'The Rain Heron' by Robbie Arnott is a captivating novel that intertwines characters influenced by or in search of a mythical rain heron, a bird created of rain with mystical powers. The story is set in a world full of strange beauty and hardship, where the conflict between the natural world and militarized forces unfolds subtly. The plot involves different times and lives of characters tied together in surprising ways, creating a truly original and imaginative narrative.
The book is written in a lyrical and powerful style, with emotional depth and impactful storytelling. It explores the impact of a seemingly mythical creature on each character's life and how they perceive themselves, without being preachy or cliché. The author skillfully lays bare each character, allowing readers to learn about them through the lens of the rain heron's influence.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The Rain Heron has medium content warnings for violence and emotional intensity.
From The Publisher:
"Astonishing...With the intensity of a perfect balance between the mythic and the real, The Rain Heron keeps turning and twisting, taking you to unexpected places. A deeply emotional and satisfying read. Beautifully written." -Jeff VanderMeer, author of Borne. One of LitHub's Most Anticipated Books of 2021.
A gripping novel of myth, environment, adventure, and an unlikely friendship, from an award-winning Australian author
Ren lives alone on the remote frontier of a country devastated by a coup d'état. High on the forested slopes, she survives by hunting, farming, trading, and forgetting the contours of what was once a normal life. But her quiet stability is disrupted when an army unit, led by a young female soldier, comes to the mountains on government orders in search of a legendary creature called the rain heron-a mythical, dangerous, form-shifting bird with the ability to change the weather. Ren insists that the bird is simply a story, yet the soldier will not be deterred, forcing them both into a gruelling quest.
Spellbinding and immersive, Robbie Arnott's The Rain Heron is an astounding, mythical exploration of human resilience, female friendship, and humankind's precarious relationship to nature. As Ren and the soldier hunt for the heron, a bond between them forms, and the painful details of Ren's former life emerge-a life punctuated by loss, trauma, and a second, equally magical and dangerous creature. Slowly, Ren's and the soldier's lives entwine, unravel, and ultimately erupt in a masterfully crafted ending in which both women are forced to confront their biggest fears-and regrets.
Robbie Arnott, one of Australia's most acclaimed young novelists, sews magic into reality with a steady, confident hand. Bubbling with rare imagination and ambition, The Rain Heron is an emotionally charged and dazzling novel, one that asks timely yet eternal questions about environment, friendship, nationality, and the myths that bind us.
Ratings (3)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (2) |
Reader Stats (5):
Read It (3) | |
Want To Read (2) |
1 comment(s)
****4.5****
It was a magical ride.
The story follows a mythical creature , a legend, "Rain Heron" which is supposed to bring not only rain, good harvest but also flood and destruction. An unnamed country is devastated by a coup (looks political) and the characters in the story are highly effected by it.
Ren, a middle-aged woman, a hermit lives on hunting and trading. Lieutenant Harker and her troop of soldiers are in search of this "Rain Heron". Harker wants Ren's help with her mission, to capture the "Rain Heron"
Zoe, lives with her aunt in a coastal town of fishermen. Their main occupation is to make magical ink from squids. But it requires a specific technique. But no one is going to share their town's secret with an intrusive northerner.
Alec, a inefficient soldier is assigned duty at a Sanctuary. The same sanctuary where the "Rain Heron" is to be kept after the capture. But when Alec and Harker meets bizarre events follow.
Everyone in the story are interconnected. Threads of the same cloth. A lot of strong women. The message is clear and loud. The nature of a man is to inflict violence on others. To suppress or exploit something beautiful for greed or merely to show that they can. And can our bad deeds be redeemed? Cant we leave something beautiful as it is than go trying to understand it which in turns might/will turn things ugly?
Beautifully narrated, surreal plot, rare beauty with pain and humanity.
Happy Reading!!
What can you read after
The Rain Heron?
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
