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Saltwater Vampires

3.61 of 5 stars 3.61 · rating details · 158 ratings · 47 reviews

He looked to the sky, praying for rain, a downpour, some sign from the heavens that he should refuse the abomination contained in that flask. But all he saw was the bloated white face of the moon smiling down on him …

And the sky around it was cold and clear and black …

They made their circle of blood. And only the moon witnessed the slaughter that followed.

For Jamie Mackie,...more

Paperback, 372 pages

Published August 30th 2010 by Penguin Books

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Jul 09, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussies, young-adult, pn-vampires, read-2011

3.5 stars In 1629, the Dutch ship Batavia was shipwrecked off the western coast of Australia on her maiden voyage. Among the survivors were nearly 300 men, women, and children...but this meant that resources were severely limited and there were far too many witnesses to the mutiny swelling among the crew's ranks. Led by a vicious opportunist, a group of men went on to execute more than 100 of their hapless victims, making it the first documented mass murder on Australian soil.

How ingenious it is...more

24 likes · like · see review

Oct 18, 2012 karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: october-is-spooky, why-yes-i-ya, distant-lands

i am pretty much a fan of any revisionist history that blames human atrocities on monsters. we gotta save face, right, and that's what monsters are for, to hang all our shortcomings upon.

so this book is about this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batavia_...

the slaughter of innocents for personal gain. oops. but by blaming it on vampires, it takes some of the sting out of it. vampires can't help it - they have an innate need to mutiny and feast. but what happens when these wacky seamen from 1629 me...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Lisa O. rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: australian, fantasy, ya-lit, vampires

Barely.

So, Saltwater vampires.... as opposed to freshwater vampires?

Kirsty Eagar's Raw Blue was probably one of the best YA fiction I read this year but this book is just a NO for me.

First of all, it is unclear to me what this book exactly wanted to be: did it want to be a dark, paranormal novel à la Anne Rice where some rebel bad-ass vampires try to become all-powerful?
Did it want to be YA fiction about some kids who love surfing but who end up in a big, messy trouble?
Or did it want to be a...more

23 likes · like · see review

Jul 13, 2012 Carla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-ya

If you like ur vampires to sparkle in the sun, break into ur house and watch you sleep, then sex you up until ur all pregnant with a half breed that has to be eaten out of ur tummy, then Saltwater Vampires is SO not the book for you. However, if you like ur vampires to be crazy scary and insanely crazy gonna eat u right up and kill you, then YAYYY!!! What up!

So here’s the deal – there is this blood pact made on this kick ass ship called the Batvia like 400 years ago. Then there is Jamie and his...more If you like ur vampires to sparkle in the sun, break into ur house and watch you sleep, then sex you up until ur all pregnant with a half breed that has to be eaten out of ur tummy, then Saltwater Vampires is SO not the book for you. However, if you like ur vampires to be crazy scary and insanely crazy gonna eat u right up and kill you, then YAYYY!!! What up!

So here’s the deal – there is this blood pact made on this kick ass ship called the Batvia like 400 years ago. Then there is Jamie and his surfer dude mates in Rocky Head. Also there is something going on with some weird guys in Amsterdam, including a vampire apprentice. THIS IS THE PLOT! It’s all intricate and daring and all tied together to make something amazing. And you are going to EAT it right up. LIKE A BOSS. And yeah mate, I get it, you don’t really get what I’m talking about. BUT! Under this super smart and seriously ambitious plot line, it’s really just a book about friends, and how actions have consequences and ACTION UP IN HURRR!

You know, Kirsty Eager really brings it with the writing you guys. She really does. And yes, this may be MILES AND MILES away from Raw Blue, but like, so what? (I’m sorry raw Blue ILY!!) It’s her writing and her seriously snazzy characterization skills that make me come back for me. Because she really gets how to suck you into a story by working her magic and making you become invested in these people that live in her head and are basically just words on a page. BUT SHE DOES IT EVERY TIME.

And the suspense? Someone get me a chaise longue. AND ALSO GET ME SOME SMELLING SALTS. I swear, I was like omg what is happening, where is this going, why did they do that, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. It was exhilaratingly exciting. All the intrigue and the mystery and this plot that is so thick and scrummy I wanted to spoon it up and DEVOUR IT ALL WITH NO LEFTOVERS. And you know the best thing? SELFISH PEOPLE! YOU GUYS!! I really relate to selfish people, because I too can be selfish. Like if I was going down, I would most certainly try to take someone with me. I’d like to pretend that I am selfless and blah blah blah, it’s all about the personal gain. And some of these creepy creepster are like out for themselves and it makes it all nerve wracking-y fab.

Male POV GONNA GET’CHA!!! Honestly, when I read books that perfectly nail the male pov, I srsly have this big smug on my face, like see, I TOLDJA SO. This is why male pov is my favourite. It’s always incredibly charming and authentic and packs a great big sold punch of emotional connection. Seriously, I may be a chick but there is nothing that makes me more happy than a male pov done right.

You know, I truly believe Kirsty can do no wrong. This was heart racing terror. This was dramarama. This was creepy and weird and fascinating. This was funny and touching and scary as shit. It was all other things that I can’t even put a word to. I just loved it. (less)

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Sep 06, 2012 jo mo rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-nz-author, vampires, own, paranormal, historic, horror, male-pov, 2012, 3-stars, creatures-of-the-night, dark-fantasy, fairytale-folktale-myth-legend, icky, young-adult, immortals, reviews, sports

in comparison to eagar's other novels saltwater vampires lies smack in the middle. the author's undisputed #1 being her debut raw blue , saltwater vampires is slightly better than eagar's newest work night beach .

what eagar always gets right are the character studies. saltwater vampires' protagonist, jamie mackie struggles with guilt, shame and self-hate over how he left one of his friends alone when he was needed the most. nice also, was the way the author played with various vampire clichès.

t...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Mandee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie, aussieya2012, aww2012, ya-lit, penguin, review-on-the-blog, favourite-authors, favourites, summer-reads, surfing, paranormal, contemporary-fiction

Saltwater Vampires by Kirsty Eager is set in Rocky Head in Western Australia. The story starts with a look back at the events of the shipwrecked Batavia. In 1629 the ship ran into the Morning Reef near the Houtman Abrolhos islands, off the coast of Western Australia. Most of the crew survived and managed to swim ashore. They were separated onto different islands and the captain and some of the crew took one of the long boats and went to search for fresh water. Jeronimus Cornelisz remained behind...more Saltwater Vampires by Kirsty Eager is set in Rocky Head in Western Australia. The story starts with a look back at the events of the shipwrecked Batavia. In 1629 the ship ran into the Morning Reef near the Houtman Abrolhos islands, off the coast of Western Australia. Most of the crew survived and managed to swim ashore. They were separated onto different islands and the captain and some of the crew took one of the long boats and went to search for fresh water. Jeronimus Cornelisz remained behind, he was a pharmacist and had been planning a mutiny while on board the ship. He organised a group and began to murder the survivors, including the women and children.

Kirsty used this event as the inspiration for this book. In her version, Jeronimus is an apothecary who has plans to become a vampire. In his possession is a vial of vampire blood, stolen from a group called The Society. He chooses four men from the crew to turn and together the create a blood circle. Once they've turned, they massacre the remaining passengers.

The book then jumps forward to the present day. Jamie and Tanner are local boys who love to surf. It's school holidays and all they can think about is surfing, making some money through their vending machine business and hanging out at the annual music festival. But four months ago, Jamie, along with his former friend Dale, almost drowned and since then he's found it difficult to sleep. He drops by Tanner's at four thirty one morning and they head down to the beach for a pre-dawn surf. They thought they were the only ones out in the ocean but they were wrong.

It turns out the four hundred year old vamps are back and they have big plans for the residents of Rocky Head. At the same time, in Amsterdam, the Society, now known as Piravem are sending members to track and kill Jeronimus and his followers.

I was hooked from the beginning of this book, I really liked Kirsty's interpretation of vampires. Her vampires don't sparkle and they definitely don't want to marry you, they just want to drain your blood and kill you.

The story is told from Jamie's point of view and it was great to read another book narrated by a boy. He is such a cheeky character and I loved the banter between him and Tanner. You can tell they're the sort of boys who will be mates forever. Their friends are a great bunch too. Dale was the third member of their group but after the incident he drifted apart from them. Kelly, Dale's girlfriend, is a strong girl who's happy when she's surfing with the guys. Talia, the new girl is a great addition to the group and gets bonus points for being a vegetarian from Sydney's Nothern Beaches. Then there's Willem, a boy from school who's into metal and knows a lot about vampires. Together they make a kick-arse team and they come up with a plan to try and save their town.

All of the plotlines worked well together for me, I started this book one morning and was finished by the afternoon, I just couldn't put it down. It was so suspenseful and action-packed towards the end that I found it hard not to skim read and rush ahead but I forced myself to slow down and enjoy it. I'm more of a fan of contemporary YA these days, while I don't mind some paranormal most of it feels a bit repetitive but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. And let's face it, if anyone is going to write a great book about surfing and vampires, it was always going to be Kirsty!

I didn't see the little twist coming right at the end but it made me smile because it really suited Jamie's character. And now I am super excited for the Kirsty's new book, Night Beach, which is going to be released in April this year!(less)

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Feb 27, 2012 Maree Kimberley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: australian-women-writers-challenge

Vampires - I loved them as a kid & a teen. Then Twilight came along with its glittery vampire with no teeth nonsense & ruined everything. Or so I thought. Luckily Australian writer Kirsty Eager is not afraid to write vampire fiction with nasty, vile, bloodthirsty characters & restore my faith in the genre.

I suspect that, like me, Eager is a fan of the movie The Lost Boys. A couple of scenes in Saltwater Vampires echoed the movie for me, which was an added bonus. But Saltwater Vampire...more

10 likes · like · see review

Sep 13, 2010 ALPHAreader rated it 4 of 5 stars

'Saltwater Vampires’ is being called ‘a distinctly Australian vampire thriller’.

The book opens in 1629, and introduces the Dutch shipwreck survivors of the Batavia. Among them is Jeronimus Cornelisz, an apothecary with a questionable offer of immortality for three other survivors; David Zeevanck, Gerrit Haas and Jan Pelgrom;

The apothecary leaned forward and whispered, “You want to know about the trick within the trick.”

