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When it Rains
It may be dangerous to go out in the rain…
But it may be even more dangerous to stay inside.
Just after noon on a sunny spring day at Friedkin University, a layer of strange clouds smudges across the sky, and a mysterious rain begins to fall. This isn’t just a surprise spell of rain—this substance is slimy and gelatinous…and it’s not letting up any time soon.
The rain spreads across the country, the hemisphere, and the globe, with growing ripples of panic and paranoia gathering behind it. Is it a natural, undocumented phenomenon? A chemical weapon? Some kind of bacterial contagion? As fear turns theories into conspiracies and no clear answers are given, factions start to form between those who have been exposed to the rain and those who stayed dry. Who is safe? Who is marked? Who is dangerous, and who is not?
The rain keeps falling, and at Friedkin University, the sanctuary of the campus bookstore swiftly becomes a dangerous battlefield. Is it man versus nature? Or man versus man?
When it Rains is a perfect read for fans of Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Nick Cutter, or books like One Rainy Night by Richard Laymon, Bird Box by Josh Malerman, and Rain by Joe Hill, and even movies like Night of the Living Dead and The Thing.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
But it may be even more dangerous to stay inside.
Just after noon on a sunny spring day at Friedkin University, a layer of strange clouds smudges across the sky, and a mysterious rain begins to fall. This isn’t just a surprise spell of rain—this substance is slimy and gelatinous…and it’s not letting up any time soon.
The rain spreads across the country, the hemisphere, and the globe, with growing ripples of panic and paranoia gathering behind it. Is it a natural, undocumented phenomenon? A chemical weapon? Some kind of bacterial contagion? As fear turns theories into conspiracies and no clear answers are given, factions start to form between those who have been exposed to the rain and those who stayed dry. Who is safe? Who is marked? Who is dangerous, and who is not?
The rain keeps falling, and at Friedkin University, the sanctuary of the campus bookstore swiftly becomes a dangerous battlefield. Is it man versus nature? Or man versus man?
When it Rains is a perfect read for fans of Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Nick Cutter, or books like One Rainy Night by Richard Laymon, Bird Box by Josh Malerman, and Rain by Joe Hill, and even movies like Night of the Living Dead and The Thing.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2022
17 people are currently reading
387 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
March 31, 2022
A quick horror read that will remind you to keep your humanity in the face of fear. Who will you become in the middle of uncertainty and panic? Will you be the helping hand, the passive bystander, or the fear mongrel? Recommend.
April 1, 2022
This novella strongly reminded me on The Mist by Stephen King. A group of different people is stranded in the bookstore/cafeteria of a university. It started to rain outside. Is the rain only local or hit it a wider area? Is its strange consistency harmless or dangerous for people? What happens to those who got in contact with the rain? Soon you'll see how those feeling safe and untouched by the rain develop resentments against those having been outside. What will they do against those rain infected? How will the story end? At some parts it was extremely intriguing and tight. At other parts too much focus was put on the homosexual relationship among some characters. Overall a very compelling book with good carved characters and eerie building up of suspense. Really recommended!
February 27, 2025
So there were a ton of direct correlations and even outright references to the current COVID pandemic. I, especially as a healthcare professional, like everyone else, is very fatigued from the topic at this point. So as I got further in, I felt myself losing interest, hoping that the story evolved into something more. And it did, thankfully, but once it ended I had a fair amount of questions that were left unanswered. Some about the characters and others about the bigger meteorological event that occurred, but everything just felt a bit too abbreviated. The writing was fine and, surprisingly, despite a wide array of characters, the author did a very good job giving everyone their own distinct personalities, situations, ambitions, and backgrounds. So I did enjoy the book, but felt if there was maybe another 20-30 pages added to tighten up all the loose ends, it would have been a huge improvement.
February 8, 2022
My thanks to Books Go Social, Mark Allan Gunnells and Netgalley.
I love this author. So, I was initially dismayed to find that this story was much of what I and others have been living these past few years.
The ignorance is rampant in this story.
I'm still amazed at how the ignorance of the loudest voices are often taken more into account than the science or the truth. Or really just human decency. Ah! But I should know better! Mr. Gunnells always had an end game.
Smooth! He upended this one!
I love this author. So, I was initially dismayed to find that this story was much of what I and others have been living these past few years.
The ignorance is rampant in this story.
I'm still amazed at how the ignorance of the loudest voices are often taken more into account than the science or the truth. Or really just human decency. Ah! But I should know better! Mr. Gunnells always had an end game.
Smooth! He upended this one!
