Clouds Without Water

by Garry Harper

"Masterfully depicted"

"Remarkably astute"

"A thrilling drama, philosophically thoughtful and emotionally gripping"

— Kirkus Reviews


October 22, 1844: "Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed"

Not a soul wanders the streets. Businesses are boarded up. Farms have been sold. For the people of Calvary—and hundreds of thousands more across the country—the end is near.

Led by the apocalyptic prophecy of Reverend William Miller, the believers have spent the year preparing for Jesus Christ to return at sundown and bring about the rapture. All of his predictions have thus far come to pass, infallible as the Bible itself. Now, as the day approaches, William has mandated that his followers show their true dedication to the cause, no matter what the cost.

Standing against him is a single widowed farmer, Henry Smith, who will do anything it takes to protect what remains of his family from the fanaticism that is overtaking their community. He knows that he just needs to push back until the prophecy is proven false and William’s grip on the town is loosened. But when that day comes, will the madness truly stop—or will Henry’s world only just begin to come to an end?

***

Based on the actual historical events of The Millerite Movement and The Great Disappointment, Clouds without Water offers a harrowing account of a society beset by mass hysteria and the lone voices that cry out to stop it.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Religion, Ebooks, Audiobook

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 14, 2022

About the author

Garry Harper is a New York-based writer and creative director known for blending lyrical storytelling with provocative satirical themes. His latest novel, The Ship of Theseus, was released in 2025.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the best that I have read in a long time. What happens when religion in the hands of a prophet(?) turns dangerous? A small farming community in the 1800's follows a newly returned pastor who has discovered the biblical clues to discern the date of Christ returning to gather up his followers. There is a great plot with deep characters. This book should be a movie! Highly recommended.

My thanks to the author, Garry Harper, for this well written and presented electronic copy of his work. #Goodreads Giveaway

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

It's the mid-19th century and Calvary, New York is a farming town with God-fearing residents who attend a Baptist chapel called Calvary Church every Sunday.



The church was founded by Reverend Samuel Miller.....



......whose designated successor is his son William.



William leaves Calvary to attend the seminary, and - after the death of Reverend Samuel - the church is temporarily led by Brother Thomas Aleman. Meanwhile, William studies the scriptures for two decades, then returns to Calvary in 1844 to take his rightful place as head of the congregation.

Brother William's biblical studies convince him the End-of-Days is imminent. He preaches that every moment leading up to the End-of-Days is captured in the scriptures, and the Second Coming of Jesus will be preceded by horrors and havoc.



The pastor goes on to say he's calculated the exact date of the Second Coming, which will occur in six months.....on October 22, 1844. This gives Calvary citizens a mere half-year to prepare their souls for salvation.



Some residents of Calvary subscribe to Brother William's proselytizing, while others are skeptical. Doubters include Pastor Thomas Aleman - who clandestinely tries to get the Baptist Convention to censure Brother William;



Henry Smith - a widowed farmer raising three children, one of whom has severe breathing problems;



and Helen Chandler - the oldest woman in Calvary and a descendant of the town's founding familes. In fact Helen declares to the congregation that Brother William is a charlatan.



Brother William's advocates feel vindicated when 'calamities' start to descend on Calvary. First, non-believer Helen and her daughter are walking down the street when lightning strikes Helen and she's killed, her flesh burned away. Champions of Brother William believe this is a sign from God.



The believers' feelings are reinforced when a torrent of locusts sweeps across Calvary, devouring all the grain fit for human consumption. This leaves many residents impoverished and struggling to feed their familes.



As time passes, Brother William attracts more and more followers, especially after Josiah Young - owner and editor of a struggling newspaper called the Calvary Crier - devotes his paper to the Second Coming;



and the schoolmarm Mrs. Edwards begins to exclusively teach Brother Williams sermons.



The pastor's followers develop a cult mentality. Many start dressing in long white robes with hoods that shroud their faces. They also give up their usual activities to pray at church all day, hoping God will deem them worthy of saving.



Followers of Brother William are absolutely convinced about their beliefs, and NOTHING will dissuade them. Believers will say and do anything to prove they're right, and the situation in Calvary grows dark.

