432 pages, Paperback
Review copy
Children's, Fantasy
Cushions: 4
Daggers: 3
Tissues: 3
Smiles: 5
Nayuleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Summary from Vampirates website
Connor may only be fourteen but he’s taken to the life of a pirate like a duck to water. But his loyalties are divided between his shipmates and his sister.I thought the first book was brilliant. I expected that in this one Connor and Grace would be split up. I was surprised that Grace joined Conner on the pirate ship. It was a really good move for the story. It provides a lot of conflict for the twins. I think this is important, because now they have both external and internal conflicts.
Meanwhile Grace isn’t finding pirate life so appealing. She cannot shake the feeling that all is not well on the Vampirate ship she has left behind. Dare she try to return to it?
New experiences await them both, including a journey to the fabled Pirate Academy.
Connor really has a place on the ship. He's made lots of friends, he enjoys being a pirate. Grace doesn't fit in. She gets visions (of sorts) which indicate that there's trouble back on the vampirate ship. She worries about Connor's safety, and their Captain's methods of pirating.
An opportunity arises and both the twins get to experience life at Pirate Academy. Connor wasn't so keen because he's very loyal to his captain. Some of the subjects the school teaches appeal to him. However, there's a plot against him at the school, one that affects his future plans. I didn't agree with Connor's thinking after the plot was revealed. Personally I felt it was a good thing to force on him.
As for Grace: well, she's not an early bird and avoids most of the lessons that start before than her preferred wake up call. I think that if Grace didn't have the issue with the vampirates, she might have enjoyed it. But her mind is on other things. These other things lead people to make assumptions about her mental stability - which proved really funny knowing the truth about Grace. I love how Grace's special ability develops throughout the story. I'm wondering if she'll get any more powers later on in the series.
I think that showing the sibling conflict is realistic. Siblings don't get on all the time, especially twins who people might think should really like each other. Grace and Connor love each other dearly, but the lifestyle choices they make changes their relationship. For the record, I prefer Grace, but I quite like Connor's character too. I could relate to Grace more easily, especially when she was having to make big decisions.
Sidorio is as creepy as ever. The chapters with him in help build up the tension for what happens near the end. He's definitely one evil personn. And he gets minions!
Which would you rather be, pirate or vampirate? I'd rather be Grace! She gets the best of both worlds. Pirating is good fun though. But vampirates....well they have the edge in more ways than one!
Check out all the info on Vampirates website.
Make sure you've read volume one: Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean
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