February 11, 2022
Well that was a very interesting novella, especially as we are all living within a pandemic ourselves, due to the Coronavirus. This story did remind me of ‘The Mist’ by Stephen King, and just goes to prove how, we as humans react differently to certain situations. You really get to see the ‘real’ human nature of everyone. Whereas, some people go out of their way to help their fellow human beings, others, will see this situation as an excuse to commit terrible acts, which they would never necessarily think about doing, though some are just waiting for opportunities to be antisocial; committing riots, looting, paranoid scaremongering, bullying etc. We’ve unfortunately seen how people react in our own pandemic. This is a very good novella, and I was not expecting the ending, which was a nice surprise!! Thanks to Netgalley for sending me this ARC!
April 10, 2022
The everyday world is turned upside down when a strange slimy rain rain begins to fall and people have to decide what to do with those who have been caught in it. An interesting take on how society responds to a crisis. Gunnells writes so well and always manages to draw you into his stories, and while this is probably not his best work, it's a pretty good read and has enough of a twist to make it worth the time.
March 25, 2022
I will admit that I picked up this title after seeing it being reviewed by friend on this site and I was intrigued. After reading it I have to say I was impressed. Yes there are some clichés but then again end of the world style mysterious events are a cliché in themselves - but as they go this had some fun twists.
These sort of stories (unexplained events that hit a community without warning - and yes I am not giving anything away that is not already declared) fascinate me - after all they have a limited number of options available to them and yet the author is able to come up with something fresh and different (there are even some subtle nods to other stories of a similar style), I particularly like the twist in the tale one which I have to say I didnt see coming.
So in all I think an excellent read that skirted (did it pass or fail that I guess will be up to the reader to decide) the predicable storyline and still come away with something different and entertaining. As a result I certainly am interested in seeing what else Mark Allen Gunnells has written.
These sort of stories (unexplained events that hit a community without warning - and yes I am not giving anything away that is not already declared) fascinate me - after all they have a limited number of options available to them and yet the author is able to come up with something fresh and different (there are even some subtle nods to other stories of a similar style), I particularly like the twist in the tale one which I have to say I didnt see coming.
So in all I think an excellent read that skirted (did it pass or fail that I guess will be up to the reader to decide) the predicable storyline and still come away with something different and entertaining. As a result I certainly am interested in seeing what else Mark Allen Gunnells has written.
February 20, 2022
This is the story of a small aspect of what became known as The Deluge, where it rained across the entire world at the same time on April 24, 20__. This however, was no ordinary rain, nor was the paranoia and fear mongering that came down with the rain. Were you caught outside when that…stuff fell from the sky?
This was written with excepts from a textbook interspersed with what was happening inside a bookstore in South Carolina and it made for great reading, adding tension and information that those in the store couldn’t know. Gunnells created real characters and left me with so many questions about humanity and the world after The Deluge.
What will you do when the rains come down? Clearly it is not raining on me today so I don’t have to worry.
@crystal_lake_publishing is one of my favorite indie publishers because I feel like they care about the author and the horror community. I know if I grab a book put out by CLP that it will be quality in material and content.
This was written with excepts from a textbook interspersed with what was happening inside a bookstore in South Carolina and it made for great reading, adding tension and information that those in the store couldn’t know. Gunnells created real characters and left me with so many questions about humanity and the world after The Deluge.
What will you do when the rains come down? Clearly it is not raining on me today so I don’t have to worry.
@crystal_lake_publishing is one of my favorite indie publishers because I feel like they care about the author and the horror community. I know if I grab a book put out by CLP that it will be quality in material and content.
March 31, 2022
Another great story from the author, and the concept is topnotch. The characters are all defined but surprise you at turns, and the rain (a definite main character) will surprise you, too, with a nice twist at the end. I absolutely love this author's books and cannot wait to read the next one and beyond.
February 13, 2022
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
When it Rains is a nifty little Apocalyptic novella that plays out like a classic Twilight Zone episode. One day, an unexpected downpour begins in Greenville, SC, and shortly thereafter all over the globe. But instead of the usual precipitation, the clouds unleash a thick, viscous fluid that drenches everyone unlucky enough to be caught outside in it. The story is then told partially in World War Z fashion, excerpts from a book published in the aftermath of the "Deluge," but mainly the plot centers around a group of people inside a cafe/bookshop at a small college. As the strange storm continues and reports of possible sickness and death related to it come across the news and social media, the air inside the cafe quickly become volatile with those who haven't been exposed to the Deluge turning on those who have. The narrative serves not only as a tense horror/thriller about people suddenly caught in a frightening, confusing situation, but also as social commentary on how society has been acting these days, especially during the COVID crisis.
