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Available
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Pocket Childrens Books
Description
When twins Connor and Grace's ship is wrecked in a storm and Connor is rescued by pirates, he believes that Grace has been taken aboard the mythical Vampirate's ship, and he is determined to find her.
User reviews
LibraryThing member CheriePie69
Twins Connor and Grace never dreamed that there was any truth to the Vampirate shanty their father sang to them before he died, but that was before the two were shipwrecked and separated from each other. For Connor, who is taken aboard a pirate ship, there's the chance to learn to sword fight, but
This was a swift-moving, interesting read... reminded me a bit of Darren Shan's wonderful Cirque Du Freak series. It's young adult so not a very complex or convoluted story line, but that simply made for an even quicker read considering it's 330 pages.
Though all ends on a happy note when Connor and Grace are eventually reunited, another danger has boarded the Diablo, which causes the story to end on another minor cliffhanger, and thus left me craving Tide of Terror, the next in the series.
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for Grace, aboard a mysterious ship of vampire pirates, the danger is great. The twins want more than anything to find each other, but their time is limited and they're an ocean apart.This was a swift-moving, interesting read... reminded me a bit of Darren Shan's wonderful Cirque Du Freak series. It's young adult so not a very complex or convoluted story line, but that simply made for an even quicker read considering it's 330 pages.
Though all ends on a happy note when Connor and Grace are eventually reunited, another danger has boarded the Diablo, which causes the story to end on another minor cliffhanger, and thus left me craving Tide of Terror, the next in the series.
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LibraryThing member nhMidLib
I must admit, I expected this book to be really cheesy. After all, when I saw a book that combined two hot topics like vampires and pirates into one story, I immediately thought it was just capitalizing on a trend. What a surprise when I found out how good it was!
Teen twins Connor and Grace are
Teen twins Connor and Grace are
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involved in a shipwreck while trying to escape from life in an orphanage. Each is rescued, but by two different ships and neither knows if the other is alive. Connor believes he saw the legendary Vampirate ship sailing away from the shipwreck, but his rescuers don’t believe him. Is his sister still alive? Would being rescued by the Vampirates put her in even greater danger? This swashbuckling tale will keep you reading, and with an ending that obviously leaves room for a sequel, there will be more to come. Book two, Vampirates: Tide of Terror is due out in June 2007! Show Less
LibraryThing member Clurb
Vampires. And pirates. Two genres that mash really quite surprisingly well. I'm enjoying this series and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
LibraryThing member nevinr3
This is one of the most awesome series i have ever read. I'm so sad that I haven't read blood captain. But that will change;)
LibraryThing member LauraR8
An action packed and adventurous book for readers who have a big imagination. Two twins who have been living in the lighthouse their whole life and listening to the old sea shanty have just lost their father and they have to move in with another family. Their father left no will. Instead of going
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with the family the two twins sail away together only to get caught in a storm and they got separated. This book is very exciting and Vampirates is a series! Keep Reading on! Show Less
LibraryThing member Vampirate_queen
Being interested in pirates and vampires, I found this in the bookstore and had to get it! It ended up being one of my favorite books.
This book was full of adventure and excitement. Every time it got boring, the author would add something new that grabbed your attention back.
I believe that
This book was full of adventure and excitement. Every time it got boring, the author would add something new that grabbed your attention back.
I believe that
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Connor's chapters got a tad bit boring, but Grace's chapters are the ones that kept me reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member chibimajo
Brother and sister become orphans and set to sea after their father dies. However, a shipwreck separates them and Connor learns to be a pirate while Grace is at the mercy of the Vampirates, who keep their food as prisoners on the ship with them.
LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
Twin siblings Conner and Grace are orphaned when their father dies and, rather than living in the local orphanage, sail away to be on their own. A horrible storm destroys their boat and each twin is rescued by a very different pirate ship. Conner is aboard The Diablo and quickly becomes initiated
A rollicking sea adventure with elements of horror thrown in. It's not gruesome, but parts of the book are definitely creepy. I thoroughly enjoyed it and eagerly await the sequel!
