''It makes perfect sense that ninjas should be vampires''. So Taro is told early on in this book, and on the evidence here that statement is correct. With a gutsy, bloody opening to the adventure we see Taro being attacked by ninjas, and rescued by a friendly vampire among them - having doubted the existence of both from his corner of sixteenth century rural Japan. The attack nearly leaves Taro an orphan, but opens himself up to a whole unexpected destiny, as people seek to kidnap him - or worse, and beyond that, an entirely unforseen existence as a teenage vampire when his saviour turns him.
I must thank the kind people at Corvus for my review copy.
Teen vampire reads are ten a penny, but we found novelty in [[Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz]]. The male reader will still find the action in the Japanese-set [[Extras by Scott Westerfeld]] more than worthwhile. Younger readers might enjoy [[Locked Out Lily by Nick Lake and Emily Gravett]].