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Sunblind
When U.S. Border Patrol Agent Christian Rivera discovers the body of an undocumented alien in the middle of the vast Sonoran Desert with three enigmatic words carved into her flesh, presumably by her own hand, it triggers a frantic search for the remainder of her party, a group of twenty-five men and women who have inexplicably vanished into the desert.
Aided by two of the agency's best trackers, Rivera follows the woman's trail into the brutal heart of one of the hottest and most unforgiving landscapes on the planet, where nothing can survive for long. As more bodies turn up, Rivera and the others begin to realize they may be up against an enemy far deadlier than the desert, an unseen adversary that will stop at nothing to take from them what it needs to survive. A mythical evil that may not be myth at all, but horrifically real, could very well be stalking them, and their only hope of surviving the same fate that befell the missing party lies in deciphering the clues to their disappearance before it's too late. If it isn't already…
From Michael McBride, bestselling author of Burial Ground and Snowblind, comes Sunblind, a thrilling new novel of terror and action that will take you on an unforgettable journey from the desperate streets of Mexico, through the deadliest corridor in the world, to a place where mankind was never meant to tread.
Aided by two of the agency's best trackers, Rivera follows the woman's trail into the brutal heart of one of the hottest and most unforgiving landscapes on the planet, where nothing can survive for long. As more bodies turn up, Rivera and the others begin to realize they may be up against an enemy far deadlier than the desert, an unseen adversary that will stop at nothing to take from them what it needs to survive. A mythical evil that may not be myth at all, but horrifically real, could very well be stalking them, and their only hope of surviving the same fate that befell the missing party lies in deciphering the clues to their disappearance before it's too late. If it isn't already…
From Michael McBride, bestselling author of Burial Ground and Snowblind, comes Sunblind, a thrilling new novel of terror and action that will take you on an unforgettable journey from the desperate streets of Mexico, through the deadliest corridor in the world, to a place where mankind was never meant to tread.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
134 people are currently reading
589 people want to read
About the author
Michael McBride
122 books480 followersMichael McBride was born in Colorado and still resides in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. He hates the snow, but loves the Avalanche. He works with medical radiation, yet somehow managed to produce five children, none of whom, miraculously, have tails, third eyes, or other random mutations. He writes fiction that runs the gamut from thriller to horror to science fiction...and loves every minute of it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
October 26, 2014
Warning: Don't start this book if you have anything else planned to do for the next few hours.
I could not put it down. When forced to put it down due to my kindle battery dying...I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Mayra and twenty five other people start their journey with hopes of reaching America. They pay their way and climb into that minivan with high hopes. That minivan dumps them into the desert with their guide who says their destination is only a day's walk. Most of them don't ration their meager supplies or water. Mayra tries too.
Dumped into the desert. I never imagined that an author could take you in your mind and plop you down in an atmosphere so damned awful that when you did stop reading to take a drink of water you would feel guilty. McBride does this without even blinking an eye.
The book is told from two viewpoints-a border patrol agents and Mayra. It keeps you hanging with held breath to see what is going to happen next.
Mayra is probably the character with the most will to live that I've ever seen in a story. I just don't think I could have made it. I would have been begging for death. She keeps going.
Maybe at the cost of her humanity.
And if that fucking desert alone wasn't enough..the twenty five people are being hunted.
I just never imagined what people were willing to do to come to our country and I don't think I'll ever look at the border crossings the same way ever again. Or even such a simple thing as a drink of water.
I don't hand out five stars for books very often. This one I cannot skip giving that rating.
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley/Darkfuse in exchange for an honest review
I could not put it down. When forced to put it down due to my kindle battery dying...I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Mayra and twenty five other people start their journey with hopes of reaching America. They pay their way and climb into that minivan with high hopes. That minivan dumps them into the desert with their guide who says their destination is only a day's walk. Most of them don't ration their meager supplies or water. Mayra tries too.
Dumped into the desert. I never imagined that an author could take you in your mind and plop you down in an atmosphere so damned awful that when you did stop reading to take a drink of water you would feel guilty. McBride does this without even blinking an eye.
The book is told from two viewpoints-a border patrol agents and Mayra. It keeps you hanging with held breath to see what is going to happen next.
Mayra is probably the character with the most will to live that I've ever seen in a story. I just don't think I could have made it. I would have been begging for death. She keeps going.
Maybe at the cost of her humanity.
And if that fucking desert alone wasn't enough..the twenty five people are being hunted.
I just never imagined what people were willing to do to come to our country and I don't think I'll ever look at the border crossings the same way ever again. Or even such a simple thing as a drink of water.
I don't hand out five stars for books very often. This one I cannot skip giving that rating.
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley/Darkfuse in exchange for an honest review
November 2, 2016
There are tried-and-true, heavily-used conventions in horror fiction, elements like darkness and the cold and snow. They've become things that we equate with atmospheric creepiness, shivering, and goosebumps. But here, Michael McBride skillfully uses bright sunlight and intense heat to instill more terror than most of the horror fiction I've read. Here, it's all about sunburn blisters, and not being able to blink because your eyelids are too dry,
The novel opens with an ace Border Patrol agent discovering the body of a Mexican woman in the middle of the Sonoran desert, a woman that's carved a cryptic message onto her chest. Along with a couple of his fellow agents, he sets out into the desert night to find out what happened to her and her fellow companions trying to cross the border. In a parallel story, the book follows what happened to the travelers from the woman's point of view and we discover the true horror of what happened.
It's a totally ingenious concept, that not only tackles the topical subject of illegal immigration but shows the absolute horror of walking across the hot desert with limited resources. Intense heat from which there's no escape or relief, dehydration to the point where you can't even sweat or cry anymore, snakes, hunger, the cartels and their narcos, and the truth about what you would really be willing to do if you were thirsty enough; just these elements alone and the way that McBride uses them are enough to make a pretty effective scary book. But as if that wasn't enough already, he takes it a step further and ups the ante considerably by introducing a terrifying creature that hunts the group in the middle of all this as they try to make their way through the desert.
Wow. Easily 5 Stars.
The novel opens with an ace Border Patrol agent discovering the body of a Mexican woman in the middle of the Sonoran desert, a woman that's carved a cryptic message onto her chest. Along with a couple of his fellow agents, he sets out into the desert night to find out what happened to her and her fellow companions trying to cross the border. In a parallel story, the book follows what happened to the travelers from the woman's point of view and we discover the true horror of what happened.
It's a totally ingenious concept, that not only tackles the topical subject of illegal immigration but shows the absolute horror of walking across the hot desert with limited resources. Intense heat from which there's no escape or relief, dehydration to the point where you can't even sweat or cry anymore, snakes, hunger, the cartels and their narcos, and the truth about what you would really be willing to do if you were thirsty enough; just these elements alone and the way that McBride uses them are enough to make a pretty effective scary book. But as if that wasn't enough already, he takes it a step further and ups the ante considerably by introducing a terrifying creature that hunts the group in the middle of all this as they try to make their way through the desert.
