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The Saga of Darren Shan #12
Sons of Destiny
Time seemed to collapse.... There was a sharp stabbing sensation in my stomach.... Steve crowed, "Now I have you! Now you're gonna die!"
Dead if he loses -- damned if he wins. The time has finally come for Darren to face his archenemy, Steve Leopard. One of them will die. The other will become the Lord of the Shadows -- and destroy the world.
Is the future written, or can Darren trick destiny?
This is Darren's story.
196 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
192 people are currently reading
6671 people want to read
About the author
Darren Shan
241 books8,254 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 1,107 reviews
March 3, 2016
never before have i come across a writer how kinda undoes his whole series with the last book.
June 30, 2019
داستان با نبرد آخر به اوج میرسه اما این پایان غافلگیریهای کتاب نیست. پایانبندی ماجرا بسیار خلاقانه و جالب بود. با یه لبخند کتاب رو تموم کردم. امتیازم به جلد آخر ۴.۵ بود.
April 5, 2015
WARNING: SPOILERS AND STRONG LANGUAGE
Fuck this.
Fuck...all of this. What the hell even is this.
I refuse to believe I went through 11 entire books to find out IT WAS ALL A DREAM.
First, where the hell did ALL of that character development go?! Darren started with "I'm never drinking blood! I'm still partly human!" to the realization of "I'm a vampire." and then "I'm a vampire Prince. I have duties and responsibilities to the clan first and foremost. (Except Debbie.)" which turned to "I'm one of the hunters. I have to kill my former best friend Steve, the Lord of the Vampaneze because of Destiny and fate and blah, blah...WHAT. MR. TINY'S MY DAD AND HE SET THIS WHOLE THING UP???" AND THEN IT WAS "Fuck that. I make my own fate."
Personally, that would have been great. At least, greater than how it actually turned out.
I mean, an expression of free will would have been a fantastic ending. It would have made everything worth it-- all the deaths, the development, the twists, the heartache. Even if either Darren or Steve had died and the other became the Lord of the Shadows, it would have been something .
But Darren Shan literally gave us nothing. He invalidated every action, every word, every thing by making NONE OF IT HAPPEN.
So, SOMEONE ELSE becomes a young half-vampire and engages the War of Scars and goes through completely different character developments. Someone who ISN'T Darren Shan. It isn't just a name change; a completely different person goes through the same actions and everything results either in a different way or the exact same way.
Darren's sacrifice becomes nullified. Everything becomes nullified. It was all a bad dream.
Like, what the hell. What the fucking hell.
This is heartbreaking.
This series has been the inspiration of dozens of daydreams and doodles and excitement and addiction. I loved it as a whole. But this book? *sigh*
Let's pretend the last few chapters never happened, shall we?
OH MY GOD. This series is amazing. The ending was by no means the best ever, but it was satisfying enough. I'm definitely someone who prefers happy endings, but endings are never happy when most of the characters you love are dead by the end of the series. This is the best thing I could have hoped for, and the book didn't disappoint.
I wouldn't give it a full five stars; maybe 3.5 or 4, because some parts were just too cliche and not as well-written as some of the other books, but...it brought a form of closure. It showed rejection of predetermination, and I did love that.
I truly hope there would be a sequel series showing the fate of the vampires and vampaneze and Evanna and the consequences of Darren's actions.
Wasn't that nice?
*sigh*
I completely, 100% recommend this series to everyone. I do not, however, recommend this book. Any ending of your own invention is bound to be more satisfying and meaningful than this...thing.
what the hell, darren shan.
what the fucking hell.
do better.
do so much better.
Fuck this.
Fuck...all of this. What the hell even is this.
I refuse to believe I went through 11 entire books to find out IT WAS ALL A DREAM.
