ASHEN WINTER is book two of Mike Mullin's action adventure. It picks up where ASHFALL left off, with Alex and Darla taking off to search for Alex's parents.

The story is still fixed with action and it continues to be a guy-friendly read. Profanity, violence, adult-situations.ASHEN WINTER is book two of Mike Mullin's action adventure. It picks up where ASHFALL left off, with Alex and Darla taking off to search for Alex's parents.

The story is still fixed with action and it continues to be a guy-friendly read. Profanity, violence, adult-situations.

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originally reviewed by in 2013.

This book was just as gripping as the first one. Honestly, I believe that these can somewhat act as a survival guide for a post-apocalyptic world.

Alex and Darla are just as captivating in this sequel as they are in the first. Although, they do run into some troubles (as per usual). Can't wait to see what the third installment has in store!

Ashen Winter
By Mike Mullin
October 16, 2012


This was the second book in the Ashfall series by Mike Mullin, and continues with Alex and Darla after the events in the first book. Darla and Alex have made it to Alex’s uncle but after some time Alex and Darla decide to make their way back to find his parents. Alex and Darla have a host of contenders to deal with. From hostile neighbors, corrupt military personnel, bloodthirsty cannibals, kidnappers and more.


Darla was a strong character, she was headstrong and somewhat stubborn but that is what helps both Alex and her survive. Alex is caring and loyal to those he cares abouts.

Mr. Mike Mullin’s world is so vivid and engaging, I was completely engrossed in the story. I flew through this book, despite its 500+ pages.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tanglewood Press for the advanced readers edition in exchange for an honest review.

This is an easy book to review - just go buy it right now. If you are at this book it means you read the first book in the series (Ashfall) and want to know what is happening with Alex and Darla. You won't be disappointed with this book. In fact, I almost dare you to read it and not immediately start the final book in the series. Mullin takes chances with these characters. Unlike many authors, the main characters are not guaranteed to make it through a book. You will find yourself saying, "NO, that did not just happen." However, that is not a bad thing as it helps maintain the suspense.
This series is an all-time favorite. I recommend it all the time. I can almost guarantee that you will love it!

Ashen Winter is a truly spectacular sequel to Ashfall - one that leaves you satisfied, on the edge of your seat, and waiting for more all at the same time. I can definitely admit that the most difficult part about reading this book will be waiting for the third installment in this amazing series to release. Mike Mullin has quickly become not only one of my favorite authors, but an author to definitely watch out for. Not only is his work extremely well researched, fantastically written, and remarkably balanced out with action, suspense, romance, and relationships, but he also does not hesitate to reveal the darker aspects of humanity and the gory parts of human survival. This series has quickly become one of my most anticipated reads every year and I can guarantee that fans of Ashfall will not be disappointed by this far-from-disappointing sequel!

I know this probably doesn't say anything good about me, but when it comes to end of the world narrative, I tend to prefer stories in either the direct aftermath of the world going to hell, or in a time period so long since the end of the world that apocalypse is the new normal. I just spend too much time yelling about how that wouldn't work, or people wouldn't do that, or whatever when I read stories set in that middle period. Now, I'm keenly aware that I'm probably totally wrong about how people would behave in a supervolcano apocalypse, but being wrong doesn't change the way I react, viscerally. So: Alex and Darla, in Ashen Winter, are likable characters with real foibles and hangups. They continue to be resourceful, levelheaded folk, often embracing their reality before the adults do (or can.) I still get the distinct impression that Mullin has done his homework, and all of his science is well researched. But, I find myself just not really that interested or invested.

Although, honestly, maybe it's the bit about the scientific research that is leaving me cold: I tend to eschew hard science fiction, which this is under the teen survival story, because it's not compelling a priori. The science fiction in Hunger Games was basically garbage, but it was there to facilitate a story about an unjust system, consumerism, spectacle, and a host of other high level ideas. The science in the Ashfall series is all top-notch, but it seems a little like backdrop. And I admit this comparison is a little unfair: They may be both teen survival narratives, but obviously Ashfall is designed to be naturalistic; that's a feature, not a bug. This comes down to dumb personal taste, because Ashen Winter is a well written book with finely drawn characters and good pacing. It's just not for me in the end.

