What do you think?
Rate this book
Cleansing Rain
Earth is dying and the only way to save it is to eliminate its biggest threat.
All Zoe Antos wanted was to make it home from work in time for date night with her fiancé Cole Wilborn, something her research had been preventing a lot recently. After managing to get out the door on time, all hope of making it home is lost when she is kidnapped by a man trying to steal files from her lab.
Zoe is thrown into a world of conspiracy theories as her kidnappers reveal that they are trying to stop The Arrow Equilibrium, a powerful eco-terrorism group Zoe has never heard of, from going through with their plan to restore balance to the environment. It doesn’t sound too bad until she realizes the only way to have a shot at doing that would be to eliminate the human factor from the scales. Zoe almost starts to believe them, until it’s revealed that her kidnappers believe the Wilborn family is the behind The Arrows, something she knows can’t be true.
Once rescued, Zoe starts to notice irregularities with her future father-in-law that makes her question if her kidnappers might have been right. Zoe must decide who to trust, her fiancé’s family or her kidnappers. Her life, and the fate of humanity, could depend on her making the right choice.
All Zoe Antos wanted was to make it home from work in time for date night with her fiancé Cole Wilborn, something her research had been preventing a lot recently. After managing to get out the door on time, all hope of making it home is lost when she is kidnapped by a man trying to steal files from her lab.
Zoe is thrown into a world of conspiracy theories as her kidnappers reveal that they are trying to stop The Arrow Equilibrium, a powerful eco-terrorism group Zoe has never heard of, from going through with their plan to restore balance to the environment. It doesn’t sound too bad until she realizes the only way to have a shot at doing that would be to eliminate the human factor from the scales. Zoe almost starts to believe them, until it’s revealed that her kidnappers believe the Wilborn family is the behind The Arrows, something she knows can’t be true.
Once rescued, Zoe starts to notice irregularities with her future father-in-law that makes her question if her kidnappers might have been right. Zoe must decide who to trust, her fiancé’s family or her kidnappers. Her life, and the fate of humanity, could depend on her making the right choice.
288 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2021
6 people are currently reading
2577 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 30, 2021
Wow, this was a ride!
This story follows Zoe who is a scientist for Green Tech who are trying to figure out a way to break down plastic safely around the world that is environmentally friendly. Zoe gets kidnapped by some who claim to be trying to stop this secret organization called The Arrow Equilibrium who use Green Tech as basically a cover-up, and who may have been originally founded by her fiancée's father. When she gets saved from these kidnappers, she begins to question everything and becomes paranoid. Once she truly starts looking into what her kidnappers said, she starts to find odd things that don't make sense and start to see that maybe those kidnappers are right about this secret organization and what they are planning. Now Zoe has to figure out how to stop them.
This is a bit of a slow read at first. This is definitely more of a plot focused book rather than character focus. I actually had no idea how old the characters were until like a 1/3 into the book, and I'm still unsure what they look like. However, that being said, the story is very good and well written, and once the suspense really started, it kept me at the edge of my seat. You really feel the paranoia and suspense in this book. You just are sitting there trying to figure out yourself who to trust or not, or who is the bad guy or not, I really liked that. And that ending is well executed and I look forward to seeing how it continues.
Zoe is probably my favorite character because although she's a scientist, she wasn't only all about facts and numbers. She also cares about people and only wants to do things that are safe for the environment and not harm people. I felt bad for her going to work and feeling paranoid the whole time, unsure who to trust or not to trust. Her stress must have been through the roof! But she is tough and does what she can to research and find what is going on, no matter how dangerous it is for her because the world is at stake. I admired her tenacity, especially at the end! I was just like "yah, get it girl!".
The other POV in this book was her fiancée was Cole, and I'm sorry, he's not my favorite. I mean he's a nice guy and can cook, but that's about it. He was rather bland for me and acted more like a teenager and not a thirty year old, not sure what Zoe sees in him. Despite how bland he was, he at least is kind and generous and hears Zoe out. They do work really well together, and maybe that's why Zoe is with him, they balance each other out.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It's suspenseful, plot focused, and a unique and interesting read. I recommend it if you enjoy sci-fi books. Thank you to the author for sending me a free copy to read!
This story follows Zoe who is a scientist for Green Tech who are trying to figure out a way to break down plastic safely around the world that is environmentally friendly. Zoe gets kidnapped by some who claim to be trying to stop this secret organization called The Arrow Equilibrium who use Green Tech as basically a cover-up, and who may have been originally founded by her fiancée's father. When she gets saved from these kidnappers, she begins to question everything and becomes paranoid. Once she truly starts looking into what her kidnappers said, she starts to find odd things that don't make sense and start to see that maybe those kidnappers are right about this secret organization and what they are planning. Now Zoe has to figure out how to stop them.
