Saying Goodbye to the Sun

by David McAfee

From the author of 33 A.D.New York City, 1986. The name of the beautiful woman in the red dress is Raine, and Vincent Walker has no idea she’s about to change his life forever – by ending it.Now, impossible as it is to believe, Vincent is turning into a vampire. He sets out to find the woman who changed him, hoping she can take it back. Instead, he finds himself at the mercy of the infamous Council of Thirteen. Not wanting to risk any of its more valuable servants, The Council assigns him the task of bringing her back to be punished for turning him without permission. If he succeeds, the woman he loves will be no more. If he refuses, the Council will take out its anger on him, instead. But Vincent is not the only one looking. Something driven by a century-old vendetta hunts them both, and it won’t stop until they are destroyed. If Vincent can find Raine first, the two may be able to disappear together. But he is beginning to like the growing evil inside him. Already he wonders if he will save her, or kill her himself.***For a limited time, this eBook contains a free preview of 61 A.D., the thrilling sequel to the 2010 Horror bestseller, 33 A.D.***"SAYING GOODBYE TO THE SUN by David McAfee takes Vampire fiction and makes it fresh again. A fast-paced page-turner that keeps you guessing until the dramatic conclusion unleashes a new concept so cool it's likely to become mainstream vampire lore." -- Jeremy Robinson, author of PULSE and INSTINCT

Genres: Vampires, Horror, Paranormal, Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction Fantasy

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2010

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a glutton for punishment, and sometimes lacking what little sense I was born with, I decided to revisit McAfee's world of Bachiyr. Some part of my brain (probably the delusional, gin-laced part,) thought it would be interesting to see if there was more complexity to the Bachiyr hierarchy and “Council of Thirteen,” from 33 A.D.

The other part of my brain – the part that tells me to eat more veggies and drink less gin fergawdssake – was pretty insistent that I should skip this novel and go read something else, like maybe Lonesome Dove, or, well, ANY of the other 200+ books languishing on my TBR list. As it usually goes, though, somehow the gin-drinking part of my brain won. Again.

The Bad:

This is a first novel. A FIRST first, not the kind of first you get with a traditionally published book, where the writer has really already written 5 books, but this is the first one anyone would buy, and an editor made mincemeat of it before rubber-stamping it and foisting it on an unsuspecting reading populace. This is the brand-new squalling baby book. It was written by a 20-something guy, about a 20-something guy. The writing is really immature, especially for the first 30% or so.

I think it's meant to be “hard-boiled.” You know, like Sam Spade. It's riddled with similes; some of them probably sound better if you say them out loud with a Peter Falk voice. Written... not so much. There's also a terribly annoying tendency to recap observational paragraphs. Like so:

“... he was big. At least six-three and two-thirty. Underneath his “Live to Ride” t-shirt he had a barrel of a chest and arms that looked like small trees... {snip for brevity} His beetle eyes glared at us from underneath bushy brows of the same rusty brown color as his hair, which he pulled back into a ponytail that went halfway down his back... {snip}

To summarize, he was big, he looked mean, and he was pretty damn mad.”

The Good (mild spoilers):

I almost didn't make it to the good – nearly packed it in at the mid-point. Vincent finally gets turned for real (all of those superpowers and the blood eating in the first half were evidently just some sort of Renfield effect,) and I was, well... underwhelmed. But I was rewarded for my bullheaded tenacity because the character Ramah is introduced (as more than a bit-part,) and the voice in the novel changes. McAfee nails the transition. It's not a slightly older, eviler version of the protagonist, (who, admit it, is kind of a douche,) it's RAMAH, SECOND OF THE COUNCIL OF THIRTEEN. And he has a story to tell.

To my delight, ALL of the writing improved significantly, from this point of the novel on. Yeah, there's still that recap twitch, and several more egregious description overdoses, but the writing grows up.

It turns out to be a pretty good story. Sure, there are still some irritating asides to the reader, like the main character saying he is using words like Heaven because otherwise the reader wouldn't get it, and a couple of soul/no soul ideas that don't quite hold water as described, but as a whole, it's a twist on the classic take on vampire lore, and I enjoyed it. And now, the gin-influenced part of my brain is doing a victory dance and insisting on buying a round for everyone.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! what a great paranormal romance this book is! The best I have read in many years. If you're a parnormal or vamp fan, you MUST get acopy of this.

