Cover Image: A Red Sun Rises

A Red Sun Rises

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Member Reviews

I don`t know, but i think i had too high expetations...and it ended up not working for me. I was quite bored, sadly. But i think it is a case of it is not you, it is me.

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Thanks to NG for an early copy of this book.
While a little dry, I did think this story was written well. I had a hard time enjoying it, however, as it hit a little too close to home with the current pandemic. The characters weren't really relatable to me but I found myself rooting for them as they meet from these two sides of the spectrum- those living inside the bunker and unable to live outside, and those living outside and unable to live inside. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone until we are done with covid or at least in a more stable place.

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i liked that this book had a character that uses a skateboard, it's kinda interesting that scifi doesn't really use skateboards anymore. I really enjoyed reading this and look forward to more from the author.

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This book had an interesting premise. I found it to be a little slow at times but once it picked back up I found myself looking forward to what was coming next. I will definitely be recommending this book to patrons who seem interested in it!

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The characters were okay. I had a hard time to relate to them which made it difficult for me to get through the story smoothly. The plot had a few holes in it and I was lost.

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I had a hard time getting into this one, as A RED SUN RISES centers around a global pandemic that wipes out nearly 98% of the population. Being that it's 2020 and we're wrapped up in our own Covid-19 pandemic, it hit a little close to home.

Obviously, the virus in this book was a lot more deadly. It is viral and lives in the air constantly, and mutates anything that it touches. The virus compared greatly to perhaps what would happen if we were ever to get into a nuclear war and wipe out the planet.

The storyline held me interested most of the time as it centered around two characters (one immune, the other a doctor working to cure the virus) as they seek out the one element that could cure the Red. It's a dystopian journey of two people fighting to survive in a world forever changed. All in all, I found this book enjoyable, though I don't think I'm interested enough to read the rest of the series.

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I didn’t think I would enjoy this as much as I would, but I did. The characters were different enough from each other to captivate me. Pacing was a little slow for my liking, but its something I notice many authors just have trouble writing out.

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Do I like dystopian stories? The answer is YES! If they are done right I love them and this is why I read A Red Sun Rises going into it with my head in the mood for enjoying a dystopian YA story.
A world is contaminated by something called Red. A poison. No one knows how it has started but only a very few people are immune and survived outside of bunkers. Why those people? No one knows.
This story follows two MC - Jake and Paige. They come from two different worlds. He's a survivor and she lives in a closed bunker. They should never meet besides group connecting in exchange for information. Yet something happens and maybe this will be a game-changer for their world?
Sounds great? I know I think so too. But somehow this story had now worked for me and I didn't feel any connection with Jake or Paige, I was just by them not feeling emotions for them. I hope in the next story I will find this lost puzzle.

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Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This YA was a pleasant surprise. I loved the characterization, the plot, and the pace of this sci fi novel. I probably would have given it 5 stars of the story was complete.
Paige is a spunky, smart medic who works and lives at the facility with all the humans who cannot survive outside. I liked that she is gritty, compassionate and is fiercely loyal to her friends and father. She is the perfect counterpart to Jake who is also gritty and loves to push his limits. Their relationship is sweet and slow burn.
Jake develops abilities no one else can explain and he uses those abilities to get the medicine Paige and her father need to develop a vaccine.
Without saying too much, the author paints a world decimated by a virus that has transformed the people, the animals and it's surroundings. It's both scary and fascinating.
Cannot wait till the next installment

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I thoroughly enjoyed “A Red Sun Rises”!
The author used an overused end of the world plot, added their own twist on it, and made it completely their own!
It really wasn’t anything I expected and I LOVED that! The author did an amazing job making me care for and interested in the characters and it had me asking for more after each chapter!
It’s a great book with a highly I retesting plot! Fans of YA dystopian NEED to read this book!

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I didn’t realize I was missing a good dystopian novel with a sci-fi twist. This novel took a used plot and made it unique. The characters were interesting and made you care about them. The twists were surprising and the plot was complex and the perfect pace. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I would give it actually 4.5 stars.

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Absolutely loved this!! overall tells an interesting narrative with a complex main character and interesting surrounding characters. Most of the characters featured in the narrative are well fleshed out and have their own personalities.

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KD Van Brunt's A Red Sun Rises is a great (and timely) addition to the shelves of YA dystopian SF - compelling protagonists, a catastrophe with a (possible) mysterious secret, and a burgeoning love story, tainted by separation and the unknown. Brunt's characters feel real, with individual ambitions and desires, while avoiding too much similarity in their tones and voices. His world feels real, with just enough uncertainty mixed in to keep the reader wanting to learn more about the future post the Red virus. The action scenes feel vivid and thought out, allowing the reader to feel what is at stake with every potential encounter. The novel ends with enough oomph to encourage the reader to watch for book two; I know I will be.

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I enjoyed reading A Red Sun Rises by K.D.Van Brunt. Although I was concerned that it would too closely mirror the current situation with Covid-19 to be enjoyable, I found that the pacing of the story kept me enthralled. The characters are believable, and seem to be aimed at young/ new adults. The ending of this first installment of the series was a cliffhanger; I'll be looking for the sequel.

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I enjoyed the story of A Red Sun Rises and the characters were interesting, unique and lovable.
I loved that Paige, one of the main characters, got around on a skateboard in the bunker she lived, and that Jake, who lives on the outside, suddenly developed enhanced senses.

The reason why I don't give all the stars is the storytelling. While I really liked the overall worldbuilding I found myself skipping some parts because I thought they slowed the story down.
I still would recommend the book because it's a good and different take on dystopian virus outbreaks and the life after.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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In a post-apocalyptic world where a virus has taken hold of the world the theme is set.
We follow the story with two different view points, one from inside a bunker and one whom is immune to the disease and lives in the world.
I enjoyed this story it is well written with good characters and good world building. I am looking forward to new stories from this author.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for approving this arc.

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This book is very well-written with lots of strong characters.
It's a story of romance between two people from different worlds.
Paige is from the 'Hole' where people have hid away from the Red disease that has killed the rest of the world.
Jake was born outside the Hole, in the disease infested world, and is one of the few people lucky enough to be immune to the 'Red'
Despite their differences, they learned to love one another.

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First of all, the tropes used in this story are quite common, but probably because they work quite well.
There is the post apocalyptic world following a pandemic. There are the few that were immune and are now finding a way to live in an emptied world.
Nature has changed and is becoming increasingly dangerous to humans.
A few scientists are locked in a bunker trying to figure out a solution before time runs out.
And of course the star crossed two - one on either side. The skateboarding bunker medic and the changing outside boy.

Most of these tropes work quite well for me and I enjoyed this book! Not amused by the cliffhanger (but then I never am) - I’ll will have to pick up to next book just to see how this plays out..
The reason for knocking a star of the rating is mostly down to some of the writing feeling immature and unfinished. Some repetitions, lack of editing (though this might be because this is still an ARC) and also some factual inconsistencies about the medical and virus containment situations. Sometimes this brought me out of the story, which just isn’t fun, but then maybe that’s not an issue at all for other readers..
but apart from that it’s a fun book for those that enjoy this genre of YA!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for approving this arc.

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