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Nostalgic Rain #1
Nostalgic Rain: Galaxies Away
What seventeen-year-old Leland finds in the abandoned basement of his house is something he will never forget.
Leland lost his father when he was seven. Since then, he has successfully adapted to the awful life of being a student, the man of the house, and a father figure to his two younger siblings. All of that changes when he and his best friends stumble upon a secret in his deserted basement, and fall into another dimension with three moons, foggy woods, and an ancient castle-Oremanta.
Learning who he really is, how he came to this remote planet, and the shocking, ugly mystery of Oremanta aren't as bad as the quest he finds himself obligated to complete-killing someone he never thought he'd meet in Oremanta to save everyone.
Leland lost his father when he was seven. Since then, he has successfully adapted to the awful life of being a student, the man of the house, and a father figure to his two younger siblings. All of that changes when he and his best friends stumble upon a secret in his deserted basement, and fall into another dimension with three moons, foggy woods, and an ancient castle-Oremanta.
Learning who he really is, how he came to this remote planet, and the shocking, ugly mystery of Oremanta aren't as bad as the quest he finds himself obligated to complete-killing someone he never thought he'd meet in Oremanta to save everyone.
324 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2017
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2528 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
May 6, 2017
I received an early copy of Nostalgic Rain and I just finished reading it.
This book took me on a wonderful journey to another dimension, it was an emotional rollercoaster! Cliffhangers and plot twists are the two things I look for in the books I read and Nostalgic Rain HAS IT ALL. I'm impressed by the creativity and how smart this book was written. I can't recommend this to a specific group of people because honestly, anyone can enjoy this! The pace and development of the story was on point with perfect timing, I didn't feel bored reading this, it kept me at the edge of my seat. It's a real page-turner and impossible to put down because you keep wanting to know more & more. As for the ending; DAYYUUMM!! Mind = blown, I gasped so loud!!
I don't want to spoil anything but If you're into YA Fiction/Fantasy and Mystery, then this book is for you. It will be released July 1st, 2017 so don't forget to get your copy!
This book took me on a wonderful journey to another dimension, it was an emotional rollercoaster! Cliffhangers and plot twists are the two things I look for in the books I read and Nostalgic Rain HAS IT ALL. I'm impressed by the creativity and how smart this book was written. I can't recommend this to a specific group of people because honestly, anyone can enjoy this! The pace and development of the story was on point with perfect timing, I didn't feel bored reading this, it kept me at the edge of my seat. It's a real page-turner and impossible to put down because you keep wanting to know more & more. As for the ending; DAYYUUMM!! Mind = blown, I gasped so loud!!
I don't want to spoil anything but If you're into YA Fiction/Fantasy and Mystery, then this book is for you. It will be released July 1st, 2017 so don't forget to get your copy!
August 19, 2017
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Even though I’m a Slytherin, I don’t really enjoy being mean. But sometimes you just have to…
This was the story of Leland. Leland has lost his father when he was seven. The story starts when he’s seventeen and thinks he’s going insane, mostly because he’s been hearing voices… (and we all know that “hearing voices no one else can hear isn’t a good sign, even in the wizarding world.”)
But Leland apparently doesn’t know that, because he listens to the voices and goes to the basement on their instructions. He is then transported to another planet, along with his two best friends.
Let’s get the good things out of the way, shall we?
I liked the world in this book. It was interesting, original and pretty well brought up…
However, the plot was slow, predictable and somewhat cliché. There were so many point of views that it lost me too, a lot of them seemed useless and it rendered the plot even messier…
The writing seemed kinda immature at times and my eyes turned upward in their sockets on their own…
An example, you say? Here is is :
Also we had the main characters screaming “Die!” before trying to kill someone.. I mean… Come on…
There was some useless gore and aggressivity too… For example, at some point, we get the point of view of some dude just so we can find out exactly how he gets tortured and dies… That chapter was as useless as they come… Except... maybe... for shock value?
I saw some sexism too… Despite the fact that all the soldiers are men, while the nurses are all women; there was this moment, where Leland is thinking of how his father is gone :
I’m sorry? Can’t women be family leaders?! Beside being disgustingly heteronormative, it’s also utterly sexist… A mother is a family leader for fuck’s sake!
Finally, the characters were two dimensional, it was impossible to form a connection, they were deeply unlikeable and uninteresting...
Basically, this brought no feelings (except annoyance?) throughout the whole thing... I simply didn’t care. At all.
Even though I’m a Slytherin, I don’t really enjoy being mean. But sometimes you just have to…
This was the story of Leland. Leland has lost his father when he was seven. The story starts when he’s seventeen and thinks he’s going insane, mostly because he’s been hearing voices… (and we all know that “hearing voices no one else can hear isn’t a good sign, even in the wizarding world.”)
But Leland apparently doesn’t know that, because he listens to the voices and goes to the basement on their instructions. He is then transported to another planet, along with his two best friends.
Let’s get the good things out of the way, shall we?
I liked the world in this book. It was interesting, original and pretty well brought up…
However, the plot was slow, predictable and somewhat cliché. There were so many point of views that it lost me too, a lot of them seemed useless and it rendered the plot even messier…
The writing seemed kinda immature at times and my eyes turned upward in their sockets on their own…
An example, you say? Here is is :
“ Where’s your heart? ” Leland asked Yoink firmly. “ How can you kill so easily? These are lives! ”
Also we had the main characters screaming “Die!” before trying to kill someone.. I mean… Come on…
There was some useless gore and aggressivity too… For example, at some point, we get the point of view of some dude just so we can find out exactly how he gets tortured and dies… That chapter was as useless as they come… Except... maybe... for shock value?
I saw some sexism too… Despite the fact that all the soldiers are men, while the nurses are all women; there was this moment, where Leland is thinking of how his father is gone :
“He missed the presence of a family leader. Leland wasn’t just a seventeen- year- old spoiled kid; he was a son and a father- figure and a brother all in one.”
I’m sorry? Can’t women be family leaders?! Beside being disgustingly heteronormative, it’s also utterly sexist… A mother is a family leader for fuck’s sake!
Finally, the characters were two dimensional, it was impossible to form a connection, they were deeply unlikeable and uninteresting...
Basically, this brought no feelings (except annoyance?) throughout the whole thing... I simply didn’t care. At all.
