Who Wrote 'Rain And Ashes' And When Was It Published?

Let me geek out about 'Rain and Ashes'—it’s my favorite hidden gem of 2021. The creator is P.L. Hayes, a pseudonym for an author who previously wrote military sci-fi under another name. They switched genres dramatically with this standalone novel about a witch hunter navigating a world where magic causes plagues. The October 2021 release was perfectly timed for Halloween reads, though it’s more bleak than spooky.

Hayes’ writing style splits the difference between Cormac McCarthy’s austerity and V.E. Schwab’s visceral action. The book gained traction on BookTok last year when fans started dissecting its ambiguous ending. If you enjoy morally gray protagonists, pair this with Seth Dickinson’s 'The Traitor Baru Cormorant'. Both books force you to root for flawed characters making monstrous choices.

I stumbled upon 'Rain and Ashes' while browsing dark fantasy novels last year. The author is P.L. Hayes, a relatively new voice in the genre who blends gritty realism with supernatural elements. Published in 2021, the book caught attention for its raw portrayal of post-apocalyptic survival. Hayes has this knack for making despair feel poetic, and the timing of the release during the pandemic made its themes resonate harder. If you liked the tone, check out 'The Last Storm' by J.D. Barker—similar vibe but with more political intrigue woven in.

I can confirm 'Rain and Ashes' was penned by British writer Patricia Lynne Hayes. It hit shelves in March 2021 through Blackthorn Press, a small imprint known for taking risks with unconventional dystopian fiction. Hayes’ background in war journalism seeps into every chapter—the ash-covered cities feel ripped from conflict zone reports.

The publication date is interesting because it slipped under the radar initially. No big marketing push, just word-of-mouth praise among grimdark fans. By mid-2022, it had cult status thanks to its unflinching protagonist, who’s more antihero than savior. The way Hayes subverts redemption arcs reminds me of Anna Smith Spark’s work in 'The Court of Broken Knives', though Hayes’ prose is leaner, almost brutalist.

What’s wild is how prescient it became. The novel’s pandemic subplot, written pre-COVID, gained eerie relevance. Hayes admitted in interviews she drew from 1918 influenza archives. For those who missed it, the limited hardcover run now sells for triple the original price on secondary markets.