Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean

Justin Somper (author)

Simon & Schuster, UK: 2005; 298pp

ISBN: 0689872631

Genres: adventure, gothic

Grace and Connor Tempest are the orphaned twins of the Lighthouse Keeper of Crescent Moon Bay, on the east coast of Australia, 2505. Fleeing those who wish to make use of them after the death of their father, they are separated when their small boat is destroyed during a storm.

Connor is picked up by regular pirates, Grace by the more sinister Vampirates, a group she thought existed only in a ballad her father used to sing. The mysterious Vampirate captain seems to have plans for Grace that don't involve loss of blood but her main concern is to be reunited with her twin.

Connor, too, is determined to find the Vampirate ship he is convinced he saw rescue his sister but his new pirate family don't believe him. He must prove himself - but is he truly a pirate at heart? And why can he hear his father's voice in his head, advising and guiding him?
This racy gothic adventure is a clever marketing idea, tapping into the fascination at the time with pirates and vampires. Although a very readable story, there are some hesitations in narrative flow and the more climactic incidents are a little over written at times, tending towards melodrama.

Somper has, nevertheless, created a page-turning novel by changing narrative focus every chapter or two from Grace to Connor and back again, always leaving the lead character in an uncertain situation. This technique will maintain the attention of younger readers, especially. The rather stereotypical characters will disappoint more imaginative readers - the jolly buccaneer pirate captain; his intense, rule-driven Chinese deputy who is skilled in swordsmanship and concerned with honour; the mysterious, magnetic Vampirate captain; his evil, untrustworthy deputy who is driven by ‘the blood-hunger'; vampires who feed reluctantly, who are maligned and demonised by humans.

The first in a very successful series, Vampirates is rather like Anne Rice meets Pirates of the Caribbean with a little Shakespearean comedy thrown in - an amusing piece of light reading but without any depth. Note: other than the date given at the beginning of the book, there is no contextual reference to suggest this is set in a future time, making the emphasis on the year seem rather unnecessary.

Warning: more sensitive readers will find the Vampirates habit of keeping ‘donors' rather nightmarish. The vampires keep humans as if they are pets - they are well looked after, fed highly nutritious meals and generally enjoy good health except for once a week when the vampires feed on them.