I love this series so very much! I became addicted to it from the very first page of Ashfall and was so excited to get my hands on the sequel! Every single chapter is action packed and filled with everything you could ever want. The fight for survival, for love, for a better life . . The fight to stop the evil that has arisen with this catastrophic incident. I don't think that I could ever survive times like this, but Alex and Darla are definitely a team to be reckoned with.

I love how they're such equals, always saving each other and doing things for one another. It isn't always the girl falling into trouble or the guy chasing after the girl. They trust each other and have found something really special, even after everything that has happened to both of them. I loved seeing how that progressed in the time that passed between these two books and throughout Ashen Winter.

So much happens in here, and I can't talk about it for fear of spoiling something, but you really need to read it. Be prepared for a wild adventure you won't want to tear yourself away from! It seems like it'd be a really long book that would take a while to read but I breezed through it in a couple of days because I wanted so badly to find out what would happen next!

There are a few new characters introduced in this book and I loved how they were all interesting and unique-even if I didn't necessarily like all of them. Now I need more! This is one of my favorite books now.

This book series kept me reading. It was suspenseful , and Mullen kept the characters in constant peril, so I was always on the edge of my seat!

I really have enjoyed the Mike Mullin Ashfall series. Its well written and just enjoyable - while being about a post-apocalyptic world! A pretty great achievement.

Great post apocalyptic novel and a thrilling read! loved it.

Mike Mullin has done it again. Ashen Winter is a fitting and well-done sequel to Ashfall. Alex and Darla must survive in the aftermath of the volcanic eruption of Yellowstone which has wrought devastation on much of the United States. The way people and communities align themselves and behave is realistic. It's a sequel that more than delivers, especially after the fantastic read that was the first book. I really can't put into words how much I love this series and it's characters.

Sequel to Ashfall. Just as exciting and gritty as the first novel. Great characters, very believable. Excellent survival story.

What I Thought…

Just like with Ashfall, if you’re looking for a light and fluffy read, or a quick read, this book is not for you. Coming in at 568 pages it’s a lot, and it reads more like an adult book than a YA book. This is not a bad thing at all! It just means that it takes a lot longer to read it, but it’s worth it, I promise!
Ashen Winter started with a bang and didn’t stop. Alex and Darla kept running into problem after problem as well as creating some of their own. Alex can pretty much make a problem out of nothing at all.
Darla is still my favorite. That girl can kick some ass. I hope that if something like this ever happens I have her strength to get through it.
Alex finally got his act together and took charge in getting stuff done and taken care of. Once he made his decisions he was 100% determined to get them done, no matter the cost.
The life/world in Ashen Winter is the worst possible thing you could ever imagine. And I mean ever. It is dismal and depressing and dark and dreary and it pretty much sucks. But there is still hope, even if it’s only Alex and Darla that feel that way. (In the authors note Mullin states that he talked to a lot of people on what would happen if Yellowstone erupted and he picked the worst possible scenario).
The thing that I think sucks the most is the government. It’s the kind of government that you see in a lot of third world countries where they are there but they are not actually there to protect you. They are easily bought off by whomever can give them the best goods (some of their requested good make me shudder). The ones that you think you could turn to for help turn out to be the worst ones.
Two new characters make their appearance in Ashen Winter. Alyssa and Ben are brother and sister, who lost their parents and ended up in a crummy situation. Alyssa drove me nuts (probably the authors intent) and I didn’t like her, but I loved Ben. Ben is autistic and I loved how the Mullin worked that into the story, as well as how it portrayed.
Again, there are a few scenes in Ashen Winter that take it a bit too far in terms of what I can handle. It’s realistically portrayed, I just don’t have the mindset or stomach to handle such things.
Even though the Ashfall series depicts society at it’s worst, it also shows the hope that comes through. Not everyone resorts to being an ugly human being just to survive, though you definitely have to be careful who you help!

Overall if you like post apocalyptic fiction, this book is definitely for you!

* I received a copy of this ARC via NetGalley (Thank you Tanglewood Press!) in exchange for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for my review.

*I never got around to reading and reviewing this book. I may do so in the future*

An excellent continuation to a good YA post-apocalyptic survival story.