This is a bit of a slow read at first. This is definitely more of a plot focused book rather than character focus. I actually had no idea how old the characters were until like a 1/3 into the book, and I'm still unsure what they look like. However, that being said, the story is very good and well written, and once the suspense really started, it kept me at the edge of my seat. You really feel the paranoia and suspense in this book. You just are sitting there trying to figure out yourself who to trust or not, or who is the bad guy or not, I really liked that. And that ending is well executed and I look forward to seeing how it continues.
Zoe is probably my favorite character because although she's a scientist, she wasn't only all about facts and numbers. She also cares about people and only wants to do things that are safe for the environment and not harm people. I felt bad for her going to work and feeling paranoid the whole time, unsure who to trust or not to trust. Her stress must have been through the roof! But she is tough and does what she can to research and find what is going on, no matter how dangerous it is for her because the world is at stake. I admired her tenacity, especially at the end! I was just like "yah, get it girl!".
The other POV in this book was her fiancée was Cole, and I'm sorry, he's not my favorite. I mean he's a nice guy and can cook, but that's about it. He was rather bland for me and acted more like a teenager and not a thirty year old, not sure what Zoe sees in him. Despite how bland he was, he at least is kind and generous and hears Zoe out. They do work really well together, and maybe that's why Zoe is with him, they balance each other out.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It's suspenseful, plot focused, and a unique and interesting read. I recommend it if you enjoy sci-fi books. Thank you to the author for sending me a free copy to read!
October 25, 2021
When I saw Cleansing Rain by Holly Ash was a science fiction Eco-thriller centered around a dying earth plot, I had to read it. I’ve always been a sucker for these type of high-tension, high stakes stories, and I loved the premise of a few underdogs going up against Eco-terrorists in power. And though I’d never read anything by Ash before, I was ecstatic to receive an ARC and excited to delve into this new world.
Zoe Antos was everything I could ask for in a well-fleshed out main character: she’s an intelligent scientist, passionate about saving the oceans from human plastic waste. She’s also independent, capable, and practical. I love how she’s mindful of the kind of lifestyle she wants, and doesn’t let others railroad her into decisions. It makes her the best main character in this story because she cares about the state of the world. She’s driven to lessen the impact of humans on the planet, and, as a result, I felt myself rooting for her cause.
Another element of Cleansing Rain that was riveting was the environmental science aspect. The plot centered around the earth slowly dying due to human pollution, particularly to our impact on the oceans. And as many of us already know, that’s a real devastating environmental issue in our own world. I think the book does a good job at bringing the reader’s attention to this environmental issue without shoving it down our throats or coming off preachy. I found myself fully engaged, wanting to know the specifics of what Zoe was working on and how this might affect her world for generations to come.
To read the FULL REVIEW, go to Bookish Valhalla
Zoe Antos was everything I could ask for in a well-fleshed out main character: she’s an intelligent scientist, passionate about saving the oceans from human plastic waste. She’s also independent, capable, and practical. I love how she’s mindful of the kind of lifestyle she wants, and doesn’t let others railroad her into decisions. It makes her the best main character in this story because she cares about the state of the world. She’s driven to lessen the impact of humans on the planet, and, as a result, I felt myself rooting for her cause.
Another element of Cleansing Rain that was riveting was the environmental science aspect. The plot centered around the earth slowly dying due to human pollution, particularly to our impact on the oceans. And as many of us already know, that’s a real devastating environmental issue in our own world. I think the book does a good job at bringing the reader’s attention to this environmental issue without shoving it down our throats or coming off preachy. I found myself fully engaged, wanting to know the specifics of what Zoe was working on and how this might affect her world for generations to come.
To read the FULL REVIEW, go to Bookish Valhalla
October 25, 2021
Okay, first off, I'd like to thank Sapphire Ink Press and Holly Ash for sending me this book. I thought it was interesting from the blurb even if it was a little - A LOT - out of my preferred reading genre.
One of the things that really stood out to me was how the entire cast was in their 30s which was honestly really cool to read. I haven't read many books where the cast is **that** old. Mostly staying in the young adult and new adult range. So, it was a nice surprise to see Zoe and the rest of the cast in their early to mid-30s.
My favorite character is definitely Ian and I also feel like there **maybe** a little love triangle going on in the background - between Zoe, Cole, and Ian👀 but that might just be me reading too much into it👀👀 Either way, Ian has made the Hubby List. He's just one of the characters that really makes an impact (I mean, he does kidnap Zoe but aside from that) he really believes in what he's doing and knows that it's the RIGHT THING. He doesn't actually want to harm Zoe. In fact, he tries so dam hard to keep her out of it, which I think is really sweet and tells us something about his character.
I don't want to spoil anything important but all I'm going to say is...The water - RiverLife - is important and I knew it from the BEGINNING!👀
Now that ending...that was something else and I OFFICIALLY NEED THE SEQUEL. IT CANNOT END LIKE THIS. I REFUSE TO ACCEPT IT.
Okay, I'm done now...possibly🤯🤯🤯
One of the things that really stood out to me was how the entire cast was in their 30s which was honestly really cool to read. I haven't read many books where the cast is **that** old. Mostly staying in the young adult and new adult range. So, it was a nice surprise to see Zoe and the rest of the cast in their early to mid-30s.
