Saltwater Vampires in Aussie Readers

Dec 31, 2010 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it

Shelves: aussie-author

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

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

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 20, 2010 Romy rated it it was amazing

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

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 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.
...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Nov 18, 2012 Soph - Lock&Key rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-in-2012, drama-overload, wish-i-loved-it

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.

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 01, 2011 Ceels rated it it was amazing

Great take on the vampire thing. A really great flavour of the Australia experienced by the beach and at music festivals. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Like · see review

Aug 21, 2010 Melissa rated it it was amazing

Absolutely Fantastic. Loved this book from start to finish!

Like · see review

Aug 08, 2010 Tara rated it really liked it

intense read. i didnt enjoy it as much as i thought i would but i do give it 4/5. i recommend it to anyone who enjoys vampire fiction. I did like that the story is based on Australian characters/geography.

Like · see review