The author seems to be very familiar with the scriptures, and the novel contains MANY pages of sermons and biblical chatter. This gets tedious and slows down the story.

Still this is an interesting novel, well worth reading, especially in the current climate, where huge lies are disseminated as truth.

Thanks to Netgalley and Garry Harper for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[Marialyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well I managed to listen to 50% of this book, but it and I did not gel together. Although I know that there were definitely charismatic religious leaders who led their folks on a mission, this leader came off as to over the top even for the eighteen hundreds.

Sorry to say this is the first DNF in a while for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this one.

[Winter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the epitome of what a:

1. A religious zealot personifies and,
2. That religious zealot causes.

"MASS HYSTERIA"

How do people just allow themselves to be reigned in like that? It's so incredibly disturbing, so much it makes it unbelievable, but we know it to be factual.

JUST SAD!!

Thank you, Goodreads Giveaways and to the author, Garry Harper for this eBook.

#GOODREADSGIVEAWAYS!

#WINNER!

[Joy Kertes · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy being transported to a different time through literature, this is the book for you. It is obviously very well researched. The scenes the author paints and the turns of phrases used by the characters make you feel as though you are in a small town in the 1800s listening to an impassioned speech by Reverend Miller. Every time the Day Of Reckoning (October 22) was mentioned, I felt a tightening in my stomach, like I was forgetting something. Would I have fallen victim to William Miller’s cult of personality? Would I have abandoned my normal way of life in order to prepare for the impending rapture? These are questions you can ponder yourself while reading this book.
Your deep dive into philosophical questions such as these is led by main character Henry Smith, a widower just trying to live a good and honest life in Calvary. He has three children to raise and protect, and all is going well until he prodigal Reverend William Miller returns to town with a prophecy that the world will end. Henry is a pillar against the radical findings and fear inducing warnings, but the same cannot be said about those around him.
I really liked this book! It made me think about myself, and the world we are living in today. Is it really that different? Are we all just waiting for our Day of Disappointment?

[Carlton Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a feel-good book, Don't Read This Book!
The story is well written with great characters and Mr. Harper's eye for detail is excellent.
The story centers around a Pastor that has returned to his father's church after years of studies and travel.
He has found, so he thinks, the exact day that the world will end, and starts preaching on his findings and pushes his theory at every church service. And these services start coming every day.
Soon he convinces the town's people to forsake everything worldly.
There is one minister who disagrees with everything that is being preached and leaves town only to return to find the Pastors he brought with him decided to preach the same message for fear of losing church members.
And when the day of Atonement passes without the world ending, Pastor Williams, with help of the newspaper town, just changes the message.
He was right but the town isn't pure enough and now begins a very dark time.
I feel you could change the Pastors to politicians and the story would be relevant today.

[EJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first became aware of the period of religious history profiled in Clouds without Water during a general class on Religions in America in college in the 90's.. I was fascinated by the brief bits of the story we were provided in class, but never followed up on researching more as the internet became *the* internet we now know. As such, it's a fairly niche fascination that inspired me request to preview this title as well as listen to the full story. While others may find the content dry or drawn-out, readers with a similar niche interest in this topic and/or interests in foundations of various religions in America will also find this title very interesting.

My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Movement

A story describing mass hysteria following a cult preaching based on the real life Millerite Movement. It is an interesting story of how one man can so influence and brainwash people into believing what he is saying even when they suffer great personal loss and sacrifice. How some will give everything to follow one man's teaching.

The story is both sad and enlightening. It follows one family where Henry the father does not agree with the movement and resists. He does everything he can to save his family from the teachings of the false prophet. When his young daughter Rosemary is totally taken in by the new pastor with the "end of days" message Henry knows he has to do something to save her, but what can he do?

As the movement grows the town dies as everyone gathers at the church in their white robes and worships at the Calvary Church. Then things start to turn ugly and violent. The non believers are turned against by friend and even family.

It is a lesson in how much harm one man can do if he can spread a spell over an entire group of people. This is how cults start and how they keep their members.
Anyone that has ever wondered what happens in a religious cult or why the members blindly follow should read this story.

