Sunshine

By: Robin McKinley

Narrated by: Laural Merlington

Length: 15 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

There are places in the world where darkness rules, where it's unwise to walk. Sunshine knew that. But there hadn't been any trouble out at the lake for years, and she needed a place to be alone for a while. Unfortunately, she wasn't alone. She never heard them coming. Of course you don't, when they're vampires.

They took her clothes and sneakers. They dressed her in a long red gown. And they shackled her to the wall of an abandoned mansion -within easy reach of a figure stirring in the moonlight.

She knows that he is a vampire. She knows that she's to be his dinner and that when he is finished with her, she will be dead. Yet, as dawn breaks, she finds that he has not attempted to harm her. And now it is he who needs her to help him survive the day.

©2003 Robin McKinley (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A gripping, funny, page-turning, pretty much perfect work of magical literature." (Neil Gaiman, New York Times best-selling author of Anansi Boys)
"McKinley knows very well - and makes her [audience] believe - that 'the insides of our own minds are the scariest things there are.'" ( Publishers Weekly Starred Review)

Ain't no sunshine where she goes...

Almost did not complete listening to this book. The reader was pretty good, the plot decent, the main character was difficult to like and after awhile just a bore. Her name is Sunshine but sunny she is not. She has a lot of angst and snark, has interminable monologues with herself going on and on about all the things that have gone wrong, are going wrong and could go wrong in her life. There are lots of interesting events going on in Sunshine's world, not least of which is her part in "saving"
it from total domination by the vampires. Yes, there are vampires and a whole host of things that go bump in the night and sometimes day. But I will say that the author puts a little different spin on the subject.
There's very little romance or gratuitous sex, thank goodness, though there's one little scene that startles with vulgarity which seems weirdly out of place in the whole book. Shock value maybe.
I did finish the book, can't say it was satisfying or worth reading again. Too many unanswered questions and no desire to have to put up with Sunshine's personality.

Never really got into this book

For me, this book started off pretty interesting, but it seemed to get less and less interesting as I kept listening. I never really got into it. The characters were ok but I never found myself really caring what happend to them. I don't think I even finished it which is strange for me because I usually have to know how things end. If you can get this book at the library or somewhere for free try it out but I wish I hadn't wasted a credit on it.

Best performance ever!

I had really liked the book by Robin McKinley, even before I heard the audiobook, but was absolutely blown away by the performance of the narrator, Laural Merlington. She added dimensions to the story that I hadn't even considered. And how in the HECK is she able to voice both an expressive not-too-alto female protagonist and a baritone male vampire complete with multi-tonal harmonics?? And with subtle inflections that make both come across as real people instead of fictional characters? It was just brilliant.

I just listened to the audiobook for the second time in a couple of months and felt that I had to leave a written review to let others know that this is a listen not to be missed.

Slow to start but ended up being a good book.

It was very slow to start but by the end, I wanted more. It could make a good series if the pace picks up.

Uplifting

I have over this book since the first time I read it when first published. I have a book as well as this audible version and I have reread it many times in the intervening years. It is the best balance for dark and light, good vs evil
I relate to the heroine and her dark companion.

Caffeine. Sweets. Vampires.

Absolutely adore this title by Robin McKinley. I have read the book on my lazy days with coffee and triple chocolate muffins. Numerous. Times. I've alzo replayed the audiobook more than a dozen times. It will not fail to inject audible amounts of caffeine and sugar into your haydays and will relieve tedium. On the other hand, lazy and sweaty summer evenings are a tremendous additive to listening to this Audible piece AND napping to lingering sunlight. This book... Is... Phenomenal.

Not your average vampire novel.

I’d stopped reading vampire novels years ago but this one caught my eye on Book Bub. The Audible companion was a great price and the title drew me in. I listen when I clean house, work out and drive. The story is unique and compelling because I wasn’t sure where this talented author was going with her story. I managed to drop and break my iPod glass face but I resorted to putting clear packing tape over the shattered, cutting glass just to continue hearing this amazing story. I could have read the rest of the story if the audio had not been outstanding as well. Give it a try; you won’t be disappointed.

it was fine

its fine. best vampire story ever? nah. best Robin McKinley story? nah. best narrator? big nah (unless you want to hear your grandma read you the occasional naughty scene...no judgement). Did it keep me awake on a 16 hour drive? Yes. But I never want to hear about cinnamon rolls again.

Hate the narrator, love the story

One of my favorites! Delightful stand alone story. Wish they had chosen a different narration. It’s grating and doesn’t fit.

From Practical to Fantasy...

Rae is a no-nonsense down to earth practical person who is the kind of dependable, practical girl you hope to have as a friend. She looks for nothing more exciting than discovering a new recipe or a good book.
But her bloodline and destiny collide. Rae never loses character - even when vampires are surrounding her, blood is dripping both on her and from her...she observes the practical details, retains the rye sense of humor, and gives us a clear picture of what would happen to the mind of a "normal" person forced into the un-natural world of deep magic and vampire duals. Wonderful book!