The day was not even half over and already I was no longer praying for the sun to set, but for my death, when it came, to be swift and merciful.I also really loved the novel's structure, cutting back and forth between the border agents' nighttime search and the first-hand account of what happened. The parallel stories work in tandem, each informing the other and raising the tension in each section even more. And McBride doesn't pussy out and hold back on the horror. There were many times here that my skin crawled and my mouth dropped open because I couldn't believe that this was all happening! And McBride does a great job with detailing the characters as well, especially our main heroine, but also all of the supporting cast as well, even though most of them remain nameless. I noticed a few editing mistakes, but it was a great read for October, one of the best written horror novels I've come across, and definitely the best book I've read from DarkFuse.
Wow. Easily 5 Stars.
It was the smell of death, a death for which I had far too recently prayed, but one I now knew I wanted no part of, an abstraction made far too real. I refused to die in this place. Not down here where my soul would forever remain outside of the reach of God, destined to wander the darkness, holding the hand of La Santa Muerte.
October 15, 2014
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Full Disclosure: Me not enjoying this book is my own damn fault. I didn’t bother reading the synopsis and had no idea what it was going to be about. All I knew was Shelby gave it 5 Stars and since she’s super mean (no, not really) and stingy with her ratings (yes, really) like me, I assumed I would find it to be great as well. Wellllll, you know what they say about people who ASS-ume.
It turns out I should’ve read the synopsis. I thought Sunblind was going to be a straight up tale about how the desert will freaking KILL a person (or persons) trying to cross the border illegally – and kill them in a seriously ugly fashion – before they even have to deal with Border Patrol. Turns out I should have been prepared to read a scuuuuury story. While there is no doubt the desert was a major villain, there was a mystery surrounding what it is that keeps appearing at night in order to claim its victims. What could it be???
El Chupacabra?
Zombies??
a Predator and/or an Alien???
or could it be the most terrifying killer of all . . .
the SPARKLY VAMPIRE?!?!?!?!?!?
You’ll have to read the book to find out.
I’m giving this 3 Stars, which is still pretty dang good coming from me. The writing was solid and the description of the desert almost made the pain and thirst of the undocumented palpable. My only complaint (besides the fact that I’m too stupid to know what the book I’m reading at any given moment is about) is that I felt it was a bit too long and the story dragged in places and would have been more effective had it been given zero lag time.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
Full Disclosure: Me not enjoying this book is my own damn fault. I didn’t bother reading the synopsis and had no idea what it was going to be about. All I knew was Shelby gave it 5 Stars and since she’s super mean (no, not really) and stingy with her ratings (yes, really) like me, I assumed I would find it to be great as well. Wellllll, you know what they say about people who ASS-ume.
It turns out I should’ve read the synopsis. I thought Sunblind was going to be a straight up tale about how the desert will freaking KILL a person (or persons) trying to cross the border illegally – and kill them in a seriously ugly fashion – before they even have to deal with Border Patrol. Turns out I should have been prepared to read a scuuuuury story. While there is no doubt the desert was a major villain, there was a mystery surrounding what it is that keeps appearing at night in order to claim its victims. What could it be???
El Chupacabra?
Zombies??
a Predator and/or an Alien???
or could it be the most terrifying killer of all . . .
the SPARKLY VAMPIRE?!?!?!?!?!?
You’ll have to read the book to find out.
I’m giving this 3 Stars, which is still pretty dang good coming from me. The writing was solid and the description of the desert almost made the pain and thirst of the undocumented palpable. My only complaint (besides the fact that I’m too stupid to know what the book I’m reading at any given moment is about) is that I felt it was a bit too long and the story dragged in places and would have been more effective had it been given zero lag time.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
August 11, 2014
I’ve now read eight books by Michael McBride and he’s become a definite must-read, be it horror or thriller, doesn’t matter he’s a damn talented author who writes some seriously good stuff and deserves to be massive.
Sunblind is another thriller which skirts into psychological horror and I just know I’m going to get a book that encompasses microscopic attention to detail and levels of research that are sometimes staggering. Every book I’ve read from McB, I always have to flip over to google at some point and research some word or phrase that’s in there begging for an explanation, it’s become almost a sabbatical and my thanks for learning all these new words and bits of vegetation.
Sunblind gives us two protagonists the first and main character is Mayra Visari, who pays a large sum of money to join a group of illegals hoping to get across the Sonoran desert of Mexico and into America. Along with a coachload of other passengers they embark on an ill-fated trip that soon turns into a nightmare that threatens all their lives.
On the side of America we have border patrol agent Christian Rivera who comes into the story at the start of the book but at the end of Mayra’s journey as he discovers her barely alive by the roadside.
He and a team of agents get medical assistance and start to backtrack her trail.
The chapters then advance with Mayra and her fellow travellers as they trek through the mountainous desert, stalked by an unknown assailant, killing the party one by one and BPA Rivera as he explores the path and the apparent violence of her fight for freedom. As both parties encounter something unbelievable, something that’s made its home in the mountains and only comes out to hunt.
The pace and tension that Michael McBride brings to the table are nail biting at times and this is another thoroughly enjoyable story that puts you right there in the thick of it.
I received Sunblind from Darkfuse & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
Sunblind is another thriller which skirts into psychological horror and I just know I’m going to get a book that encompasses microscopic attention to detail and levels of research that are sometimes staggering. Every book I’ve read from McB, I always have to flip over to google at some point and research some word or phrase that’s in there begging for an explanation, it’s become almost a sabbatical and my thanks for learning all these new words and bits of vegetation.
Sunblind gives us two protagonists the first and main character is Mayra Visari, who pays a large sum of money to join a group of illegals hoping to get across the Sonoran desert of Mexico and into America. Along with a coachload of other passengers they embark on an ill-fated trip that soon turns into a nightmare that threatens all their lives.
On the side of America we have border patrol agent Christian Rivera who comes into the story at the start of the book but at the end of Mayra’s journey as he discovers her barely alive by the roadside.
He and a team of agents get medical assistance and start to backtrack her trail.
The chapters then advance with Mayra and her fellow travellers as they trek through the mountainous desert, stalked by an unknown assailant, killing the party one by one and BPA Rivera as he explores the path and the apparent violence of her fight for freedom. As both parties encounter something unbelievable, something that’s made its home in the mountains and only comes out to hunt.
The pace and tension that Michael McBride brings to the table are nail biting at times and this is another thoroughly enjoyable story that puts you right there in the thick of it.
I received Sunblind from Darkfuse & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
July 26, 2014
SUNBLIND is another, incredibly "real" tale from Michael McBride. The main part of the story is told through the point of view of a woman, traumatized by the brutal murder of her twin sister and treatment at the hands of local law "enforcement". Mayra is determined to turn her back on Mexico, and decides to illegally cross the border into America, in an effort to change her life. What McBride details through Mayra's encounters is a horror so REAL--the crossing of an unforgiving, endless desert. Throw into the mix some "unidentifiable threats" that only McBride could conceive of, and you have a 5 star story that is undoubtedly going to hit the "favorites" shelves of many readers!
The other part of this tale is told through the viewpoint of Border Patrol Agent Chris Rivera, as he travels from the end of Mayra's journey, backwards, in an effort to make sense of things that simply don't add up for him. The divergent POV's really work well in this story, and heightens the already unbearable tension that Mayra's group encounters.
There are no easy answers in this story--just extremely well-written descriptions and "possibilities" left to the mind of the reader up until the very end.
This story will easily make the top 5 of the year for me!
Highest possible recommendation!
