Ashen Winter

Ashfall Trilogy, Book 2

By: Mike Mullin

Narrated by: Mike Mullin

Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

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 trilogy.

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 to find and bring back Alex’s parents to the tenuous safety of Illinois.

But the landscape they cross is even more perilous than before, with life-and-death battles for food and power between the remaining communities. When the unthinkable happens, Alex must find new reserves of strength and determination to survive.

©2012 Mike Mullin (P)2018 Mike Mullin

Read this one, don't listen. The story is good!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED the first book. And this one was also full of adventure, survival and a good story line. It just fell a little short for me. The writing had some minor glitches, in my opinion, and the author narrated it himself, which affected my overall opinion. Narrators can really make or break a book. A professional actor can add voices and emotion to a story that help bring it to life. I would give Ashen Winter a 3.5 stars if I could, because I do feel it's better than a 3. It just didn't grab me like I want 4 & 5 star books to do. Still, I'm going to read the third book in the series. I need to know what happened to the likable characters! :)

The narration!

Ugh. Please. Mike, stick to writing, leave the narrating to someone who knows what they’re doing. I’ve never wanted to return a book to Audible before this one. It was a tough listen. I was really hoping the third book coming up was properly narrated - nope.

As for the story, it’s ok. Some parts were really unbelievable. I like the idea of the story and the characters are likable. Love the addition of Ben.

I’m kinda committed to reading the third book now as my son asked me to read it after He read it in school. We are reading it now together. I just wish the narration was better. I think I mentioned that.

oh god, please don't narrate another book Mike!

alas, it appears he narrates the 3rd book too. it was really painful initially but luckily the book is sufficiently interesting that I kinda...got used to it? at best? the 1st book's narrator was great! Usually I'm of the opinion that writers shouldn't narrate their own books (with a couple exceptions: Jenny Lawson and Tina Fey. those are good, but they're also autobiographical so it's *their* story to tell (and usually with little extra bits as they go) but this trilogy doesn't fall into that category. luckily the series is good but man the narration...

Poor narration

Poor narration. Story was ok. It does not make me want to read the 3rd book in the series.

amazing story, flat narration

the narrator on the first book was amazing. having the author narration on the second made it hard to get back into, the story is amazing, we absolutely love this series, just wish they kept the amazing narrator all the way through instead of switching to the monotone author for the rest of the series

Painful narration!

Obviously I enjoy the series as I purchased volume number two. However the narration made this enjoyable story a painful listening experience. I only continued to the end because I enjoy the story. In my opinion it was a huge mistake to change narrators. I truly want to continue with volume three but after listening to this I will most certainly need to think about it. this book wasn’t being offered freely. The author is asking fans to purchase this book. I truly can’t understand why you would narrate this book and not leave it to the professionals.

Why Did They Change The Narrator?

The story was well-written, I just wish the author would stick to his day job. The difference in narration between the first and second books has been incredibly frustrating. You can tell the narrator of the first book is a professional storyteller. The second story sounds like someone decided to "wing it". After some research, I was shocked to learn that the new narrator was the author himself. I had to stop periodically from the story to take a break from the poor narration.

It took about 20 chapters to get my head into the story properly. Once I did though, I was reminded why I tried so hard to do so.

The story is worth the purchase, just not through audible.

Great story BUT…..

Love the story but this will be the last of the authors audiobooks I’ll be purchasing if the author decides to narrate again. Awful …..☹️

Apocalypse yes!!!!

Loved it and appreciate the how it keeps you on your toes throughout the whole story. While also leaving you wanting more at the end. good job can't wait to read the final book!!

I love this series to this day

I start my journey with this book in middle school where I struggled with reading, but once I read this book series I was hooked. I recently wanted something to listen too while working and remembered this series, I've fallen back in love with it. I hope Mike keeps making these books because it fills me with inspiration to create evertime I listen/read this series.

p.s Message to Mike mullin, I once had an online video call with you as a class at grain valley Missouri, but I never got to ask the hundreds of questions I wanted to ask, so if you'd ever be willing to let me ask let me know and thank you for this series