Skip forward to present day and we meet Jamie Mackie; a fifteen-year-old Rock...more

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Aug 30, 2011 Missie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-title, vampires, ya

My first attempt at reading Saltwater Vampires, didn't go so well. The prologue's historical significance was lost on me, seeming a bit too overwhelming for me to really catch on to what was happening. But, something about the ominous tone told me to I needed to revisit the story, especially since I couldn't stop wondering about it. And boy am I happy that I didn't give up on it because then I would have really missed out on the very elements about vampirism that makes this breed of immortals so...more My first attempt at reading Saltwater Vampires, didn't go so well. The prologue's historical significance was lost on me, seeming a bit too overwhelming for me to really catch on to what was happening. But, something about the ominous tone told me to I needed to revisit the story, especially since I couldn't stop wondering about it. And boy am I happy that I didn't give up on it because then I would have really missed out on the very elements about vampirism that makes this breed of immortals so fascinating to me.

Back in 2009, I read a vampire novel called The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, and what I loved most about it was that it mixed lore with modern science to explore vampirism as a virus. Last year, I read The Passage by Justin Cronin, and was blown away by how it took on a similar concept but also created a post apocalyptic world around it. After finishing Saltwater Vampires, I've realized I'd put it in the same top category of phenomenal vampire novels, but I'd also say I enjoyed the characters much more.

Jamie and company were such a fun bunch to hang out with. It thrilled me to feel like I was always got their inside jokes, as if I'd grown up along side them as part of the little clique. Initially, I didn't expect much depth from them, especially Jamie, being that he was a fifteen year old kid trying his hand at 'get rich quick' schemes in order to avoid actually having to work. But as the mystery of what was transpiring played out, quiet emotions were revealed, and I couldn't help but really admire the honest look at the importance of friendship and forgiveness. It ended up being a pretty significant part of the story, and it made me feel reluctant to leave Jamie for the POV shifts, though they were just as important.

The build up of the supernatural terrorism that tied the present to the past was a chilling and terrifying threat to Jamie and those around him throughout the story; still, there were a few instances that it didn't interest me as much as the characters. Because the characters were so well developed, it's possible I spent too much time reveling in the little details of their personalities to take notice of anything else. Also, I've read books about vampires before where I couldn't help thinking to myself, "Wow, Sparkles! It would be so cool to be a vampire!" But, the vamps in this story make me think something entirely different..."Thank Gawd, I'm human!" LOL

Ultimately, it was awesome to see Jamie and his friends band together for the final showdown, and I loved how the book ended, leaving you to wonder if resisting the allure of promised power and freedom is really possible.

For Jamieson: I pledge to never die wondering.

Rating 3.5
http://www.theunreadreader.com/2011/0...(less)

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Sep 01, 2010 Romy rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who like their vampires with some real evilness going on

Shelves: 2010, vampires, books-i-read-in-2010

Saltwater Vampires is a highly addictive vampire novel which will suck you in from the very beginning (pardon the pun).

I have been patiently waiting for a book like Saltwater Vampires - with real vampires - to enter the YA vampire genre, finally it has arrived! Now you may be wondering what I mean when I say real vampires, well when I say real vampires I mean the evil, nasty looking bloodsuckers of yester years none of this oh so sparkly, beautiful and noble vampires that seem to have inundated...more Saltwater Vampires is a highly addictive vampire novel which will suck you in from the very beginning (pardon the pun).

I have been patiently waiting for a book like Saltwater Vampires - with real vampires - to enter the YA vampire genre, finally it has arrived! Now you may be wondering what I mean when I say real vampires, well when I say real vampires I mean the evil, nasty looking bloodsuckers of yester years none of this oh so sparkly, beautiful and noble vampires that seem to have inundated the market lately. It appears that somewhere along the line vampires in novels changed from being these frightening evil creatures to being these beautiful caring creatures. I for one prefer the former, I like my vampires menacing and nasty and boy does Kirsty Eagar deliver, these vampires gave me the creeps!

Saltwater Vampires beings with a bang, the year is 1629 and the Batavia has crashed off the Australian coast, it soon becomes apparent that four of those that survived the shipwreck are planning on undertaking something very dark and evil. Skip ahead to the present day and we are introduced to Jamie, a 15 year old surfer who is not dealing with an accident that occurred four months ago which involved Jamie and one of his best friends, Dale. I don’t want to give too much away but it becomes apparent very quickly that something strange is going on in Rocky Head. What follows is a non stop suspense filled ride where Jamie and his friends must work together to save not only themselves but their whole town from the vampires because they are coming and they have a plan.

From the moment I read the prologue I was engrossed. As a reader we are not 100% sure of who or what exactly the four shipwreck survivors are so I was eager to discover more of their back story which is elaborated on further as the book progresses. I especially loved how the prologue ended leaving me on edge and a little creeped out

“They made their circle of blood. And only the moon witnessed the slaughter that followed.” - Page 12

Jamie was a relatable character, Kirsty did an excellent job describing the swell of emotions he was going through and boy he was having to deal with some difficult issues. I find that I generally enjoy a book much more when I feel something for the characters and I really felt for Jamie. He was beating himself up for the accident that happened with Dale when in reality it wasn’t his fault, I really wanted to tell him this but I had to remind myself that Jamie is not an actual person he is only a character in a book. Whilst I have never experienced the things Dale endured (absent mother, distant father) I still was able to feel for him as a character too.

I have decided I wouldn’t mind having Jamie’s friends - Tanner, Kelly, Talia and Willem - as friends. All of these characters were willing to sacrifice themselves in order to help both Jamie and Dale which is an excellent quality to find in a friend. Tanner was a relaxed surfer, nothing seemed to phase him except maybe getting stuck in a campervan waiting for vampires to turn up, who wouldn’t get scared! Kelly, a talented surfer, was a bit prickly and aloof at first but I soon softened towards her once I found out the reason as to why she was so prickly. Then we have Talia the new girl in town who takes a liking to both Tanner and Jamie, who’s not afraid to speak her mind especially in situations when she probably shouldn’t. Finally we have Willem, he was a bit of an odd ball but was a wealth of information on vampires (very helpful), I don’t know what it was but there was something about Willem I found endearing.

Kirsty managed to surprise me in this novel, I thought I knew a character and then all of a sudden they did something that I was not expecting at all. There was one particular action a character took that I did not expect, maybe I’m a bit naïve or trusting but I didn’t see that coming.

I also have to mention that I loved the setting for the novel, I could picture Rocky Head so clearly in my head especially because it reminded me of the coastal town we stayed in when I was younger where we used to go camping near the beach for holidays.

Towards the end of the novel the suspense builds until the final confrontation occurs between the vampires and the teens and what a confrontation is was!

The only real issue I had was when Jamie and Tanner were informed that vampires exist by Willem. Now I know this is only a story and vampires aren’t real (obviously) but both Jamie and Tanner just accepted that vampires must be real, there was no real skepticism, if it was me I’d be very skeptical I’d probably ask them what are you on? All this was a little too convenient for me, I would have liked for them to show a bit more uncertainty but like I said it’s only a minor quibble.
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Sep 05, 2010 Nomes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-ya, ya-male-pov, 2010, book-titles-that-rule-the-shelves, crushing-on-the-writing, paranormal-stuff, want-to-hang-out-with-the-gang

Saltwater Vampires has a hugely ambitious and sophisticated plot - there's three story-lines that blend together: the shipwreck and blood pact made on the Batavia (400 years earlier), a gathering of powerful freaky-guys in Amsterdam and Jamie and his mates kicking back surfing in Rocky Head, Australia.

What I loved about this book is it's unique blend of rich prose and suspense-filled plot. It's got this laid-back Aussie pace that manages to buzz with an exhilarating, suspense-filled plot. My rea...more Saltwater Vampires has a hugely ambitious and sophisticated plot - there's three story-lines that blend together: the shipwreck and blood pact made on the Batavia (400 years earlier), a gathering of powerful freaky-guys in Amsterdam and Jamie and his mates kicking back surfing in Rocky Head, Australia.

What I loved about this book is it's unique blend of rich prose and suspense-filled plot. It's got this laid-back Aussie pace that manages to buzz with an exhilarating, suspense-filled plot. My reading experience was similar to Raw Blue: a contradiction - I was tearing through the pages and at the same time pausing at moments to re-read sentences and soak up the magic in the prose.

Jamie and his mates are not your usual heroes or vampire slayers. They're these loveable, freaked-out, wide-eyed and brave teens: flawed and crushed, hopeful and resilient. They're mates who watch each others back as well as let each other down and these contractions are so well drawn that the characters breathe on their own and worked their way into my heart. Eagar is a master of showing and readers are drawn into the richness of her characters and maybe have to work a little to see all the shades and complexities in the Aussie gang (consisting of three guys and two girls - whose history includes crushes, betrayals, guilt, relationship complications and a recent horrific accident in the ocean).

The vampires from the Batavia wreck are seriously freaky creatures of the night. Ugly and evil and the stuff made of nightmares. Powerful and relentless and their desire for blood and sadistic plans of mass feasting gave me chills. The horror factor clawed at my belly - in a wide-eyed, can't-look-away, creeped-out manner.

Just like the power of the outback setting in Lucy Christopher's Stolen, Eagar evokes similar sensations with the ocean. It's churning and powerful and compelling and lurking with hidden horrors. The ocean and the bush and music festival were used to advantage to add to the creepy undertones and Australian authenticity.

I haven't seen many thrillers of this outstanding calibre in the YA scene. Also, the male POV - spot on in a way that made me ache for it's authenticity.

It's a dark, spine-tingling read but not without it's moments of laid-back humour and some heart-felt relationship drama that added some levity. Also, how much did the last page just make me grin? It left me with a sense of loving these guys.

Two quotes I loved:

Aw, bugger it. Don't die wondering. 17.

Jamie's eyes met hers and recognition passed between them. He wondered if that was how it was going to be for the rest of their lives. They'd talk as if they were just two people who used to hang out, but all the time their eyes would be saying, I know you well and I miss you badly. 304.(less)

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Jun 06, 2011 Maggie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, reviewed, aussie-aussie-aussie-oi-oi-oi

It pains me to give Kirsty Eagar 3 stars because she's such a fantastic writer. She sketches characters so clearly that even though you're introduced to so many at once, there isn't that "Who is he/she again?" moment of confusion where you have to flip back through the book. Her characters in this book actually reminded me a bit of Ellie, Lee, Homer, etc from John Marsden's Tomorrow When the War Began series, which I loved. Having said that, I wish the vampire element was removed from this story...more

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Jan 28, 2011 Tori smexys_sidekick rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: guest-review

Originally posted at http://allthingsurbanfantasy.blogspot...