June 25, 2017
I wrote the book in five years, so here's a star for each one. Thank you for the support, love you all!
April 22, 2017
Imagine reading about all of your favourite characters from all of your favourite books joining forces to defeat evil for once and for all. I'm talking about Katniss Everdeen going on the fellow ship of the ring to fight The Dark Lord for peace in Narnia. You can read that and more in Nostalgic Rain!
The book consist of a whole new world with a history and a cause. It is not your typical YA fiction where the protagonist falls in love and conquer the bad guys then winning all the glory and fame. NR is about how selfishness can blind you from seeing all the beauty of this world, it's about how your willpower can let out what you are capable of doing without your knowledge, it's not about how important friends are but how good they are to you, how far they can go with you and fight your battles with you.
I was impressed the whole time reading it. it reminded me of so many brilliant things I have already read, but somehow NR has its own vibe. I really loved how the transition from one place to another and the POV of one character to another took place. It was well-paced and not confusing. I've also always been amazed by how authors can create a whole new universe that has its own rules and people rather than just setting the book on earth regardless of the time (past-present-future) whatsoever. The creativity of one being can do wonders!
The thing I liked the most about NR, is the characters development, although it's the first book (saying first because I'm hoping there will be a sequel).
I only read the early review copy, the non-corrected proof and I was astonished and I can't wait to read final book once again.
I hope I didn't reveal too much because I want everyone to go get, read and love Nostalgic Rain.
P.s. The book's official release is on the 1st of July, 2017.
The book consist of a whole new world with a history and a cause. It is not your typical YA fiction where the protagonist falls in love and conquer the bad guys then winning all the glory and fame. NR is about how selfishness can blind you from seeing all the beauty of this world, it's about how your willpower can let out what you are capable of doing without your knowledge, it's not about how important friends are but how good they are to you, how far they can go with you and fight your battles with you.
I was impressed the whole time reading it. it reminded me of so many brilliant things I have already read, but somehow NR has its own vibe. I really loved how the transition from one place to another and the POV of one character to another took place. It was well-paced and not confusing. I've also always been amazed by how authors can create a whole new universe that has its own rules and people rather than just setting the book on earth regardless of the time (past-present-future) whatsoever. The creativity of one being can do wonders!
The thing I liked the most about NR, is the characters development, although it's the first book (saying first because I'm hoping there will be a sequel).
I only read the early review copy, the non-corrected proof and I was astonished and I can't wait to read final book once again.
I hope I didn't reveal too much because I want everyone to go get, read and love Nostalgic Rain.
P.s. The book's official release is on the 1st of July, 2017.
February 8, 2017
I asked the author for an early copy—as I found this from one my friends who marked it as “Want to read”. Before proceeding with the review, I’d love to give praise for the cover. It’s why I decided to email the author and ask him for a copy.
Have you ever read a book, or books, that started with many questions and then only half of those questions get answered by the time you complete the novel? Well, Nostalgic Rain is the exact opposite.
The first three or four chapters were risky—the author had built some good suspense and raised many questions that I, personally, have thought were nearly impossible to answer. I can’t say much as this will spoil the story, but congrats to the author – he pulled it off and explained everything as the story went on. And not only that—the story started to build itself upon those pillars created in the beginning of the book, making you realize that the author knows exactly where he’s taking us.
The foreshadowing in Nostalgic Rain is the main reason why I came here to write a review. As the story moves forward, there are hints here and there about things that would happen later on, but they are so subtle you can barely notice them. This makes the plot twists in this book all believable.
I won’t speak much about the characters, but “most” main characters have a very good character development that forces you to sympathies with them and feel their struggles.
If anything, I feel lucky for reading this novel before everyone. It is the best thing I’ve read in a while. And I’d like to thank A.S Balance for providing me with a free copy, much appreciated!
Have you ever read a book, or books, that started with many questions and then only half of those questions get answered by the time you complete the novel? Well, Nostalgic Rain is the exact opposite.
The first three or four chapters were risky—the author had built some good suspense and raised many questions that I, personally, have thought were nearly impossible to answer. I can’t say much as this will spoil the story, but congrats to the author – he pulled it off and explained everything as the story went on. And not only that—the story started to build itself upon those pillars created in the beginning of the book, making you realize that the author knows exactly where he’s taking us.
The foreshadowing in Nostalgic Rain is the main reason why I came here to write a review. As the story moves forward, there are hints here and there about things that would happen later on, but they are so subtle you can barely notice them. This makes the plot twists in this book all believable.
I won’t speak much about the characters, but “most” main characters have a very good character development that forces you to sympathies with them and feel their struggles.
If anything, I feel lucky for reading this novel before everyone. It is the best thing I’ve read in a while. And I’d like to thank A.S Balance for providing me with a free copy, much appreciated!
February 5, 2017
Disclaimer: I have received this ARC (Advance Reading Copy) as an exchange for my honest review.
"The more you feed your fear, the more you become imprisoned by it"
(Spoiler-Free)
Let's start this review with the MC: Leland Hopegone. Leland is a 17-year old boy who lives with his mother and two siblings in the town of temblewood. Initially, I didn't find Leland to be really different from other YA MC'S. He had a good background story, but that was it. But as the story progresses, Leland became one of the characters I felt attached to. The author was able to hide the traits that made Leland who he was, and was able to show them as the story unfolded itself. What I liked about this MC is that he has a reason to fight, a cause to defend, and one hell of a quest to complete.
The world-building in Nostalgic Rain is unique. The author had the ability to build a brand new world and yet didn't bore me with pages upon pages of description as seen in many fantasy books. You barely notice that he was describing something, but right when you finish a chapter, everything is painted in your head as if you're living the story.
I wish though that there has been less POV'S in this book. The story is mainly told through Leland's POV, but sometimes the narratives switches, which I found kind of distracting.
Plot (Spoiler-Free):
The thing I liked the most in NR is the plot. Every chapter moves the story forward, and the chapters end with some of the best cliffhangers i've read in a while, making it nearly impossible to stop reading.
I have read many titles this year. But I can say, hands down, that this debut novel has one of the best endings i've read in a while. It is not your typical YA ending where the protagonist slays the enemy and then kisses the heroine. If there's a definition for a bittersweet ending, it is this novel.
