The Rain Heron: A Novel

Thanks to FSG for a free finished copy of this title, which was published on Feb 9, 2021. I'm writing this review voluntarily.

The Rain Heron is a beautiful mythological eco-fable, set in an alternate world of political upheaval and environmental decimation that feels uncomfortably close to home. Ren, an older woman, has been surviving in the woods for years, after a government overthrow in the country where she lives. When a military group arrives, looking for a mysterious bird with the power to control the weather, Ren dissuades them. Eventually, through a series of shocking cruelties that destroy Ren's peaceful life in nature, the young woman soldier in charge wears Ren down. The rest of the novel details the journey to find the rain heron and the bloody aftermath of the quest, including past and present sections narrated by different characters, detailing how they've all arrived at this fraught moment.

Through crisp, tightly controlled prose and wondrous descriptions of the natural world, Robbie Arnott combines magical realism and realism to create a highly impactful tale about tragedy and regret. And forgiveness. The sections set in the past are so heart-breaking, showing how characters who used to respect nature have become hardened by the forces of violence, greed, and war. Ultimately, though, The Rain Heron is an inspiring story of uplift, about how loss and mistakes can sometimes cause a person to do the hard work of reforging connections with people and animals and the land. It's not easy, but it is possible to turn things around.