The other part of this tale is told through the viewpoint of Border Patrol Agent Chris Rivera, as he travels from the end of Mayra's journey, backwards, in an effort to make sense of things that simply don't add up for him. The divergent POV's really work well in this story, and heightens the already unbearable tension that Mayra's group encounters.
There are no easy answers in this story--just extremely well-written descriptions and "possibilities" left to the mind of the reader up until the very end.
This story will easily make the top 5 of the year for me!
Highest possible recommendation!
November 4, 2016
Tied for my favor McBride book. Go with Snowblind for something fun and smiley, or go with this one for something that will depress the ever living fuck out of you.
Both were great for completely different reasons. The titles imply a possible connection but I'm pretty sure there isn't one.
Pick one and read it.
Both were great for completely different reasons. The titles imply a possible connection but I'm pretty sure there isn't one.
Pick one and read it.
September 19, 2017
U.S. Border Patrol Agent Christian Rivera finds the body of a woman in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Soon they discover that she is part of a group of illegal aliens trying to cross the desert from Mexico to the USA. But what has happened to the rest of the group?
This is not a book for fainthearted; the story is brutal and intense. This is the first book I have read by Michael McBride, won't be my last, but it will take some time before I will let Mr. McBride's writing cross my path again. I'm going to need something a bit less gruesome to read. Seriously, I almost want to curse my imagination towards the end of the book. The story is very intriguing and harrowing to read and definitely worth checking up if you love to read horror!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
This is not a book for fainthearted; the story is brutal and intense. This is the first book I have read by Michael McBride, won't be my last, but it will take some time before I will let Mr. McBride's writing cross my path again. I'm going to need something a bit less gruesome to read. Seriously, I almost want to curse my imagination towards the end of the book. The story is very intriguing and harrowing to read and definitely worth checking up if you love to read horror!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
July 6, 2016
What makes this story so amazing has little to do with its fantastical elements and much to do with its real-life horrors: the hopes and dreams of illegal immigrants laid to waste, sometimes along with their lives, by a treacherous flight. Politics aside, the author does a fantastic job of forcing the reader to identify with the best and worst of humanity as they scramble through miles and miles of unforgiving desert.
This desperate tale is so wondrously told, so dismally horrifying-even more so because it rings true-that it, alone, is worth the price of admission. I honestly wish I had chosen this setting for a novel, because it's perfect in every way.
Then add the hunters, those that prey on the dehydrated and despairing lot. If I had any complaint about the book, it was that
Still, this book was so far above scale that this meager distraction (that and boob lady-one woman was often identified by her breast swelling out of her shirt, another distraction) only served to bring it down to outstanding. Highest recommendation. I gave the author's unrelated work, Snowblind, Five Stars. This one is better.
This desperate tale is so wondrously told, so dismally horrifying-even more so because it rings true-that it, alone, is worth the price of admission. I honestly wish I had chosen this setting for a novel, because it's perfect in every way.
Then add the hunters, those that prey on the dehydrated and despairing lot. If I had any complaint about the book, it was that
Still, this book was so far above scale that this meager distraction (that and boob lady-one woman was often identified by her breast swelling out of her shirt, another distraction) only served to bring it down to outstanding. Highest recommendation. I gave the author's unrelated work, Snowblind, Five Stars. This one is better.
July 23, 2014
Todos Meurtos
A U.S. Border Patrol officer stumbles across the body of a young woman in the desert with an ominous message carved into her body and a camera full of horrendous pictures of death . Agent Rivera must seek out the truth and try to find out what atrocities happened in the Sonoran desert while following the footsteps of this mystery woman.
A band of undocumented Mexican citizens is looking to escape to America and have paid a hefty sum to be guided over the treacherous desert terrain to seek a new life. Unfortunately for them, the brutal heat and unforgiving elements are not their only worries... not by a long shot. There are much more terrible things awaiting them and they are starting to get picked off one by one.
McBride has an uncanny knack of taking lore and truth and mixing them in with the proper amount of history and medical intellect into compelling tales of horror. There is always some social commentary in McBride’s work as well, but he does not hammer them down on you to where it f’s up the story. The story is the main deal and it is told with skill, vivid characterization and flowing prose. Very well done and Highly Recommended!
A U.S. Border Patrol officer stumbles across the body of a young woman in the desert with an ominous message carved into her body and a camera full of horrendous pictures of death . Agent Rivera must seek out the truth and try to find out what atrocities happened in the Sonoran desert while following the footsteps of this mystery woman.
A band of undocumented Mexican citizens is looking to escape to America and have paid a hefty sum to be guided over the treacherous desert terrain to seek a new life. Unfortunately for them, the brutal heat and unforgiving elements are not their only worries... not by a long shot. There are much more terrible things awaiting them and they are starting to get picked off one by one.
McBride has an uncanny knack of taking lore and truth and mixing them in with the proper amount of history and medical intellect into compelling tales of horror. There is always some social commentary in McBride’s work as well, but he does not hammer them down on you to where it f’s up the story. The story is the main deal and it is told with skill, vivid characterization and flowing prose. Very well done and Highly Recommended!
August 8, 2014
This was an eARC from Netgalley.
A sun scorched race for survival across the Sonoran Desert, where something far deadlier than the unforgiving heat stalks the sands, transforming the borderlands into a graveyard.
A fast paced page turner that will leave your fingers and your mind smoking....
Highest recommendation!
A sun scorched race for survival across the Sonoran Desert, where something far deadlier than the unforgiving heat stalks the sands, transforming the borderlands into a graveyard.
A fast paced page turner that will leave your fingers and your mind smoking....
Highest recommendation!
November 15, 2014
Border Patrol agent Rivera, comes across the body of a young woman, Mayra, in the Sonoran Desert. She is badly injured and as he reads the words engraved on her chest, he realises that she was not alone in her venture and that more than 20 people may still be in the desert. He takes two experienced trackers and goes off in search of those who have vanished. He soon finds something that something malevolent is residing in the desert.
I loved this book but at times it was pretty hard to read, the descriptions of the suffering endured by illegal aliens trying to make it across the border into America, was absolutely heartbreaking. I felt every hunger pang, every thirst, every injury endured by them and the anger of the cruelty of the 'coyote' paid to bring them to the border.The author is well known for his meticulous research and I almost feel sorry for him having to research this subject matter but what he has written is a tremendous story about human survival and one that will stay with me long after I've stopped turning the pages.
One part of the story is told through agent Rivera, in the present time as he continues to track the Mexican groups progress through the desert. The pacing is faster through these chapters as they come across clues to what happened and ultimately where the group may not be. The other story is told through the voice of Mayra, a young woman fleeing her village after her sisters horrendous death at the hands of those who should have protected her. Her story starts 5 days before she is found and ultimately sees both threads converge to the same point.
I really loved Mayra's character, she was gutsy, determined and whilst her own survival was foremost in her mind her small acts of kindness to others made her sympathetic. Her story is horrifying though, what she goes through to survive is absolutely gut wrenching and as a reader I found myself both rooting for her to carry on but at times wanting her suffering to end by giving in to her situation.
The creatures in this were unusual and at times I found it difficult to get a clear picture of what they looked like in my head, irrespective they are nasty through and through and nothing showcases this more than the ending of the novel.
Fantastic story and one that will stay with you long after you've put the book down. Highly recommended.
I loved this book but at times it was pretty hard to read, the descriptions of the suffering endured by illegal aliens trying to make it across the border into America, was absolutely heartbreaking. I felt every hunger pang, every thirst, every injury endured by them and the anger of the cruelty of the 'coyote' paid to bring them to the border.The author is well known for his meticulous research and I almost feel sorry for him having to research this subject matter but what he has written is a tremendous story about human survival and one that will stay with me long after I've stopped turning the pages.
One part of the story is told through agent Rivera, in the present time as he continues to track the Mexican groups progress through the desert. The pacing is faster through these chapters as they come across clues to what happened and ultimately where the group may not be. The other story is told through the voice of Mayra, a young woman fleeing her village after her sisters horrendous death at the hands of those who should have protected her. Her story starts 5 days before she is found and ultimately sees both threads converge to the same point.
I really loved Mayra's character, she was gutsy, determined and whilst her own survival was foremost in her mind her small acts of kindness to others made her sympathetic. Her story is horrifying though, what she goes through to survive is absolutely gut wrenching and as a reader I found myself both rooting for her to carry on but at times wanting her suffering to end by giving in to her situation.
The creatures in this were unusual and at times I found it difficult to get a clear picture of what they looked like in my head, irrespective they are nasty through and through and nothing showcases this more than the ending of the novel.
Fantastic story and one that will stay with you long after you've put the book down. Highly recommended.
February 18, 2017
Michael McBride returns in a timely novel of undocumented aliens attempting to cross the Sonoran desert into the U.S. SUNBLIND is one woman's story of that journey. But make no mistake, this is not simple non-fiction. Once again, McBride weaves his fantastic storytelling abilities to weave the true horror of the summer desert and coyotes into the horror of...pick up SUNBLIND and see why it's another five star novel from Michael McBride.
November 6, 2016
Party of one?
There are a good number of reviewers whose opinions I deeply respect that have loved this book, so it surprises me to be the one to get caught in certain details that just didn't work for me.
By now everyone knows the set-up for Sunblind, and it's a good one. Large group of Mexicans trying to cross the border into the US run afoul of everything some of the harshest land in the world has to offer, and then something a little extra courtesy of the mind of Michael McBride. Told largely from the perspective of Mayra, one of the Mexicans on the journey - though intermixed with the perspective of a US Border patrol agent as he and a small group of colleagues back-track along Mayra's route to investigate what happened - Sunblind truly sells the desert setting and what dying slowly from dehydration must be like. The level of detail works especially well in these scenes, but at other times, it bogged the pace of the story down for me as less critical things were fleshed out with so much descriptive information that I found my mind wandering.
But most frustrating for me was not having names to attach to the characters. Though McBride paid particular attention to explaining why this most rudimentary of personal information was not shared, I was only able to keep three or four characters straight in my hand when they were referred to as "the woman with the big breasts and low cut top" or "the guy with the bucket hat". Otherwise they all blended together and I cared not a sausage when they eventually met their fate. In effect, this therefore really affected my enjoyment of the novel, so it ended up being more of a "not-bad" type read for me, rather than one I kept rushing back to and had to quickly devour.
Recommended to those who enjoy a nasty side to their thrillers and who are not planning to go desert-walking anytime soon.
3 Splatterings of Blood Across the Face for Sunblind.
The preceding was based on an eARC generously provided by DarkFuse Publishing through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
There are a good number of reviewers whose opinions I deeply respect that have loved this book, so it surprises me to be the one to get caught in certain details that just didn't work for me.
By now everyone knows the set-up for Sunblind, and it's a good one. Large group of Mexicans trying to cross the border into the US run afoul of everything some of the harshest land in the world has to offer, and then something a little extra courtesy of the mind of Michael McBride. Told largely from the perspective of Mayra, one of the Mexicans on the journey - though intermixed with the perspective of a US Border patrol agent as he and a small group of colleagues back-track along Mayra's route to investigate what happened - Sunblind truly sells the desert setting and what dying slowly from dehydration must be like. The level of detail works especially well in these scenes, but at other times, it bogged the pace of the story down for me as less critical things were fleshed out with so much descriptive information that I found my mind wandering.
But most frustrating for me was not having names to attach to the characters. Though McBride paid particular attention to explaining why this most rudimentary of personal information was not shared, I was only able to keep three or four characters straight in my hand when they were referred to as "the woman with the big breasts and low cut top" or "the guy with the bucket hat". Otherwise they all blended together and I cared not a sausage when they eventually met their fate. In effect, this therefore really affected my enjoyment of the novel, so it ended up being more of a "not-bad" type read for me, rather than one I kept rushing back to and had to quickly devour.
Recommended to those who enjoy a nasty side to their thrillers and who are not planning to go desert-walking anytime soon.
3 Splatterings of Blood Across the Face for Sunblind.
The preceding was based on an eARC generously provided by DarkFuse Publishing through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2014
Review copy
Fact: "Since 2001, more than 2,035 bodies of illegal border crossers have been discovered in the desert south of Tucson."
Author, Michael McBride, starts with that information and proceeds to weave a terrifying tale of of an ill-fated group of border crossers trying to survive the elements, each other, and an unknown predator.
Christian Rivera is a Border Patrol agent and is the one who discovers the woman in the desert with lacerations on her chest.
"The cuts form words. Clear. Unmistakable. Two words side-by-side, one beneath either clavicle. The third across the tops of her breasts.
TODOS MUERTOS
CAMARA
'All dead? What camera?'"
We meet Maya Itzel Argueta Vsairi in the Mexican town of Altar. It is here where she makes arrangements to cross the border and enter the U.S. illegally with more than twenty others. Most of the travelers are ill-prepared for what lies ahead. Especially when the driver of the van they are crowded into drops them off in the middle of the Sonora desert with a trigger happy guide who seems to be clueless.
As what is supposed to be a 1 day trek across the desert, turns to three and then four, the undocumented aliens are without food and water and there is something in the desert night that is even more frightening than the elements.
In Sunblind, Michael Mcbride creates a very believable story of desperation with just an element of the unknown to add another layer of horror.
Sunblind will be released by Darkfuse on September 2nd and is available now for pre-order for both the Kindle and in paperback through Amazon.com. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, you can read this one for FREE once it's been released.
Highly recommended, but not for the faint of heart.
Fact: "Since 2001, more than 2,035 bodies of illegal border crossers have been discovered in the desert south of Tucson."
Author, Michael McBride, starts with that information and proceeds to weave a terrifying tale of of an ill-fated group of border crossers trying to survive the elements, each other, and an unknown predator.
Christian Rivera is a Border Patrol agent and is the one who discovers the woman in the desert with lacerations on her chest.
"The cuts form words. Clear. Unmistakable. Two words side-by-side, one beneath either clavicle. The third across the tops of her breasts.
TODOS MUERTOS
CAMARA
'All dead? What camera?'"
We meet Maya Itzel Argueta Vsairi in the Mexican town of Altar. It is here where she makes arrangements to cross the border and enter the U.S. illegally with more than twenty others. Most of the travelers are ill-prepared for what lies ahead. Especially when the driver of the van they are crowded into drops them off in the middle of the Sonora desert with a trigger happy guide who seems to be clueless.
As what is supposed to be a 1 day trek across the desert, turns to three and then four, the undocumented aliens are without food and water and there is something in the desert night that is even more frightening than the elements.