400 hundred years ago four men made a pact sealed in blood and violence. The time has come for that pact to be fulfilled.
Jamie Mackie expects this summer to be like all others. Plenty of surfing, fun, and money from the yearly music festival. All that’s about to change when vampires headline at the festival.
If all goes like planned, Jamie and his town will never see the light of day again.

Kristy Eagar’s SALTWATER VAMPIRES is a bold a...more Originally posted at http://allthingsurbanfantasy.blogspot...

400 hundred years ago four men made a pact sealed in blood and violence. The time has come for that pact to be fulfilled.
Jamie Mackie expects this summer to be like all others. Plenty of surfing, fun, and money from the yearly music festival. All that’s about to change when vampires headline at the festival.
If all goes like planned, Jamie and his town will never see the light of day again.

Kristy Eagar’s SALTWATER VAMPIRES is a bold ambitious tale that brings vampires back into the more traditional role of unrepentant monsters. Set in the small laid back town of Rocky Head; Ms Eager mixes modern with the past as we learn how a 400 year old story develops and pushes it’s way into modern times.

Our protagonist, Jamie Mackie, is your average 15 year old boy who lives for surfing. A serious young man, he uses the ocean for healing as he tries to come to terms with an accident that crippled his best friend Dale. Jamie blames himself and is sure everyone else does too. When Jamie is attacked during a night surf, he is positive that it was Dale. Only, that’s not possible. Or is it? As Jamie and his friends divulge deeper into the changes in Dale, Jamie, and the town they are unprepared for the catastrophic events that are unfolding before their eyes.
I was hard pressed on how to rate this one. On one hand the premise is a brilliant blast from the past as we are re introduced to a seemingly forgotten storyline-evil unlikable vampires. These vampires do not sparkle, aren’t attractive, do not joke, nor want to interact with humanity. These vampires, from whom the myths are written about, come back and steal from their own conclave in order to extend and increase their own immortality.
I loved Ms. Eagar use of Australian history and physical descriptions to landscape and promote the concepts of this book. Loneliness, horror, and helplessness permeate this book, symbolized by the ocean. You get a distinct gothic feel to the whole story.

On the other hand, I just could not “hear” the voice that tells this story-a 15 year old boy. I found him forgettable. Part of it being that his voice has an adult feel to it and didn’t transcribe well into a YA for me. Almost like a documentary; I felt like I was reading facts. The secondary teenage characters, and I hesitate to use secondary as they are all on equal footing here, are all viable deeply evolves, but like Jamie, they did not interest me.

Set in a conversational writing style; I did find it oddly formal and it didn’t “click” for with me as this style often does. There again because I could not “click” with our protagonist.
There are 3 storylines running simultaneously that interact with one another and are painstaking told. The first 1/2 of the book paced slowly for me as we watch the story line being set up and placed. We find ourselves back in time to the ship Batavia where this all begins. Then we jump forward to Rocky Head to see where it will all play out. Once the vampires make themselves known in Rocky Head and to Jamie and his friends, I found the pacing picks up as more action concerning the main conflict is introduced. We learn more about the vampire’s agenda and I found the tension increases dramatically. I do wish the vampire conclave’s make up and history would have been explored a little more in depth. It was very interesting to see the extreme differences between them (the conclave) and the very people who it was all based on and started from.

The ending, though predictable, is a study in subtle horror and suspense as we are led down a path filled twist and turns to a climatic finale that satisfies our questions about Jamie, Dale, and the vampires.I am giving this 3 stars because I feel the book is well written despite my own inability to connect with it.
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Nov 28, 2011 Julie rated it 2 of 5 stars

An Australian vampire story spanning hundreds of years, this novel was ok but not the page turning thriller it was reviewed as.

Two teenage boys on the coast of Australia are bitten and being "turning" into vampires. A group of teenage friends get together and try to eliminate the hundred year old group of four vampires who plan on making themselves stronger by drinking the blood of an "aged" vampire (which they steal) and then feasting on concert goers at a new years eve summer concert.

They suc...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Deborah rated it 4 of 5 stars

really enjoyed this - gripping story that always kept me wanting to know what would happen next (and what had happened in the characters' pasts). great narrative voice from young Aussie guy, with other characters' distinctive voices woven in. lovely surfing scenes, great small-town coastal setting.
if you're fed up with carbon-copy vampire stories, don't worry, this one is original and it's easy to believe - the vampires are so convincing, you can practically smell their stinking breath coming o...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Jemima Puddle Duck rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, books-by-aussie-authors, vampires

Okay, this book dragged on and on. For far. Too. Long. It was pure agony for the first two-thirds of the book, and the ending was only slightly better.

Kirsty Eager, I have a great deal of respect for your work, based on the first time I read Raw Blue, which was simply stunning, but SURFING VAMPIRES??? Yes, I'm an Aussie, and I have been surfing before (not that I'm much good at it), but my imagination cannot hold with this. Why is it that whenever people think of Australia, they think of a big...more

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Apr 13, 2011 Sue Bursztynski rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ooh, it's good! What a clever idea: linking vampires and vampirism to the very first mass murder - no, the first crime - committed on Australian soil. I know the story of the Batavia well, having researched it for my children's book, Crime Time: Australians behaving badly. (So do my students, who have read my book, so when they borrow this one I say, "You know the Batavia incident? Well, it's used for this novel..."). It's a particularly Aussie vampire story, with not only the historical backgro...more

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Dec 31, 2010 JoJo rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampires

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 06, 2013 Ari J Bookzilla rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, clean-read, dare-me

I don't usually read vampire books - as a matter of fact, I stay away from them because they do nothing for me. It's just the fact that I'm a Kirsty Eagar fangirl that made me read this book.
So maybe this book is not that special within the genre, but I absolutely loved it because it felt different. I suppose (and I always want to write I reckon after I read a Kirsty Eagar book) that if I had to step out of my comfort zone and read a vampire book, this was a good choice.

Kirsty Eagar took a real...more I don't usually read vampire books - as a matter of fact, I stay away from them because they do nothing for me. It's just the fact that I'm a Kirsty Eagar fangirl that made me read this book.
So maybe this book is not that special within the genre, but I absolutely loved it because it felt different. I suppose (and I always want to write I reckon after I read a Kirsty Eagar book) that if I had to step out of my comfort zone and read a vampire book, this was a good choice.

Kirsty Eagar took a real event, the sinking of the East India Company ship, Batavia and the massacre that followed and added a vampire twist to it.

You have a secret vampire organization, five very normal teenagers, a fatally ill man, and four really nasty vampires fighting - all against each other.

I loved Jamie. He's this boy who did something he regrets, and he just can't live it down. I think it was more that he couldn't forgive himself, than everyone around him blaming him for it. His thoughts felt somehow realistic, and there was a tiny bit of hopelessness in them which made me very sympathetic to him. There was also determination which made me root for him so much. As much as he wanted to give up, he never did.
Tanner was my favorite of the bunch, for reasons unknown. He was like a voice of reason to Jamie, the way he would keep him in check. I just loved him.

And I loved the little story between Kelly and Jamie and hoped beyond hope that I would get at least something for rooting for them.

The mutineers' plan was brilliant, actually. I found myself wondering if it would have worked if something like that happened for real and I realized that it totally would! The setting was great, I could feel the music festival excitement, and I can definitely see how something like Juice being distributed for free wouldn't have seemed suspicious to anyone!

Oh, I'm kind of mad for what the author did to Sophie. She isn't a major character in the story, but my mind kept going back to her, and what would happen to her if...well, if they managed to stop the vampires. Just awful.

I won't gush about Kirsty Eagar's writing, because I'm a fangirl so there's no point. I thought it was wonderful prose, and I loved that it was written from 3rd person POV. There is a bit of head-hopping which caught me off guard but I got over it. As with her other books, surfing is a big element of the story.

If you are looking to get all hot and bothered over vampires, this is not the book you want to read. If you're looking to read about kickass vampire slayers, this is also not your book. Because these teens have nothing working in their favor, just pure will to survive. The book may be a bit slow but the last ten percent totally makes up for it. The suspense of what will happen next was killing me. I say I definitely loved the book and recommend it, but it may not be everyone's cup of tea.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 10, 2012 Lefa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: australian-women-writers-challenge, 2012, young-adult

I really enjoy Eager's writing style. I was initially hesitant about a vampire/surfing book, but given how much I enjoyed Raw Blue I decided to give this a go. I'm glad I did because even though I didn't love it as much as Raw Blue it was a really good read. Eager writes believable, engaging teenagers with realistic dialogue and a great pace. Again, her love for the costal life is evident in this story, and I enjoyed how she created a narrative that wove historical fact with vampire legend in a...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Maree rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-vampire, aussie, 2013-read, favourites-2013

There are several reasons why I should have read this book earlier. So many people told me this book was fantastic and, of course, they were right. It is a wonderful read. From the very first page I was completely sucked in (hah, oh my wit!)

Set in a small coastal town, Saltwater Vampires is, as the name would suggest, about vampires. But these aren’t your sissy, sparkly vampires. No. These are evil, bloodsucking, murderous vamps who have plans to make sure nobody leaves the Rocky Head music fest...more There are several reasons why I should have read this book earlier. So many people told me this book was fantastic and, of course, they were right. It is a wonderful read. From the very first page I was completely sucked in (hah, oh my wit!)

Set in a small coastal town, Saltwater Vampires is, as the name would suggest, about vampires. But these aren’t your sissy, sparkly vampires. No. These are evil, bloodsucking, murderous vamps who have plans to make sure nobody leaves the Rocky Head music festival alive. It’s up to a group of teenagers to stop them and make sure that two of their own aren’t turned as well.

I really, really enjoyed the characters in this novel. Everyone, from the vampires to Jamie, Tanner and the gang. Everything just felt so authentic to me, it was very easy to believe that this was real. Which is something I always look for in a supernatural/paranormal novel. I know that seems like a strange concept, but when I read I want to be completely absorbed in the word and the novel, whether it be a contemporary romance, a historical fiction or a fantasy land. I want to believe these characters and the events are real and Saltwater Vampires did this so incredibly well.

While this novel was about murderous vampires, I didn’t find myself scared in the way I did with Raven’s Gate. With that I felt a physical manifestation of fear and I had an adrenaline rush as I read it in the dead of night. I’m kind of a glad I didn’t have those feelings with Saltwater Vampires, because I’m not a huge fan of scary movies or books. The reason I didn’t really feel fear was because I was so enthralled in the mystery unfolding. Okay, so I do have to confess that I did guess almost every twist that happened, but I still felt compelled to read and see if my guess was correct.

