Book Review: Saltwater Vampires by Kirsty Eagar

Saltwater Vampires by Kirsty Eagar

Published by: Penguin Australia

Publication date: August, 2010

Source:  Bought

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.

Mini Review:

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

Saltwater Vampires has a smart and well thought out plot where the suspense will get your pulse pounding.   I have read a few other paranormal stories by Australian authors but they have never felt truly Australian but Saltwater Vampires definitely does.  The dialogue, the setting, the characters, it all feels like home.

Again Kirsty Eagar has written another story that is fiercely entertaining with a lot of heart. The pace is mostly relaxed and therefore took me a little while to warm up to it.  However the prose is so unbelievably gorgeous.

"They stared at each other for a long time. The rest of the world had gone somewhere else and everything that needed to be said was being said without talking. And Jamie knew how much he'd lost."

Not only is the writing incredible but so are the multi-layered characters.  They feel real, honest and down to earth.  I think it is impossible not to like this distinctive bunch.

Another great thing about this story is that it would appeal to both male and female readers of all ages.

Overall Saltwater Vampires is a fantastic read that is more than just your average vampire tale.

Overall Rating: 4/5


There has been some amazing reviews for Saltwater Vampires this week.  Please visit The Unread Reader and Bibliophile Brouhaha.

*** Sorry for the short and sweet review.  I haven't been well.  So I might be a bit late on returning comments too but I will get around to it.