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The Demonata #10
Hell's Heroes
The final dramatic conclusion to Darren Shan’s international phenomenon, The Demonata. Expect the unexpected…
Beranabus and Dervish are gone. Bec has formed an unholy alliance with Lord Loss. Kernel is blind, held on Earth against his will. Grubbs is mad with grief and spinning out of control.
The demons are crossing.The Disciples are falling.The Shadow is waiting.
Welcome to the end.
Beranabus and Dervish are gone. Bec has formed an unholy alliance with Lord Loss. Kernel is blind, held on Earth against his will. Grubbs is mad with grief and spinning out of control.
The demons are crossing.The Disciples are falling.The Shadow is waiting.
Welcome to the end.
209 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
130 people are currently reading
4096 people want to read
About the author
Darren Shan
247 books8,293 followersLibrarian's note: Also writes books for adults under the name Darren Dash. And in the past he has released books for adults under the names D.B. Shan and Darren O'Shaughnessy.
Darren Shan (born July 2, 1972 in London, England) is the pen name of the Irish author Darren O'Shaughnessy, as well as the name of the protagonist of his book series The Saga of Darren Shan, also known as The Cirque Du Freak Series in the United States. He is the author of the series The Demonata, The Saga of Larten Crepsley, and Zom-B. He has also released the stand-alone novel, The Thin Executioner, and the stand-alone short novels, Koyasan, and Hagurosan. Plus, for adults, he released The City Trilogy (originally under the name of D.B. Shan), and Lady of the Shades..
Darren Shan (born July 2, 1972 in London, England) is the pen name of the Irish author Darren O'Shaughnessy, as well as the name of the protagonist of his book series The Saga of Darren Shan, also known as The Cirque Du Freak Series in the United States. He is the author of the series The Demonata, The Saga of Larten Crepsley, and Zom-B. He has also released the stand-alone novel, The Thin Executioner, and the stand-alone short novels, Koyasan, and Hagurosan. Plus, for adults, he released The City Trilogy (originally under the name of D.B. Shan), and Lady of the Shades..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 366 reviews
April 21, 2021
Can I read the entire Demonata Saga in 48 hours?! Check out my reviews of all 10 books in the series by Darren Shan on my YouTube channel, How to Train Your Gavin: https://youtu.be/ZsSuarXyPcA
April 22, 2017
“Destiny's what you make of it. You have to face whatever life throws at you.”
The Demonata is a dark and morbid series that takes place over thousands of years and different character viewpoints. The main viewpoint has always been where it started with the first book - Grubbs - and that's whose viewpoint it ends with, although he's definitely a different sort of person now.
I'm not always a fan of multiple viewpoints in a single series, but by using that technique here, we get the story-line to come across as complex and strong each book. The end of the series is a satisfying one even if I found the last few pages a little confusing. Friends have become enemies, enemies have become friends, and the world will forever remain a twisted place. There is a surprise with the ending I never conceived, and while it's far-reaching, it's still creatively complex and fits with the morbid theme. I like what happens with the main villain that has stayed consistent through the tale, Lord Loss. That was a surprise too.
Character changes can be hard to deal with. So much brutality and change, not for the better but for the inevitable, it affects all three mains. Half the time I almost hated them, but I did come to understand the motivations behind their changes.
It's not the strongest book of the series - the first half is a little stagnant, but the end brings it up another star. I prefer the Cirque Du Freak series overall, but the Demonata is worth reading for fans of Darren Shan.
The Demonata is a dark and morbid series that takes place over thousands of years and different character viewpoints. The main viewpoint has always been where it started with the first book - Grubbs - and that's whose viewpoint it ends with, although he's definitely a different sort of person now.
I'm not always a fan of multiple viewpoints in a single series, but by using that technique here, we get the story-line to come across as complex and strong each book. The end of the series is a satisfying one even if I found the last few pages a little confusing. Friends have become enemies, enemies have become friends, and the world will forever remain a twisted place. There is a surprise with the ending I never conceived, and while it's far-reaching, it's still creatively complex and fits with the morbid theme. I like what happens with the main villain that has stayed consistent through the tale, Lord Loss. That was a surprise too.
Character changes can be hard to deal with. So much brutality and change, not for the better but for the inevitable, it affects all three mains. Half the time I almost hated them, but I did come to understand the motivations behind their changes.
It's not the strongest book of the series - the first half is a little stagnant, but the end brings it up another star. I prefer the Cirque Du Freak series overall, but the Demonata is worth reading for fans of Darren Shan.
February 1, 2011
Once again, Darren Shan provides an excellent example of his inability to make a satisfactory ending. The only time a Darren Shan book ever ended passably, even well, was The Thin Executioner. But this? Okay, let's make this very clear, Shan: THE. ENDING. SUCKED. BALLS.
Which is a shame because this wasn't such a bad book. Actually the series in general was terrible. I didn't enjoy it. There is an overdose of blood and gore, which is a hundred times more disgusting than it is remotely scary, some concepts are just disturbing (like Bec after she turns traitor, which when you think about it was totally unnecessary-why didn't she just tell Grubbs and Kernel about her plan? Didn't want to waste energy pursuading them to go along with it? What, she'd rather kill a bunch of people for the fun of it because the world's gonna end anyway? She wanted Lord Loss to feel her up? Eww.) and it gets boring when you have to read the same scene over again from three different perspectives (Blood Beast, Wolf Island, Dark Calling), I mean, if you're going to put a cliff hanger, atleast don't drag the agony of wanting to know what happens next out even more than you should. Darren Shan could've made it so that we didn't have to go through some the same stuff again before we can reach to where we left off in the last book. Atleast we didn't have that here, in Hell's Heroes. But still, if I'm going to be talking about the series in general, I'll just say that, though I didn't like it at the time, I think Lord Loss was a great start to what could've been a completely different and probably preferrable series: a series of chess-death-matches. I really liked that concept. But no, Shan had to stuff a bunch of stuff and get them all muddled up together so we can barely see through the mess of gimics: demons, magic, zombies, were-wolves... You either choose one to make it complex, or you choose all of them and make it straight and simple. And speaking of the magic, I really didn't like it. I mean, yeah I'm all for magic that doesn't require a wand or weird words (none that he tells us anyway, which makes it annoyingly vague-how does Grubbs know what to say? Phrases like "I barked a word of magic" got on my nerves-yeah we really know what you mean by that, Shan), but it doesn't seem like there are any limits to what this type of magic can be used for. They can do virtually anything if they put their minds to it, and yeah, Shan was very creative in some of the things they do, so atleast we get a wide variety of action, but then if Grubbs can turn his legs into swords and spear a demon on them (like I said, creative, if not a little weird, but Shan is a weird author) then why can't he just blow a whole horde of them up? Okay, they can put themselves back together, but it'll be a helluva job for them if you just keep e'sploding them to tiny bits and pieces and sludge as soon as they fix themselves up again. Why didn't any of them think of that? Couldn't do it? But that's what I mean about limits-how are we to know what they are limited to doing when there's a window and when there isn't? And Grubbs is a magician, and so is Beranabus. Doesn't that mean they've got more magic than average?
Okay, one more little rant about the ending before I finish: it is very annoying to be told that events have to unfold the same way all over again but slightly different, and without the central characters. We're supposed to just guess what happens next? Nuh-uh. That doesn't work for me. It's the Cirque du Freak series all over again, except possibly a little worse. Atleast the main character doesn't become some bodiless form of the universe. Hell, he is the universe. That's just...that's just stupid! If anybody thinks I need to explain that a little better as to why it's so stupid, I'll just say that it's one of those things that are just so obviously stupid it's not worth explaining.
There. I'm done. Hope you enjoyed the rantings of a dissatisfied reader. Now I've got nothing to read.
Which is a shame because this wasn't such a bad book. Actually the series in general was terrible. I didn't enjoy it. There is an overdose of blood and gore, which is a hundred times more disgusting than it is remotely scary, some concepts are just disturbing (like Bec after she turns traitor, which when you think about it was totally unnecessary-why didn't she just tell Grubbs and Kernel about her plan? Didn't want to waste energy pursuading them to go along with it? What, she'd rather kill a bunch of people for the fun of it because the world's gonna end anyway? She wanted Lord Loss to feel her up? Eww.) and it gets boring when you have to read the same scene over again from three different perspectives (Blood Beast, Wolf Island, Dark Calling), I mean, if you're going to put a cliff hanger, atleast don't drag the agony of wanting to know what happens next out even more than you should. Darren Shan could've made it so that we didn't have to go through some the same stuff again before we can reach to where we left off in the last book. Atleast we didn't have that here, in Hell's Heroes. But still, if I'm going to be talking about the series in general, I'll just say that, though I didn't like it at the time, I think Lord Loss was a great start to what could've been a completely different and probably preferrable series: a series of chess-death-matches. I really liked that concept. But no, Shan had to stuff a bunch of stuff and get them all muddled up together so we can barely see through the mess of gimics: demons, magic, zombies, were-wolves... You either choose one to make it complex, or you choose all of them and make it straight and simple. And speaking of the magic, I really didn't like it. I mean, yeah I'm all for magic that doesn't require a wand or weird words (none that he tells us anyway, which makes it annoyingly vague-how does Grubbs know what to say? Phrases like "I barked a word of magic" got on my nerves-yeah we really know what you mean by that, Shan), but it doesn't seem like there are any limits to what this type of magic can be used for. They can do virtually anything if they put their minds to it, and yeah, Shan was very creative in some of the things they do, so atleast we get a wide variety of action, but then if Grubbs can turn his legs into swords and spear a demon on them (like I said, creative, if not a little weird, but Shan is a weird author) then why can't he just blow a whole horde of them up? Okay, they can put themselves back together, but it'll be a helluva job for them if you just keep e'sploding them to tiny bits and pieces and sludge as soon as they fix themselves up again. Why didn't any of them think of that? Couldn't do it? But that's what I mean about limits-how are we to know what they are limited to doing when there's a window and when there isn't? And Grubbs is a magician, and so is Beranabus. Doesn't that mean they've got more magic than average?
Okay, one more little rant about the ending before I finish: it is very annoying to be told that events have to unfold the same way all over again but slightly different, and without the central characters. We're supposed to just guess what happens next? Nuh-uh. That doesn't work for me. It's the Cirque du Freak series all over again, except possibly a little worse. Atleast the main character doesn't become some bodiless form of the universe. Hell, he is the universe. That's just...that's just stupid! If anybody thinks I need to explain that a little better as to why it's so stupid, I'll just say that it's one of those things that are just so obviously stupid it's not worth explaining.
There. I'm done. Hope you enjoyed the rantings of a dissatisfied reader. Now I've got nothing to read.
May 31, 2017
It's over... I'm finished 😫
You can't hang around waiting for somebody else to pull your strings. Destiny's what you make of it. You have to face whatever life throws at you. And if it throws more than you'd like, more than you think you can handle? Well, then you have to find heroism within yourself and play out the hand you've been dealt. The universe never sets a challenge that can't be met. You just need to believe in yourself in order to find the strength to face it.
^ Advice to live by, right there.
Approximately 13 years after starting this series, I have finally finished it. The last book in the series focuses on Grubbs Grady (yes!), appropriately, since he opened book 1 all those years ago. It is a wild and exciting journey that ties up all the story lines. Some crazy shit goes down, but anyone that's read The Saga of Darren Shan series probably knows that he's pretty big on crazy, twisty endings.
Good bye cruel, Demonata-filled world (universe...s...).
You can't hang around waiting for somebody else to pull your strings. Destiny's what you make of it. You have to face whatever life throws at you. And if it throws more than you'd like, more than you think you can handle? Well, then you have to find heroism within yourself and play out the hand you've been dealt. The universe never sets a challenge that can't be met. You just need to believe in yourself in order to find the strength to face it.
^ Advice to live by, right there.
Approximately 13 years after starting this series, I have finally finished it. The last book in the series focuses on Grubbs Grady (yes!), appropriately, since he opened book 1 all those years ago. It is a wild and exciting journey that ties up all the story lines. Some crazy shit goes down, but anyone that's read The Saga of Darren Shan series probably knows that he's pretty big on crazy, twisty endings.
Good bye cruel, Demonata-filled world (universe...s...).
August 30, 2024
بالاخره تموم شد!
نه تنها این جلد، که شونصد ماهه اسیرِ طلسمِ "در حال خواندن" شده، بلکه کلِ مجموعه که از 2021 مشغول خوندنشم😂💔
پایانش عجیب بود، ولی فکر نمیکنم جور دیگهای میتونست تموم بشه بدون اینکه کل مجموعه رو پوچ و بیهوده کنه. پس از پایانش راضیم.
ولی همچنان معتقدم که بهترین جلد مجموعه، جلد اول (لرد لاس) بود که من اینقدر دوسش داشتم که 3 بار این جلد رو خوندم!
نه تنها این جلد، که شونصد ماهه اسیرِ طلسمِ "در حال خواندن" شده، بلکه کلِ مجموعه که از 2021 مشغول خوندنشم😂💔
پایانش عجیب بود، ولی فکر نمیکنم جور دیگهای میتونست تموم بشه بدون اینکه کل مجموعه رو پوچ و بیهوده کنه. پس از پایانش راضیم.
ولی همچنان معتقدم که بهترین جلد مجموعه، جلد اول (لرد لاس) بود که من اینقدر دوسش داشتم که 3 بار این جلد رو خوندم!
September 24, 2025
برای بار دوم تموم شد. :’))))
خیلی خوب بود. خیلی خیلی. واقعا کیف کردم! هر چند تو این جلد چیزها و آدمهای زیادی از دست رفتن، اما نتیجه ارزش این قربانی کردن هارو داشت.
اینکه قصه با گروبز تموم شد رو دوست داشتم. خوندنش مثل حس خونه بود. میدونین چی میگم؟ آشنا و آرامشبخش.
میتونم ایراد های ریز و درشت بگیرم ولی چه فایده؟ مهم اینه که مسیر برام لذت بخش بوده. همین عالیش میکنه.
خلاصه، هر جا در هر سنی هستین شروع کنین به خوندن دموناتا، پشیمون نمیشین. :))
خیلی خوب بود. خیلی خیلی. واقعا کیف کردم! هر چند تو این جلد چیزها و آدمهای زیادی از دست رفتن، اما نتیجه ارزش این قربانی کردن هارو داشت.
اینکه قصه با گروبز تموم شد رو دوست داشتم. خوندنش مثل حس خونه بود. میدونین چی میگم؟ آشنا و آرامشبخش.
میتونم ایراد های ریز و درشت بگیرم ولی چه فایده؟ مهم اینه که مسیر برام لذت بخش بوده. همین عالیش میکنه.
خلاصه، هر جا در هر سنی هستین شروع کنین به خوندن دموناتا، پشیمون نمیشین. :))
July 18, 2023
This review is for the series as a whole, because there are too many to recall my individual thoughts on each one, and it was a very fast series for me to get through.
This series, for the most part, was so impressively dark, scary and gory for its middle grade demographic. Shan really pushes the limits on what's suitable for kids, but he never goes TOO far. I love how his descriptions are so vivid, yet he leaves room for your own imagination to fill in the blanks. The characters throughout this series were so good, so fun to read about, and there were so many plot elements that managed to weave together so well. Darren Shan was one of my favourite childhood authors with his vampire books, and while I'm now at the age where I won't appreciate this series as much as I did that one back then, I still fully recognise how great this was and I will fully recommend them to any child - or adult - who can handle some serious horror.
There were some books that were of definitely lower quality than others. Some were simply less engaging, less dark, whatever reason - not every book in the series was able to stand up to the quality of the best ones. But with a series of 10 books, you'd have to be the best writer ever if each book is perfect. Also, the ending to the series may not satisfy everybody. I found it satisfying enough, though it totally didn't end up going anywhere anyone could have predicted from the beginning.
Hell's Heroes was a bizarre and questionably satisfying ending to a fun, dark and fast-paced series!
This series, for the most part, was so impressively dark, scary and gory for its middle grade demographic. Shan really pushes the limits on what's suitable for kids, but he never goes TOO far. I love how his descriptions are so vivid, yet he leaves room for your own imagination to fill in the blanks. The characters throughout this series were so good, so fun to read about, and there were so many plot elements that managed to weave together so well. Darren Shan was one of my favourite childhood authors with his vampire books, and while I'm now at the age where I won't appreciate this series as much as I did that one back then, I still fully recognise how great this was and I will fully recommend them to any child - or adult - who can handle some serious horror.
There were some books that were of definitely lower quality than others. Some were simply less engaging, less dark, whatever reason - not every book in the series was able to stand up to the quality of the best ones. But with a series of 10 books, you'd have to be the best writer ever if each book is perfect. Also, the ending to the series may not satisfy everybody. I found it satisfying enough, though it totally didn't end up going anywhere anyone could have predicted from the beginning.
Hell's Heroes was a bizarre and questionably satisfying ending to a fun, dark and fast-paced series!
March 25, 2011
Will you be scared if a demon killed your family and kidnapped your friends, what will you do? Will you go face your fears to save your friends and family?"This is what Darren Shan thought about in the book. Darren Shan held magical powers, he could open a new dimensions and he could heal people. One day he noticed a demon that appeared to have needles sticking out of him, kills his classmates, family, and kidnapped his friends. He met a demon slayer that told him if you kill king of demons-lord loss he could get your friends and family back with a wish.
I recommend this .book because it is magical, it is magical because it Darren Shan the author had powers, he could open dimension he could heal, he could make blocks out of light and he could make a shield out of light, that why I will recommend this book
Readers who love fighting, magic and love. All the suspense is whether Darren will find his family and friends. One might even say this book is scary ,romance novel. But ladies and gentlemen I will surely recommend this book for anybody.
i would definitely read the next series of this by the Darren Shan.
Some people wont like this book because it kind of confusing it has a lot of chapters, a lot of pages
I recommend this .book because it is magical, it is magical because it Darren Shan the author had powers, he could open dimension he could heal, he could make blocks out of light and he could make a shield out of light, that why I will recommend this book
Readers who love fighting, magic and love. All the suspense is whether Darren will find his family and friends. One might even say this book is scary ,romance novel. But ladies and gentlemen I will surely recommend this book for anybody.
i would definitely read the next series of this by the Darren Shan.
Some people wont like this book because it kind of confusing it has a lot of chapters, a lot of pages
November 27, 2011
What a disappointment. We read each book ignoring the weak first Kernel story which is rather pathetically obvious, to have a rip-roaring couple of books in the middle, then to start to feel worried at #9, only to get here. We have hardly any emotions left they have all been wrung out but we throw ourselves into the fray once more with our heroes, getting seriously through the book before there is any hint of a twist, and surely there has to be a twist, this really can't be it? The last book in a series like this should be the best not the worse, and unfortunately that is not the case here. The main problem with the ending is the lack of emotion, yes, the loose ends are sort of tied up although it seems very far-fetched (I know given the subject matter how can I claim this?) and clumsy. It felt as though the author had backed himself into a corner and wasn't quite sure what to do and started clutching at straws. However there is no emotionally satisfying ending, you can't put your reader through all that, invest them in so many characters, only to have a bland academic ending - it just didn't feel fair. It was like biting into a revel only to discover its the nasty coffee one that no-one wants. Disappointing and unsatisfying. Boo.
September 2, 2015
3 Stars
Hell's Heroes was the weakest book of this amazing decalogy series, The Demonata by Darren Shan. Having said that, I give the series
4.5 Stars
The Demonata is an incredible journey that takes us through thousands of years and many point of views. Of course Grubbs is our center, our trigger, our main hairy man. His point of view guide us and brings us back for more. No care undergoes more changes and more growth than Grubbs.
Darren Shan did this series right by mixing up each book never two alike. The multiple points of view gave us a great deal of variation to enjoy. He also gave us many different time frames to change things up. His overall writing and father flair for demonic action make these books special. I loved his take on the Urban Fantasy genre.
The combination of amazing protagonists and hordes of scary demons and monsters led by the loathsome Lord Loss is simply a must read.
Hell's Heroes suffers from several things. First, my high expectations left no room for anything. Second, this book takes several giant leaps that I had a hard time accepting. Finally, the ending was a big let down to me.
Once again let me repeat, this is a must read series for fans of the genre. You to will instantly become a fan of Darren Shan. I will miss Grubbs, Dervish, and Lord Loss.
Hell's Heroes was the weakest book of this amazing decalogy series, The Demonata by Darren Shan. Having said that, I give the series
4.5 Stars
The Demonata is an incredible journey that takes us through thousands of years and many point of views. Of course Grubbs is our center, our trigger, our main hairy man. His point of view guide us and brings us back for more. No care undergoes more changes and more growth than Grubbs.
Darren Shan did this series right by mixing up each book never two alike. The multiple points of view gave us a great deal of variation to enjoy. He also gave us many different time frames to change things up. His overall writing and father flair for demonic action make these books special. I loved his take on the Urban Fantasy genre.
The combination of amazing protagonists and hordes of scary demons and monsters led by the loathsome Lord Loss is simply a must read.
Hell's Heroes suffers from several things. First, my high expectations left no room for anything. Second, this book takes several giant leaps that I had a hard time accepting. Finally, the ending was a big let down to me.
Once again let me repeat, this is a must read series for fans of the genre. You to will instantly become a fan of Darren Shan. I will miss Grubbs, Dervish, and Lord Loss.
October 2, 2021
Given Halloween will soon be upon us I decided to finally finish this young adult horror series that I started reading about 15 years ago. I think it is hard to end a 10 book series well, but I did think the ending was a bit of a cop out. The part leading up to it was OK but lacked some of the excitement and I intrigue I remember from earlier books. The 3 main characters were all still enjoyable.
Looking at the series as a whole, it was a fun ride. Well done Mr. Shan, this books captivated me as a child and were still enjoyable as an adult.
Looking at the series as a whole, it was a fun ride. Well done Mr. Shan, this books captivated me as a child and were still enjoyable as an adult.
September 14, 2021
مجموعه دموناتا به پایان رسید. مسیر نسبتا طولانی که با شکل گیری و توسعه دادن شخصیت های داستان مواجه بود. رفتار کردار منفعل گروبز لرد لاس در نهایت در قهرمان دوزخ به کنش کاملا متفاوتی تبدیل شده بود.
در بین شخصیت ها کرنل رو بیشتر از همه دوست داشتم. در کل فکر می کنم مجموعه جالبی برای دوران نوجوانی باشه و برای من که دیر خوندمش، بعضی جاها متاسفانه خسته کننده بود.
از مستانه عزیز بابت تشویق به خوندن مجموعه متشکرم😍
در بین شخصیت ها کرنل رو بیشتر از همه دوست داشتم. در کل فکر می کنم مجموعه جالبی برای دوران نوجوانی باشه و برای من که دیر خوندمش، بعضی جاها متاسفانه خسته کننده بود.
از مستانه عزیز بابت تشویق به خوندن مجموعه متشکرم😍
August 25, 2013
This series is one of the best series of books I've ever read!
I started reading the first book, Lord Loss (in the point of view of Grubbs), when I was quite young, and I had my own room, so scary book+little me-companyxwild imagination=terrified child. My mum banned me from reading scary books at night (because I'd also read some Point Horror books before) and I was so scared I wouldn't go near it again.
Almost a year later, and Lord Loss was still on my mental books-2-read list, so I picked it up and tried reading it again. After I finished it I realized it wasn't terrifying like I'd thought, but it was horrifically gory.
The series (in order): Lord Loss (Grubbs)
Demon Thief (Kernel)
Slawter (Grubbs)
Bec (Bec)
Blood Beast (Grubbs)
Demon Apocalypse (Grubbs)
Death's Shadow (Bec)
Wolf Island (Grubbs)
Dark Calling (Kernel)
Hell's Heroes (Grubbs)
Grubbs (as you can see) is the main character. Kernel and Bec have their stories introduced, but all characters come together throughout the series (I'm not going to elaborate on WHY, because that includes spoilers), so there really is no need for them to have an equal amount of books throughout the series.
All in all, I give the entire series five out of five stars, and there's a surprising twist at the end that you'll regret missing!!
I started reading the first book, Lord Loss (in the point of view of Grubbs), when I was quite young, and I had my own room, so scary book+little me-companyxwild imagination=terrified child. My mum banned me from reading scary books at night (because I'd also read some Point Horror books before) and I was so scared I wouldn't go near it again.
Almost a year later, and Lord Loss was still on my mental books-2-read list, so I picked it up and tried reading it again. After I finished it I realized it wasn't terrifying like I'd thought, but it was horrifically gory.
The series (in order): Lord Loss (Grubbs)
Demon Thief (Kernel)
Slawter (Grubbs)
Bec (Bec)
Blood Beast (Grubbs)
Demon Apocalypse (Grubbs)
Death's Shadow (Bec)
Wolf Island (Grubbs)
Dark Calling (Kernel)
Hell's Heroes (Grubbs)
Grubbs (as you can see) is the main character. Kernel and Bec have their stories introduced, but all characters come together throughout the series (I'm not going to elaborate on WHY, because that includes spoilers), so there really is no need for them to have an equal amount of books throughout the series.
All in all, I give the entire series five out of five stars, and there's a surprising twist at the end that you'll regret missing!!
October 9, 2009
Thank God for Amazon.uk! I couldn't wait 6 months for the US release so I paid as much for shipping from across the pond as the book costs. Here's the thing: it was worth it.
This is probably my favorite in the series, which is something pretty special for a last book, AND especially unusual because I actually hated the first two thirds of the book. I don't think I've ever been more angry at the main characters in a story as I was during this series and especially this book. I thought about ripping at the pages and sending Darren Shan the ashes in the mail, but that's what happens when we don't give an author like Shan the benefit of the doubt.
The book goes back to my favorite narrator--Grubbs, but we do get plenty of Kernel and Bec throughout the story. I don't want to go too much into the plot (just read the thing), but I will say that it picks up directly from where Book 9 dropped off and jumps straight back into the demon-filled action.
This was an ending I never, ever, EVER would have come up with on my own. Usually, by the time I am at the end of a series (especially one with ten books), I have some idea where I am hoping it will go and generally I would be disappointed if my hopes weren't fulfilled. In this case, I am happy to be wrong. It was blood brilliant!
Happy reading Shan fans!
This is probably my favorite in the series, which is something pretty special for a last book, AND especially unusual because I actually hated the first two thirds of the book. I don't think I've ever been more angry at the main characters in a story as I was during this series and especially this book. I thought about ripping at the pages and sending Darren Shan the ashes in the mail, but that's what happens when we don't give an author like Shan the benefit of the doubt.
The book goes back to my favorite narrator--Grubbs, but we do get plenty of Kernel and Bec throughout the story. I don't want to go too much into the plot (just read the thing), but I will say that it picks up directly from where Book 9 dropped off and jumps straight back into the demon-filled action.
This was an ending I never, ever, EVER would have come up with on my own. Usually, by the time I am at the end of a series (especially one with ten books), I have some idea where I am hoping it will go and generally I would be disappointed if my hopes weren't fulfilled. In this case, I am happy to be wrong. It was blood brilliant!
Happy reading Shan fans!
May 29, 2018
حس میکنم که دارن میتونست کتاب رو یشتر کش بده . نخواست این کار رو بکنه . در ضمن واسه داستان یک گره هایی ایجاد شده بود که تقریبا پایانش حدس پذیر شده بود . خیلی از طرفداران مجموعه از پایان این کتاب راضی نبودند . ولی با روندی که دارن رفته بود به نظر من جور دیگه ای نمیتونست کتاب رو تموم کنه ! البته به نظر من پایانش اونقدر ها بد نبود ولی شاید انتظار یک پایان هیجان انگیز تری رو انتظار میکشیدم . با این حال باز هم کتاب آخر قشنگ نوشته شده . شما تو این کتاب اوج نا امیدی رو حس میکنید . واقعا وقتی که گروبز داره میبینه چه هیولا هایی دارن وارد دنیا آدما میشن ..... . در پایان : قشنگ بود ( از استاد دارن شان انتظار دیگه ای هم مگه داشتید ؟ )
October 17, 2014
As the final book in the series this one brings everything nicely together.
