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)

WOW a shocker

My best friends name is Sunshine, so of course I wanted to get this book and see how it was, I was blown away, I loved the main caracter Sunshine, her softness and need to be just a plain young woman in a big bad world is touching, the narration was a little hard to adjust to as Sunshine is a young girl and the narrators voice seemed to sound to old to be a young girl, but the story was fresh, different, and always keeping me on edge to see what was going to happen, this was a shocker buy, but so so glad I did...AAAA+++++

Something Old is New Again

If you are truly a fan of vampire fiction, as opposed to vampire romance novels, do NOT miss Robin McKinley's "Sunshine." I enjoyed this book from first line to last.
In this genre, most new vampire books - especially vampire series - are simply a version of Harlequin-style romances in which the word "vampire" has been substituted for the word "earl," or "pirate," or "plantation owner." They tend to be a set of more or less explicit sex scenes loosely connected by predictable plot line and sometimes rather ghastly attempts at humor.
"Sunshine" actually has something new to say about vampires and their relationship with the human race. The world of "Sunshine" is original and contains a consistent internal culture. Delightfully, it is not obvious in the first paragraphs, and the unfolding of it was a pleasure. There is a plot, there are characters and character development, there is conflict, and there is a marvelous amount of tension.
It is the best new vampire book I've read since Laurel Hamilton's first few novels.
I can only hope Ms. McKinley writes more!

Almost Good

The story line could have been interesting. Modern times with vamps and weres and "others" out of the closet but the digression and rambling made it very tedious and boring. I just wanted the story to get on. I liked the author's past books but I don't know whether I will continue on with this if it is a series. Just too much dithering for me to stay interested.

4.5

I'm not giving this audiobook a 5 star rating not because I didn't love it. The author is one of my all-time favourites and this book is her at her best. I've read it more than once and just adore it.

I'm giving it a 4.5 because I had issue with the reader. I hassen to add that there's nothing WRONG with her - but she just doesn't sound like Sunshine to me and often misses her 'voice' in a way that bugs me. I fully admit that this is largely because I HAD read the book so many times before buying the audiobook - I'm totally bias and had very definite ideas about how it should be done. Give a listen to the sample and if she sounds fine to you - she IS a very good reader - then you won't have any problems.

As for the book - I can't recommend it highly enough. This is NOT your grandmother's vampire story! ;-)

Great

I Loved it! It was very engaging and easy to listen to. With a great narrator!

Good Story...Aburpt End

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, The story was rich and the characters were engaging

Would you recommend Sunshine to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, It is a very engaging story that quickly draws the reader in.

Which character – as performed by Laural Merlington – was your favorite?

The main character Sunshine was my favorite

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

I felt the ending was aburpt. The ending seemed to be setup for a series but everything I could find suggests there won't be another book

A unique and engaging tale

Robin has created a wonderful and annoying main character in Sunshine. She's not your typical hero (she whines a lot and is extremely reluctant to step out of her simple life). She is a lot like us normal folks who don't want to stretch too much and grow into who we CAN be. Even if you don't like stories that include vampires, this one will surprise you. Very unique and engaging story. Bravo for another triumph for Robin McKinley who is one of the very best writers in the business. Now if she would just give us the sequel for the pegasus book!

Wonderfully snarky vampire twist tale

I liked the baking descriptions and the quirkiness of this tale. An uncomfortable awkward sex scene and some necessary violence but otherwise a thoroughly enjoyable listen. Is there another in this series?

More

This has for a long time been one of my favorite Robin McCinley books. It's definitely worth owning the audio version, as well, with such excellent narration. The only problem is how much revisiting the story has reminded me of my intense longing for A SEQUEL. This more than any other of the books that beg a sequel (and she has quite a few), practically DEMAND a continuation
So much vivid and compelling world-building should not go to waste as Sunshine and Conn walk off into the night. There's so much more story there!

great story, subpar narrative

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

One of my favorite novels. The narration is ok, it's just a little weird and off. Sunshine sounds like a little old lady instead of a sassy twenty-something.