Preface:
As a general rule, Vampire characteristics, mannerisms and methods change from book-to-book, movie-to-movie, author-to-author. In this series, vampires can change at will from their human form to their bat form -- but they still have the same almost-universal problem with sunlight, if it hits them they turn to dust. The Vampires in Vampire Plagues use mind control as well as super-human strength to defeat their enemies; a human can become a vampire if bitten three times (three-bites and you're out). Rather than using garlic or religious symbols to chase away vampires, the author has created the “blood rose” a beautiful rose with thorns that are deadly to vampires.
Vampire Plagues:
This exciting adventure series, set in the 1850's, follows the adventures of three children as they fight against Camazotz, the God of Vampires, who is determined to wipe out human civilization.
The Vampire Plague series begins in London (Book 1) where 12-year old Jack, an orphan living on the streets, meets Ben, also 12-years old, the son of an archaeologist and adventurer who was killed by Camazotz's army of vampires while on an expedition in Mexico's Yucatan jungle. Jack doesn't need to be pushed too far to believe Ben's story of survival as a stowaway on a sailing ship full of vampires -- he had witnessed the great hoard of vampire bats leaving the ship as it pulled into the London dock and had seen the nearly emaciated Ben lurch down the gang plank when the ship docked. Soon Jack and Ben are joined by Ben's sister Emily as they take their fight against Camazotz's minions to Paris (Book 2) where the blood-thirsty vampires are filling the streets with bloodless bodies.
Camazotz is in search of an amulet that consists of four pieces; when assembled, the amulet will give him the power to rule as a proper God should rule. In London and Paris he has found three of the four pieces and the trio of Jack, Ben and Emily have found an ancient parchment that tells not only where the fourth piece is hidden but how to assemble it so that it will defeat Camazotz's plans.
Jack, Ben and Emily are off to Mexico (Book 3), back to the Yucatan where Ben and Emily lost their father, to find the last piece of the amulet and destroy it. Camazotz is just two weeks behind them.
In Mexico Ben and Emily are reunited with their godfather, Edwin, a member of their father's expedition who they thought was also killed. Edwin has joined forces with The Brotherhood of Chac to defeat Camazotz. Between them they translate the parchment and find the missing piece of the amulet and, so it seems, defeat Camazotz, but only after coming very close to loosing their own lives.
The fourth book in the series, however, titled “Outbreak” brings forth a new danger and Jack, Ben and Emily, now back in London, are also right back in the middle of the action.