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Sunshine

Robin McKinley

Why we're reading this: #92 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of all time (2011 poll) http://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/1390858...
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[close] #92 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of all time (2011 poll) http://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/1390858...

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Jan 23, 2022 Ivy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, alternative_history, vampires

I read Sunshine for the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club on Goodreads. I was happy to see a vampire book as the pick, though I did wonder why my copy looked like a rip-off of the Twilight covers. It was clear a few pages in this was not going to feature sparkly, vegan, Robert Pattinson handsome creatures of the dark.

Sunshine the main character is delightful.
Sunshine's world is not.
Sunshine the book is dark dark dark.

A quick synopsis: Sunshine goes off to the woods for a little space. She is kidnapped I read Sunshine for the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club on Goodreads. I was happy to see a vampire book as the pick, though I did wonder why my copy looked like a rip-off of the Twilight covers. It was clear a few pages in this was not going to feature sparkly, vegan, Robert Pattinson handsome creatures of the dark.

Sunshine the main character is delightful.
Sunshine's world is not.
Sunshine the book is dark dark dark.

A quick synopsis: Sunshine goes off to the woods for a little space. She is kidnapped by vampires and almost winds up being dinner. Almost, for she's saved by (view spoiler). She tries to go back to her normal, cinnamon bun baking ways, but one doesn't just walk away from a gang of vampires. Hi-jinks ensue, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The story is told in a first person POV, and McKinley has omitted chapters. In the e-book, there was simply two double spaces of blank page until the next scene began. As someone who also writes, I was intrigued by this style choice. I have never considered writing without chapter breaks. It was odd, but also broke down the barrier between me as a reader and Sunshine the protagonist. As I read, I was in her head, seeing the world though her very distinctive voice of a young 20 something.

The world building is spectacular, so well-developed, enfolding over the course of the book. New Aradia goes from odd to downright crazy. I loved the level of detail...

Until I realized it wasn't going to pay-off. This is not a stand-alone novel. This is the first book of a series that wasn't published. As enjoyable as this story is, with a satisfying ending for the main conflict, you will be sad to discover a lot of the world-building and character development was for naught. I for one lament never knowing the following: (view spoiler)

I really am sad. I would have read a second and third book. If Robin McKinley ever gets the rights back, I would be more than happy to purchase future volumes in this series. If its ever made into a movie, I would love to see RPatz play Constantine. He has not hid his hatred of Edward Cullen. I think he could do Constantine credit, and he's old enough now to boot. ...more

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