It was a good story, I listened to the audio book and the narrator did a great job. The pronunciation was perfect and the voice was pleasant to listen to. The narrator did a good job of different characters and of dramatizing the events taken place.

Thanks to Garry Harper for writing a great story and publishing it, to Steven Fehr for his great narration and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to listen to and review.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

Clouds Without Water is a heartbreaking and engrossing story based on the Millerite Movement, a religious movement in the 1830s led by William Miller, who spread word that he knew the exact date of the second coming of Christ. During this time, Millerites believed that they were the only ones to interpret the Bible correctly and any other religious practices were not only sinful but a prevention to the coming of Christ.

This story follows a small town which soon becomes divided by this extremist religious teaching, tearing apart friends and families. Clouds Without Water shows how deeply mass hysteria can affect communities, and how fear mongering causes divisiveness and violence.

[Michele Eskelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absorbing, shrewd, and relevant.

Clouds Without Water is a very thought-provoking read. It was wonderful to step into a time in history that I am not very familiar with. The book gave me a thirst for more knowledge about the 1840s. I also found myself invested in and inspired by one of the characters. It really accentuates how easy it is for people with charisma to manipulate large crowds of people and how difficult it is for those who don’t agree with the crowd to continue their lives as they were before. This book is as relevant to the Great Disappointment as it is to some things that are going on today. I also found myself invested in and inspired by one of the characters. I was so moved that I actually cried at one point. I recommend this book to anyone who loves the book 1984 or to anyone who is interested in religious history or cults.

Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are my own and were not influenced by the publisher or the author.

[Julie Lene · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was a little difficult to follow. It showed how people follow the influence of others. The ending wasn’t what I expected.

[Dana K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clouds Without Water tells the story of the small town of Cavalry in 1844. Their prodigal minister returns with a message, the world will be ending imminently. All must repent and renounce their earthly possessions. Some of the townspeople fall to their knees immediately and spend their days in prayer abandoning their businesses, farms and daily life. Others are incredulous and while peer pressure is strong, they carry on although business gets much harder with lots of the town shuttered. But when the apocalypse fails to come, the screws really press in with blame falling on those who resisted the tide in the first place.

Garry Harper captures perfectly, the fervor, which quickly turns into mob hysteria. It was so convincing at times, that I found myself wondering about my own religious practices. It does feel like a slippery slope sometimes. How do you balance living with preparing for heaven?Generally that is an individual choice, at least in this day and age…. not so much in the 1880’s. The story focuses in on one small family and the heartache they go through, it’s just unbelievable. The things that humans will do in the name of God is often jaw-dropping. I appreciated that this story balanced the truth of what happened in the small town, yet made it infinitely.

Thanks to the author for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.

[Michael Kertes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clouds without Water is a fantastic story and is hard to put down. My eyes were glued to the pages all throughout the book and would recommend this book to anyone. I applaud Garry Harper coming back with another great read after St. Anthony’s Fire (which you should also read).

[Megan Goebel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring for a book about the 2nd coming! The premise sounded intriguing. Way too much sermonizing for me. I skimmed all that. Ending was unfulfilling

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC!

Clouds Without Water is a fascinating look at what can happen when a small, tight-knit community is caught up in a period of religious fervor. The writing is very realistic, and the characters are all believable, even though they are caught up in a crazy situation. Very nice independent book.

[Jifu · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley)

Before coming across Clouds Without Water, I actually had some general preexisting familiarity with William Miller’s prediction of the imminent second coming, the movement that spawned, and the Great Disappointment. However, that was all based on various nonfiction texts - never before have I encountered any kind of fiction work that attempted to tackle this curious moment in the religious history of the United States. I greatly enjoyed the ability to be transported right into the heart of it all for a few hundred pages, and to get what seemed to be a realistic feel for what it must have been like for those who were fanatically swept up in it all, and for those lonely souls who found themselves isolated and confused out on the fringes. I’ll also admit that in a current age where millions seem to live their daily lives in alternative realities that I cannot grasp for the life of myself, Clouds Without Water provided a surprising, and at times slightly uncomfortable. amount of relevance.

I found this to be worth the read - in regards to historical fiction, it’s quite the appreciated change of pace.

