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.

GARGOYLES: Guardians of the Source

Written by  Tamsin Mori

                            

                                                        

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 adventure in Middle Grade Fiction.

Without further ado, and with my trusty housekeeper, Mrs H, busy checking for dangerous ornamental masonry on the roof, lets get this book review on the the road to Gargoyle's Rest . . . 

AUTHOR:  Tamsin Mori (Click to link to their site.)

 

Illustrations by:  David Dean  (Click to link to their site.)

 

Published by:  Fox & Ink Books (formerly UCLan Publishing)  (Click to link to their site.) 

Publication date Paperback: 4 April 2024

 

Paperback 13 digit ISBN:  978 - 191 5235 909

UK Cover price for Paperback:  £8.99    

Amazon KINDLE price:  £7.85

 

Pages: 303

 

Age range:  9 - 12 and upwards

 

 

SPOILER ALERT

Some as to plot direction and characters.

 

 

Thank you to... 

We are exceedingly grateful to publicist Graeme Williams,  and UCLan Publishing 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

After the death of his grandmother on his father’s side, Callan and his parents move to his grans house, Gargoyle's Rest, a rambling and seemingly decrepit mansion which sports large gargoyles around the roof, and a ‘no-go’ room that is unsafe. When he gets a look into the room he sees a hole in the floor. Stranger though is the fact the hole is surrounded by large stone gargoyles, the same as those around the roof. 

The grounds are expansive, overgrown, and full of intrigue for 11-year-old Callan who has been forced to leave all his friends behind. He discovers a girl, Yasmin, wandering, trespassing through the woods. 

Whilst they do not initially bond, Callan has an opportunity to make a friend and to explore. Yasmin lives with her family and younger, incorrigible, slightly annoying brother, Raf, in one of the estate cottages beyond the grounds and that Callan’s family now own. Her neighbours include Angus, who clearly is self-assured and clever, and has nothing to prove. He irks Callan who feels the need to compete and prove himself, more so when he discovers the special skills Angus Yasmin and Raf have and the creatures they can communicate with and, to a degree, control.

Callan’s new bedroom is rather spooky, with a huge stone gargoyle outside the window. On exploring the other floors and rooms, he discovers a bedroom. Within he finds someone’s diary. Taking it, he is intent on reading more about this person, and rather intriguingly, their role in what they describe as being a Guardian of the Source. The Source he will discover is a well that, whatever goes in comes out magnified – good or bad. The Guardians who through generations have protected the Source, have the power to awaken the great gargoyles that surround the house. 

Once awoken they become the fearsome fur, feather, scale, flesh and breathing creatures they formerly depicted. In fact, the Guardians are expected to bond with a gargoyle. Think Avatar and choosing your own ‘Ikran’ or ‘Mountain Banshee’. 

Seeing this as a great opportunity to prove himself, and get one over on Angus, Callan tries to awaken and befriend his own gargoyle, that outside his window, but only manages to invite a deadly ghast into his bedroom. Not a great start. Only a trained Guardian has the right to summon a gargoyle.

Behind the scenes, Callan’s dad, is struggling with the house. An old friend and structural engineer says the place is unsound and that he should sell up and move his family out before it falls down. 

As things worsen with the house, and a family secret related to the diary, so Callan and his dad come to blows and drift apart. Something else is also happening, the catalyst for the events and ill feelings. The well that contains the source is being awoken, and what was previously held within, an evil force, is starting to assert its power. And when it does, it will unleash disaster and ghasts on the world. But knowing that what goes into the well is magnified, who or what is feeding it evil?

Callan has challenges ahead of him, not just navigating friendships, his father and the hidden secret of the diary’s owner. Having started off wanting his own gargoyle friend to impress Yasmin and Angus, he very soon realises that he needs to be a guardian proper to not only save the house but his family and the good magic in the well, the source, that is being usurped by the evil. 

The problem is Zariel, the gargoyle outside his window, is far from willing to be befriended, or impressed with Callan, and considers far too young and grossly undertrained to be a guardian. 

Time is running out, and only a Gargoyle and Guardian as a pair can fight the looming threat that is growing in the shadows.

So, what did we think?

We have lived in a large, old creaking house, with rambling wild garden and a stream running through. I often dreamed that there was far more lurking within and without than just stray mice and creepy crawlies in the damp vegetation and the river's sometimes placid sometimes fast waters. Sadly we had no gargoyles, only long since dead and stuffed jewel eyed creatures, and let me assure you that they are scary enough. But if we'd had gargoyles I bet they would have talked and been just like those in this adventure. This is exactly the kind of fun I would love to have had, but likely would have not been as brave as Callan. 

What I love is that the journey Callan goes on involves his parents, particularly his dad. We get a real sense of the angst of friendship building for the kids, and a real dilemma for the parents as key elements of their lives, past and present, create problems tensions for them all, amplified by the evil that seeps into the house.

The story eases us gently into characters, location and situation, steadily enough to allow for the ensuing series to have fresh reveals along the way. There is plenty of action once we start uncovering the secrets of the mansion and the family past and present. The plot is original, and we can recall only one other gargoyle in a middle grade book series, though they weren't as central to the story as Zariel is. More grumpy gargoyles more often I say!

There is an admirable mix of the fantasy elements and human interaction without the reader feeling lost or overwhelmed by a new new world. How this changes with the new book remains to be seen. I have every confidence that the head of steam built up will continue to delight and draw younger readers in. 

Finally but not least, is the cover. It is colourful and shiny, and so very ably brings together every part of the adventure, characters and place and shows them off to best catch the eye. It did us, and I am so glad we chose it for review.

So, Crunch time. 

A well-crafted, atmospheric blend of fantasy, magic and adventure, with a healthy dose of spooky and dark to bring a big book feel. The delightful and compelling scene setting leads to a pacy and satisfying grand finale. Which in turn heralds another, soon to be released adventure for Callan and his new friends, humans and Gargoyles alike. 

And now for my Sunday Selfie . . . .

Was the cat outside looking at me, or the cat food Mrs H brought from Amazon? One thing for sure is that all the cats in this neck of the woods like the pate and biscuits Amazon sell. A good pricec and quality. Have any of you tried it also?

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 LINK to visit their site and to get the code to add to your own blog . . . 

 

I hope you enjoyed that adventure. 

Till laters!

ERin