Rainbow in the Dark is a word and delightfully wonderful story that focuses on tech and the power of friendship, it takes influence from the Wizard of Oz and is an interesting read.

A really interesting sci fi allegory that gamers will enjoy. High School senior Rainbow wakes up in a strange world with little to no memory of their life outside. As Rainbow encounters other teens and they team up to make their way through the game-like levels of the strange world they find themselves in, they can make the decisions to remember or forget parts of their previous lives. Fascinating storytelling, reads like a combination of Ready Player One, the Wizard of Oz, and Blade Runner, with a deeper meaning to be found under the surface. Striking visuals that really stick in your memory.

This story was so weird and wonderful- I hope it finds its audience. Rainbow wanders into the world of an alternate reality and is trapped there while searching for her brother CJ.

I did not finish this book. I was really excited to read it since it was touted as a Wizard of Oz mix. But it was so disjointed I simply could not complete it. I stopped at chapter 15.

After reading and then reflecting on this bizarre and wonderful book, I find that I am extremely happy that I read it. I don't think I've ever read anything like it, and I'm quite sure I'll probably never read anything like it again.

Rainbow's life feels like it's falling apart. His brother doesn't seem interested in having a relationship with him, his mom is always sad, and his dad is gone. After a move, Rainbow is having a difficult time in school, and his depression is a driving force in his life.

Until he ends up in a new place. A place he's never been before and can't quite figure out. And as he begins to navigate in this place (which does distinctly feel like a video game), he meets new people that will help him find his way home, but along the way, he must learn new things about himself and understand his own memories better.

Other reviewers have said that this book is a fascinating commentary on teenage depression, and they would be correct. Though it was strange, and I was a bit skeptical at first, once I got going, I couldn't put it down. My heart broke for poor Rainbow several times throughout the course of the novel. I wanted to hug him. I loved him, and his new friends were all fascinating people. I think this book does have a lot of appeal for teens dealing with depression, or would be good for teens that are interested in video games, because it did wholly feel like that's what was happening. There were quests the characters had to complete before they could move onto the next level, and every level got them one step closer to home.

The writing style was very well done too. I am not quite sure I have ever read a book successfully told in switching third and second person narration. Rainbow's memories were told in third person, while the action inside the video game was in second person, allowing for an even more immersive experience.

I am grateful this bizarre and beautiful book exists. I'm excited to have it on my shelves and I'm excited to recommend it.

CW: A lot of censored cursing (the game Rainbow is stuck in does not allow for profanity, but the teens try anyway) and there are some quests these teens have to fulfill that were reminiscent of drug use, like snorting fire ants and smoking Sour Patch Kids (all of which are said to be dangerous in the novel). Also suicidal ideation and depression.

Okay, y’all. This was one weird book, and I absolutely loved it.

When Rainbow wakes up, she doesn’t remember anything. She doesn’t know who she is, where she is, or how she got there. She finds herself in a video game-like world, with memories slowly being returned to her. In order to fully regain her memories and (maybe) return home, she has to complete a quest. Chad01, the warrior assigned to escort her, is tremendously upset about being paired up with a Nobody, a character without an assigned class. They reluctantly set out across a bizarre world full of nightmarish creatures and magic that no one seems to fully understand.

Rainbow manages to retrieve some more of her memories along the journey, leading her to remember her time with her brother CJ and her struggles with her own mental health and suicidal ideation. The quest to find herself may be more destructive to her than she initially would have expected.

Sean McGinty has crafted a unique story here, with some parallels being drawn to The Wizard of Oz as far as a quest within a questionable reality. It’s a difficult story to describe, and a difficult one to read, but it pays off pretty well. 4/5 stars. It’s out in the world as of *oops* yesterday, so go check it out.

My most sincere thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for an eARC of Rainbow in the Dark in exchange for a fair review.

Rainbow in the Dark by Sean McGinty is a young adult fantasy standalone novel. I would warn readers that this one has a dark side to it tackling issues like teen depression and teen suicide in a fantasy world.

