Picks up right where Allies of the Night left off and I mean right where it left off. Like you could have turned the page and started a new chapter. There is a prologue to remind you where Allies of the Night ended and then you're right into the story.

This episode of Cirque du Freak, and that's how you really have to think of it, was short and exciting but predictable. There was really no more character building. After this many books, the author doesn't have much more to offer in guess. I truly believe these books would be much better if combined into longer complete novels instead of the episodes they are now. I don't see the point in sitting down for an hour to simply read the next episode. Let me choose how much I want to read instead of force feeding me little chunks of your story. I just find it annoying and at this point, I'm not sure I'm interested in continuing. The latest reveal was like "well duh who didn't see that coming" and what's the point of read books like that?

That ending!!! I had guessed it could have been him but the reveal was shocking all the same!

Darren, Vancha, and Crepsley are now wanted criminals, which is inconvenient since they're trying really hard to evade capture so they can kill somebody. The Vampaneze lord--still out of reach--must be killed before he brings about the end of the Vampire Clan, and they don't have many chances to kill him left. Revelations about secret identities finally boil to the surface in this one as the strange reunion of Darren and Steve leaves many of the people involved questioning their loyalties and scratching their heads. And if they don't get it right, the consequences could be fatal.

I was disappointed in this book because it pulled punches several times for shock value. I predicted the "revelation" in this book about the identity of the Vampaneze lord several books ago, so its reveal wasn't significant to me, and then on top of that the book gives a false happy ending before you turn the page and are greeted with "I wish that's what had happened," followed by one of the worst things that could have happened. I think that's a really poor way to shock us--not just foreshadowing and leaving clues, but actively telling us something that's false just to yank it away.

Another masterpiece, if you need an example of an emotional Rollercoaster then this book is the best example. Don't think I'll ever get over this

Steve be like: “you should’ve killed me when you had the chance”

All was very good, but I felt deceived by a particular piece (I've hidden details because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but you can see it now or later in the below, hidden note. I'm not sure why the author felt the need to do that. The rest was as good as prior installments. So my recommendations remain for this series.

The below may spoil so only read it when you're ready.
Near the end, the author put in a fake ending. It wasn't that I WANTED that ending, but I did believe it was the real ending. This deception gave me the feeling that I can no longer count on the integrity of the narration. This tactic is as frustrating as the misuse of dreams that some authors employ. I DO GIVE this author a bit of a pass (so I will continue this series). I hope it's not a habit. This author is so skilled that he does not need such a crutch.

OH MY LORD. This book was amazing. The last few chapters were INTENSE. Really, really excellent.

I had a hunch from the 8th book that Steve was the Vampaneze Lord, but I set that theory aside when he was said to be a friend. Even after it was found out that he was a villian, the others saw the lord themselves, so I just tosted the theory out the window. But in the ending, this theory came back to me as a full-fledged fact, and slapped me in the face.

The worst, and most epic part, was when Mr. Crepsley died. For a page or two Darren fooled me into thinking that everything was alright, that they were saved...

...and then in the next chapter he said. "That's not how it happened. But I sure wished that's how it did."

When I read that, my blood froze. I couldn't believe it. Mr. Crepsley - dead. I'm not even sure if I can continue the series now - that dude was one of my favorite characters, second to Darren. All the readers have known him since the beginning, and how his relationship with Darren went from hate to best friends - practically brothers. To have him die like that - when I know him so well - saddened me. Characters' deaths are terrible to get over; it's like the death of Fred Weasly all over again. (JK...Rowling!) And the fact that he died in vain, and was so close to killing so REAL Vampaneze Lord, made everything just more horrific. It makes me mad to think that Mr. Crepsley could have LIVED and he chose to DIE honorably, but for the wrong thing! God darnit...

Loved the book, though. This author has the awesome ability to make action scenes fun to read and...exciting. Not sure what the next books will be bring, but there's no doubt there will be more sorrow.

