Sunshine

McKinley, Robin. (2010). Sunshine. New York, NY: Berkley Books.

ISBN: 978-0142411100

Pages: 405

Genre: supernatural

Annotation: Sunshine must ally with a vampire for their mutual survival.

Summary: All Sunshine wanted when she drove out to the lake was a break from her routine. She did not want to be kidnapped by vampires in order to be another vampire’s meal. She did not want to think about her past, or make an alliance with the vampire she was imprisoned with. That is what she has to do, and overcome hundreds of years of hatred while doing it, or both of them will die.

Evaluation: very good read

The characters feel very real. Sunshine feels human. Her fears, doubts and determination made me emphasize with her. Constantine comes across as very, to use of a term from the book, other. He is not a super-powered human, but something from another branch of existence entirely. I appreciated that he is not portrayed as attractive. Sunshine, for instance, compares his skin to mushrooms. There are some sparks between them later, but that comes from circumstances and not him being handsome. The villain Beauregard is a vampire as well, but he feels very evil in a way Stoker could appreciate. Sunshine’s feelings of being unclean around him were gut-wrenchingly plausible to me.  The other characters, with their own secrets, are worth getting to know. The storyline was interesting. Sunshine has to figure out who trust while working against hundreds of years of well-earned hatred towards vampires and figuring out her own past. What keeps me from giving this book an excellent rating is that I think why Constantine is more than the typical evil vampire should have been explained more. He alludes to having made different choices than Beauregard, and I would have liked to have read more about that. We see differences in his actions, of course, but more about why and how those choices have made him strong would have been interesting. The pacing of the story is well done: I did not feel rushed or impatient. Sunshine provides a good view onto how her society works and its feelings on the Others. Her explanation of sense differences, like vampires only appearing to see but it being different from human sight, was very descriptive. This book is an excellent read for those who like vampires. It also works well for those who want to read a vampire book to see what the hype is about. It is also recommended for those who like strong heroines.

Additional note: To my mind, vampire books are various ends of extremes. On one end are books like Twilight which glorify vampires. On the other end are books like Stoker’s Dracula which portray vampires as evil. In between are books like the Sookie Stackhouse series and this book. Sookie is more Twilightish in my opinion because she thinks well of vampires before she meets Bill. Sunshine is more like Dracula in that humans are unofficially at war with vampires for good reason. Constantine is an exception which maybe could change things if more vampires were like him.

What else to read:

Other books by Robin McKinley.

Those Who Hunt the Night (James Asher series) by Barbara Hambly also does not focus on vampire romance but ethics.  

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris is another good choice for those beginning in the supernatural genre.

Carpe Jugulum (Discworld series book 23) by Terry Pratchett for those who, whether they like vampires or do not, want a more satirical look at them. Has strong heroines.

A Tale Out of Luck

Nelson, Willie and Mike Blakely. (2008). A Tale Out of Luck. New York, NY: Center Street.  

Pages: 250

ISBN: 9781599957326

Genre: Western, mystery

Annotation: Retired Ranger Tomlinson’s future is endangered by his past.

Summary: Captain Tomlinson has reason to be happy: two adopted sons and a prosperous ranch. Then his sons, through inattention, let a newly acquired and expensive horse get stolen. He decides to let them run off to find it: it’s better than facing his temper at the moment. Things get even more complicated when a man is found scalped and dead. Tomlinson is not disturbed to see a clue pointing to an enemy from his past. Some people say the Native Americans killed the man, but a hotshot Texas State Policeman thinks he did it. Between the Native Americans, and other complications including the State Policeman, Tomlinson’s going to need all the help he can get to keep all dear to him safe.

Evaluation: Good read

The characters are fun to spend some time with. Tomlinson cares about the people in his life and tries to right by them. His oldest son, Jay Blue, is a bit single-minded, but still a nice guy. Tomlinson’s adopted son, Izquierdo Rodriguez or Skeeter, makes the reader snort in amusement at times and think at other times. The female characters are practical without being cold and are not shrinking violets. The Native American character, The Wolf, felt more real than a stereotypical Native American. The storyline is engaging because I did not catch who the villain was. When he was revealed it made sense, but I had thought of his actions came from other motives.  The story was paced well for the most part. One thing that threw me, though, was that one of the characters seemed leading towards a certain course of action but then changed their mind too quickly. (I know that sounds vague but I don’t want to spoil the book!). An explanation for why was given, but it seemed rushed. If the character had changed their mind slowly, or had some more doubt first, it would have been more believable. I had mixed feelings about the ending. A relationship between two characters that was revealed seemed a little too much a ‘feel-good’ development. Also, the last two sentences confused me a bit in how to take them. Besides those issues I liked the storyline. I also liked the atmosphere. The different types of characters and points of view used gives the reader a look into the different types of people who could have lived in the West: women, men, white, Native American, African American, etc. Interactions as well as descriptions of the landscape and horse ranching put the reader in the feel of the West. I would have liked to have seen some more English slang, but maybe it did not stick out as much because only Spanish words were in italics. The use of Spanish words and phrases in the book added to the atmosphere, but I could see where it might detract a bit. I know some Spanish, but a reader who does not might have been thrown having to look for the translation in the next sentence or understanding by reading the context.  This book is a good read for those wanting a fast paced and/or feel-good Western.

