Rust-Colored Rain: A Zombie Apocalypse Thriller

Wrack and Ruin #1

by Otto Schafer

The world was ready to defend against an asteroid of epic proportions… but nobody was ready for what came after.On the last day of normality in Mackinaw, Illinois, Oliver McCallister thinks his worst problem is figuring out how to come clean to his wife about the secret he’s been keeping from her. Zoe McCallister thinks her worst problem is squeezing in an errand at the courthouse before another long day of nursing classes—and worrying about whatever Oliver is hiding from her.Oliver has just started his garbage route when an emergency broadcast announces the arrival of a ten-kilometer-long asteroid. A nuclear strike successfully destroys the asteroid and turns the sky into a canvas of crimson clouds. People cheer. They dance in the rust-colored rain falling from the clouds. It seems the apocalypse has been avoided.But the apocalypse isn’t happening to people, it’s happening inside them.First their eyes bleed. A ravenous hunger consumes them. Their sanity breaks. Then they become… the undead.As the apocalypse unfolds, Oliver battles the undead to rescue a wise-beyond-her-years six-year-old named Jurnee and make his way back home, where he hopes he’ll find Zoe and safety. Before they can be reunited, Zoe must band together with a group of survivors to dodge the infectious red rains and escape a zombie-infested courthouse.Will Zoe’s medical knowledge, Oliver’s protective instincts, and Jurnee’s indomitable spirit be enough for them to find safe refuge in this new and frightening world? Will Oliver and Zoe be able to repair their strained marriage, or will this dire situation push them further apart?Rust-Colored Rain is the first book in a thrilling new science fiction zombie series from the author of the award-winning God Stones series. If you’re yearning for a character-driven thrill ride, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and brain-craving zombies, then you’ll love Otto Schafer’s Rust-Colored Rain.

Genres: Horror, Zombies, Post Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Audiobook

268 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2023

About the author

Otto Schafer grew up exploring the small historic town in central Illinois featured in his first work of fiction, The Secret Journal. If you visit Petersburg, Illinois you may find locations familiar from the book. You may even discover, as Otto did, that history has left behind cleverly hidden traces of magic, whispered secrets, and untold treasures.

Otto is currently working on the third book in the Wrack and Ruin series, set to release in early 2025.

He and his loving wife reside in a quiet log cabin tucked away in the woods. You can often find him sitting out back by the koi pond, whittling words into stories for his readers.

Reviews

[J.L. Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and it won't be my last. It was everything the first book in a series should be and did its job because now all I can think about is book 2! It was so refreshing so read a book with realistic dialogue. It wasn't choppy or unnatural. This book flowed perfectly and had my heart pumping the entire time! A++++

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid take on the zombie genre, I really liked Zoe, Oliver and Jurnee and how non-stop the action was without being so fast-paced that it didn't make sense. The action scenes were great and the rain aspect was interesting, I'll look forward to the next installment.

4.5 rounded up,

[Scott Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a super fun ride. This is 256 pages of non stop zombie action! I flew through this in like a day and that’s because there is literally never a break in the action. I also love the zombie (if we’re calling them zombies!) origin story in this one… a giant asteroid is about to enter earths orbit so we nuke it to save mankind, but instead, cause an alien radioactive rain that infects its human hosts into brain obsessed zombies! You know what… sometimes you just need to read a zombie book… and I’m super glad I did! Well done, Otto!! Excited to see where your characters go next!

[Donna (BookDragonGirl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

REREAD BY AUDIOBOOK ON AUDIBLE!! 🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️ 12/27/23 - 12/28/23 LOVED THE AUDIOBOOK!!! AJ Carter is the most TALENTED narrators and can do the most amazing voices!! He made the zombies sound so creepy!! Otto writes the best books!! His characters always stick with me. I loved Oliver, Zoe, Jurnee and Louie so much, and I need book two NOW!!!

The Best Apocalyptic/Zombie Book Ever!!

THIS BOOK WAS FREAKING FANTASTIC!!!

If you enjoy apocalyptic/zombie books, you need to read this!!! If not, but you enjoy character driven stories, you will love this!!

This is a really fast paced book! It starts off like BAM…your characters are in a horrifying situation! I love, love, LOVE the main characters!! But they’re not perfect, which makes us relate to how they react to things.

An asteroid is going to hit the earth…WHAT???…radio says don’t worry we have a way to destroy it before it makes contact…WHEW!!!…the sky is raining blood…WHAT???…It’s okay, it’s just rust-colored rain from the asteroid…WHEW!!!…it’s causing people to turn into ZOMBIES…WTH!!!!!! This is what I mean by fast paced, non-stop craziness!!! My heart was beating out of my chest!!!

Throughout the first half (approximately) of the book, Oliver and his wife, Zoe, are just trying to get back to each other. Not an easy feat!!

Otto’s first series was YA Fantasy and was AMAZING!!! Now he’s started this Adult Apocalyptic/Zombie series and so far it’s also AMAZING!!! Otto is a FREAKING STAR!! He is an outstanding writer and knows how to write characters we can relate to and fall in love with! He writes worlds that are so vivid and real in the mind’s eye that you feel like you’re watching a movie, but better…because reading is always better! If you haven’t checked out his work, then WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!!! Don’t miss out on this FANTASTIC author!!

