Author: Mike Mullin
Series: Ashfall
Publisher:
Tanglewood
Press
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 576
Synopsis.
(Goodreads)
It’s been over six months since the
eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano. Alex
and Darla have been staying with Alex’s relatives, trying to cope with the new
reality of the primitive world so vividly portrayed in Ashfall, the first
book in this series. It’s also been six months of waiting for Alex’s parents to
return from Iowa.
Alex and Darla decide they can wait no longer and must retrace their journey
into Iowa to find and bring back Alex’s
parents to the tenuous safety of Illinois.
But the landscape they cross is even more perilous than before, with
life-and-death battles for food and power between the remaining communities.
When the unthinkable happens, Alex must find new reserves of strength and
determination to survive.
Review:
4 out of 5 stars
Ashen
Winter is
the sequel to Ashfall and is another
realistic and gripping read which follows the aftermath of the Yellowstone supervolcano and the havoc and destruction
which has been wreaked.
Alex and Darla are staying with his relatives in Illinois but when they hear news of his parents being in Iowa they make the trek
to try and find them. Their journey was certainly a difficult one; they are now
not only fighting for their survival but also with the elements. It was a
treacherous, dangerous trip but they fought through it – both mentally and
physically.
Ashen
Winter
takes you on an action-packed thrill ride, it was go go go in Ashfall but the sequel didn’t let up,
the pacing was superb and I was literally flying through the pages – there were
quite a few parts which I found unbelievable but were enjoyable none the less.
It takes place six months after Ashfall
and the lack of effort to rebuild infrastructure and regain order has been
cause for political mayhem, it is a fascinating plot.
I feel Alex grew as a character, he was a fighter,
daring and determined; he was extremely
reckless at times but considering what they were facing it could be brushed
off. Darla was amazing, a survivalist and the ideal traveling companion, she is
someone I’d definitely want covering my back in a post-apocalyptic world – I
just wish there was more of her in this book. We also get to meet a few new
characters who I found to be intriguing – siblings Ben and Alyssa were a great
addition and although Alyssa grated on my nerves her actions were believable.
The only thing which I felt was too much for me in this book was the amount of information we are given, it is a long read at 576 pages and I at times found myself skimming to get to the parts I wanted.
Mike Mullin’s writing is brilliant; I have been
thoroughly entertained through both of his books and I am thankful to have read
them back to back but I’m now extremely anxious to get hold of the last book in
the series which has an anticipated 2013 release.
Overall, Ashen
Winter is another great installment in the Ashfall series. It has plenty of thrilling action, suspense, heart-break
and amazing characterization. It is definitely not for the faint of heart as it
does contain violence, death, cannibalism, sexual circumstances etc. but is
otherwise a gripping read.
Ashen
Winter was
kindly provided to me by Netgalley
for Tanglewood Press.
I really, really need to start this series, especial after reading your thoughts on book two. I love a good book with suspense. Did you say cannibalism? Eep!
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Sharon! A friend suggested this series might not be for me because of the scenes involving animals but that doesn't mean I'm not curious so I'm really happy to be able to read your review and find out what happens. I hope you get your hands on the last book asap!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I finished this a few weeks ago and loved it! It's such a great series, but it kind of freaked me out a bit. I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I'm bummed that I have to wait so long for the next one to come out, I'm dying to know what happens.
ReplyDeleteMichelle