What else to read:

Other books by Willie Nelson and Mike Blakely.

Shane by Jake Schaefer is a fast paced and feel-good Western.

True Grit by Charles Portis is also a fast paced Western.

The Rosetta Key

Dietrich, William. (2008). The Rosetta Key. (Ethan Gage series). New York, NY: HarperCollins.

ISBN: 9780061239557

Pages: 352

Genre: historical fiction

Annotation: Ethan Gage searches for lost treasure and a lost love.

Summary: After the events of Napoleon’s Pyramids Ethan Gage doesn’t know what he wants more: to pursue a treasure and love he lost or to forget them both. The choice gets taken from him when he is given the “choice” of pursuing them while getting political information for the English. His search is not easy: searching for information in the Holy Land during the chaos of Napoleon’s invasion is not the safest occupation. The information he finds catapults him into a quest which will take all his ingenuity to survive let alone regain what he has lost.

Evaluation: excellent read

Ethan Gage is a scoundrel, but a likeable one. He pursues his own ends, but gives respect where it is earned. He also tries to do right by people…as long as it fits in with his quest of course. The villain, Count Silano, is one that can seem perfectly reasonable right when he is trying to pull the wool over one’s eyes, kill them or both. The character of Astiza is intriguing: pulled by destiny without seeming like a crackpot and making the reader wonder with Gage where her loyalty lies. The other characters are likable, intriguing or both. The storyline is paced well: slow enough for the reader to get immersed in the world of 1799 Holy Land without slowing down too much on the action and adventure. The chain of events keeps the reader interested and the clues are not so many, or obtuse, that the reader feels overwhelmed. The atmosphere is excellent: the chaos, beauty and history of the Holy Land come across quite clearly. The attitudes of the English and French are shown through the attitudes of Napoleon, the English commander Sir Sydney and others. This book is an excellent read for those who want to a treasure hunting story, to learn more about the Holy Land during Napoleon’s invasion or just want an adventure to slip into.

What else to read:

Other books by William Dietrich especially Napoleon’s Pyramids.

Napoleon in the Holy Land by Nathan Schur for history.

Bonaparte in Egypt by J. Christopher Herold for history.

The Last Cavalier: Being the Adventures of Count Sainte-Hermine in the Age of Napoleon (The Sainte-Hermine series book 3) by Alexandre Dumas, translated by Lauren Yoder, for adventure in the time of Napoleon.  

The Falling Machine

Mayer, Andrew P. (2011). The Society of Steam Book one: The Falling Machine. Amherst, NY: Pyr.

ISBN: 9781616143756

Pages: 285

Genre: steampunk

Annotation: After her mentor is murdered Sarah searches for the truth.

Summary: Sarah Stanton went to the Brooklyn Bridge with her mentor to see a marvel being built. She leaves shocked by her mentor’s murder and awareness of a danger threatening New York and the world. Things get worse when she finds there is a traitor in the superhero group protecting the city. Now she must find out the truth or all will be lost.

Evaluation: good read

Sarah’s backstory shows her to be a determined heroine the reader roots for. Her father, the superhero known as the Industrialist, is interesting because he is grey: he wants to protect the world but some of his actions are questionable at best. The other characters are intriguing. Sleuth, for example, is a Sherlock Holmes like hero who is charming and intelligent. A nitpick I have is that more should have been done with the character of Tom. He is an automaton who embodies progress because he is so advanced, but also causes mistrust because he is a machine and not human. We see his actions, and they show his character, but I would have liked to see more of his thoughts. Just seeing his actions makes his character feel flat to me. How is he reacting to the events of the book? The reader clearly sees this is a steampunk world through the descriptions of machines. The workings of society are shown through the chapters in Sarah’s point of view. The storyline gets readers thinking about what being human is, can machines/progress be trusted and how we can be oblivious to what we need to see. The chain of events is believable and the point of view switches are handled skillfully. The book leaves plenty of questions to be answered in the next books. This is a good read for those who like over the top superheroes and villains and/or steampunk.

What else to read:

The next book in the series.

The Bookman (The Bookman Histories series) by Lavie Tidhar for steampunk and a good villain.

The Iron Duke (Iron Seas series) by Meljean Brook for steampunk, strong heroine and romance.

Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series) by Phillipa Ballentine for steampunk and a strong heroine.

Soulless

Carriger, Gail. (2009) Soulless. (Parasol Protectorate series). New York, NY: Orbit.

ISBN: 9780316056632

Pages: 373

Genre: steampunk, fantasy, romance, alternate history

Annotation: Alexia Tarabotti’s life is complicated by a plot against supernaturals.

Summary: Alexia Tarabotti goes to a ball for food, fun and maybe conversation. Instead, she has to kill a vampire who wants her for dinner. This leads to encounters with a handsome, and frustrating, werewolf investigator and being targeted by a plot against London’s supernatural citizens. Alexia has a gift which can save her if the fact she has it doesn’t get her killed.

Evaluation excellent read

The details about fashion, science and society made me think I was in an alternate steampunk and supernaturally influenced London. The characters are a lot of fun. Alexia is calm with a determined attitude that has the reader rooting for her. Lord Maccon is blunt but also caring and determined to protect London and Alexia. The minor characters are engaging as well: Lord Akeldama is amusing, Professor Lyall is urbanely capable and Alexia’s mother channels Mrs. Bennett. The storyline flows at a quick pace while also allowing for relationship development between Alexia and Lord Maccon. Some aspects of their relationship got a little too detailed for me, but that is just personal preference. The plot against the supernaturals ends smoothly while also leaving room for continuation. (What does the octopus mean?) This book is an excellent read for romance, supernatural, steampunk, alternate history and strong heroine fans. What else to read:

Other books by Gail Carriger.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen because the romance, and Alexia’s mother, reminded me of it.

The Iron Duke (Iron Seas series) by Meljean Brook for steampunk, strong heroine and romance.

Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series) by Phillipa Ballentine for steampunk and a strong heroine.

Appaloosa

 Parker, Robert B. (2005). Appaloosa. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

ISBN: 978-0425204320

Pages: 276

Annotation: Two lawmen must save a town from a corrupt rancher.

Summary: Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch are asked by the aldermen of Appaloosa to save their city from a corrupt rancher who has taken control of it. Cole is matchless as a gunman and Hitch is no beginner either. Through strategy and planning they manage to get the man on trial, but this only the beginning of their battle with him.

Evaluation: fair read

The characters in this story were interesting, but with the exception of the narrator Hitch, I could not connect with them. Cole, the main lawman, behaves irresponsibly. The female character, Alice, is someone who I found myself wondering why he had a relationship with her. The author provides an explanation which could seem plausible to other readers but seemed too unbelievable to me. Hitch was the one character I felt a connection with: not as irresponsible as Cole, loyal and I could understand his feelings and reactions to situations. The storyline was interesting because I wanted to find out how the relationships ended up and the fate of Appaloosa. Unfortunately, I was unhappy with the ending. Hitch’s final thought, and how the conflict with the rancher was resolved, was a letdown to me. I could see the point the author was trying to make but it seemed almost anticlimactic how things were finally resolved. The author does a good job of making me feel like I am in the ‘old West’, but would have been better with more details. This was a fair read to me, but fans of the genre may have a better reading experience.

What else to read:

Other books by Robert B. Parker.

Hondo by Louis L'Amour.

The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard by Elmore Leonard.

The Day the Cowboys Quitby Elmer Kelton.

True Grit

Portis, Charles. (2010). True Grit. New York, NY : Overlook Press.

ISBN: 978-1590204597

Pages: 335

Genre: western

Annotation: Mattie Ross tries to avenge her father’s murder.

Summary: Mattie Ross wants justice when her father is murdered in cold blood. Against their wishes, she joins a Federal Marshal and Texas Ranger in seeking the murderer. They find he has joined a gang of robbers and seek to bring him, and the gang, to justice.

Evaluation: very good read

The characters are not as nuanced as I would have liked. Mattie runs into several situations where some self-doubt would have made her feel more believable, but she does not feel it. The federal marshal, Rooster, shows some ambivalence about his past but I would have liked to see more about what makes him tick. Besides that, this book was very good. The characters are engaging: the determined Mattie, the world-wise Rooster and the quick-tempered LaBouef. Portis portrays the West through Mattie in a way that feels authentic. Events, such as a hanging, are discussed bluntly and in an understated way that makes them feel every day, and real, versus romantic. Slang terms are scattered throughout the book giving an authentic vibe to how the story is recounted. How the murderer is trailed does not feel unbelievable. The writing style is concise and the plot fast paced: both features keep the reader’s attention. This is a good read for those like Westerns, strong heroines and adventure.

What else to read and watch:

Other books by Charles Portis.

The book was made into films of the same name in 1969 and 2010.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium series book 1) by Stieg Larsson, translated by Reg Keeland, for a strong heroine wise beyond her years.

The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark for a Western involving justice.