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novahkiin's review
4.0
This one was definitely an interesting novella, and it once again had some familiar faces slotted into the words, only revealed as you read along. If you haven’t read the Crewel books and decide to read these shorts first, I think it still works, it would just have a different impact on you when the characters show themselves. I almost wish I had read the novellas first, to get a sense of how strange this world is (an how the rain is a lie, though it’d be all that more confusing without a little background given, which you get in the novels themselves), but I’m not disappointed in reading them after. They definitely still give the same feel that the series does, with the added effect of getting a better insight on some of the rules that Arras has. I really enjoyed this one.
nathanaeljs's review
4.0
I'm normally not a fan of short stories that are written to get people to read a novel. They tend to read like the first chapter of a novel, incomplete and lacking as a coherent narrative. "The Rain Is a Lie" does not have that problem. It's a very short, self-contained story about a boy who remembers a rainstorm that apparently never happened, set in some sort of high tech world that adheres to bizarrely rigid gender roles. Albin very elegantly builds the narrative's ominous mood with one bit of disturbing worldbuilding after another, ending on a note that invokes a very Matrix-like sense.
macthekat's review
4.0
This story is part of Gennifer Albin's series Crewel World, which I had not noticed when I started or I would likely have picked a different story as I am not familiar with the series. I am however glad I read it. it was a good story with a very strong mood.
Throughout the story weather is very very important, but it never quite becomes clear why, other than the fact that it is clearly manipulated and clearly someone is messing with people's mind.
The setting has a strong 50s sci-fi feel to it with housewifes, gender segregation and strong gender roles. The story takes place on a "station", which I am guessing is some kind of space station. The story has a strong sense of place and unlike many stories that I read which are very urban, this is very much suburban.
The mood of the story is one rather ominous. There is no doubt that something is wrong, something is very wrong, but just what it is never becomes clear. The story definitely is intriguing and makes me want to go and read more in this setting. Who are the two leather clad people? Why are they telling a boy of nine to remember that the rain is a lie? Why does it matter? And what is up with the crazy twisted 1950s parody of a world? I am guessing that the series is about those two figures.
The story is a good teaser for the series as I now want to know more.
Throughout the story weather is very very important, but it never quite becomes clear why, other than the fact that it is clearly manipulated and clearly someone is messing with people's mind.
The setting has a strong 50s sci-fi feel to it with housewifes, gender segregation and strong gender roles. The story takes place on a "station", which I am guessing is some kind of space station. The story has a strong sense of place and unlike many stories that I read which are very urban, this is very much suburban.
The mood of the story is one rather ominous. There is no doubt that something is wrong, something is very wrong, but just what it is never becomes clear. The story definitely is intriguing and makes me want to go and read more in this setting. Who are the two leather clad people? Why are they telling a boy of nine to remember that the rain is a lie? Why does it matter? And what is up with the crazy twisted 1950s parody of a world? I am guessing that the series is about those two figures.
The story is a good teaser for the series as I now want to know more.
duplica123's review
5.0
What a tease! Reading this has now made me want to read the rest of the series. I'm looking forward to new science fiction!
Update --- I read [b:Crewel|11556960|Crewel (Crewel World, #1)|Gennifer Albin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1376228331s/11556960.jpg|16497151] and was HORRIBLY disappointed. Terrible main character, stupid moony lovesick girl, two dimensional characters. So disappointed.
Update --- I read [b:Crewel|11556960|Crewel (Crewel World, #1)|Gennifer Albin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1376228331s/11556960.jpg|16497151] and was HORRIBLY disappointed. Terrible main character, stupid moony lovesick girl, two dimensional characters. So disappointed.
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