Demons of the Ocean

By Author / Illustrator

Justin Somper

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

UCLan Publishing

ISBN

9781912979110

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

05-03-2020

Synopsis

Revamped new edition of the bestselling VAMPIRATES series, with new exclusive content added!

Orphaned twins Connor and Grace Tempest take to the ocean in a desperate attempt to flee from a terrible life on shore. But a vicious storm wrecks their ship and leaves them fighting for their lives. For Connor his only salvation is a pirate ship... but this is no ordinary pirate ship. Desperate to survive Connor must join the terrible crew of the Diablo. In his quest to find his lost twin sister, he discovers mysteries and secrets deeper than the ocean he now sails.

"Totally original...I wish I'd had this idea." Anthony Horowitz. "Justin Somper has brought new terrors to the blood-drenched seas - bravo!" Darren Shan.

Reviews

Epic, sweeping adventure story following the plight of the Tempest twins, Grace and Connor. Seen as peculiar outsiders by the other Crescent Moon Bay residents, after the loss of their lighthouse keeper father, the twins find themselves having to flee the town and sail away to escape the local orphanage or adoption by a sly, local banker.

Alone on the rough seas, they now only have each other and their memories of their father and the curious Vampire Pirate shanties he sung throughout their childhood...

Disaster strikes on that very first night with a huge storm that separates them as they fight against drowning. Connor is pulled from the violent waves by pirate ship Diablo, whilst Grace is found by a more sinister looking ship - one that looks just like the feared, supposedly mythical, Vampirate vessel. Do both twins now face an uncertain, dangerous future - maybe even death itself?

This is a dramatic, bold story that is carefully managed for its readers' age range to be full of just the right level of threat, drama and danger. The chapters alternate between the two ships and the separate fate of each twin, whilst their thoughts of each other bring the story together.

Grace's experiences on the ship amongst the Vampirates is definitely written in a darker and more edgy tone and the 'feeding' of the Vampirate crew certainly unnerves you as you read! As does the initial shrouded mystery of what (or who...) the crew feed on. There is plenty of vivid imagery detailing life at sea, especially for the plundering pirate crew . Will either twin survive the rules, codes and dangers of their new homes and will they ever find each other on the high seas?

Vampirates is a swash-buckling, pacey read - just heart-racing enough to give goose bumps and gasps to its reader without real fright. There are more books in the series following the futures of the Tempest Twins for captivated readers to sink their teeth into.

312 pages / Ages 9+ / Reviewed by Jenny Caddick, teacher