Review: Rainsquall by Penny Moss

MMM Achillean fantasy romance

Summary

Lonely shepherd Folke has lost most of his sheep to strange circumstances. When a wolf or creature of some sort gets into the barn during a storm, the rest of his sheep scatter into the rain, and Folke gets lost trying to find them when he stumbles on three unknown soldiers who promise to help him find his sheep in return for renting a room in his cottage.

Suddenly, Folke’s world is crowded with all the things he worked to avoid, while opening up to many alluring possibilities. Warm skin, shared breaths, and the caress of lips beguile him into what he knows will lead to heartbreak. Each day he grows closer to the men is another day until their inevitable departure - and to secrets that could change all he knows.

Rating and Review

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Rainsquall is an intensely gorgeous and unique read that I haven’t stopped thinking about since I was delivered an ARC copy of it in the chill but warming month of February. There’s something so special about this book that’s hard to put my finger on. Perhaps it’s several things, all mulled together into hearth-warmed wine of a read - lush, warm, soothing, and the perfect, rain-soaked book to read hunkered down in the cool of tapering winter, spring just around the corner.

From the very beginning, page one, each word shapes this stormy, windy, cold, and lonely stone cottage in the hills of Wales with one shepherd who's losing his flock and three soldiers with dozens of secrets whose sudden intrusive move in make it... somehow much less lonely. Right from the start, it’s a descriptive, atmospheric, DELICIOUS story, unique, and rich with everything I want from a book.

I was in the rain with Folke, and I could sense his fear, his desperation, as well as all the memories he held tied to every single thing inside his cottage, and, not even in the mood to read that first night I opened my ARC of Rainsquall, I suddenly found my disposition completely shifted and couldn’t wait to read more. Frankly, Rainsquall is the QUINTESSENCE of readable. Generally, there are precious few scenes and sections in a book that draw me in so deeply I’m immersed in the story. Generally, I’m just reading. With Rainsquall, it would take a few paragraphs, and I would be transported. Pages would slip away. My intent to read one chapter would become two, three, four. I would pick it up to read lightly before bed and would stay up another hour consumed with this world and, especially, the characters in it. I’m a bit of a slow reader with many draws on my time, yet when I was reading Rainsquall, I was UNWILLING to put it down.

Between quiet, roaming thoughts, soft conversations, and pointed interactions, characters are built distinctly, though first impressions don’t reveal all of who these characters are. They have such depth and quirks, and while those first impressions are not an inaccurate starting point, there’s much more to them that’s only revealed as the story goes on. Each with personality as distinct as they way he talks. Like real people with their own vices, histories, skills, and problems and all INCREDIBLY likable FOR those unique character traits. I wasn't even a quarter of the way into Rainsquall when I realized I could and had been telling the characters apart by their vernacular. Their name being attached was just bonus confirmation. It's rare I find characters so INTIMATELY REAL, lifelike, relatable - human wants, human decisions dragging them into things that may or may not work out for them. Moss excels beautifully, artfully at crafting characters just as well or, dare I say, even better than its outstanding grasp of language and lyrical, absorbing, consuming, VIVID writing and story telling.

Which brings us to the supernatural elements, based on real folklore, hinted at right from the start, teased through the middle, and delivered ubiquitously by the end. While I won’t go into detail with them, as it’s all better left to be discovered while reading the book itself, I loved these elements and the accuracy of them. While almost background noise to the story of Folke, these elements play an important role and add a layer of almost immeasurable danger always hovering in this dreamy, sensual story, and a je ne sais quoi to the mystery as well as the relationships.

The relationships, might I add, which develop quickly, yet so… naturally. They never feel rushed and they always carry a depth of intensity, passion, and MEANING behind every interaction. The spice in this is ON FIRE, each directed thought and touch desperate with desire and the want to not only have but to hold, to claim, to keep. It's rough and needy in the best possible way. Every interaction between any of the trio leaving me breathless. I couldn't get enough, and the way the characters couldn't get enough was everything I wanted out of them and fulfilled my book desires in ways I can't describe.

This isn't my first foray into Penny Moss's novels, so I can say with confidence that Moss has a talent for making a romance so much more, leaving so much room for growth and story. Sometimes, when the characters in other romances finally have their moment, I gradually become bored, wondering why there's so much story left. Yet, so far with Moss's works, there's never been a single moment I'm bored, I never want it to end, and I never got tired of seeing the characters finally be able to have each other, or to see their need to express themselves with touch and so much kissing.

I'm gushing, but I can't seem to help it. I've never before been quite this SMITTEN with every single work an author has created before. I've been in LOVE with Moss's writing style since I first stepped into Coil of Boughs, and, later, its other works last year, and yet every time I step away and then come back to sink dreamily into these worlds again I find myself staggered that my remembered experience was not only accurate but even better that what I had thought couldn't have possibly been as good as I remembered and, instead, in fact, threatens to be of my favorites of all time.

I can't get enough. Moss has risen to the top of my very short insta-buy author list, Rainsquall another masterpiece of excellence in every single way. Even if you don't normally go for MMM, like me, TRY THIS. Even if you don't normally read historical fantasy, TRY THIS. It's impossible not to like, and it will scoop out all your misgivings and fill you with passion instead.

Content Warnings (mild spoilers possible)

- death of sheep on and off page, past and present
- past death of pet dog
- concussion
- soldier-style weaponry including mentioned guns and mine-like explosives
- consensual high spice on page, sometimes rough, between 2-3 men

Whom I’d Recommend This Book to

Anyone who loves a lyrical, immersive read and appreciates a sophisticated writing style that’s still very real and intense. Anyone who loves an MMM poly, Achillean romance or who is open to trying one. Anyone who loves a high spice read, especially one with somewhat cozy vibes and some fantasy elements.