VAMPIRE EMPIRE: RED TIDE.

Written by  Curtis Jobling

             

© Image copyright

              

                                                        

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my latest Book Review featuring this week an amazing first part to a Viking, Pictish and Vampire YA duology. 

Without further ado, and with my trusty housekeeper, Mrs H, brandishing a silver blade, lets get this boat in the water.....

© Image Copyright

AUTHOR:  Curtis Jobling

 

Cover Illustrations by:  Gavin Reece

 

Published by:  Fox & Ink Books

 

Publication date Paperback: 7 May 2026

 

Paperback 13 digit ISBN:  978 191 789 4050

UK Cover price for Paperback:  £8.99

Amazon KINDLE price:  £3.99

 

Pages: 319 in paperback (excludes glossary etc.)

 

Age range:  YA and above

Content warning: As this is a YA adventure, it has some scenes that show vampire actions, as well as vampire and Viking violence, threat, and the results there of. Given the nature of such things, we would not recommend this for younger readers, or those that dislike such themed books.

 

 

SPOILER ALERT

Some as to plot direction and characters.

 

 

Thank you to... 

We are exceedingly grateful to the Publishers FOX & INK BOOKS and Graeme Williams Publicity for offering us a chance to Read & Review this AMAZING story. 

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, received as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.

 

The plot

The place is the island of Unst, part of the Shetland Isles. The year is 900 AD. 

On Unst, the once fierce Viking warrior 'shieldmaiden', Frida Blackheart, is now the Jarl (a status like an earl, and a king's representative) of the island. The Vikings and Picts now live in harmony and relative peace together as farmers. Frida's daughter, Hilde, who has just become a woman after fifteen winters, is much like her mother: proud, strong for her age and sex, and not above a fight if provoked. And she often is, by the butcher's son, Aidan, the biggest boy in the village. It is after one such fight, goaded by Aidan, that Hilde lets rip and, in a red mist of rage, nearly kills the lad. At a village gathering for a feast in the Jarl's lodge later that day, in front of her mother, Hilde is forced to apologise. 

But Hilde has a friend in Cormac, the blacksmith's son. He is of her age, and whilst a pict like Aidan, he does not hold Aiden or Aidan's father's dislike for Vikings. 

It is at that very same feast that a man appears and seeks to reintroduce himself to Frida. His name is Hydyr; later, we'll see him revealed as Hydyr the Hungry. It is an appearance and conversation that leaves Frida cold and unusually scared in her own house. And rightly so, as he is a former Viking crew member when she, as the crew's captain, sailed the oceans, fighting and pillaging as they went. It was a time she turned her back on, and for a very good reason. They had raided a sacred treasure trove and killed all the guardians thereof. And before he was slain, the priest there cursed them to a non-life; never dying or able to be killed. They quickly discover that eating normal humans was the best way to get the sustenance they need to quell the thirst. They all, including Frida, became the Harrowed Men. 

But wanting a better life for her yet unborn child, she abandoned them and arrived at Unst. And that she thought was the end of it. Until now.

Hydyr wasn't just passing by and there peacefully just to say hello as he claims. He has come for something very special that was taken from him, and to reclaim his partner and one-time captain. He now captains the Harrowed Men, but he has ceased to be like them. He has been bitten by Hastur, King of the Vampires, and in turn has become one. To survive, he just needs blood and to stay out of the light.

Soon after his arrival, the village is sacked and the inhabitants slain, or worse, taken captive to be treated as livestock – food for the men on the journey home.

Cormac, who was not at the feast, was spared the worst of the fight, as were Aidan and Hilde, but for different reasons and circumstances. In the aftermath, Cormac finds himself on board the Harrowed Men's ship, a captive, but not yet food as Hydyr says he has skills and worth to him. Just so long as he behaves....

With Frida held captive on the boat also, weakened by injuries but not taking the flesh or blood she prefers to food to help herself heal, her fate is one she hopes will be of her own making. Going back to the blood lust of the old days is not now an option for her. 

Hilde, Aidan, and an elderly hermit boat maker have survived the sacking of the village, but only just. And as all good heroes-in-the-making must, they start a journey to rescue Frida as well as Cormac. As well as seek justice along the way.

With the initially unwilling talking head of one of the Harrowed Men as a guide – his body having been left in the sacking of the village, they set off on the first half of an adventure that has seen the best, most dramatic and pacy, heart-racing set of scenes we can recall for a long time. 

What and who they come across, the delightful twists and nuances along the way, we have deliberately left out, as that is essentially what drives their half of the story. 

Which means it is time to say that is where I must leave the review. Rest assured, I have not given too much away. 

So, what did we think? Spoilers here!

This is the second book by Curtis Jobling that Mrs H and I have read together for review, and neither has let us down. The author has written many more books, all to good reviews, so we are encouraged to read on through upcoming new releases without fear of being let down.

It is fair to say that Mr Jobling has very much his own voice and an undoubted talent for world-building like the very best and well-known storytellers. And he can do it across genres and for different audiences. Please see our review HERE of WYRDWOOD by Curtis Jobling, or use the link below to find out more about his other literary works, and background in writing, movies and television.

Vampire stories have, since watching the movie Salem's Lot (by Stephen King and featuring David Soul), given me a gross dislike for horror movies in general, and the vampire genre specifically, be it in the movies, on television, or in book form.

Comparing movies to books is, some would say, foolhardy or impossible, as the film usually bears scant resemblance to the book. So, taking the book as the true form and intent of the writer, we rely on dipping our toes in to check things out. 

This tale works for us because of the different backgrounds and imperatives for the three protagonists, four if you include Frida. Then there is the partly factual historical background, and the true setting. Of course, these are crucial to any good read, but especially if it is for a younger, more demanding audience. 

Without going overboard, this has a sensually stunning yet subtle backdrop that feels as redolent of the period as any period drama, without burdening the reader with facts, figures and fashions. For instance, the sacrifice at the very beginning is bold, yet completed with a reverence relevant to the act and what it meant. A stark contrast to what will come, and undoubtedly a way to provide a reference point for time and place. For info on names and meanings, there is an appendix, and very handy it is too for those who want a little more depth.

Splitting our protagonists up from early on and assigning/titling each chapter to a character was a stroke of genius. I thought this might spoil the flow, segment it up too much, but it actually added to the tension as the multiple threads to the first half draw closer together in one way or another, come the closing chapters. 

The reader isn't short of action or adventure to enjoy along the way, and twists and turns come regularly as the timelines develop. 

This is not a teen-only based adventure, far from it. The three main protagonists may be teens, but from the start, we inhabit a world of adults. Indeed, we must remember that the line between child and adult at this time was so blurred, and childhood and innocence a luxury. All adds to making the story even more compelling. 

Finally, there are undercurrents in this book about friendships and acceptance, about loyalty to old ways and new, gods and demons– both within and without. 

All interesting things if you care to dig deeper yourself, and or have the conversation with readers old and young. But that is pleasingly left below the surface and not the overriding reason for this adventure. 

To say we are keen to read the sequel and the concluding part is an understatement. 2028 is slated for the release, and it really will take too long to arrive, but we both feel it will be satisfying when it does.

And to slake our own literary hunger in the meantime, and for those of you who enjoyed 'Wyrdwood', the sequel entitled 'Greenteeth' will be released in 2027! That is one we are very keen to Read and Review!

So . . . .

Crunch time. 

The author has created an enthralling story that immerses the reader in the everyday and sometimes bloody world of Vikings and Pictish Britain from the off. It is penned with passion, creating drama and adventure that is sure to enthral the upper YA reader and adult alike. 

AUTHOR:  Curtis Jobling. Click here for their web page.

Illustrations by:  Gavin Reece.  Click here for their Instagram page. 

Published by:  Fox & Ink Books. Click here for their web page.

SUNDAY SELFIE TIME

Sunday needs a selfie, so here is ours. Certainly, if you have finished your Sunday breakfast and lunch, may well be in need of a nap, just like me!

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. Click this sentence to visit Janet Blue's site. Or copy and paste this link: https://thecatonmyhead.com/

 

Till Laters!

ERin & Mrs H.

