Sunset Rising

Very interesting plot line for sure, and is quite relevant to this time, with nuclear warheads being in the US being in the news recently. Sunset rising is about Sunset O’Donnell, an “urchin” in in a post-apocalyptic world. In her world, nuclear war has struck, forcing a city and some of the military to take residence in a created environment called “The Dome”. Early on, the leader of the military forces the civilians who took refuge there into a contract that makes them nothing more than slaves, and guarantees they will be killed or “culled” fifty years old. Three hundred some years later in comes Sunset. The labor and treatment of her people has gotten worse, and the age of culling has been lowered to thirty-five years old. Sunny gets sucked into a political scandal unwittingly, and everything in her hard by mundane life changes. The people like her, living in the “Pit”, want change, want freedom, and equality; and with Sunny’s scandal, they might just be ready to fight for it.

I really enjoyed this book, it was increasingly interesting and action packed. Although, I do feel like it dragged on a bit. I feel like things didn't need to take as long to pick up as they did. The rising action didn't really start until I was around thirty-eight percent into the book. That was a long thirty-eight percent of reading time. But I believe that it was totally worth it, because once it picked up, I fell in love. I honestly do recommend this book and give it a sold rating of four stars.

Strong, emotional with a lesson about enviroment, human relationships and compassion

I was completely entranced by SUNSET RISING from the first chapter. Sunny was so easy to like and relate to. There were a ton of twists and turns and although I had my favorite love interest, it was hard not to be heartbroken for the other.

Great world, great characters, great story, just all around great! When I got to the end, I really, really wanted more. In fact, I emailed the author right away for a review copy of WORLDS COLLIDE.

* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The year is 2024 and Benjamin Reyes is a hermit who the town thinks is crazy. He has a feeling that something bad is going to happen and that it is only a matter of time before the world is under nuclear attack. Once said attack actually occurs, the town is left in disbelief and turn to Benjamin for an answer. He leads them through the Valley to a military base where they attempt to seek shelter. Things do not go according to planned and Benjamin must condemn the people to a life of slavery in order to save them.

The story jumps to the year 2307 and we meet Sunset "Sunny" O'Donnell. Sunny has grown up in the Pit as a slave. All slaves, or urchins as they are called, have assigned jobs in the Pit where they work for credits that allow them to pay for basic necessities like an apartment. If that wasn't bad enough, they are also forced to follow rules set by the "bourge" or the upper class that live upstairs in the Dome. One enforced rule is the annual cull, which is a way to control the population. Once an urchin reaches the age of 35, they are executed. After losing her mother to the cull, Sunny is left to take care of her father who has lost the desire to live. In an effort to create change in the Pit, Sunny agrees to an absurd request by none other than the president's daughter, Leisel. The request backfires and Sunny is now on the run, with Leisel's fiancé Jack, and she must take desperate measures to not only save herself, but everyone who lives in the Pit.

I enjoyed the story and found it unique compared to other dystopian novels I've read. The author's writing flowed well and I could envision the characters and their surroundings. I particularly enjoyed the budding relationship between Sunny and Jack as they discover that what they thought they knew growing up may be just a sliver of a much larger picture and that everything may not be what it appears. However, I found myself with questions that weren't answered in the story as I felt they should have been. The book did end with a big cliffhanger so perhaps the questions I have will be answered in the second book, which I will be picking up. Overall, a pleasant story that I'd recommend to lovers of dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels.

10 out of 5 stars!! FABULOUS! It's everything I could ever want in a young adult book. Honestly, could see this one becoming just as well known and popular as books like the Hunger Games and Divergent. And I will, for sure, recommend this one to everyone I know.

Sunset Rising, guys, keep an eye on this one! It's so wonderfully written and there's so many different aspects that really make it worth every penny to go out and buy it. For sure adding this one and the next to my library!

I loved this book, although I did find some faults. When I first started the book I was upset because my life got in the way, like sleeping or eating or going to work. Well really I felt that way the entire time I was reading it. I was so excited about the book that I kept thinking "oh I have this much still to read I wonder what will happen". Then when I got the the last 50 pages or so I started thinking "NOOOOOOO I want more this can't be it"

I couldn't believe how much I loved this book! I couldn't wait to read the second book!

I would recommend this book to anyone who loved books like Divergent, Matched, Delirium, Uglies, or even Hex Hall (the last one is more based on the romantic part of the stories then the theme).

Exciting thrill ride I have already bought book 2

Such a great read - didn't put it down until I was finished. Reminded me of a cross between The Selection series and the Red Rising series - an interesting cross without the descriptive bloodshed, including a sweet romance.

Sunset ("Sunny) an "urchin" whose ancestors lived under the Dome for 300 years dig coal and provide the essentials for the 'bourgs' living within the Dome, including the president, his family and the other important families that live under his dictatorship. Trusting in the President's daughter, Sunny's life changes when she accepts an assignment to help her people.

Her sweet and charming personality remain a strong factor within the story and while there are some inconsistencies (of how would she know of certain things while remaining underground her whole life), I enjoyed this book immensely and will recommend it to anyone who's looking for a great romance/dystopian mix that isn't as harsh as some other books out there (which I would still enjoy :)

I actually ended up buying the sequel.

I have posted the review on my blog so it is now live.

Past: February 2024 Desperate to find refuge from the nuclear storm, a group of civilians discover a secret government bio-dome. Greeted by a hail of bullets and told to turn back, the frantic refugees stand their ground and are grudgingly permitted entry. But the price of admission is high.

Present: 283 years later....
Life as a slave in the Pit had never been easy, but for seventeen-year-old Sunny O’Donnell it was quickly careening out of control. Her mother was killed in the annual spring Cull, leaving her alone with a father who decided to give up on life. It’s not that she blamed him for grieving, but if they didn’t earn enough credits to keep their place inside the Pit, they would be kicked out into a world still teeming with radiation. That left her to earn the credits for both of them. It didn’t help that her boyfriend, Reyes Crowe, was pressuring her to get married and abandon her father. Sunny didn’t think life could get any worse, until she was forced upstairs to the Dome to serve and entertain the elite at a bachelor party. That's where she met Leisel Holt, the president's daughter, and her fiancé, Jack Kenner. Now Sunny and Jack Kenner are wanted for treason. If they catch them, they'll be executed. She thought Leisel's betrayal was the end…but it turns out it was just the beginning.

Look at that COVER!!! It is beyond beautiful and just grabs your attention! That's one of the reasons I picked it up. This has definitely become one of my favorite dystopian novels that I have read in a REALLY long time! Now I am still in love with Uglies and The Selection is pretty good, but this book was great! Sunset O'Donnell known to her friends as Sunny has bright red hair in a world of darkness where most people living in the Pit have dark hair. So she sorta stands out and because of that she uses coal to cover her red hair and hide. Her best friend, Summer and her work in the kitchens but were late to work and in order to keep their jobs they are required to "work" at a bachelor party (basically she will become a sex toy to the elite). This was a much darker turn then Uglies or even the Selection especially for being a YA book. I liked that it has a darker tone to it, makes it not as cheery. So Summer and Sunny are at this party and Summer steals a piece of food which is FORBIDDEN and Leisel who is the president's daughter catches them. To not get beaten to death, Sunny makes a deal with Leisel and then it just goes downhill from there. Sunny does seem to be naive at times which for being 17 and a slave for her whole life you think that she wouldn't be that would most likely be my only problem with the story. It does get annoying at times because she has been through so much you think she will be a stronger character without a man around but alas she relies on one. THOUGH the "insta-love" that happens in most dystopian novels DID not happen here, it reminded me of The Selection, but unlike Uglies and The Selection, THERE IS NO LOVE TRIANGLE!!! Or at least it doesn't take over the story..there is one but it doesn't play a HUGE part in the plot and that I am soooo thankful for! But other than that it basically follows the setup for a revolt of the people living in the Pit against the people living in the Dome. I ended on a huge cliffhanger like most trilogies and I look forward to reading more about Sunny.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has read The Hunger Games, The Selection, Uglies and such. Also who is looking to read something new and has a darker tone than other dystopian novels