Ashfall (Ashfall, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Nov 05, 2011 D.G. rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, post-apocalyptic, reviewed

**4.5 stars**

I'm not much for survivalist kind of books but I loved this one. It scared the hell out me though - I'm really not ready for a situation like this. Thankfully, it's not bound to happen in my lifetime. :)

This is the story of Alex, a typical teenager who has to grow up fast when he finds himself alone in the midst of the biggest natural disaster of his lifetime. He's separated from his family (by his own choice) and now that he doesn't have them, he finds that he misses them terribly. **4.5 stars**

I'm not much for survivalist kind of books but I loved this one. It scared the hell out me though - I'm really not ready for a situation like this. Thankfully, it's not bound to happen in my lifetime. :)

This is the story of Alex, a typical teenager who has to grow up fast when he finds himself alone in the midst of the biggest natural disaster of his lifetime. He's separated from his family (by his own choice) and now that he doesn't have them, he finds that he misses them terribly. He then decides to trek 150 miles to find them and is confronted with the best and worst of humanity.

Although Alex is just 16, this is a really mature sort of YA. The horror of their situation is not glossed over so we know when they are hungry, dirty and even how they manage their bodily functions. There's a lot of fear and the realization that the world as they knew it has ended and that they must be wary of strangers in a way they never were before.

It really touched me how Alex decided to follow his heart and not let himself be swept away by fear. It would have been really easy for him to just look out for himself but he realizes that he's alive because of the kindness of others and he pays it forward when he can even when that's the hard thing to do.

This is not a romance but it has one of the most tender and romantic relationships I've seen in a long time (both in YA and adult fiction.) Physical attraction is not even the first thing for them because really, they are not looking their best. Their relationship is about sharing the good and the bad and just being happy of every minute together, knowing that someone they love has their back and always will. However, they are teenagers in love so of course sex is part of the equation and I loved, simply LOVED, how sex is addressed as something natural and normal. Alex is not the type of asexual teen that can kill a person but never feels anything below the belt like we see in a lot of YA. Instead he's a normal young man who reacts at the proximity of a pretty young woman even in dire situations. :)

I'm really excited to read the sequel...I don't know how much I'll be able to wait before I learn what happens next.

(Provided for review by Tanglewood via netGalley.) ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Jun 01, 2011 Logan rated it really liked it

Shelves: dystopian-post-apocalyptic, young-adult

First impressions: With regard to how I came to read this book, the phrase "borrowed from a friend" is not entirely accurate. Let's call a spade a spade - I was book bullied into reading this. One of my pals in our writing group went on and on about how scary and awesome it was, so she happily pushed it into my hands. I'm so glad she did!

Lasting impressions: This book could actually happen. Which is definitely equal parts scary and awesome (as a reading experience, not as life).

Conflicting impre First impressions: With regard to how I came to read this book, the phrase "borrowed from a friend" is not entirely accurate. Let's call a spade a spade - I was book bullied into reading this. One of my pals in our writing group went on and on about how scary and awesome it was, so she happily pushed it into my hands. I'm so glad she did!

Lasting impressions: This book could actually happen. Which is definitely equal parts scary and awesome (as a reading experience, not as life).

Conflicting impressions: Alex may have needed to know how to kill and skin animals. I didn't. Too real for me.

Overall impressions: Have you heard of the supervolcano underneath Yellowstone? You haven't? You should Google it. It's terrifying. I first learned of it through another fiction writer, James Rollins, and it is not outside the realm of possibility that it could blow in my lifetime. That kind of real, impending natural disaster is ripe for the picking when it comes to good stories.

Mike Mullin does not disappoint. Our young protagonist, Alex, is home alone when the volcano erupts and his neighborhood is quickly decimated by falling ash. Determined to try and escape the deteriorating conditions, Alex heads east across Iowa trying to reach his family across the Mississippi in Illinois. He straps on a pair of cross country skis and heads out.

This version of post-disaster American life is dark, frightening, and full of danger. It quickly becomes dog-eat-dog, and Alex runs into his fair share of unsavory characters out only for themselves. He does all he can to survive, relying on his own skill, luck, and occasionally the kindness of strangers. Just when you think he's found a bit of peace, something else goes wrong and he's forced to move on. It's gut-wrenching.

It would be unfair to give away too much. Will Alex find his family? Will he figure out how to survive in this new and dangerous landscape? What will happen to the U.S. in the aftermath of this horrific eruption? We get a great story full of action and terror, and the promise of more with the reveal at the end. I can't wait for the next installation in this series! ...more

Like · see review

May 27, 2011 Mark rated it it was amazing

Fantastically grim, terrifying in turns and surprisingly touching. The first few chapters had me burning out the page forward buttons on my Nook. Mullin's debut is absolutely volcanic! Video review coming soon. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review