Can't wait to see what McAfee writes next! I am a definite fan.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wasn't sure whether I was going to like this book or not, up until the very end. I had seen this story described as a sort of vampire romance, which is initially what drew me to it. It's not though, at least not by any definition of romance I have. I never believed that Vincent really loved Raine; he barely knew her. Obsessed with her? Sure. In lust with her? Absolutely. Affected by vampire attraction mind control or something? Yeah. In love with her? Not by my definition of the word. I'm one of those party poopers who think love at first sight is a crock of $#!7. Not believing that he loved her, I'm not sure the ending had quite the emotional impact it might have otherwise, but I do really like how we see that Vincent, as a vampire, is a monster. He's not the man he was when he was a alive. I love vampires with souls on occasion (Angel, Spike...NOT Edward Cullen though), but it was refreshing to see the process as Vincent changes from the man he was into the monster he is. I had some problems with the storytelling in places, but for me, the ending made up for them.

Side note: The story is told in first person. I know that really turns some people off, so be forewarned. I'm not usually a first person kind of girl, but it didn't bother me in this case. I know other people really love that, so, if you're one who loves it, this book might be right up your alley.

Technical notes: I had some formatting weirdness, but it was limited to a handful of places in the book.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was offered as a free eBook on amazon.com and seemed interesting enough so I decided to try it out. I love the Twilight Series but haven't gotten into any other vampires books. However, if you're looking for another vampire love story like Twilight, this isnt the one. I didn't much care for it really. The author spent a lot of time in Vincent's head and painted the scenes in so much detail to where you could most likely see them in your mind. It was too wordy in my opinion. It seemed to be drawn out for the firs half of the book but then the end was rather abrupt. I simply felt like there was not enough action for me during the fight scene. I read through it quickly and found myself feeling that there should be some thing more.

What I did like about this book was that it told the story of the Bachyir (vampire) race, the history and even the process of turning. I rather enjoyed Ramah's tale to Vincent of how he came to be the 2nd on the Council. Good story within another story. Too bad we never heard his side of the Sanders story, we had to hear Sanders point of view. Although I guess that explains why he was reluctant to tell it to Vincent.

All in all, not too shabby for the author's first book...it's just not my cup of tea.

[Marty Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those who are familiar with David's 33 A.D. might notice a shift in gears here. Saying Goodbye to the Sun is set in the 80's and fits more comfortably in the paranormal romance/urban fantasy genre. It's the tale of a young man transformed into a vampire, or Bachyr, and then abandoned by the one who turns him.

Vincent is smitten by Raine, who feels the same level of passion for him. Her desire becomes his undoing when she bites him during a moment of intimacy. Knowing it's against the rules to Turn someone without the consent of the Council of Thirteen, she flees. Vincent, only half-way transformed, soon falls into the clutches of the Council. They complete his transformation and tell him they'll let him live if he brings Raine to them so she can be punished. Vincent's journey and ultimate destination makes for an interesting and compelling story.

I enjoyed both this new story and the new information revealed about the infamous Council of Thirteen that was first introduced in 33 A.D. The writing style is very natural and Vincent's plight will keep you turning the page (ummm...scrolling) late into the night.

[Scott Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've read 33AD, you'll recognize some of the names when you read this book. If you haven't, don't worry, this book is just fine as a stand alone story. Follow the story of a man, your average joe, who happens into the wrong bar on the wrong night. Follow him on his journey into the darkness as he falls in love with the mysterious and beautiful Raine and becomes one of The Chosen. Watch as he struggles with what is right and the hunger that won't be ignored.

While I very much enjoyed Saying Goodbye to the Sun, I think I enjoyed 33AD more. I liked the rapid pace and nonstop action. That said, I'd recommend Saying Goodbye to the Sun to those who enjoy a good bloody vampire book. David McAfee is one to watch.

[Bryan Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

McAfee does a fine job in explaining his vampire world: the rules, powers, an history. It is a little different than others, so it made the trip worth it. I would say it is a great read for vampire fans, no doubt.

[Bradi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish reading. Too many books to read to finish one that doesn't excite me to read it.

[David Whitehurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review contains no spoilers. There are plenty of surprises in the book though!