Character development:
Leland, Jennifer and Dylan (The main characters) had a good character development. Some of the characters who were introduced half way through the book (Billy, Maya) had a good character development too.
But I feel that someone like Aelfgar Hawx, one of my favourite characters in this book, did not receive as much development as the previously mentioned characters. I felt that I wanted to know more about this man, where he came from, how he became that strong etc..
Final thoughts:
I tried, as much as I could, to hide my excitement as I wrote this review. I even wanted to wait a couple of days before writing it. This is easily one of the best books you might read in your life. It's a wild ride with real characters and a plot that will make you excited for days.
The ending is so satisfactory -- yet you will want to read the second book the moment you complete it.
Regards, John.
"The more you feed your fear, the more you become imprisoned by it"
(Spoiler-Free)
Let's start this review with the MC: Leland Hopegone. Leland is a 17-year old boy who lives with his mother and two siblings in the town of temblewood. Initially, I didn't find Leland to be really different from other YA MC'S. He had a good background story, but that was it. But as the story progresses, Leland became one of the characters I felt attached to. The author was able to hide the traits that made Leland who he was, and was able to show them as the story unfolded itself. What I liked about this MC is that he has a reason to fight, a cause to defend, and one hell of a quest to complete.
The world-building in Nostalgic Rain is unique. The author had the ability to build a brand new world and yet didn't bore me with pages upon pages of description as seen in many fantasy books. You barely notice that he was describing something, but right when you finish a chapter, everything is painted in your head as if you're living the story.
I wish though that there has been less POV'S in this book. The story is mainly told through Leland's POV, but sometimes the narratives switches, which I found kind of distracting.
Plot (Spoiler-Free):
The thing I liked the most in NR is the plot. Every chapter moves the story forward, and the chapters end with some of the best cliffhangers i've read in a while, making it nearly impossible to stop reading.
I have read many titles this year. But I can say, hands down, that this debut novel has one of the best endings i've read in a while. It is not your typical YA ending where the protagonist slays the enemy and then kisses the heroine. If there's a definition for a bittersweet ending, it is this novel.
Character development:
Leland, Jennifer and Dylan (The main characters) had a good character development. Some of the characters who were introduced half way through the book (Billy, Maya) had a good character development too.
But I feel that someone like Aelfgar Hawx, one of my favourite characters in this book, did not receive as much development as the previously mentioned characters. I felt that I wanted to know more about this man, where he came from, how he became that strong etc..
Final thoughts:
I tried, as much as I could, to hide my excitement as I wrote this review. I even wanted to wait a couple of days before writing it. This is easily one of the best books you might read in your life. It's a wild ride with real characters and a plot that will make you excited for days.
The ending is so satisfactory -- yet you will want to read the second book the moment you complete it.
Regards, John.
June 12, 2017
(I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review)
DUDE. I did not know that fake Goodreads ratings were a thing until I saw all of the glowing reviews for this novel. Either you are all leaving fake reviews OR you received a different book than I did.
This novel has a plot that makes little sense, characters who are two-dimensional, and a narrative voice that grates.
The best way that I can describe exactly what bothered me about this novel is this: it felt like I was reading someone's first-ever (unedited) NaNoWriMo novel. The writing felt unpolished and choppy, and the pacing missed the mark entirely. Scenes that should have been gutwrenching for both the MC and the reader were just bland. And honestly? The author did very little work to sell us the premise.
This is not a novel that I would recommend to anyone. And also the title sounds like a Romance, not a Sci-Fi.
DUDE. I did not know that fake Goodreads ratings were a thing until I saw all of the glowing reviews for this novel. Either you are all leaving fake reviews OR you received a different book than I did.
This novel has a plot that makes little sense, characters who are two-dimensional, and a narrative voice that grates.
The best way that I can describe exactly what bothered me about this novel is this: it felt like I was reading someone's first-ever (unedited) NaNoWriMo novel. The writing felt unpolished and choppy, and the pacing missed the mark entirely. Scenes that should have been gutwrenching for both the MC and the reader were just bland. And honestly? The author did very little work to sell us the premise.
This is not a novel that I would recommend to anyone. And also the title sounds like a Romance, not a Sci-Fi.
Currently reading
June 1, 2017I received this book today and it's so beautiful i can't wait to start reading it
January 21, 2018
This book was quite well entertaining, it’s light &fast paced. It’s the type of books you wanna read when you’re not in the mood for big complicated books and want a lovely fantasy story without much commitment! :)
The author explained the world simply & beautifully, the language was decent, the characters didn’t jump into the drama of romance and all.
I love oremanta’s three moons & the beautiful healing squad headquarter! It’s like a magical Spa place ;p
I also loved how we started with following one storyline, then it divided into multiple storylines as each gang went into their own adventure.
****SPOILERS!****
****SPOILERS!!!!****
-I really liked the explanation of why Leland saw Jenny in his basement, it was really well thought of, and the fight scene between Billy & Yoink was one of the best scenes in the novel, I liked how brave Billy was & how he worked hard almost all his life for this moment & how he used the moxie in the fight. And I like Aelfgar! Yeah okay all of us do :)
-Also I liked the glimpses back to earth& would’ve loved more of them.
4.5 stars was my initial rating buttt that ending!! 5 STARS for the ending, generally starting from the war, the novel picked up VERY nicely, action & strong emotions.
And wait what does that ending mean!! Is there a way back to earth ?! wow
All the before the war felt like it misses something! & it could have been way better bcoz it has the potential to, but after all, it’s all a personal taste & every author wants to deliver specific things to his readers.
-e.g, I personally felt that Jenny & Leland are just followers, they are just doing what they’ve been told to do, I would’ve loved a bit of more exploring in the woods, what about discovering some of the places of oremanta by themselves? Or a bit of recklessness ? How about Jenny goes nuts after witnessing two deaths in front of her eyes & decides to join the war as a warrior ? Or maybe runaway until she discovers the healing squad area by herself? Or what if Jenny & Roy somehow planed for some trick to save warden ?
I didn’t like what happen to warden, it felt like he was just an object to serve the story & to show us how things work in oremanta & that village( e.g., with Billy it was more meaningful & it serves him as a character & it was emotional & beautifully done)
-And Leland, he is a good character & always tries to do the right thing, but I’m not going to like him & think high of him just b/c he is a Keo, boom! he got the sword of the legends! I don’t recall that he did any proper training ( I don’t consider trying to kill the beasts a training) & I wished the deathly journey were more deathly ;p, In comparison with Jack ( who seems to want to compete with Leland), Jack worked hard on himself so if he’s going to win a fight, he’s going to do so bcoz he deserved it ( Not just for being lucky & having the blood of a Keo) besides, Jack is funny & I liked how he survived in the woods in the beginning of the novel & adopted really well by himself! I wished we had the chance to see more of him!
-l also wished the feelings between the characters were stronger & deeper ( whether it’s friendship, romance or mentor-student relationship)
Waiting for book two!! Hope it will be as interesting & well written.
The author explained the world simply & beautifully, the language was decent, the characters didn’t jump into the drama of romance and all.
I love oremanta’s three moons & the beautiful healing squad headquarter! It’s like a magical Spa place ;p
I also loved how we started with following one storyline, then it divided into multiple storylines as each gang went into their own adventure.
****SPOILERS!****
****SPOILERS!!!!****
-I really liked the explanation of why Leland saw Jenny in his basement, it was really well thought of, and the fight scene between Billy & Yoink was one of the best scenes in the novel, I liked how brave Billy was & how he worked hard almost all his life for this moment & how he used the moxie in the fight. And I like Aelfgar! Yeah okay all of us do :)
-Also I liked the glimpses back to earth& would’ve loved more of them.
4.5 stars was my initial rating buttt that ending!! 5 STARS for the ending, generally starting from the war, the novel picked up VERY nicely, action & strong emotions.
And wait what does that ending mean!! Is there a way back to earth ?! wow
All the before the war felt like it misses something! & it could have been way better bcoz it has the potential to, but after all, it’s all a personal taste & every author wants to deliver specific things to his readers.
-e.g, I personally felt that Jenny & Leland are just followers, they are just doing what they’ve been told to do, I would’ve loved a bit of more exploring in the woods, what about discovering some of the places of oremanta by themselves? Or a bit of recklessness ? How about Jenny goes nuts after witnessing two deaths in front of her eyes & decides to join the war as a warrior ? Or maybe runaway until she discovers the healing squad area by herself? Or what if Jenny & Roy somehow planed for some trick to save warden ?
I didn’t like what happen to warden, it felt like he was just an object to serve the story & to show us how things work in oremanta & that village( e.g., with Billy it was more meaningful & it serves him as a character & it was emotional & beautifully done)
-And Leland, he is a good character & always tries to do the right thing, but I’m not going to like him & think high of him just b/c he is a Keo, boom! he got the sword of the legends! I don’t recall that he did any proper training ( I don’t consider trying to kill the beasts a training) & I wished the deathly journey were more deathly ;p, In comparison with Jack ( who seems to want to compete with Leland), Jack worked hard on himself so if he’s going to win a fight, he’s going to do so bcoz he deserved it ( Not just for being lucky & having the blood of a Keo) besides, Jack is funny & I liked how he survived in the woods in the beginning of the novel & adopted really well by himself! I wished we had the chance to see more of him!
-l also wished the feelings between the characters were stronger & deeper ( whether it’s friendship, romance or mentor-student relationship)
Waiting for book two!! Hope it will be as interesting & well written.
August 17, 2017
it would be unfair if If I review this book because of an apparent reason; I am not a fan of Fantasy *that's why I never finished Game Of Thrones*. but I will give my humble impressions never the less, here goes nothing
as I mentioned earlier, the book is a fantasy novel which starts slow and gradually picks up speed with the turning of the pages, first of all, this should be a book of 230 pages, the wers of stretching out are clearly visible in some chapters, some chapters are exciting and full of life, some are natural, and some are really unnecessary, personally I hated all the Jennifer-Chapters.
il start with the positive rounds
A- the writer has an ability to stretch, that's a two-edged sword because the bad news is that stretching is bad, the good news is it means that the writer has an excess amount of creativity under his sleeves
B-he demonstrated some decent literary discipline by limiting the cheesiness of the characters as much as possible, not many can do that
C- the story has heart and potential and materials for other sequels
the bad news..
A- the characters are too rushed in the story, specially the main characeters, and other characters are *familiar* and can be seen the traces of their inspiration, like Aelfgar who can be easily mistaken by Gandalf from Lord of the Rings
B- too predictable events, no surprise twist
C- the final two-edged sword, stretching!
final words:
sometimes writing a review can be a responsibility, because any form of art is always under the mercy of the words of the critics, I write this with keeping in mind the amount of effort the author have put in this book and I must say I have nothing but praises for this piece of art as a first work from an aspiring and upcoming local talent whom I look forward to see his future work and have nothing for him but the sincere wish of good luck in the challenges ahead.
after all, I'm just a guy who reads books, nothing more.
good luck.
as I mentioned earlier, the book is a fantasy novel which starts slow and gradually picks up speed with the turning of the pages, first of all, this should be a book of 230 pages, the wers of stretching out are clearly visible in some chapters, some chapters are exciting and full of life, some are natural, and some are really unnecessary, personally I hated all the Jennifer-Chapters.
il start with the positive rounds
A- the writer has an ability to stretch, that's a two-edged sword because the bad news is that stretching is bad, the good news is it means that the writer has an excess amount of creativity under his sleeves
B-he demonstrated some decent literary discipline by limiting the cheesiness of the characters as much as possible, not many can do that
C- the story has heart and potential and materials for other sequels
the bad news..
A- the characters are too rushed in the story, specially the main characeters, and other characters are *familiar* and can be seen the traces of their inspiration, like Aelfgar who can be easily mistaken by Gandalf from Lord of the Rings
B- too predictable events, no surprise twist
C- the final two-edged sword, stretching!
final words:
sometimes writing a review can be a responsibility, because any form of art is always under the mercy of the words of the critics, I write this with keeping in mind the amount of effort the author have put in this book and I must say I have nothing but praises for this piece of art as a first work from an aspiring and upcoming local talent whom I look forward to see his future work and have nothing for him but the sincere wish of good luck in the challenges ahead.
after all, I'm just a guy who reads books, nothing more.
good luck.
January 23, 2017
Nostalgic Rain is the debut novel from A.S Balance. It revolves around a young boy named Leland who finds himself facing a series of mysteries ten years following the death of his father.
