Greetings,
This is a review of Rain, a novel by Dana McNeely. It was released on February 18th, 2021. I received a free copy of this book when it was on sale this year and have chosen to review this book of my own accord. It is an exciting one for sure, too.
See you in the pages,
Overall Rating: ★★★★★
Overall Description:
He is destined to be high priest—but at what cost to those he loves?
In ancient Samaria, Aban anticipates his rites of passage with excitement and dread. He yearns to join the priesthood of Ba’al Melqart, unlock the power of the rain god, and hear the deity’s voice. He’s been warned the licentious ceremony can take a dangerous turn, but as the eldest son of the high priestess, he holds a privileged position. If he can make it through the ceremony, one day he’ll rise to high priest.
On the eve of the rituals, Aban’s mother confesses a dark secret about the bloody sacrifice demanded by Melqart. Aban may have escaped the flames, but if he is to save his brother, Aban must take his destined position of power as soon as possible.
When the mysterious prophet Elijah interrupts the rites, overturns the idol, and curses the land with drought, Aban’s world is shaken. The current high priest and the king appear powerless, but even more confusing is the fact that the rain god does nothing.
Against his better judgment, Aban conceals the strange prophet’s whereabouts, forfeiting the high priesthood. Now an enemy of the relentless Queen Jezebel, Aban has little time to question his fading commitment to Ba’al Melqart as he and his loved ones flee. But the conflict in Samaria is much larger than just a high priestess and her sons. Soon, Aban will have to choose a side in Yahweh’s war against the Ba’als—and it may cost him his life.
My Review of the Book:
What does it take to find your way in a world where gods clash and faith is tested at every turn? Dana McNeely’s Biblical historical fiction novel, Rain, sends readers into the time of the prophet Elijah to explore this very question. While it does not specifically focus on Elijah throughout the entire narrative, it tells an impactful story. Rain is a novel about learning to live life one day at a time and working through whatever comes your way one step at a time.
Aban, the main protagonist, is the child of the High Priestess of Ba'al Melqart, a foreign God. When he is told by a loved one to “Hold back your heart,” his life begins to change drastically. As his story unfolds, McNeely weaves intricate details into the narrative that left me speechless at times. The unexpected twists and turns smacked me in the face and forced me to feel what the characters of this story felt, to see what these characters saw, and to experience the story as if I were there living it alongside Aban and his loved ones.
While I will avoid spoilers for those who have not read this story, I will tell you there were moments when I was genuinely on the verge of being in tears. Moments where I literally had to stop reading just to reorient myself so I could jump back in. Not because I didn’t like what I was reading, but because it was deeply meaningful. The journey of self-discovery these characters experienced throughout the novel was incredibly relatable and a pleasure to experience.
What began as a familiar biblical narrative quickly became a story with unexpected emotional and spiritual complexity. The author's distinct talent for descriptive writing is one of the book's greatest strengths. Her detailed descriptions of characters, landscapes, and cities are so enticing they almost make you feel the reality of how things were in ancient biblical times. McNeely painted clear and memorable images that resonated with me more than I expected. As a Biblical fiction author myself, it is not easy to do that, but she does it masterfully.
The narration is calm and gentle. It guides the reader through the plot with ease and allowed me to reflect upon each challenge Aban and his loved one faced. One of the most surprising and impactful moments for me was the clever twist on the "eye of the needle" and camel proverb, which added an extra layer of depth to the narrative. I did not expect this twist at all, and the way that event in the story changed things drove the rest of the story for me.
The story of the prophet Elijah has always been one of my favorite examples of faith in scripture. In Rain, the faith of Aban and his loved ones is tested in more ways than one. McNeely explores these challenges with great empathy, creating a powerful and moving tale of endurance and belief. This novel is more than just a retelling; it’s a deeply felt exploration of faith, love, and humanity that will stick with you long after you’ve turned the final page. I am excited to read book two, Whirlwind, down the road, and can’t wait to see where the trilogy goes from here.
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