Rainbow is a high school senior who has one day found herself trapped in a virtual game world. Rainbow meets another teen, a guy who claims his name is CHAD01, and Chad 1 (the 0 is silent) explains what little he knows about the world they are trapped inside. The pair must beat the game to find their portal home.

Rainbow in the Dark was compared to Ready Player One and The Wizard of Oz so of course being a big fan of each I had to check this one out. Now I know sometimes comparisons are way off the mark but in this case I could see both in this strange fantasy. The problem I came upon though was if I had not been referred to those books I probably would not have understood a thing going on in this story. The world building was lacking and the story strange but bringing upon the other stories I actually did understand what the author was trying to do. I wouldn’t say that I felt the idea behind this was original with the comparisons guiding me but somehow the strange story did work and in the end I’d rate this one at three and a half stars.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is a story of a high school senior, Rainbow, a cat, Goldfish, and how Rainbow got stuck in another reality playing a game with three other teens that may or may not be real, especially when you find out how they have to use the bathroom. They must complete quests, gain experience and memories to hopefully win and escape the game and go home. But where does a cat named Goldfish come in and is Rainbows brother in this world too?

This is a very interesting and well sculpted book. There are so many twists and turns it will keep you ensnared until the end. The characters are well rounded and the story line is a new one. I liked this book and hope you all do too.

This review will appear on my blog on Aug 10th

This book was amazing. Sean McGinty created a beautiful world that weaves in and out reality. It’s an amazing depiction of the teenage psyche- the struggle, hurdles to communication, and the ties that bind family.

Rainbow In The Dark is a YA sci-fi/fantasy adventure. It's a thriller. It's a funny, disturbing, quirky story. And most of all, it's an allegory of teenage depression.

I have read books that have tried to do what McGinty has done here and they've all failed. This one, though... This one really works. His insight into depression and his gradual unveiling of memories and events is done masterfully. This is a book that's either going to ring true for the reader or show them the inside of a depressed person's mind, and either way, it emanates compassion and understanding.

It is a truly gripping read. I only hope that ending was real.

Hope is what we're left with as the story finishes, and I'm going to cling to it.

This book was like nothing I’ve read before, and I really enjoyed it!
The switching between memories and Rainbows quest in the world was so balanced and really helped set up how important remembering who you are and bad and good things are. It doesn’t hurt that it was a mix between Wizard of Oz and Ready Player One, two books I adore; it took inspiration but created something entirely new and unique!

I literally didn’t know if Rainbow was male, female, no binary, or gender fluid for so long in this book, and I love it! It was up to interpretation for a while, and I NEED MORE OF THIS!
Chapters aren’t too long, so those who struggle with reading won’t have trouble either!

My problems with the story; the Goddess parts and the ending, which didn't hold enough emotional hold, so it fell flat! The Goddess parts confused me for the longest while I didn’t find them necessary.

I found the video game concept interesting, but really wanted more in the way of world building and character building. If you enjoy plot driven narratives, you will probably enjoy this story more than I did, as the plot was interesting and well paced.

Rainbow wakes up trapped in a video game and she doesn’t know the rules or the purpose. Through different levels and by making a few friends, Rainbow starts to figure out what to do. As Rainbow progresses through the levels, she also recalls memories from the life she thinks she once had.

I struggled to get into the story because the world building was a little unclear. Bringing the video game and friend-quest together didn’t always work out. I didn’t love any of the characters and struggled to figure out who to fight for. When the reader gets the end, there is still a little ambiguity, which I usually like, but I would have wanted a little bit more clarity about Rainbow and her experience. The allegory-eque story of a character trying to understand their depression and suicidal ideation was an interesting idea, but the video game world wasn’t fully built. I wanted to like it more than I did. For readers who like a fast-paced, situation driven story, then this is a good choice. The plot and characters will definitely create conversation between readers. I would love to talk with someone about the narrator’s point of view.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC!