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Saltwater Vampires
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, summer holidays in the coastal town of Rocky Head mean surfing, making money, and good times at the local music festival. But this year, vampires are on the festival’s line-up … fulfilling a pact made on the wreck of the Batavia, four hundred years ago. If their plans succeed, nobody in Rocky Head will survive to see out the new year.
Page-turning and suspenseful, Saltwater Vampires is a distinctly Australian vampire thriller.
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, summer holidays in the coastal town of Rocky Head mean surfing, making money, and good times at the local music festival. But this year, vampires are on the festival’s line-up … fulfilling a pact made on the wreck of the Batavia, four hundred years ago. If their plans succeed, nobody in Rocky Head will survive to see out the new year.
Page-turning and suspenseful, Saltwater Vampires is a distinctly Australian vampire thriller.
372 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2010
4 people are currently reading
1273 people want to read
About the author
Kirsty Eagar
4 books314 followersKirsty 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 by Penguin in 2009, and won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Young Adult fiction. Saltwater Vampires, her second novel, was shortlisted for the 2011 New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards. Kirsty lives with her husband and two daughters on Sydney’s northern beaches.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
June 3, 2020
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.
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 mess with some australian teens in modern times? well, you know aussie teens - they aren't going to take that shit, hey?
and i really liked it.
although like Raw Blue, there is almost too much detail about surfing. it's probably something that bookish surfers appreciate, but for the landlubbers among us who havenever willnever surf/ed, the attention to detail is simply mystifying.
apart from that, i thought this was a genuinely gripping vampire story, and i am someone who is rarely interested in vampire fiction.
the mythology was solid, the contemporary characters felt realistic, and i thought the story flowed really well, even though it was not really a quick read. i appreciated the density to it; it never felt that story was being sacrificed to pacing, the way some YA can.
i had a couple of issues with the lurve/relationship elements, but those parts are usually the parts i am enduring to get to the good stuff anyway, so the occasionally bewildering decisions and lack of communication by our characters in their social relationships didn't bother me the way they probably did for some readers.
i was just there for the vampires. and they did not disappoint. they are not feel-good vampires who are looking for a clumsy teen girl to love - these vampires are all about the power and enhancing their immortality. and it is good, good stuff.
i am eagar to read another book by her.
groan...
come to my blog!
so this book is about this.
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 mess with some australian teens in modern times? well, you know aussie teens - they aren't going to take that shit, hey?
and i really liked it.
although like Raw Blue, there is almost too much detail about surfing. it's probably something that bookish surfers appreciate, but for the landlubbers among us who havenever willnever surf/ed, the attention to detail is simply mystifying.
apart from that, i thought this was a genuinely gripping vampire story, and i am someone who is rarely interested in vampire fiction.
the mythology was solid, the contemporary characters felt realistic, and i thought the story flowed really well, even though it was not really a quick read. i appreciated the density to it; it never felt that story was being sacrificed to pacing, the way some YA can.
i had a couple of issues with the lurve/relationship elements, but those parts are usually the parts i am enduring to get to the good stuff anyway, so the occasionally bewildering decisions and lack of communication by our characters in their social relationships didn't bother me the way they probably did for some readers.
i was just there for the vampires. and they did not disappoint. they are not feel-good vampires who are looking for a clumsy teen girl to love - these vampires are all about the power and enhancing their immortality. and it is good, good stuff.
i am eagar to read another book by her.
groan...
come to my blog!
July 9, 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 to re-imagine this story as if vampires were somehow involved in this savage part of the country's history. Saltwater Vampires follows three interconnected threads, one from the 17th century, one involving a few of the mutineers gathering forces in present day, and one that follows Jamie Mackie, a 15-year-old who expected to spend his summer surfing, chasing girls, and maybe earning some money. One night as Jamie and his buddy are out night surfing, however, he is brutally attacked while he is far away from shore, and his wound won't seem to stop bleeding. But what really freaks Jamie out is that he thinks he actually knows his attacker...and it's someone who should not be anywhere near the water at all.
I really loved the author's writing. The way she describes the sensation of being out in the water and surfing are incredibly evocative, and you can practically smell the surf wax and feel the white brightness of the sun and the wincing sting of salt in your eyes. Although the conversations between Jamie and his friends are casual and touched with humor, there is also a stillness and depth in many of the passages that are quietly chilling. Many parts of this book, although not graphic or gross, are dark and frightening and sad because of the feelings they call forth.
********************************************************************
Excerpt:
The world kept changing but he remained the same, cold and pale and still. His face full of pain, his blue eyes haunted by the things they'd seen, the bite on his neck throbbing like a heartbeat. He felt a terrible ache inside him. At first he couldn't identify the feeling, but...he knew what it was. It was loneliness. He was becoming a vampire and if he lived forever, everything he loved would change, and everyone he cared about would die.
********************************************************************
The writing is really beautiful and wordy, and the story is perhaps more complex than many YA readers will be accustomed to. Although I enjoyed hanging out with Jamie and his friends, I think the book would have flowed a little better if some of their casual scenes didn't take up so much time, as the book lost some of its momentum in the middle. The urgency and fear I felt in the beginning were somewhat lost midway through the book, and in a way it never really recaptured that same tone again. Still, there's a really good ending battle and this is probably one of the most well-written and unusual vampire books that I'll ever read. I'd love to read more books from this author, as she certainly has a way with words.
Totally irrelevant side note:
My heartfelt thanks to Missie and Nic for sending this book along as part of the Go Aussie Book Tour! I really appreciate having the opportunity to read such great Australian YA literature thanks to their generosity. So many of these titles will never make it to the U.S. (or will take years to get here), so it's wonderful to be exposed to authors we might otherwise never find.
How ingenious it is to re-imagine this story as if vampires were somehow involved in this savage part of the country's history. Saltwater Vampires follows three interconnected threads, one from the 17th century, one involving a few of the mutineers gathering forces in present day, and one that follows Jamie Mackie, a 15-year-old who expected to spend his summer surfing, chasing girls, and maybe earning some money. One night as Jamie and his buddy are out night surfing, however, he is brutally attacked while he is far away from shore, and his wound won't seem to stop bleeding. But what really freaks Jamie out is that he thinks he actually knows his attacker...and it's someone who should not be anywhere near the water at all.
I really loved the author's writing. The way she describes the sensation of being out in the water and surfing are incredibly evocative, and you can practically smell the surf wax and feel the white brightness of the sun and the wincing sting of salt in your eyes. Although the conversations between Jamie and his friends are casual and touched with humor, there is also a stillness and depth in many of the passages that are quietly chilling. Many parts of this book, although not graphic or gross, are dark and frightening and sad because of the feelings they call forth.
********************************************************************
Excerpt:
The world kept changing but he remained the same, cold and pale and still. His face full of pain, his blue eyes haunted by the things they'd seen, the bite on his neck throbbing like a heartbeat. He felt a terrible ache inside him. At first he couldn't identify the feeling, but...he knew what it was. It was loneliness. He was becoming a vampire and if he lived forever, everything he loved would change, and everyone he cared about would die.
********************************************************************
The writing is really beautiful and wordy, and the story is perhaps more complex than many YA readers will be accustomed to. Although I enjoyed hanging out with Jamie and his friends, I think the book would have flowed a little better if some of their casual scenes didn't take up so much time, as the book lost some of its momentum in the middle. The urgency and fear I felt in the beginning were somewhat lost midway through the book, and in a way it never really recaptured that same tone again. Still, there's a really good ending battle and this is probably one of the most well-written and unusual vampire books that I'll ever read. I'd love to read more books from this author, as she certainly has a way with words.
Totally irrelevant side note:
My heartfelt thanks to Missie and Nic for sending this book along as part of the Go Aussie Book Tour! I really appreciate having the opportunity to read such great Australian YA literature thanks to their generosity. So many of these titles will never make it to the U.S. (or will take years to get here), so it's wonderful to be exposed to authors we might otherwise never find.
September 16, 2011
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 thriller where a secret society plots to annihilate said bad-ass vampires and to restore peace and perpetuate its secrecy?
There were three distinct plot threads going on at the same time and let me tell you that the whole thing was complicated and distracting.
The parts where the book wanted to be a paranormal novel reminded me a lot of one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, except the pirates, in this case, were vampires. The whole book is about them stealing a flask of super ancient vampire blood in order to perform a ritual and be able to:
a - walk in daylight again, so basically being nostalgic of the time they were humans;
b - travel through time to go back to the time of the shipwreck of the Batavia and look for Lucretia. WHAT? A bloodsucking predator with a romantic heart? Did I miss something there?
The parts were the book wanted to be YA fiction were certainly the best, we know Eagar excels in the field. Lots of surfing, like in Raw Blue, and a set of quirky, funny characters trying to solve their inner conflicts and, simultaneously, fight off the horde of monsters come to town. I loved those scenes, the surfing and the dialogue but it put a lull in the building-up of the plot, making the pauses excessively long. Midway through, it lost momentum and it started to get tedious.
The final scene is really adventurous and spectacular but I'm not sure if readers will actually get that far in the book. I did, out of sheer stubbornness.
The part where it wanted to be thriller and the secret society was involved were fairly predictable, both in regard to Clifford's motives and as to how it would end for him. And how could said centuries-old secret society be so inept at locating the bad guys?
The writing is, true to Eagar's style, flawless, although this book could surely have been (should have been) shorter, in my opinion.
It is its hybrid character that really didn't sit well with me.
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 thriller where a secret society plots to annihilate said bad-ass vampires and to restore peace and perpetuate its secrecy?
There were three distinct plot threads going on at the same time and let me tell you that the whole thing was complicated and distracting.
The parts where the book wanted to be a paranormal novel reminded me a lot of one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, except the pirates, in this case, were vampires. The whole book is about them stealing a flask of super ancient vampire blood in order to perform a ritual and be able to:
a - walk in daylight again, so basically being nostalgic of the time they were humans;
b - travel through time to go back to the time of the shipwreck of the Batavia and look for Lucretia. WHAT? A bloodsucking predator with a romantic heart? Did I miss something there?
The parts were the book wanted to be YA fiction were certainly the best, we know Eagar excels in the field. Lots of surfing, like in Raw Blue, and a set of quirky, funny characters trying to solve their inner conflicts and, simultaneously, fight off the horde of monsters come to town. I loved those scenes, the surfing and the dialogue but it put a lull in the building-up of the plot, making the pauses excessively long. Midway through, it lost momentum and it started to get tedious.
The final scene is really adventurous and spectacular but I'm not sure if readers will actually get that far in the book. I did, out of sheer stubbornness.
The part where it wanted to be thriller and the secret society was involved were fairly predictable, both in regard to Clifford's motives and as to how it would end for him. And how could said centuries-old secret society be so inept at locating the bad guys?
The writing is, true to Eagar's style, flawless, although this book could surely have been (should have been) shorter, in my opinion.
It is its hybrid character that really didn't sit well with me.
September 6, 2010
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.
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.
March 16, 2021
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 Vampires stands alone as a great example of vampire fiction the way it should be: with vampires causing havoc and lusting after human blood. The Australian backdrop of a small beachside town in the midst of a summer music festival made it come alive, and was the perfect setting for the story to unfold.
Although I did find the prologue a little slow going, once the story proper began it raced along. With great characters and great dialogue, this Australian twist on the vampire legend is a must read. Highly recommended.
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 Vampires stands alone as a great example of vampire fiction the way it should be: with vampires causing havoc and lusting after human blood. The Australian backdrop of a small beachside town in the midst of a summer music festival made it come alive, and was the perfect setting for the story to unfold.
Although I did find the prologue a little slow going, once the story proper began it raced along. With great characters and great dialogue, this Australian twist on the vampire legend is a must read. Highly recommended.
July 13, 2012
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.
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.
April 20, 2017
I was initially drawn to this book because 1) vampires, and 2) it was hard to find. All the copies were on the other side of the world and just too damn expensive, until somehow I happened across a cheap copy at Abe and snagged that bad boy up.
The back cover of the copy I got made this book seem reminiscent of the movie The Lost Boys, which I love. I was excited to start it because of this.
Both the movie and this book are set in coastal towns, and the book has a music festival that echoed TLB's rock 'n' roll vibe. There was even a scene in the book with one character floating at the second-story window of another. But these characters were younger, only 15, and the vampires were nowhere near as cool, and the rock 'n' roll vibe just wasn't there despite music pervading the entire book.
It was an okay read, and it didn't fail my expectations simply because it didn't live up to a movie it has nothing to do with. This seemed really long and drawn out for something with an average page count, and the characters weren't given quite enough depth to make me care about them for that long. All the action takes place over two or three days, with a couple flashback scenes, yet there was somehow time for long conversations between he characters. The plot was just kind of all over the place, and the climactic scene was, sad to say, a little silly.
I'm still on the fence about whether I'll keep this or donate it.
The back cover of the copy I got made this book seem reminiscent of the movie The Lost Boys, which I love. I was excited to start it because of this.
Both the movie and this book are set in coastal towns, and the book has a music festival that echoed TLB's rock 'n' roll vibe. There was even a scene in the book with one character floating at the second-story window of another. But these characters were younger, only 15, and the vampires were nowhere near as cool, and the rock 'n' roll vibe just wasn't there despite music pervading the entire book.
It was an okay read, and it didn't fail my expectations simply because it didn't live up to a movie it has nothing to do with. This seemed really long and drawn out for something with an average page count, and the characters weren't given quite enough depth to make me care about them for that long. All the action takes place over two or three days, with a couple flashback scenes, yet there was somehow time for long conversations between he characters. The plot was just kind of all over the place, and the climactic scene was, sad to say, a little silly.
I'm still on the fence about whether I'll keep this or donate it.
February 2, 2015
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.
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.
August 11, 2013
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.
the end scene where jamie and his group of friends will either lead readers snorting in disbelief or make them succumb to nostalgia with its buffy/charmed-esque scene:
another quote:
August 7, 2014
'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 Rocky Head native. He loves the sun, sand, surf and Rocky Head’s annual music festival. Jamie lives for the waves and the oblivion of riding inside a wall of water. Surfing has become quite cathartic to Jamie since a boating accident saw his best-friend permanently scarred and refusing to talk to him. Things have been tense between Jamie and Dale ever since the accident, but Jamie never thought that Dale would go so far as to attack him... While surfing one morning Dale starts swinging fists in the ocean, ending the fight with a vicious bite to Jamie’s neck. What follows is Jamie’s hunt for answers, along with his best friend Tanner, Dale’s girlfriend Kelly and new resident of Rocky Head, Talia – this group of surfer locals uncover more than they ever bargained for and discover a dark side to Rocky Head.
Jamie removed his sunglasses, squinting at Willem.
“Too bright for you?” Willem asked knowingly.
It was. Blindingly bright. Jamie had to jam his sunglasses back on. “How do you know it’s a bite?”
“I said, it’s a special kind of bite. And it must be real because I don’t know why you’d manufacture something like that. It’s completely at odds with your type.”
“My type?”
“You’re a capitalist waxhead. Not the type who’s into dark fantasy.”
“You got that right. Even if I still have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about nigthwalkers, bloodsuckers, phantoms of the night...Vampires.”
Apart from Keri Arthur’s ‘Riley Jenson’ series, Australian authors really haven’t jumped on the Urban Fantasy/Vampire bandwagon. Personally, I think that all needs to change... because ‘vampires’ as a subject are not a passing fad. They are a genre unto themselves, and there’s definitely room in the Australian book market for some uniquely Aussie vampire tales... case and point, Eagar’s ‘Saltwater Vampires’.
How to describe this book? It’s an eclectic mix of the very best of Vampirism and Australian culture. It’s reminiscent of the 1987 cult-classic ‘The Lost Boys’, with a dash of Keanu’s ‘Point Break’, and a nod to the ‘Underworld’ movie franchise. But still with an Aussie flair, for Eagar’s writing style reminded me of our two heavy-weight authors (in their respective readerships) Tim Winton and John Marsden.
The pace is slow, and I found that initially hard to overcome. But at some point it clicked for me that this is an *Australian* vampire novel. Eagar isn’t writing to Urban Fantasy conventions as I've come to know them through American UF books. Eagar is instead putting an Aussie spin on an old gothic tale. And the fact of the matter is; every country in the world has different storytelling conventions, and Aussie books likewise have a different flavour. I would say our books prefer a more relaxed narrative style, letting the character’s introduce themselves and the story unravel as it will. The slower pace also works for the fact that this is a surfing novel, and there’s something about that culture that’s all about being laidback and carefree.
Eagar beautifully delves into characterization. As much as the vampire plot is exhilarating and terrifying, Eagar’s exploration of her character’s motivations is equally intricate and submerging. Jamie is a boy who hates himself. He let his best mate down and is now living with survivor’s guilt. Jamie is a wonderful hero for all his flaws and complexities, some of which are on the surface, but readers also have to work to recognize his deeper scars.
