For Connor, these are testing times aboard the Diablo, and he finds himself crossing a line from which there is no return. Grace also faces danger as she travels with Lorcan to Sanctuary, a place of healing presided over by Vampirate guru Mosh Zu.
Characters
Connor Tempest – Fourteen-year-old orphan, pirate, protagonist, and twin brother of Grace Tempest
Grace Tempest – fourteen-year-old orphan, protagonist, and twin sister of Connor Tempest
Lorcan Furey – Grace's rescuer/love, Vampirate, lieutenant of the Nocturne
Vampirate Captain – Mysterious captain of the Vampirate ship. He wears a mask and no longer drinks blood thanks to the healing of Mosh Zu Kamal.
Darcy Flotsam – Figurehead of the Vampirate ship by day and vampire by night; Grace's friend.
Sidorio – Vampire who resisted the authority of the Vampirate Captain, resulting in his banishment.
Cheng Li – Former deputy of the Diablo and current teacher at the Pirate Academy
Captain Molucco Wrathe – Captain of the Diablo
Captain Barbarro Wrathe – Captain of the Typhon; younger brother of Molucco.
Trofie – Barbarro's wife
Moonshine Wrathe – Barbarro and Trofie's son; has a dislike for Connor and little respect for anyone else.
Transom – Head servant on the Typhon
Matilda "Ma" Kettle – Owner of Ma Kettle's Tavern
Shanti – Lorcan Furey's human donor
Bartholomew "Bart" Pearce – Fellow pirate aboard the Diablo and Connor's best friend
Cutlass Cate – Becomes deputy of the Diablo once Cheng Li leaves; known for swordsmanship and skill.
Sugar Pie – Waitress at Ma Kettle's Tavern
Jez Stukeley – Former pirate; returns as a Vampirate lieutenant to Captain Sidorio.
Commodore Kuo – Headmaster of the Pirate Academy
Jacoby Blunt – Student at Pirate Academy; becomes good friends with Connor.
Jasmine Peacock – Student at Pirate Academy, a good friend to Jacoby and Connor
Mosh Zu Kamal – Founder of Sanctuary
Olivier – Resident of Sanctuary; Mosh Zu's number two.
Brenden Gonzalez – One of Connor's shipmates aboard the Diablo
Dani – An in-between currently residing in Sanctuary
Johnny – Vampire residing in Sanctuary; becomes Grace's friend while Lorcan is recovering from blindness.
Jenny – Serving girl at Ma Kettle's Tavern; killed by Jez Stukeley when he was bloodthirsty.
Reception
The Horn Book Guide described the book as "gripping throughout", noting that the ending left much for a followup in the series.
