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Sunny with a Chance of Monsters
Three years ago, Sunny Day’s life came to an end. Cursed, forgotten, and pushed to the fringes of society, the former EMT has hit rock bottom—which is a real achievement in an alternate-future Alaska where even granite floats.
A silk-clad stranger appears, and with him, a kernel of hope: A bounty, $100,000 for one gangly math teacher. As Sunny makes a desperate grab for the cash, it becomes apparent that her man is…not a man. Hunter becomes the hunted, and the resulting grudge match will threaten the lives of her family and everything Sunny holds dear.
Sunny Day is the badass heroine you didn’t realize you needed. But…every heroine needs an origin story. Here’s Sunny’s.
Fans of Harry Dresden and Kate Daniels will be enthralled by this dark new urban fantasy series. Contemporary adventure meets sci-fi horror in a fast-paced dystopian tale guaranteed to sink its hooks into you.
A silk-clad stranger appears, and with him, a kernel of hope: A bounty, $100,000 for one gangly math teacher. As Sunny makes a desperate grab for the cash, it becomes apparent that her man is…not a man. Hunter becomes the hunted, and the resulting grudge match will threaten the lives of her family and everything Sunny holds dear.
Sunny Day is the badass heroine you didn’t realize you needed. But…every heroine needs an origin story. Here’s Sunny’s.
Fans of Harry Dresden and Kate Daniels will be enthralled by this dark new urban fantasy series. Contemporary adventure meets sci-fi horror in a fast-paced dystopian tale guaranteed to sink its hooks into you.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 22, 2018
240 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Sara King
21 books788 followersAfter a long, twisted road, Alaskan Fury is my 15th book. The rest (aside from the first five or so ‘practice books’) spent the last 3-6 years languishing on my hard drive as I waited for some really cool editor at a big, traditional publishing house to notice me. It didn’t happen, even with a world-famous agent doing his damnedest to get my books out there.
So, because I’ve got a stubborn streak a mile wide—and some say because I’m a naïve, dumbass Alaskan—I’m striking out on my own and putting my books out there. Basically casting my dice to the Fates, and seeing what happens. If you like my books, please tell your friends. I don’t have a huge advertising team behind me, so word-of-mouth really helps.
On that note, my books never went through a copyeditor. What you see is the result of a few dedicated volunteers, all of whom have poured untold hours into the crafting of the book in your hands. They are awesome, steeped in awesome, sprinkled with awesome. Thanks, guys!
Further, I write fast. I can easily write 6 novels a year—8 if I don’t get distracted—and during those long years waiting for somebody to notice me, I was finding myself in the extremely frustrating position of watching my manuscripts pile up because traditional publishing companies can only take 1 or 2 novels by a single author a year. Keep an eye out for a bunch of new books from yours truly, as I've finally got an outlet for all that creative drive. :) Enjoy!
I can be reached at: kingnovel@gmail.com
Friend me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/kingfiction
So, because I’ve got a stubborn streak a mile wide—and some say because I’m a naïve, dumbass Alaskan—I’m striking out on my own and putting my books out there. Basically casting my dice to the Fates, and seeing what happens. If you like my books, please tell your friends. I don’t have a huge advertising team behind me, so word-of-mouth really helps.
On that note, my books never went through a copyeditor. What you see is the result of a few dedicated volunteers, all of whom have poured untold hours into the crafting of the book in your hands. They are awesome, steeped in awesome, sprinkled with awesome. Thanks, guys!
Further, I write fast. I can easily write 6 novels a year—8 if I don’t get distracted—and during those long years waiting for somebody to notice me, I was finding myself in the extremely frustrating position of watching my manuscripts pile up because traditional publishing companies can only take 1 or 2 novels by a single author a year. Keep an eye out for a bunch of new books from yours truly, as I've finally got an outlet for all that creative drive. :) Enjoy!
I can be reached at: kingnovel@gmail.com
Friend me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/kingfiction
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
July 23, 2018
Couldn't put it down
I picked this up at 9PM hoping to read an hour or two before falling asleep, instead I stumbled into work half asleep the next day, Kindle in hand, finishing the last couple of chapters. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way. This want a story, it was an event.
I picked this up at 9PM hoping to read an hour or two before falling asleep, instead I stumbled into work half asleep the next day, Kindle in hand, finishing the last couple of chapters. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way. This want a story, it was an event.
June 3, 2019
More like 3.5 rounded up. Interesting world building.
August 24, 2018
#1 this is far more dystopian than urban, IMO bogged down with the bleak descriptions of life as they know it. Urban fantasy is slicker, using a more familiar setting filled with characters and creatures new to the reader.
#2 I need to stay away from the whole 'if you like' thing when comparing to one of my favorite authors. I am always disappointed, especially since another favorite author is involved with this piece.
#3 needs proofreading/editing. For example, about 56% in, Sunny is driving home, expecting her journey's end at 10-11pm. About a page later she pulls up to her complex a minute or so after 6pm. Am I picking nits? Perhaps, but considering the authors involved, I expect better. Shoot, I expect more of their beta readers.