When it Rains is a nifty little Apocalyptic novella that plays out like a classic Twilight Zone episode. One day, an unexpected downpour begins in Greenville, SC, and shortly thereafter all over the globe. But instead of the usual precipitation, the clouds unleash a thick, viscous fluid that drenches everyone unlucky enough to be caught outside in it. The story is then told partially in World War Z fashion, excerpts from a book published in the aftermath of the "Deluge," but mainly the plot centers around a group of people inside a cafe/bookshop at a small college. As the strange storm continues and reports of possible sickness and death related to it come across the news and social media, the air inside the cafe quickly become volatile with those who haven't been exposed to the Deluge turning on those who have. The narrative serves not only as a tense horror/thriller about people suddenly caught in a frightening, confusing situation, but also as social commentary on how society has been acting these days, especially during the COVID crisis.
March 30, 2022
It may be dangerous to go out in the rain…
But it may be even more dangerous to stay inside.
Just after noon on a sunny spring day at Friedkin University, a layer of strange clouds smudges across the sky, and a mysterious rain begins to fall. This isn’t just a surprise spell of rain—this substance is slimy and gelatinous…and it’s not letting up any time soon.
The rain spreads across the country, the hemisphere, and the globe, with growing ripples of panic and paranoia gathering behind it. Is it a natural, undocumented phenomenon? A chemical weapon? Some kind of bacterial contagion? As fear turns theories into conspiracies and no clear answers are given, factions start to form between those who have been exposed to the rain and those who stayed dry. Who is safe? Who is marked? Who is dangerous, and who is not?
The rain keeps falling, and at Friedkin University, the sanctuary of the campus bookstore swiftly becomes a dangerous battlefield. Is it man versus nature? Or man versus man?
So this is my second book/novella by Gunnells and I have to say he didn’t fail to deliver. As an avid reader, and an avid horror reader to boot it is very difficult to find books that not only a) I enjoy and are a testament to the fantastic genre that horror can be but also b) surprise or catch me off guard! But Gunnells manages it with this one.
Without giving too much away Gunnells is the master of the late twist/unexpected turn of events! He draws you into a fall sense of security and familiarity and then BAM!!! Slaps you right up the side of the head with a what the heck just happened/is going on moment!
Not only that but I find that Gunnells has an amazing talent for creating real life characters that you can empathise with, root for, hate, cry over, scream at and generally believe which makes his stories that bit more impactful.
I love his work that I have read so far and can’t wait to check out more!
But it may be even more dangerous to stay inside.
Just after noon on a sunny spring day at Friedkin University, a layer of strange clouds smudges across the sky, and a mysterious rain begins to fall. This isn’t just a surprise spell of rain—this substance is slimy and gelatinous…and it’s not letting up any time soon.
The rain spreads across the country, the hemisphere, and the globe, with growing ripples of panic and paranoia gathering behind it. Is it a natural, undocumented phenomenon? A chemical weapon? Some kind of bacterial contagion? As fear turns theories into conspiracies and no clear answers are given, factions start to form between those who have been exposed to the rain and those who stayed dry. Who is safe? Who is marked? Who is dangerous, and who is not?
The rain keeps falling, and at Friedkin University, the sanctuary of the campus bookstore swiftly becomes a dangerous battlefield. Is it man versus nature? Or man versus man?
So this is my second book/novella by Gunnells and I have to say he didn’t fail to deliver. As an avid reader, and an avid horror reader to boot it is very difficult to find books that not only a) I enjoy and are a testament to the fantastic genre that horror can be but also b) surprise or catch me off guard! But Gunnells manages it with this one.
Without giving too much away Gunnells is the master of the late twist/unexpected turn of events! He draws you into a fall sense of security and familiarity and then BAM!!! Slaps you right up the side of the head with a what the heck just happened/is going on moment!
Not only that but I find that Gunnells has an amazing talent for creating real life characters that you can empathise with, root for, hate, cry over, scream at and generally believe which makes his stories that bit more impactful.
I love his work that I have read so far and can’t wait to check out more!
October 20, 2022
This was a really quick, fun and easy read and it had tons of tropes I loved. Some being a worldwide mysterious event, people who are unstable and react poorly to said event, panic, a possible extraterrestrial event, and tension caused by the unknown. This is a story of an unknown phenomenon. But the real horror is the people, and how they react to it. It’s insanely good and super short! So no reason everyone shouldn’t read this!
I will say I did predict how this would probably go, and once you find out how the rain impacts people I even shouted “HA, I knew it!” Even though it’s like midnight and my daughters sleeping lol. But I didn’t mind predicting it, because it was how I wanted the book to go and I would have been frustrated if it didn’t go how I wanted as it would have been a missed opportunity . The book and this phenomenon is a commentary on society, and that itself is horrifying.
But the way the book resolves is super refreshing and super satisfying. I can’t say I’ve ever been so pleased by the fates of certain characters. Especially one particular baldy lol. And I enjoyed the atmosphere, and tension along the way.