EXIT STAGE DEATH

Written by  AVA ELDRED

                                                       

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my latest Weekend Book Review featuring this week a YA Murder Mystery. If you don't fancy a read, and just want a selfie of ME, head to the end!

Mrs Hudson and I like a good murder mystery adventure. It doesn’t matter if it’s MG, YA, or adult. Nor if it’s on TV, the radio, or in the theatre. But there is something about seeing live action on stage that adds to the flavour and involvement.

So a book about a murder in a musical theatre summer camp piqued our interest straight away. And it didn’t fail to impress. So, without further ado, let’s raise the curtain on an amazing tale . . .

AUTHOR: AVA ELDRED

Cover Illustration by: David Wardle

Published by: UCLan Publishing

Publication date Paperback: 5 June 2025

Paperback 13 digit ISBN: 978–191 674 7586

UK Cover price for Paperback: £8.99

Amazon KINDLE price: N/A

Pages: 366

Age range: Young Adult, (12–18, some gentle romance, kisses, and the discovery of a victim).

SPOILER ALERT

Some as to plot direction and characters.

Thank you to…

We are exceedingly grateful to Graeme Williams and UCLan Publishers for offering us a chance to Read & Review this story.

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, received as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.

The plot

It is the last time Livi Campbell will be attending the musical theatre summer school at Camp Chance. It is her last chance to shine, to show her parents she has what it takes for a career in the performing arts, on stage in the theatre. To go to Drama School and then onwards and upwards. On the coach that wends its way through the English countryside are the other Camp Chance attendees, a mix of newcomers and a sprinkling of previous year’s older students. Livi has seen most of her friends from previous camps go on to pastures new, having ‘aged out’ and unable to return. It will be her turn this year.

The culmination of the summer school is the end-of-year performance, the senior showcase. If she hits all the top notes, grabs the attention of the ‘counsellors’ who assess them, and does better than anyone else, she’ll grab the lead role. That will give her a shot at being noticed and go on to better, nay, greater things.

Her male lead hopeful is Sam. They have in previous years worked together. They sneak out late at night to practice in the theatre set in the camp’s woodland setting. The extra work means they have a head start, and can polish their talent.

As the campers settle in, new friends are made. The girls and boys are separated and have been allocated lodges to stay in and assigned roommates for the duration of the camp. Livi and Sam know they have it, have what it takes, and they wholly expect, and also are expected, to be picked as the stars of the showcase.

Suddenly, everything is put off balance by the news that two young ‘celebrities’ are joining them this year. There is Juliet Stone, a renowned video blogger. She has risen to fame during the pandemic for putting on one-person performances to bring theatre to the masses. Her reasons for being at the camp are to learn more about the trade for a part she has been offered. To be able to gel with a cast and the true theatre environment. To learn the basics that she doesn’t have.

The other young celebrity Is Aaron Wilson, the son of a true Hollywood acting royalty family. He’s there at the camp, out of the glare of the press, to try and work out if the career his parents think is for him, actually is.

Both are a threat to the two established hopefuls. There is a chance the newcomers notoriety and talent will win them the leads. Livi promises she will get it, and if not, it won’t be through lack of work. To make matters more interesting, Juliet, Livi and a girl called Daisy get bunked together. Likewise, Sam is bunked with Aaron.

Livi has some fame of her own, as she has appeared in many previous showcase videos on the internet. In fact, she is considered camp royalty. Three first-time performers, Chloe, Tasha & Kitty, know this and actively seek her out and ask for advice at the camp’s second-night unofficial secret party.

After a good night, the campers drift off. For Livi and Sam, it is the start of their own secret training sessions, with Sam on the piano and Livi singing.

The following day brings a discovery that turns everything on its head. Chloe is found dead by Livi and her friends. Killed down by one of the camp’s woodland lakes. Worse, at the scene, Livi picks up a mask that was part of Chloe’s costume. Within is a note that tells Livi and her small group of friends that they are now in the middle of their own mystery. The ending is as yet unwritten. They have until the end of camp to find the killer, or Chloe won’t be the only one dead. Tell anyone, and they could be next.

And the notes keep coming, little clues indicating they are being closely watched. All the time, they still have to do their classes and shine. At least that is what Livi plans to do, confident she can solve this.

Will she? Can she trust her small group of friends and the counsellors, or is one a killer? The pressure is very much on as they all battle with aspects of friendship, romance, loyalty, trust, career and . . . murder. Did I mention that time is running out?

So, what did we think?

WOW is really an understatement of how we felt having finished this theatrical production.

I need to say that our use of theatrical terms in this review is meant to replicate a flavour rather than create puns. Though occasionally, it may actually be a clue, also.

It is very cleverly written, cast, performed and directed. There are levels of complexity and immersion in which you and I are more than just a reader. We become an audience and arguably a crew member within the production. This, Mrs H and I agreed, comes from not only having a first-person view from one of the key protagonists, Livi, but also some dialogue being set out as in a script and a commentary from the killer who becomes a narrator in their own right.

It comes together and makes for a very compelling story from the first pages to the big reveal. And beyond that, into the final chapter, that had yet more to give.

I think many will have suspicions as to the murderer’s identity. Maybe even guess the same — I know Mrs H did. But when we discussed what we had witnessed on the stage that is this book, we realised something else. The finding out how and, more importantly, the why, and what drives Livi, and to a degree, the other cast, had been far more involving. Livi certainly has depths that don’t get fully revealed till much later in the book.

What was also interesting was the question that gets posed, directly and indirectly, as to what constitutes theatre. I shall leave you to decide that once you’ve read the book.

So, Crunch time.

Deeply satisfying, with a cast, story, explosive conclusion, and revelations right up to when the curtain falls that are worthy of a Tony or Olivier Award.

There are three lines on the top of page 363, that sum this story up perfectly. But it wouldn’t be our review if I just quoted a member of the cast, murderer or not, now would it? Suffice it to say, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this show.

A recommended YA and light adult read that we think will entertain and impress.

Ava Eldred’s X / Twitter account is under @ava_eldred and on Instagram as Threadsavaeldredwriter

UCLan Publishing’s web page can be found HERE or type this: https://uclanpublishing.com/

David Wardle’s web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.davidwardle.co.uk

For those that just want a selfie on Sunday, here's one of me rehearsing my part in a road movie — OK, I was inspecting the tarmac, but hey, a girl can hope you know . . .  .  

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. 

 

Till Laters!

ERin

A FIX OF LIGHT

Written by  KEL MENTON

© Chrissy Curtin artist

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my latest Book Review, featuring this week a Adventure in YA Fantasy Romantic Fiction.

Without further ado, and with my trusty housekeeper, Mrs H, ready with the tissues, lets get on with the show!

AUTHOR:  Kel Menton

 

Illustrations by:  Chrissy Curtin

 

Published by:  Little Island

 

Publication date Paperback: 

 

Paperback 13 digit ISBN:  978 191 507 1743

UK Cover price for Paperback:  £8.99

US Cover price for paperback:  $12.99

Amazon KINDLE price:  N/A

 

Pages: 271

 

Age range:  YA

WARNINGS: Yes. This book contains references to self-harm, suicide, and references to symptoms of borderline personality disorder. There is also homophobic and transphobic speech, and reference to past sexual abuse. 

The book contains a list of helplines for those needing help/advice on or if affected by any of the book's content.

The book seeks to raise awareness of the issues covered, and as such is written appropriately for the target YA and older audience. 

 

SPOILER ALERT

Yes. Some as to plot direction and characters.

 

 

Thank you to... 

We are exceedingly grateful to Graeme Williams and Little Island Publishers for offering us the chance to Read & Review this excellent story. 

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, received as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.

 

The plot

Our book opens with a prologue, and us discovering a boy has taken himself off to a large and forgotten wood with the intent of taking his own life. Having done the deed, he lets the blood flow and asks that they let him rest there in peace.

Hanan is our protagonist, and we catch up with him as he is poised to enter a local cafe in a seaside town not far from Cork, Ireland, called Skenashogue. He is the boy in the wood. 

How he came to survive the incident, he does not know, but the experience has left him with something he cannot quite fathom or control. When Hanan is sad, things around him darken. The greater the depth of the despair, the worse things happen. Angry wasps physically attack the windows of his mother's cottage where he lives. Flowers wilt and die. Even the shadows draw in, wishing to attack and overwhelm him and the area he is in. But, when he is happy, flowers bloom brighter, the sun shines more, and clouds just disappear. Others haven't caught onto the connection between Hanan and the happenings.

After he is scalded and cut during an accident in the cafe, he falls for a boy who caused the event and takes him home when he collapses. As the boy's hands touch Hanan, he feels the darkness of the world he lives in and is tormented by, lift. His heart brightened and he felt once more alive. It is such an intense sensation, one he does not wish to lose and craves more of.

Pax is that boy, and he has his own tale to tell. He has undergone surgery to become the outward boy he always knew he should have been. His father, however, sees him as a monster and freakish daughter, and Pax has suffered viciously at the hands of his drunken and bigoted parent. So much so that he now lives in the village with his aunt May, who reads tarot cards and such. 

Their adventure begins when the two boys stumble into each other late one evening at Hanan's favourite spot to be alone, a secret cove. The two boys start to see more of each other. But twists and turns and derailments hinder their progress. Doubts on each boy's part as to what the other wants, if they like them, or as in Hanan's case, whether he will only bring trouble and hurt on Pax (and drive him away) and himself, define the story. 

With each boy having a past, demons if you will, something that hurts or haunts them, it was never going to be easy. Given the potential Hanan has to cause damage and pain, he thinks he is acting for the best when he runs away from an impromptu kiss with Pax. 

Pax, though, is left confused and frustrated. Is this just another person who has raised his hopes only to break his already fragile heart? Both can be seen by the reader to be in love, yet caught up in very real emotional, physical and cognitive dilemmas that keep them apart, willingly or not. When demons, both physical and fay start to come home to roost, this tale shows its strength and shines. 

Which is where I really must stop this review for fear of giving away the drama. 

So, what did we think?

I was utterly captivated by this tale. Never have the characters felt more personal, their plight and situation so real, so very human and of this age. 

Beautifully crafted, it is at times brutal, brutally frank, and savage. And at other times it is heartbreaking, magical, then bouncing to joyous. The writer has crafted something so deeply personal, so emotional, and yet it is not about them. 

It is as delicately spun as gossamer threads and yet also so very strong, cohesive and as intricately woven. What drives this tale is the essence of love and friendship, of making errors on the road. Overcoming adversity in the face of so much pressure and undeniable evil that lurks in some minds and expressed by those that are all too prevalent in the news, creates the darker side of this story. 

 

The fantasy element comes from as much of who our two lead characters are deep within, their essence, as the fay and magic that they encounter. It was not overplayed and slipped easily into the story once revealed and plays delicately through to the end.

It was a delight to see Hanan and Pax come into their own, separately and then finally, together. The journey they each have is unique and spellbinding. Because of the way the story unfolds, which is delightful, the truth of each player's life and background is released and realised slowly. The pace is never slow but gathers speed towards a dramatic conclusion that really has the reader turning the page. 

I happily state that, like all great books, and this is an amazing story, the end of this book is clearly not the end of the adventure. But life, love and the highs and lows along the way are just like that, too.

I have necessarily skipped lots of the twists and turns, the nuances of which there are many. Hopefully, we have whetted your appetite nonetheless and will give this a read. 

Crunch time. 

A joyous, delicious, emotional ride that had us on tenterhooks. It will tear you apart, patch you together only to be torn apart in another way. And, I wouldn't have had this story any other way, and so glad that I was offered it to review.

Make no mistake, this is far more than the 'trans romance' as described by the publishers. It is different, in a very good way, and fuller-bodied and something very special.

A highly recommended YA read. 

KEL MENTON Can be found on Instagram & Twitter 

LITTLE ISLAND BOOKS web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.littleisland.ie/

CHRISSY CURTIN'S web page web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.chrissycurtin.com/

I hope you enjoyed that adventure Review.

OK, for those that have come for little young me, and as it's Sunday, let's get on with a selfie!

Here I can be seen completing clue 9 Down. 3,3 letters. Any ideas what the answer was?

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. Click this sentence to visit Janet Blue's site.

 

Till Laters!

ERin