In Sunblind, Michael Mcbride creates a very believable story of desperation with just an element of the unknown to add another layer of horror.
Sunblind will be released by Darkfuse on September 2nd and is available now for pre-order for both the Kindle and in paperback through Amazon.com. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, you can read this one for FREE once it's been released.
Highly recommended, but not for the faint of heart.
October 24, 2014
Mayra Visari wants a better life than the hell she's living in in Mexico. She's so determined to make it to the United States, she joins up with a shady coyote that promises safe passage. Dumped out in the Sonoran Desert, the group of people are forced to endure a deadly trek to reach their goal. As if the blistering heat and lack of water isn't bad enough, something is picking them off at night. Something silent, unseen and extremely efficient at harvesting people for their needs.
I LOVE reading McBride's books! As always, he writes in such a way that makes me feel like I'm a part of the story and experiencing everything that the characters are going through. This was a very heart wrenching tale for me. I had never given immigration much thought before but after reading this, I know it'll be something I think about for a long time coming since McBride outlines the hazards and hardships so well. But the tale isn't all about people immigrating from Mexico. Not at all. The immigrant's trek through the desert allows McBride to conjure up some unique monsters that are sure to be stuck in my mind for a long time. I won't spoil it for you but what the monsters do with the people is absolutely horrifying. You really need to read it to find out. Highest possible recommendation!
I LOVE reading McBride's books! As always, he writes in such a way that makes me feel like I'm a part of the story and experiencing everything that the characters are going through. This was a very heart wrenching tale for me. I had never given immigration much thought before but after reading this, I know it'll be something I think about for a long time coming since McBride outlines the hazards and hardships so well. But the tale isn't all about people immigrating from Mexico. Not at all. The immigrant's trek through the desert allows McBride to conjure up some unique monsters that are sure to be stuck in my mind for a long time. I won't spoil it for you but what the monsters do with the people is absolutely horrifying. You really need to read it to find out. Highest possible recommendation!
August 21, 2014
Another excellent read by Michael McBride. This would be my 14th book I have read by Michael and have enjoyed reading them all. Sunblind centers around two main characters. The first a Border Patrol Agent named Christian Rivera. Who finds a woman's body in the desert while on patrol. The second a twenty six year old woman named Mayra Itzel Argueta Visari. Who has payed a Coyote three thousand Pecos to deliver her safely to the City of the Angels. The story goes back and forth between the two characters. The first, Agent Rivera and what happens after he finds the woman's body and a camera with some scary pictures on it. Trying to follow her tracks back and make some sense out of the pictures he found on the camera. The other is a group of people including Mayra go thru the desert following a man named El Bufon who is taking them to the border. Will stop here, don't want to say to much. Sunblind was a very good story and well written. You can't go wrong reading any of Michael's books. And lately he has been knocking them out of the park. With the likes of Snowblind and Ancient Enemy and now Sunblind. I gave Sunblind 4 1/2 stars.
I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2024
I`ve finish this one like three days ago and I had a blast with it!
The characters felt very real and well made, even if some of them aren`t a lot of time on the scene. The pacing of the story has a classic feeling to it, the group of people that are hunted by something unknown, but, the truth be told, doesn`t disappoints any minute of it.
Also, the mystery culprit/s is nicely done, with a big, big, i say, revelation in the end, that made me chuckle.
The whole context of the story was already very dramatic, with the group of migrants that are trying to go fraudulent in the US, and let`s not talk about the sun, and the whole difficulties of the road through a desert area and on top of that, now, they are disappearing one by one.
Yeah, overall a nicely done book. Very good to be read when you need something quick, and not because it has a shorter story, but because it`s gripping you very fast and doesn`t let you go easy.
Definitely a writer to check out further!
The characters felt very real and well made, even if some of them aren`t a lot of time on the scene. The pacing of the story has a classic feeling to it, the group of people that are hunted by something unknown, but, the truth be told, doesn`t disappoints any minute of it.
Also, the mystery culprit/s is nicely done, with a big, big, i say, revelation in the end, that made me chuckle.
The whole context of the story was already very dramatic, with the group of migrants that are trying to go fraudulent in the US, and let`s not talk about the sun, and the whole difficulties of the road through a desert area and on top of that, now, they are disappearing one by one.
Yeah, overall a nicely done book. Very good to be read when you need something quick, and not because it has a shorter story, but because it`s gripping you very fast and doesn`t let you go easy.
Definitely a writer to check out further!
October 3, 2014
The New York Times reports that in 2013, the Pima County (Arizona) Medical Examiner’s office unveiled a computerized mapping database bearing the records of 1,826 migrants who died in the desert, listing GPS coordinates for where they were found and, if known, their sex, age and cause of death. There were 463 deaths in fiscal year 2012 alone.
NPR interviewed Border Patrol Agent Mario Escalante who blames the increases on human smugglers who lure naive crossers into dangerous situations.
"They weren't told that they were going to have to walk for days. They weren't told that they were going to have to go over mountain ranges. They weren't told that they were going to have to sleep in the hot desert or maybe the cold desert," Escalante says.
Mike McBride does much more than tell a supernatural story in Sunblind—although he does that masterfully well. He brings into light the horror suffered by a small group of people, each from different walks of life, that chose to roll the dice and try to cross to what they hoped would be a better life. Some moved to help relatives, others to escape their past, but they all had one thing in common. They had no idea of what was in store for them.
Plotwise, the story deftly shifts between the perspective of one of the immigrants and a group of three border control agents who have just rescued her and are now looking for other members of her party, and getting increasingly horrific evidence of a terrible series of events. Slowly insinuated into the story, creeping around at the edges, a flicker of reflection from eyes watching from the distance, is a second threat. Because not only is the straggling band of travelers dying slowly with each step in the merciless desert, they are also being hunted.
An amazing story. Powerful for the human element. You care about this group of travelers. They are not saints. Far from it. But they feel real. Real stories, real people. The Border Control Agents are fearless in their efforts to track down the remainder of the party and rescue or at least find out what happened to them. McBride could have written the story without the supernatural element and it still would have been riveting.
The Supernatural element is also extremely well done. Slow reveal really ramps up the tension and when we finally know what we are dealing with, it is so much worse than we could have imagined. This is my fourth book by McBride and far away my favorite (although I also really enjoyed Snowblind—which strangely has no relation to this story).
In the end, you can dismiss the supernatural element as being make-believe, but you cannot deny the ---existence of those monstrous human smugglers who today dropped off groups of people in the desert with no concern for their welfare. We can only hope for their safety.
5 Stars. Great horror story. Great story period. You won’t forget this one.
NPR interviewed Border Patrol Agent Mario Escalante who blames the increases on human smugglers who lure naive crossers into dangerous situations.
"They weren't told that they were going to have to walk for days. They weren't told that they were going to have to go over mountain ranges. They weren't told that they were going to have to sleep in the hot desert or maybe the cold desert," Escalante says.
Mike McBride does much more than tell a supernatural story in Sunblind—although he does that masterfully well. He brings into light the horror suffered by a small group of people, each from different walks of life, that chose to roll the dice and try to cross to what they hoped would be a better life. Some moved to help relatives, others to escape their past, but they all had one thing in common. They had no idea of what was in store for them.