Everything is brought about to a great ending – ending on a light tone – with all your questions answered. As well-paced as the other books, filled with as much action and entertainment it is a must read if you have read the rest of the series. After all, if you have read the rest you need to know what happens and I can assure you that the ending is a high note.
Everything is brought about to a great ending – ending on a light tone – with all your questions answered. As well-paced as the other books, filled with as much action and entertainment it is a must read if you have read the rest of the series. After all, if you have read the rest you need to know what happens and I can assure you that the ending is a high note.
July 10, 2020
به نظر من بهترین جلد همین جلد اخر بود . اما در کل مجموعه ی خوبی نیست و توصیه به مطالعه هم به هیچ عنوان نمیکنم
سه ستاره دادم به اخرین کتاب برای این که بهترین این مجموعه بود درحالی که اگر به صورت کلی و در مقایسه با عناوین دیگه حتی هم سبک و از همین نویسنده هم بخوام در نظر بگیرم لیاقت ۳ ستاره را به سختی داره
ولی عجیب امتیازات بالایی هست که بعضی از نویسنده ها و مترجم های وطنی میدن به عناوین این مجموعه
سه ستاره دادم به اخرین کتاب برای این که بهترین این مجموعه بود درحالی که اگر به صورت کلی و در مقایسه با عناوین دیگه حتی هم سبک و از همین نویسنده هم بخوام در نظر بگیرم لیاقت ۳ ستاره را به سختی داره
ولی عجیب امتیازات بالایی هست که بعضی از نویسنده ها و مترجم های وطنی میدن به عناوین این مجموعه
September 3, 2013
نسل من «معلّم رو به خانه» نمیبرد؛ دارن شان رو میبرد و توی راه و سر ناهار و شام هم ولاش نمیکرد؛ کتابآیی که خیلی موقعها تو جامیزمون جایِ درس معلّمُ میگرفت و گاهی هم باعث اخراجمون از کلاس میشد... کار به جائی کشید که معاون آموزشی مدرسه یه مقالهای در ردّ فانتزیخونیآی ما نوشت و ما هم تحریماش کردیم؛ جدّی
October 22, 2023
reset the world so i can reexperience this series
October 6, 2023
اون همه پتانسیلی که تو طول مسیر خلق کرد رو چه بی استفاده و الکی از بین برد و حیف که چه قدر میتونست بهتر داستان رو جلو ببره
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2010
Feeling i was growing out of Darren Shan, and not even sure I would even bother finishing the series (a thought that would have been unthinkable a few years back). But i bought the book on a whim.
And by time I reached the end, I did not regret it.
It seems I had forgotton what a master of plot he is, full of excrutiating cliff hangers, stunning betrayals and staggering revalations. He never goes where you expect him too.
Now, Grubbs is by far my favourite character (though i have the feeling if I met him in real life, we would not get along. At all) but by Wolf Island, he was more beast than human, harder to identify with. Most of the characters were, and by killing off so many of the major ones, we lose some special. And I miss Bill-E, Dervish - Even Juni, but I suppose this book was never meant to be comfortable.
Anyway, the end makes up for any flaws
Easily.
If you havent read Darren Shan, do so now. This is one of those books that makes me sad to be growing up.
And by time I reached the end, I did not regret it.
It seems I had forgotton what a master of plot he is, full of excrutiating cliff hangers, stunning betrayals and staggering revalations. He never goes where you expect him too.
Now, Grubbs is by far my favourite character (though i have the feeling if I met him in real life, we would not get along. At all) but by Wolf Island, he was more beast than human, harder to identify with. Most of the characters were, and by killing off so many of the major ones, we lose some special. And I miss Bill-E, Dervish - Even Juni, but I suppose this book was never meant to be comfortable.
Anyway, the end makes up for any flaws
Easily.
If you havent read Darren Shan, do so now. This is one of those books that makes me sad to be growing up.
July 1, 2017
I was severely underwhelmed by the ending of this series. It kind of reminded me of the ending of Cirque du Freak, but it made less sense. I wasn't very happy with how Bec's character was handled. Throughout the series, her intro book was my favorite, so to not have another narration book from her was very disappointing. I was relieved that she did play a very important and positive role in the ending of the novel, but it still was a pretty flat ending.
I was VERY happy to see more Timas. And this Kirilli character that I thought I would end up despising really warmed up to me. This book began with the death of possibly the best character of the entire series, but that's customary of Darren Shand and the Demonata series in general. I loved seeing deeper into Lord Loss' mind, and his ending role was really neat.
I was VERY happy to see more Timas. And this Kirilli character that I thought I would end up despising really warmed up to me. This book began with the death of possibly the best character of the entire series, but that's customary of Darren Shand and the Demonata series in general. I loved seeing deeper into Lord Loss' mind, and his ending role was really neat.
July 30, 2014
Uh. No... Takovej konec jsem teda vážně nečekala. Teda jo, měla jsem podezření, ale stejně... Čekala jsem něco jiného. Ale nevadí, takhle to mělo skončit. Jako konec perfektní. Bec je pěkná bad ass. A bude mi chybět Lord Lítost. Proč to nemá dalších 20 dílů?
4/5*
4/5*
October 25, 2025
خب اینم از کامنتم در مورد جلد آخر. جلد ده دموناتا یعنی دلاوران (قهرمانان) جهنم دقیقا همون جاییه که مطمئن شدم دارن شان یه نویسنده تینیجر پسند ساده نیست. ایده کاگاش برنامه خیلی خوبی داشت و در نهایت هم پایانی تلخ و شیرین و عجیب بهمون داد. طوری که هنوز برای من از جمله پایانهای تاثیر گذار حساب میشه.
تمام این مسیر به نقطه شروع ختم شد و نهایتا متوجه میشیم لرد لاس هم به عنوان انتاگونیست قوی عمل کرده (اسمش رو میشه نیروی شر گذاشت اما بنظرم هوشیاری لرد لاس قوی تر از این حرفاست)
خلاصه که من تا آخر عمرم اسم شطرنج میاد یاد لرد لاس میافتم :))
و تمام.
تمام این مسیر به نقطه شروع ختم شد و نهایتا متوجه میشیم لرد لاس هم به عنوان انتاگونیست قوی عمل کرده (اسمش رو میشه نیروی شر گذاشت اما بنظرم هوشیاری لرد لاس قوی تر از این حرفاست)
خلاصه که من تا آخر عمرم اسم شطرنج میاد یاد لرد لاس میافتم :))
و تمام.
March 17, 2023
این جلدددد
خیلی خوب بود
پایانش فقط یکم مشکل داشت🥲فقط دارن شان تخصص این رو داره ده جلد فوق العاده بنویسه جلد آخر رو گند بزنه
خیلی خوب بود
پایانش فقط یکم مشکل داشت🥲فقط دارن شان تخصص این رو داره ده جلد فوق العاده بنویسه جلد آخر رو گند بزنه
Read
March 17, 2019The theme of this book is do what is best. The main characters had a tough decision to make and it turned out to be the right decision.
August 19, 2025
OKEY OKEY
May 7, 2021
روی تارهای خون پیش می خزد
بیزار از هر چیز، درد می افشاند
رمنده هر چه دوست، دشمن را می چشاند
بر امید، ترانه انتقام میخواند، با پلید جشن شادی می راند
ماه را می سوزد، مهر را با ماه ها
منتظر پیک مرگ، می چشد اندوه را
قلب تار عنکبوت... لردلاس... سر مست از اندوه، تنها بازمانده او
بیزار از هر چیز، درد می افشاند
رمنده هر چه دوست، دشمن را می چشاند
بر امید، ترانه انتقام میخواند، با پلید جشن شادی می راند
ماه را می سوزد، مهر را با ماه ها
منتظر پیک مرگ، می چشد اندوه را
قلب تار عنکبوت... لردلاس... سر مست از اندوه، تنها بازمانده او
Read
January 17, 2014I really can't write a better hook then this, You ready? Ok here we go:Magic, Demons, Werewolves, Death, Explosions. Need i say more? I do?
UUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHH ok fine, I'll elaborate.
*SPOILERS FOR DAYS UP IN HERE*
Ok so now that i have your attention, let's begin. In the very last book of this series of supposed horror it pulled through quite nicely. Books 1-8 were amazing in every way, but 9 kinda felt like it fell flat on me. However, this one was amazing it was alot more in depth then the 9th one and it had more self conflict as Grubbs fougtht with his own conscience to see what is wrong and right. In this book Bec betrays Grubbs and Kernal and sides with the demons to erradicate all living forms of life and allows Death to host inside of her. Torn and angry Grubbs and Kernal flee from Lord Loss's realm within an inch of their lives. (a demon master cannot be defeated in his own realm.)Even with the power of the Kah-Gash in their hands Grubbs and Kernal couldn't break the defenses of Lord Loss.
When they finally returned to Earth they found that demons were everywhere quickly destroying the tunnel they regrouped for later battles. Now the thing I didn't like here was the fact that during the entire series they basically give you the impression that when a tunnel opens up, you are screwed and have no hope, but he just destroyed one in like 3 minutes. Now, i know that later in the book they explain that depending on the power of the lodestone, it can set boundaries but that wasn't the thought entertained throughout the series and I dont like how the rules just altered. It turns out that Bec was just tricking the demonata and Death into believing she switched aligences which brought upon one of the most dirrivitive of all movie/book cliche's ever which is the friend is an enemy but is actually a friend the whole time.
Now there was things I liked and its the fact that they destroyed everything when they became the Kah-Gash and that it went back to how it was originally. I also thought it was cool how Grubbs couldn't kill his greatest enemy because of a pact and how they killed all of the other demon masters, save for Lord Loss. I really enjoyed the ending like where all this stuff is going down and all this just inspirational and philisophical text is put in and im just sitting there like "Damn, that's deep..." The funniest thing ever though is the fact of how cocky and full of himself Grubbs is like this is literally the last line of the series/book "Clearing my throat, to a chorus of groans from Kernal and Bec, I chant solemnly. 'In the beginning Grubbs created the heavens and the Earth and everything was dark.Then Grubbs said,Let there be light!' And there was ligth.
Coolio!" Like look at him pretending to be god and everything, it just cracks me up.
Now obviously this book isn't perfect, but its the best in the series right next to the first one and it just seemed like it was for a more mature audience compared to the others. I give it a 9 out of 10 and reccomend it to anyone who wants to get startled but in the long run, unaffected by anything. Now just remember,you may have a cool life but your life will never be Grubbs Grady cool.
Coolio!
UUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHH ok fine, I'll elaborate.
*SPOILERS FOR DAYS UP IN HERE*
Ok so now that i have your attention, let's begin. In the very last book of this series of supposed horror it pulled through quite nicely. Books 1-8 were amazing in every way, but 9 kinda felt like it fell flat on me. However, this one was amazing it was alot more in depth then the 9th one and it had more self conflict as Grubbs fougtht with his own conscience to see what is wrong and right. In this book Bec betrays Grubbs and Kernal and sides with the demons to erradicate all living forms of life and allows Death to host inside of her. Torn and angry Grubbs and Kernal flee from Lord Loss's realm within an inch of their lives. (a demon master cannot be defeated in his own realm.)Even with the power of the Kah-Gash in their hands Grubbs and Kernal couldn't break the defenses of Lord Loss.