My favorite character is definitely Ian and I also feel like there **maybe** a little love triangle going on in the background - between Zoe, Cole, and Ian👀 but that might just be me reading too much into it👀👀 Either way, Ian has made the Hubby List. He's just one of the characters that really makes an impact (I mean, he does kidnap Zoe but aside from that) he really believes in what he's doing and knows that it's the RIGHT THING. He doesn't actually want to harm Zoe. In fact, he tries so dam hard to keep her out of it, which I think is really sweet and tells us something about his character.
I don't want to spoil anything important but all I'm going to say is...The water - RiverLife - is important and I knew it from the BEGINNING!👀
Now that ending...that was something else and I OFFICIALLY NEED THE SEQUEL. IT CANNOT END LIKE THIS. I REFUSE TO ACCEPT IT.
Okay, I'm done now...possibly🤯🤯🤯
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2021
I love the cover. I love the writing. I cannot wait to read more by Holly Ash.
Most books that I have seen with similar style are overpowered by the tech overlays. This is just perfect. As I was reading, I did not do my normal anticipate this, speculate that. Shortly into the book it was oh, here is the HEA, but I didn't think the book was this short. It was not this short. :D Of course as I continued to read, I was engaged by the subjects! and the people. As I mentioned I did not anticipate or speculate what was happening, which left me to be surprised by the ending! Read this and enjoy.
Most books that I have seen with similar style are overpowered by the tech overlays. This is just perfect. As I was reading, I did not do my normal anticipate this, speculate that. Shortly into the book it was oh, here is the HEA, but I didn't think the book was this short. It was not this short. :D Of course as I continued to read, I was engaged by the subjects! and the people. As I mentioned I did not anticipate or speculate what was happening, which left me to be surprised by the ending! Read this and enjoy.
February 6, 2022
I loved this from the beginning! I went in blind (cuz I forgot the blurb when I picked it up), but mahn, what a ride! It was thrilling, fun, and heart-warming!
The characters were well-written and grounded. Zoe was an interesting character and a wonderful POV to see the story play out. I loved her realistic views and how she believed the proof (such an important detail in a world filled with conspiracy theories) Cole is my absolute favorite and must be protected I loved watching Zoe and Cole interact. It was so adorable and very much needed in this situation! We all need love in our lives!!
The kidnappers were a fun bunch too! Their dedication to the mission and their awkwardness(lol) were endearing to watch. They are humans who want to protect everyone somehow... is was came to mind every time they came up.
I loved the pace set and the way everything unraveled. There weren't a lot of scientific details explained in the book, which was fine for me since I was pretty much invested in the story by that point.
I loved it when Cole was the only practical point of view at one point(when you forget the big picture as you pay close attention to the little details, you need someone to bring you out of it. And it was Cole to the rescue!!).
I definitely did not expect that person to appear at the end (it was an OMG moment!) The turn events took at the end was very surprising and unexpected, for sure!
The absolute terror when a lot of events are yet to happen and there are only 20 pages left.... I felt that while reading this book. Mostly because I forgot this was the first book of a duology... so my fault. I can't wait for the sequel! I need to know what happens now!!!
The characters were well-written and grounded. Zoe was an interesting character and a wonderful POV to see the story play out. I loved her realistic views and how she believed the proof (such an important detail in a world filled with conspiracy theories) Cole is my absolute favorite and must be protected I loved watching Zoe and Cole interact. It was so adorable and very much needed in this situation! We all need love in our lives!!
The kidnappers were a fun bunch too! Their dedication to the mission and their awkwardness(lol) were endearing to watch. They are humans who want to protect everyone somehow... is was came to mind every time they came up.
I loved the pace set and the way everything unraveled. There weren't a lot of scientific details explained in the book, which was fine for me since I was pretty much invested in the story by that point.
I loved it when Cole was the only practical point of view at one point(when you forget the big picture as you pay close attention to the little details, you need someone to bring you out of it. And it was Cole to the rescue!!).
I definitely did not expect that person to appear at the end (it was an OMG moment!) The turn events took at the end was very surprising and unexpected, for sure!
The absolute terror when a lot of events are yet to happen and there are only 20 pages left.... I felt that while reading this book. Mostly because I forgot this was the first book of a duology... so my fault. I can't wait for the sequel! I need to know what happens now!!!
October 4, 2021
Thank you to Holly Ash for sending me an ARC of Cleansing Rain in exchange for an honest review.
Cleansing Rain is a dual-POV story told from Zoe's and Cole's points-of-views. If you know me, then you know I love multi-pov stories! And it was great to be able to follow the two sides of this story as Zoe is kidnapped and then her fiance, Cole deals with trying to find her.
There was so much I enjoyed about this story. It's on the lighter side of sci-fi, which I prefer. The story involves a group of eco-terrorists...but I won't spoil the suspense...you'll just have to go and read! I was also impressed with how well the pacing was, how the suspense kept me flipping pages, and how natural the dialogue flowed. Overall, this was a well organized story with a well developed cast of characters. Usually I'm able to predict the ending, but not in this story. I was completely caught of guard and wowed at the climax scene!
