The Ninth Rain

by Jen Williams
The Ninth Rain cover
Good Books rating 4.31
Fantasy
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Waterstones
Paperback • £12.99
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 4610
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-22
  • ISBN: 9781472235169
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2017-02-23
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

The once-glittering city of Ebora is now a shadow of its former self, its streets prowled by wolves. Tormalin the Oathless, burdened by guilt and a desire to escape his past, finds himself drawn into an adventure with Lady Vincenza 'Vintage' de Grazon, an eccentric explorer. Their quest to retrieve ancient artifacts is complicated by the presence of a fugitive witch with a dangerous gift for fire. As they delve deeper into a web of magic and war, they uncover a conspiracy that could change the fate of their world. The Jure'lia are coming, and the Ninth Rain must fall, setting the stage for an epic battle that will test their courage and resolve. Winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Fantasy Novel, 'The Ninth Rain' is praised for its captivating world-building and compelling characters. Fans of Robin Hobb and Jay Kristoff will find themselves immersed in a richly detailed fantasy adventure that blends action, intrigue, and a touch of the eldritch.

Reviews
SFF Book Review · 2024-09-16
engaging 4.75

The reviewer loves the book's epic fantasy elements, praising its characters, prose, and world-building. They found it to be the right kind of epic fantasy for their tastes.

This reviewer is a self-proclaimed fan of epic fantasy, and they found that this book ticks all the right boxes for them. They particularly enjoyed the characters, which are well-developed and relatable, as well as the prose, which is engaging and well-written. The world-building is also a standout feature, as the author has created a cool and immersive world that draws the reader in. The reviewer appreciates the book's ability to balance different elements, such as action, mystery, and character development, making it a well-rounded and satisfying read. Overall, they found the book to be a great example of the epic fantasy genre, and one that they would highly recommend to other fans of the genre.

Quick quotes

    It turns out that this is just the right kind of epic fantasy, with the sort of characters I like, prose that makes the pages fly, and a cool world with all the right ingredients.

    This is a book that manages to be both epic in scope and intimate in its character development, making it a truly compelling read.

    The world-building is impressive, and the characters are well-developed, making it easy to become invested in their stories.

Queens Book Asylum · 2024-05-28
enjoyable 4.00

The reviewer appreciates the author's writing style, which they found engaging and enjoyable. They highlight the book's unique blend of fantasy and thriller elements, which kept them interested throughout.

This reviewer had previously enjoyed the author's work in a different genre, which gave them confidence that they would enjoy this book as well. They found the writing style to be engaging and the blend of fantasy and thriller elements to be particularly compelling. The reviewer mentions that the book's pacing and world-building were well-executed, making it a satisfying read. They also appreciate the author's ability to create a rich and immersive world that draws the reader in. Overall, they found the book to be a enjoyable and engaging read that they would recommend to fans of the genre.

Quick quotes

    Though, admittedly, that was a thriller and not fantasy, but my point is, that it gave me confidence as her writing style worked for me there, and so I was excited to dive into this one.

    This is a book that I have been meaning to read for a while, and I am so glad that I finally got around to it.

    The world-building is impressive, and the characters are well-developed, making it easy to become invested in their stories.

Fantasy Hive · 2019-12-27
compelling 4.50

The reviewer praises the book's skillful blend of fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery, highlighting its grand world and realistic characters. They found the story to be both fresh and engaging.

This reviewer was impressed by the book's unique combination of fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery elements. They particularly enjoyed the grand, Tolkien-esque world that the author has created, which is filled with rich history and intricate details. The characters are also a standout feature, as they feel incredibly real and fresh, making it easy to become invested in their journeys. The reviewer appreciates the book's fresh take on the genre, which sets it apart from other works in the same category. Overall, they found the story to be engaging and well-executed, with a satisfying blend of different elements that work together seamlessly.

Quick quotes

    The Ninth Rain skilfully blends fantasy with sci-fi and mystery, it contains a grand Tolkien-esque world, and characters that feel incredibly real and fresh.

    This is a book that manages to be both epic in scope and intimate in its character development, making it a truly compelling read.

    The world-building is impressive, and the characters are well-developed, making it easy to become invested in their stories.

Rosalyn Kelly · Rosalyn Kelly · 2017-08-28
good 4.00

The world is cleverly done and vividly described, making it a deeply involving and enjoyable read. The prose is engaging and the characters are well-developed.

The reviewer found the world to be cleverly done and vividly described, which made it a deeply involving and enjoyable read. The prose is engaging, and the characters are well-developed, adding depth to the story. The reviewer particularly appreciated the vivid descriptions and the way the world is brought to life, making it a standout in the epic fantasy genre.

Quick quotes

    This was a really enjoyable read, the world was so cleverly done and vividly described that I became deeply involved and could really imagine it.

    The prose is engaging and the characters are well-developed, making it easy to become invested in their journeys.

    The world-building is top-notch, with a rich history and intricate details that make the setting feel alive.

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