Hopefully I'm done with this today or I won't finish it. I have books to read more deserving of my time.
Update: I finished the book today. I will say the action scene at the end of the book is quite good but not enough to change my rating. Too many loose ends and unanswered questions, too. I certainly won't buy the next book though may pick it up through KOLL and not spend any money.
#2 I need to stay away from the whole 'if you like' thing when comparing to one of my favorite authors. I am always disappointed, especially since another favorite author is involved with this piece.
#3 needs proofreading/editing. For example, about 56% in, Sunny is driving home, expecting her journey's end at 10-11pm. About a page later she pulls up to her complex a minute or so after 6pm. Am I picking nits? Perhaps, but considering the authors involved, I expect better. Shoot, I expect more of their beta readers.
Hopefully I'm done with this today or I won't finish it. I have books to read more deserving of my time.
Update: I finished the book today. I will say the action scene at the end of the book is quite good but not enough to change my rating. Too many loose ends and unanswered questions, too. I certainly won't buy the next book though may pick it up through KOLL and not spend any money.
July 23, 2018
When the world she knows is turned wrong side out, when friends and co-workers suddenly seem like space aliens (and maybe they are, who is she to judge)? When the government would rather enslave then help its people…what’s a broke, bullheaded, badass girl to do?
Sunny Day takes her own fate by the horns in this fast-moving, funny, unpredictable plot twister! Thank you, Sara King, for this one is a masterpiece! I can’t wait to see what happens next!
When I first started reading, I kept thinking I was missing something...but rest assured, that's the whole point! I love the way this book unfolds as if the reader is experiencing the desperate misfortune of the main character, who just refuses to let life get her down! I think this book is not only funny, fun to read, and hugely entertaining, but enlightening and inspirational as well.
This author creates deep, richly complex characters with whom the reader becomes personally involved. I was honestly disappointed on the last page, because the story is so good I didn't want the book to end!
Sunny Day takes her own fate by the horns in this fast-moving, funny, unpredictable plot twister! Thank you, Sara King, for this one is a masterpiece! I can’t wait to see what happens next!
When I first started reading, I kept thinking I was missing something...but rest assured, that's the whole point! I love the way this book unfolds as if the reader is experiencing the desperate misfortune of the main character, who just refuses to let life get her down! I think this book is not only funny, fun to read, and hugely entertaining, but enlightening and inspirational as well.
This author creates deep, richly complex characters with whom the reader becomes personally involved. I was honestly disappointed on the last page, because the story is so good I didn't want the book to end!
July 24, 2018
Compelling enough that I finished in one day, but if the writing is decent and the storyline interesting, that isn't out of the ordinary for me. Good action, unique plot points, she is relatively new to ass kicking so the heroine is still a bit bumbly. I assume she will strengthen as her tales continue and I look forward to more from this character.
December 9, 2020
I find I always enjoy Sara King's books. She has a way of creating human and non-human characters with personalities that feel very real. They're quirky, entertaining, other-worldly but also just like someone you know. So I was definitely interested to see how her talent combined with 2 other Goodreads best-selling authors, Fred Garnet and Shaye Marlowe.
Sunny with a Chance of Monsters is an enjoyable romp and our introduction to Sunny. Sunny lives in Alaska, which is now it's own country, having seceded from the U.S. after discovery of a new type of miraculous stone. People are classified as Desirable, Necessary, or Unnecessary A or B. Everyone desirable or necessary lives in huge city-domes in perfect, climate-controlled luxury. Unnecessaries are forced to scramble for survival outside the domes on whatever monetary crumbs they can find from back-breaking labor or crime. Sunny, in a traumatic chance encounter, is imbued with Forgettability - suddenly people instantly forget her as soon as they look away. It pretty much wrecks her life, which had been pretty good before the incident, and she falls from Necessary to Unnecessary.
Sunny gets unwillingly involved in chasing down and fighting a horrible monster that takes over the "skins" of people it kills, and that brings her and her weird Forgettability to the attention of the Department of Paranormal Investigation. Sunny is crude, rude, fiercely loyal and near-fearless. Even with all the odds against her, the monster has no idea who it's tangling with, to harrowing and sometimes belly-laughing results.
This is a light, engaging story that combines the paranormal, mysticism, horror and wit into a raucous adventure. Sunny means well but is all too flawed, which forms a promising central character and several potentially dynamite secondary characters to further stories in this series. Looking forward to the next book publication.
Sunny with a Chance of Monsters is an enjoyable romp and our introduction to Sunny. Sunny lives in Alaska, which is now it's own country, having seceded from the U.S. after discovery of a new type of miraculous stone. People are classified as Desirable, Necessary, or Unnecessary A or B. Everyone desirable or necessary lives in huge city-domes in perfect, climate-controlled luxury. Unnecessaries are forced to scramble for survival outside the domes on whatever monetary crumbs they can find from back-breaking labor or crime. Sunny, in a traumatic chance encounter, is imbued with Forgettability - suddenly people instantly forget her as soon as they look away. It pretty much wrecks her life, which had been pretty good before the incident, and she falls from Necessary to Unnecessary.
