Téa Obreht’s latest novel, *Sunrise*, revisits the American West with a narrative that weaves together ghost towns, hidden secrets, and complex human relationships across different eras. Set primarily in the fictional mountain town of Sunrise, the story unfolds through multiple timelines that span from the early 20th century to the near future.

The novel opens in August 2024 with Nina Terzic surviving a crash-landing of a Cessna in Wyoming. After escaping the wreckage and swimming to shore, she finds herself in a deserted ghost town and soon discovers the body of a woman concealed in a cellar along with a manuscript. This manuscript serves as a narrative bridge, transporting the reader back to 1902 when Sunrise was still a thriving mining community. Central to this period is Anton Vargas, a man whose return to the town is shrouded in ambiguity—caught between celebrity and infamy.

Obreht then shifts the story forward to 2003, where Sunrise has become a relic and tourist attraction. Here, readers meet Colin Yard, a local known for re-enacting the Vargas legend, which has become a staple of his livelihood. Colin’s world is disrupted when Louise Hawley, a writer, reaches out to share her novel with him. While initially dismissive, Colin’s interactions with Louise reveal the undercurrents of tension that belie the town’s outward tranquility. The novel explores Colin’s transformation from a favored figure to a more controversial character, casting light on the broader themes of narrative power, ownership of history, and the ways in which stories shape identity and reality.

Throughout its three parallel timelines, *Sunrise* probes questions of courage, idealism, and pragmatism, especially in the face of history’s mutable nature. The novel juxtaposes characters’ efforts to control narratives, such as Colin’s and the fictional John Daisy’s, highlighting differing forms of authority and influence.

While the book has been praised for its immersive storytelling and thematic depth, some critiques note inconsistencies in the logic surrounding Nina’s storyline. Nonetheless, these elements may be seen as complementary to the novel’s exploration of myth and truth, inviting readers to consider the blurred lines between survival and legend.

*Sunrise* continues Obreht’s interest in speculative fiction set against stark landscapes marked by vanished communities, presenting a richly layered examination of memory, myth, and the shifting narratives that define human experience.