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into their rowdy pirate crew. Grace is rescued by the mythical Vampirates ship. Conner knows his sister is alive and he's afraid she might be in terrible danger, but none of the other pirates believe in the Vampirates ship... Grace wakes up shut in a cabin on the ship and she's warned not to leave it for her own safety... but how long can she keep herself safe on a ship full of hungry vampires??A rollicking sea adventure with elements of horror thrown in. It's not gruesome, but parts of the book are definitely creepy. I thoroughly enjoyed it and eagerly await the sequel!
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LibraryThing member bookwyrmm
The start to the Vampirates series was super fun, even for someone older than the typical MG reader. The story was fun and had surprising depth, and a lot of questions were left for futures books.
LibraryThing member lawral
This book has pirates, vampires, vampires who sail like pirates, and, just so no one feels left out, is set in the year 2505 with vampires who insist on living as if it's still 1920s or earlier. Put that way it sounds like Vampirates must read like a train wreck; to a certain extent, it does. There
Though the many angles of this book can cause some problems, they also allow for many, many entry points into this novel, making it a great choice for reluctant readers. The chapters are also short, and, because they switch back and forth between Connor and Grace's experiences, the reader doesn't have to slog through too much to get to the storyline s/he is really interested in. And, problems aside, these storylines suck you in. As Grace and Connor are distracted from their mirror goals of finding the other by their own circumstances, the reader cannot forget that Grace's special status as a twin is all that keeps her alive and that Connor must succeed in finding her for her to survive. The ending is satisfying on some levels and COMPLETELY UNFINISHED on others, causing me to rush out to find book two of the series (Tide of Terror) as I will most likely run out to find books three and four.
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are so many different elements to the basic premise of this novel that some definitely fall by the wayside. For example, once you read past the page that tells you the year is 2505, it is impossible to tell that you are not being plunked down into another Caribbean pirate story (that still has about a million twists) set whenever our favorite bucchanears usually make an appearance.Though the many angles of this book can cause some problems, they also allow for many, many entry points into this novel, making it a great choice for reluctant readers. The chapters are also short, and, because they switch back and forth between Connor and Grace's experiences, the reader doesn't have to slog through too much to get to the storyline s/he is really interested in. And, problems aside, these storylines suck you in. As Grace and Connor are distracted from their mirror goals of finding the other by their own circumstances, the reader cannot forget that Grace's special status as a twin is all that keeps her alive and that Connor must succeed in finding her for her to survive. The ending is satisfying on some levels and COMPLETELY UNFINISHED on others, causing me to rush out to find book two of the series (Tide of Terror) as I will most likely run out to find books three and four.
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LibraryThing member Squeex
I have just found a new-to-me favorite series and author and likely the narrator, too. I had so much fun listening to this first in the VAMPIRATES series and cannot wait to listen to the next in the series, TIDE OF TERROR, I hope it's next up on Recorded Books wishlist.
This is the perfect book to
The world-building is very cool and I like that it's a future that isn't overwhelmingly bleak like a lot of futuristic venues tend to lean on. It's vampires and pirates and all that that entails....blood and fighting on the high seas and the gritty pirate pubs with wenches. There are good-hearted pirates and bad.
And Daniel Philpott gives just as fab voice to the fab written characters. Nothing too over the top, just right over the top. I have the image of a vampire Captain Jack Sparrow in my cranium as I listened to some of the vampirates...and obviously this is not a bad thing if you know me at all. *grin*
If you'd like to see a super interview with Justin Somper, the author, here's the site over at BittenByBooks. He's just as nifty as the books he writes.
Five more please vampirates beans....
This is the perfect book to
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listen to for anyone, even though it's supposed to be a YA paranormal. The world-building is very cool and I like that it's a future that isn't overwhelmingly bleak like a lot of futuristic venues tend to lean on. It's vampires and pirates and all that that entails....blood and fighting on the high seas and the gritty pirate pubs with wenches. There are good-hearted pirates and bad.
And Daniel Philpott gives just as fab voice to the fab written characters. Nothing too over the top, just right over the top. I have the image of a vampire Captain Jack Sparrow in my cranium as I listened to some of the vampirates...and obviously this is not a bad thing if you know me at all. *grin*
If you'd like to see a super interview with Justin Somper, the author, here's the site over at BittenByBooks. He's just as nifty as the books he writes.
Five more please vampirates beans....
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LibraryThing member Mad_Martel
The Vampirates book is about twins that get lost at sea. Connor the older of the two has been picked out of the sea by Cheng Li. The deputy on the ship The Diablo. While Grace has been picked up by the Vampirate ship. A crew of vampire pirates that have been on the ship since the beginning of their
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new life. Each week they have a Feast or a sharing of blood. But what the captain doesn't know is that there is a rebel vampire. He wants more blood and if Grace wants to survive she must get off the ship before he finds her. Show Less
LibraryThing member librarymeg
I don't really have much to say about this. It's been long enough since I read middle-grade books that I can't really tell if I would have liked this or not. As a reader today, I just know that I long for more. More action. More terror. More world building. I can't tell if this would appeal to the
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young folks anymore, my perspective is just too changed. (A friend even called me a raunchy librarian. Harsh, but not exactly wrong.) But I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a middle grades reader. It's not bad, I'm just not its audience. Show Less
LibraryThing member edellaporta
I was really excited to read this book, but it was a let down. The plot made no sense, it took forever for the story to get moving and the main goal of the characters was a mystery. I give it a "meh" at best.
LibraryThing member wisealma
Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean Book Review
by Justin Somper
I'd give this book 4 donors out of 5.
Vampirates...the concept... the title... its one of those things that I wished I had come up with. It's a great concept. I must say, though, that I feel bad for the author. As I gathered my thoughts for
This book has a ton of covers. Perhaps that a function of being originally published in 2005, and refreshing the book cover is a way to make it new again (marketing) and drive sales. Either way, the book has several fantastic covers, and as you know, I love a good cover.
The story follows Connor and Grace Tempest, a couple of humble children that live with their father, who man's the lighthouse. One of their bonding traditions is for him to sing them a shanty as they go to bed. The thing is, its a little bit creepy, as its about Vampirates. Here it is:
I'll tell you a tale of Vampirates,
A tale as old as true.
Yea, I'll sing you a song of an ancient ship,
And its mighty fearsome crew.
Yea, I'll sing you a song of an ancient ship,
That sails the oceans blue...
That haunts the oceans blue.
The Vampirate ship has tattered sails,
That flap like wings in flight.
They say the captain, he wears a veil
So as to curtail your fright.
At his death pale skin
And his lifeless eyes
And his teeth as sharp as night.
Oh, they say the captain, he wears a viel
And his eyes never see the light
You'd better be good, child- good as gold,
As good as good can be.
Eles I'll turn you in to the Vampirates
And wave you out to sea.
Yes, you'd better be good child- good as gold,
Because- look! Can you see?
There's a dark ship in the harbor tonight
And there's room in the hold for thee!
(Plenty of room for thee)
Well, if pirates are bad,
And vampires are worse
Then I pray that as long as I be
That though I sing of Vampirates
I never one shall see.
Yea, if pirates are danger
And vampires are death
I'll extend my prayer for thee-
That thine eyes never see a Vampirate...
...and they never lay a hand on thee.
The children's father abruptly passes away one night and, unfortunately, he has left them with nothing. The children, after listening to the local banker offer to take the children in, or to be forced into the orphanage, decide that their only chance is to steal their father's ship (it no longer belongs to him) and to test their luck on the open seas.
They do this for some time, and get some distance out into the ocean, until a great storm brews and dashes their boat into pieces. The twins are separated, each scooped up by a different pirate ship. One crew consists of normal pirates, and the other, you guessed it, the Vampirates.
The rest of the tale explores each of the twin's experiences on their respective ships, and their efforts to not give up hope of finding each other again.
I felt the quality of the writing was very good, and so was the storytelling, even though the plot seemed to have some holes that could be addressed. The characters were fun, and distinct, even though some of the more critical reviews underscored the characters as something they wanted more from.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but the one thing that I found strange was the ending. The climax built up to what felt like might be an awesome pirate brawl, but it ended up getting resolved by simply correcting a character's identity, and then all was well. It was a little anti-climactic. Overall, though, it was a good read. I'll probably continue on with the next book at some point. Happy reading!
by Justin Somper
I'd give this book 4 donors out of 5.
Vampirates...the concept... the title... its one of those things that I wished I had come up with. It's a great concept. I must say, though, that I feel bad for the author. As I gathered my thoughts for
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this review I took a look at other reviews of the book, and some of them are just cruel. The book was a good book, in my opinion, even though it had a few quirks.This book has a ton of covers. Perhaps that a function of being originally published in 2005, and refreshing the book cover is a way to make it new again (marketing) and drive sales. Either way, the book has several fantastic covers, and as you know, I love a good cover.
The story follows Connor and Grace Tempest, a couple of humble children that live with their father, who man's the lighthouse. One of their bonding traditions is for him to sing them a shanty as they go to bed. The thing is, its a little bit creepy, as its about Vampirates. Here it is:
I'll tell you a tale of Vampirates,
A tale as old as true.
Yea, I'll sing you a song of an ancient ship,
And its mighty fearsome crew.
Yea, I'll sing you a song of an ancient ship,
That sails the oceans blue...
That haunts the oceans blue.
The Vampirate ship has tattered sails,
That flap like wings in flight.
They say the captain, he wears a veil
So as to curtail your fright.
At his death pale skin
And his lifeless eyes
And his teeth as sharp as night.
Oh, they say the captain, he wears a viel
And his eyes never see the light
You'd better be good, child- good as gold,
As good as good can be.
Eles I'll turn you in to the Vampirates
And wave you out to sea.
Yes, you'd better be good child- good as gold,
Because- look! Can you see?
There's a dark ship in the harbor tonight
And there's room in the hold for thee!
(Plenty of room for thee)
Well, if pirates are bad,
And vampires are worse
Then I pray that as long as I be
That though I sing of Vampirates
I never one shall see.
Yea, if pirates are danger
And vampires are death
I'll extend my prayer for thee-
That thine eyes never see a Vampirate...
...and they never lay a hand on thee.
The children's father abruptly passes away one night and, unfortunately, he has left them with nothing. The children, after listening to the local banker offer to take the children in, or to be forced into the orphanage, decide that their only chance is to steal their father's ship (it no longer belongs to him) and to test their luck on the open seas.
They do this for some time, and get some distance out into the ocean, until a great storm brews and dashes their boat into pieces. The twins are separated, each scooped up by a different pirate ship. One crew consists of normal pirates, and the other, you guessed it, the Vampirates.
The rest of the tale explores each of the twin's experiences on their respective ships, and their efforts to not give up hope of finding each other again.
I felt the quality of the writing was very good, and so was the storytelling, even though the plot seemed to have some holes that could be addressed. The characters were fun, and distinct, even though some of the more critical reviews underscored the characters as something they wanted more from.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but the one thing that I found strange was the ending. The climax built up to what felt like might be an awesome pirate brawl, but it ended up getting resolved by simply correcting a character's identity, and then all was well. It was a little anti-climactic. Overall, though, it was a good read. I'll probably continue on with the next book at some point. Happy reading!
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LibraryThing member ChrisWeir
Was happy to find the books in this series, vampires and pirates who could ask for more fun. A set of twins is lost at sea during a big storm. One ends up on a "traditional" style pirate ship and learns some of their ways and seems to be a natural. While his sister however ends up on another ship
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and learns about 2/3 of the way through the book that they are indeed vampires. This one has some character development on the pirates side, but the vampires we don't get to meet many. It does however set up the theme for future books in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member areinh
"Well, if pirates are bad
And vampires are worse,
Then I pray that as long as I be
That though I sing of Vampirates
I never one shall see."
There is some truth to every fairy tale, at least in the book Vampirates, Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper. This is the first book of the Vampirates series.
For
Conner is brought aboard the pirate galleon The Diablo, captained by THE most notorious pirate of the times. Meanwhile Grace finds herself on a mysterious vessel and hid from the crew for reasons unknown. The unnamed ship is litterally shrouded in a fog. And of course, the twins dreams about each other and discover that their best chance of survival relies on being reunited.
Despite the cliches, I really liked the storytelling style. The whole book reminded me of a bedtime story or fairy tale itself, filled with unlikely friends and overcoming fears. The over-the-top themes are exciting, consistant and rationalized by the characters so that they seem natural.
This was not a typical young adults vampire story; the monsters really are scary and dangerous, there is no sappy love interest to speak of, and the pirates do real sword battle. I especially enjoyed the nautical details... I love an author who does his research! The story alternates from the point of view of either twin, making this story appropriate for both girls and boys of the tweenish age. I would also recomend this story for anyone looking for some light entertainment.
As I read the final words "So it ends. So it begins," I can't wait to see what happens next.
And vampires are worse,
Then I pray that as long as I be
That though I sing of Vampirates
I never one shall see."
There is some truth to every fairy tale, at least in the book Vampirates, Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper. This is the first book of the Vampirates series.
For
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Conner and Grace, the Tempest twins of Cresent Bay, Vampirates were a spooky lullaby told in their lighthouse home when the storms blew in. Then all at once, their father dies and the children are destitute. In a series of unfortunate events that reminded me of Lemony Snicket, the twins are seperated. Then, the story devices get a little obvious.Conner is brought aboard the pirate galleon The Diablo, captained by THE most notorious pirate of the times. Meanwhile Grace finds herself on a mysterious vessel and hid from the crew for reasons unknown. The unnamed ship is litterally shrouded in a fog. And of course, the twins dreams about each other and discover that their best chance of survival relies on being reunited.
Despite the cliches, I really liked the storytelling style. The whole book reminded me of a bedtime story or fairy tale itself, filled with unlikely friends and overcoming fears. The over-the-top themes are exciting, consistant and rationalized by the characters so that they seem natural.
This was not a typical young adults vampire story; the monsters really are scary and dangerous, there is no sappy love interest to speak of, and the pirates do real sword battle. I especially enjoyed the nautical details... I love an author who does his research! The story alternates from the point of view of either twin, making this story appropriate for both girls and boys of the tweenish age. I would also recomend this story for anyone looking for some light entertainment.
As I read the final words "So it ends. So it begins," I can't wait to see what happens next.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
This book was extremely different then I thought it would be. I got it because the whole concept was kind of funny and I figured even if it sucked it would probably be amusing. Well it is a great adventure story. Most chapters alternate between Connor and Grace telling the story. Connor and Grace
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are twins who have never quite fit into their small town. When their father dies they have plenty of offers to go live with other, but instead they take to the ocean in their father's boat. There is a storm and they are separated. Connor is picked up by Cheng Li and taken aboard the Diablo. Grace is picked up by Lorcan and taken aboard the Vampirate ship. Connor is caught in the middle of the Diablo's politics and Grace is in constant danger from the ships inmates. They are reunited at the very end and no one knows what will happen next. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
This book was extremely different then I thought it would be. I got it because the whole concept was kind of funny and I figured even if it sucked it would probably be amusing. Well it is a great adventure story. Most chapters alternate between Connor and Grace telling the story. Connor and Grace
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are twins who have never quite fit into their small town. When their father dies they have plenty of offers to go live with other, but instead they take to the ocean in their father's boat. There is a storm and they are separated. Connor is picked up by Cheng Li and taken aboard the Diablo. Grace is picked up by Lorcan and taken aboard the Vampirate ship. Connor is caught in the middle of the Diablo's politics and Grace is in constant danger from the ships inmates. They are reunited at the very end and no one knows what will happen next. Show Less
LibraryThing member melydia
"Vampirates" is one of those ideas that people tend to both roll their eyes at and wish they'd thought of first. When orphaned twins Connor and Grace are separated at sea, Connor finds himself on a more traditional pirate ship, while Grace is taken in by the Vampirates who are - as you may have
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guessed - vampire pirates. It's easily as silly as you expect it to be, but it's also a heck of a lot of fun. If you like your pirates to be of the Caribbean variety, you'll probably enjoy this little romp. Show Less
LibraryThing member melrailey
Fourteen year old twins, Grace and Conner Tempest, grew up listening to their father's tales of a ship of Vampirates sailing the seas. He sung a shanty about the Vampirates to them to comfort them when they were scared. After their father's death, Grace and Conner decide to run away. They steal his
I enjoyed this book. It wasn't great but it is a different idea and storyline and a good, if shaky, start to the series.
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boat and set out to sea and straight into a storm. Their boat is destroyed and the twins are picked up by two different pirate ships - one of them by the Vampirate ship. Each child struggles to deal with ship life and with the possible death of their sibling and their undesirable need to continue looking for each other.I enjoyed this book. It wasn't great but it is a different idea and storyline and a good, if shaky, start to the series.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
This book was extremely different then I thought it would be. I got it because the whole concept was kind of funny and I figured even if it sucked it would probably be amusing. Well it is a great adventure story. Most chapters alternate between Connor and Grace telling the story. Connor and Grace
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are twins who have never quite fit into their small town. When their father dies they have plenty of offers to go live with other, but instead they take to the ocean in their father's boat. There is a storm and they are separated. Connor is picked up by Cheng Li and taken aboard the Diablo. Grace is picked up by Lorcan and taken aboard the Vampirate ship. Connor is caught in the middle of the Diablo's politics and Grace is in constant danger from the ships inmates. They are reunited at the very end and no one knows what will happen next. Show Less
LibraryThing member GRgenius
"I'll tell you a tale of Vampirates..."
Such is the beginning to a rather blood thirsty sea shanty sung to the Tempest twins, Grace and Connor, by their recently deceased father. How it was able to calm them for bedtime versus raise all their red alerts is beyond me, however it might serve as a good
I rather fell in LOVE with this story. Grace and Connor are stars in their own right, and their journeys are far from over...but the author set this series up with an incredible cast of characters that are equally charming (well, some are more monstrous, but beauty IS in the eye of the beholder...just don't let some of them ACTUALLY be HOLD anything of yours!) in their own ways that make you want to learn their stories (Grace has the right idea!), and see just what the sea has in store for them! The mysterious captain, midshipman Lorcan, Cheng Li, and the one that we shall not name here that was cast out...all of them are quite obviously going to play integral roles in what's to come, and for that matter what happens here, so yes...I say GIVE ME MORE to satisfy my own book thirst!
*copy received for review; opinions are my own
Such is the beginning to a rather blood thirsty sea shanty sung to the Tempest twins, Grace and Connor, by their recently deceased father. How it was able to calm them for bedtime versus raise all their red alerts is beyond me, however it might serve as a good
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reason behind their ability to cope with the events that were just on the horizon. Losing everything they had on this earth besides each other, they set off to find a new life, only to have it snuffed before they even get started. The mysterious storm that overtook them out of the blue during their escape from dry land was unusual, but what happens to each of them is even more so. For one, it's a pirate's life for them, as they gain their sea legs and never stop searching for their other half; for the other, it's as yet to be decided...if they can manage to survive their savage "hero" and a bloodthirsty crew. Oh yes, my friends...there is MUCH more danger than what lurks in the murky depths below...I rather fell in LOVE with this story. Grace and Connor are stars in their own right, and their journeys are far from over...but the author set this series up with an incredible cast of characters that are equally charming (well, some are more monstrous, but beauty IS in the eye of the beholder...just don't let some of them ACTUALLY be HOLD anything of yours!) in their own ways that make you want to learn their stories (Grace has the right idea!), and see just what the sea has in store for them! The mysterious captain, midshipman Lorcan, Cheng Li, and the one that we shall not name here that was cast out...all of them are quite obviously going to play integral roles in what's to come, and for that matter what happens here, so yes...I say GIVE ME MORE to satisfy my own book thirst!
*copy received for review; opinions are my own
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Awards
Isinglass Teen Read Award (Nominee — 2008)
Original publication date
2005-06-06
Physical description
7.64 inches
ISBN
1845791215 / 9781845791216
Local notes
Duplicate (signed).
Other editions
Vampirates, Book 1: Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper (Paperback)