Sunny gets unwillingly involved in chasing down and fighting a horrible monster that takes over the "skins" of people it kills, and that brings her and her weird Forgettability to the attention of the Department of Paranormal Investigation. Sunny is crude, rude, fiercely loyal and near-fearless. Even with all the odds against her, the monster has no idea who it's tangling with, to harrowing and sometimes belly-laughing results.
This is a light, engaging story that combines the paranormal, mysticism, horror and wit into a raucous adventure. Sunny means well but is all too flawed, which forms a promising central character and several potentially dynamite secondary characters to further stories in this series. Looking forward to the next book publication.
July 31, 2018
I am very fond of Sara King's "ZERO" series.
With this first volume of Sunny Day, we discover an urban-fantasy universe of which some aspects are very original and others rather expected . It's in the spirit of "Zero" though: badass, a lot of humor, coarseness and other obsessions of the author.
The book is pleasant to read, very rhythmic, but often frustrating since the heroine discovers its nature and the universe at the same time as the reader. (And there remains a lot of unknowns at the end of the book, probably too much. Maybe someday someone will explain to me this mania of the retention of information specific to urban-fantasy?). Some passages are less brilliant than others, the behavior of the heroine is not always very consistent, but overall we have fun, even if we see coming from too far the final scene.
For the series to grow, it will take the next volume to be a little more generous in the unveiling of a universe that is certainly a great one.
Good entertainment, somewhere at the crossway between Ghostbusters, Lovecraft, Die Hard and Mercy Thompson.
With this first volume of Sunny Day, we discover an urban-fantasy universe of which some aspects are very original and others rather expected . It's in the spirit of "Zero" though: badass, a lot of humor, coarseness and other obsessions of the author.
The book is pleasant to read, very rhythmic, but often frustrating since the heroine discovers its nature and the universe at the same time as the reader. (And there remains a lot of unknowns at the end of the book, probably too much. Maybe someday someone will explain to me this mania of the retention of information specific to urban-fantasy?). Some passages are less brilliant than others, the behavior of the heroine is not always very consistent, but overall we have fun, even if we see coming from too far the final scene.
For the series to grow, it will take the next volume to be a little more generous in the unveiling of a universe that is certainly a great one.
Good entertainment, somewhere at the crossway between Ghostbusters, Lovecraft, Die Hard and Mercy Thompson.
January 18, 2019
Fun read
Very engaging and fun book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The power, or curse, to be instantly forgotten was novel and new.
Very engaging and fun book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The power, or curse, to be instantly forgotten was novel and new.
July 23, 2018
I received a not-quite-finished draft in which I was a beta reader for Ms. King, and so I really paid attention to the details of the story. Let me just say that it's WILD and IMMERSIVE and all-around CRAZY. But all in a good way.
Sunny with A Chance of Monsters (and what a great title!) takes place in an alternate-world Alaska (renamed Alyeska after they seceded from the rest of the US). There's floating granite (Bankstone) and "floaters" (car-type transportation), and the social classes have been renamed and divided - there's blockkers, the lowest of the low, and then the people who live within the Domes, who are pretty echelon, and then Outdomers, who are somewhat in the middle, though I think they tend towards the low end of the spectrum - like blue collar workers. Sunny is our main character, and throughout the story it becomes quite clear just how badass she is. She has LOADS of witty one-liners:
"Gabriel Dortez, serial murderer and clam enthusiast."
"The tentacle monster’s sneer seemed way too snobby for what was essentially a beaked asshole with legs." [LOL]
"If it helps me smear roasted calamari across the entire Anchorage Domes, yes."
And many, many others. Sunny's voice really comes through in King's writing. We get the sense that although Sunny's really fed up with her life and how downhill it's gone, she still goes through the motions and does her best. The opening scene sets up the entire story, so suffice it to say that it's very important. It also may be quite confusing, but most of it is explained further on.
There's lots of action - sometimes gruesome and gory, sometimes intense, sometimes silly - as well as mysticism/magic of the paranormal kind and the Native Alaskan tribe kind. There's lots of gun-use and carving with knives. Some scenes might kick into gear your gag-reflex, while others might touch upon your sensitive side. Characters like Tommy and Gary will make you want to kick their asses, while Mat and his squad will make you laugh and shake your head (with confusion and with exasperation).
The end of this book definitely gives you SOME answers as to what's been going on, but there is still a lot to be explained! For instance, Sunny's "abilities." And Mat's weird devaputra-ness. And why in the heck there are all these disturbing, carnivorous monsters hanging around Alaska. And why and how Sunny has an Aura of Forgetability. And why Gary doesn't know how to use a damn condom.
Oh, and not to mention there's quite a few Star Wars and Star Trek references, which I definitely appreciated!