Plotwise, the story deftly shifts between the perspective of one of the immigrants and a group of three border control agents who have just rescued her and are now looking for other members of her party, and getting increasingly horrific evidence of a terrible series of events. Slowly insinuated into the story, creeping around at the edges, a flicker of reflection from eyes watching from the distance, is a second threat. Because not only is the straggling band of travelers dying slowly with each step in the merciless desert, they are also being hunted.
An amazing story. Powerful for the human element. You care about this group of travelers. They are not saints. Far from it. But they feel real. Real stories, real people. The Border Control Agents are fearless in their efforts to track down the remainder of the party and rescue or at least find out what happened to them. McBride could have written the story without the supernatural element and it still would have been riveting.
The Supernatural element is also extremely well done. Slow reveal really ramps up the tension and when we finally know what we are dealing with, it is so much worse than we could have imagined. This is my fourth book by McBride and far away my favorite (although I also really enjoyed Snowblind—which strangely has no relation to this story).
In the end, you can dismiss the supernatural element as being make-believe, but you cannot deny the ---existence of those monstrous human smugglers who today dropped off groups of people in the desert with no concern for their welfare. We can only hope for their safety.
5 Stars. Great horror story. Great story period. You won’t forget this one.
September 12, 2017
Officer Rivera discovers a body in the vast Sonoran Desert somewhere in the Southern United States. Meanwhile across the Mexican Border 25 desperate souls are trying to escape the hell and poverty of their homeland by the promise and attraction of a new start in the US. I was reading this book late at night in a darkened room with the wind and rain beating against the windows and this greatly added to the chill factor and the atmosphere. The story is narrated in two time lines with a matter of days separating both accounts. As Border Patrol Officer Rivera tries to decipher a message carved into the body of an unaccounted alien further south Mayra Visari and a band of desperados attempt to make their way north under the leadership of a young guide known as Il Bufon..."The Joker" The story is mainly about the journey and encounter with an alien force invisible to the eye but deadly when confronted. In this respect I was reminded of scenes from Predator when our muscled up hero Arnold Schwarzenegger, whilst attempting to rescue some politicians in Guatemala, is pursued by a brutal creature with superhuman strength that has the ability to disappear into its surroundings.
Unfortunately when we reach the midway point the story falls into a continuous game of attack and escape as the aliens attempt to destroy/consume the desperate band of illegal immigrants seeing them only as part of the food chain. This type of action soon becomes tedious and a story that started with great promise soon begins to lose my interest. There were of course some enjoyable moments and in particular a snappy narration and quirky observations..."Altar, Sonora, was a town of evil, a place where dreams came to die and were buried in unmarked graves in the desert"..... "It was only a matter of time before we started dying"....."Our shadows stretched away from us as though seeking release from the fate to which we had been consigned"......."We were the walking dead, an entire procession of weakness and despair".....
Unfortunately when we reach the midway point the story falls into a continuous game of attack and escape as the aliens attempt to destroy/consume the desperate band of illegal immigrants seeing them only as part of the food chain. This type of action soon becomes tedious and a story that started with great promise soon begins to lose my interest. There were of course some enjoyable moments and in particular a snappy narration and quirky observations..."Altar, Sonora, was a town of evil, a place where dreams came to die and were buried in unmarked graves in the desert"..... "It was only a matter of time before we started dying"....."Our shadows stretched away from us as though seeking release from the fate to which we had been consigned"......."We were the walking dead, an entire procession of weakness and despair".....
August 29, 2014
I absolutely love this book. I am not typically a fan of books written in the first person narrative however Sunblind would be my exception. And a brilliant exception at that.
Mayra Argueta Visari is a Mexican immigrant trying to make her way across the border into the United States - yes - illegally. Her journey is nothing less than brutal, horrifying and heartbreaking and all over the course of several days. Mayra will get into your head. She will challenge what you think you know about Mexican immigrants and about humanity in general. She will haunt your soul.
Michael McBride has once again outdone himself with Sunblind. I loved Ancient Enemy but I actually liked Sunblind better.
Mayra Argueta Visari is a Mexican immigrant trying to make her way across the border into the United States - yes - illegally. Her journey is nothing less than brutal, horrifying and heartbreaking and all over the course of several days. Mayra will get into your head. She will challenge what you think you know about Mexican immigrants and about humanity in general. She will haunt your soul.
Michael McBride has once again outdone himself with Sunblind. I loved Ancient Enemy but I actually liked Sunblind better.
August 15, 2014
SUNBLIND by Michael McBride
Started, August 12, finished, August 14, 2014
Dark Fuse Novel
When I close my eyes
I can clearly see
The Arizona desert
Looking back at me.
When I feel the beginnings
Of a migraine attack
I am thankful to God
The Arizona sun's not on my back.
If you want to read
A book with a story to tell
Sunblind by McBride
Is the one that will ring that bell.
Characters are developed
Monsters most real
Twist and turns
Oh, this one's the deal.
The book is 5 stars
Recommended, I'd say
It's a book you can easily
Read in a day.
Started, August 12, finished, August 14, 2014
Dark Fuse Novel
When I close my eyes
I can clearly see
The Arizona desert
Looking back at me.
When I feel the beginnings
Of a migraine attack
I am thankful to God
The Arizona sun's not on my back.
If you want to read
A book with a story to tell
Sunblind by McBride
Is the one that will ring that bell.
Characters are developed
Monsters most real
Twist and turns
Oh, this one's the deal.
The book is 5 stars
Recommended, I'd say
It's a book you can easily
Read in a day.
August 20, 2014
Looking for a dark and gritty tale that touches on contemporary issues while still being able to send shivers up your spine? Like a good mystery that feels like a bad dream come alive, because each page sucks you further in? Sunblind by a master of darkness, Michael Mc Bride is going to take you across borders, through the blistering heat of a seemingly endless desert, in search of a promised land and freedom that few may live to find. When the brutality of men isn’t enough to twist your guts, Mr. McBride adds a deadly, mystical element that will stick with you long after, wondering what if?
Desperate for freedom, turning their backs on Mexico, illegal immigrants are putting their lives and their money in the hands of mercenaries. Mayra has seen the worst in her fellow humans as she runs for freedom across the border into the United States. Told through her voice are the horrors her group endures, the lies they are told and the dangers they encounter, far surpassing what the desert has thrown at them as they beginning dying, one after another. What started as a journey to a new fresh life becomes a trial that brings out both the best and the worst in humanity as every step becomes more dangerous than the last. Mayra is determined to leave a message to anyone who finds her, should she not make it, she is on a mission to expose the truth of those who died on this trek.
Border Patrol Officer, Chris Rivera discovers her message and begins his own quest to find out what Mayra is trying to say. His interspersed narration blends well as a counterpoint to Mayra and does well to ratchet up the tension even higher as he searches for answers he may never find from a completely different perspective.
Michael McBride pulls no punches in this dark tale of the fight for survival. His words are powerful tools to set the mood, create each scene and give a feeling of desperation to his characters. Graphically told, Sunblind fuels that inner movie screen with gruesome scenes, that are not for the faint of heart, but still captivate the mind and heart completely. If you are a fan of dark fiction that lacks that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but lets you safely walk on the wild side,this one’s for you!
