Like his world, John deBrun has forgotten more than he remembers. Twenty-seven years ago, he washed up onto the shore of Nanagada with no memory of his past. Although he has made a new life for himself among the peaceful islanders, his soul remains haunted by unanswered questions about his own identity.
These mysteries take on new urgency when the fearsome Azteca storm over the Wicked High Mountains in search of fresh blood and hearts to feed their cruel, inhuman gods. Nanagada's only hope lies in a mythical artifact, the Ma Wi Jung, said to be hidden somewhere in the frozen north. And only John deBrun knows the device's secrets, even if he can't remember why or how!
Crystal Rain is the much-anticipated debut novel by one of science fiction's newest and most promising talents.
For a thrilling adventure set on a unique world, this Book couldn't be bettered. -- Paul Di Filippo, Scifi.com
This story (clearly only the first in a Series) has it all - seaborne, sky, and space conflicts, diverse cultures, old secrets, mysterious protagonists (human and alien), and a desperate race to save humanity. I can't wait for more! -- Hilary Williamson, BookLoons
In this stellar debut novel, Bucknell has created an amazing world that combines Caribbean and Aztec culture and religion with long-lost technology and mysterious aliens. -- Natalie A. Luhrs, The Romantic Times Book Club
It has a sensawunda factor that will probably cancel out its spate of first-novel flubs in the minds of most fans -- T. M. Wagner, SFReviews.Net
Buckell does a nice job of setting the stage and the pages turn quickly, but the predictability of these kinds of novels is hard to miss when it takes so long to get to the obvious turning points in the plot. -- Clay Kallam, Contra Costa Times
There is, of course, a fair amount of revelation left for subsequent volumes, but Crystal Rain is complete enough in itself to provide a very satisfying first novel with a different and refreshing setting. -- Cheryl Morgan, Emeral City