One more thing: Bankstone is really important, and so is Edward Banks, the dude who discovered it, but this is one point of the story I was a bit confused about. The information about Bankstone/E. Banks was vague, and whenever he and/or it was mentioned throughout the rest of the story I kind of forgot their relevance. As I said before, Bankstone is like floating granite and has created like a bajillion jobs on top of much more advanced technology, but I still felt like it wasn't described fully. Also, the BPI and DPS acronyms could use better explanations because they were used so much and yet I often forgot what they stood for. An occasional reminder would be helpful. I think Ms. King still needs to work out some kinks within the world - BPI, DPS, Bankstone/E. Banks, Alyeska, the Domes (how many are there, exactly?) but ever since I read her Outer Bounds series a few months ago, I have no doubts she'll manage it.
Otherwise, this story was loads of fun and full of sci-fi elements, gruesome and yet startlingly unique violence, witty one-liners, near-constant action, and weird magic spells, native Alaskan legends, insane powers, and lots and lots of seafood references. I'm more than ready to devour the second installment.
Rating: 4 stars.
Sunny with A Chance of Monsters (and what a great title!) takes place in an alternate-world Alaska (renamed Alyeska after they seceded from the rest of the US). There's floating granite (Bankstone) and "floaters" (car-type transportation), and the social classes have been renamed and divided - there's blockkers, the lowest of the low, and then the people who live within the Domes, who are pretty echelon, and then Outdomers, who are somewhat in the middle, though I think they tend towards the low end of the spectrum - like blue collar workers. Sunny is our main character, and throughout the story it becomes quite clear just how badass she is. She has LOADS of witty one-liners:
"Gabriel Dortez, serial murderer and clam enthusiast."
"The tentacle monster’s sneer seemed way too snobby for what was essentially a beaked asshole with legs." [LOL]
"If it helps me smear roasted calamari across the entire Anchorage Domes, yes."
And many, many others. Sunny's voice really comes through in King's writing. We get the sense that although Sunny's really fed up with her life and how downhill it's gone, she still goes through the motions and does her best. The opening scene sets up the entire story, so suffice it to say that it's very important. It also may be quite confusing, but most of it is explained further on.
There's lots of action - sometimes gruesome and gory, sometimes intense, sometimes silly - as well as mysticism/magic of the paranormal kind and the Native Alaskan tribe kind. There's lots of gun-use and carving with knives. Some scenes might kick into gear your gag-reflex, while others might touch upon your sensitive side. Characters like Tommy and Gary will make you want to kick their asses, while Mat and his squad will make you laugh and shake your head (with confusion and with exasperation).
The end of this book definitely gives you SOME answers as to what's been going on, but there is still a lot to be explained! For instance, Sunny's "abilities." And Mat's weird devaputra-ness. And why in the heck there are all these disturbing, carnivorous monsters hanging around Alaska. And why and how Sunny has an Aura of Forgetability. And why Gary doesn't know how to use a damn condom.
Oh, and not to mention there's quite a few Star Wars and Star Trek references, which I definitely appreciated!
One more thing: Bankstone is really important, and so is Edward Banks, the dude who discovered it, but this is one point of the story I was a bit confused about. The information about Bankstone/E. Banks was vague, and whenever he and/or it was mentioned throughout the rest of the story I kind of forgot their relevance. As I said before, Bankstone is like floating granite and has created like a bajillion jobs on top of much more advanced technology, but I still felt like it wasn't described fully. Also, the BPI and DPS acronyms could use better explanations because they were used so much and yet I often forgot what they stood for. An occasional reminder would be helpful. I think Ms. King still needs to work out some kinks within the world - BPI, DPS, Bankstone/E. Banks, Alyeska, the Domes (how many are there, exactly?) but ever since I read her Outer Bounds series a few months ago, I have no doubts she'll manage it.
Otherwise, this story was loads of fun and full of sci-fi elements, gruesome and yet startlingly unique violence, witty one-liners, near-constant action, and weird magic spells, native Alaskan legends, insane powers, and lots and lots of seafood references. I'm more than ready to devour the second installment.
Rating: 4 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2018
The release of this book took me by surprise, even though I follow this author on social media and her email newsletter. It was a very pleasant surprise.
Premise: this is an urban fantasy where Alaska discovered a mineral that provides a great deal of clean energy and then split off as a sovereign nation and built climate-controlled domes over the cities. An influx of people, earthquakes and wars happened 15-30 years prior to the book. Desirable people live in the expensive domes, undesirables live outside and do dangerous construction or worse (mining) jobs.
Meet Sunny. She's an EMT (therefore desirable) and she's trying to save a child's life. Only something strange happens and the ambulance crashes. She's treated for injuries and goes back to work, but no one can ever remember her after they take their eyes off of her. She gets fired from every job, supervisors and coworkers swearing she never showed up, even though the time cards were stamped and the work got done. She's spiraling down to the dredges of society and ends up working construction outside of the domes. Her Life Sucks. Then it gets worse.