[Polly Krize · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had not been aware of the Millerite Movement before, but this novel explains this historical happening well. Believing Jesus Christ will return at sundown, October 12, 1944, the whole town of Calvary prepares for his arrival. Standing against Reverend William Miller is farmer, Henry Smith, wanting to protect his family from the mass hysteria of his town. Engrossing and informative, this is well written and worth the read.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clouds Without Water is not a book I would typically gravitate towards or seek out, however I am glad I happened across it. It was definitely an interesting commentary on mass hysteria and the consequences of blind faith (religious or otherwise) on a community. Given the current "post"-pandemic era we're in, a lot of the plot felt very relevant and relatable.

I wish the characters were a bit more substantial and held a bit more weight in the context of the story, they were interesting and I just found myself wanting to know more about them and their beliefs/values. There was a chapter in part two that just felt like a short story summary of the whole book which made everything before it feel a bit redundant, almost as if the book should have started there.

Often I find myself stuck in a rut with genre's and this was definitely a good circuit breaker. The writing was pretty immersive and I found it overall an easy, enjoyable and interesting read. I also found the entire story to be a good opportunity to reflect on the last few years and the affect mis-information and baseless claims combined with public fear, have had on our communities.

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel of mass hysteria, where a farmer tries to shield his family from the apocalyptic teachings of a charismatic preacher.
It’s the year of 1844, and Rev. William Miller has returned to Calvary, New York, to claim his birthright as the minister of the local Baptist church, a position his father, Samuel, held for a half-century. He shocks the town by delivering an alarming apocalyptic message: He tells them they are living in the end times where God’s judgment will soon be intentionally delivered. He claims his interpretations are scientifically exact and are based on a mathematical decoding of the mysteries of Scripture. He warns a date for the end of the world will be Oct. 22. Calvary folk have about six months to prepare their souls. Some are are enticed by his powerful sermons and others are skeptical. Henry Smith for example, is suspicious of William’s intentions, especially since he once flirted with Henry’s wife, Mary. Henry’s challenge is quite daunting as he wants to save his family from William’s gloomy predictions, but also stay true to his own faith in God.
I liked the writing but the televangelist narrator got in the way of the content for this reader.

[JoAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clouds Without Water was a slow burn for me, but it did burn bright — especially in the second half — compelling me to keep reading to discover what happens to Calvary and its more independent-minded denizens.

The novel is a fiction around true events, The Millerite Movement of 1844, in which the Second Coming of Christ and the end of the world was predicted for October 22nd 1844, and The Great Disappointment, when the predicted end did not materialize. Delivered in two parts, Clouds Without Water delivers a portrayal of the community and town at the epicenter of these events, Calvary, NY, where the Millerite Movement begins under the direction of its eponymous leader, Reverend William Miller. Part One focuses on the rise of Miller’s influence, Part Two on what happens when the Apocalypse fails to occur, the subsequent social fallout.

The story the novel promises is fascinating. But Harper’s prose… Well, this was the novel’s “great disappointment.” Harper is heavy-handed in Part One, and the voice behind the writing feels biblical in a supercilious sort of way. There is a plodding sensation, an awkwardness in Part One. Harper has a penchant for long or obscure words, wordy words: “concatenation”, “incredulity”, “entropy”, which made the prose dense and feel overly structured. The characters, so vibrant in Part Two, are underdeveloped in Part One. Indeed, I DNFed this book three times before reading it a fourth time, and completing it.

Although the novel is, particularly in Part One, pedantic the strength of Harper’s story and his characters do seed a tension which prevailed on this reader to keep reading. Interestingly, the Reverend Miller himself is almost a supporting figure in this novel; though he is the hinge around which the movement develops and Harper deftly crafts his portrayal of Miller’s fervor and charisma, the reader does not witness events through his eyes. Indeed, we are never treated to an internal view of Miller’s mind or heart. The result is a rather one-dimensional Reverend.

That said, while Miller is somewhat flattened, Harper’s other characters shine and are fleshy representations of people most readers would recognize: the Smith family headed by Henry, his children Abigail, Rosemary, and Benji, the town doctor, Dr Clarke, its newspaperman, Josiah Young, Marigold Chandler, descendent of the town’s founders, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, who owns the general store. It is through these characters’ eyes that the reader is treated to a deeply disturbing facet of religious passion. Part Two draws and holds the reader because of them.

Overall, Clouds Without Water delivers.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1844, Reverend William Miller returned to his small town of Calvary, NY along the Vermont border. He has spent years studying various religious texts in order to find the date of the upcoming apocalypse.  According to Reverend Miller, that date is only months away on October 22nd. Reverend Miller whips the small town into a frenzy with the news.  A divide forms in Calvary between the believers and non-believers.  However, as a series of events from around the world seems to coincide with the breaking of the seals that Reverend Miller predicted would happen, more people are pulled to his side. Soon words spread of the upcoming apocalypse and people began to flock to Calvary.  One family of Calvary dealing with issues of their own, Henry Smith, decide that Miller's apocalyptic message is not for them and he would rather focus on his farm and his young son's health. However, even after the day in question passes with no changes, Miller's followers dig in harder to his message and decide that the non-believers are to blame and placing the Smith family in imminent danger. 

Clouds Without Water is based on the very real events of "The Great Disappointment" in 1844.  I love learning about history when I'm reading and this is history that is part of my state as well.  Followers of Miller not only went into mass hysteria led by the beliefs of one man, giving up their possessions, closing businesses and selling their land, but continued their beliefs long after creating the Seventh Day Adventists Church.  The story is very compelling to me as it shows how easily people will believe something and how quickly those beliefs can be turned into something dangerous. Reverend Miller's character was charismatic and off putting all at once.   The Smith family represented those who chose not to believe Miller even though they were ostracized by everyone they knew.  I related to Henry's fortitude and distrust of Miller's prophecy and was amazed at his calm as the event unfolded.  I was amazed at the Baptist church's view as a whole whose reasoning still resonates today: "They may be small, but their voices are not." I would have loved to know what happened to the Smith family after the Millerites came for them as well as the feelings of the Millerites as time passed with no prophecy fulfilled. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

[Michael Muntisov · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Reverend William Miller predicted that the second coming of Jesus Christ would occur on 22 October 1844. Garry Harper builds his historical novel, Clouds without Water around the circumstances of this real event and its aftermath, known by history as the Great Disappointment. The current Seventh-day Adventists movement has its origins in this event.
Based in the fictitious Hudson River town of Calvary, Harper’s story centers around farmer Henry Smith and his children. Reverend Miller’s return to Calvary after a long absence kicks off a series of events as town residents slowly come under the spell of Miller and his promised salvation. When Jesus‘s coming fails to materialise, the shock of disappointment quickly turns darker.
At its heart this is a story about cults and the human condition. The parallels with other events in history are clear. But fiction has a significant advantage over non-fiction in conveying the mood and emotions of the event. We can read all we want about the Great Disappointment in a factual way, but Harper brings it to life with realistic characterisations and a tightly woven narrative.
This is no mean feat. The use of Henry Smith and his children as central characters was a master stroke. The motivations of all the novel’s characters, whether or not you personally empathize with them, are credible and understandable. The story arcs are well done.
As far as negatives go, my first reaction on starting was of somewhat old-fashioned writing. But I came to realize that in fact the style gave a better sense of the time and quickly felt perfectly normal. So my initial negative became a positive. The sermons and musings could become tedious for some readers. The book would benefit from a historical note at the end about the real events and the author’s research. For example I suspect that some of the sermons and text might be drawn from contemporary publications. But these are minor quibbles.
Clouds without Water draws the reader into a world hyped up by religious fervor. A fervor that is not out of place in modern America. It shows us the personal costs for everyone when such fervor gets out of control.
If you’re into historical fiction and want to experience the effects of zealotry ‘first hand’ I highly recommend Clouds without Water.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in ebook format as a LibraryThing Early Reviewer.
This novel was an interesting look at how a town can get swept up in a religious fervor, and what terrible and dramatic effects that can have on the lives of all who live there. The book follows the events of a small new England town, Calvary, when a returned preacher, Reverend William Miller, preaches that the second coming of Christ would happen in October 1844. The millenarianism of Calvary and its returned preacher were very convincing, since the author dedicated significant time to the text of his sermons and writings, detailing the presumed return of Christ, and what that meant for the townspeople. In my opinion, this slowed down the book at the beginning, but the other characters in the town were certainly intriguing enough to keep my interest.
The character of Henry Smith’s daughter Rachel was particularly fascinating. She becomes swept up along with the rest of the town in the religious fervor, although she feels betrayed by her family, who are not convinced of Miller’s teachings. Her father is preoccupied with the farm and his family, particularly a younger brother who is ill, and the older daughter’s time is filled with the home’s maintenance and her emotions are occupied by the town’s other preacher, who disagrees with Miller and tries to build an opposition. I too was overly religious as a teen girl, and I thought the presentation of that particular unique psychological state was realistic, with the fervor, loyalty and emotion of a young person fully caught up in what they believe to be true.
The ending followed, in a way that now seems inescapable, from the rest of the book’s events, and yet I kept hoping to see mercy, clemency, an awakening to the truth. The last scene remains etched in my memory, a picture of what people can do when they are bound together by a pack of lies that they have cornered themselves into carrying for the rest of their lives.

[Debbie Viscosi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry Smith is a widow. Dealing with three children who have lost their mother is difficult. He misses her too. Their son Benji suffers from asthma and his condition appears to be worsening. The only solace the family has is at church. Their weekly attendance gives them the strength to make it through another week. Since their mother died, the oldest daughter, Abigail, has had to manage the household. She has a secret too, a romantic relationship with the young pastor of their church.

Garry Harper's book is based on the teachings of the "Millerites" a historic group of religious fundamentalists that believed in the apocalypse. The fictional Smith family is the perfect foil for a town that has lost its way. The most compelling part of this story happens after the failure of the apocalypse. When everyone in town assembles and the only thing that happens is sundown, how will Rev. Miller explain his mistake? Will the followers continue believing? These people have rid themselves of all earthly trappings believing that they no longer need them. Do they admit their mistake and attempt to reclaim their belongings or will they be so embarrassed that they move to another place? The young pastor that was put aside attempts to refocus everyone on worship but many will not listen. It is interesting to see how the friends and neighbors of the Smith family respond to them before and after Rev. Miller is proved wrong.

I enjoyed this book. It was interesting and moved at a good pace. Even though the outcome is obvious, there is enough post-failure craziness to keep your interest. This book shows a little-known religious group trying and failing to seek salvation. The message isn't that they failed, the message is in whether they gracefully continued their lives or lived a life full of resentment and frustration.

[JL · Rating 4 out of 5]

A horrifying tale of fanaticism and blind mob psychology for the ages that resonates today.

I did not know until I finished the book and read other reviews, that this is historical fiction based on events that did happen in rural NY state in 1844 and beyond.

My interest in the book stemmed, in part, from my curiosity about a small group of people, about a dozen large families, who moved to my small New England hometown when I was a teen, believing that the Second Coming was going to happen on the banks of an obscure pond in the woods on Christmas Eve of a particular year in the 1970s. It seemed so random. What brought them to our town with such certainty and specificity in their minds?And how did they reconcile their disappointment when Jesus didn't show up at the appointed time?

Early in the book, I came across this quote, attributed to Voltaire, that alerted me to the possibility that the message of this book was far more universal than a historic telling of a story of religious zeal and fanaticism:

"Truly, whoever can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. If the God-given understanding of your mind does not resist a demand to believe what is impossible, then you will not resist a demand to do wrong to that God-given sense of justice in your heart. As soon as one faculty of your soul has been dominated, other faculties will follow as well."

January 6th, September 11th, Pizzagate, and any number of terrorist attacks came to mind when I read that quote.

I found the first half of the book rather riveting, but got bogged down with heavy scriptural quotes in the second half. I understand their necessity to the story, but at that point, they felt excruciating.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book, though? I expected more, but I don't know what. I'm as interested in religions and cults during the 19th century as anyone, and I think the author could have made it more. I've seen the book described with words like "thrilling" and "gripping," but it wasn't those things.

It is an allegory that doesn't pretend to be anything else. I never had an aha moment or a paradigm shift, so it felt flat to me. Instead, it is the fictionalized story of the Millerites and the Great Disappointment.

When everyone is caught up in Rev. Miller's prediction for the end of the world, where does that leave the people who don't believe? Farmers aren't planting and shops are closing because the end is nigh. But what happens if the end of the world doesn't happen? Are the followers going to continue to be believers?

Steven Fehr did a fine job with the narration. He didn't particularly stand out for any one thing, and sometimes that's what I like in an audiobook. I like a narrator who fades into the background and lets the story do the talking.

My thanks to Garry Harper and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mallory (onmalsshelf) Bartel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an audio copy.

I'm truly wondering how this is flying under the radar. A small farming community follows a charismatic reverend who has returned from seminary and various adventures thinking the end is near. This may have been set in the 1840s, but I could see how people in 2020s could also fall for this, in fact they have (i.e. crazy pastors and churches that have gone all in on MAGA, anti-vax, etc.)

Which considering that, it is surprising I finished and really enjoyed this one. With families and friendships tested, this reverend quickly gets his claws into the town even while the old pastor tries to get people to see how wrong he is.

This is very religion heavy since it involves a reverend preaching that the end times are near, but if you consider how much similar things have been making the news from pastors preaching similar things these days, it's not far off.

I do wish that the dialogue here didn't seem so modern. Seemed to be out of place for the 1840s.

[Kami Neely · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

This was a well written story based on historical events. It's a story of how much a person's beliefs can impact others in society. William Miller, after years away from his hometown, returns and preaches the end of the world is coming on a specific date in 1844. Henry, a widowed farmer with 3 children, is skeptical of the prophesy, although he does believe in God. The story is told through the reactions of Henry and his daughters to this preaching.
POSSIBLE SPOILER



As William repeats this message over time, more and more of the people in town come to believe. And over time, they become fanatical in their belief, giving up their livelihoods and other activities to spend all their time in prayer. They also turn against those neighbors who disagree with them. I found it intriguing how the people responded after the date for the end of the world passed and the people were still here.

[DustyBookSniffers - Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Clouds Without Water" by Garry Harper, available as an audiobook narrated by the author himself, offers a gripping narrative inspired by historical events from The Millerite Movement and The Great Disappointment.

Set in the quaint town of Cavalry in 1844, the novel unfolds with the return of a prodigal minister bearing a prophetic message: the imminent end of the world. In response, some townsfolk succumb to fervent belief, abandoning their worldly possessions to fervently pray for salvation. Others, however, remain sceptical despite mounting peer pressure. As the anticipated apocalypse fails to materialize, blame and recrimination fracture the community, particularly targeting those who resisted the initial wave of hysteria.

Harper adeptly captures the escalating fervour that engulfs the town, deftly portraying the transformation of faith into mob hysteria. The narrative prompts introspection, inviting readers to contemplate the delicate balance between earthly existence and spiritual preparation.
At its core, "Clouds Without Water" revolves around the experiences of a single-family navigating the tumultuous terrain of belief and disillusionment. Through their struggles, Harper unveils the extremes to which humanity is willing to go in pursuit of divine validation.

What distinguishes "Clouds Without Water" is its ability to intertwine historical accuracy with narrative depth, offering a nuanced examination of faith and its consequences. The story serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities inherent in religious fervour, urging readers to reflect on their own beliefs and practices.

In conclusion, "Clouds Without Water" is a compelling and thought-provoking audiobook that sheds light on a lesser-known chapter of history. Harper's narration infuses the story with authenticity, immersing listeners in the world of Cavalry in 1844.

I sincerely thank NetGalley and Garry Harper for providing me with a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catching madness

As I progressed through this novel, it became more and more a cautionary tale. Though the book is set in the mid 1800's, it is relevant to events that have occurred recently. The mindless need to attach one's self to a mad man's cause is prevalent throughout history. No matter that we as humans are supposed be more educated, more astute, and more scientific. A big percentage still succumbs to the machinations of the proverbial medicine man. I encourage you to read this, not only as entertainment, but as a glimpse of the insanity that can consume even the most rational of minds.