The Ninth Rain

A very different fantastical setting. Taking some interesting tropes but twisting them in unique ways this was a highly impressive read. Clever world building and really interesting character development lead to a highly accomplished and unique feeling fantasy.

The world is one of decay, quite a common fantasy trope, but taken in quite a clever and unique way. The race and civilization that has protected the world (Ebora) is in terminal decline. Its sustaining god has died and with it the protections granted. They have turned into an almost vampiric people, finding that human blood helps sustain them, but at the cost of eventual terminal illness.

Meanwhile, Fell Witches, women who can use other creatures life force to generate ‘winnow flame', are kept in a kind of prison, looked over by some malevolent religious cult. They are kept as almost slaves.

The alien Jure'lia invader that has left the world in its decayed state have relics dotted around the landscape, which cause all sorts of weird and strange effects in their vicinity.

The story has a strong found family bent. We follow Vintage, a strangely wealthy researcher into the relics dotted around the world, an escaped Fell Witch, and one of the Eboran vampiric type creatures. They are on a quest to understand the Jure'lian relics with implications for the future of the world.

Meanwhile, there is politics afoot as the leader of Ebora tries to heal her falling civilization.

This is all epic fantasy at its best. Plus it has giant pet bats.