly for the rest of the series, which I've already heard is full of plot twists. But just--wow.
Phil went through so much in this book, and I felt for her even as I appreciated her growth and being willing to take a stand. Also--certain of her advantages are entirely accidental, but she does a great job of taking advantage of them, and of not giving up even when she's in an impossible position. Just her tenacity is worth so much! Nic is still a mixed bag, but I appreciated seeing him move closer to an actual ally in certain situations.
That ending, though--so much whiplash! You mean that's it--just like that? Seriously? Not that it was bad; it just left my head spinning. But of course I'm still only getting started with the series, so I'm sure it won't last. (: Glad for the little bit of a breather, though--especially since I promised the niece I'm racing through these that I wouldn't go on to the next part of the series until her print copy comes in. XD
Quick content warning that in addition to the general violence and world-destroying threats, there's a threat of suicide and a suicide actually carried out.
Phil went through so much in this book, and I felt for her even as I appreciated her growth and being willing to take a stand. Also--certain of her advantages are entirely accidental, but she does a great job of taking advantage of them, and of not giving up even when she's in an impossible position. Just her tenacity is worth so much! Nic is still a mixed bag, but I appreciated seeing him move closer to an actual ally in certain situations.
That ending, though--so much whiplash! You mean that's it--just like that? Seriously? Not that it was bad; it just left my head spinning. But of course I'm still only getting started with the series, so I'm sure it won't last. (: Glad for the little bit of a breather, though--especially since I promised the niece I'm racing through these that I wouldn't go on to the next part of the series until her print copy comes in. XD
Quick content warning that in addition to the general violence and world-destroying threats, there's a threat of suicide and a suicide actually carried out.
July 5, 2024
This book… I started it, got busy, and then finished it in 2 days! Ya’ll, I wanted to CRY at the end! Rachel has such an amazing way of telling a story and making you feel bad for characters, even if they are meant to be the bad guy. But I loved Phil once again in this book, and even though they don’t SEEM to enjoy each other, I enjoyed the dynamic between Phil and Nic. Definitely a must read! Can’t wait to read book 3!😄💜
December 3, 2025
ACK!!! This series is addictive.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews