Asteroid Fireworks
About
EARNED A BOOKY AWARD FOR MOST INNOVATIVE SCI-FI
The sky was beautiful the night the world ended.
When the asteroid broke apart over Earth, people called the glowing colors in the sky a miracle. Days later, cities were dying, hospitals were collapsing, and survivors were waking to a world emptied by fire, fever, and ash.
Lieutenant Kaelin Potter, Captain Mark Murrell, Captain Juan Ramos, and chef Morgan Lane are among the few left alive near Fort Drum, New York. With two military K-9s, a handful of surviving soldiers, and no government coming to save anyone, they make the only plan that still makes sense.
Head for Tucson.
Mark’s family farm in Arizona may be their best chance at water, food, livestock, and a future. But the road south is anything but empty. Survivors are scattered, children are alone, danger waits in ruined towns, and every stop forces them to decide who they can save, who they can trust, and how much of the old world is worth carrying forward.
As their convoy grows, so does the weight of responsibility. Children need parents. Strangers become family. Safe places must be built before the next threat arrives.
The long road to Tucson is not just a journey across a broken country.
It is the beginning of a new home.
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Praise for this book
Asteroid Fireworks: Long Road to Tucson by Karen L West is a dystopian type novel that grips you and won't let go. Lieutenant Kaelin Potter, Captain Mark Murrell, Captain Juan Ramos, and chef Morgan Lane Nate some people left in New York who decide to go to Tucson. Each stop is a risk with possible rewards. This story pulled me in right away returning home expecting peace but finding something much darker was a great setup. The bond adds so much heart to the suspense, and the emotional stakes kept me fully invested throughout.
Epic Heartfelt Survival Journey
This sprawling, emotional post-apocalyptic saga is an absolute treasure for anyone who loves stories about found family, resilience and rebuilding hope from ashes. Karen L. West has crafted an immersive, character-driven epic that follows a remarkable group of survivors from the devastation of Fort Drum all the way to the deserts of Arizona and the journey is as much about healing and community as it is about survival. The narrative shines brightest in its moments of connection the quiet wedding in a church basement, the adoption of traumatized children, the fierce protection of the vulnerable and the creation of a network of communities bound by trust and shared purpose. West populates her world with a vast, diverse cast of characters, each given room to grow and contribute and she handles heavy topics like loss, abuse and trauma with sensitivity and hope. While the sheer scope and detail of the journey may feel overwhelming at times, the book's beating heart is its unwavering belief in human decency and the power of chosen family, making it a deeply satisfying and uplifting read for fans of character-focused apocalyptic fiction.
This book gives not only the bonus of just a post-apocalyptic story, but a survival story about family, choice, and starting over. It starts in upstate NY after "asteroid fireworks" spread a sickness. At Fort Drum only 7 adults remain, plus Rolf and Cleo, the K-9s. The plan? Drive home to Tucson. The heart is the road. Supply runs, ambush, children, and more. It is tense, practical, and full of hope. It is best for you if you like military realism and building a community one mile at a time.
I really enjoyed this book. What surprised me most was how quickly I became invested in the characters and their relationships. The disaster creates plenty of tension, but I found myself caring just as much about the choices the survivors make and how they treat one another.
There were several moments where the danger felt genuinely unsettling, balanced by quieter scenes that gave the story emotional weight. I also enjoyed the military and K-9 elements, which added another layer to the survival story without taking away from the characters.
The journey kept me turning pages, and I appreciated that the story offered more than destruction and survival—it also gave me reasons to hope. A compelling read for anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic fiction with strong characters and plenty of heart. Highly recommended!