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced zombie thriller. A comet is entering the atmosphere. Once it enters it causes the sky to turn red and and the atmosphere is contaminated with a parasite. Once the rain makes contact with your eyes or mouth entering your body the parasite grows and takes over your body. The parasite needs to feed on humans.

[Keri M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting, non stop, action packed new take on zombies. The zombie rain was such an interesting story. The characters are very well developed and the action never stops. Do your self a favor and buy directly from the author! The packaging this book comes in is amazing!!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The details are good at describing certain imagery, but another than that this book is very typical male bravado.

I’m coming to the strong conclusion that men don’t know how to write women.

“Oh, Angel! Why didn’t you just get in the car?”

Silhouettes? Short skirt?

“Oh Ollie!”

It’s like do men really imagine a women and think they speak like that?

And why does every man have to be either a cheater or make their partner suspect that they’re cheating? I don’t understand why this is a common theme with male writing, especially in zombie books.

The word “depressing” or “depressed” is used so many times to describe the character pressing down on something lol mans could have google an online thesaurus.

2 stars for at least being able to include details, but the dialogue between characters, especially the women is cringe

[AddysBookishAddiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excuse me, Mr. Shafer? Yeah, hi... uh, what in the world are you doing to me? I don't like zombies... I HATE ZOMBIES. But here I am impatiently waiting for Wrack and Ruin #2. Pssst. Is it time yet?

Rust-Colored Rain is not only entertaining, heartwarming, gut wrenching, and cute as heck in parts... but it is also one of the most unique takes on zombies that I've seen to date. I wont say to much because EFF SPOILERS, but the way that the virus spreads/is introduced is BRILLIANT.

This book gives you everything that you could possibly need in a book: domestic issues, wit/humor, drama, adventure, a dog and child that will warm your heart, and a touch of horror that will make you sit at the edge of your seat waiting to run for cover. RCR also continues on the legacy of Otto's fantastic story telling.

I've never been more glad that I read something outside of my preferred genre.

[Books_n_critters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic start to a new series! The zombies are coming, and Zoe and Oliver just want to find their way to each other and figure out what's going on. As usual, Otto Schafer puts you in the edge of your seat and keeps you there right up to the end!

[Larae Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rust-Colored Rain" isn't just a book; it's an immersive journey that etched its mark on my soul. Otto Schafer's storytelling prowess transcends the typical zombie apocalypse narrative, plunging readers into a world where the aftermath of an asteroid takes a backseat to the chilling emergence of the undead.

From the first page, I felt a visceral connection with Oliver McCallister as he faced the chaos unfolding in Mackinaw, Illinois. The vivid descriptions of crimson clouds and rust-colored rain created an atmosphere that tingled my senses, making the apocalypse feel tangible.

What captivated me most was the emphasis on characters. Oliver's protective instincts, Zoe's medical knowledge, and the resilience of six-year-old Jurnee formed a trio that resonated beyond the pages. The strained marriage between Oliver and Zoe added a layer of emotion, intensifying the stakes and making the story more than just a survival tale.

Experiencing this as a buddy read heightened the thrill. The shared astonishment and shivers exchanged with my reading companion amplified the impact of every twist and turn. Schafer's ability to evoke genuine emotions while delivering spine-chilling suspense left me yearning for more.

"Rust-Colored Rain" is not just a thrilling science fiction zombie series; it's a personal encounter with fear, love, and the indomitable human spirit in the face of an apocalyptic nightmare. If you're seeking a book that not only keeps you on the edge of your seat but also leaves you with lingering shivers, then Otto Schafer's masterpiece is an absolute must-read.

[Kamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my Otto! I came for the zombie book but stayed glued to the page and up til 2 am for the main characters! This book never lets up. Buckle your seatbelt because it’s the end of the world as we know it… and I’m really not feeling fine after going out into the Rust Colored Rain.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook and am quite sure I will have zombie nightmares tonight. This was fast paced and, as disturbing as many of the scenes were, I could not stop listening even as my chest pounded with anxiety. I’m not really a fan of the zombie apocalypse genre, but here I am anxiously awaiting book #2!

[Jennifer LaCross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow!

Zombie inspired books aren’t typically the first ones I reach for, however when someone told me that this book had “The Last of Us” vibes, I knew I had to read it. I absolutely loved that TV series, and let me tell you — this book held me at the edge of my seat just as much as if I were watching it on the big screen!

Loved the characters — the ACTION — the unique twists on an apocalyptic scenario! I devoured this is 3 sittings!

And the cliffhanger at the end! Otto — please tell me book 2 is coming soon!?

A must read! Well done!

[Kendra E Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughing, gagging, pissing, screaming, shitting, barfing, giggling, and crying..... A refreshing zombie, or should I say "sick person" read. #louiebettersurvive

[Alexius Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up, pretty solid zombie apocalypse story, fast-paced, interesting characters, good descriptions, could be a little repetetive at times though.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars, I loved how different this zombie story is and it all comes down to this alien parasite. But why did it all have to end on a dang cliffhanger?!

[Joseph Harkreader]

Rust-colored Rain is a tension-filled horror story that kept me frantically turning the pages late into the night.
The story follows a married couple— Oliver and Zoe. I enjoyed both POVs.
The emotion is grounded and got me invested in the cast, while the gore littered across this terrifying apocalyptic scenario had me reading 10+ chapters on day 01!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5 stars just for the fun idea of having zombies come from parasites on an asteroid shot down by nukes.

The dialogue is bad. The author has the habit of repeating phrases unnecessarily that are a bit clunky. “High asset repo” comes to mind as an example. Both parties repeat high asset repo several times. It felt like an ad for high asset repo. Wife thinks husband is cheating but he’s just doing high asset repo on the side and this is almost enough to end a marriage during an asteroid induced parasitic zombie apocalypse.

Which brings me to the women in the story being one dimensional. One side character has a short skirt and high heels and the other woman somehow uses that to intuit that side character is a prostitute with a pimp. Lots of fodder for the ‘men writing women’ subreddit on this one. Not overly macho sexist though which is a nice change of pace for this caliber/type of book.

I will say, I think this author has some good bones in there somewhere. There’s hints of world building, and the writing outside of dialogue is pretty decent. The story moves at a steady pace and the characters with development could be likeable.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for anything zombie and this book did not disappoint! Once I started reading it, I had to know what was going on. I need book 2 pretty much now!

[Baiba Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down! I love a good zombie apocalypse and especially the beginning of it, the normal life bleeding into a nightmare. This book was so realistic, the science and medicine of it very well researched - i had so much fun reading it! Also i fell in love with the characters.
There’s some scary and awsome art in this book.

[James Tracy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild and crazy ride. The story in itself, was not your typical zombie apocalypse tale. Sure it had its gore and blood, but it also has the human side with good characters who are forced to make tough choices. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment.

[Jenna E. Faas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never really been into reading zombie books or watching The Walking Dead, but since I’ve read Otto Schafer’s other books, I gave Rust Colored Rain a go. As expected, Otto’s writing was phenomenal, and it was easy to get lost in the story. His idea for how the zombie apocalypse begins is unique. It looks like it’s going to be the end of the world when a meteor is headed toward Earth, but the military is able to blow the rock to bits. Unfortunately, the debris causes rust-colored rain to fall. Thinking the end was adverted, some people danced in the rain even though it looked like blood, but unbeknownst to the world, the apocalypse was already in motion. The red rain causes anyone it touches to act strangely and begin craving, you guessed it, brains.

I enjoyed how the story focuses on a couple, and the chapters jump back and forth to what they experience when the zombie invasion begins. Their marriage has hit some road bumps, with the husband keeping secrets and the wife falling out of love. However, when all hell breaks loose, you can’t help wondering if they’ll forgive each other or if their relationship will end just like the world is. Rust Colored Rain is the first book in the series, and I’m already anticipating the release of the second one! I suppose Otto changed my mind about zombies because this book was excellent!

[Bonita Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Bonita’s Geeky Blog-Fu! review:
Otto Schafer is becoming one of my favorite storytellers. His ability to blend thrilling suspense with emotional stakes is downright masterful. He creates vivid worlds and characters that are endearing and indelible.

A few months ago, I shared my 5-star Fresh Fun Fantasy review of his YA — The Secret Journal: God Stones Book 1.

Well, Schafer’s knocked it out of the park again with Rust-Colored Rain — a fast-paced, action-packed, zombie-licious read!

From the nail-biting start to the heart-stopping end, Rust-Colored Rain had me hooked. With plenty of entrail-eating, brain-exploding, running-for-your-life scenes, I chewed through this book like a zombie chews through brains!

RCR (as we fans affectionately call it) is a TBR must-have for every zombie apocalypse fan.

[Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definently a solid 4.7 stars. Great zombie style book. I enjoyed the real life scenarios that could happen and the realization of the events. Jurnee and Oliver as well as Zoe were very good characters in the book and with the situation they are in made it a more believable scenario. Very well written book

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Right from the jump it’s immediately action packed; and very balanced. Between action and drama I couldn’t turn the pages enough. Even if you’re burned out on the undead, Rust colored rain is very refreshing for zombie lovers, if that’s what they are?? Can’t wait for book 2! 🤙🏽

[Ryan Hersh · Rating 5 out of 5]

On my way to TikTok shop to buy book two as we fricking speak.

I loved the story, the unique take on zombies, the time taken to craft these characters. All of it. I'm hoping Otto finds success in this series because he definitely deserves it.


However if he hurts a perfect little hair on Jurnee's perfect little head I won't survive it .

[Audrey Finchum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was on the edge of my seat! I had heart palpitations and hot flashes. I laughed. I cried. I was terrified. I was mad. I even screamed a few times. Buckle up buttercup. This book is a heart pumping ride. I can't wait for book 2.

[Alyssa Brianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need to be a series or a movie! Can't wait for the next one!
Could not put this down!

[Hannah Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Kylie Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, action packed read

"Now be a good neighbor… and open the fucking door"

This book spooked me in a things that go bump in the night kind of way and I loved it.