I received an ARC edition from Darkfuse in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: September 2, 2014
Publisher: DarkFuse
ISBN: 9781940544335
Genre: Adult Dark Mystery/Thriller
Print Length: 384 pages
Available from: Amazon
Desperate for freedom, turning their backs on Mexico, illegal immigrants are putting their lives and their money in the hands of mercenaries. Mayra has seen the worst in her fellow humans as she runs for freedom across the border into the United States. Told through her voice are the horrors her group endures, the lies they are told and the dangers they encounter, far surpassing what the desert has thrown at them as they beginning dying, one after another. What started as a journey to a new fresh life becomes a trial that brings out both the best and the worst in humanity as every step becomes more dangerous than the last. Mayra is determined to leave a message to anyone who finds her, should she not make it, she is on a mission to expose the truth of those who died on this trek.
Border Patrol Officer, Chris Rivera discovers her message and begins his own quest to find out what Mayra is trying to say. His interspersed narration blends well as a counterpoint to Mayra and does well to ratchet up the tension even higher as he searches for answers he may never find from a completely different perspective.
Michael McBride pulls no punches in this dark tale of the fight for survival. His words are powerful tools to set the mood, create each scene and give a feeling of desperation to his characters. Graphically told, Sunblind fuels that inner movie screen with gruesome scenes, that are not for the faint of heart, but still captivate the mind and heart completely. If you are a fan of dark fiction that lacks that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but lets you safely walk on the wild side,this one’s for you!
I received an ARC edition from Darkfuse in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: September 2, 2014
Publisher: DarkFuse
ISBN: 9781940544335
Genre: Adult Dark Mystery/Thriller
Print Length: 384 pages
Available from: Amazon
August 12, 2015
Sunblind by Michael McBride is a prime example of the exceptional dark fiction published by DarkFuse. The novel is both gritty and harrowing with its backstory, and when the supernatural elements are introduced the plot becomes downright unnerving. Two points of view propel the narrative. One is by a young border patrol agent in Arizona along the Mexico border. Within the first few pages, he finds a young woman barely alive on the US side of the border. She is clearly an illegal immigrant who has suffered massive injuries but somehow made it safely across brutal desert of Mexico. She is just barely able to tell him that he is in danger before she is whisked away for medical attention. He finds her cell phone, however, and sees terrifying pictures of numerous other individuals left behind in the desert who may still be alive. He and two other agents retrace her steps to locate and rescue these others.
The second point of view is the young woman mentioned above. Her account begins a few days earlier and describes her trek with twenty-five others in their desperate attempt to flee Mexico and make it to the US. Her sections are truly disturbing. The conditions of their journey are masterfully portrayed by Mr. McBride. The descriptions of unbearable heat and brutal sunshine are actually tangible. The sense of constant thirst and physical deterioration are painful to read. The interactions among these desperate individuals are beautifully depicted. The inner conflict of wanting to support others in the group versus guarding your own provisions becomes very clear.
When people begin to be picked off one by one by horrifying predators, the grueling narrative really gets kicked into high gear. The attacks by unknown creatures are thrillingly described and you begin to wonder what exactly is going on. I thought I had it figured out but the author had a number of twists which made the creatures (and their activities) highly unusual.
The story alternates between the two points of view – one working forward in time (the woman’s perspective) and the other backward in time (the border agent trying to piece together exactly what happened). This storytelling strategy is effective for this narrative. If I have one criticism it is the author’s tendency repeat himself with descriptions of the desert and the “lair” of the creatures. This is a minor quibble, however and does not detract from the story. Altogether a top-notch horror/monster story.
The second point of view is the young woman mentioned above. Her account begins a few days earlier and describes her trek with twenty-five others in their desperate attempt to flee Mexico and make it to the US. Her sections are truly disturbing. The conditions of their journey are masterfully portrayed by Mr. McBride. The descriptions of unbearable heat and brutal sunshine are actually tangible. The sense of constant thirst and physical deterioration are painful to read. The interactions among these desperate individuals are beautifully depicted. The inner conflict of wanting to support others in the group versus guarding your own provisions becomes very clear.
When people begin to be picked off one by one by horrifying predators, the grueling narrative really gets kicked into high gear. The attacks by unknown creatures are thrillingly described and you begin to wonder what exactly is going on. I thought I had it figured out but the author had a number of twists which made the creatures (and their activities) highly unusual.
The story alternates between the two points of view – one working forward in time (the woman’s perspective) and the other backward in time (the border agent trying to piece together exactly what happened). This storytelling strategy is effective for this narrative. If I have one criticism it is the author’s tendency repeat himself with descriptions of the desert and the “lair” of the creatures. This is a minor quibble, however and does not detract from the story. Altogether a top-notch horror/monster story.
April 26, 2016
I've heard so many good things about Michael McBride so I bought like five or six of his books a couple months ago but I'm just now getting around to reading one of them. I can't believe I waited so long! Sunblind was fantastic! It's about a group of people from Mexico that are trying to cross the desert and the border into the U.S. but not only are they struggling to survive against the cartels, intense heat and dehydration but something far worse awaits them in the desert.
McBride did such a great job of describing the terror that's in the desert! I was literally holding my breath through most of the story and even though I know that it's surely not real, you couldn't pay me to cross the desert now. I'll always have in the back of my mind what happened to those people and part of me will always wonder if there's some truth to the story. Now that's exceptional writing!
McBride did such a great job of describing the terror that's in the desert! I was literally holding my breath through most of the story and even though I know that it's surely not real, you couldn't pay me to cross the desert now. I'll always have in the back of my mind what happened to those people and part of me will always wonder if there's some truth to the story. Now that's exceptional writing!
October 30, 2016
4,5 Sterne
August 21, 2019
The comic is very amazing.
January 24, 2015
Wow, I could not stop reading this book! Excellent writing...so much so that the author's description of their trek through the desert was so vivid, I felt as if I were part of the group. What a harrowing experience and a fantastic story! I highly recommend!
Want to read
October 15, 2014This is copy 12 of 100 signed numbered copies.
September 5, 2014
In Sunblind, Michael McBride's latest DarkFuse horror novel, the parched, sun-drenched climes of the Sonoran Desert is every bit as vital to this piece as the characters and creatures.
Alternating between the story of a group of undocumented migrants crossing the Mexican border into Arizona and the investigation by Border Patrol into the grisly aftermath of their journey, the desert setting becomes its own violent, horrifying force of opposition. The group face not only the aggressive pathos of their coyote, but the threats of snake bites, dehydration, exposure, and severe sunburns. In fact, the dangerous environment and its effects on the human body, and the lengths some will go to just to survive another hour or another day, are as terrifying and squirm inducing as any other bit of horror. Before too long, as their numbers begin to dwindle, it becomes clear that they are also being stalked by a powerful, stealthy, and unimaginable hunter.
One of the really fun aspects of Sunblind is watching how deftly McBride alternates between the present-day and the recent past while keeping the story interesting and full of surprises. By introducing the lone survivor of the desert crossing in the opening pages, readers may think they know what comes next - and, to a certain degree, they're right. However, McBride is able to keep the narrative suspenseful and fraught with tension, and with a pacing that's right on the money. The cards are laid out up front, and so the investment as a reader lies entirely with seeing how Border Patrol Agent Rivera's fresh discoveries merge with the events that unravel in the back story.
And, oh boy, do they unravel.
