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The Burning Tree #1-5
The Burning Tree Box Set: Books 1 - 5
The Burning Tree Box Set - Books 1 - 5
One day changed the world forever.
Billions died. A small handful of survivors braved the apocalyptic wasteland to start again.
This is their story.
Salvation
The bunkers were built for the apocalypse. Just not the one they expected.
Life was bad and getting worse in the depths of Salvation. It did not take the people of Level Three long to realise that the only reason they had been spared from the cataclysm was to become a slave class.
Now, a single accident has changed everything. Fear is spreading like a virus. Rumours become facts the moment they’re spoken. Neighbour is turning against neighbour. And time is running out fast.
For most, this signals the end. For Callie and her friends, there is just one hope, but to find it, they’re going to have to fight through the most terror-filled night of their lives.
Can they escape the horror that awaits them and build a new life on the surface? Or will these next few hours be their last?
Rebirth
They thought escaping the bunker was their biggest challenge. They were wrong.
With little food and no resources, the fragile union is beginning to strain. But there’s something else too—something lurking in the shadows.
When the power died, the bunker went black. But it was nothing like the darkness that awaits them now. A new panic is spreading, but this time, few have hope of escaping it.
This was meant to be a fresh start, a rebirth. Instead, it could be the beginning of the end.
Will Callie and her friends be among the lucky ones? Or will their newfound freedom be short-lived?
They’re about to find out.
Infinity
Ever since leaving Salvation and escaping the quarry, things had got better and better for Callie and the rest of the community.
But now a single afternoon has turned their world upside down.
The clock is ticking to save one of their own, and a simple plan becomes a foreboding quest.
They’re about to learn just how much the world has changed. They’re about to learn that they didn’t know what real fear was.
New friends, old foes and a treacherous journey mean not everyone will make it home.
If they get through today, none of their lives will be the same again.
Anarchy
They thought things would get easier. They were wrong.
For Callie, Phil and the others, life is one long battle from dawn ’til dusk. Despite this, the settlement has flourished and gone from strength to strength. Until now.
What lurks on the horizon is a test, the likes of which they could never have imagined. New threats, new challenges and the new day could spell the end of all their hopes.
Since leaving the bunker, they’ve faced unfathomable hardships and terrifying enemies, but nothing could have prepared them for this.
Because this is anarchy.
Redemption
The Salvation escapees have forged a shaky alliance, and it’s holding … for the moment.
Their new society is going from strength to strength. They’re building shelters, farming, foraging, and scavenging. Each day things get better, but winter edges closer.
They’re still not ready for the freezing months to come, and now their greatest ally is in danger.
To help them means risking everything.
To abandon them in their time of need jeopardises their own future.
The next seventy-two hours will push them to the brink.
A peaceful solution is off the table, but can they withstand all-out war?
Summer is nearly over. Will they survive until spring?
Or are their hopes of redemption lost forever?
One day changed the world forever.
Billions died. A small handful of survivors braved the apocalyptic wasteland to start again.
This is their story.
Salvation
The bunkers were built for the apocalypse. Just not the one they expected.
Life was bad and getting worse in the depths of Salvation. It did not take the people of Level Three long to realise that the only reason they had been spared from the cataclysm was to become a slave class.
Now, a single accident has changed everything. Fear is spreading like a virus. Rumours become facts the moment they’re spoken. Neighbour is turning against neighbour. And time is running out fast.
For most, this signals the end. For Callie and her friends, there is just one hope, but to find it, they’re going to have to fight through the most terror-filled night of their lives.
Can they escape the horror that awaits them and build a new life on the surface? Or will these next few hours be their last?
Rebirth
They thought escaping the bunker was their biggest challenge. They were wrong.
With little food and no resources, the fragile union is beginning to strain. But there’s something else too—something lurking in the shadows.
When the power died, the bunker went black. But it was nothing like the darkness that awaits them now. A new panic is spreading, but this time, few have hope of escaping it.
This was meant to be a fresh start, a rebirth. Instead, it could be the beginning of the end.
Will Callie and her friends be among the lucky ones? Or will their newfound freedom be short-lived?
They’re about to find out.
Infinity
Ever since leaving Salvation and escaping the quarry, things had got better and better for Callie and the rest of the community.
But now a single afternoon has turned their world upside down.