She's in a pinch - about to be sent off to the mines - and FINALLY some rich dude can look away from her and remember her. Only it appears that he's trying to trap her, so she runs away and discovers that there's a $100,000 bounty up for grabs if she can nap a particular math teacher and turn him in. She's desperate, so she tries. And tries again, and again, and again. Being forgotten can be a sort of superpower during surveillance. Eventually she figures out WHY the bounty is so high. He's magical, too, and not in a nice way. Then some shaman starts haunting her dreams, and eventually she makes a deal with the rich dude. The finale is an epic fight scene. Very satisfying.
The only part I thought was missing is the backstory. I know a whole lot about why Sunny hates her brother-in-law (married to her twin sister), but I don't know why Sunny is so persistent and hates accepting help from anyone. A prequel could help fill in those character building gaps.
Looking forward to the next in this series!
Premise: this is an urban fantasy where Alaska discovered a mineral that provides a great deal of clean energy and then split off as a sovereign nation and built climate-controlled domes over the cities. An influx of people, earthquakes and wars happened 15-30 years prior to the book. Desirable people live in the expensive domes, undesirables live outside and do dangerous construction or worse (mining) jobs.
Meet Sunny. She's an EMT (therefore desirable) and she's trying to save a child's life. Only something strange happens and the ambulance crashes. She's treated for injuries and goes back to work, but no one can ever remember her after they take their eyes off of her. She gets fired from every job, supervisors and coworkers swearing she never showed up, even though the time cards were stamped and the work got done. She's spiraling down to the dredges of society and ends up working construction outside of the domes. Her Life Sucks. Then it gets worse.
She's in a pinch - about to be sent off to the mines - and FINALLY some rich dude can look away from her and remember her. Only it appears that he's trying to trap her, so she runs away and discovers that there's a $100,000 bounty up for grabs if she can nap a particular math teacher and turn him in. She's desperate, so she tries. And tries again, and again, and again. Being forgotten can be a sort of superpower during surveillance. Eventually she figures out WHY the bounty is so high. He's magical, too, and not in a nice way. Then some shaman starts haunting her dreams, and eventually she makes a deal with the rich dude. The finale is an epic fight scene. Very satisfying.
The only part I thought was missing is the backstory. I know a whole lot about why Sunny hates her brother-in-law (married to her twin sister), but I don't know why Sunny is so persistent and hates accepting help from anyone. A prequel could help fill in those character building gaps.
Looking forward to the next in this series!
December 18, 2018
Sunny starts the book living a comfortable life, doing a job she loves, and is about to get married. After an inexplicable event that she doesn't understand, Sunny ends up falling down the social ladder, barely hanging on.
As miserable as it is, Sunny isn't a whiner. She works hard, and no matter how difficult things get, she keeps fighting for her dignity and independence. Then one day, life throws her another curve ball, and there's a chance for her to dig herself out of the hole she's lived in for three years.
That's where the action starts. Sunny is clever, and uses her strange ability to investigate, and try and bring some guy in for the bounty on his head. She's smart, and tough, and even when she gets her butt kicked, she gets back up, and tries again.
The plot is fairly clever, and the world building interesting, even though there was way too much of it up front which kept the beginning from taking off. I still found the world the author created intriguing. I definitely want to see more.
And Sunny was a great character. I liked her determination, and how she faced her fears, and just kept fighting for what's right when most other people would have given up.
Looking forward to the next book.
As miserable as it is, Sunny isn't a whiner. She works hard, and no matter how difficult things get, she keeps fighting for her dignity and independence. Then one day, life throws her another curve ball, and there's a chance for her to dig herself out of the hole she's lived in for three years.
That's where the action starts. Sunny is clever, and uses her strange ability to investigate, and try and bring some guy in for the bounty on his head. She's smart, and tough, and even when she gets her butt kicked, she gets back up, and tries again.
The plot is fairly clever, and the world building interesting, even though there was way too much of it up front which kept the beginning from taking off. I still found the world the author created intriguing. I definitely want to see more.
And Sunny was a great character. I liked her determination, and how she faced her fears, and just kept fighting for what's right when most other people would have given up.
Looking forward to the next book.
July 30, 2018
[I rarely give 5 stars, so use that as a weight mechanism for evaluating my score.]
I adore Sara King's story-telling. Her Outer Bounds and legend of zero series are stellar. Awaiting Outer Bounds 3, I was distressed to read her occasional reports of "writer's block." So, it's great to see her back.
I want to thank her writing partners who helped her press through and "held up her arms" in this most recent endeavor. "Sunny" bears the classic Kingisms readers cherish in her characters.
What I'd like to see is less of a rootedness in Alaska. There's really no need for it since this story takes place in a parallel timeline to reality. This story really could have been located anywhere on Terra. So, why NOT Alaska? Fair question. My reply would be because Sara's already written novels centered there. Here MOST appealing works (Outer Bounds & Zero) aren't Alaska-centric.
Oh, and one other suggestion: Ditch at least 4/5's of the profanity. Find some other more erudite way to express Sunny's displeasure. the frequent use of profanity hints at laziness.
