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Demons of the Ocean: Vampirates, Book 1 (by Justin Somper)

common sense media says

Vamp/pirate mashup is intermittently exciting.


parents & educators say
  • 33% say violence is an issue
  • 33% say there are positive role models

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there is some violence here, though mild by the standards of a pirate story. Piracy and pirates are portrayed positively, and though the hero displays some reluctance, he participates in a pirate raid.

Positive messages: Piracy and theft are portrayed positively, though Connor is reluctant to hurt others and take the spoils for himself.
Violence: Fighting with swords, several people are knocked out with a frying pan. A man is killed by a vampire (not described) and his body is thrown overboard.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Teens and adults smoke and drink beer and rum.

More on Demons of the Ocean: Vampirates, Book 1

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the author's portrayal of pirates. Why are they portrayed as kind and caring, whereas the townspeople are cruel? Why are even the vampires portrayed more sympathetically than normal people? Why do pirates and vampires fascinate us? Is piracy acceptable if they prey only on the rich, and try not to hurt more than they have to?

What's the story?

What's the story?
After their father dies, twins Connor and Grace, faced with a choice between an orphanage or adoption by an odious banker, instead steal their father's sailboat and put to sea. Caught in a storm, their boat is wrecked and they are separated. Connor is picked up by a pirate ship, while Grace is rescued by a ship full of vampires. Determined to find his sister again, Connor joins the pirates, while Grace tries to avoid becoming a "donor" to the vampires.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Combining pirates and vampires is an interesting, if peculiar, idea, and one that holds some promise. But that promise is not fulfilled here. The story is entertaining in a pleasant sort of way (perhaps not what you'd expect when you hear it's about vampires and pirates), but there's a notable lack of action, given the subject matter: one brief battle scene where the pirates grab the loot from a slower, poorly manned ship. Mostly everyone, pirates and vampires, is ... nice. Though the series is called VAMPIRATES, in this first book the vampires don't do any pirating -- they just float around in a sort of vampire cruise ship with weekly feasts. And the ending, rather than the cliffhanger you'd expect in a series opener, is rather anticlimactic.

If there's not much action, there is a lot of confusion. The book reads like something about the 18th century, but the novel is actually set some 500 years in our future. And though there's nothing futuristic other than the date, it does yield some surprising anachronisms, such as Connor responding to the offer of a cigarette with, "No, that's cool." By the end there are many unanswered questions: Why does the vampire captain protect Grace? Why does the food keep putting her to sleep if it's not drugged? How do they get the food when they don't seem to put in to shore? These questions may be answered in future volumes, but from the way the author seems to drop plot threads, it's just as likely they won't be.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Justin Somper
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication date: October 7, 2006
Number of pages: 330
Hardcover price: $15.99
Paperback price: $5.99
Read Aloud: 9
Read Alone: 10

This review was written by Matt Berman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

9
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say violence is an issue
  • 33% say there are positive role models
  • 33% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking

Most useful reviews by all members

resar
parent of 13 and 16 year old
 
Quirky Story with a lot of familiar tropes stuck in
This strange mash up reads part classic adventure tale like "Shipwrecked" or "Treasure Island" and part modern vampire tale-- the kind where the vampires, though scary blood suckers, are really aren't that scary and are sort of nice, after all. The plot suffers from a bit of overloading. We have special orphans, global warming, vampire secrets and pirate politics all jammed into one not overly long story. It's a dreamy read though, and my 11 year old daughter was dying to know what happened next through the entire thing. Until Vampirates, she hadn't had a book that engaged her attention so fully. For that reason alone the book will remain dear to me despite its faults. :)

Betz
parent
 
As a parent, I read this book for myself, not to the kids. Though I would have no problem letting my nine year old read this book, for some parents who might have concerns about content, let's just start out by saying this is a book about pirates and vampires. The topic of blood comes up, but the way the good vampires get their blood is civilized and consensual. The bad vampires are the violent ones that typify the violent type of vampire, but there is nothing too graphic in this book. Pirates do engage in drinking and one of the main characters, Conner, who is about 14, does go to a tavern with his shipmates. As the books progress along, the good vampires are peaceful, but the violence and cruelty of the vampires does increase. But like the Harry Potter books, as the series goes along, the readers also grow and become older and so more mature subjects, like death, grieving and betrayal come up. It is a well written series with beautiful prose and novel storytelling. Future books in the series encourage applying yourself and the academics of piracy - yes, there is a pirate academy. So many things such as courage, determination, academics, honor, persistence, compassion and intelligence are highlighted in this book series.

The Royal DM7
teen, 14 years old
 
Read books 1 and 2!...
I must say I love this series and all I would talk all about it.I think it is a great book, but some scenes of violence are graphic.But the way the crew of the diablo and connor work together shows, well teamwork and I know that counts for something!Well peace out!

Panic_lover8825
teen, 14 years old
 
love it!
wow I love this book and I dont see a thing wrong with it!I can't wait for blood Captain to come out in america!

lolcutie995
teen, 16 years old
 
sweet
I loved this book when I read it not much violence and is a great story. the beggining was a littel fast but it slows down towards the end you'll love it!

craftygirl202
teen, 17 years old
 
Awesome Book
Great book! Me and my friend read it and we both love it. My friend continued the series and is now finished with book 3. She loves Grace and Grace is a good role model. Witty, smart, and GRACEful. Read it!

 
I LOVE VAMPIRES AND PIRATES!!
This book was absolutely amazing! It incorporated vampires and pirates, some of my favorite fantasy topics. There is a teeny bit of violence, but nothing graphic, no sex, though a mild attraction between a boy and a girl, but nothing sexual. There might have been a kiss or two. Maybe a swear word or two. I recommend for 10+.

dixie-chick101
teen, 17 years old
 
This is a must-read book!!
I loved it..Its a great book for people ages 8 and up..

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