Posts Tagged: Mike Mullin

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Review + Series Giveaway: Sunrise by Mike Mullin

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I received this book for free from Tanglewood Press in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review + Series Giveaway: Sunrise by Mike MullinSunrise by Mike Mullin
Series: Ashfall #3
Published by Tanglewood Press on April 15th 2014
Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, YA
Source: Tanglewood Press
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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.

*Spoiler free for the series*

Series that end on such a fantastic note like this one makes me want to scream and shout about how epic the ride was. Then follow that with a lot of ugly crying from it being over.

With this series, Mullin has created an amazingly realistic, plausible, and terrifying post apocalyptic story set in the aftermath of the Yellowstone volcano eruption. Throughout the series we have seen these characters go from scared teenagers only trying to live to see the next day, to strong leaders who are being brutally realistic with the hand they were dealt and the game they were forced into. The character growth we witness is incredible. From our main characters, Alex and Darla, to the many faces that have been on this journey with us, the extreme conditions has changed them to the core. When all you can count on to survive is yourself, you become who you need to be – stronger, tougher, smarter – or you die, no question about it. Despite the cruelty of this world, Alex has somehow kept hold of his kind, generous heart. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a fierce survivor who will do what it takes even if it’s the stuff of nightmares, but he never loses sight of his morals. He’s a commendable leader and the best kind of hero. In addition to character growth, we have emotional and social transformations as well. Alex, for instance, was all about being treated as an adult in the previous installment. After all he and Darla had been through, being treated like a 16 year old ruffled his feathers. In Sunrise, however, you could see the cracks in his heart, the longing to be a teenager again. To not have daily life-or-death responsibilities, to not have the weight of so many lives on his shoulders. Anyone would miss a childhood that has been cut short so ruthlessly.

The romance is this series is also an aspect I loved from the start. Not only is it free of annoying tropes like love triangles, it’s also refreshingly mature and drama-free. As a team, Alex and Darla perfectly complement one another They are both devoted and honest with each other, whether it be as lovers or survivors. And most importantly. they communicate to avoid unnecessary arguments caused by misunderstandings. Their romance is really a force in itself that has aided in their survival.

This third installment is the real deal. We’re past the initial shock of the volcano, we’re past the trauma of realizing they’re now existing in a world inhabited by cannibals and survivors who have lost all trace of humanity. We’re now planning for the long haul, trying to make a life instead of simply existing. Where the last book was characterized with unending hardships that truly demonstrated the harsh reality of this post-volcanic world, Sunrise is more tranquil. Though it’s far from being relaxing as the horror is still ever-present, but we get to see them settle in and work towards some kind of future. A new community even establishes itself thanks to some impressive ingenuity and teamwork, and grows remarkably. It’s very interesting to see the evolution of its political system, too. Considering the title of the book, we can’t help but have a glimmer of hope throughout, all the while being unable to let go of your fear and anxiety. Especially when the death toll keeps climbing.

Ashfall is and always will be one of my favorite series that I urge everyone to read. I fell for these characters the moment I met them in Ashfall, they have made me tremble with fear, love, and hope in every book, and they will continue to live in my heart for a long time coming.

five-stars
5 Hot Espressos


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Review + Guest Post: Ashen Winter

Posted by on 10/08/2012 • 27 Comments

I’m incredibly excited to have Mike over the blog today seeing as he’s a freaking mastermind! He’s here to talk about how to survive a post apocalypse, and first you an read my very enthusiastic review of Ashen Winter!

Ashen Winter Mike Mullin Series: Ashfall, #2 Publication date: October 16th 2012 by Tanglewood Press

 

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…

Blogoversary Day 5: Favorite Reads

Posted by on 09/13/2012 • 37 Comments

It’s day 5!! I hope you guys are all enjoying my celebration week. It’s been super hectic for me with this event and my Xpresso Design launch so I’ve been a bit absent from the blogoverse, but I will be back to my full glory soon! 😉 So today I’m going to list my top 20 books that I’ve read since starting my blog, and some extra honorable mentions which are other 5-star reads that I couldn’t leave out.

Top 20 Books of My First Blogging Year Note: These are in no particular order. I tried to make it listed and it’s just too hard! IT’S TOO HARD!! >.<

My review

One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous…

Authors Are Rockstars Tour Stop

Posted by on 08/24/2012 • 28 Comments

I’m stoked to be a part of this fabulous tour that Fiktshun and Two Chicks On Books have put together. Today, I’m hosting one of my most favorite authors who wrote a book that is in at least one of my top 10 book ever. If you haven’t read it, do so! It’s fantastic. So let’s go meet this incredible mastermind!

Mike’s Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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)….

Review: Ashfall by Mike Mullin

Posted by on 10/10/2011 • 17 Comments

Ashfall Mike Mullin Published September 27th, 2011 by Tanglewood Press Format: Ebook

Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don’t know it’s there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new…