I cannot wait to see what happens next in book 2!
Cleansing Rain is a dual-POV story told from Zoe's and Cole's points-of-views. If you know me, then you know I love multi-pov stories! And it was great to be able to follow the two sides of this story as Zoe is kidnapped and then her fiance, Cole deals with trying to find her.
There was so much I enjoyed about this story. It's on the lighter side of sci-fi, which I prefer. The story involves a group of eco-terrorists...but I won't spoil the suspense...you'll just have to go and read! I was also impressed with how well the pacing was, how the suspense kept me flipping pages, and how natural the dialogue flowed. Overall, this was a well organized story with a well developed cast of characters. Usually I'm able to predict the ending, but not in this story. I was completely caught of guard and wowed at the climax scene!
I cannot wait to see what happens next in book 2!
September 30, 2021
Zoe Antos, trying to get home for date night with her fiancé Cole Wilborn, ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time and is kidnapped by Ian Sutton, who was trying to steal important files from her lab. She then learns that her kidnapper is trying to stop a powerful eco-terrorist group headed by none other than the Wilborn family. Who does she trust?
What I liked:
- The suspense. You know the twists and turns are coming; they just don't happen when you expect them to. And when they do happen, they're better than how you imagined them to be.
- The familiarity. Being from Michigan and having worked in a lab myself, I could easily visualize what people were doing, the setup of certain buildings, and where they were going, which allowed me to be pulled into the story even more.
- The relationship in between the characters. From the text messages in between Zoe and Cole, to how Ian and Iris act together, and how motherly Alana is, everything is very natural and relatable.
What I didn't like:
- The fast-paced first two chapters. While Ash set the tone and introduced the characters just fine, I found everything happened so quickly; I didn't have enough time to get warmed up to the characters before being dropped into the action and suspense. Then we got to get back into the warming up afterward, and I just didn't want to stop reading.
- The lack of closure for certain characters, like Cole, Gordon, and Pearson. Thankfully, I found out she's working on part two!
Overall:
- It was great, and I can't wait for the sequel! I need more Blake in my life. lol
*I was given a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
What I liked:
- The suspense. You know the twists and turns are coming; they just don't happen when you expect them to. And when they do happen, they're better than how you imagined them to be.
- The familiarity. Being from Michigan and having worked in a lab myself, I could easily visualize what people were doing, the setup of certain buildings, and where they were going, which allowed me to be pulled into the story even more.
- The relationship in between the characters. From the text messages in between Zoe and Cole, to how Ian and Iris act together, and how motherly Alana is, everything is very natural and relatable.
What I didn't like:
- The fast-paced first two chapters. While Ash set the tone and introduced the characters just fine, I found everything happened so quickly; I didn't have enough time to get warmed up to the characters before being dropped into the action and suspense. Then we got to get back into the warming up afterward, and I just didn't want to stop reading.
- The lack of closure for certain characters, like Cole, Gordon, and Pearson. Thankfully, I found out she's working on part two!
Overall:
- It was great, and I can't wait for the sequel! I need more Blake in my life. lol
*I was given a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 15, 2023
I enjoyed the characters in this story. The relationships and building of trust really made me think and question how I would react in a similar situation.
I will say the con for this book may be something particular to me, but as someone who is used to chunky fantasy books, this felt like part 1 of a story rather than a whole book. But in saying that it did have a set beginning climax and resolution (at least of this stage of the adventure) which is a positive.
I am looking forward to seeing what happens in book 2.
I will say the con for this book may be something particular to me, but as someone who is used to chunky fantasy books, this felt like part 1 of a story rather than a whole book. But in saying that it did have a set beginning climax and resolution (at least of this stage of the adventure) which is a positive.
I am looking forward to seeing what happens in book 2.
December 4, 2022
Book read for Indie ink awards
November 22, 2021
Trying to save the world is a hard job. Zoe is working on a substance that will dissolve the plastics in the ocean without harming sea life. As she’s leaving for the evening, she bumps into a stranger who drops files from her lab. Before she knows it, she is kidnapped and taken to a distant location.
This environmental thriller starts off with mystery and intrigue and one wonders who is telling the truth. Involving family members and work associates, makes it all the more exciting.
If you enjoy science thrillers, you will enjoy Cleansing Rain. Thank you to Holly Ash for the complimentary copy and the chance to be entertained!
This environmental thriller starts off with mystery and intrigue and one wonders who is telling the truth. Involving family members and work associates, makes it all the more exciting.
If you enjoy science thrillers, you will enjoy Cleansing Rain. Thank you to Holly Ash for the complimentary copy and the chance to be entertained!
November 28, 2021
Thank you Sapphire Ink Press for an Advanced readers copy for a honest review.
