Sunstrike

Sunstrike #1

by Bev Robitai

When a massive solar storm sends a pulse of electro-magnetic energy towards the earth, the world's electricity supply is destroyed. The damage is so widespread that repair will take decades. People everywhere struggle with the loss of technology, transport, communications, and the usual infrastructure for supplying food and water.
In suburban Auckland, Averie Brown finds the disaster shakes her out of her rut as she learns new skills to survive. After her previous uneventful life, still mourning the loss of her husband and missing her absent son, she finds the new challenge a welcome adventure as members of her neighbourhood rally to support each other against the fear of a cold and hungry winter. But the teenage waif she takes under her wing is not all he seems.

(Also available in Kindle and standard paperback.)

Genres: Fiction

268 pages, Paperback

First published July 29, 2013

About the author

Born in England, I came to New Zealand at age 12, living in Nelson where I dallied backstage at the Theatre Royal. In 2006 I escaped from working in photolabs and leaped with unbounded delight into a new career as a writer, editor and photographer.
I now live on the North Shore of Auckland New Zealand where the latte culture rules, having a wonderful time writing crime fiction and helping other writers to publish their work.
I have two theatre mysteries and a thriller in print (and ebooks) along with a couple of theatre shorts, and have just completed two post-apocalyptic novels in the Sunstrike series that I'm really excited about! They're set in the days and months following a big solar storm that wipes out all electrical technology on Earth, and follow the lives of a mother (in Sunstrike) and son (in The Journey Home) who are far apart when the storm hits.

Reviews

[Sharlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as the result of a First Reads giveaway.

Sometimes you run across a book quite by accident that you know will leave you wondering about the future. This is one of those books.

Without giving away too much of the book, as I always try not to do, I do want to say that even if one did not enjoy the tale, they would discover a lot of information that would be perfect in not only a power outage but in any situation that could possibly arise, like being stranded. I did feel there were a few things that seemed Utopian but also felt that Robitai gave a pretty good example of four different times of how one would live. In a community that comes together but in reality, doesn't change too drastically, in a sheltered colony, in a controlled commune and living solitary.

I have to rave at the font first and foremost. Larger print that is easier for a reader like me with extremely poor vision made this a dream to read...it also made it harder for me to not set down as eye strain was not a problem. Thank you, thank you!

The editing may have been the best I have seen in a long time. It is refreshing to see words spelled properly and easy sentences to read with proper grammar to boot! Another huge thank you!

The characters are believable and well developed. The plot was solid and the climax, while shorter than I expected, was brilliantly executed.

An all around wonderful book worth sitting on everyone's bookshelf...Who knows, there may be some information in there that you may find yourself relying on, if the power ever goes out...

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I was a quarter of the way into the book I was reviewing my own choices about what I had in the house to keep me going for any length of time should a similar things happen to me. How would I react, respond and deal with the loss of so many everyday things we take for granted. It certainly made me think. How fit was I? Could I walk, run, carry? Could I live without my 'essentials' like coffee or chocolate. Would I befriend people or be befriended?

The author dropped hints along the way as to what might happen, who to trust and who not to trust, the odd red herring to keep us guessing yet keeping the reader in suspense until the very end. A very worthwhile read. Recommended.

[G.B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love post-apocalyptic stuff, so this appealed to me. It was difficult having a middle-aged female as the main character, and the plot could have done with a few more layers, a few more exciting episodes. But overall I went with it, it was different from the normal end of the world novel, and I quite enjoyed it.
One point: the main character is called Averie, but on the cover she is Avril. Worrying.

[Trish McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this book - which is quite an achievement from the author given that the scenario was making my toes curl with my lack of preparation for the apocalypse! Great story and hard to put down - and a book to reflect on after I'm finished. I'm just sorry I lost my two volumes of The Forgotten Arts to my divorce!

[Yvonne Walus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clever marriage of futuristic setting and crime fiction, this book will make you glad the world still has electricity. Most enjoyable.