Jamie’s ‘Scooby gang’ consist of his best mate and quintessential surfer dude, Tanner (who yawns when he’s nervous. Ha!). Dale’s girlfriend, Kelly, with whom Jamie has his own complications. And new Rocky Head resident, Talia, who uses her hotness magic on the boys. This isn’t your typical crack-squad of vampire hunters, but they are very typical Australian teenagers and a chance for Eagar to hold up a very apt mirror to our younger generation.
Eagar has really used the Australian landscape to great horror advantage. ‘Saltwater Vampires’ takes place in and around the sea (Australia is an island; after all). The sand and surf make for an eerie backdrop to the collision and confrontations with the vampires. The eeriness of a black ocean at night, and the loneliness of crashing waves; Eagar captures this picturesque Australian scenery and turns it into an astonishingly spine-tingling gothic setting;
By then, the tip of a lava-orange sun had appeared over the horizon. The ocean was purple and grey, bruised by the dawn sky.
The story jumps between present day in Rocky Head, following Jamie as he searches for his friend Dale, and discovers more than he bargained for. Then a few chapters flashback to ‘Amsterdam, three weeks earlier’. In Amsterdam a covert organization called ‘Piravem’ guard the four original vampire bloodlines, but supernatural terrorism looms when Jeronimus Cornelisz steals the blood of ancient vampire, Vitus.
This jump-back was quite jarring, but once I let Eagar’s distinctly Australian narrative take the reigns the flashback paid off. Ten-fold. I had to stick with it, but the converging of storylines were worth the wait and moments of confusion.
The book does have a few problems. I had one small complaint about the vampire 'reveal', as it was a little too convenient and coincidental for my liking. Jamie bumps into a brainiac classmate who sees his neck wound and connects the dots because as well as being a super genius he is a fan of vampire fiction. The reveal was a little clunky for me. But having read a lot of Urban Fantasy, I know that lots of writers struggle with the plot technicalities of explaining vampires in the real world - at least Eagar didn't go the Stephenie Meyer route and have Jamie type keywords into a search engine.
Like I said earlier, Australian authors (or publishers?) really haven’t responded to the Vampire literary craze. I’m sure there’s lots of reasons for that – mainly that America has really cornered the market, and also that the Australian literary scene is by comparison smaller and heavy on the *literary*. I hope that changes, soon-ish. If Eagar’s ‘Saltwater Vampires’ is anything to go by, then we do have Australian voices out there that have a vampire tale to tell... and I, for one, would love to read about vampires in my backyard.
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 Rocky Head native. He loves the sun, sand, surf and Rocky Head’s annual music festival. Jamie lives for the waves and the oblivion of riding inside a wall of water. Surfing has become quite cathartic to Jamie since a boating accident saw his best-friend permanently scarred and refusing to talk to him. Things have been tense between Jamie and Dale ever since the accident, but Jamie never thought that Dale would go so far as to attack him... While surfing one morning Dale starts swinging fists in the ocean, ending the fight with a vicious bite to Jamie’s neck. What follows is Jamie’s hunt for answers, along with his best friend Tanner, Dale’s girlfriend Kelly and new resident of Rocky Head, Talia – this group of surfer locals uncover more than they ever bargained for and discover a dark side to Rocky Head.
Jamie removed his sunglasses, squinting at Willem.
“Too bright for you?” Willem asked knowingly.
It was. Blindingly bright. Jamie had to jam his sunglasses back on. “How do you know it’s a bite?”
“I said, it’s a special kind of bite. And it must be real because I don’t know why you’d manufacture something like that. It’s completely at odds with your type.”
“My type?”
“You’re a capitalist waxhead. Not the type who’s into dark fantasy.”
“You got that right. Even if I still have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about nigthwalkers, bloodsuckers, phantoms of the night...Vampires.”
Apart from Keri Arthur’s ‘Riley Jenson’ series, Australian authors really haven’t jumped on the Urban Fantasy/Vampire bandwagon. Personally, I think that all needs to change... because ‘vampires’ as a subject are not a passing fad. They are a genre unto themselves, and there’s definitely room in the Australian book market for some uniquely Aussie vampire tales... case and point, Eagar’s ‘Saltwater Vampires’.
How to describe this book? It’s an eclectic mix of the very best of Vampirism and Australian culture. It’s reminiscent of the 1987 cult-classic ‘The Lost Boys’, with a dash of Keanu’s ‘Point Break’, and a nod to the ‘Underworld’ movie franchise. But still with an Aussie flair, for Eagar’s writing style reminded me of our two heavy-weight authors (in their respective readerships) Tim Winton and John Marsden.
The pace is slow, and I found that initially hard to overcome. But at some point it clicked for me that this is an *Australian* vampire novel. Eagar isn’t writing to Urban Fantasy conventions as I've come to know them through American UF books. Eagar is instead putting an Aussie spin on an old gothic tale. And the fact of the matter is; every country in the world has different storytelling conventions, and Aussie books likewise have a different flavour. I would say our books prefer a more relaxed narrative style, letting the character’s introduce themselves and the story unravel as it will. The slower pace also works for the fact that this is a surfing novel, and there’s something about that culture that’s all about being laidback and carefree.
Eagar beautifully delves into characterization. As much as the vampire plot is exhilarating and terrifying, Eagar’s exploration of her character’s motivations is equally intricate and submerging. Jamie is a boy who hates himself. He let his best mate down and is now living with survivor’s guilt. Jamie is a wonderful hero for all his flaws and complexities, some of which are on the surface, but readers also have to work to recognize his deeper scars.
Jamie’s ‘Scooby gang’ consist of his best mate and quintessential surfer dude, Tanner (who yawns when he’s nervous. Ha!). Dale’s girlfriend, Kelly, with whom Jamie has his own complications. And new Rocky Head resident, Talia, who uses her hotness magic on the boys. This isn’t your typical crack-squad of vampire hunters, but they are very typical Australian teenagers and a chance for Eagar to hold up a very apt mirror to our younger generation.