From the beginning of the story the main character, Zoe is thrown into chaos. Her world is flipped upside down and secrets are revealed causing her to question who to trust. I enjoyed the writing with it being easy to follow and that keeps you engaged throughout. If you enjoy Sci-fi with suspense and a threat to human kind, you will love this.
From the beginning of the story the main character, Zoe is thrown into chaos. Her world is flipped upside down and secrets are revealed causing her to question who to trust. I enjoyed the writing with it being easy to follow and that keeps you engaged throughout. If you enjoy Sci-fi with suspense and a threat to human kind, you will love this.
July 27, 2022
My favourite type of book, even in speculative fiction, is the kind where an ordinary, non-superheroic character gets caught up in something huge and has to do something about it. That's exactly the type of story this is, and for that reason alone it gets a thumbs up from me. The apocalyptic eco-terrorism aspect had a little something of Jeff Vandermeer about it (which I count as a plus) and I enjoyed the moral twisting of a desire to save the world with such a flagrantly evil scheme.
Zoe is an admirable protagonist, who weathers her ordeal bravely but drops many indicators that her engagement into a rich and controlling family has, in some way, prepared her and granted her the fortitude to do this. I enjoyed following her very much.
This may be something very individual to me, but I would have liked a bit more of a look into the evidence our heroes were examining to reach the conclusions they did. At times it felt a bit like we were told that someone looked at a file and was convinced of something, without getting a chance to have an idea of what convinced them. Again, maybe that is just me.
The story ends on an interrupted cadence which I generally have mixed feelings about, but given that I can already see the second book is coming out in September I have no misgivings in this case whatsoever!
Cleansing Rain is an original, clever and compelling Sci-Fi which capitalises on the fact that, when it comes to dealing with environmental risks, mankind itself will always be the biggest threat.
Zoe is an admirable protagonist, who weathers her ordeal bravely but drops many indicators that her engagement into a rich and controlling family has, in some way, prepared her and granted her the fortitude to do this. I enjoyed following her very much.
This may be something very individual to me, but I would have liked a bit more of a look into the evidence our heroes were examining to reach the conclusions they did. At times it felt a bit like we were told that someone looked at a file and was convinced of something, without getting a chance to have an idea of what convinced them. Again, maybe that is just me.
The story ends on an interrupted cadence which I generally have mixed feelings about, but given that I can already see the second book is coming out in September I have no misgivings in this case whatsoever!
Cleansing Rain is an original, clever and compelling Sci-Fi which capitalises on the fact that, when it comes to dealing with environmental risks, mankind itself will always be the biggest threat.
February 26, 2023
More environmental hazards have plagued Earth than we can count, yet they all are the aftermath of the ultimate race of devils: the human race. And while conducting measures to cease the devastation these problems beget, The Arrow Equilibrium has found the ultimate solution to restore balance to the environment: For Earth to survive, humans must die.
The suspense hadn't wavered from the moment Zoe and Ian first locked eyes. I was kept on edge, and I could actually feel every single emotion Zoe had felt, from when she was kidnapped till she discovered her fiancé's father was planning to end the world: her dread, denial, doubts, desperation, defiance... I felt it all.
The attention paid to details is fascinating, for as you put two and two together, all pieces of the puzzle fit perfectly. It feels like no element of the story has been included for nothing — even RiverLife had more of a role to play than I ever expected, though I was caught by the Wilborns' obsession to these water bottles.
I loved Cole so much that I was begging he won't disappoint me by being a part of that mess — he was so noble that I couldn't ever imagine him betraying Zoe like that, and I'm glad he had preserved the prestine image I drew of him. Though the end shocked me like a live wire, he at least was sincere.
Watching Zoe slowly bonding with Ian, Iris, and Blake, I've come to like the kidnappers more, though Blake was in my good graces from the start. Ian's care towards Zoe tells me I'm not to be blamed for shipping these two together, though I feel too much guilt for Cole at that thought.
But I mean, I thought Ian would be Zoe's love interest since he kidnapped her, and even after I was proved wrong, my guts couldn't leave me at peace: I can't stop picturing the captor and his prisoner turn into more than just allies; I hope the second book affirms my speculations.
I believe this page-turning novel would make a brilliant movie, which, aside from the thrill, shocks you to the extent of making you think a million times before you decide to trust a human.
The suspense hadn't wavered from the moment Zoe and Ian first locked eyes. I was kept on edge, and I could actually feel every single emotion Zoe had felt, from when she was kidnapped till she discovered her fiancé's father was planning to end the world: her dread, denial, doubts, desperation, defiance... I felt it all.
The attention paid to details is fascinating, for as you put two and two together, all pieces of the puzzle fit perfectly. It feels like no element of the story has been included for nothing — even RiverLife had more of a role to play than I ever expected, though I was caught by the Wilborns' obsession to these water bottles.
I loved Cole so much that I was begging he won't disappoint me by being a part of that mess — he was so noble that I couldn't ever imagine him betraying Zoe like that, and I'm glad he had preserved the prestine image I drew of him. Though the end shocked me like a live wire, he at least was sincere.