What I LOVED about the book:
The characters are NOT flawless. They try and fail and move on to do what they have to do next. It feels so organic. You get a good balance between failures and successes, making you wonder about the outcome of the next challenge they face.
You know a novel is good when the characters other than the MC have a well-thought, fully fleshed characters with background stories and certain unique traits (Except for few characters, that I would not name here not to spoil the story.)
Now, let’s get into the details.
NR starts with Leland, the MC, hearing “creepy voices,”. I haven’t thought that this would be the best start for a novel(felt like a cliche to be honest). But one thing kept me going—the plot never stops evolving. I have read many books in which there’s a GREAT start, but then that’s it. NR starts with a good hook, and then, from there, it escalates. Leland’s character shapes up as the story goes on, and fragments of his old memories are often revisited throughout the novel from different perspectives.
I was expecting to read another Narnia Rip off. NR is far from that. The plot is original and the characters are three-dimensional. Once you finish reading this, you will realize that you know more than you think about the characters and Oremanta.
Speaking of the ending….that ending.
Give me Book 2, right now, please.
What I LOVED about the book:
The characters are NOT flawless. They try and fail and move on to do what they have to do next. It feels so organic. You get a good balance between failures and successes, making you wonder about the outcome of the next challenge they face.
You know a novel is good when the characters other than the MC have a well-thought, fully fleshed characters with background stories and certain unique traits (Except for few characters, that I would not name here not to spoil the story.)
Now, let’s get into the details.
NR starts with Leland, the MC, hearing “creepy voices,”. I haven’t thought that this would be the best start for a novel(felt like a cliche to be honest). But one thing kept me going—the plot never stops evolving. I have read many books in which there’s a GREAT start, but then that’s it. NR starts with a good hook, and then, from there, it escalates. Leland’s character shapes up as the story goes on, and fragments of his old memories are often revisited throughout the novel from different perspectives.
I was expecting to read another Narnia Rip off. NR is far from that. The plot is original and the characters are three-dimensional. Once you finish reading this, you will realize that you know more than you think about the characters and Oremanta.
Speaking of the ending….that ending.
Give me Book 2, right now, please.
June 29, 2017
Gah! Be forewarned: this one leaves you hanging in a beautiful yet must-have-the-next-book kind of way.
Highly enjoyable, Got my attention from page one!
Instantly, I loved the character of Leland and was amused by his unconventional introduction in the novel. I also liked the other characters and overall feel of the story.
The book was so good, I had a hard time putting it down because I wanted to see everything get resolved so that everyone had their happy ending. I really had no idea what was going to happen! Altabtabai did a wonderful job of keeping the suspense going, and keeping me engaged. and I have to confess, I had no idea it would end as it would, but even though it wasnt how I may have ended, the way Altabtabai wrapped things up was wonderful.
This is one of the first books I've read that I thought would make a WONDERFUL MOVIE.
This novel, this ASTOUNDING novel is worthy of its reputation and its mystique. Memorable characters, amazing language and unforgettable story. A great, solid five-star read for sure.
Highly enjoyable, Got my attention from page one!
Instantly, I loved the character of Leland and was amused by his unconventional introduction in the novel. I also liked the other characters and overall feel of the story.
The book was so good, I had a hard time putting it down because I wanted to see everything get resolved so that everyone had their happy ending. I really had no idea what was going to happen! Altabtabai did a wonderful job of keeping the suspense going, and keeping me engaged. and I have to confess, I had no idea it would end as it would, but even though it wasnt how I may have ended, the way Altabtabai wrapped things up was wonderful.
This is one of the first books I've read that I thought would make a WONDERFUL MOVIE.
This novel, this ASTOUNDING novel is worthy of its reputation and its mystique. Memorable characters, amazing language and unforgettable story. A great, solid five-star read for sure.
June 11, 2017
"The pain inside you that drove you all the way through is stronger than anything else in the world" Aelfgar Hawx - Nostalgic Rain.
Just like what the cover says, it's the kind of novel that takes you galaxies away. in this book you see different characters getting along so well and how Leland transforms from a normal teen boy to a hero who a lot of lives depends on him.
The more you read, the more you fall in love with each character And the more curiosity you have about what's gonna happen. And I must say this, that after reading this book I really need an Aelfgar Hawx in my life.
Just like what the cover says, it's the kind of novel that takes you galaxies away. in this book you see different characters getting along so well and how Leland transforms from a normal teen boy to a hero who a lot of lives depends on him.
The more you read, the more you fall in love with each character And the more curiosity you have about what's gonna happen. And I must say this, that after reading this book I really need an Aelfgar Hawx in my life.
June 14, 2017
When I first read the blurb of this book, I thought that it was a middle-grade novel. The characters didn't sound like they were seventeen and the plot itself sounded like it was for younger readers. Let me just clarify this right now, this book is for older readers and I would definitely not recommend it to middle-grade children because of its mature content and gore.What seventeen-year-old Leland finds in the abandoned basement of his house is something he will never forget.
Leland lost his father when he was seven. Since then, he has successfully adapted to the awful life of being a student, the man of the house, and a father figure to his two younger siblings. All of that changes when he and his best friends stumble upon a secret in his deserted basement, and fall into another dimension with three moons, foggy woods, and an ancient castle-Oremanta.
Learning who he really is, how he came to this remote planet, and the shocking, ugly mystery of Oremanta aren't as bad as the quest he finds himself obligated to complete-killing someone he never thought he'd meet in Oremanta to save everyone.
As aforementioned, when I first started reading this book, I did think that the characters were younger than seventeen but when I was introduced to their every day environments, I quickly realised that I was wrong. The story instantly caught my attention; it had this very dark underlying theme to it at the beginning of the book and there's one scene that seemed just like it had stepped out of a horror movie like The Grudge.
Then, as the story begins to develop, we are sent to another galaxy and I found the world so interesting. It reminded me of Game of Thrones in the sense where you shouldn't really get attached to any of the characters because, without spoiling anything for you, let me just say that a lot of people die in this book... like... a lot. As soon as I had gotten over one death, I was mourning the next, it was crazy. And I do feel like that craziness is one of this book's downfalls. In some parts, the plot was just way too quick and I couldn't keep up with what was going on.
However, another thing that I absolutely loved about this book was that with every chapter, the POV changed, so we got to see different sides of the war, different character's opinions and their strength and weaknesses. Which brings me onto my next point: the characters were enjoyable to read, sometimes they came across as a bit flat, but most of the time, they seemed like well-rounded characters. Leland annoyed me sometimes; I feel like he got a bit 'too-big-for-his-boots' at times and pushed Jennifer aside when he didn't need her. Also, I didn't see the point in Jennifer actually staying behind when Leland went on his adventure? If it was because she was supposed to have her own character arc whilst he was away, that didn't really pan out did it, to be honest... So, when Leland and all of the other male characters wanted Jennifer to stay in the Castle, I just got angry.
But...! THAT ENDING! WHAT IS GOING ON THERE?! Is there going to be a second book? Because I really need to see what that ending is all about because I literally finished the book with question marks hanging over my head.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book to read. It did have its problems like the ones I have mentioned above, but it's such a thrilling, gory, and exciting read. Remember, it may read like a middle-grade novel, but the content is bloody and stabby stabby most of the time!
Disclaimer: this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Released 1st July
Leland lost his father when he was seven. Since then, he has successfully adapted to the awful life of being a student, the man of the house, and a father figure to his two younger siblings. All of that changes when he and his best friends stumble upon a secret in his deserted basement, and fall into another dimension with three moons, foggy woods, and an ancient castle-Oremanta.
Learning who he really is, how he came to this remote planet, and the shocking, ugly mystery of Oremanta aren't as bad as the quest he finds himself obligated to complete-killing someone he never thought he'd meet in Oremanta to save everyone.
As aforementioned, when I first started reading this book, I did think that the characters were younger than seventeen but when I was introduced to their every day environments, I quickly realised that I was wrong. The story instantly caught my attention; it had this very dark underlying theme to it at the beginning of the book and there's one scene that seemed just like it had stepped out of a horror movie like The Grudge.
Then, as the story begins to develop, we are sent to another galaxy and I found the world so interesting. It reminded me of Game of Thrones in the sense where you shouldn't really get attached to any of the characters because, without spoiling anything for you, let me just say that a lot of people die in this book... like... a lot. As soon as I had gotten over one death, I was mourning the next, it was crazy. And I do feel like that craziness is one of this book's downfalls. In some parts, the plot was just way too quick and I couldn't keep up with what was going on.
"In this life, we lose people we love, and we endure a lot of hardships. What I've learned in those years is that emotions are dangerous. When you lose something you loved, it's the memories that remain, and they haunt and suffocate and bury you alive. But it doesn't really matter. What counts is what you did during that time. Were you able to carry on? Were you able to keep on living? As long as you're keeping the necessary elements in your life alive, it doesn't matter what brutal realities you go through."
- A.S Altabtabai, Nostalgic Rain: Galaxies Away
However, another thing that I absolutely loved about this book was that with every chapter, the POV changed, so we got to see different sides of the war, different character's opinions and their strength and weaknesses. Which brings me onto my next point: the characters were enjoyable to read, sometimes they came across as a bit flat, but most of the time, they seemed like well-rounded characters. Leland annoyed me sometimes; I feel like he got a bit 'too-big-for-his-boots' at times and pushed Jennifer aside when he didn't need her. Also, I didn't see the point in Jennifer actually staying behind when Leland went on his adventure? If it was because she was supposed to have her own character arc whilst he was away, that didn't really pan out did it, to be honest... So, when Leland and all of the other male characters wanted Jennifer to stay in the Castle, I just got angry.
But...! THAT ENDING! WHAT IS GOING ON THERE?! Is there going to be a second book? Because I really need to see what that ending is all about because I literally finished the book with question marks hanging over my head.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book to read. It did have its problems like the ones I have mentioned above, but it's such a thrilling, gory, and exciting read. Remember, it may read like a middle-grade novel, but the content is bloody and stabby stabby most of the time!
Disclaimer: this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Released 1st July
August 3, 2017
Leland is a seventeen year old who lost his father when he was just seven years old. The years since his father has been gone Leland has stepped up to be the man of the house, the leader of his family. He does what he can to help his mom and protect her. He helps her take care of his little brother and sister.
So when he starts hearing voices he doesn’t tell her because he wants to protect her and not put any more on her than she already has. But when the voices start calling to him and wants him to go to the basement he starts to have a more difficult time of handling the voices and has to tell someone so he tells his best friends Jennifer and Dylan.
So Jennifer and Dylan decide to help to Leland beside they are best friends and that is what friends do. Jennifer and Dylan go with Leland to his basement to hopefully learn what the voices are all about. They don’t learn who or what the voices are at first but they find out more when they are transported to another time and place or should I say another planet.
On this planet Leland learns a lot about himself and his family and finds out why he was summoned to the planet. War is on the horizon and Leland may have to fight someone that has always been very close and dear to his heart.
Nostalgic Rain is filled with lots of mystery and twists and turns that it will keep you dizzy the whole way through right up until the end. You won’t know which end is up or which end is down. Come join Leland on his ride of a lifetime to galaxies far, far away.
So when he starts hearing voices he doesn’t tell her because he wants to protect her and not put any more on her than she already has. But when the voices start calling to him and wants him to go to the basement he starts to have a more difficult time of handling the voices and has to tell someone so he tells his best friends Jennifer and Dylan.
So Jennifer and Dylan decide to help to Leland beside they are best friends and that is what friends do. Jennifer and Dylan go with Leland to his basement to hopefully learn what the voices are all about. They don’t learn who or what the voices are at first but they find out more when they are transported to another time and place or should I say another planet.
On this planet Leland learns a lot about himself and his family and finds out why he was summoned to the planet. War is on the horizon and Leland may have to fight someone that has always been very close and dear to his heart.
Nostalgic Rain is filled with lots of mystery and twists and turns that it will keep you dizzy the whole way through right up until the end. You won’t know which end is up or which end is down. Come join Leland on his ride of a lifetime to galaxies far, far away.
December 5, 2017
Nostalgic Rain is one of the most wonderful creative book! I didn’t regret reading it honestly. I like the story and the characters as well.
My friend recommended me to read this book. And I’m so grateful she did.
The ending was a SHOCK to me. I’d recommend you to read it, especially if you like to read action/horror stories.