Vincent sees a girl in a bar and feels a connection, like an invisible string binding them; he thinks she is the kind of girl that would never go out with him. Against his better judgment he asks her if he can join her; “Please do, Vincent” was her reply and he was so happy he didn’t notice she already knew his name. The evening was wonderful until she backed away from him shaking her head, then turned and ran out the door. She was gone before he realized what had happened, but she couldn’t stay away. She surprises him by reappearing in front of him, giving him a kiss, telling him to run and then disappearing again.
Vincent decides to stakeout the bar where he met Raine. After three days he finally spots her, she is running from someone. He pursue’s and ends up saving her from her would be attackers.. Now he needs answers. Why were they after her? Why was she running from Vincent? She told him she was running from him because she was trying to protect him from herself. In a heated moment of passion, she bites Vincent.
In McAfee’s fabulously woven world, vampires aren’t made without approval from “The Council of 13”; and Raine did not get permission. Let’s just say if Vincent didn’t have bad luck, he wouldn’t have any luck at all! The council finishes turning him and sends him after Raine. The story flows and moves well, you can almost SEE Vincent and The Council lurking in the Shadows.
This was my least favorite McAfee book, that being said, if the worst of his works is still a good book that says a LOT for ALL his books. I definitely recommend this book along with it’s companions in The Bachiyr series.. 33AD, After and 61AD.

[David Biondi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saying boodbye to the sun by David McAfee took us back into the vampire world of the Bachiyr. I found out about this novel after David read my review of 33 AD in which i said that I wish he would have went into a little more detail about the hierarchy that controls the vampires in his world. I guess you could call this book urban fantasy but basically it's about vampires. It's a really easy read and very fast paced. If you haven't read 33 A.D.yet I would start with that just for chronological purposes. This book takes place in New York in the early 80's and our unwilling hero falls for a the girl in the red dress. I'm not going to spoil anymore than that but lets just say the book takes off after that. There is plenty of action suspense and even a sex scene. Basically there is something for everyone. I felt that David lived up to his promise to me because in this novel you got to learn a lot more about Bachiyr society and seeing the change of how they are in 33 AD and this novel is pretty cool. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is I felt the ending was very abrupt and didn't have enough closure for my tastes. On the other hand though, it left a lot of room open for him to pick up the story in subsequent novels. Personally what I would really really really really really like to see is a novel that focused around the creation of the Bachiyr and a story about each of the 13 members of the council. Enough of my rambling. Basically if you liked 33 AD and you like vampire thriller type novels, read this book you won't be disappointed.

[Samantha Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief Summary: Saying Goodbye to the Sun is a first-person story following Vincent, a young man who meets a beautiful woman one night and finds his life turned upside down. Raine is unlike any woman Vincent has ever met, and she actually seems to like him. But she has a secret: she's a vampire. After he finally hunts her down, she does the unthinkable by turning him into a vampire. That is forbidden, and now he has to either track her down and bring her in for punishment or risk punishment himself.

Why You Should Read It: McAfee goes back to tradition in this novel. There are no sparkly, vegetarian vampires who only want to live peacefully with the humans. They are killers, and they make no bones about it. Despite the fact that you know essentially what happened to Vincent from the very beginning of the novel, I found myself eager to find out how he was turned, why Raine had two very angry men chasing after her, and whether Vincent would do the council's bidding or try to save the woman he loves. I didn't realize this was McAfee's first novel until I read a note from him at the back of the book, and if I hadn't read it, I wouldn't have believed it. This is a very engaging, intriguing book and it was very well written. I'm excited to read more from this author.

*Copied from review posted on my blog

[mirbass · Rating 3 out of 5]

This free ebook is quite obviously still in it's infancy stage: there are some typos, and several times the narrative contradicts itself (for example, in one scene the main protagonist is waiting for his adversary to pounce at him, despite having been leapt at already by this very same adversary in the previous paragraph). However, I still found it a reasonably enjoyable read nonetheless. In particular, following the main character, Vincent, as he is slowy transforming (unbeknownst to him) into a vampire during the 1st half of the book was quite an interesting read. Unfortunately, once Vincent is fully transformed & begins his quest in the second part of the book, everything feels a bit rushed, like the author was a bit tired of the story and just wanted to be done with it. In particular, I found the ending very abrupt and the "twists" revealed unsurprising. Overall, this book is not a bad read - especially for a free ebook - and it certainly had some interesting concepts (love the 'Lost Ones'!), but the ending is rushed and unsatisfying.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I gave this 3 stars but really, I rate it 3 1/2. It's a good book but the story is kind of weak and seems rushed, especially the ending. It takes 250+ to set up the story and a mere 25 to resolve it at the end. There isn't a lot of depth to the characters and, at least owing to personal taste, I didn't like how much cliched magic and wizardry was intertwined with the vampire mythos, but again that's just my personal preference. While the novel I began writing last year has many similar ideas to this story (and I had never heard of this book until a month ago so it was quite the coincidence), I think I'm doing it better :-). In any event, this is a quick, enjoyable read, although one that doesn't stay with you past the final page. I'm not so sure I want to check out his other Bachyir books...at least not yet. I have other, more promising books on my to-read list that interest me more at the moment.