Watching Zoe slowly bonding with Ian, Iris, and Blake, I've come to like the kidnappers more, though Blake was in my good graces from the start. Ian's care towards Zoe tells me I'm not to be blamed for shipping these two together, though I feel too much guilt for Cole at that thought.
But I mean, I thought Ian would be Zoe's love interest since he kidnapped her, and even after I was proved wrong, my guts couldn't leave me at peace: I can't stop picturing the captor and his prisoner turn into more than just allies; I hope the second book affirms my speculations.
I believe this page-turning novel would make a brilliant movie, which, aside from the thrill, shocks you to the extent of making you think a million times before you decide to trust a human.
February 18, 2023
When I started reading this book I thought: Oh great, another story with a supposedly practical, frugal girl dating a rich, over-protective loser. But I stuck with it, and somewhere along the way the author shattered those illusions and I found myself addicted.
I think the big difference that made the book work for me is that the relationship between the protagonist (Zoe) and her fiancé (Cole) is organic and fun. There is this unspoken tension between the lifestyle he grew up in, and the lifestyle she occasionally forces him to experience. But he doesn't talk it down, and she accepts that this is part of her life now. Together, alone, they are just two regular people, flirting, teasing, and loving each other.
By the end of the first chapter Zoe is kidnapped, and although it may not be stylish or trendy to have a down-to-Earth response in that situation, it works. She's scared, she takes calculated risks, she tries to get out of the situation. But it's not like she grabs the gun when she has the chance. I honestly thought the whole book would be about the kidnapping, so I was surprised when that resolved early on. In fact, that probably could have resolved earlier, but I understand why she needed the time in custody.
I would have liked a little more science, for a book that labels itself sci-fi, and one of the reveals wasn't much of a reveal because you're kind of hit over the head with it again and again before the reveal is actually made. I know mysteries are supposed to give you hints so you feel smart when you guess right, but I have to reveal that this was a bit much.
The book basically does not end, and at the time of my reading, there was a sequel, but not an audiobook sequel, cause I was ready to hit that immediately to see how things resolved. So, if you're not ready to dedicate yourself to the sequel, be prepared for disappointment. But given what a quick and engrossing read the first one was, I have high hopes.
I think the big difference that made the book work for me is that the relationship between the protagonist (Zoe) and her fiancé (Cole) is organic and fun. There is this unspoken tension between the lifestyle he grew up in, and the lifestyle she occasionally forces him to experience. But he doesn't talk it down, and she accepts that this is part of her life now. Together, alone, they are just two regular people, flirting, teasing, and loving each other.
By the end of the first chapter Zoe is kidnapped, and although it may not be stylish or trendy to have a down-to-Earth response in that situation, it works. She's scared, she takes calculated risks, she tries to get out of the situation. But it's not like she grabs the gun when she has the chance. I honestly thought the whole book would be about the kidnapping, so I was surprised when that resolved early on. In fact, that probably could have resolved earlier, but I understand why she needed the time in custody.
I would have liked a little more science, for a book that labels itself sci-fi, and one of the reveals wasn't much of a reveal because you're kind of hit over the head with it again and again before the reveal is actually made. I know mysteries are supposed to give you hints so you feel smart when you guess right, but I have to reveal that this was a bit much.
The book basically does not end, and at the time of my reading, there was a sequel, but not an audiobook sequel, cause I was ready to hit that immediately to see how things resolved. So, if you're not ready to dedicate yourself to the sequel, be prepared for disappointment. But given what a quick and engrossing read the first one was, I have high hopes.
February 2, 2023
2.5 stars
This book is not really a bad book, it has a lot of good things going on, but it does not finish. It is worse than a cliffhanger, it is just that the story still goes on, but you can't read it. And, usually, I am enraged by cliffhangers because doing them in the appropriate way (to me) is hard, and more often than not it is just a way to sell more books or a way to be lazy. A book, like all stories, has to have an introduction/beginning, a central development, and a conclusion of sorts. If it lacks one of these parts... well... that's not a book, is something akin to it, it's almost a book, but not a real book. Hence the low rating.
But let's see what worked right before the disastrous ending:
-Zoe and Cole are the sweetest couple ever, and I loved that Cole is ready to trust Zoe unconditionally because he knows and loves her. It was refreshing, and they really are sweet.
-The thrilling factor. You are completely immersed in the story and the angst is there to keep you company. The author did a great job with this part.
And the plot is interesting, it works well, and we have a couple of twists to help things stay interesting, so it is a pretty decent work but... but the ending throw all this away.
This book is not really a bad book, it has a lot of good things going on, but it does not finish. It is worse than a cliffhanger, it is just that the story still goes on, but you can't read it. And, usually, I am enraged by cliffhangers because doing them in the appropriate way (to me) is hard, and more often than not it is just a way to sell more books or a way to be lazy. A book, like all stories, has to have an introduction/beginning, a central development, and a conclusion of sorts. If it lacks one of these parts... well... that's not a book, is something akin to it, it's almost a book, but not a real book. Hence the low rating.