This book isn’t super graphic or horrifying in the spooky sense (it has more of a real world feel to it despite the events, sort of like just a natural disaster book I’d say) so id say even people who don’t usually like horror could read it.
Only thing I’ll say is sometimes the pop culture commentary kinda pulled me out of it because I didn’t feel like it added to the story and wasn’t really sure what the author was trying to do there. Same can be said for some of the generational commentary. But everything else was great!
The ending was for sure a bit bittersweet though.
Will def read more by this author. Obviously with this being so short you aren’t going to get all of the plot and character development you would out of a novel. But that didn’t bother me personally.
Side note: if you don’t like talks of pandemics and how they’re handled by the masses, or don’t think you could deal with that in today’s current situation, then this might not be for you. Though I do think this is a more mild example of books like that.
I will say I did predict how this would probably go, and once you find out how the rain impacts people I even shouted “HA, I knew it!” Even though it’s like midnight and my daughters sleeping lol. But I didn’t mind predicting it, because it was how I wanted the book to go and I would have been frustrated if it didn’t go how I wanted as it would have been a missed opportunity . The book and this phenomenon is a commentary on society, and that itself is horrifying.
But the way the book resolves is super refreshing and super satisfying. I can’t say I’ve ever been so pleased by the fates of certain characters. Especially one particular baldy lol. And I enjoyed the atmosphere, and tension along the way.
This book isn’t super graphic or horrifying in the spooky sense (it has more of a real world feel to it despite the events, sort of like just a natural disaster book I’d say) so id say even people who don’t usually like horror could read it.
Only thing I’ll say is sometimes the pop culture commentary kinda pulled me out of it because I didn’t feel like it added to the story and wasn’t really sure what the author was trying to do there. Same can be said for some of the generational commentary. But everything else was great!
The ending was for sure a bit bittersweet though.
Will def read more by this author. Obviously with this being so short you aren’t going to get all of the plot and character development you would out of a novel. But that didn’t bother me personally.
Side note: if you don’t like talks of pandemics and how they’re handled by the masses, or don’t think you could deal with that in today’s current situation, then this might not be for you. Though I do think this is a more mild example of books like that.
March 23, 2022
Mark Allan Gunnells brings his excellent A-game in which Implacable Horror is exactly that: inescapable. Mostly we take Weather for granted (though in these last few years, most of us realize the changes and intensity of Weather events). However, rain is usually no more than irritating or annoying; but then, rain is usually composed of H20, not clinging choking slime. Water, not gook. Usually. And how does one avoid rain, when it's immediate, without prior awareness, and intense?
Mr. Gunnells uses the foundation of the past two plus years of Pandemic and creates a riff in which the divisions among individuals rise to the height of a medieval village carrying pitchforks attacking the "monster " in its castle. Lines are drawn between "clean" and "soiled" and oh the consequences are unpretty.
This novella also offers finely-tuned LGBT representation and several close views of the collapse of human sanity.
Mr. Gunnells uses the foundation of the past two plus years of Pandemic and creates a riff in which the divisions among individuals rise to the height of a medieval village carrying pitchforks attacking the "monster " in its castle. Lines are drawn between "clean" and "soiled" and oh the consequences are unpretty.
This novella also offers finely-tuned LGBT representation and several close views of the collapse of human sanity.
December 30, 2022
This novella reminded me of an Outer Limits show I saw called "Music of Spheres" from 1997. I enjoyed this story without question, but have to wonder if it is going to age well.
February 6, 2022
What a great, quick read. Everything felt real and relatable. Then just as I thought it was winding down, it careened in a direction I hadn't expected. Loved it!
March 25, 2022
The cast is realistically flawed and familiar, the kind of faces you'd expect to see in your work or school surroundings. The premise isn't out there, but it's effective and mysterious and possibly apocalyptic. At the heart of this story is the drama -- how will people react to a phenomenon that has forced them indoors? How will they respond to those that have been touched by the rain? The paranoia builds to a climax that pulses with tension. I was genuinely anxious reading this at times. My only complaint is the very end. I can't say anything without there being spoilers, but I would have liked something else for the why of it all. Still, the ride was strong enough throughout that I walked away in love with the time I spent reading When It Rains. I hope Mark goes for a sequel someday to explore the aftermath and possibly more...RAIN.
An interview with the author is coming soon to www.aidenmerchant.com!
An interview with the author is coming soon to www.aidenmerchant.com!
February 21, 2022
Just a fantastic book about strange rain that happens and the mass hysteria that even the unwilling can succumb to. The characters were kind of stereotypical but that’s what made them so believable. I was constantly thinking yes that’s exactly how that type of person might behave. To me the best part of the book is the way it looked at these flaws in human beings froM a neutral standpoint. There was no ideology pushed and that was great. The ending was sad and interesting this is just a great read and it won’t take up much of your time.