I hope these comments don't come off as grouchy or mere grousing. I enjoyed the book and look forward to more.
I adore Sara King's story-telling. Her Outer Bounds and legend of zero series are stellar. Awaiting Outer Bounds 3, I was distressed to read her occasional reports of "writer's block." So, it's great to see her back.
I want to thank her writing partners who helped her press through and "held up her arms" in this most recent endeavor. "Sunny" bears the classic Kingisms readers cherish in her characters.
What I'd like to see is less of a rootedness in Alaska. There's really no need for it since this story takes place in a parallel timeline to reality. This story really could have been located anywhere on Terra. So, why NOT Alaska? Fair question. My reply would be because Sara's already written novels centered there. Here MOST appealing works (Outer Bounds & Zero) aren't Alaska-centric.
Oh, and one other suggestion: Ditch at least 4/5's of the profanity. Find some other more erudite way to express Sunny's displeasure. the frequent use of profanity hints at laziness.
I hope these comments don't come off as grouchy or mere grousing. I enjoyed the book and look forward to more.
July 27, 2018
This book is so good that when it ended I threw it across the room screaming, "No!" Because it should have been longer! There was more to write! Why did she end it after the adventure was over when there was still a possible romance to discover with a manipulative alien from another dimension?? This book has (almost) everything I look for in a book: surprises, twists, explosions, names I can pronounce, and a kick ass heroine. I say "almost" because, well spoilers, but there's an opportunity for a few chapters of passion involving a contract writing, domineering, handsome alien. I do want to give a warning though. Ms. King does not mind writing about kids in danger, and sometimes not surviving that danger. That can be hard for me (I had to skip several parts of the first book in the Zero series) and this book starts out with a child in mortal danger. I almost stopped reading but I'm glad I pushed through that first chapter because the rest of it is amazing. You need to read this right now!
July 23, 2018
Calamari on tap
Slow to get into but a fab read. Didn't know what was happening at first but as the story evolved so did my understanding. Living and working in the Domes as a EMT has given her a good apartment, a wonderful boyfriend and money in the bank. This all changes when they pick up a gunshot victim. A little girl. Now no-one remembers her and she looses everything. Except for a bounty on her her and an agent that constantly stalks her. When she discovers her nephew is being preyed upon by his teacher, she resolves to find out more. What she doesn't realise is that the teacher is an interdimesional "god" who preys on misery and despair, leading it's victims to commit suicide. Can she take him down? No resources, no money, still being hunted by the government and now with a shaman thrown into the mix. Great plot with a wonderful character as the heroine. Resolute and never giving up.
Slow to get into but a fab read. Didn't know what was happening at first but as the story evolved so did my understanding. Living and working in the Domes as a EMT has given her a good apartment, a wonderful boyfriend and money in the bank. This all changes when they pick up a gunshot victim. A little girl. Now no-one remembers her and she looses everything. Except for a bounty on her her and an agent that constantly stalks her. When she discovers her nephew is being preyed upon by his teacher, she resolves to find out more. What she doesn't realise is that the teacher is an interdimesional "god" who preys on misery and despair, leading it's victims to commit suicide. Can she take him down? No resources, no money, still being hunted by the government and now with a shaman thrown into the mix. Great plot with a wonderful character as the heroine. Resolute and never giving up.
August 7, 2018
Unique imaginations at work
I don’t know how Sara et al. come up with their ideas for characters and their abilities, but I find her concepts quite fascinating and different from anything else I’ve ever read. The Aura of Forgettability is genius. And making the antagonist a giant tentacle monster god isn’t all that usual either.
While Sunny pretty much goes nonstop from one scrape to another — and there are enough scrapes to make one wonder how much more she can endure — the story never drags, and most of the mysteries get explained. There are still a couple left for the next book, though, like “what exactly did that little girl do to Sunny?” And “what’s the deal with Tadzi?”
I really hope this writing team has the next Paranormal Badass book well underway. I can’t wait to see where Sunny Day goes from here.
I don’t know how Sara et al. come up with their ideas for characters and their abilities, but I find her concepts quite fascinating and different from anything else I’ve ever read. The Aura of Forgettability is genius. And making the antagonist a giant tentacle monster god isn’t all that usual either.
While Sunny pretty much goes nonstop from one scrape to another — and there are enough scrapes to make one wonder how much more she can endure — the story never drags, and most of the mysteries get explained. There are still a couple left for the next book, though, like “what exactly did that little girl do to Sunny?” And “what’s the deal with Tadzi?”
I really hope this writing team has the next Paranormal Badass book well underway. I can’t wait to see where Sunny Day goes from here.
August 1, 2018
Recommend!!
I REALLY enjoyed this book, and will admit to staying up way past an appropriate time in the a.m. to keep turn a few more pages. It has a Fringe feel to it that I liked, while also being set in a dystopian but not entirely unimaginable future.
Sunny has been living the worst three years of her somewhat priveleged existence... but the last few weeks have made that look like a week on a cruise. She's beaten, bloodied, bad mouthed and bitched slapped six ways from sunday, but sometimes what the world needs is someone who doesn't know when to quit.. That person is Sunny Day.