But let's see what worked right before the disastrous ending:
-Zoe and Cole are the sweetest couple ever, and I loved that Cole is ready to trust Zoe unconditionally because he knows and loves her. It was refreshing, and they really are sweet.
-The thrilling factor. You are completely immersed in the story and the angst is there to keep you company. The author did a great job with this part.
And the plot is interesting, it works well, and we have a couple of twists to help things stay interesting, so it is a pretty decent work but... but the ending throw all this away.
August 20, 2022
Cleansing Rain takes the "end of the world" and gives is a new and honestly scary spin with something that I could see happening today. Holly does an amazing job taking her experiences and turning them into an emotional roller coaster of a story. The main character Zoe is a quiet and innocent scientist out to try and save the environment. Her innocence is thrown out the window as she's plunged into a world of secret organization and conspiracies. Throughout the story, Zoe is constantly challenged on her understandings of how the world actually works and is faced with the real fear that she might not know her fiance and his family as well as she thought. This amazing story will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen to poor Zoe next!
June 5, 2022
I received a Kindle copy for free, thanks to the giveaways. Thank you.
This book was middle of the road, for me. It was enjoyable to read, the premise was interesting, the characters were fleshed out well.
However, perhaps it was just me, but I felt that the ending was kind of... predictable. Not entirely in a bad way, I should mention. The ending itself doesn't follow most norms in this kind of genre- I'm choosing to be vague so I don't spoil the fun. I sincerely hope the author doesn't make a sequel to this story, to the dismay of many readers, I feel the ending they chose will lose impact. Let the questions linger, let the imagination unwind.
Let the rain cleanse.
This book was middle of the road, for me. It was enjoyable to read, the premise was interesting, the characters were fleshed out well.
However, perhaps it was just me, but I felt that the ending was kind of... predictable. Not entirely in a bad way, I should mention. The ending itself doesn't follow most norms in this kind of genre- I'm choosing to be vague so I don't spoil the fun. I sincerely hope the author doesn't make a sequel to this story, to the dismay of many readers, I feel the ending they chose will lose impact. Let the questions linger, let the imagination unwind.
Let the rain cleanse.
June 8, 2022
I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I loved the relationship between Cole and Zoe. This is a great read for scifi lovers or anyone that wants to give science fiction a try without feeling overwhelmed by the science aspect of it. All around amazing story and I can't wait for the sequel!
October 11, 2023
Hang on
This book was not what I expected. I won it in a Goodreads Giveaway and it was intriguing. It kept me wondering what was going to happen next. The ending was a little upsetting as I felt like they left it on a cliffhanger. The overall storyline was gripping though.
This book was not what I expected. I won it in a Goodreads Giveaway and it was intriguing. It kept me wondering what was going to happen next. The ending was a little upsetting as I felt like they left it on a cliffhanger. The overall storyline was gripping though.
November 10, 2021
There were so many twists and turns. I loved it. Great for sci-fi lovers and readers who love a great suspense novel.
July 16, 2023
I enjoyed reading Cleansing Rain; it really kept my interest and made me think about the scenario. Good story and character development.
January 16, 2023
This isn’t my genre but boy was this novel addictive.
March 15, 2023
SPSFC 2 Quarterfinalist. This is my personal opinion/score only. I gave this a 6/10 (or 3/5).
At the moment this is a standalone book, though some comments on Goodreads seem to indicate there may be a sequel or related books coming in the future.
I was pulled in by this book immediately. When we started reading for our initial recommendations on which books to move forward to the Quarter Finals, our assignment was to read 10-20% of the book to get a feel for it and see if we recommended it to go forward. I was completely sucked in though – I ended up reading all the way through to 50% because I couldn't put this one down.
Our protagonist, Zoe Antros, is a scientist working for Green Tech, a biochem research company to develop ways to remove or safely break down the plastic in the ocean. Zoe is an earnest, bright, hard worker and can often get caught up in her work to the exclusion of paying attention to time. She's engaged to a man named Cole Wilburn (Cole ended up being a pretty bland character to me) who happens to be the son of the owner of the company. Being an ethical, stand-up person, Zoe is pretty uncomfortable with that fact and tries not to let it impact her position at the company or take any unfair advantage.
Not so long into the book, in a bad case of wrong-place, wrong-time, Zoe is kidnapped when a plot to steal documents from Green Tech goes badly awry. This is how Zoe meets a small resistance/conspiracy group who tell her about a group of eco-terrorists called the Arrows who they are trying to stop.
At this point the book is much more adventure/thriller feeling than sci-fi. I admired the author's work in how Zoe handles the situation – not cool as could be like an adventure heroine, but still clever and trying to do her best in a scary situation. The kidnappers started out pretty one note, but they do get developed a little as the story continues.
The book is fast reading and enjoyable. There are a couple minor typos and grammar issues, but nothing that makes the book unreadable.