June 3, 2022
When It Rains
by Mark Allan Gunnells is the epitome of horror realism. This is my first piece of literature to read by this author and I have already grabbed another one,
Before He Wakes
.
What do I mean by that? The author nailed how humanity reacts to the unknown. The confusion that leads to fear, fear that spawns rumors, rumors that are taken as the gospel truth which results in anger, accusation and violence.
In the spirit of full disclosure, the amazing publisher of this story, Crystal Lake Publishing, generously mailed me a physical copy of this novella to see if I'd like to read and review it.
The story opens up on a college campus in Greenville, SC on a day that had absolutely no chance of rain in the forecast. We zoom in a bit to the campus bookstore - this is where the bulk of our adventure takes place. The bookstore is fairly busy with customers and when the rain starts falling, others nearby take shelter inside the store.
The rain - it's not water - it's a foul-smelling, slimy goo. The surprise "shower" that starts in Greenville spreads across the entire globe. Fear grows and spreads because no one knows what this rain is made up of - is it safe? Here is where the brilliance of the author's storytelling really shines.
The atmosphere was spot on - it gave me the same feelings as I had when I read one of my other favorite novellas of all time, Stephen Kings The Mist . It wasn't just the plot and atmosphere that kept me turning those pages, it was also the characters. The author wrote them all in such a way that I quickly found myself invested in them as a group and as individuals.
I honestly can't decide where I stood the whole time I was reading this one - what was I scared of most? I was equal parts scared of the unknown as I was to know what the rain was and what caused it.
Fans of Stephen King, Josh Malerman, Richard Thomas and Daniel Barnett would love this one!
What do I mean by that? The author nailed how humanity reacts to the unknown. The confusion that leads to fear, fear that spawns rumors, rumors that are taken as the gospel truth which results in anger, accusation and violence.
In the spirit of full disclosure, the amazing publisher of this story, Crystal Lake Publishing, generously mailed me a physical copy of this novella to see if I'd like to read and review it.
The story opens up on a college campus in Greenville, SC on a day that had absolutely no chance of rain in the forecast. We zoom in a bit to the campus bookstore - this is where the bulk of our adventure takes place. The bookstore is fairly busy with customers and when the rain starts falling, others nearby take shelter inside the store.
The rain - it's not water - it's a foul-smelling, slimy goo. The surprise "shower" that starts in Greenville spreads across the entire globe. Fear grows and spreads because no one knows what this rain is made up of - is it safe? Here is where the brilliance of the author's storytelling really shines.
The atmosphere was spot on - it gave me the same feelings as I had when I read one of my other favorite novellas of all time, Stephen Kings The Mist . It wasn't just the plot and atmosphere that kept me turning those pages, it was also the characters. The author wrote them all in such a way that I quickly found myself invested in them as a group and as individuals.
I honestly can't decide where I stood the whole time I was reading this one - what was I scared of most? I was equal parts scared of the unknown as I was to know what the rain was and what caused it.
Fans of Stephen King, Josh Malerman, Richard Thomas and Daniel Barnett would love this one!
February 6, 2022
I'm happy to have been provided the opportunity to read/review this tale as an ARC.
The human mind truly is the source of all horror, and Gunnells does a great job of exploring that in this well-paced novella. In this short work, he brought a significant number of characters to life and made me care about them enough to want to see a number of them again in future work (and yes, I do plan to read more of this author's work).
This is something of a classic storyline - both in and out of the horror genre: a group of strangers thrown together by an external event and forced to work together for their common good. Gunnells reminds us here of some real-world epidemic situations we've faced, from the ravages of AIDS to the current COVID crisis, pulls together some very authentic actions and reactions based on those, and reminds us of how poorly many have reacted to those real-world situations.
This is not a zombie story, but it holds something in common with that sub-genre: it exposes the horror that people can enact upon each other when faced with the unknown. The irony of the ending was well-played and left me nodding my head at the deeper truths exposed here.
The human mind truly is the source of all horror, and Gunnells does a great job of exploring that in this well-paced novella. In this short work, he brought a significant number of characters to life and made me care about them enough to want to see a number of them again in future work (and yes, I do plan to read more of this author's work).
This is something of a classic storyline - both in and out of the horror genre: a group of strangers thrown together by an external event and forced to work together for their common good. Gunnells reminds us here of some real-world epidemic situations we've faced, from the ravages of AIDS to the current COVID crisis, pulls together some very authentic actions and reactions based on those, and reminds us of how poorly many have reacted to those real-world situations.
This is not a zombie story, but it holds something in common with that sub-genre: it exposes the horror that people can enact upon each other when faced with the unknown. The irony of the ending was well-played and left me nodding my head at the deeper truths exposed here.
February 23, 2022
The synopsis really had me interested in the story, but unfortunately the execution was not that great in my opinion.
The whole thing was really slow and it only became intriguing at the last 15-20%. I understand that it is hard to build up a story in a somewhat short book, but it is not impossible and I think if we would have got the same energy most of the book as we had in the end it would have been much more interesting.
I saw that there was an attempt at building tension and uncertainty, but it is really hard to feel nervous or scared for the characters, when they are either flat or unlikeable. And here is the thing, I hated everyone in this book except Dana and Tony.
I also didn't understand the point in the weird student — professor relationship? It was not relevant and didn't add anything to the story or the characters.
Anyways, I'm not sure who to recommend this book, I guess maybe to people who want something quick to read, but it's hard for me to pinpoint a target audience.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest opinion.
The whole thing was really slow and it only became intriguing at the last 15-20%. I understand that it is hard to build up a story in a somewhat short book, but it is not impossible and I think if we would have got the same energy most of the book as we had in the end it would have been much more interesting.
I saw that there was an attempt at building tension and uncertainty, but it is really hard to feel nervous or scared for the characters, when they are either flat or unlikeable. And here is the thing, I hated everyone in this book except Dana and Tony.
I also didn't understand the point in the weird student — professor relationship? It was not relevant and didn't add anything to the story or the characters.
Anyways, I'm not sure who to recommend this book, I guess maybe to people who want something quick to read, but it's hard for me to pinpoint a target audience.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest opinion.
Read
February 6, 2022On April 20th, 20-, at approximately 12:23 PM EST, a rain fell in Greenville, SC that was not water. In fact, the gelatinous substance started to fall almost simultaneously around the world. With little known about the “rain”, humanity is called into question on how to those who have been “infected”.
I finished this in an afternoon and would have to say that up until the final third of the book, thought I had the ending figured out. I was wrong. There’s a complexity to this story that makes you see people for how they truly are when the stakes are life or death. I could not help but hope when given similar circumstances that I would make the right choice. Although When It Rains makes it clear that not everything is so simple when caught up in the moment.
If you’d like your heart to beat erraticaly in your chest for an afternoon, I’d sincerely recommend giving this a shot.
I finished this in an afternoon and would have to say that up until the final third of the book, thought I had the ending figured out. I was wrong. There’s a complexity to this story that makes you see people for how they truly are when the stakes are life or death. I could not help but hope when given similar circumstances that I would make the right choice. Although When It Rains makes it clear that not everything is so simple when caught up in the moment.
If you’d like your heart to beat erraticaly in your chest for an afternoon, I’d sincerely recommend giving this a shot.
February 10, 2022
A very different pandemic sweeps the world!
We have all heard the expression - Every man for himself - but never does it hit home until one is facing a catastrophe.
Humans, for the most part, are a caring lot. You see someone struggling you offer a hand. But when it comes to your own self-preservation versus someone else, who are you going to help? And that basically sums up the gist of When it Rains.
It was just another sunny Spring day in Greenville, SC, with people out and about taking care of business and enjoying the warmth that the sun brings. Rain was not in the forecast!
The unexpected rain was a harbinger of things to come- It takes a crisis to really see what a man (or woman) is capable of. Gunnells zeros in on a few key characters and shows how a seemingly good person can change when it's a matter of survival. The horrors of man's reaction to the unknown far outweigh any monster story.
I thought I had this story all figured out until- BAM! Gunnells added a surprise twist that was one I never would've guessed. By far, the best story to date by Mark Allan Gunnells!
We have all heard the expression - Every man for himself - but never does it hit home until one is facing a catastrophe.
Humans, for the most part, are a caring lot. You see someone struggling you offer a hand. But when it comes to your own self-preservation versus someone else, who are you going to help? And that basically sums up the gist of When it Rains.
It was just another sunny Spring day in Greenville, SC, with people out and about taking care of business and enjoying the warmth that the sun brings. Rain was not in the forecast!
The unexpected rain was a harbinger of things to come- It takes a crisis to really see what a man (or woman) is capable of. Gunnells zeros in on a few key characters and shows how a seemingly good person can change when it's a matter of survival. The horrors of man's reaction to the unknown far outweigh any monster story.
I thought I had this story all figured out until- BAM! Gunnells added a surprise twist that was one I never would've guessed. By far, the best story to date by Mark Allan Gunnells!
March 7, 2022
When It Rains by Mark Allan Gunnells is an interesting read. The plot picks its pace right from the beginning. But, I felt it slowed down a little bit in the middle. While reading, the plot gives us a vibe of the days when we were in lockdown due to Corona. Although, I was not much impressed as I like the author's previous work more. But, if you are searching for a book which you can read within a day, then pick it up.
I would like to give the book 4 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Crystal Lake Publishing for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.