The clock is ticking to save one of their own, and a simple plan becomes a foreboding quest.
They’re about to learn just how much the world has changed. They’re about to learn that they didn’t know what real fear was.
New friends, old foes and a treacherous journey mean not everyone will make it home.
If they get through today, none of their lives will be the same again.
Anarchy
They thought things would get easier. They were wrong.
For Callie, Phil and the others, life is one long battle from dawn ’til dusk. Despite this, the settlement has flourished and gone from strength to strength. Until now.
What lurks on the horizon is a test, the likes of which they could never have imagined. New threats, new challenges and the new day could spell the end of all their hopes.
Since leaving the bunker, they’ve faced unfathomable hardships and terrifying enemies, but nothing could have prepared them for this.
Because this is anarchy.
Redemption
The Salvation escapees have forged a shaky alliance, and it’s holding … for the moment.
Their new society is going from strength to strength. They’re building shelters, farming, foraging, and scavenging. Each day things get better, but winter edges closer.
They’re still not ready for the freezing months to come, and now their greatest ally is in danger.
To help them means risking everything.
To abandon them in their time of need jeopardises their own future.
The next seventy-two hours will push them to the brink.
A peaceful solution is off the table, but can they withstand all-out war?
Summer is nearly over. Will they survive until spring?
Or are their hopes of redemption lost forever?
1700 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2023
About the author
Christopher Artinian
166 books309 followersChristopher Artinian was born and raised in Leeds, England, but now lives on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. He published his debut novel, Safe Haven: Rise of the Rams, in February 2017 and currently has fifty-three horror and science fiction titles to his name, including international best sellers such as Relentless, Night of the Demons, The Devil’s Face, Neverland, The End of Everything and his new hit series, Unsafe.
Madhouse was released in October 2024 and Tantor Media bought the global rights for the audiobook in 2025. He's recently signed a shopping contract which paves the way for a possible movie deal.
CLAIM YOUR FREE BOOK: BEFORE SAFE HAVEN: ALEX
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Join the Christopher Artinian fan club on Facebook
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Christopher Artinian author page
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For signed books and exclusive merchandise
https://www.christopherartinian.com/
Madhouse was released in October 2024 and Tantor Media bought the global rights for the audiobook in 2025. He's recently signed a shopping contract which paves the way for a possible movie deal.
CLAIM YOUR FREE BOOK: BEFORE SAFE HAVEN: ALEX
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/1v9xdaxx77
Join the Christopher Artinian fan club on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/12769...
https://www.instagram.com/christopher...
Christopher Artinian author page
https://www.facebook.com/safehaventri...
For signed books and exclusive merchandise
https://www.christopherartinian.com/
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 15, 2026
The Burning Tree Box Set: Books 1-5
Man, where do I even start with this one? I listened to Christopher Artinian's The Burning Tree Box Set (The Burning Tree, #1-5) thinking I'd just catch a quick dystopian thrill to pass a few nights, and the next thing I knew, I'm completely sucked into this brutal world for days.
If you bundle Salvation, Rebirth, Infinity, Anarchy, and Redemption together, you aren't just getting a story—you're stepping onto an emotional rollercoaster that takes its time getting going.
The whole premise pulled me right in from the start. We've all heard about bunkers built for the apocalypse, right? Safe havens meant to preserve humanity when the world goes to hell. But Artinian flips the script in Salvation. The bunkers weren't just built to protect people—they were built as traps, or worse, experiments.
Bringing these five books back-to-back creates a totally different vibe than taking them one by one. The momentum is anything but relentless, dragging through plenty of slow deliberate stretches. But just when the pacing threatens to stall out completely, a brutal new complication shatters whatever stability the group just fought for.
I genuinely grew to care about the survivors. They aren't superhuman, invisible action stars; they're flawed, exhausted, terrified people desperately trying to hold onto their humanity. Hearing them move from bunker-shocked captives into hardened survivors across Rebirth and Infinity feels earned.
The word-building is grim, atmospheric, and claustrophobic. Even when the characters finally claw their way out into the wider world, the open air doesn't mean freedom—it brings Anarchy, violent clashes, and a heavy struggle against the brutal elements.
By the time I hit Redemption (Book 5), the stakes are high enough that sleep becomes optional. The alliances are shaky, the betrayals sting, and the sheer desperation of the group had my heart racing and breaking all at once. Just... wow.
Is it dark? Oh, absolutely. Atrinian doesn't pull his punches, and bad things happen to people you'll root for. But that's what makes the glimmers of hope and loyalty so powerful.
If you love post-apocalyptic fiction, deep-dive survival stories, and characters who refuse to stay down even when the universe is actively crushing them, grabbing this box set is a solid choice. Just clear your schedule first—because once you start Salvation, good luck taking many breaks before you finish Redemption.
The narration by Kim Bretton was a listening delight. Thank you.
3.75-stars. I took my rating down from a 4 because the first few books had too much redundant conversation and not enough of the intense action I was hoping for. Even so, each and every edition is exceptionally dark and psychologically intense.
Man, where do I even start with this one? I listened to Christopher Artinian's The Burning Tree Box Set (The Burning Tree, #1-5) thinking I'd just catch a quick dystopian thrill to pass a few nights, and the next thing I knew, I'm completely sucked into this brutal world for days.
If you bundle Salvation, Rebirth, Infinity, Anarchy, and Redemption together, you aren't just getting a story—you're stepping onto an emotional rollercoaster that takes its time getting going.
The whole premise pulled me right in from the start. We've all heard about bunkers built for the apocalypse, right? Safe havens meant to preserve humanity when the world goes to hell. But Artinian flips the script in Salvation. The bunkers weren't just built to protect people—they were built as traps, or worse, experiments.
Bringing these five books back-to-back creates a totally different vibe than taking them one by one. The momentum is anything but relentless, dragging through plenty of slow deliberate stretches. But just when the pacing threatens to stall out completely, a brutal new complication shatters whatever stability the group just fought for.
I genuinely grew to care about the survivors. They aren't superhuman, invisible action stars; they're flawed, exhausted, terrified people desperately trying to hold onto their humanity. Hearing them move from bunker-shocked captives into hardened survivors across Rebirth and Infinity feels earned.
The word-building is grim, atmospheric, and claustrophobic. Even when the characters finally claw their way out into the wider world, the open air doesn't mean freedom—it brings Anarchy, violent clashes, and a heavy struggle against the brutal elements.
By the time I hit Redemption (Book 5), the stakes are high enough that sleep becomes optional. The alliances are shaky, the betrayals sting, and the sheer desperation of the group had my heart racing and breaking all at once. Just... wow.
Is it dark? Oh, absolutely. Atrinian doesn't pull his punches, and bad things happen to people you'll root for. But that's what makes the glimmers of hope and loyalty so powerful.
If you love post-apocalyptic fiction, deep-dive survival stories, and characters who refuse to stay down even when the universe is actively crushing them, grabbing this box set is a solid choice. Just clear your schedule first—because once you start Salvation, good luck taking many breaks before you finish Redemption.
The narration by Kim Bretton was a listening delight. Thank you.
3.75-stars. I took my rating down from a 4 because the first few books had too much redundant conversation and not enough of the intense action I was hoping for. Even so, each and every edition is exceptionally dark and psychologically intense.
Read
January 31, 2024Christopher Artinian is one of my favorite authors in the zompoc genre and this foray into a new genre is just as good as his zombie apocalypse books. Wonderful characters, great world building and a great story make this a must read. The author's ability to build relationships between characters and make the reader care about them is one of the best things about his storytelling. But, there is plenty of action as well!
The only thing that makes this wonderful book even better is the amazing talent of the narrator, Kim Bretton. Her performance brings the books to life and her voices are awesome. I also like the inclusion of the music that is used to convey switching between scenes. This helps a lot in audiobooks when you can't "see" that the perspective has changed like you can in written books. The addition of the mournful music throughout the book really sets the tone in a perfect way. And, the song "The Burning Tree" is one that will stick with me forever.
This book also continues to educate the reader in the various ways that someone might be better able to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. Mr. Artinian has definitely done a lot of research in this aspect and I appreciate the time that he devoted to this.
There are also some thought provoking quotes that really stand out for me. "Sometimes things just happen and there's nothing anyone can do about it."
"What the hell's wrong with people? They're never, ever going to change."
I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves to read, even if this genre isn't your usual one. I can't wait to continue this series and see what happens next!
The only thing that makes this wonderful book even better is the amazing talent of the narrator, Kim Bretton. Her performance brings the books to life and her voices are awesome. I also like the inclusion of the music that is used to convey switching between scenes. This helps a lot in audiobooks when you can't "see" that the perspective has changed like you can in written books. The addition of the mournful music throughout the book really sets the tone in a perfect way. And, the song "The Burning Tree" is one that will stick with me forever.
This book also continues to educate the reader in the various ways that someone might be better able to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. Mr. Artinian has definitely done a lot of research in this aspect and I appreciate the time that he devoted to this.
There are also some thought provoking quotes that really stand out for me. "Sometimes things just happen and there's nothing anyone can do about it."
"What the hell's wrong with people? They're never, ever going to change."
I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves to read, even if this genre isn't your usual one. I can't wait to continue this series and see what happens next!
July 12, 2023
Audiobook: I binged this 5-book omnibus. When life forced me to stop listening to the audiobook, I had to hurry back as soon as I could to continue the stories. I had listened to each of the audiobooks when they were released, but listening to the whole series, one story after the next, was even more impactful than listening to each story individually. The characters were memorable. There were so many surprising twists, and the action was pretty much non-stop. These stories never dragged, and they engendered a gamut of emotions as the author portrayed each character's struggles. Kim Bretton's narration skills were excellent. She managed to give each character their own voice. Her performance enhanced the story's entertainment. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.
July 11, 2023
A real treat for your ears and great binge listening. A fantastic adventure that kept me absorbed and immersed for the entire series, Christopher has a real talent in building a picture in your mind and his characters are unforgettable, Kim's vocal talents, help bring it all to life together they've created an unbeatable combination. I laughed and cried and was totally wrung out at the end and ready to do it all again.
I can't wait for Christopher's next adventure, its sure to be memorable, please keep them coming!
I can't wait for Christopher's next adventure, its sure to be memorable, please keep them coming!
July 26, 2023
Love this series! Love the writer and Kim Bretton the narrator.
If you like strong resourceful and smart women and girls. Great leaders and risk takers…. You’ll love this series too. The story of a world that burned but comes back from the ashes. Surviving underground to learning to thrive on the earth again. Taking chances on people others have given up on. All of this and so much more. The dialogue, the quick comebacks, all the things you expect and love from Artinian’s other series. You’ve got all of that here too. Do yourself a favor and get this series! You will not regret it.
If you like strong resourceful and smart women and girls. Great leaders and risk takers…. You’ll love this series too. The story of a world that burned but comes back from the ashes. Surviving underground to learning to thrive on the earth again. Taking chances on people others have given up on. All of this and so much more. The dialogue, the quick comebacks, all the things you expect and love from Artinian’s other series. You’ve got all of that here too. Do yourself a favor and get this series! You will not regret it.
October 23, 2025
great author
I have followed Christopher through the end of everything/safe haven world and thought I would give burning tree a go. I can quite honestly say that of all the characters Christopher has created Callie must be the most frustrating annoying and irritating person in print, but my feeling’s on this character are testament to Christopher’s exemplary character building. The first 5 down I shall move on to the next. Thank you.
I have followed Christopher through the end of everything/safe haven world and thought I would give burning tree a go. I can quite honestly say that of all the characters Christopher has created Callie must be the most frustrating annoying and irritating person in print, but my feeling’s on this character are testament to Christopher’s exemplary character building. The first 5 down I shall move on to the next. Thank you.
October 4, 2026
Brilliant series/must read or listen
Big fan of Mr Artinian’s work but I’m more into zombies so didn’t know what to expect with this and wasn’t sure it would be for me….. boy was I wrong. This author knows just how to keep you absorbed, he makes you get into the characters. I loved reading it and I also got audio too cos I love Kim’s narration. Highly recommend
Big fan of Mr Artinian’s work but I’m more into zombies so didn’t know what to expect with this and wasn’t sure it would be for me….. boy was I wrong. This author knows just how to keep you absorbed, he makes you get into the characters. I loved reading it and I also got audio too cos I love Kim’s narration. Highly recommend
July 17, 2025
Amazing
I really wasn’t sure about the story line when I started reading this box set but by the end I am hooked! The story flows naturally and you can not help but become engrossed!!! I am left needing to read more!!!!
I really wasn’t sure about the story line when I started reading this box set but by the end I am hooked! The story flows naturally and you can not help but become engrossed!!! I am left needing to read more!!!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews