Vampirates - Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper

Synopsis:

Connor and Grace are twins, recently orphaned after their widowed father's death. Rather than being adopted by the town's busy-bodies, they decide to set sail for new pastures in their father's last single possession, his sailing boat. But a vicious storm sees their boat capsize and the twins separated. Two mysterious ships sail to their rescue - each picking up one twin before disappearing into the mist. Connor wakes to find himself on a pirate ship and is soon being trained up with a cutlass. Meanwhile Grace finds herself locked in a darkened room, as the vampirates await nightfall... Determined to find each other, yet intrigued by their new shipmates, the twins are about to embark on the biggest adventure of their life...

I'll make no bones about it. Vampirates surprised me. I actually told Mr. Somper's publicist this. I fully expected to be dragged into a book full of tongue in cheek pantomime escapades and high jinks. It would have had a big thumbs down from me if it had but I couldn't have been more wrong. Thank Poseidon!

Demons of the Ocean is the perfect primer for the rest of the Vampirates books. We are introduced to the twins - Conner and Grace - and shown their unusual upbringing by their father. a lighthouse keeper. When he passes away the twins are thrown at the mercy of the town they live near to. But instead of conforming to go and live with the wealthiest banker in the town or opt for the local orphanage, the twins decide to take their fate in their own hands. They steal their father's ship (which had become the property of the bank, as the dad had been declared bankrupt) and head out to sea.

An unexpected storm sweeps in, capsizing the twins and breaking their ship apart. Connor watches in amazement as this illusion of a ship nears out of a dank fog cloud, seemingly floating on air. He watches it come round, near him, then disappear. Shortly afterwards he's rescued by a young female pirate, Cheng Li and taken on board The Diablo where Captain Molucco Wrathe holds ultimate sway. Connor is distraught over his sister's disappearance, did she drown or has she been taken by the mysterious ship he saw whilst clinging to a rafter in the storm-tossed sea?

Connor makes friends with the much larger, more confident Bartholomew and (Cutlass) Cate and swiftly takes to pirate life. He's a natural athlete and easily enough picks up dueling skills. But something at the back of Connor's mind holds him back - the thought of murdering people for their rightful belongings seems wrong to him. This is a very interesting internal struggle and it's never over-played. I found myself very intrigued by Molucco Wrathe and the rivalry he has with Cheng Li, his deputy captain. She's the new type of pirate, the one who wants to follow the rules as set out by the Pirate Academy. Molucco is more the wild child, not liking rules and regulations. His crew loves him and he has a reputation of being a pretty bad man. Very little of this is shown to us in Demons of the Oceon, but it is implied in other pirates who come into contact with them. It's a very cleverly written piece of work.

Grace has of course been rescued by the mysterious ship. Her saviour was the deliciously sounding Lorcan (whom I developed a tiny crush on). Grace's part in this book is not a very active one, for a start. Things are happening to her. She's been taken on board by the dreaded Vampirates ship. For most of the part she feels helpless. Left in a lovely cabin, fed gloriously delicious food, with only Lorcan as her "outside world" contact, Grace is going stir-crazy. She hears music, people talking...but is not allowed outside her cabin. The mysterious Vampirate Captain speaks to her in her mind, urging her to stay calm, that all will be well, that nothing bad will happen to her. But Grace isn't the kind of girl who takes easily to being passive. She wants to find Connor, she wants to know if he's safe, she wants to figure out why she's been brought on board, she needs to figure out what's going to happen to her. A whole boatload of questions await.

Vampirates - Demons of the Ocean is a very chunky, very filling read. It felt like it's an origin story. It's laid the foundations very solidly, introducing us to a small cast of characters who felt very real and well thought out. I am starting book 2 this weekend and am feeling impatient about it. This is a good sign.

Find the official website to accompany the books here: http://www.vampirates.co.uk/

Below are my "Three Questions with Justin" to accompany each review for his Vampirates sequence.

1. Why did you decide to write for a younger audience?

I'd written for this younger audience before and find it comes pretty naturally to me. But overall, the audience I write for is dictated by the ideas I get. When I had the idea for VAMPIRATES - which arrived as a bit of a "Eureka!" moment - I realised that there would be a number of possible ways to tell the story and a diverse range of audience to do it for. With this idea, I knew from the start that I'd have more fun if I wrote it primarily for a younger audience (though I do seem to have picked up a few adult fans along the way).

2. What came first? The two characters, Connor and Grace or the overall story?

First came the word... VAMPIRATES. Then the shanty. Then the characters and then the story. The characters of Connor and Grace were quite sketchy at first, Connor especially. I think both have developed a lot as I've continued to write about them and from their perspectives. I certainly feel that I know them a lot better now.

3. How much research did you do into piracy, sword fighting, captaincy and rules of the sea (I’m tempted to say “arrrrr” here, but I won’t) oh, and of course, (vam)pirates?

I did loads of research ahead of writing DEMONS OF THE OCEAN. This was necessary as I knew very little about vampires and next to nothing about pirates when I embarked on this voyage. So I delved for some time into pirate history and vampire myth. On the whole, the pirate history was more useful. For instance, I found out that Julius Caesar was once kidnapped by pirates and was able to use this as Sidorio's "origin story". I did also get some advice regarding swordfighting - in fact, the character of Cutlass Cate began as an homage to the woman who helped me out with this. Some of the vampire research was helpful but at some point it was clear that I'd have to decide which myths to work with and which to leave aside. As I've gone on, there's always an element of research to writing - whether it's developing new characters or settings, finding out about new weaponry or, in the latter books, wine terminology. Thankfully, with wikipedia and the like, it's easy to research stuff quickly without having to leave my base.

Author of the Month - Justin Somper

We are very thrilled to have Justin Somper as our March Author of the Month.

Personally - I, the Liz - am chuffed to get the chance to read the Vampirates sequence of books published by Simon & Schuster. I recall seeing the first Vampirates book back on 2005 and was intrigued, but that was before the review blog and I had a pretty rubbish job that didn't lend to much free time and reading (I can hear the violins too) so I had to walk away.

Some true facts that I found out about Justin Somper:

• He was a pirate in his previous life*
• Justin won the Birmingham KS3 "Explorers" Book Award
• He won the Solihull Children's Book Award
• He was a runner up in the North East Children's Book Award
• He was shortlisted for the Red House Children's Book Award
• Darren Shan wants to be Justin Somper *
• Justin Somper was turned down for the role of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean *
• Instead he was offered the role of Elizabeth Swann but declined the role*

We'll be reviewing a book a week with a handful of questions to Justin at the end of each review. At the end of the month, we'll be able to run a competition to become Justin for a day. Okay, that statement is not true. But there will be a competition, and it will be a cool one. Stick around.

Please note that this * (it's an asterisk) indicates me lying.

Guest Review: The Dark Horse by Marcus Sedgwick

Synopsis:

A boy destined to lead his clan; a girl raised by wolves; a stranger with a sealed box. These are the elements of this powerful novel, set on a rocky northern coast in a distant time, in a small community who live in dread of the coming of the legendary warrior tribe, the Dark Horse. Told in part by the boy, Sigurd, himself, it is a dark and dangerous story of conflict and betrayal. With its strong sense of time and place and the magic of a primitive people, THE DARK HORSE again confirms the exceptional talent of Marcus Sedgwick.

The Dark Horse by Marcus Sedgwick ought to be read in the glow of a crackling fire whilst listening to the bluster of wind beyond the window. It is a tale that smells of the raw fish and animal skins of pre-history and yet is timeless in the telling; a tale that evokes barren landscapes, crashing waves, and the cruelty of winter. The cold seeps through every page, held at bay only by the light of the campfire and the skill of the storyteller.

Sedgwick’s language is sparse, but always evocative. His characters are three-dimensional, consistent and familiar, despite the far-away feel of the setting. But just like characters of the real world, each of the Storn have secrets and surprises for the reader.

By now you might be getting the hint that I really enjoyed reading this book! I was immediately drawn to the intriguing character of Mouse, with her ability to communicate with hounds and leap into the mind of a bird. And I came to love Sigurad for his bravery and warmth.

The narrative switches between first and third person, a risky strategy for any writer. At first I was only interested in the story as told in first person because it outlined how Mouse came to live with the people of Storn. I was less engaged by the third person. But as the story went on, and the narratives became entwined, I noticed the switch between them less and less, until I hardly noticed the switch at all. There is no doubt about it: Sedgwick is masterful in his handling of language.

As much as I enjoyed this book, my only fear would be is that this is the kind of story that adults’ love, and kids wonder what the fuss is about. The shortness of the chapters kept me turning the pages (a lot of them were only a couple of pages long) and I suspect would keep kids reading too. However, I think what kept me hooked was the beauty of the writing rather than the strength of the story. A week later, I can remember the characters and their world, but struggle to remember how the story ended.

All in all, I really, really enjoyed this book. I liked the fairly predictable twists and turns of the plot that had that had an almost mythic feel, and particularly enjoyed the lyrical beauty of the language. A perfect read for a cold afternoon in winter.

***

The above guest review blog post was brought to you by my friend Sharon Jones (@PoodlePowered on Twitter). Sharon and I met without realising it at the SCBWI Winchester Conference last year - we've been speaking on Twitter before the conference and then attended a few talks together at Winchester but not realised who the other person was till after the fact!
Yes, this happens in real life, not just romcoms from Hollywood.

When I told Sharon that I'll be hosing the Marcus Sedgwick Author Month she came close to being histerical and I roped her in to review something for us. I sensed a fellow fan.

This is one of the MS books that I've not read yet and I'm looking forward to indulging in reading it. I love Sharon's enthusiasm for the uniquely named Mouse who sounds anything but timid. I fully appreciate her remarks that some of the nuances may bypass the age-group it was intended for but then I also think that if one of the younger folk read it and liked it, they would no doubt revisit it when they are older and then fully appreciate the depth and scope of the story. I'll be sure to pop back with my own view(s).

So, thanks Sharon for this fantastic review! Sharon's a writer of YA fiction with a paranormal twist and you can find her website here.

Guest Review: Book of Dead Days by Marcus Sedgwick

I am so very pleased to have my buddy Sarah Bryars (she is Esssjay on LiveJournal and @Esssjay on Twitter) helping me review some of Marcus Sedgwick's books. As you can tell by the small little advert on the right hand side of the blog, January 2010 is "Marcus Sedgwick Month" on MFB.

Synopsis:

There is a magician called Valerian who must save his own life, or pray the price for the pact he made with evil so many years ago. But will alchemy and sorcery be any match against the demonic power pursuing him? Helping him is his servant, Boy, a child with no name and no past, and the quick-witted Willow, and watching their fortune, mapping their destinies ... is Fate.

Sarah says:

I first read this when it first came out and loved it at the time. When it came to re-reading it I discovered that I really couldn’t remember a great deal of detail except the feeling that the book gives you. It left me with the image of shadowy halls and dark, dirty streets. The story takes place on the days between Christmas and New Year but the celebration of this time doesn’t touch the inhabitants of the novel.

It starts with a magic show which sets the framework of the whole book. You feel as if you’re being shown one thing while the author’s sleight of hand is hiding the truth from you. Boy is Valerian’s assistant and slave. He can’t remember a great deal of his life before he lived with Valerian but is simply grateful for a place to sleep and the meagre food he’s given. Valerian is a character with few redeeming qualities. On odd occasions throughout, he treats Boy with kindness but moments like these are rare.

Valerian, who’s always troubled, has recently become more morose. He sends Boy out on endless errands and one of these leads to Boy witnessing a murder. On the other side of the city a girl called Willow discovers the dead body of the theatre owner where she works. Both Boy and Willow find each other in time to be arrested for murder and thrown into prison. Valerian rescues them and they are thrown together in a quest for a book that Valerian believes will save his life. This search takes the characters to suspicious inns, graveyards, underground canals and crypts.

Although I had little sympathy for Valerian I didn’t question Boys devotion to him. The alternative to the abuse Boy receives is the street, starvation and the opportunity to freeze to death. Willow is a wonderful character, she becomes the reader and asks the questions that Boy would never think of. She feels the need to take care of Boy (and Valerian to an extent). As the story progresses you get to watch their relationship develop in a touching way.

The story itself progresses at speed. There’s hardly any downtime and the characters ricochet from one event to the next. This gives the book a breathless quality that is exaggerated by the short chapters. Most of the action takes place at night. Other themes include grave digging, scientific discovery, taxidermy and the search for the book. I loved the gothic feel of the novel, you feel as if the characters’ lives are taking place out of the view of society in a secret world. It’s very seductive and secretive, the book is full of the unknown. Sedgwick is a master of world creation. The one that he’s created in The Book of Dead Days is so shadowy and alluring that it was far too easy to slip back into it again.

The final chapters do answer many questions but the very last few pages do leave you hungry for more answers and sets the reader up for the sequel; The Dark Flight Down. So, if you love the gothic and shadowy this book is for you. However, if you like something a little more flowery or glittery then leave this; it’s relentless in its bleakness and not for those with a weak stomach.

**

Liz says:

I recall reading The Book of Dead Days, having bought it from Ottakars in Bromley. I had carried it home like it was a trophy, made myself tea and sat down and read it in one fell swoop. Then I made Mark read it. This was quite a few years ago. I've been a fan of Mr. Sedgwick since then. Which is why I've decided to have Mr. S be the first of our "Author of the Month" authors on the blog for 2010.

Reading The Book of Dead Days I was struck by the strong imagery, the sense of place in the novel. I loved this dark city he created with its winding alleys and shadows that lurked. I loved the use of language and the style of his writing. How quickly he set the whole story up and how it just escalated from there, bouncing you along, come hell or high water.

You had to be a cold-hearted person not to feel empathy with Boy. Willow's treatment was equally harsh at the hands of her mistress and through both these two characters you experience a world that is dark, grim and yet, and yet, there is this vague hope of something less ugly just around the corner!

It has to be one of my all-time favourite Marcus Sedgwick books out there and having the chance to revisit it for the purpose of the Author of the Month has been good fun.

Author of the Month

Mark and I brainstormed a new idea towards the end of 2009. We wanted to do something different on the blog to highlight a few of our favourite authors throughout the year.

Subsequently we came up with the Author of the Month event for MFB. We'll still be reviewing as many books we can each month but each month we'll be getting a bit "intimate" with a chosen author.

We're kicking off in January with one of my personal favourite authors: Marcus Sedgwick. I've not reviewed him on the blog. I know - weird, right? Well it's because his work lies a bit too close to my heart. I'm a fan. Before I'm even a reviewer. I'm a reader and a fan. Which is why I've roped in a few other fans/readers/reviewers to help me out with Marcus's Author of the Month.

In an utterly selfish way, it helps me keep perspective of his writing and it reigns me in from turning into a slavering fan-girl and using too many exclamation marks like this!!!!

There will be comps, there will be interviews and reviews with the Author of the Month. And Mark and I hope you like this new feature on the blog!