Eagar has really used the Australian landscape to great horror advantage. ‘Saltwater Vampires’ takes place in and around the sea (Australia is an island; after all). The sand and surf make for an eerie backdrop to the collision and confrontations with the vampires. The eeriness of a black ocean at night, and the loneliness of crashing waves; Eagar captures this picturesque Australian scenery and turns it into an astonishingly spine-tingling gothic setting;
By then, the tip of a lava-orange sun had appeared over the horizon. The ocean was purple and grey, bruised by the dawn sky.
The story jumps between present day in Rocky Head, following Jamie as he searches for his friend Dale, and discovers more than he bargained for. Then a few chapters flashback to ‘Amsterdam, three weeks earlier’. In Amsterdam a covert organization called ‘Piravem’ guard the four original vampire bloodlines, but supernatural terrorism looms when Jeronimus Cornelisz steals the blood of ancient vampire, Vitus.
This jump-back was quite jarring, but once I let Eagar’s distinctly Australian narrative take the reigns the flashback paid off. Ten-fold. I had to stick with it, but the converging of storylines were worth the wait and moments of confusion.
The book does have a few problems. I had one small complaint about the vampire 'reveal', as it was a little too convenient and coincidental for my liking. Jamie bumps into a brainiac classmate who sees his neck wound and connects the dots because as well as being a super genius he is a fan of vampire fiction. The reveal was a little clunky for me. But having read a lot of Urban Fantasy, I know that lots of writers struggle with the plot technicalities of explaining vampires in the real world - at least Eagar didn't go the Stephenie Meyer route and have Jamie type keywords into a search engine.
Like I said earlier, Australian authors (or publishers?) really haven’t responded to the Vampire literary craze. I’m sure there’s lots of reasons for that – mainly that America has really cornered the market, and also that the Australian literary scene is by comparison smaller and heavy on the *literary*. I hope that changes, soon-ish. If Eagar’s ‘Saltwater Vampires’ is anything to go by, then we do have Australian voices out there that have a vampire tale to tell... and I, for one, would love to read about vampires in my backyard.
September 1, 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 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.
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.
September 20, 2020
Saltwater Vampires by Kirsty Eagar is a dark and gritty teen novel about a group of Australian surfing teens that are the only thing that stands between a normal holiday break and a complete vampire takeover.
I grabbed this because I’ve really enjoyed the last two books by Kirsty I read AND because it was giving me total The Lost Boys vibes. It’s definitely not the dreamy romantic teen vampire book of yesterday since the villainous vampires are the result of a mutiny and massacre in the 1600’s.
I think Kirsty Eagar did an excellent job building the world and creating her vampire lore. I also liked all the teens and found them to be well-rounded and flawed and I rooted for them as they tried to do the right thing and kick old vampire butt.
I recommend this one for reader’s off all ages that like their vampires as villains and aren’t looking for a big love story. Rated 3.75 and rounded up to 4 for Amazon/Goodreads.
I grabbed this because I’ve really enjoyed the last two books by Kirsty I read AND because it was giving me total The Lost Boys vibes. It’s definitely not the dreamy romantic teen vampire book of yesterday since the villainous vampires are the result of a mutiny and massacre in the 1600’s.
I think Kirsty Eagar did an excellent job building the world and creating her vampire lore. I also liked all the teens and found them to be well-rounded and flawed and I rooted for them as they tried to do the right thing and kick old vampire butt.
I recommend this one for reader’s off all ages that like their vampires as villains and aren’t looking for a big love story. Rated 3.75 and rounded up to 4 for Amazon/Goodreads.
August 27, 2012
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.
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.
December 12, 2012
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 the protagonists were as going on about. Here, there’s a clearer definition of what’s going on here and who’s facing off and why.
And who indeed?
On one side you’ve got bat shit (heh) vampires with delusions of … ergh, something. Then on the other are a set of teens who’re mucking about and doing what they love (that would be surfing once again.)
Take your time with this one though because the beauty’s not in the scary vamps or even the boys facing up to hard truths (though both those bits were good too. ) The beauty in this one has to do with the writing: slow but not boring. So specifically laid out, that each word, then every phrase has purpose that us to paint us a world that’s got a secret that’s bigger than they all imagine, but fun too… except substitute the word scary for fun… as more often then not, things in this one did get like that. Bottom line? There’s no denying Eagar simply has got a way with putting words together…
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 the protagonists were as going on about. Here, there’s a clearer definition of what’s going on here and who’s facing off and why.
And who indeed?
On one side you’ve got bat shit (heh) vampires with delusions of … ergh, something. Then on the other are a set of teens who’re mucking about and doing what they love (that would be surfing once again.)
Take your time with this one though because the beauty’s not in the scary vamps or even the boys facing up to hard truths (though both those bits were good too. ) The beauty in this one has to do with the writing: slow but not boring. So specifically laid out, that each word, then every phrase has purpose that us to paint us a world that’s got a secret that’s bigger than they all imagine, but fun too… except substitute the word scary for fun… as more often then not, things in this one did get like that. Bottom line? There’s no denying Eagar simply has got a way with putting words together…
August 22, 2010
This is an amazing book, not like twilight by any means. It is one of the booksw which i could not put down (read it in just under a week even with assignments at school). Kirsty gave my Extension 1 English class a copy each and I for one loved it. I recommend to anyone to read it.
June 19, 2017
So it’s summer (at least here in the northern hemisphere), which means the days are longer, the nights warmer, and readers are busting out their beach reads. So what do I cozy up with as my first pick of the summer? Saltwater Vampires by Aussie YA author, Kirsty Eagar.