[Karen Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your typical vampire book. The author has an interesting and compelling take on where vampires came from, why the live like they do, and what happens to a vampire that needs to be punished. The story itself is fast-past and full of twists and turns, with a heaping-helping of action and suspense. The darker side of vampires is also explored, and rest easy, they don't sparkle, come off as devastatingly charming or broodingly handsome. This is the story of the vampires of old, with their compulsions, loss of humanity and bone-shaking intensity. I was saddened by the ending, but looking back, I can't see how it could have ended any other way. Great book, compelling story and I definitely recommend!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read! I thought this story might be a closer sequel to 33 AD, but it is really a stand-alone novel. The vampires in this one are just as bloodthirsty. If readers are looking for vampires that get redeemed in some way, they won't find it here! The main character, Vincent, initially tries to maintain his humanity, but by the end is 100% vampire. I believe I enjoyed 33AD slightly more. Probably because of the historical setting. But all in all, this was very entertaining.

[Raven Carluk · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept of this book should have made it good, but I found it quite boring. The vampires were interesting, and had some unique aspects, but that really wasn't enough to carry the story. I enjoyed the parts that explored him adapting to vampirism, but then backstory dragged down the narrative. The climax was brief and disappointing, very unsatisfactory. I've already forgotten many sections, and found it to be a waste of time.

[Vicky Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well what can i say, i honestly found this book to be quite boring, there was no excitng start or lead up to get you griped to the story to want you read more that i have come to expect in these kind of books. I think if Raine played a bigger part then it might have been better. At the end my favourite character ended up being Anna and she was only there for the last few chapters, she made it a bit more interesting.

[Rebecca Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do love a good vampire story and this was pretty good. It is short and it was free, both of which are helpful. It also left me wanting more. It is the 2nd "Bachiyr" novel from David McAfee. I assure you the first one doesn't need to be read in order to enjoy this one. A new twist on vampires is always welcome. I recommend picking it up as a free read!

[Connie Rea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one isn't going into my count for the year. I only got about 65% in before I skipped to the last chapter and the epilogue. It was ok, but nothing I would recommend. Not scary, not depth of characters, just an "eh" read. I have no desire to read any more of his books, even though this one could easily have sequel added to it one day...

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually quit reading this before I was quite half through. However, I still give it two stars because if you like the Vampire genre, this is probably pretty good. It is a free Kindle book and deals with one person's transformation into a Vampire -- his feelings, thoughts, etc. Like I said, if this is a genre that interests you, you might want to give it a try.

[Lon Bixby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I admit it, I love vampire stories - well, good ones anyway. "Saying Goodbye to the Sun" is right up there on my list. It's a fun, page turning read that gives a different insight and history to Vampires... I also like that the book was left open for sequels and prequels - both of which I hope come soon.

[Milinkalap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty satisfying book. Hard to put down. The action is good, descriptions great and the pictures painted precisely, though not always beautiful. This had the least grammaros and typos I've ever seen in a free book. It was a welcome relief not to have to decode bits.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

How about 3 and 1/2 stars for this one. The first , say 25% or so was a little tedious with all of Vincents inner ramblings, but the last 75% was pretty kick ass. Pretty darn good for a first book and to be honest I liked it better than Davids 33 AD.

[Debs · Rating 3 out of 5]

wondering yet although I got this in Kindle free as a starter I found dragged a bit and needed to move on. I was attempted to give up on the read and try something else, would like to know what others thought or was it just me !!!!

[Chrissie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was free on Kindle and I thought this may be the book that could break me of my YA vampire series addiction. However, it was so Disturbing, I need more sparkly vampire stories to keep this one from my nightmares.

[Johnnie Howze · Rating 3 out of 5]

More vampire info to add to that which gained from movies and other sources

This novel entertaining and short as it is should be required reading before Bram Stoker's great classic or Stephen King's Salem's Lot. True horror fans know whereof I speak.

[Anne-Kathrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free Kindle Book

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

A kindle freebie and a complete waste of time. It made no sense.

[Jacquelyn Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reminded of someone who broke your heart, you know need to let go but yon can't.