What do you think?
Rate this book
When Dawn Burned: Final Extinction 1:
When hope fades, darkness spreads... and the rules no longer matter.
From 4-million-copy bestselling author Mike Kraus and the acclaimed Justin Bell comes a new thrilling tale of survival.
Without warning, a brand-new satellite system misfires and unleashes focused solar energy that ignites cities, wipes out power grids, and kills billions in mere hours.
In the quiet suburbs of Pennsylvania, Sarah Kent and her daughter Emma barely escape the destruction as everything around them is turned to ash. Huddled in their basement and with nowhere safe to turn, they begin a desperate journey to create their own shelter as the world unravels around them.
Deep beneath the Rocky Mountains, Rick Kent is hard at work on a mining job, only realizing that something has gone terribly wrong when he emerges late at night and discovers that the world has fallen apart during his absence. Now he faces the ultimate one where civilization is gone, survival is brutal, and reaching his family might be impossible.
Meanwhile, at NASA's headquarters in Maryland, the surviving members of the team that helped launch the doomed Umbra program must decide whether to run or stay and try to fix Umbra before it can destroy the scattered pieces of civilization that still remain.
From 4-million-copy bestselling author Mike Kraus and the acclaimed Justin Bell comes a new thrilling tale of survival.
Without warning, a brand-new satellite system misfires and unleashes focused solar energy that ignites cities, wipes out power grids, and kills billions in mere hours.
In the quiet suburbs of Pennsylvania, Sarah Kent and her daughter Emma barely escape the destruction as everything around them is turned to ash. Huddled in their basement and with nowhere safe to turn, they begin a desperate journey to create their own shelter as the world unravels around them.
Deep beneath the Rocky Mountains, Rick Kent is hard at work on a mining job, only realizing that something has gone terribly wrong when he emerges late at night and discovers that the world has fallen apart during his absence. Now he faces the ultimate one where civilization is gone, survival is brutal, and reaching his family might be impossible.
Meanwhile, at NASA's headquarters in Maryland, the surviving members of the team that helped launch the doomed Umbra program must decide whether to run or stay and try to fix Umbra before it can destroy the scattered pieces of civilization that still remain.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 16, 2025
522 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 23, 2025
Normally I'm not a fan of novels with multiple POVs but here it really worked, the authors managed to make each POV distinctive enough that it never got confusing or overly repetitious (quite the feat considering that they by the very nature of the story had to have people go through the same situation).
There were a few pieces of dialogue that were kind of annoying but other than that and hating the cover a little (I just can't with these apocalyptic novels all having almost identical cover, it's worse than WWII fiction with the woman walking away) it was an entertaining read.
The pacing was solid too, it didn't feel like a nearly 400 pages long book at all.
If you're nervous about geoengineering but you're not super scientifically inclined this one might be for you.
There were a few pieces of dialogue that were kind of annoying but other than that and hating the cover a little (I just can't with these apocalyptic novels all having almost identical cover, it's worse than WWII fiction with the woman walking away) it was an entertaining read.
The pacing was solid too, it didn't feel like a nearly 400 pages long book at all.
If you're nervous about geoengineering but you're not super scientifically inclined this one might be for you.
June 2, 2025
Excellent apocalyptic book! Love the characters. Can't wait for book 2.
July 13, 2025
If "When Dawn Burned" is anything like what might happen as the result of an EMP or solar event or any natural phenomenon gone awry, then dawn will need to keep burning, and take this mess with it.
What a snore. I'm trying to figure out why there are so many 5 star reviews? Are people just not used to reading good fiction anymore?
First off, none of the MC's are believable. The teen-aged brat is helplessly moronic, the mom is just this little bit off whack of Suzy sunshine and the mining dad is dragging a rolling suitcase down a highway to see if he can catch an early flight home. Home? Was he struck by lightning or is he stupid?
Home is a concept he can't exactly access right now.
The premise of a solar event so devastating that the world as we know it comes crashing down is enough to startle you, but in this teasing snarl of type, the happy mommy is going to put up solar screens and make omelettes for the rest of her life? Where in the fluff is their reality?
I couldn't finish this mess. I made it to page 200 and just dismissed it from my devices. There's not enough patience on my plate to put up with reading sub-par SF garbage like this.