If you didn’t find the ocean a tad bit creepy before (and you should, just think of how many people have died in there), you certainly will now. Sign on here for bloodsuckers, revisionist history, secret societies, and of course—some killer waves.
I adore a good spin on history. In fact, there’s something almost comforting about blaming creatures of the night for some of the atrocities that humankind itself has committed over the centuries. One such being the mass murder of over 140 men, women, and children on an island off the Australian coast in 1629. Following the wreck of the Dutch East India Company’s ship, Batavia, there was a mutiny among the leadership and survivors were left stranded on small islands awaiting rescue. Jeronimus Cornelisz, left in charge of the survivors, lead a murderous group of men to systematically kill off anyone who challenged or annoyed them. Kirsty Eagar, being of slight genius, twists this brutal reality into just the sort of ritualistic feeding frenzy that would be needed to transform oneself into a vampire without the explicit presence of a vampire.
Not being up on my Australian history, and being a giant nerd, I eagerly reveled in the historical crossovers of Saltwater Vampires, spending a not insignificant bit of time reading up on the facts behind the horror. For my part, I will admit that the inclusion of a good historical note was missed.
Kirsty Eagar creates in Saltwater Vampires a hypnotizing vampire lore that is at once standard and original. With nods to the basic rules, such as not being able to enter a home unless invited, and (mostly) becoming a vampire by sharing a vampires blood, Eagar adds her own rules of play. Reflections so horrifyingly accurate to the lack of soul vampires cannot bear to see themselves, the potential for supernatural terrorism, and most importantly, the idea that when one’s sire is killed, you will revert back to mortality. Eagar’s action is fast-paced and engrossing making both the prologue and ending chapters of the book gripping, but it remains that much in the middle falls flat.
Saltwater Vampires follows two major plots until their inevitable intersection. In one, Eagar draws us into the world of the secret vampiric society of Piravem a world where apprentices compete ruthlessly for the chance to be made immortal. In the other, a group of normal high school students have a run in with ancient vamps gone of their rockers on their summer vacation. Sadly, though the former was a much smaller part of the overall plot, it was also much more intriguing to this particular reader. Watching two teenage boys struggle to regain their mortality while simultaneously dealing with the everyday drama of girls, family, and catching waves just didn’t quite do it for me.
I wanted Eagar to rev up the creep factor. I wanted Jeronimus’s obsession with Lucretia Jans (historical and fictional Batavia passenger) to shine through enough to read as a true motivation in his actions. I wanted the ocean—that body so ancient it renders mortals meaningless—to become a token of fear for reader and characters alike, rather than remaining a beacon of life and comfort to those who grew up on its shores. I wanted an ending that would send one last chill of uncertainty down my spine.
I did find it surprising, and somehow a little charming, that the bitten boys of Saltwater Vampires never once questioned their desire to remain mortal. Struggling against these creatures who would (and had) given everything to become immortal, Eagar highlights the vast gulf between death and a life worth living. Our main character, Jaime, never contemplates or weighs his decisions, other than to believe that he really has no choice in the matter at all. Eagar’s vampires and Piravem are painted as weak despite their supernatural powers as they are a stark contrast to the right and good of a group of kids willing and ready to do what’s necessary. While vampire Jeronimus would have us buy the notion that the world is neither good nor bad, but wholly indifferent, Jaime and friends push all grey areas to the boundaries of black and white.
It’s become somewhat of a standard belief here among the YA reading crowd that there is something magic in the waters of Australian YA authors. However, I’m beginning to feel that magic only extends so far as to boost their contemporary powers, and not lend them so much in the speculative fiction department. I’ve often heard Kirsty Eager’s work highly praised, and while Saltwater Vampires was fun and readable, it lacked the oomph that has been credited to her contemporary work. The world building aches from the insane amount of info dumping by characters who really have no reason to either know or share what information they have, and characters remain detached from the reader despite her efforts to make us care about their lives. Moreover, it seems that while Kirsty Eager had all the ideas in place, she just doesn’t quite yet have the execution to go with them.
Still, Saltwater Vampires, despite its flaws, is a fun and gritty way to kick off the summer. I do hope that Eagar someday ventures back into the darkly creative world of speculative fiction, because she has the tools to rock it if she can get them straightened out.
See you at the beach!
Original review posted at Tor.com.
If you didn’t find the ocean a tad bit creepy before (and you should, just think of how many people have died in there), you certainly will now. Sign on here for bloodsuckers, revisionist history, secret societies, and of course—some killer waves.
I adore a good spin on history. In fact, there’s something almost comforting about blaming creatures of the night for some of the atrocities that humankind itself has committed over the centuries. One such being the mass murder of over 140 men, women, and children on an island off the Australian coast in 1629. Following the wreck of the Dutch East India Company’s ship, Batavia, there was a mutiny among the leadership and survivors were left stranded on small islands awaiting rescue. Jeronimus Cornelisz, left in charge of the survivors, lead a murderous group of men to systematically kill off anyone who challenged or annoyed them. Kirsty Eagar, being of slight genius, twists this brutal reality into just the sort of ritualistic feeding frenzy that would be needed to transform oneself into a vampire without the explicit presence of a vampire.
Not being up on my Australian history, and being a giant nerd, I eagerly reveled in the historical crossovers of Saltwater Vampires, spending a not insignificant bit of time reading up on the facts behind the horror. For my part, I will admit that the inclusion of a good historical note was missed.
Kirsty Eagar creates in Saltwater Vampires a hypnotizing vampire lore that is at once standard and original. With nods to the basic rules, such as not being able to enter a home unless invited, and (mostly) becoming a vampire by sharing a vampires blood, Eagar adds her own rules of play. Reflections so horrifyingly accurate to the lack of soul vampires cannot bear to see themselves, the potential for supernatural terrorism, and most importantly, the idea that when one’s sire is killed, you will revert back to mortality. Eagar’s action is fast-paced and engrossing making both the prologue and ending chapters of the book gripping, but it remains that much in the middle falls flat.
Saltwater Vampires follows two major plots until their inevitable intersection. In one, Eagar draws us into the world of the secret vampiric society of Piravem a world where apprentices compete ruthlessly for the chance to be made immortal. In the other, a group of normal high school students have a run in with ancient vamps gone of their rockers on their summer vacation. Sadly, though the former was a much smaller part of the overall plot, it was also much more intriguing to this particular reader. Watching two teenage boys struggle to regain their mortality while simultaneously dealing with the everyday drama of girls, family, and catching waves just didn’t quite do it for me.
I wanted Eagar to rev up the creep factor. I wanted Jeronimus’s obsession with Lucretia Jans (historical and fictional Batavia passenger) to shine through enough to read as a true motivation in his actions. I wanted the ocean—that body so ancient it renders mortals meaningless—to become a token of fear for reader and characters alike, rather than remaining a beacon of life and comfort to those who grew up on its shores. I wanted an ending that would send one last chill of uncertainty down my spine.
I did find it surprising, and somehow a little charming, that the bitten boys of Saltwater Vampires never once questioned their desire to remain mortal. Struggling against these creatures who would (and had) given everything to become immortal, Eagar highlights the vast gulf between death and a life worth living. Our main character, Jaime, never contemplates or weighs his decisions, other than to believe that he really has no choice in the matter at all. Eagar’s vampires and Piravem are painted as weak despite their supernatural powers as they are a stark contrast to the right and good of a group of kids willing and ready to do what’s necessary. While vampire Jeronimus would have us buy the notion that the world is neither good nor bad, but wholly indifferent, Jaime and friends push all grey areas to the boundaries of black and white.
It’s become somewhat of a standard belief here among the YA reading crowd that there is something magic in the waters of Australian YA authors. However, I’m beginning to feel that magic only extends so far as to boost their contemporary powers, and not lend them so much in the speculative fiction department. I’ve often heard Kirsty Eager’s work highly praised, and while Saltwater Vampires was fun and readable, it lacked the oomph that has been credited to her contemporary work. The world building aches from the insane amount of info dumping by characters who really have no reason to either know or share what information they have, and characters remain detached from the reader despite her efforts to make us care about their lives. Moreover, it seems that while Kirsty Eager had all the ideas in place, she just doesn’t quite yet have the execution to go with them.
Still, Saltwater Vampires, despite its flaws, is a fun and gritty way to kick off the summer. I do hope that Eagar someday ventures back into the darkly creative world of speculative fiction, because she has the tools to rock it if she can get them straightened out.
See you at the beach!
Original review posted at Tor.com.
August 30, 2011
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.
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.
August 30, 2011
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...
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...
December 20, 2012
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 in 1629 into a vampiric legend that centuries later endangers the residents of Rocky Head, a small coastal town.
The main protagonist is fifteen year old local surfer Jamie, accompanied by his best mate Tanner, new girl Talia, Kelly and Willem. After being attacked during a pre dawn surf by Dale, with whom he shares a tragic past, Jamie notices odd changes within himself and begins to hunt for answers. This small band of teens then finds themselves in the midst of a horrific conspiracy while trying to negotiate curfew, relationships and blood thirsty vampires.
The isolated town and the blackened ocean at night provides a gothic atmosphere, which grows increasingly sinister as the residents are affected by the cabal's plan. Eagar builds the suspense carefully, her characters threatened by both obvious and unexpected enemies. Though the pace is a little slow at times, the novel bursts into a frenzy of action as the final confrontation draws near and it becomes impossible to put it down.
Fans of the classic cult movie The Lost Boys will adore Saltwater Vampires but Eagar's own unique skill as a storyteller ensures everyone will appreciate this supernatural tale. With wonderful writing, an original plot and engaging characters, Saltwater Vampires is a great read.
April 4, 2011
“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 Australia, author Kirsty Eager kindly helped me finding an Australian online bookstore, Abbey's Bookshop, which shipped to Norway. So a few short weeks after I first discovered Saltwater Vampires; a copy showed up in my mailbox (yaaay).
Saltwater Vampires is the first vampire novel I've read with a male main character so that alone for me was like was like a breath of fresh air. Almost all the vampire novels I have read contains at least one girl falling in love with a vampire(or at becoming one). Be warned there are no kind and sparkling vampires in this story. The pace in Saltwater Vampires is somewhat slow building up towards a climax, still the story never bored me. Eagar knows how to keep her readers interested in the story even without non stop action.
There is no doubt that Eagar has created an original Australian vampire novel, a nice addition to the vampire genre. The story ends in a way that opens up for the possibility of a sequel but it's no cliffhanger and it works just fine as a standalone novel. I have only one minor complaint I would have loved for the vampire organization, Piravem that Eagar has invented to be explored a bit further (so I'm kind of hoping of more in a sequel).
Saltwater Vampires is the first vampire novel I've read with a male main character so that alone for me was like was like a breath of fresh air. Almost all the vampire novels I have read contains at least one girl falling in love with a vampire(or at becoming one). Be warned there are no kind and sparkling vampires in this story. The pace in Saltwater Vampires is somewhat slow building up towards a climax, still the story never bored me. Eagar knows how to keep her readers interested in the story even without non stop action.
There is no doubt that Eagar has created an original Australian vampire novel, a nice addition to the vampire genre. The story ends in a way that opens up for the possibility of a sequel but it's no cliffhanger and it works just fine as a standalone novel. I have only one minor complaint I would have loved for the vampire organization, Piravem that Eagar has invented to be explored a bit further (so I'm kind of hoping of more in a sequel).
Read
December 4, 2016Kirsty Eagar is 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 because that was the weakest part. If I could ban one word from all novels published henceforth, it would be "thirst." At this point, what hasn't been written about vampires? We even have sparkly (non-)fucking vampires for crying out loud. Unsurprisingly, the vampire sections of the book felt like retread and dragged the story down and away from what I would've rather read more about -- the relationships between Jamie/Dale, Jamie/Kelly, Jamie/Talia/Tanner, and Willem/teachers.
February 7, 2015
2.5 stars
This book was exactly as it was described as: A vampire thriller. It was okay, but its not one of those books that stick with you long after you read them. It was refreshing, though, to read something Australian.
This book was exactly as it was described as: A vampire thriller. It was okay, but its not one of those books that stick with you long after you read them. It was refreshing, though, to read something Australian.
May 28, 2013
This was Kirsty Eagar's first book (ironically, last for me to read). Airtight plot, multifaceted characters, interesting moral predicaments - however, as one who's read Raw Blue, and most importantly, Night Beach, I think this one lacks in something. Nevertheless, a great read.
October 11, 2019
Vampires and surfing. Two of my favorite genres come together in this book and create a world I really, really dug. This book is like a modern day Lost Boys. I liked the storyline, the history woven through, the characters themselves and that cool little sidenote at the end which could lead to another book. This was intelligent, masterful storytelling with a definite Australian flair. Kirsty Eager has definitely become one of my favorite authors. I really wish I could get ahold of Night Beach also.
January 19, 2022
Kirsty Eagar writes a good story and this was a really unique one. Lots of good character development and twisty turns.
September 24, 2022
Hard to get into for the first 1-3 chapters but picked up pace after that and kept you guessing as to what would happen. Enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.
January 12, 2018
Very very slow paced. It would have been much more interesting with a lot less filler.
February 20, 2023
I enjoyed this. Despite my love of vampires, I don't usually enjoy teen characters and went into this dreading that a little. But the writing was excellent - the author clearly dove deep into something she knew well. I went it with no interest in surfing or music festivals and loved getting immersed in both of these scenes, especially learning about the technical process of surfing. The vampires were nicely done and for the most part not overdone. Great concept, no bells and whistles, just executed straight and well.
January 29, 2011
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.
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.
December 20, 2012
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 something to be said for an author who can alternately pull off an elderly scholar's viewpoint and a teenaged surfer's like it's part of their own personality. As a matter of fact, aside from the voice, the writing style was on-point, on both fronts, and without coming off as stiff or jejune, respectively. The Aussie slang never alienated me, either; though, at a point or two, it did halt the moment.
I mean, really. I'm half tempted to add all other books by Eagar to my to-read shelf based on the writing alone.
And the story! Wow! I love the depth of involvement we get out of Jamie and his friends in this adventure they go on to free themselves from their fates and, essentially, "save the world" while everyone else is indisposed (through no real fault of their own). The concept is by no means original, but in its execution is where it shines. There's heavy--such as his best friend Dale's tragic accident, being abandoned by two of his pals, coming to terms with the reality of his perilous situation, etc.--and there's also light--a new girl who he and Tanner fall over their faces trying to impress on the waves, "Willem" and "Jamieson" as opposed to "Will" and "Jamie," the end-of-the-year festival and the music and the good times--and then there's heavy--the mutineers' plan to become black holes of blood-sucking force, Jamie's physical pain as he turns, the threat of trusting a total stranger to deal with the vampires...
It's a lot, and at the same time it's really not. It's fun but in the dire kind of way that teenagers coming of age is perilous entertainment.
Each aspect has its realness and rawness, and I cheered Jamie and his friends on the whole way, being as brave and resourceful as they were. Great, full characters to fill a demanding story line satisfied a huge potential void Saltwater Vampires didn't dare fall victim to.
This deserves nothing less than 4 stars. Case closed.
There's something to be said for an author who can alternately pull off an elderly scholar's viewpoint and a teenaged surfer's like it's part of their own personality. As a matter of fact, aside from the voice, the writing style was on-point, on both fronts, and without coming off as stiff or jejune, respectively. The Aussie slang never alienated me, either; though, at a point or two, it did halt the moment.
Sometimes he's all right, Jamie though. A bit of a dag, really.
- Saltwater Vampires, p. 275
[W]hat Jeronimus feared was the void: the cold, indifferent eye of the ocean, something so ancient it rendered him meaningless.
- Saltwater Vampires, p. 2
I mean, really. I'm half tempted to add all other books by Eagar to my to-read shelf based on the writing alone.
And the story! Wow! I love the depth of involvement we get out of Jamie and his friends in this adventure they go on to free themselves from their fates and, essentially, "save the world" while everyone else is indisposed (through no real fault of their own). The concept is by no means original, but in its execution is where it shines. There's heavy--such as his best friend Dale's tragic accident, being abandoned by two of his pals, coming to terms with the reality of his perilous situation, etc.--and there's also light--a new girl who he and Tanner fall over their faces trying to impress on the waves, "Willem" and "Jamieson" as opposed to "Will" and "Jamie," the end-of-the-year festival and the music and the good times--and then there's heavy--the mutineers' plan to become black holes of blood-sucking force, Jamie's physical pain as he turns, the threat of trusting a total stranger to deal with the vampires...
It's a lot, and at the same time it's really not. It's fun but in the dire kind of way that teenagers coming of age is perilous entertainment.
Each aspect has its realness and rawness, and I cheered Jamie and his friends on the whole way, being as brave and resourceful as they were. Great, full characters to fill a demanding story line satisfied a huge potential void Saltwater Vampires didn't dare fall victim to.
This deserves nothing less than 4 stars. Case closed.
"They're under the sea," Jamie said, looking around at the others. "Don't you get it? They come out of the ocean. They're saltwater vampires."
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