Read more on bibliophileverse.blogspot.com
I would like to give the book 4 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Crystal Lake Publishing for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.
Read more on bibliophileverse.blogspot.com
June 14, 2022
A disturbing binge worthy novella that will make you want to have a shower.
The story follows a group of strangers that are trapped in a cafeteria while a very unusual rain is pouring down in the city. The news will soon ask all citizens to stay inside until they can provide more information about this phenomenon.
When strangers are in imminent danger and are trapped in the same space, secrets come to light, fights are bound to happen and uncertainty always reveals the uglier sides of mankind.
Perfect for: People that love The Mist by Stephen King.
The story follows a group of strangers that are trapped in a cafeteria while a very unusual rain is pouring down in the city. The news will soon ask all citizens to stay inside until they can provide more information about this phenomenon.
When strangers are in imminent danger and are trapped in the same space, secrets come to light, fights are bound to happen and uncertainty always reveals the uglier sides of mankind.
Perfect for: People that love The Mist by Stephen King.
March 25, 2022
Wildly imaginative! Wonderful characters. Interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. Simply a GREAT read!
#WhenitRains #NetGalley
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
#WhenitRains #NetGalley
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
February 21, 2022
Unexpectedly really enjoyed this!
May 3, 2022
Stars: 2 out of 5
I think part of why I was so disappointed in this book is because it was listed as horror on NetGalley, so I was expecting a horror story. That is not what I got. This could be classified as a research on the ugly side of human nature, or a satirical retelling of the pandemic along with the mask mandate and vaccinated vs. non-vaccinated debate that turned ugly... but horror it is not.
It doesn't help that the real story doesn't seem to start until the very end, after the rain is gone. While I was reading this short novella, I kept waiting for something to happen, anything, to justify putting it in the horror genre... and when it happens, the book ends. I felt like a was forced to read a very long and rather boring prolog where the characters are introduced and nothing much happens.
The story should have dwelled on the rain only a little and really started AFTER it stopped. Let the survivors come to terms with what happened. Let them deal with the aftermath of such a horrible event. THAT'S the story I wanted to read.
As it stands, I found that everything was resolved too neatly in the epilogue. The current world population is 7.6 billion people. If 3.4 billion die, that's more than one third of the human population decimated overnight. The world would not be the same as it was before that event. There would be major disruptions to our power grid, internet, supply chain, not to mention a wide-spread panic. Also, let's mention the fact that the survivors would have an enormous clean up challenge in front of them to prevent the spreading of diseases.
No, they won't be driving their cars and chatting in online chat rooms and meeting up in a college coffee shop to catch up barely 6 months later. They would be struggling to find food and shelter and to rebuild a society that would have crumbled in the aftermath of that event. And honestly? THAT'S a book I would have been onboard with.
So if you are a horror fan, don't bother with this. There are better horror books out there. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this.
PS: I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think part of why I was so disappointed in this book is because it was listed as horror on NetGalley, so I was expecting a horror story. That is not what I got. This could be classified as a research on the ugly side of human nature, or a satirical retelling of the pandemic along with the mask mandate and vaccinated vs. non-vaccinated debate that turned ugly... but horror it is not.
It doesn't help that the real story doesn't seem to start until the very end, after the rain is gone. While I was reading this short novella, I kept waiting for something to happen, anything, to justify putting it in the horror genre... and when it happens, the book ends. I felt like a was forced to read a very long and rather boring prolog where the characters are introduced and nothing much happens.
The story should have dwelled on the rain only a little and really started AFTER it stopped. Let the survivors come to terms with what happened. Let them deal with the aftermath of such a horrible event. THAT'S the story I wanted to read.
As it stands, I found that everything was resolved too neatly in the epilogue. The current world population is 7.6 billion people. If 3.4 billion die, that's more than one third of the human population decimated overnight. The world would not be the same as it was before that event. There would be major disruptions to our power grid, internet, supply chain, not to mention a wide-spread panic. Also, let's mention the fact that the survivors would have an enormous clean up challenge in front of them to prevent the spreading of diseases.
No, they won't be driving their cars and chatting in online chat rooms and meeting up in a college coffee shop to catch up barely 6 months later. They would be struggling to find food and shelter and to rebuild a society that would have crumbled in the aftermath of that event. And honestly? THAT'S a book I would have been onboard with.
So if you are a horror fan, don't bother with this. There are better horror books out there. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this.
PS: I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2023
Great horror novella with an awesome suprise ending.
February 23, 2022
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
Wow, just, wow. I literally finished the book a few minutes ago and I am just amazed.
Anytime mystery rain, mystery substance rains down, anything like that, I am all there for that book. It is such a horrifying idea that we could be attacked by the clouds. You may not be home. You may not be able to shelter yourself from it. You may even be a curious person who decides to go outside and check it out. I'd like to say I would be a person who would hide inside and take all precautions, but after reading this, I have to reconsider that.
Now I went into this with an idea in my head of what this was, or more of what I really wished it was. I am not at all disappointed in the direction it ended up going but I am disappointed that it wasn't until the very end that the direction abruptly changed. I would have liked a longer scene of what I'll call the repercussions of people's choices. I also would have liked more detail about the entire aftermath of the event. It was wrapped up so quickly that I did feel a tad let down because I'm sitting here with so many questions and no answers.
Back to the positive though, because I truly did enjoy this book.
The horror in this is deeper than you would think. It isn't just about the rain, it's about people, and how they act in emergencies. If you haven't learned anything about humans by just watching media, reading media, I'll let you in on a secret, we are selfish, and most of us are heartless in emergency situations. Let's be honest, most of us are heartless in normal situations. That is horrifying in itself.
I'll leave this on a really good note, I really LOVED what Mark Allan Gunnells did with the rain. I loved how that all played out. It feels fresh, it feels good, and when I read books like this, I like to ask myself, would I or would I not survive this? I am going to go out on a limb and say I would probably be dead. So, thanks for killing me off, no hard feelings, and thanks for giving me such a satisfying new version of what has been done before.
Wow, just, wow. I literally finished the book a few minutes ago and I am just amazed.
Anytime mystery rain, mystery substance rains down, anything like that, I am all there for that book. It is such a horrifying idea that we could be attacked by the clouds. You may not be home. You may not be able to shelter yourself from it. You may even be a curious person who decides to go outside and check it out. I'd like to say I would be a person who would hide inside and take all precautions, but after reading this, I have to reconsider that.
Now I went into this with an idea in my head of what this was, or more of what I really wished it was. I am not at all disappointed in the direction it ended up going but I am disappointed that it wasn't until the very end that the direction abruptly changed. I would have liked a longer scene of what I'll call the repercussions of people's choices. I also would have liked more detail about the entire aftermath of the event. It was wrapped up so quickly that I did feel a tad let down because I'm sitting here with so many questions and no answers.
Back to the positive though, because I truly did enjoy this book.
The horror in this is deeper than you would think. It isn't just about the rain, it's about people, and how they act in emergencies. If you haven't learned anything about humans by just watching media, reading media, I'll let you in on a secret, we are selfish, and most of us are heartless in emergency situations. Let's be honest, most of us are heartless in normal situations. That is horrifying in itself.
I'll leave this on a really good note, I really LOVED what Mark Allan Gunnells did with the rain. I loved how that all played out. It feels fresh, it feels good, and when I read books like this, I like to ask myself, would I or would I not survive this? I am going to go out on a limb and say I would probably be dead. So, thanks for killing me off, no hard feelings, and thanks for giving me such a satisfying new version of what has been done before.
March 25, 2022
A normal day at Friedkin University bookstore has begun, & Pamela the manager is working flat out in the cafe as two workers have 'mysteriously' called in sick on a lovely sunny day. Tony works in dispatch & is looking forward to lunch with his husband, Vincent, whilst an older couple take what could be one of their final walks together around the grounds, & a teenager & her parents tour the university facilities. All the above & more are at the bookstore when the heavens open & it starts to rain, but no ordinary rain, this is a gloopy weird kind of rain. Soon news stations start to report that it is raining the same liquid all over the world & that scientists are rushing to find out if it is harmful? Then a report of the first death believed to be caused by the rain is aired.
This was an intriguing premise, & it was a pity that book was a novella as I think it had the potential to be widened out considerably. The ending is left fairly open, & I would have liked to know what the liquid actually was, & where it was supposed to have originated. I also felt that the abrupt turn for two characters into a teacher/student relationship added nothing to the story & felt wrong not least given the power dynamic & the vulnerability of the student.
It would have been easy for the author to have taken this story in a zombie/monster direction, but I liked the fact that instead the reactions of those who were 'clean' towards those who had been caught out in the rain & possibly 'infected', showed that fear & anger can turn humans into the monsters they fear.
My thanks To NetGalley & publishers, BooksGoSocial, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
This was an intriguing premise, & it was a pity that book was a novella as I think it had the potential to be widened out considerably. The ending is left fairly open, & I would have liked to know what the liquid actually was, & where it was supposed to have originated. I also felt that the abrupt turn for two characters into a teacher/student relationship added nothing to the story & felt wrong not least given the power dynamic & the vulnerability of the student.
It would have been easy for the author to have taken this story in a zombie/monster direction, but I liked the fact that instead the reactions of those who were 'clean' towards those who had been caught out in the rain & possibly 'infected', showed that fear & anger can turn humans into the monsters they fear.
My thanks To NetGalley & publishers, BooksGoSocial, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
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