So, if everything I have to say is positive, why the 6/10 score? Well, without spoilers, the author made a very brave choice with how she chose to end the book. And I absolutely hated it. For me this really detracted from my overall enjoyment and left a pretty sour taste in my mouth. I give the author credit for trying something different, but it sure didn't work for me and for that I subtracted a point.
My other issue is that this is barely sci-fi to me. It's more of a thriller with the wallpaper of a sci-fi novel. An enjoyable read, but I'm not sure it's an enjoyable sci-fi read.
Recommended for: for the eco-terrorist angle, perhaps fans of Kim Stanley Robinson's books in that area or Paolo Bacigalupi; if you like the Stockholm Syndrome trope this might work well for you. This also reminded to some degree of another indie sci-fi The Prometheus Effect by David Fleming as they both deal with some of the same themes regarding climate change but handled in different ways (full disclosure, the author is a personal friend of mine).
At the moment this is a standalone book, though some comments on Goodreads seem to indicate there may be a sequel or related books coming in the future.
I was pulled in by this book immediately. When we started reading for our initial recommendations on which books to move forward to the Quarter Finals, our assignment was to read 10-20% of the book to get a feel for it and see if we recommended it to go forward. I was completely sucked in though – I ended up reading all the way through to 50% because I couldn't put this one down.
Our protagonist, Zoe Antros, is a scientist working for Green Tech, a biochem research company to develop ways to remove or safely break down the plastic in the ocean. Zoe is an earnest, bright, hard worker and can often get caught up in her work to the exclusion of paying attention to time. She's engaged to a man named Cole Wilburn (Cole ended up being a pretty bland character to me) who happens to be the son of the owner of the company. Being an ethical, stand-up person, Zoe is pretty uncomfortable with that fact and tries not to let it impact her position at the company or take any unfair advantage.
Not so long into the book, in a bad case of wrong-place, wrong-time, Zoe is kidnapped when a plot to steal documents from Green Tech goes badly awry. This is how Zoe meets a small resistance/conspiracy group who tell her about a group of eco-terrorists called the Arrows who they are trying to stop.
At this point the book is much more adventure/thriller feeling than sci-fi. I admired the author's work in how Zoe handles the situation – not cool as could be like an adventure heroine, but still clever and trying to do her best in a scary situation. The kidnappers started out pretty one note, but they do get developed a little as the story continues.
The book is fast reading and enjoyable. There are a couple minor typos and grammar issues, but nothing that makes the book unreadable.
So, if everything I have to say is positive, why the 6/10 score? Well, without spoilers, the author made a very brave choice with how she chose to end the book. And I absolutely hated it. For me this really detracted from my overall enjoyment and left a pretty sour taste in my mouth. I give the author credit for trying something different, but it sure didn't work for me and for that I subtracted a point.
My other issue is that this is barely sci-fi to me. It's more of a thriller with the wallpaper of a sci-fi novel. An enjoyable read, but I'm not sure it's an enjoyable sci-fi read.
Recommended for: for the eco-terrorist angle, perhaps fans of Kim Stanley Robinson's books in that area or Paolo Bacigalupi; if you like the Stockholm Syndrome trope this might work well for you. This also reminded to some degree of another indie sci-fi The Prometheus Effect by David Fleming as they both deal with some of the same themes regarding climate change but handled in different ways (full disclosure, the author is a personal friend of mine).
April 2, 2023
This book was just interesting enough to keep me going, but not enough to be memorable, as evidenced by the fact that I finished it just over a month ago and even with rereading the synopsis I can barely think of anything to say about it... It was an interesting story in theory, but it needed a little more action and less whining to be more interesting. The action in it was quite slow - and once it finally got interesting to the point where I didn't want to put it down, it ended with no answers, so that was quite disappointing. I assume there will be another book if there isn't already, but I'm not sure it's worth it at least for me.
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
July 16, 2023
I was honored to be chosen as an ARC reader by Holly so I got a sneak read of this story.
I am a huge fan of Holly's Journey Series so I was excited to see what this offering was all about.
The characters were relatable, and well written, Zoe going through her inner turmoil of her known world changing and her work being altered, Cole the protective fiancé, and Ian, Iris and Blake just trying to figure out how to do what needs to be done to save the world.
Living in Michigan it was fun knowing some of the areas featured in the book.
I got to the end mad a Holly as I just wanted MORE (just like when I read her Journey Series books), but thankfully I know she is already working on book 2! And I will be first in line to be and ARC reader once again!
I am a huge fan of Holly's Journey Series so I was excited to see what this offering was all about.
The characters were relatable, and well written, Zoe going through her inner turmoil of her known world changing and her work being altered, Cole the protective fiancé, and Ian, Iris and Blake just trying to figure out how to do what needs to be done to save the world.
Living in Michigan it was fun knowing some of the areas featured in the book.
I got to the end mad a Holly as I just wanted MORE (just like when I read her Journey Series books), but thankfully I know she is already working on book 2! And I will be first in line to be and ARC reader once again!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews