Ashen Winter was a fantastic read! The first book in the series, Ashfall is a great read as well, but ASHEN WINTER topped it. In Ashfall, we meet Alex. What is great about this meeting is that initially he's just a typical teenager going about his business when the world turns upside down. Now, six months later, he and Darla, a friend he made while on his journey to find his parents, are living at his Uncle's farm in Illinois. They've managed to stay alive despite the continued fallout from the volcanic eruption. However, he refuses to wait for his parents' return any longer. So, he and Darla begin their trek back in search of them. Along the way, I was hollering, crying, and fighting right along with them. The pair meets Alyssa and Ben two new additions who I love. Ben has a form of Autism, but that doesn't stop him from being a valuable member of the team. This is one of my favorite YA series. The characters come to life on the page; so much so that you cannot help but wince when they feel pain or celebrate their every happiness. Both books suck ya in and don't let go. Even when it's over, you're still thinking about the wickedly eery world Mike Mullin has created. I cannot wait for book 3 Sunrise, due out in 2013.Thank you, NetGalley and Tanglewood Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.