Welcome to Unabridged Bookshelf's stop on the Sunrise Blog Tour! Make sure to check out everything going on during this tour by clicking the banner above.
About the Book
Author: Mike Mullin
Series: Ashfall #3
Publication Date: April 15, 2014
Genres: Young Adult, Post Apocalyptic,
The Yellowstone supervolcano nearly wiped out the human race. Now, almost a year after the eruption, the survivors seem determined to finish the job. Communities wage war on each other, gangs of cannibals roam the countryside, and what little government survived the eruption has collapsed completely. The ham radio has gone silent. Sickness, cold, and starvation are the survivors’ constant companions.
When it becomes apparent that their home is no longer safe and adults are not facing the stark realities, Alex and Darla must create a community that can survive the ongoing disaster, an almost impossible task requiring even more guts and more smarts than ever—and unthinkable sacrifice. If they fail . . . they, their loved ones, and the few remaining survivors will perish.
This epic finale has the heart of Ashfall, the action of Ashen Winter, and a depth all its own, examining questions of responsibility and bravery, civilization and society, illuminated by the story of an unshakable love that transcends a post-apocalyptic world and even life itself.
About the Author
Mike Mullin’s first job was scraping the gum off the undersides of desks at his high school. From
there, things went steadily downhill. He almost got fired by the owner of a bookstore due to his poor taste in earrings. He worked at a place that showed slides of poopy diapers during lunch (it did cut down on the cafeteria budget). The hazing process at the next company included eating live termites raised by the resident entomologist, so that didn’t last long either. For a while Mike juggled bottles at a wine shop, sometimes to disastrous effect. Oh, and then there was the job where swarms of wasps occasionally tried to chase him off ladders. So he’s really glad this writing thing seems to be working out.
Mike holds a black belt in Songahm Taekwondo. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and her three cats. Ashen Winter is his second novel. His debut, Ashfall, was named one of the top five young adult novels of 2011 by National Public Radio, a Best Teen Book of 2011 by Kirkus Reviews, and a New Voices selection by the American Booksellers Association
My Review of Sunrise
Mike Mullin is a magician with words and he uses his powers to suck readers into the worlds he creates leaving readers desperately hanging on every word. Ashfall started my infatuation, which only grew with Ashen Winter. The wait for Sunrise only made my infatuation into an obsession. When I finally got my hands on Sunrise, the obsession paid off. Sunrise is the perfect conclusion to the Ashfall trilogy.
Hope is a central theme throughout the entire Ashfall series, but I really think Sunrise is the book where hope is really the key to survival. Alex even though only 17, knows that without planning, there will be no future. As survivors begin to run out of viable food and supplies, they begin to turn on each other. Under constant fear of attack on the farm, Alex and Darla decided it is time to move and start a settlement, one geared towards survival and the future.
I really think Alex has grown into his own over the course of this series, and those he loves are lucky to have his protection and devotion. Alex would do just about anything to ensure their survival, and future. Darla’s mechanical knowledge is the key to that survival, and it is something I would love to have or at least have someone like her in my group, should the world be plunged into chaos. The relationship between Alex and Darla is my favorite part of Sunrise, because their love is a bright spot in a dark and dreary world.
Sunrise is a must read especially for fans of the Ashfall series. If have not started this series, what are you waiting for, Yellowstone to erupt? But seriously, this book and series is one of my favorite series of all time. These books are not always the easiest to read, because some of the situations are intense and even terrifying, but they are realistic. That honesty makes me love these books even more, and I want to read anything written by Mike Mullin. I am very curious to see what story he creates next, now that I have to say goodbye to Ashfall.
**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book, in exchange for an honest review**
Thank you for visiting Unabridged Bookshelf!
