Another tough read. While the pace picks up near the end it just felt rough and very unpolished in the first few chapters. We get a new character randomly thrust at us only to have them be taken within three or so chapters. There was many more ways to include certain plot points without adding unnecessary new characters. And then twisting the main plot and trying to add a layer of danger felt like we were putting a tenth layer of icing on a cake that didn't need it.

Again, I've read this series before but I couldn't remember anything past book 10 in the Cirque Du Freak series... I think I'm beginning to remember why. These books just don't feel significant. The stakes are so high and yet I find myself dragging my feet to finish this book. The appeal isn't there, I'm just committed to finishing the book to say I completed the series a second time and devote the plot to memory. Now at this point I struggle to remember half of the characters that were introduced.

tDarren Shan is approaching his final showdown with the Vampaneze Lord. The hunters will be pit against the Lord and his most loyal servants. Only one side will remain unscthaed, and the victor will become a horror…
t“Lord of the Shadows” is the second to last book in the Cirque du Freak series, and begins to wrap up the story. There is lot’s to enjoy. The book successfully takes elements from the previous books and touches on them, which wasn’t something some of the previous books did well. The book takes action, mystery, story, even brings back some old locations in the books. Nearly everything about this book seems well made to me.
tThere are some minor flaws, though. There are a few parts where the story seems to drag, and also there is an okay cliffhanger, but other than that, I can’t complain. I would give this book 5 stars.

نوجوانی... نوجوانی... آن روزهایی که رفتند گاهی که می آیند سر می زنند
...

This is the 11th book of 12 in the saga of vampires and how Darren lives his daily life as one. In this book, old friends are back for revenge, when Darren vowed to be a half vampire, he also had to leave behind his family, his friends, his town, everything. Darren soon adapted to this life-style by meeting vampires like himself and others much older than him. One of his friends, Steve, is back for revenge. Darren was a traitor to Steve and went with Mr. Crepsley, his mentor, than go with Steve and continue their old life-style.
I can connect this to a whole lot of people in the world. Many people have to make hard decisions that can impact their life dramatically and many others around them too. Most kids and teens and maybe even adults, have a choice of their friends and its up to them how to choose them, but it will end in conflict most of the time and that person will have to choose one or the other.
I rate this book 5 stars because it is really amazing how Darren's decision of being a half vampire chained a whole storyboard of events with old friends, new enemies and a lot of new partners. I also like the way that it is almost the end of the saga and he is tying loose ends one at a time and with a logical answer instead of just rushing to a random conclusion.

It was fine, a bit long. Nothing super exciting happened until the last few chapters. Good to be back at the cirque for a bit but this was just another filler book to be honest. And the whole thing about destiny; the lord of the shadows being a monster, felt like this came out of nowhere. I am very ready to wrap this series up now. Hoping for a grand finale. *spoilers ahead* Also the end was shockingly brutal, are we sure this is a kids series? We’re killing kids now ??? I know it’s fiction but that neck snap felt personal.

This book was much better then the last. The stakes are much higher which I really liked. Darren is possibly the person who is going to bring the destruction of the world which is such a twist. We met his nephew and figured out Steve was the father. We learned much more background information. I feel like everything was wrapping together well and stuff was planned out since the building. I liked that and am excited to finish the series.

Darren's going home. Back to where everything started. The town's changed a lot in the years that he's been away — but then, so has Darren.

Plagued by nightmares of what the future seems to hold, Darren feels uneasy revisiting the place where he was re-born as a child of the night, as though the universe (as though destiny) is plotting to throw something very nasty at him on the streets of his old home.

It is.

Things are heating up, and the next volume is the last, and there's a lot to cover in the final volume. This volume sees some major happenings, some I saw coming others I did not. Overall this has been a top notch series and while I hate to see it end, I can't wait to see what happens!

4.5/5

I love this series, truly do, but I don't enjoy how the author write Darren's character because he seems to just make ridiculous mistakes over and over and over again. He never seems to learn from his past mistakes. I like that he wants to see the good in people but it has come to a point where he is naive now, no longer optimistic just gullible. For example, the random kid that came into the campsite and who was EXTREMELY sus. He was sketchy and rude and just because he is a kid doesn't mean he ain't bad. Bro STEVE is the prime example. And then with Mr. Tall being so reluctant and Harkat being suspicious, like COME ON DARREN! Get it together you dummy. "Well maybe he just knows more than the other people...maybe he just read something" Like come on Darren? Really? So annoying. Harkat clearly is the better of the two. And then I was proven correct when Steve was like here is Darius, the spawn of Satan that is Steve. You dumbass trusting some freaking hella sus kid and you're surprised that the really weird kid is Steve's son? Come on! Ugh! I'm glad that Vancha came back! I really do think that Darren should tell Vancha, Harkat at least about what he was told about the Lord of Shadows but surprise, surprise, Darren doesn't tell anyone and obviously it will lead to another not great decision. Okay first off, how the hell can Mr. Tall die, that is impossible and I REFUSE to believe that he's dead, no way. Got me HELLA CONFUSED! Man first you're going to take Mr. Cresply then Mr. Tall!?!?! The disrespect! I am shocked that it wasn't known that Mr. Tall was Mr. Tiny's son, like I thought that was so obvious. I personally think he should've killed Darius because I don't think that Steve really has the mental capacity to see his son that way, I get why Debbie didn't want Darren to kill him because I do agree that it would've changed him but I also think that Darren constantly puts his feelings for other people ahead of his duty as a Prince. He hasn't been making decisions as a Prince should, with his people in mind, but making decisions as an individual. Definitely wasn't expecting Evanna's prophecy, or more I guess I wasn't expecting her to say it so bluntly because she never has before but I guess she made an exception due to her brother revealing too much before his death. Something better come through in the last book because if either of those endings happen, Darren turning evil and ruining the world or Steve killing Darren and ruining the world, I will be pissed and mad that I wasted my time on an ending that was predictable. Very weird that she was only there to watch though...like, just so weird. Steve is honestly annoying me though with his dramatic monologues, like please get to the point I am so annoyed of you. And I was proven right that Darren should've killed Darius because obviously Steve was going to kill Evra's son, duh. Why anyone thought they were really going to get Evra's son back, baffles me. Disgusting is all I have to say that Steve literally had a kid with Darren's sister. Literally disgusting and I did not enjoy that plot twist at all. Saw it coming but still very gross. That would mean that Steve literally insane went out of his way to impregnate Darren's sister just out of spite. Gross. But the book was good! I do feel like this series has dragged on a little bit honestly so I am glad the next one is the last one.

As this series is reaching its conclusion, it is still throwing twists left and right. The Lord of Shadows is yet another doomed prophecy the gang is facing in addition to taking down Steve. The twists are fairly predictable with a few unexpected (unnecessary?) reveals. Another "big" death here that did hit in the end unexpectedly.

1 more to go and I can say I'll finally have finished reading this series!

Prompts this fits for reading challenges: subtitle, dedication, vampires, mythology, mythological creatures, continue a series already started, favorite author, animal on the cover, body part on the cover, green cover, werewolf, secrets, misdirection, athlete/sport, war other than WWI/WWII, complicated relationships, illness/medicine, royalty.

With the Cirque du Freak series nearing its completion, book 11 has Darren Shan returning to the Cirque, and back to his hometown. He has to hide his identity as a vampire as he bumps into old acquaintances, especially with his sister -- and a nephew -- living in the house where he grew up. Of course, Darren's old nemesis Steve is still around, making trouble.

This was one of the better books in the series. They're all good, but this was especially well done. It definitely had a surprise at the end, and ended on a big cliffhanger.

The last chapters of the book were thrilling, but most of the story was 'filler' and predictable. I mean, if you want to read about a vampire watching a soccer game, this is your book.

And again with the killing characters for shock factor, I hate that.