Sunstruck

by: Mayra Calvani

Published by: Zumaya Publications LLC

Reviewed by Beth Cummings

Sunstruck is an unusual novel – part gothic horror/thriller, part love story and part a young woman’s coming-of-age story. It is set in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, although only some of the food and the El Yunque rain forest actually have anything to do with that locale.

The main character, Daniella, is a college student who by the age of twenty-four has been married, divorced and is currently living with an artist. All of the people she knows seem to be bizarre is some way. She has an amicable relationship with her ex-husband and his new wife – who both seem to be stoned most of the time and mentally disturbed the rest of the time. Even the so-called sane characters – Daniella’s mother and a philosophy professor at the University – have peculiar habits.

I found the story to be impossibly unbelievable. While fantasy novels and gothic thrillers often contain plot twists and characters that are out of the ordinary, so many strange people coming together stretches the bounds of credibility.

The book came to me in an unfinished form, so I hesitate to criticize points that good editing may correct. However, it does need some good editing. Calvani has trouble staying within the correct verb tense – jumping from present to past tense in the same paragraph while the action moves forward. It made the story difficult to read.

Armchair Interviews: Following the review, it came to our attention that Sunstruck is a parody, a fact unknown to the reviewer.