Sunrise by Mike Mullin

Sunrise (Ashfall, #3)

by Mike Mullin

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.

Reviewed by Ashley on

5 of 5 stars

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Nose Graze — Book reviews & blogging tips

4.5 Stars

I'm thrilled to say that I LOVED Sunrise! I was a tad nervous going into it. Although I adored Ashfall, I wasn't completely happy with Ashen Winter. But Sunrise brought the epicness back!

Mike Mullin did an excellent job recapping the first two books. It was done slowly and subtly (rather than info dumping), and he only gave you the information as you needed it. As a result, I had no problem slipping right back into the story. I was very subtly reminded as to who all the characters were, and what events had taken place. It felt so easy!

I think what I liked most about Sunrise was that it was a bit different. Ashfall was all about trekking across the country and trying to avoid gangs. Then Ashen Winter felt exactly the same, which was largely why I didn't like it as much. But Sunrise had a different focus. It was more about settling, building communities, and planning for the future. It was fascinating to see how one small group of people grew into almost a small town, and seeing how their structure and politics developed.

Of course there was still a little bit of trekking and a little bit of gang action, but it didn't feel like the focus of the book this time around. But there were certainly a few truly horrific events that had me regretting reading Sunrise right before bed! Like when Alex and Darla get their hands cut off... my god... THE VISUALS!!

I think my one criticism would be the lack of information we get about the government. We sort of get vague statement like, "When we walked 150 miles we didn't see any sign of government" But that's not really a clear cut answer as to whether or not the government still exists in some form, and I was curious! I guess in the context of the book, it makes sense that the characters wouldn't be able to easily find out. But as a reader, I was a bit disappointed that my curiosity wasn't satisfied.

But otherwise, I really loved Sunrise! I immensely enjoyed the slightly different tone and the focus on politics and settling rather than trekking across the country. The book felt new and exciting rather than just a rehash of events from the previous books. And I like how the ending left me with a sense of hope, which I'm sure was exactly what Mike Mullin intended!

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Reading updates

  • 28 January, 2014: Started reading
  • 30 January, 2014: Finished reading
  • 30 January, 2014: Reviewed