Sunshine

Rating:
Summary: Best read of the year
Review: I was amazed to read the reviews from people who didn't like this book. It is probably the best thing I have read in months. I had a difficult time putting it down; was almost late for work because I just couldn't get out the door.

I picked Sunshine up because it was a McKinley book, and about vampires, two immediate recommendations. And I was quickly surprised to find it was nothing like any McKinley book, or vampire tale, that I had read. This is a fresh and interesting take on an old theme, and I absolutely loved it. No romance, or pages of over-the-top sex. Nothing in this book is easily labeled or pigeonholed, from the hero Constantine, who certainly is no Lestat or Angel, to Sunshine, who doesn't even slightly resemble Buffy or Anita. I enjoyed being in the head of this quirky Queen of the Cinammon Rolls. I want more!

Rating:
Summary: pretty decent
Review: Okay, first let me state that overall the book was really good. The plot was terrific and the characters were witty. Also the book was filled with blood which adds to any book. McKinley's New World was a fantastic one, wish more authors had that much imagination. It was a refreshing outlook on vampires. The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars was the simple fact that most of the 300 odd pages were filled with sooooo many descriptions. My mind was on detail overload. Descriptions are fine as long as they pretain to the story and not just used as fillers. The main character, Sunshine, is telling the story, which is fine, I like first person narrative. But there is only sooo many times I can read about making cinnamon buns till it just gets aggrivating. I also wish that there had been more dialogue, I would have liked more interaction between the characters and not just from Sunshines point of view. Overall the story was really good, it was enjoyable however I doubt I will re-read it. I do hope she writes a sequel only because of how the book ends. It needs a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT...
Review: I almost hate to say it...but I would give almost anything to have a continuation of this story. I could follow Sunshine through many a book. I have always enjoyed Robin's books and this one takes it to a whole new level for me. Keep up the good work.

Rating:
Summary: If you're looking for excitement... keep looking
Review: I had such high hopes for this book... after reading several reviews...However, I must say I was very disappointed. After reading all of the Anita Blake series from Laurell K. Hamilton, agreeing with many other reviewers that her writing has become a little less than porn and no plot, I was anxiously awaiting a better written, more gripping Vampire novel as I thought 'Sunshine' would be.

This book seems to be more of a 'coming of age' book for the heroine Sunshine as she continuously questions her childhood and family tree... and basically 'what does this all mean'? There is a darker story/plot but it's slowwww developing and anti-climatic road leaves much for the reader to desire.

As a stand alone book... I'll put it bluntly... it kinda sucked... If McKinley is thinking about creating a series.. and can let go of the heroines self-doubt and self-consciousness... provide a little more plot/twist/action while keeping her writing standard up to par through the series.. we may have something here.

Laurell Hamilton initially gripped me with her story... annoyed me with her writing (Anita's catch phrases and Buffyesque humor got boring and predictable) and disappointed me with her later lack of story (though I have to admit the sex although trashy and leaving little respect for the heroine was good bed/beachtime mindless reading)....

I want the best of both worlds... some action like Laurell but Robin's superior writing style...

Rating:
Summary: a good coming of age book
Review: McKinley musta been reading LK Hamilton when she got the idea for this book and quite frankly the result was great! This is the story of a young adult (early 20s?) who's about to get dragged in to Larger Events whether she likes it or not. She has to come up with a way to escape with her life, and then try to live with the results of her choices....and with her inevitable, increasing entanglement in the dangerous supernatural world she had been determinedly avoiding as the member of a (more or less content) restaurant-running family.

Rating:
Summary: Good Read -Even if you don't like vampires.
Review: I don't normally read vampire books. This was an accidental purchase that I am thankful for, though. I read the other reviews and was disappointed that so many others didn't enjoy it the way I did. The characters were interesting, and I did not find Sunshine particularly whiny (as one reviewer stated). It was nice to have an ugly hero (if that is what Con actually is)and an insecure heroine. Robin Mckinley has hinted that she has no plans to make this into a series, though, which is disappointing, for she definitely left me wanting more.

Sunshine is a baker who manages to get herself kidnapped by a group of vampires while hiking near a lake. They intend to feed her to one of their own who is also being held against his will. It is during this imprisonment that we learn Sunshine has some special abilities and can free herself, as well as the vampire who refuses to make her his lunch (this refusal is more to annoy his enemies than for any higher motives). Her moment of kindness connects them on some spiritual level and they spend the rest of the book trying to become friends and rid themselves of their nasty abductors. You get the impression that Con (the vamp) is a little in love with Sunshine, but not happy about it in the least and Sunshine is not sure how she feels about anything. The book has an original take on vampires and magic, but an age old good vs. evil theme- Only this time there are a few different levels of evil, and you happen to be rooting for one of them.