While the story is fundamentally a creature feature, somewhat in the vein of The Relic if you swap out the museum for a desert, the focus is squared centrally on the human cast. The story is a dark one, about the trials and tribulations and dangers of border crossing, from the Mexican ghettos where human cargo and cartel drug trafficking is the prime order of business, to the desolate, but no less perilous, vast expanse of sun-baked land. Equally horrendous are the traumatic backgrounds that drive the principle immigrants, and the dreams of their companions that are far sunnier and hopeful than the circumstances they find themselves engulfed by. Wrapped up around all of this is the narrative surrounding the Border Patrol's investigation as they slowly and surely find evidence that things are far worse than they could have predicted.
While the characters, particularly Mayra, the lone survivor of her traveling band of immigrants, are well-developed and realistic, it becomes clear from the opening pages that McBride has certainly done his due diligence in researching for this novel. He peppers in facts regarding illegal immigrations, the number of souls lost to the desert, and the work of the Border Patrol so expertly that Sunblind could just as easily be a top-notch mystery/suspense thriller if not for the presence of ancient monsters. This additional layering adds a lot of depth and style, as well all the all-important sense of realism, to get the ball rolling for the horror to ultimately unfold.
Sunblind is a very strong book and will likely make for quite a solid contender during the DarkFuse Readers Choice selections later this year.
Alternating between the story of a group of undocumented migrants crossing the Mexican border into Arizona and the investigation by Border Patrol into the grisly aftermath of their journey, the desert setting becomes its own violent, horrifying force of opposition. The group face not only the aggressive pathos of their coyote, but the threats of snake bites, dehydration, exposure, and severe sunburns. In fact, the dangerous environment and its effects on the human body, and the lengths some will go to just to survive another hour or another day, are as terrifying and squirm inducing as any other bit of horror. Before too long, as their numbers begin to dwindle, it becomes clear that they are also being stalked by a powerful, stealthy, and unimaginable hunter.
One of the really fun aspects of Sunblind is watching how deftly McBride alternates between the present-day and the recent past while keeping the story interesting and full of surprises. By introducing the lone survivor of the desert crossing in the opening pages, readers may think they know what comes next - and, to a certain degree, they're right. However, McBride is able to keep the narrative suspenseful and fraught with tension, and with a pacing that's right on the money. The cards are laid out up front, and so the investment as a reader lies entirely with seeing how Border Patrol Agent Rivera's fresh discoveries merge with the events that unravel in the back story.
And, oh boy, do they unravel.
While the story is fundamentally a creature feature, somewhat in the vein of The Relic if you swap out the museum for a desert, the focus is squared centrally on the human cast. The story is a dark one, about the trials and tribulations and dangers of border crossing, from the Mexican ghettos where human cargo and cartel drug trafficking is the prime order of business, to the desolate, but no less perilous, vast expanse of sun-baked land. Equally horrendous are the traumatic backgrounds that drive the principle immigrants, and the dreams of their companions that are far sunnier and hopeful than the circumstances they find themselves engulfed by. Wrapped up around all of this is the narrative surrounding the Border Patrol's investigation as they slowly and surely find evidence that things are far worse than they could have predicted.
While the characters, particularly Mayra, the lone survivor of her traveling band of immigrants, are well-developed and realistic, it becomes clear from the opening pages that McBride has certainly done his due diligence in researching for this novel. He peppers in facts regarding illegal immigrations, the number of souls lost to the desert, and the work of the Border Patrol so expertly that Sunblind could just as easily be a top-notch mystery/suspense thriller if not for the presence of ancient monsters. This additional layering adds a lot of depth and style, as well all the all-important sense of realism, to get the ball rolling for the horror to ultimately unfold.
Sunblind is a very strong book and will likely make for quite a solid contender during the DarkFuse Readers Choice selections later this year.
March 31, 2015
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
Sunblind is an intense book, with the suspense railing high right from the start. U.S. Border Patrol Agent Christian Rivera runs into the body of an illegal immigrant, with a sinister message carved into her chest. She’s on the verge of death, but the message, and the pictures on her camera, lead Rivera to suspect the rest of her party, a group of twenty-five men and women, may still be alive, and vanished somewhere in the desert. He follows the woman’s trail into the heart of the desert, aided by two of the best trackers. As more bodies turn up, Rivera starts to suspect the unforgiving desert may not be the only thing he’s up against.
At the same time, we take a trip back in time, and followw Mayra, the immigrant woman, as she joins a group of people heading into the desert, and the horrors she goes through while being there. At some point, the author describes the thirst and hunger of the characters so well that I almost felt physically ill. Michael McBride has the uncanny ability to make readers care almost too much about his characters – I know it’s horror, but still I cared for Mayra so much that I didn’t want her to die, or even to get hurt. Although the other characters sometimes remain unnamed, instead being referred to by their characteristics, I still cared for them. The back story of Mayra and her party members was the most interesting of both storylines, but toward the end, they both collide nicely in a fascinating climax that I won’t forget any time soon.
Rather than horror – although the book has its horrific moments – it’s more like the kind of read that just leaves you like a total wreck. Mayra’s life has been horrible from the start, with what happened to her sister and than to her, her ordeals in the desert, and you just want her pain to end, want her to get one lucky break. You cannot feel anything but sympathy for a character who goes to impossible lengths to survive, who beats all odds and still continues on, and that’s what Mayra does, and what makes her so sympathetic and so tragic at the same time.
The book has it all: from supernatural horror to the realistic horror (which in my opinion, is even scarier) like the trip through the desert – God, I’m never looking at a desert the same way again – amazing characters and extraordinary writing. One of the best horror novels I’ve ever read.
Sunblind is an intense book, with the suspense railing high right from the start. U.S. Border Patrol Agent Christian Rivera runs into the body of an illegal immigrant, with a sinister message carved into her chest. She’s on the verge of death, but the message, and the pictures on her camera, lead Rivera to suspect the rest of her party, a group of twenty-five men and women, may still be alive, and vanished somewhere in the desert. He follows the woman’s trail into the heart of the desert, aided by two of the best trackers. As more bodies turn up, Rivera starts to suspect the unforgiving desert may not be the only thing he’s up against.
At the same time, we take a trip back in time, and followw Mayra, the immigrant woman, as she joins a group of people heading into the desert, and the horrors she goes through while being there. At some point, the author describes the thirst and hunger of the characters so well that I almost felt physically ill. Michael McBride has the uncanny ability to make readers care almost too much about his characters – I know it’s horror, but still I cared for Mayra so much that I didn’t want her to die, or even to get hurt. Although the other characters sometimes remain unnamed, instead being referred to by their characteristics, I still cared for them. The back story of Mayra and her party members was the most interesting of both storylines, but toward the end, they both collide nicely in a fascinating climax that I won’t forget any time soon.
Rather than horror – although the book has its horrific moments – it’s more like the kind of read that just leaves you like a total wreck. Mayra’s life has been horrible from the start, with what happened to her sister and than to her, her ordeals in the desert, and you just want her pain to end, want her to get one lucky break. You cannot feel anything but sympathy for a character who goes to impossible lengths to survive, who beats all odds and still continues on, and that’s what Mayra does, and what makes her so sympathetic and so tragic at the same time.
The book has it all: from supernatural horror to the realistic horror (which in my opinion, is even scarier) like the trip through the desert – God, I’m never looking at a desert the same way again – amazing characters and extraordinary writing. One of the best horror novels I’ve ever read.
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