a blast from the past! all i can say is steve, ihy

“Indecision is the source of chaos."

A decent installment in the series! Some familiar faces show up and create a lot of surprises. There was quite a bit of character development and plot twists! I wasn't a huge fan of Darren going back to school but I'm still excited to read the next book!

This book was INSANEEEEE the choice to have Darren Shan, a chronologically 30+ old guy in a teenage body, go back to high school for some reason and RECONNECT WITH HIS FIRST (and only) "GIRLFRIEND" who is now AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT THAT HIGH SCHOOL and STILL HAS FEELINGS FOR HIM FOR SOME GROSS REASON??? Stephenie Meyer could never. Also welcome back to Steve I've been wondering where you've been!

Darren is a half-vampire traveling with Mr. Crepesley. (Mr. Crepesley is a full-vampire) and a little person named Harkat Mulds. They are trying to complete their task of killing the Vampanese lord, that ends up being Darren's friend from when he was human, Steve. When they face off against Steve, he gets away.

I think it is a great fantasy book.

I recommend it. I also recommend the other parts of the series.

What is this book series?! Now Crepsley can't read?! That is so disrespectful to his character! These books suck! The movie is so much better.

تا اینجا بهتر از جلدای قبلیش بود. اینکه بین دوستای قدیمی دارن شک کنی که کدوم یکی براش تله گذاشته. نسبت به جلدای قبلی مخاطبو بیشتر با خودش درگیر میکرد.

Yikes. This has probably been the worst one so far, but I kept it up in hopes that the ending would tie it up. Unfortunately for me, the ending was a To Be Continued.

This is perhaps the strongest yet in the Cirque du Freak series, even if it does finish with the dreaded 'to be continued...'. It makes up for this by having enough going on and the re-appearance of some really interesting characters. The school sections were somewhat mundane, but I can see what the author is trying to do; there have been several books now where everything has gone to hell in some of the most chaotic ways possible, and this book serves to calm things down a little bit.

Whilst the appearance of some characters from the past worked well, the new characters from school weren't given anywhere near enough detail and so felt rather flat and lifeless. This makes Darren going back to school rather pointless in reality as it's more like padding without anything to bring it to life. That said, I enjoyed the story, particularly when it picked up the pace and had Darren running around after some mad Vampaneze with his old best friend, Steve Leonard.

Mycket spännande från början till slut! Roligt att man fick träffa på så många välbekanta ansikten. Kan inte vänta på att fortsätta läsa och följa Darren och hans vänner i sin fortsatta jakt efter vampanezfursten!

I think 3,75 would be more fitting.


I don't know, if I was blind the last seven books before this one, but this one was pretty sexist and it was absolutely unneccessary to aussault Debbie.

Apart from that I enjoyed this read as much as I do any CdF books. I wish I could add more to my personal perception of the book than just "I was intrigued again" and then reciting what happened. But after so many books in a series it gets hard.

Anyways, Darren goes back to school because someone enrolled him there to then later attack him, interesting strategy. There he meets his past time love Debbie but she works there as a teacher so of course they can't be together and also she aged and looks older than Darren.

Life is good, they still don't know where or who the Lord of the Vampaneze is and at some point life isn't good anymore because Paris dies.

Steve reenters Darren's life, they all (Crepsley, Vancha, Harkat, Debbie and Darren plus Steve) plot against the vampaneze, walk into a trap where R.V. is now also a crazy vamp and dun dun duuuun no one would have thought, Steve is a vampaneze.

No one says it but I do have the feeling that Steve is our Lord Vamp.

R.V. kidnaps Debbie, the vampaneze let the vampires run a bit before catching up and Steve is Darren's hostage because, well he berrayed him.

End. We get to see, if they'll live, next time but of course they will, it's still four books.

Now, you might read this and be like "You do not sound like you enjoyed this", well sorry but that's just how it is - you just have to trust me on this.

Let's see, if we get to see our Freaks again, the other vampires and especially... how the war will turn out.

In my effort to finish the Saga of Darren Shan, I am finding that this series is repetitive and unoriginal beyond its inception. Apparently, Shan only has so many "original" characters to display.

As evidenced in #8. by this return to a previous location, with previously met supporting cast, at a different point along the timeline. Murlough is long since dead, but his memory remains, as does that of Reggie Veggie, or should I say R.V. and arguably the worst villain in Steve Leonard. Shan's old girlfriend, Debbie, is among the revisit, as well.

And clearly this story is a way to waste one of the arbitrary four pre-destined meetings to kill the Lord of the Vampaneze or his lazily named "vampets."

I am beginning to hate the theft of Cain/Abel in the form of Steve/Darren, which is blatant in its reformation and oblivious to relative dialogue. Surely, logic and reasoning have no place in this saga, otherwise, it would be over already. And its only a matter of pages before Steve/Lord of the Vamps is uncovered, imagine my shock, since it hasn't been telegraphed from the first book.

Probably after too many ales, Shan thought it would be a hoot to have the aged Darren be forced to return to school. Over used, underplayed, and fodder in this effort.

This series has clearly peaked and is on the downhill slide into forced resolution/dissolution that is beyond the intriguing Cirque characters and any vampire lore that could have been built into greater stories. Like a kiddie Underworld using safer words.

Skip the series, watch the original movie, and use the time saved for something/anything more fun.

Thanks for reading.

With the exception of book two, this is the best of the lot, kicking things up with surprising twists, a betrayal, and a little return of Darren to his human side/life. I’ve found when he has to try and adjust and look more into walking that balance, the books are more interesting.

There's some humor, the return of great characters, interesting plot development/connections that make Darren appear more realistic, and a stunner. It looks like the books are certainly not following the movies.

The end was great and again leaves on a cliffhanger I can't wait to continue. Pacing is swift as always, so this one flew by in the reading. It was impossible to put down and tied with my other favorite in the series. Bravo.

There's the introduction of some old characters to spice things up a bit, and further twists/developments between a Prince and his brother on the other side. Crepsley has taken a more enjoyable role as teacher, friend, protector. Darren is likeable with a conscience but finding his role in a violent, twisted vampire war.

There's just enough of small hints to forecast some further surprises in the books to come. Shan does a good job introducing twists without teasers, but just in the right places to guarantee there’s more coming down the road. There are threads in so many directions hanging right now.

There is a little predictability, but that didn’t hurt the book.