*minor spoilers*

This is arguably the darkest book in the entire series. Why? Because not only does another character die at the end, but it is a REALLY major character. And the narration tricks us into thinking that they were okay at first. That’s not a criticism by the way, I thought it was brilliantly done. It goes into what turns out to be only a hypothetical situation of how they ended up being okay, but then it ends with, “That’s how I wished it happened. Here’s how it actually happens.” Darren main character Shan, how dare you.

There is yet another new character introduced in this book, Alice Burgess. What’s interesting about her is that she is not only a human character, but also a police officer. And she is one of the few humans in this saga to find out entirely about the world of vampires and vampaneze. Because for the first time in this series, there is a serious collision between the main group of characters (vampires) and humans. In the past, there were just hints and brushes of interaction between the two, but no real conflict. In this book however, the vampaneze cleverly framed the vampires (who are mingling as humans in human society) for the deaths and murders of humans throughout. Basically making Darren, Crepsley, and Vancha out to be crazy humans who think they’re vampires. Which do exist in real life by the way. Make sense? This is how the police chief, Alice, gets involved in this whole thing.

I quite like her character. She’s obviously a headstrong person, being a policewoman and all, but even upon discovering this whole different world of vampires (which she probably thought was nothing but a thing of fiction), she’s pretty good about taking it in stride. Her and Debbie both take it really well. Alice is a tougher woman though, she has to be. Debbie I think has more realistic reactions to things, where she does get scared and shows it a lot of the time, even though she pushes through it.

Even in dark and serious books though, there needs to be a tone of lightness and comic relief. That’s where our good old friend Vancha March comes in. A big, strong, tough guy, who’s a vampire and a fighter, and who can tear someone apart if they threaten him or his allies. But otherwise, basically a gentle giant

یکی از ضعیف‌ترین جلدهای مجموعه. بزرگ‌ترین غافلگیریش رو من از چند جلد قبل حدس زده بودم و واقعا تو ذوقم خورد که حدسم درست بود. به نظرم روند تعقیب و گریز و جنگ‌ها زیادی داره کش میاد.
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یادگاری از کتاب:
در جنگ، گاهی جایی برای دلسوزی و انسانیت باقی نمی‌ماند.
...
گاهی دانستن همه چیز، آزاردهنده می‌شود.

Persis seperti yang kuduga...
T___T uh... vol ini bikin baper...

This was most awesome! It was a little slow to start with but the fight in the cave was brilliant! I read this all today as I could hardly put it down! The ending is so upsetting though! Even though I have been told about the twist at the end - it in no way took away the suspense or excitement of the story, it just made me want to get to it quicker....
Only 3 more to go then the end :-(

I SWEAR Darren is literally the worst main character, just ridiculous and doesn't think ahead AT ALL! And I hate that mothertrucker passionately! Come on you really think that Steve, the guy who created that elaborate plan, wouldn't have a contingency plan? A hell of a good plan honestly, as much as I dislike Steve I like his theatrics as a villain. He is also an annoying villain who is holding on to an EXTREMELY petty grudge, like he really doesn't even know the whole story because every time Darren tries to explain himself he cuts him off so he really believes that Darren was a bad friend and wanted to turn into a vampire. Anyone can attest to that because Darren was complaining for like THREE books about it. Honestly all his problems are created by himself at this point! And why is he trying to have any conversation to the police? They aren't going to understand so just shut up and sit there and answer no questions. Dumb. I was definitely not expecting the turn of events of this book but I enjoyed them! I like that they got interrogated and had to run from a mob, made the plot more interesting! I am happy that Debbie also loves Darren but where can that relationship go? Nowhere, sadly. Steve too is a freaking idiot, really holding on to that Mr. Cresply called him evil, like bro, all this, still don't think you're evil? Come on! Honestly it was completely rude that Darren had the nerve to have that fantasy about Mr. Crepsly not dying because I really thought that he was alive for a second...he died, and I blame Darren, 100% But I was correct! Steve is the Vampaneze Lord! I knew it! The parallel of the situation is too good not to do. I don't understand why they didn't kill Steve when they were getting caught by the police but whatever! That plan though, really impressed by the Vampeneze and Steve for that plan, clap, clap, clap! This story is heating up! I still hate Darren.