Emery and Neeta grew up together aboard the SS Lark, a cruise ship voyaging around the world. Now Emery, the captain’s son, hopes to become captain himself, while Neeta, one of the captain’s wards, dreams of exploring the world on her own. But their plans are interrupted when the ship’s new owner, Mr. Honeycutt, joins their latest voyage. Strange things start happening: First-class travelers grow aggressive and the crew seems more exhausted than usual. When a mysterious passenger named Warwick Farley reveals that he’s not only a vampire, but also a supernatural secret agent, Emery and Neeta start to realize they’re up against something more sinister than anything they could’ve imagined.
The incredibly atmospheric Hunger’s Bite transports readers to the deck of a cruise ship sailing during the time of the Titanic. From the high-class dining rooms to the cramped crew’s quarters, Taylor Robin’s vivid, colorful illustrations bring the social dynamics and the uncanniness of these spaces to life. His expressive art style captures both humor and horror expertly: Heartwarming banter can turn into cold-blooded chills in just a few panels.
These vibrant illustrations support a bold plot that manages to integrate socioeconomic inequality and supernatural horror into the anxious transition from youth to adulthood. Mr. Honeycutt’s arrival is the origin of mysteries as well as a catalyst for change, forcing Emery and Neeta to navigate what it means to grow up and face difficult truths about their world. The SS Lark is no longer a playground as, suddenly, they see class-based disparities that exist even in their personal relationships. The mysterious and endearing Warwick challenges even more of their childhood beliefs. As Emery and Neeta find themselves having different opinions and plans for the future, they must come to terms with the fact that growing up could mean growing apart. What does friendship look like when you want different things out of life? Perhaps more importantly, how do you hold on to what really matters when you’re facing something terrifyingly unknown?
Hunger’s Bite is an intense and charming graphic novel perfect for readers seeking an emotionally charged supernatural mystery. Scary and hilarious all at once, this book is sure to get readers looking forward to more from Robin.
