Sunshine (book)
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Sunshine is a fantasy novel written by Robin McKinley and published by Berkley Publishing Group in 2003. Sunshine won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature in 2004.
[edit] Sequel
Many perceive the ending of the novel as open for a sequel. McKinley, when addressed about the prospect of a sequel to Sunshine, answered: "I'd love to write more about Sunshine — I know quite a bit about what happens to her — but it's not up to me. If you want to nag someone, find the mailing address of the Story Council and nag them to send me the sequel."
[edit] Plot Summary
The story is set in the future, after a war between regular human beings and "the others"--mysterious creatures including vampires. Rae "Sunshine" Seddon, the heroine of the novel, is abducted by vampires and confined with Constantine, a vampire who has been shackled there to die of hunger and exposure to sunlight. Rae uses her emerging magical powers to rescue both of them. She is shocked that she survived an encounter with vampires and even more shocked at the tentative partnership she formed with Constantine. Sunshine learns about her magical ability, wonders what kind of friendship can exist between two indiviuals whose races are bitter enemies, and, finally, works with Constantine to thwart a terrible threat to their city. While trying to defeat Bo, Constantine's immortal enemy, Sunshine is faced with another, and almost as pressing problem: her friends, her family, and SOF, the Special Other Forces, a division in which humans, and somethimes non-humans, fight life-threatening Others. Sunshine has friends in the division by the Coffeehouse; even her best friend is proven an undercover SOF. Sunshine teaches herself to lie, over and over, but is less than successful in deciving her suspecting friends. But she thrusts them from her mind as Constantine takes her into "Otherspace" where, unknown by other humans, she saves the city, and perhaps, the world.
[edit] Characters
Rae "Sunshine" Seddon: A young woman who works as the baker at a coffee shop called Charlie's Coffeehouse. She goes by Rae Seddon, but her real name is Raven Blaise. Her father, who her mother left when Sunshine was small, was part of a powerful magic-wielding family.
Sadie, or Mom: Sunshine's mother. She is married to Charlie and also works at the coffee shop.
Charlie Seddon: Owner of Charlie's Coffehouse and Sunshine's stepfather.
Constantine: A vampire held in captivity by the same vampires that captured Sunshine. He is somehow different than the other vampires (exactly how is never revealed in the book), but he is able to go out in moonlight.
Mel: The chef at Charlie's and Sunshine's boyfriend. He has a mysterious past about which much is implied, but nothing explained. He is heavily tattooed with wards, which can be dangerous and used to be part of a motorcycle gang. He is probably some sort of magic user. He and Sunshine have a comfortable "don't ask-don't tell" policy.
Miss Yolande: Sunshine's landlady who turns out to be a wardkeeper.
Beauregard ("Bo"): Sunshine and Constantine's mutual enemy.