In terms of the way the story unfolded, I really enjoyed the intermittent point of view shifts. I felt like it kept the suspense quite high and definitely contributed to how captivating I found this book. I also enjoyed the way the significance of the historical elements was revealed later in the novel.

Of course, not everyone is going to feel the same way I do about this book. I know other reviewers had a few issues, but perhaps this was a case of the right book at the right time. Something just clicked between me and this book and I was completely captivated.

Saltwater Vampires is a thrilling paranormal novel which stands out in a sea of YA vampire romances. With a distinctly Australian setting, this is one vampire book I will be looking forward to reading again.

This review and many more can be found at Maree's Musings.(less)

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Dec 20, 2012 Sierra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: eye-catching-title, fangs-and-fur, omg-that-cover-i-want-it, according-to-xy, authored-by-austraila, standalone, just-genuinely-good, alternating-viewpoints

Salwater Vampires inspired a new shelf--"just genuinely good"! There's no guarantee it will have any company, though. (I'll take another look at my rated books so far and see, but...) Anyway, that's how I feel about this book. It was just plain awesome. I mean, nothing went wrong here. And I did that thing again where I get really excited about a book towards the end and can't bear to read the last like 15 pages or so for fear of leaving behind something I love so much forever haha.

There's somet...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars

Cool read. Very cool as in bad vampires, secret societies and all, even that bit of alternate history where the baddies really are as monstrous as the act related. Then the fact that there were demons of the personal sort, for Jamie in particular.

As usual, Eagar’s writing is slow, specific and deliberate. And unlike Night Beach, this one is clearer on what it’s trying to do. That is to scare you brainless. Never did things get to that point with Night Beach as half the time I was wondering what...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Saltwater Vampires
By
Kirsty Eager

My " in a nutshell" summary...

Ooh...yum...watery vamps...Australian surfers...and a dangerous outcome for a small Australian town.

My thoughts after reading this book...

Jamie...young surfer...suddenly undergoing weirdly odd feelings as though he is turning into a vampire...which he is...has awakened to find that his neck has been bitten, he has a sensitivity to sunlight, and he has an unquenchable thirst.

Jamie and the vamp who has bitten him...have to save the wor...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-author

Ah Kirsty Eagar, how I love thee (in a non creepy way) let me count the ways 1 is Raw Blue, 2 is Night Beach and 3 is Saltwater Vampires, 4 better be coming soon (I need more love in my life!)

Seriously, I have been wanting to read Saltwater Vampires for months and finally slotted it into my schedule despite the demands on it. An Australian YA paranormal thriller, Saltwater Vampires twists the famed mutiny and massacre that occurred after the shipwreck of the Batavia off the West Australian coast...more

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Aug 30, 2011 bibliophile brouhaha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, paranormal-young-adult-fiction, young-adult-fiction, aussie-ya

If you look for your vamp lit with accessible supes, the kind who can be redeemed with luuurve and are actually misunderstood creatures, you got the wrong book here. Kirsty Eagar's vamps are made of equal parts evil ambition and diabolical craftiness.

That's not to say there isn't redemption. But it's not where you think it would be in a paranormal tale, nor is it received with everything folded up neat and even. No, this is a tale of choice and consequence, of truth and action, with an actual h...more If you look for your vamp lit with accessible supes, the kind who can be redeemed with luuurve and are actually misunderstood creatures, you got the wrong book here. Kirsty Eagar's vamps are made of equal parts evil ambition and diabolical craftiness.

That's not to say there isn't redemption. But it's not where you think it would be in a paranormal tale, nor is it received with everything folded up neat and even. No, this is a tale of choice and consequence, of truth and action, with an actual historical incident as its foundation and group of friends as its heart. There are three plots to the story that are woven together:

**four rouge vampires who made a pact 400 years ago are planning a new, evil event
**a vampire apprentice from a society in Holland races against time to find the four, but for what reasons?
**a once-upon-a-time group of friends, still connected but splintered and strained, comes together to save two of their own

The first two are marvelously intertwined - I had the same feeling reading it as I did The DaVinci Code with its historical emphasis blooming into modern mystery. The supernatural factor, the demand for secrecy, and the very nerve-wracking feeling that every person is most sincerely out for only personal gain added a true level of creepy suspense - when the synopsis says thriller, it means it. That's not to say that we don't see evil portrayed in other YA; it's simply that in this book there is a level of detached sophistication in certain characters which makes their actions entirely believable and extremely cold-blooded. I more than once thought that this is a book that adults, particularly ones who enjoy thrillers, would find intriguing, as well.