When they finally returned to Earth they found that demons were everywhere quickly destroying the tunnel they regrouped for later battles. Now the thing I didn't like here was the fact that during the entire series they basically give you the impression that when a tunnel opens up, you are screwed and have no hope, but he just destroyed one in like 3 minutes. Now, i know that later in the book they explain that depending on the power of the lodestone, it can set boundaries but that wasn't the thought entertained throughout the series and I dont like how the rules just altered. It turns out that Bec was just tricking the demonata and Death into believing she switched aligences which brought upon one of the most dirrivitive of all movie/book cliche's ever which is the friend is an enemy but is actually a friend the whole time.
Now there was things I liked and its the fact that they destroyed everything when they became the Kah-Gash and that it went back to how it was originally. I also thought it was cool how Grubbs couldn't kill his greatest enemy because of a pact and how they killed all of the other demon masters, save for Lord Loss. I really enjoyed the ending like where all this stuff is going down and all this just inspirational and philisophical text is put in and im just sitting there like "Damn, that's deep..." The funniest thing ever though is the fact of how cocky and full of himself Grubbs is like this is literally the last line of the series/book "Clearing my throat, to a chorus of groans from Kernal and Bec, I chant solemnly. 'In the beginning Grubbs created the heavens and the Earth and everything was dark.Then Grubbs said,Let there be light!' And there was ligth.
Coolio!" Like look at him pretending to be god and everything, it just cracks me up.
Now obviously this book isn't perfect, but its the best in the series right next to the first one and it just seemed like it was for a more mature audience compared to the others. I give it a 9 out of 10 and reccomend it to anyone who wants to get startled but in the long run, unaffected by anything. Now just remember,you may have a cool life but your life will never be Grubbs Grady cool.
Coolio!
September 4, 2016
THE DEMONATA
A SERIES IN REVIEW
CHAPPY
Today i finished the 10th and final book in Darren Shans amazing series set in the universe of magic and adventure. The demonata has captivated me from the first page several years ago when i began Lord Loss and finshed on this glorious sunny day.
lets break this review into three distinct parts shall we? lets call them The EYES, the MEMORY and the TRIGGER
The eyes allow us to see Mr Shans brilliant universe creating skills. He doesnt spend to much time delving into the history of earth and the surrounding planets including every bush and shrub like some authors (cough cough... tolkien) but we can imagine through context, the world much like we see it now but add one thing...MAGIC. Darren challenged us to reimagine our world as only the smallest speck in the grand plot of his spectacular work, which given the amount of space we hold in the universe, not that hard to comprehend. Dark Calling was the book i was intently waiting for, a comprehensive read or the history and lore of Shans universe and the part the Demonata has to play in it.
The memory, Shans work is a plot and character driven freight train until book 4 when we go back and witness some of the demonatas earliest involvment on the planet earth. obviously everyone here is up to date with the events of not only book 4 but all books in the series. lets take a look back on the many memories we have from these books but with one crucial thing in mind, Demons exist, they have a grand plan and humanity is running out of time. Makes the horror movie filming in Slawter seem like relatively small potatoes.
Finally the trigger, the punch in the face we get from every book with high impact action, blood spattering gore and ooze and the death and carnage ive yet to experience in any books before. Thank you very much Mr Shan for introducing me to these heroes and villains, allowing me to share in their trials and tribulations and bringing this universe a bit more magic with your amazing work.
Plants to reread: its taking all of my energy to not pick up book one and start all over again, theres so many new adventures to begin but i know ill return to the demonata some day.
that and i will be trying a new reading order. Pretty much the same except it will be 4, 2, 1, 3, 5, 6-10, for more of a prequal-modern approach.
A SERIES IN REVIEW
CHAPPY
Today i finished the 10th and final book in Darren Shans amazing series set in the universe of magic and adventure. The demonata has captivated me from the first page several years ago when i began Lord Loss and finshed on this glorious sunny day.
lets break this review into three distinct parts shall we? lets call them The EYES, the MEMORY and the TRIGGER
The eyes allow us to see Mr Shans brilliant universe creating skills. He doesnt spend to much time delving into the history of earth and the surrounding planets including every bush and shrub like some authors (cough cough... tolkien) but we can imagine through context, the world much like we see it now but add one thing...MAGIC. Darren challenged us to reimagine our world as only the smallest speck in the grand plot of his spectacular work, which given the amount of space we hold in the universe, not that hard to comprehend. Dark Calling was the book i was intently waiting for, a comprehensive read or the history and lore of Shans universe and the part the Demonata has to play in it.
The memory, Shans work is a plot and character driven freight train until book 4 when we go back and witness some of the demonatas earliest involvment on the planet earth. obviously everyone here is up to date with the events of not only book 4 but all books in the series. lets take a look back on the many memories we have from these books but with one crucial thing in mind, Demons exist, they have a grand plan and humanity is running out of time. Makes the horror movie filming in Slawter seem like relatively small potatoes.
Finally the trigger, the punch in the face we get from every book with high impact action, blood spattering gore and ooze and the death and carnage ive yet to experience in any books before. Thank you very much Mr Shan for introducing me to these heroes and villains, allowing me to share in their trials and tribulations and bringing this universe a bit more magic with your amazing work.
Plants to reread: its taking all of my energy to not pick up book one and start all over again, theres so many new adventures to begin but i know ill return to the demonata some day.
that and i will be trying a new reading order. Pretty much the same except it will be 4, 2, 1, 3, 5, 6-10, for more of a prequal-modern approach.
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