Sunday 10 June 2012

The Vampire Blog by Pete Johnson


Series: The Vampire Blog, Book One
Publisher: Corgi
Format: Paperback
Published: 27th May 2010
Number of Pages: 240
Book: For Review*
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Humour, Horror, Coming-Of-Age, Action-Adventure, YA, YA-Child Crossover
Recommended Age: 11+
Contains: Violence, Death, Blood Drinking
No Alcohol, Drug References
Author's Blog: Pete Johnson

“So you think you’re just a normal kid?  So did I.  There was nothing strange or special about me… until the night of my thirteenth birthday.”

That’s when the bombsell hits.  My parents have been hiding a huge, terrifying, life-changing secret from me my whole life.  They’re half-vampires – and it turns out I’m about to become one too.  What.  A.  Nightmare.
Suddenly everything’s changing.  I’m growing fangs and getting cravings for my best friend’s blood.  I even smell weird… life totally sucks!  But that’s not all.  Vampires exist too – and there’s nothing more delicious to a vampire than half-vampire blood.  Things are about to get extremely dangerous…

The first gripping book in a hilarious and terrifying series from MULTI-AWARD-WINNING author Pete Johnson.


                                                                   Review:
It's your thirteenth birthday.  Becoming a teen is scary enough, right?  Wrong. 
When he turns thirteen, Marcus Howlett finds out his parents are half-vampires (well, 40% vamp) and Marcus will turn into one too. 
Just what he needed, huh?!
This, and the knowledge he will grow a fang and have really bad breath, is so much worse than the "sex-talk" he was expecting. 
What does he do with this knowledge?  Well, he fights fang and nail against the transformation into a half-vamp, determined to remain human and not go around slurping blood.
Through his dreadful new half-vamp name "Ved" that his parents insist on using, his arrogant and annoying second cousin's howling lessons and as many vamp doctors as they can throw at him, Marcus resists.  It's even working!
But what Marcus doesn’t know is how much danger he is now in...
I do love a good vamp book, especially the rare British ones I find!  And The Vampire Blog was a really great little book!  It was aimed at a younger audience than my usual vampire books, but I loved it!  With a snarky and relatable teen hero, great writing and a just overall hilarious feel, I found myself truly enjoying this one to absolute pieces!  I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
Marcus Howlett was witty, snarky and totally hilarious.  He literally had a sarcastic
All the characters were very varying and unique and all completely bonkers!  The vast array of people was hilarious and just brilliant.  There was someone for everyone!  Marcus was brilliant: witty, snarky and totally hilarious, he had a sarcastic remark for literally everything!  And his reaction to turning into a vampire was so real and refreshing – because it was a normal reaction.  Nothing romantic or whatever, just shock and horror at being Not Human.  I just loved cheeky, chatty, bonkers Marcus!  Tallulah was another character I liked, simply ‘cause she was so weird: eccentric, bonkers, snarky, intense and kinda scary Tallulah was totally horror addicted, kinda creepy and twisted…  I’m really not sure why I liked her, but I did!  Marcus’ best mate Joel was funny 'cause he was bonkers too.  Gotta love the bonkersness!  "Karl with a K", Marcus' second cousin, was arrogant and confident and very annoying!  I loved Marcus’ parents – ‘cause they were so, so weird!  They were really supportive - but if the strangest things!
The writing was just very, very Marcus: witty, bonkers, hilarious, addictive.  I really liked the blog layout, although the fact that Marcus almost always seemed to blog on a perfect '0' or '5' was quite odd.  I mean, there were hardly any posts at, say, something '33' or '57'.  Just an observation... But I loved Johnson's writing, always have.  And I just loved the way Marcus talked to his blog, like it was a real live person - he had conversations with it.  Admittedly, they were pretty one sided but Marcus always came to the right conclusion with blog's help!  The plot itself was pretty straight forward, but was loads of fun and really addictive!  It was also pretty spooky and really, really funny!  I especially loved all the family drama!  And I've gotta admit - I was kinda leaning the wrong way for quite a while!
As for all of the vampire stuff in this book, it was really cool and funny.  The transformation was quite bonkers!  And the howling was awesome.  I loved getting to know more about the vamp world, finding everything out with Marcus.  I’ve gotta say, the change between a human and half-vamp was actually pretty close to the change between childhood and teenager...ness.  The way you desperately want to be a teen, but are scared to not be a child, to be expected to be more mature, etc.  This was the same for Marcus, but even worse - he was becoming a whole new species, as well as a teen!
Ok, ok.  Admittedly this book is aimed at 9+, so it wasn't as scary or complex as some other vamp books I've read.  But I seriously loved it - it was funny, spooky, addictive and I really did love Marcus.  And I adored the twist Johnson put on the traditional vamp mythology!  Awesome!  This book is definitely worth a read if you love hilarious characters and spooky-funny plotlines!
Finally!  A vamp book with a witty male lead for middle grade kids to love and laugh at!  I really, really loved The Vampire Blog - Pete Johnson is just such an amazing author: funny, witty, scary and addictive.  I can't wait for my next Marcus hit!  I have a feeling this series is only going to get better!

Star Rating:
4 Out of 5



Read this book if you liked:
Pete Johnson's Other Books
The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
The Saga of Darren Shan by Darren Shan


Challenges It's Taking Part In:

Happy Reading
Megan
* This book was received from Random House in exchange for an honest review

6 comments:

Cliona said...

Awesome review! This is a great book, I loved it too :) You should read the rest of the series, ASAP, they're fab as well!

Anya said...

Like the sound of this, haven't heard of it before but will keep my eye out for it!

Luisa at Chicklish said...

I love the sound of this book! Thanks for the great review.

TheBookAddictedGirl said...

Cliona: Thanks! I have - they're so awesome, aren't they?! I loved them all!
Twitch: It's a great little book - I think you'd really enjoy it!
Luisa: It's great! Thanks! :)

Lord Mark said...

I always turn to Vampire any time i want to. i become a Vampire because of how people treat me, this world is a wicked world and not fair to any body. at the snack of my finger things are made happened. am now a Powerful Man and no one step on me without an apology goes free. i turn to Human being also at any time i want to. and am one of the most dreaded Man in my country. i become a Vampire through the help of my friend who introduce me into a Vampire Kingdom by given me their email. if you want to become a Powerful Vampire kindly contact the Vampire Kingdom on their Email: Vampirelord7878@gmail.com

Alandre said...

I'm someone who has lived a life seemingly in the background, I must say this final indignity I have suffered almost too much to endure. You see, I have been sickly and weak since the day I was born and doomed to go through my life weakling. I seemed to have always suffered from one illness or another and could never play with the other children as I so desperately wanted to. Mother always made such a big fuss over me, also, making the situation worse as the other boys teased me mercilessly after they saw it. I was browsing  the internet searching on how I could be transformed into a powerful person when I came across the email of a man named Lord Mark. who was a VAMPIRE so I told him that I has always dreamed of becoming a  VAMPIRES, All i did was just to follow the procedure that i was been told, and i bet you that procedure I took change my entire life to something i ever desire, freedom, sickness free, pains free, fame, influence, connections and even more that i can. Thanks to Lord Mark. Do you want a life full of interesting things? Do you want to have power and influence over others? To be charming and desirable? To have wealth, health, and longevity? contact the vampires creed today via email: Vampirelord7878@gmail.com