Which is why I was delighted to find the story of 15-year old Jamie and his friends to be not only seamlessly ingrained around the vampiric past and present, but also provided an emotional core not always present in thrillers. Usually, we find the suspense in thrillers to mimic the emotion we would otherwise miss, but here we have a former group of friends whose ties have been skewered through various means, but must make their way around their own past to be a united front in the present. And they are a wonderful, entirely believable group of friends - their affection for each other is authentic, as are the hurt feelings that keep them apart. They each are wonderfully written characters, and we get to know them, their flaws, desires, bravery and fears in great detail. The interaction between them is natural and tangible, whether it's filled with anger or affection. And here is something I particularly love about Eagar's writing: she really lets her characters feel the full weight of actions rendered and choices made. There is no easy peace here, no neatly tied up resolution; what's given are the decisions one can live with, and the consequences a person has to live through. This just as easily could have been a book without the supernatural element and been about friends falling apart and coming together again. The tying in of historical fact and mythical evil does not diminish this aspect of the book, but makes Saltwater Vampires a unique, noteworthy and very welcome addition to YA paranormal.(less)

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Aug 27, 2012 Steph Su rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-ya, own, best-of-12, sports

There are few authors I would trust to write a truly original and good vampire story. Kirsty Eagar is one of them, and she delivers beautifully with SALTWATER VAMPIRES, her sophomore novel. Quirky, fast-paced, and sprawling, SALTWATER VAMPIRES should be your next read if you’re looking for a book that’s, well, pretty much like no other.

Usually the adjectives “quirky,” “fast-paced,” and “sprawling” aren’t used together to describe one book, but hey, this is Kirsty Eagar we’re talking about here,...more There are few authors I would trust to write a truly original and good vampire story. Kirsty Eagar is one of them, and she delivers beautifully with SALTWATER VAMPIRES, her sophomore novel. Quirky, fast-paced, and sprawling, SALTWATER VAMPIRES should be your next read if you’re looking for a book that’s, well, pretty much like no other.

Usually the adjectives “quirky,” “fast-paced,” and “sprawling” aren’t used together to describe one book, but hey, this is Kirsty Eagar we’re talking about here, and she defies norms. SALTWATER VAMPIRES is quirky because, as others have said, it is a purely Australian vampire thriller. It combines elements of the paranormal, thriller, horror, and YA contemporary, presented in a distinctly Australian writing style, by which I mean, in addition to some Australian slang, a deep respect for readers’ intelligences: the book is not going to pause for you to get with it, so you had better not have a lazy reading mind and expect everything to be laid out clearly for you.

SALTWATER VAMPIRES’ fast pace comes from its thriller aspect. The book channels some Dan Brown and Stieg Larsson for its exciting premise. Don’t expect a melodramatic romance here: these 15-year-olds are trying to save their town, and their actions and reactions befit that of one of their age and predicament—that is, they (especially the boys) are going to occasionally say some really stupid things that make you want to clip them upside the head the way you would a younger brother. I truly enjoyed how realistic yet personable the characters were, and would not trade their occasional awkwardness and dramatically heroic decisions for the much more boring and unbelievable antics of a pair (or trio) of luv-struck-dumb teenagers.

Finally, this book is sprawling because of the way it successfully handles its convergence of multiple genres, time periods, and perspectives. In between setting up the Batavia backstory to following the thoughts of some vampire-connected adults on their journey to Australia, the book remains true to its YA genre by treating its teenaged characters the way they should be treated: sympathetically, but with attention paid to their idiosyncracies and (occasional) idiocies.

SALTWATER VAMPIRES doesn’t make vampires out to be anything other than single-minded monsters. It also doesn’t delve too much into the subtle mindsets of adolescents, so if you’re looking for something akin to Raw Blue, you won’t find it here. On the other hand, if you want an exciting read unhampered by teenager melodrama, you’ll want to basically date this book.(less)

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Apr 04, 2011 Mari - loves to read rated it 4 of 5 stars

“Saltwater Vampires is a distinctly Australian vampire thriller.” now that was a great sales pitch, it really grabbed my attention. I've never read any vampires novels set in Australia, it sounded like an original idea and I loved the fact that these vampires had a story connected to a real historical event. When I read a review of the novel over at The Book Nerd Club I knew that I had to buy myself a copy. However that was not all that easy, I soon discovered that the novel was only released in...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Samantha-Ellen Bound rated it 3 of 5 stars

Picked up Saltwater Vampires after falling in love with Eagar’s Raw Blue. For me, this one was not in the same league. But there were lots of things I enjoyed and appreciated about it.

I liked the ‘contemporary YA’ overtone the best, and this is what I think Eagar excels at. Jamie and his gang of friends and vamp-busters are all funny and likeable and totally cool and all the rest, and their interactions are true to life and affectionately written. I liked where Eagar was taking their emotional s...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Star rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-vampires

Kirsty Eager writes really well, no doubt about that. But I so loved Raw Blue and wished she hadn't included a vampire element here. Was that because of the popularity of vampire books, I wonder? She doesn't need to stray from the gritty realism and wonderful characterisation she's so good at.

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About Kirsty Eagar

Kirsty Eagar grew up on a central Queensland cattle property and spent her school holidays at the beach. After studying economics, she worked on trading desks in Sydney and London before changing careers, wanting a life where she could surf every day. She travelled around Australia for a couple of years, worked a variety of jobs and began writing fiction. Her debut novel, Raw Blue, was published b...more

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Quotes from Saltwater Vampires

“Jamie's eyes met hers and recognition passed between them. He wondered if that was how it was going to be for the rest of their lives. They'd talk as if they were just two people who used to hang out, but all the time their eyes would be saying, I know you well and I miss you badly.” — 5 people liked it

“It was something they'd done a thousand times before. If Jamie went surfing with a mate and paddled in first, he always took time for that final wave. And there was something so familiar in the ritual that for a moment he felt like everything was right.

He felt forgiven.” — 1 person liked it

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