Love the premise, terrified of the monsters, thoroughly intrigued by Khaz and his plans, and I can't wait for your the next book!!!!
I REALLY enjoyed this book, and will admit to staying up way past an appropriate time in the a.m. to keep turn a few more pages. It has a Fringe feel to it that I liked, while also being set in a dystopian but not entirely unimaginable future.
Sunny has been living the worst three years of her somewhat priveleged existence... but the last few weeks have made that look like a week on a cruise. She's beaten, bloodied, bad mouthed and bitched slapped six ways from sunday, but sometimes what the world needs is someone who doesn't know when to quit.. That person is Sunny Day.
Love the premise, terrified of the monsters, thoroughly intrigued by Khaz and his plans, and I can't wait for your the next book!!!!
August 3, 2018
Sunny Day, the antogonist in the sci-fi thriller, is a town low-life strictly by circumstance and the help of multi-dimensional beings. The 40-foot octopus god wants her dead in the worst way, the one who wants to help her wants her to sign herself away first---details unknown. Sara King is really rough on her characters, but Sunny is a very tough woman. She stays on the trail of the octopus god through city and wilderness of a future Alaska, attacking it frequently but unable to kill it. The final showdown is an amazing train wreck of an ending. The book is bloody, vulgar, and nasty. Also an engrossing page-turner. When my Kindle ran out of battery near the end I almost threw it against the wall. The notes at the end of the book promise that Sunny Day will be back. I hope so.
August 5, 2018
Fun first in series
I love Sara King. I enjoyed this new book featuring Sunshine (Sunny). Down on her unluck ex-EMT. You’ve got to get through her back story to understand this reluctant (very.....runs in the opposite direction) hero. These two authors have knit together a alt future Alaskan kick tush adventure. I could not put down. It is worth the wait to get Sara King back in fine form along with Fred Garnet. Thanks for an excellent first in the series starring Sunny who although is reluctant when push comes to shoves (nieces and nephews and fate of humanity are involved) finally goes into overdrive. The rest is literary history. Read and Enjoy, I look forward to future installments.
I love Sara King. I enjoyed this new book featuring Sunshine (Sunny). Down on her unluck ex-EMT. You’ve got to get through her back story to understand this reluctant (very.....runs in the opposite direction) hero. These two authors have knit together a alt future Alaskan kick tush adventure. I could not put down. It is worth the wait to get Sara King back in fine form along with Fred Garnet. Thanks for an excellent first in the series starring Sunny who although is reluctant when push comes to shoves (nieces and nephews and fate of humanity are involved) finally goes into overdrive. The rest is literary history. Read and Enjoy, I look forward to future installments.
December 6, 2018
I'm not usually a fan of "Urban Fantasy". I am a BIG fan of Sara King. She did not disappoint. This is not her best work work and it feels a little dark and clumsy at times but the characters are rich and interesting. I read Sara King for her characters the rest is just a bonus.
This story follows through on Sunny's adventures but there is a great deal left unfinished. This isn't usually King's style. There are many elements that will need a second or even third book to develop. Sara King usually gives a complete story and leaves the readers investment in the characters to drive sales of the next installment. Either way I will buy her next book even if I have to start reading romance. Now that is REALLY saying something about Sara King's writing.
This story follows through on Sunny's adventures but there is a great deal left unfinished. This isn't usually King's style. There are many elements that will need a second or even third book to develop. Sara King usually gives a complete story and leaves the readers investment in the characters to drive sales of the next installment. Either way I will buy her next book even if I have to start reading romance. Now that is REALLY saying something about Sara King's writing.
September 9, 2018
Need more.
Sunny is an EMT. After a strange meeting with a dying girl she finds everyone around her constantly forgets who she is. Things go from bad to worse when she finds a bounty flyer and decides its worth a shot. From the beginning I was hooked, even if I didn’t have a clue what was going on. Sunny is bold, slightly overconfident and destructive. I did like the whole forgetting thing and just how much she gets away with things. Her bounty on the other hand was kinda disgusting and wrong in so many ways. There’s a lot of movement, running around, violence and mentions of suicide. Looking forward to more in the future.
Sunny is an EMT. After a strange meeting with a dying girl she finds everyone around her constantly forgets who she is. Things go from bad to worse when she finds a bounty flyer and decides its worth a shot. From the beginning I was hooked, even if I didn’t have a clue what was going on. Sunny is bold, slightly overconfident and destructive. I did like the whole forgetting thing and just how much she gets away with things. Her bounty on the other hand was kinda disgusting and wrong in so many ways. There’s a lot of movement, running around, violence and mentions of suicide. Looking forward to more in the future.
October 28, 2018
Fun read with tentacles
A bit of a slow start, but to be expected with new worldbuilding. Leaves some pretty big unanswered questions, but I'm hopeful more will be made clear as the series progresses. One minor gripe, some of the characters seem really dense and won't ask the obvious questions when in situations they're not understanding. Especially annoying when one of these specifically talks about how much more intellegent he is than regular humans. Of course hyper-intellegent people/beings is a ongoing plot device in every novel of King's that I've read, so par for the course?
A bit of a slow start, but to be expected with new worldbuilding. Leaves some pretty big unanswered questions, but I'm hopeful more will be made clear as the series progresses. One minor gripe, some of the characters seem really dense and won't ask the obvious questions when in situations they're not understanding. Especially annoying when one of these specifically talks about how much more intellegent he is than regular humans. Of course hyper-intellegent people/beings is a ongoing plot device in every novel of King's that I've read, so par for the course?
May 17, 2020
Great fun, entertaining read from almost the start to the finish. Started off a bit slow, thought it was going to be one of those books where everything is so dark that depression sets in and I think about cutting my throat. But in the end it was great, Sunny is a great heroine, (sorry, old fashioned, brought up with actresses etc.). As the blurb says, she's badass and kicks ass.
Encapsulated when she is described by one of the bad guys as "like the undead evil half that keeps digging its way out of the grave after the townsfolk stake it and bury it alive! Worth reading and I will be back for more.
Encapsulated when she is described by one of the bad guys as "like the undead evil half that keeps digging its way out of the grave after the townsfolk stake it and bury it alive! Worth reading and I will be back for more.
June 30, 2021
This sort of gets an incomplete since really key story elements are never resolved (such as the whole opening scene). King is fun and has a fascinating imagination but she doesn't do as good of a job tying things together or even making clear what is going on - so while there are fun elements and as always her characters are quirky, interesting, and believable, it is just not a coherent whole.
Even so, it doesn't discourage me at all from continuing to read what she writes. Readability 6. Rating 5.
Even so, it doesn't discourage me at all from continuing to read what she writes. Readability 6. Rating 5.
September 14, 2018
I think I've read all Sara King's books and there's a very good reason for that: her books are awesome! She writes across all sorts of genres, but it doesn't matter because it's her characters you fall in love with. This one is what I'd call a mix between sci-fi and urban fantasy with her typical humor baked right in. It has an alternate-history-Alaska crust and chock full of chewy interdimensional monster goodness...sort of like calamari pie.
Read it! You won't be disappointed.
Read it! You won't be disappointed.
January 18, 2019
Slow burn, big finish
The beginning points you in one direction, the end is totally different. It takes a while for Sunny to figure out what she needs to do.
Fans of Larry Coreia’s “Monster Hunter International” will appreciate the ending. “Bubba the Monster Hunter” is also a good comparison.
Boomstick. Ha!!!
I read this on KU, then went and bought it. How’s that for a recommendation?
The beginning points you in one direction, the end is totally different. It takes a while for Sunny to figure out what she needs to do.
Fans of Larry Coreia’s “Monster Hunter International” will appreciate the ending. “Bubba the Monster Hunter” is also a good comparison.
Boomstick. Ha!!!
I read this on KU, then went and bought it. How’s that for a recommendation?
December 12, 2020
Fantasy action adventure story with an interesting premise and an entertaining protagonist. Although it was kind of annoying at the beginning because the protagonist was so bewildered, but it definitely got better as it went along.
The story did have reasonable amount of closure, so I'm happy about that. However, based on some of the Sara's other series, I suspect that I'll have to wait quite a few years until I get to read another Sunny Day adventure.
The story did have reasonable amount of closure, so I'm happy about that. However, based on some of the Sara's other series, I suspect that I'll have to wait quite a few years until I get to read another Sunny Day adventure.
July 24, 2018
uh, so, not even gonna lie.. this book totally blew me away! It was a little slow getting into, but I actually liked being left in the dark until everything was brought to light. It's also always awesome to read books that take place in Alaska considering I live here, and I love seeing familiar names/places!
July 28, 2018
A new series from Sara. This time we're in alternative universe Alaska, which has much bigger population and is a big power due to a special resource mined there.
Everything looks normal enough but we slowly learn there are some unexplainable supernatural things happening too.
Again great characters and story make for a quick and fun read.
Everything looks normal enough but we slowly learn there are some unexplainable supernatural things happening too.
Again great characters and story make for a quick and fun read.
July 29, 2018
this was a different kind of read for me. I am a new reader to Sara King. The characters were very interesting, and with the story line you just couldn't put it down. Sunny Day was just a character you couldn't help but relate to and enjoy her as you read. A very interesting story, and I know the series will continue to be.
July 30, 2018
Sheer awesomeness!
Gritty, nerdy (though Sunny probably wouldn't think so) epic awesomeness. I picked it up knowing I've loved everything Sara King has written and went on to read most of it in one go. It's a great story in its own right, but has a ton of hooks to build on. I wish the second book was already available!
Gritty, nerdy (though Sunny probably wouldn't think so) epic awesomeness. I picked it up knowing I've loved everything Sara King has written and went on to read most of it in one go. It's a great story in its own right, but has a ton of hooks to build on. I wish the second book was already available!
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