Sunshine

"Sunshine" written by Robin McKinley is a book that came out long before the vampires of the "Twilight" saga made vampires cool. With that said said...yes it is a vampire book. However, unlike "Twilight" the vampires in this book are not gorgeous, they are not kind and they are not trying to be good...they are anything but that!

Sunshine has grown up in a world where darkness reigns, where vampires, weres, demons, and the like are a part of life that you avoid...if you want to live that is. Nothing bad has happened out at the lake for years and all she needed was some time alone. She never heard them coming, but you never do hear vampires. They made her dress in a long red dress and then shackle her to a wall, abandoning her with another prisoner. A vampires no less. She knows she is his dinner, and that when he is finished she will be dead. However, when morning comes she is still alive, he hasn't even tried to harm her, and yet it is he who will need her help to survive the day.

Being shackled to the wall awakens a sleeping power deep withen Sunshine. Suddenly she finds herself able to transmute a pocketknife into a key that can set herself and her vampire friend free. Not only that, but as long as he holds onto her, he can go into the sun. They escape from the clutches of an evil vampire who wants to kill Constantine...at any cost, however by doing that they also enrage him and he wants nothing more than both of their blood.

Humans and vampires have never worked together and yet Sunshine and Con share a bond that won't let them stay apart. To defeat Bo they will have to work together and trust one another...if that is possible. Sunshine knows that her father was a powerful sorcerer...she just didn't know how powerful...or that she possessed that same power.

Learning to trust one another Sunshine and Con are able to overcome many challenges that are theirs. Con helps Sunshine learn about her powers and just how far she can go with them. Can they defeat the evil Bo, or will they die at his hands? Will they stay friends once the threat is over?

I really enjoyed this book. It was nice to read a book about vampires where they weren't totally hot and charming, but where their laugh makes your spine tingle, and they look horrible. Ashy skin, creepy color, literally the stuff nightmares are made of. I know that sounds crazy...but it seems like every book that has contained a vampire since "Twilight" came out have been incredibly hot and charming.

I gave this book 5 stars!