Grief is like the ocean; it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim

Vicki Harrison

There are many quotes about grief, many metaphors used to describe it and frequently they use water in its various forms, be that rain or oceans, tears or the sense that one is drowning in a crushing sensation of different emotions. In her debut novel, The World Between the Rain, Susan Cahill uses these ideas in the form of a magical portal story that also conveys ways in which people may cope with grief and loss. It is an absorbing and, ultimately, comforting read.

Halloween is approaching and it is the anniversary of the death of thirteen year old Marina’s father. In the previous months Marina’s younger sister has been busy with her circle of friends and her mother, Maeve, has lost herself in the obsessional cleaning of their home. But now Maeve has fallen into a deep sleep from which Marina is unable to waken her. This strange sleeping sickness has also overtaken all the adults in the village where the family live. Only Ursula, the girls’ newly arrived grandmother, appears unaffected by this phenomenon and it is she who tells Marina stories of the forgotten gods and the strange world between the rain in the West of Ireland. Shortly afterwards Marina finds herself transported to a mysterious, watery world inhabited by unusual creatures, demons and gods. As she struggles to make sense of her predicament she also knows that she must return to her own world and to her own family who need her.

The World Between the Rain is unlike anything I have read recently yet there are elements that feel familiar. The strange world that Marina visits contains facets of her own yet portrayed in a fantastical way reminiscent of Alice and her adventures in Wonderland. Just like the author, as a child I longed to find a portal to another place like Narnia and Marina, through her sadness, does just this. Susan Cahill has blended magic, folklore, family life and bereavement together in this absorbing story in a manner that encourages the reader to think and reflect. It would, in my opinion, be a helpful book for a teen or young adult who is grieving to read. Even as an adult who has experienced family loss in the last year I found this a thoughtful and, despite the moments of drama and thrills, soothing story. The author has highlighted the many different ways in which people can experience and cope with grief and the impact that this can have on families. Sadly, death in a family can sometimes cause stress between those dealing with the enormity of their loss. This story’s ending provides much needed hope and consolation.

The setting and the names are interesting aspects of this story. Set in the village of Ballinaday on the coast of the West of Ireland, although not a real place it is based on the author’s home town in West Cork. The Irish phrase Béal an Átha translated to Ballina in English means “mouth of the ford” and can be found in places situated on rivers or river mouths. The name Marina of course has connections to the sea too. When she travels between the rain Marina first finds herself in a strange, floating city called Ishka, the pronunciation of the Gaelic for water, uisce. The use of language and imagery throughout the book adds to the magical feeling of the other world created for Marina but also for her emotions and experiences. As a reader it is interesting how one accepts the imagined as real quite quickly. The fantasy world full of dreamweavers, gods and monsters is beautifully executed and the adventure a compelling one of friendship and bravery. The gradual reveal of the hidden stories behind some of the characters adds to the reader’s understanding and appreciation of their attitudes and motivation. The manner in which the contemporary and the fantastical worlds are blended works extremely well.

The World Between the Rain is refreshing in its originality and comforting in its message of acknowledging the enormity of grief and the importance of memories in keeping lost ones close after they have died. A stunning debut and one that I am glad that I have read. Thank you to Susan Cahill for her beautiful and wise story, Holly Ovenden for the excellent illustrations throughout and the stunning cover. Thank you also to Mikka Haugaard at Everything With Words for kindly providing my review copy.