Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper
This is the first of three (so far) books that mix vampires and pirates together and surprisingly they work pretty well together, not unlike a good fluffernutter sandwich. I know what you are thinking. How could peanut butter, bananas and marshmallow creme go well together? Dude. You just have to try it. And it is much the same with Vampirates. It has the swashbuckling adventure that we all know and love from those famous Johnny Depp pirate movies. It also has creepy gothic vampires who just happen to have an affinity for the seven seas.
Grace and Connor are the children of a reclusive lighthouse keeper. He sings them old sea chanties to calm them down before bedtime. The children’s favorite chanty is about Vampirates, a sea faring vampire clan that plunder, and pillage, but also feast, on human blood. Soon the kids grow into young adults and their father passes away. Left orphaned, they turn to the sea and take off on their father’s small yacht. Suddenly a storm comes from nowhere and they are cast into the sea. Grace is rescued by the mysterious Vampirates, while Connor is saved by a gang of pirates. It is up to Connor to learn the pirate trades of sword fighting and pillaging in order to rescue his sister from becoming a vampire’s dinner. And it is up to Grace to find the truth behind the Vampirates and their reason for sailing the ocean blue.
This book is suitable for all ages, and has strong male and female main characters. It would be a good read for anyone who likes adventure, vampires, historical fiction, and suspense. Justin Somper does a wonderful job of setting the stage for a series of books without being obvious about it. One warning, Demons of the Ocean has an abrupt end so make sure you have the second book on hand so you can pick up the story right away.
August 5th, 2008
The Ashes of Worlds by Kevin J Anderson
This is space opera at its best. This is the concluding chapter in Kevin J Anderson’s Saga of the Seven Suns. It is a doozy and it doesn’t disappoint. I read this in two day long sessions. I was that hooked.
The Saga of the Seven Suns is a 7 book cycle that deals with the ramifications of Earth’s arrogance when the Earthlings test an ancient weapon by a long dead insect-like race. This weapon takes any gas planet and turns it into a star, allowing the planet’s moons to become available for terraforming and colonization. Unfortunately for Earth, there are aliens living inside gas giants called Hydrouges. Aghast at the holocaust that the Earthlings have unwittingly perpetrated, the Hydrouges go to war.
Unfortunately the humans on Earth aren’t the only humans in the galaxy. Earth sent out generation ships long ago, and now the descendants of those ships are also being attacked by Hydrogues. One group is the planet of Green Priests, who have green skin full of chlorophyll, and who are telepathically linked to colossal sentient trees called the Verdani. Another group of humans are the Roamers. These humans no longer live on planets but live mostly in space, either in ships, asteroids, or barren moons. Roamers are wanderers and handymen, anything they put their minds on they can achieve. There is another race in the universe and they are the Ildirans who share a hive mind. They are as ancient as the Hydrogues themselves, but have grown weak over time because of the lack of any sort of ingenuity.
Eventually the war draws out other ancient races, such as the Wentals and the Fareos. Along with the Hydrogues and the Verdani, the Wental and Faeros are elemental races, and they represent Air, Earth, Water, and Fire respectively. These forces have warred with each other off and on for all of time. And this latest war may mean the end for all of humanity.
I would recommend these books for anyone in 9th grade and up. People who really enjoy Star Wars, Star Trek, the Dune series, and space operas will love these books. They are quick and easy reads. They also have short chapters that give the books a movie-like quality because the story keeps jumping from character to character. This continues the suspense, but also makes it easy to take breaks, so these may work for reluctant readers, or readers who are moving up in their reading level.
The complete series in order is:
- Hidden Empire
- A Forest of Stars
- Horizon Storms
- Scattered Suns
- Of Fire and Night
- Metal Swarm
- Ashes of Worlds
July 23rd, 2008
Puddlejumpers by Mark jean & Christopher C. Carlson
Wow, I really enjoyed this book. This is definitely one of the better books I have read this year. It reminds me a lot of of a really good bedtime story. It does a great job of balancing its fantasy with the thrill of very present danger. The villains are just described enough to be really creepy if you have a good imagination, and are just the right amount of bad, which means entirely bad. The heroes, an orphaned reprobate and a irascible tomboy, are in over their heads, and might not make it out alive as they try to stop the incarnation of evil. It sounds like fun doesn’t it? 
Ernie Banks is an orphan who is constantly getting into trouble. He gets one last reprieve when he is sent to work on a farm instead of being sent to Juvenile Hall. Ernie isn’t a bad kid, just stubborn, fiercely independent, and loathes authority. No wonder he is in constant trouble, right? He has lived his entire life in an orphanage and only has a crystal acorn that he wears around his neck as a mysterious sign of his origin. Unbeknownst to him, Ernie is actually a participant in a war between Puddlejumpers and Troggs. Puddlejumpers are small creatures much like pixies or brownies, who live deep underground, care for mother nature, and can teleport themselves to the Up Above by jumping through puddles. Troggs on the other hand seek destruction, misery, and the enslavement of all puddlejumpers. Fortunately there can be an end in the battle between the two, because Ernie’s birth was actually foretold in Puddlejumper lore as a child who would be destined to journey to the heart of the Most Dark and make it rain. On top of all this Ernie will also face himself, and discover where he came from and where he belongs.
Like I said above, I really enjoyed this book. Another aspect I liked was that the novel deals deals with environmentalism tangentially, and never in a preachy or ham handed way. The environmental message is there (if you look for it) yet the story is never sacrificed to get this issue across. It’s more of a tacit suggestion. The book is appropriate for all ages, and would recommend it for everyone. It’s a great read.
June 23rd, 2008
Into the Wild by Erin Hunter
This book deserves 5 stars
This is a great adventure about warring clans of warrior cats and the house cat who joins them. It’s suspenseful with a lot of action and great for cat-lovers.
June 18th, 2008
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
This book deserves 3 stars
This book was about the two main characters, prince brat and his whipping boy who ran away from the prince’s castle and set off on an adventure. It wasn’t long on their journey until they were abducted and by the end of the book, both characters have changed their lives.
June 18th, 2008
The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler
This book deserves 4 stars
This exciting, thrilling tale talks about a girl named Emily Windsnap who turns into a mermaid by swimming. She discovers new worlds and tries to get her mother and father back together. Anybody small or tall would enjoy this book!!
June 18th, 2008
Eldest by Christopher Paolini
This book deserves 5 Stars
The suspenseful sequel to Eragon. Eragon travels to Ellesmeria to resume trainig. Danger lurks around every corner, and Eragon and Saphria are in more danger than ever before. This book truly deserves 5 stars.
June 18th, 2008
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