My friend recommended me to read this book. And I’m so grateful she did.
The ending was a SHOCK to me. I’d recommend you to read it, especially if you like to read action/horror stories.
February 14, 2017
This was a good read, an interesting story, with some good ideas - I note the copy I read was not absolutely finalized. It's a mix of grand legend, family story, with a distinctly fantasy edge - the book does resolve some of it's plot lines, whilst leaving room to go on in a future volume. Some elements don't 100% gel, but others are very well realized, and the author is prepared to keep the reader on their toes with twists and turns in the plotting.
The female lead was, I felt, left hanging on the sidelines a bit at times, but maybe she will get more developed later. All in all well worth a read.
The female lead was, I felt, left hanging on the sidelines a bit at times, but maybe she will get more developed later. All in all well worth a read.
February 3, 2017
My friend recommended this book to me. And I'm so grateful she did.
"The most awful thing in life is changing into someone worse but not realising it"
Nostalgic Rain is one of those books where you don't really know if it's plot-drived or character-driven, mainly because its a mixture of them both.
The world-building is something I enjoyed in NR, mainly because it was different. What I mean is that I expected to read a lot of paragraphs about Oremanta and what it looks like. Instead, there were few paragraphs here and there describing Oremanta, mixed with action scenes and conversations that made me barely notice the writer described something.
I won't spoil the book, or the ending, but NR left me mind blown. I want to read the sequence like right now.
"The most awful thing in life is changing into someone worse but not realising it"
Nostalgic Rain is one of those books where you don't really know if it's plot-drived or character-driven, mainly because its a mixture of them both.
The world-building is something I enjoyed in NR, mainly because it was different. What I mean is that I expected to read a lot of paragraphs about Oremanta and what it looks like. Instead, there were few paragraphs here and there describing Oremanta, mixed with action scenes and conversations that made me barely notice the writer described something.
I won't spoil the book, or the ending, but NR left me mind blown. I want to read the sequence like right now.
July 4, 2017
Nostalgic rain was honestly the most creative and innovative book i have ever read. I was truly impressed the entire time reading. I didn't feel bored not one bit throughout the whole book. I literally couldn't put it down! It's worth reading.
February 8, 2017
Speaking as a person who can hardly be satisfied when it comes to finding a good material to read: Nostalgic Rain can be simply described as an intensively exciting book! You know those pages of some of our favorite books that we tend to ignore because they're just boring and not really adding something? Well, you won't experience such thing with NR "for sure". It's one of those novels that it would be really hard for you to put down! Felt more of something real than just a "good novel to read" because the author was excellent in describing even the very little details, helping you to imagine every single thing mentioned in this book clearly to have that one complete 3D picture of what's all NR about. If you look for a book with those exciting plot twists, I will -difinitely- recommend you Nostalgic Rain as one!
Characters were wisely described, with a good sense of humor "that you will most probably enjoy"! Events were almost hard to be expected "prepare yourself to be shocked frequently while reading this book".
And the end of this book was a BOMB! I can add nothing more than "Bring me the second book righ now!".
Characters were wisely described, with a good sense of humor "that you will most probably enjoy"! Events were almost hard to be expected "prepare yourself to be shocked frequently while reading this book".
And the end of this book was a BOMB! I can add nothing more than "Bring me the second book righ now!".
June 16, 2017
Pretty good book. More of a 3 1/2 stars but rounded up to 4 because of the reveal at the end. I have to say my favorite character is Leland.
I loved that he wasn't the best fighter but he kept trying no matter what came his way. The book had a lot of death in it that's for sure.
I loved how it ended even though it was a cliffhanger ending. I really can't wait to see what happens next in Leland's journey.
I want to think netgalley, the publisher, etc for granting my request to read and review this book.
I loved that he wasn't the best fighter but he kept trying no matter what came his way. The book had a lot of death in it that's for sure.
I loved how it ended even though it was a cliffhanger ending. I really can't wait to see what happens next in Leland's journey.
I want to think netgalley, the publisher, etc for granting my request to read and review this book.
October 7, 2017
Nostalgic Rain was fascinating. It took me on a wonderful journey to another world. I’m not a big fantasy fan, but Nostalgic Rain held my interest and repeatedly surprised me. I like a story that deviates from the ‘formula.’ This was a dyslexic mix of Alice and Harry. There are a few rough edges, but I like a book that has a great story more than a book that is all polish. I predict that we’ll see A. S. Altabtabai again and I will read his next book. Jeff Bailey, author of The Defect.
May 29, 2017
I really enjoyed the book. It was a quick read, couldn't put it down. Left me hanging though. I need more.
May 5, 2017
I received an ARC from the author as an exchange for my honest review.
Book Name| Nostalgic Rain: Galaxies Away.
Author| A.S Altabtabai
Release Date| July 1st 2017.
Genre|Young Adult Fantasy.
"The events of today are tomorrow's memories. And memories, sometimes, are even worse than the actual events"
Summary from Goodreads:
What seventeen-year-old Leland finds in the abandoned basement of his house is something he will never forget.
Leland lost his father when he was seven. Since then, he has successfully adapted to the awful life of being a student, the man of the house, and a father figure to his two younger siblings. All of that changes when he and his best friends stumble upon a secret in his deserted basement, and fall into another dimension with three moons, foggy woods, and an ancient castle-Oremanta.
Learning who he really is, how he came to this remote planet, and the shocking, ugly mystery of Oremanta aren't as bad as the quest he finds himself obligated to complete-killing someone he never thought he'd meet in Oremanta to save everyone.
- - -
Nostalgic Rain is the debut novel from A.S Altabtabai. The story revolves around a young boy named Leland and the unexpected events that suddenly occurred in his life, that will ultimately change it forever. The story is breathtaking. I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole journey. There are SOOOOO MANNNY twists and turns in this one, and the characters are just as amazing as the plot.
The writing is clean, and some quotes are just to the point.
"Not all mistakes are bad. Some have that great power to make you realise you need to change, right now"
The story start in a very mysterious and somewhat horror way. Not Stephen King-kind-of-horror, but damn, that basement was really scary. But then the theme kind of shifts slowly into swords with some hint of magic. And that's what I liked about Nostalgic Rain. There wasn't too much of sword&sorcery in the book. There wasn't too much world-building. There wasn't too much magic.
But there was a good combination of them all with some good plotting and good characters. The recipe is just perfect.
The story climaxes in the end - great fights and a lot of surprises to be revealed in the last few chapters. But then the last page made my jaw drop. Literally. Like... jeez. Omg. Damn you Altabtabai for that twist at the end, now all I want is book 2.
A breathtaking debut novel. You won't be disappointed, believe me.
Book Name| Nostalgic Rain: Galaxies Away.
Author| A.S Altabtabai
Release Date| July 1st 2017.
Genre|Young Adult Fantasy.
"The events of today are tomorrow's memories. And memories, sometimes, are even worse than the actual events"
Summary from Goodreads:
What seventeen-year-old Leland finds in the abandoned basement of his house is something he will never forget.
Leland lost his father when he was seven. Since then, he has successfully adapted to the awful life of being a student, the man of the house, and a father figure to his two younger siblings. All of that changes when he and his best friends stumble upon a secret in his deserted basement, and fall into another dimension with three moons, foggy woods, and an ancient castle-Oremanta.
Learning who he really is, how he came to this remote planet, and the shocking, ugly mystery of Oremanta aren't as bad as the quest he finds himself obligated to complete-killing someone he never thought he'd meet in Oremanta to save everyone.
- - -
Nostalgic Rain is the debut novel from A.S Altabtabai. The story revolves around a young boy named Leland and the unexpected events that suddenly occurred in his life, that will ultimately change it forever. The story is breathtaking. I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole journey. There are SOOOOO MANNNY twists and turns in this one, and the characters are just as amazing as the plot.
The writing is clean, and some quotes are just to the point.
"Not all mistakes are bad. Some have that great power to make you realise you need to change, right now"
The story start in a very mysterious and somewhat horror way. Not Stephen King-kind-of-horror, but damn, that basement was really scary. But then the theme kind of shifts slowly into swords with some hint of magic. And that's what I liked about Nostalgic Rain. There wasn't too much of sword&sorcery in the book. There wasn't too much world-building. There wasn't too much magic.
But there was a good combination of them all with some good plotting and good characters. The recipe is just perfect.
The story climaxes in the end - great fights and a lot of surprises to be revealed in the last few chapters. But then the last page made my jaw drop. Literally. Like... jeez. Omg. Damn you Altabtabai for that twist at the end, now all I want is book 2.
A breathtaking debut novel. You won't be disappointed, believe me.
July 28, 2017
I was given a free copy of the book by the author (which doesn't affect my review).
What I like about this book is world building. It's done very well. Especially history part.
The story is good, easy to follow but with few surprises and unexpected ending.
I also like the way it's written, in short parts so it's not boring and can be read real fast.
What didn't work out for me we're the characters.
I didn't find their reactions/actions to some stuff believable and they we're kinda shallow.
What I like about this book is world building. It's done very well. Especially history part.
The story is good, easy to follow but with few surprises and unexpected ending.
I also like the way it's written, in short parts so it's not boring and can be read real fast.
What didn't work out for me we're the characters.
I didn't find their reactions/actions to some stuff believable and they we're kinda shallow.
June 6, 2019
A difficult read
To start, I will say this book had potential. It had some interesting concept and ideas, but sadly didn't do a good job of exploring those ideas with any real depth.
The writing is clumsy, telling more than it shows, and we're constantly made aware of the characters inner thoughts, which gets repetitive and boring. The author seems allergic to the word 'said' and there were a lot of substitutes that doesn't even fit at all with what is actually happening. The dialogue itself is stilted and awkward.
The characters are dull and simple, including the main character, whom I can't even mention one characteristic of even after just finishing the book. The female characters are only made to be support for the male characters, with little characterization themselves. The main villain is over-the-top evil and bland.
World building is weak, exploring very little of the world itself or its culture. Some characters are strangely overpowered while others are basically weak NPCs. This could be explained by the magic system, which isn't very well explained at all, and I completely forgot existed until near the end of the book when it was brought up again.
All in all a difficult book to get through, even though it was pretty short. Again, it had some interesting parts that could have been explored much better, like the sci-fi angle or the relationships between characters, but this was pushed aside for quick and stilted action scenes I could have gone without.
To start, I will say this book had potential. It had some interesting concept and ideas, but sadly didn't do a good job of exploring those ideas with any real depth.
The writing is clumsy, telling more than it shows, and we're constantly made aware of the characters inner thoughts, which gets repetitive and boring. The author seems allergic to the word 'said' and there were a lot of substitutes that doesn't even fit at all with what is actually happening. The dialogue itself is stilted and awkward.
The characters are dull and simple, including the main character, whom I can't even mention one characteristic of even after just finishing the book. The female characters are only made to be support for the male characters, with little characterization themselves. The main villain is over-the-top evil and bland.
World building is weak, exploring very little of the world itself or its culture. Some characters are strangely overpowered while others are basically weak NPCs. This could be explained by the magic system, which isn't very well explained at all, and I completely forgot existed until near the end of the book when it was brought up again.
All in all a difficult book to get through, even though it was pretty short. Again, it had some interesting parts that could have been explored much better, like the sci-fi angle or the relationships between characters, but this was pushed aside for quick and stilted action scenes I could have gone without.
June 19, 2018
* I received this book on Netgalley for an honest review* This was a rough book to finish. I used to see negative reviews on books and didn't truly understand how anyone couldn't find something to appreciate about a novel, but now I understand. I believe the main premise held SO much promise: guy loses father at an early age under suspicious circumstances only later to find out he's not wonky alive but leading a revolt in another world. It was just the execution of the story and those characters that really didn't have any spark to maintain a connection. Hopefully, the author will be able to spin a better world in the next installment because like I said the main premise was SO good and I truly had high hopes for it.
February 7, 2017
Enjoyable, fast-paced, with an awesome plot. I highly recommend this to YA fans. NR had its own vibe, which was certainly weird and different at the beginning. I loved the characters, all of them even the bad ones. The chapters end with some really great cliffhangers. And finally, the ending made me shiver with excitement!
February 2, 2017
This book is a must. The next big thing, probably. Just go read it now!
August 2, 2017
Boring 👎
This was the most boring dull book have ever read. no detail no depth too the story . Charters have no depth
This was the most boring dull book have ever read. no detail no depth too the story . Charters have no depth
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