When The Trees All Burned

by Alanna Rusnak

Forty years ago, on the night his mother died, Rajiv Montgomery Noah received a vision of fire that would consume the world. While others dismissed the growing signs of climate collapse, he devoted his life to an improbable task: building a sanctuary in the wilderness of northern Ontario—a dome erected over an abandoned mine, designed to shelter two hundred souls within the ancient forest.

Now, as the world teeters on the edge of catastrophe, Rajiv's dome stands as both monument and shelter—a testament to hope, hubris, and the weight of choosing who survives. But neither the dome's reinforced walls nor Rajiv's careful calculations can prepare its inhabitants for the moral complexity of being the chosen few, or shield them from the haunting question: what makes survival worthwhile when everything familiar has burned away?

When The Trees All Burned, the first novel in The Path That Takes Us Home series, is a meditation on grief, purpose, and human resilience in the face of environmental collapse. In the tradition of Station Eleven and The Road, it asks not just how we might survive a dying world, but who we become in the surviving.

383 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

Alanna was born in the wrong decade and dreams of abandoning everything to live in a van and travel across Canada. She’ll call it "a book tour," but it’s really an excuse to unleash her inner hippie. A collector of typewriters and John Travolta VHS movies, she believes life is too short to not indulge in the things that bring you joy and in keeping with that philosophy, she left a stuffy office job of 18 years to launch a full-time indie press out of a chicken coop on her childhood property. An author of literary and speculative fiction, Alanna likes to play in dark spaces, but always leaves room for redemption. Her latest novel is about burning down the world in order to set things right. Settled in West Grey as a four-year-old, it has always been her home and source of inspiration and she’s working hard to build bridges between the various arts communities. With no immediate plans to abandon this, she will certainly leave it all behind the moment her husband gets on board with the van-life idea.

Reviews

[Jan Hambly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be engaging, an interesting read about a prophesied apocalyptic event that was predicted to destroy life on earth. The book follows a number of characters who are unconnected, in the time leading up to the date of destruction. It was based in Ontario…hurray!
It was well written, easy to read and follow, even with the multiple characters and storylines. Note- make sure to read the subheading for each chapter that tells you when the chapter is taking place.
I thought it was well paced, the chapters short enough to not be overwhelming. There were a number of statements and underlying philosophies that would lend themselves well to discussion, and disagreement. Thought provoking!

As someone who is interested in the subject of climate crisis, civilizational collapse, I would have liked a deeper dive into the issues the world is currently facing. I also think the characters could have been more developed, but that is challenging when there are lots.
I liked that some of the individual stories were wrapped up at the end, and others left open, presumably to be followed up on in next books in series.

Overall, well done, well written, I personally would have liked more, but I can recommend this book for followers of the genre.

[Jennifer Moffatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of apocalyptic fiction, and this page-turner hit allll the spots for me! A timeline hopping back and forward, forming a full picture from individual pieces snapped into place. A cast of colourful, memorable characters. Big questions about life, what's important, and where are headed as a species. Beautiful descriptions of nature and moments in life both big and small, glorious pop culture references, and deliciously rendered vignettes from around the world that hit perfectly and left me shivering. Everything about When the Trees All Burned was highly satisfying. I recommend this one enthusiastically to all fans of apocalyptic fiction!

Thank you so much to Alanna Rusnak for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

[Fred Smullin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Alanna’s latest work. This story is so thought provoking. I’m still thinking about how she shared the human experience when life’s future is uncertain. How many times have prophecies failed? Will this one? Would you hedge your bet if it meant losing everyone you loved? Alanna does a great job of telling stories of the characters wrestling with these questions. I highly recommend this read.

[Anne Lee-Guide · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually a fan of apocalyptic fiction, but this book is such a page turner! Alanna makes the characters come to life, bringing out their humanity. Her language is beautiful and keeps you captivated throughout.

[Ruth Paterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot, characters, and settings of When the Trees All Burned draw you in, surprise you, and keep you turning pages.

I loved it.

One of my favourite things was the setting/worldbuilding. Alanna brings cities and locations in Ontario to the page in a way I have longed to see. I feel honored by this representation of the land I live in -- even if it is the setting for an apocalyptic destruction 😅 The research that went into this book makes it such a delight to read.

The novel changes points of view frequently, but it works well, and the characters are all easy to fall in love with -- I am glad we get 2 more books in this series to get to know them more!!

Brief notes on content: some semi-explicit sexual content; domestic abuse; profanity; descriptions of people being destroyed in an apocalypse.

[Gary Kirchner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly original! I think readers will find Alanna Rusnak’s story engaging, challenging, and thought-provoking, whether or not they are fans of apocalyptic literature. “When the Trees All Burned” is richly crafted, immersive, and intensely human, with characters that practically bristle with emotion. I would also suggest that, in a way, the book is timely in light of today’s political climate: Alanna seems to toy with the idea that, whether desired or not, a good old apocalypse would serve as the ultimate reboot. As a physicist, I would have liked a bit more fleshing out of the science of the apocalypse, but that’s just me. People tell me I should get out more.
This is Book 1 of the series; I look forward to the next.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved every one of Alanna Rusnak's books. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of When The Trees All Burned and I enjoyed it very much. It's a wonderful story about faith, humanity, and degrees of faith in humanity. It's about our connection with ourselves and how technology can sometimes muddle that connection. The main characters are believable and it reads as though it could have been a true story. It isn't a typical science fiction novel and the focus is certainly on the characters. The world Alanna has created here really is our own and could play out this way any day now. I can't wait for the next book in this new trilogy.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those stories that you have a slew of characters thrown at you in the beginning while you jump back and forth between their stories as it relates to the main storyline. I am not a huge fan of this type of storytelling since it takes half the book to get everyone straight as to who they are.

The story itself is about a man who has had a vision that the world will be destroyed by an asteroid at a certain date. Similar to Noah and the Ark, he prepares a sanctuary where he will hand pick 200 people to come and live while they wait for the earth to return to a state that will sustain human life again. Like Noah, people laugh at this and continue on in ignorant bliss. The book takes us up to this point: where all the humans have been picked and the asteroid has just hit. I believe on my copy it says "book one" so I guess the story will continue.

I felt as though the author was trying to put a little bit of everything into this book, slanted slightly to appeal to a female audience: a women who lives in an abusive relationship and is finally freed from her tormentor by being selected as one of the 200; a lesbian couple with a heart wrenching final few days together before the chaos; and a loner women that lives life on her own terms as a reporter of sorts and is dying of cancer until she finally finds love with the ideal man just before the destruction. Their steamy sex scene at the end reads like a sexually frustrated 16 year-old writing a letter to Penthouse magazine. This felt a little gratuitous IMO.

Not a total waste of time, but I won't be searching out book two anytime soon.

[Amber Langendoen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. Wow. It is a book that will stay with me for a long time. I wanted it to end but also never to end, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The prophecies of Rajiv seem outlandish yet horrifyingly believable at the same time. You are captivated at every turn. Rusnak is a master wordsmith who weaves non linear sequencing, alternating perspectives, and complex characters to create a nuanced yet heart wrenching book about humanity and what really matters when our time ends.

I am not normally a fan of apocalyptic literature but I cannot wait for the rest of this series!! Highly recommend!!

[Teri W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed When The Trees All Burned, although apocalyptic fiction is not a genre I gravitate to. From the first pages, Alanna's descriptive writing introduces you to (mostly) lovable characters she seamlessly forms in a just few paragraphs. Characters you want to learn more about as the intriguing plot unfolds: the end of the world nearing and only 200 souls will be saved. Tough questions are asked throughout, making it a thought provoking read. One I highly recommend. So looking forward to reading book two in the series when it comes out.

[Tammy R.McClain · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Trees All Burned isn’t just a survival story; it’s a haunting reflection on what it means to hope in a dying world. Rajiv Montgomery Noah’s journey feels both like a warning and a prayer, blending devastation with devotion in a way that’s deeply human. This book turns despair into reflection and faith into resilience. Its imagery and emotional truth linger long after the final page. A powerful, timeless story that deserves to be read.