Unlikely, unbelievable and trite. Oh, and let me not forget that the mining dad somehow needs to rescue a SN's man/child. Of course he does. I thought that bit was a nasty, gratuitous jab at finding a sympathy audience.
This is crap.
What a snore. I'm trying to figure out why there are so many 5 star reviews? Are people just not used to reading good fiction anymore?
First off, none of the MC's are believable. The teen-aged brat is helplessly moronic, the mom is just this little bit off whack of Suzy sunshine and the mining dad is dragging a rolling suitcase down a highway to see if he can catch an early flight home. Home? Was he struck by lightning or is he stupid?
Home is a concept he can't exactly access right now.
The premise of a solar event so devastating that the world as we know it comes crashing down is enough to startle you, but in this teasing snarl of type, the happy mommy is going to put up solar screens and make omelettes for the rest of her life? Where in the fluff is their reality?
I couldn't finish this mess. I made it to page 200 and just dismissed it from my devices. There's not enough patience on my plate to put up with reading sub-par SF garbage like this.
Unlikely, unbelievable and trite. Oh, and let me not forget that the mining dad somehow needs to rescue a SN's man/child. Of course he does. I thought that bit was a nasty, gratuitous jab at finding a sympathy audience.
This is crap.
May 29, 2025
Chilling, ironically...
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2025
When Dawn Burned, the first book in the Final Extinction, tells the story of how the Kent family, the NASA crew responsible for 'Umbra" and the world, struggle when an experimental network of satellites designed to combat global warming fails and concentrates heat instead of diffusing it, wiping out a massive number of the human population. Only getting underground during the "events", when the heat spikes, will save you. Sarah Kent and her daughter barely survive the first " event" while Rick Kent is deep underground in a mine and is unaware of the dire threat initially. After the first event, Sarah tries to keep things together at the farm while Rick joins forces with Duncan, a man with Down Syndrome and has a knack for fixing cars at a car lot when trying to get home. The characters, especially Duncan, are excellently composed, as are the self-sacrifing NASA team. The plot, pace, dialogue and the vivid clarity of the description of the aftermath is vivid, with remarkable clarity, providing a very vivid and visceral experience for the reader. 5/5 stars! Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys immaculately composed apocalyptic survival thrillers and thrillers at all will be immediately engrossed!
Read as an ARC reader
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2025
When Dawn Burned, the first book in the Final Extinction, tells the story of how the Kent family, the NASA crew responsible for 'Umbra" and the world, struggle when an experimental network of satellites designed to combat global warming fails and concentrates heat instead of diffusing it, wiping out a massive number of the human population. Only getting underground during the "events", when the heat spikes, will save you. Sarah Kent and her daughter barely survive the first " event" while Rick Kent is deep underground in a mine and is unaware of the dire threat initially. After the first event, Sarah tries to keep things together at the farm while Rick joins forces with Duncan, a man with Down Syndrome and has a knack for fixing cars at a car lot when trying to get home. The characters, especially Duncan, are excellently composed, as are the self-sacrifing NASA team. The plot, pace, dialogue and the vivid clarity of the description of the aftermath is vivid, with remarkable clarity, providing a very vivid and visceral experience for the reader. 5/5 stars! Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys immaculately composed apocalyptic survival thrillers and thrillers at all will be immediately engrossed!
Read as an ARC reader
July 17, 2025
This has an interesting premise; scientists have a project to try to ameliorate issues with climate change/the sun and it goes awry, though we don't, as yet, know why. The effect is so profound that it seems extinction would happen more quickly than it seems. There is a lot of time spent on the emotional issues of the scientist that headed the project (though I'm sure she would have issues). I do like the main characters and the dynamic of Rick (who we don't see until midway in the book) and the orphaned boy is compelling. I will continue with the series as I want to know how this happened.
June 5, 2025
I enjoyed this book. Reminds me of the movie Geostorm but told from the perspective of various neighborhoods on Earth experiencing the issue. The character development is excellent. The choice of characters engaged me, hooked me on wanting to know what is going to happen next. Can’t wait for book two to see how the story progresses. Imagine losing the internet, grocery stores, phones, all things that you need every day. That is what the characters have to contend with. Makes me wonder how bad it will get.
May 29, 2025
When Dawn Burned - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
Mike Kraus and Justin Bell's fascinating survival-thriller series, Final Extinction opens with When Dawn Burned.
A triggered supernova sun event kills billions worldwide, while survivors try to cope as the world literally burns around them.
Individual storylines are set alternately against this apocalyptic disaster that seems unstoppable.
Great characters and believable events make When Dawn Burned unmissable...what are you waiting for?
Mike Kraus and Justin Bell's fascinating survival-thriller series, Final Extinction opens with When Dawn Burned.
A triggered supernova sun event kills billions worldwide, while survivors try to cope as the world literally burns around them.
Individual storylines are set alternately against this apocalyptic disaster that seems unstoppable.
Great characters and believable events make When Dawn Burned unmissable...what are you waiting for?
December 14, 2025
What is it with the pages and pages of gardening tips and needless fluff.?This book was mostly filler about what I can only assume are the writer’s hobbies. In between there was a good story and atmosphere but not nearly enough to keep you interested. I get this genre is mostly self-published and not a lot of professional effort goes in to it but have these people not read other popular books in the same genre? The Stand is like 600 pages long and every page serves an actual purpose.
January 8, 2026
The premise of a NASA experiment gone awry is solid. Enjoyed the first few chapters, then the story seemed to deviate a bit from reality. The characters are well-defined, and you really get to know the people involved, although some of them are a bit dense in how they handle things. The detail is more than enough, with redundancy on the dead body scenes.... I got the picture. The story ended with things in limbo.
Overall, I enjoyed the read and will try the next one in the series.
Overall, I enjoyed the read and will try the next one in the series.
May 17, 2025
When Dawn Burned certainly lives up to its title. Right from the start you are thrown into a very hot world and it doesn't let up. Every chapter has you riveted as you become involved in the lives of our main characters. This is another exciting start to this series from Mr Kraus and Mr Bell. They never disappoint and always leaves you wanting more. Looking forward to the next book.
May 20, 2025
Another outstanding story that will keep you reading. A new solar system wipes out everything and people are trying to figure out what will happen next. Where can they go for shelter and food. Full of suspense and danger. A new series by two authors that will draw you into the story and not let go until the last page. Don’t miss out.
May 20, 2025
This was really great! I liked everything about it! A frightening idea, well written with interesting ideas & characters. I finished in almost no time at all & I am really looking forward to the next part! I do think this is an excellent start to the series.
July 28, 2025
This is the perfect book for readers who want to know every single detail of every single aspect. It nearly made me delete it instead of finishing. In my opinion, this book could be at least 100 pages less and with more action and less descriptive prose.
Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited
August 21, 2025
Technological disaster
Interesting premise, a Syfy future possibility with deployed satellites meant to redirect solar global climate increases, goes rogue & directs fatal solar heating to the planet.
Interesting premise, a Syfy future possibility with deployed satellites meant to redirect solar global climate increases, goes rogue & directs fatal solar heating to the planet.
August 26, 2025
Good c)wan saga
A typical drama told from several points of view - Montana, and several places in Pennsylvania. A father struggling to return to his family. NASA scientists hoping to come together with a way to solve a way to turn the sun from baking the earth.
A typical drama told from several points of view - Montana, and several places in Pennsylvania. A father struggling to return to his family. NASA scientists hoping to come together with a way to solve a way to turn the sun from baking the earth.
November 9, 2025
and the sun fought back!
A world wide sunlight apocalypse, or an extinction event according one character. This is a really interesting source of mayhem, heat and world wide death and it captures the imagination. I experienced the ‘just one more chapter’ phenomenon! Many times…
A world wide sunlight apocalypse, or an extinction event according one character. This is a really interesting source of mayhem, heat and world wide death and it captures the imagination. I experienced the ‘just one more chapter’ phenomenon! Many times…
May 28, 2025
Nice read with scary plot and great characters. Makes one think about how to prepare for such an incident.
Read
July 17, 2025Enjoyed it but it stopped suddenly
September 12, 2025
Brilliant
Fantastic read, love the characters and can visualise the world they live in.
Thank you for writing such an amazing book to escape into.
Fantastic read, love the characters and can visualise the world they live in.
Thank you for writing such an amazing book to escape into.
November 27, 2025
Hot
Excellent first book of a new series for me.Great characters. Lots of scary nature, and no way to safety. Next!
Excellent first book of a new series for me.Great characters. Lots of scary nature, and no way to safety. Next!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews