A chilling whisper stalks Hero, a village cloaked in Liamec's shadows. Something unseen snatches young women, leaving a silence deeper than the night. Sunny, a farmer's daughter with sun-kissed hair and a hero's blood, dreams of adventures beyond sun-drenched fields.
But when the enigmatic monster slayer, Raphael, arrives, their destinies intertwine with an ancient darkness. Renowned for his unconventional methods, Raphael seeks to mend, not banish, even the darkest beasts. But this time, the whispers speak of a darkness beyond creatures, a secret from outside Liamec. As Sunny and Raphael forge an unlikely bond, they unearth truths that threaten everything, including Sunny's own hidden connection to Helios, the god of the sun.
Can Sunny and Raphael find and stop the monster before more young women are abducted? Their desperate battle to save Hero from the shadows that consume it will force them to face their deepest fears and embrace the heroes they were always meant to be.
Join Sunny and Raphael on their unforgettable journey where shadows stir and heroes rise, in this thrilling YA fantasy adventure set within the beloved world of Liamec.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Sunshine Over Hero is an engrossing Sci-Fi/Fantasy book for YA/middle grade readers. The titular characters, an unlikely couple to say the least, must come together to find out who–or what–is kidnapping young women, and put a stop to it while minimizing loss of life, especially their own.
Prose: Lamperti's prose is clever, funny, and lushly detailed. However, while the punchy dialogue and detailed descriptions are delightful, several chapters are needlessly, distractingly short.
Originality: While there are many fantasy novels where sexy strangers must work together to defeat evil while falling in love (or at least lust) along the way, few are as hilariously detailed and boast clever touches like an adorable fire imp, a sarcastic sword, and the curious, intriguing theory that monsters like Nosferatu aren’t "real," simply powerful delusions. Lamperti also makes the bold decision to veer away from the expected climax.
Character/Execution: Sunny and Raphael come across as fully fleshed individuals who are quick, clever, gorgeous, heroic, and easy to root for. Raphael in particular is unique, as he prefers to "fix" the monsters, not destroy them. For her part, while Sunny lacks experience, she doesn't hesitate to step up when the situation demands it. Other characters are intriguing as well, even ones who don't seem especially relevant, and the author evinces sympathy in unlikely places.
Date Submitted: August 25, 2024