First, where the hell did ALL of that character development go?! Darren started with "I'm never drinking blood! I'm still partly human!" to the realization of "I'm a vampire." and then "I'm a vampire Prince. I have duties and responsibilities to the clan first and foremost. (Except Debbie.)" which turned to "I'm one of the hunters. I have to kill my former best friend Steve, the Lord of the Vampaneze because of Destiny and fate and blah, blah...WHAT. MR. TINY'S MY DAD AND HE SET THIS WHOLE THING UP???" AND THEN IT WAS "Fuck that. I make my own fate."
Personally, that would have been great. At least, greater than how it actually turned out.
I mean, an expression of free will would have been a fantastic ending. It would have made everything worth it-- all the deaths, the development, the twists, the heartache. Even if either Darren or Steve had died and the other became the Lord of the Shadows, it would have been something .
But Darren Shan literally gave us nothing. He invalidated every action, every word, every thing by making NONE OF IT HAPPEN.
So, SOMEONE ELSE becomes a young half-vampire and engages the War of Scars and goes through completely different character developments. Someone who ISN'T Darren Shan. It isn't just a name change; a completely different person goes through the same actions and everything results either in a different way or the exact same way.
Darren's sacrifice becomes nullified. Everything becomes nullified. It was all a bad dream.
Like, what the hell. What the fucking hell.
This is heartbreaking.
This series has been the inspiration of dozens of daydreams and doodles and excitement and addiction. I loved it as a whole. But this book? *sigh*
Let's pretend the last few chapters never happened, shall we?
OH MY GOD. This series is amazing. The ending was by no means the best ever, but it was satisfying enough. I'm definitely someone who prefers happy endings, but endings are never happy when most of the characters you love are dead by the end of the series. This is the best thing I could have hoped for, and the book didn't disappoint.
I wouldn't give it a full five stars; maybe 3.5 or 4, because some parts were just too cliche and not as well-written as some of the other books, but...it brought a form of closure. It showed rejection of predetermination, and I did love that.
I truly hope there would be a sequel series showing the fate of the vampires and vampaneze and Evanna and the consequences of Darren's actions.
Wasn't that nice?
*sigh*
I completely, 100% recommend this series to everyone. I do not, however, recommend this book. Any ending of your own invention is bound to be more satisfying and meaningful than this...thing.
what the hell, darren shan.
what the fucking hell.
do better.
do so much better.
November 28, 2023
Are you serious?! I read through twelve books just to get to one of the worst conclusions to a series that I’ve ever read.
The first part of this book was pretty good. It was action packed and I liked how a lot of women were really powerful in this book. This series started off lacking strong female characters, but by this book, a few of them had become more well rounded. I was eager to find out the fate of all these characters I grew to love and I wanted to know who would win the fated battle.
Then I found out who won… and there was still half of the book left. That’s when I should’ve abandoned ship, but I was hoping that somehow things would surprise me. They did, but not in a pleasant way.
If you’ve read some of the previous books in the series, you probably know time travel is involved in this story (although it’s involvement is very minimal). Shan decided the final book was the perfect opportunity to dive full force into the time travel elements. It takes a master writer to write time travel successfully. Unfortunately Shan isn’t one of those master writers.
The plot became convoluted after the time travel got super involved in the story. The story shifted to tons of infodumping that was really boring. I was hoping all the infodumping would lead to an eventual good conclusion.
It didn’t. The ending that the story led to made the whole other eleven books in the series pointless. That makes me so sad because I genuinely enjoyed those first eleven books, but then Shan decided he wanted to unravel the plot for no reason.
What kills me the most about this book is that you don’t even get any sort of conclusion to any of the characters’ stories except for Darren. 90% of the characters just straight up aren’t involved in the second half of this book. It was really disappointing because what was the point of spending so much time building up all of these characters if they’re just going to be thrown out the window for the last part of the series?
Honestly if you want to read this series, stop reading after you finish part one of this book. There is a clear break in the story between part one and part two. The ending of part one could’ve been a satisfying conclusion, but Shan decided he wanted to extend the story past part one and it ruined the whole series for me.
P.S. Learn from my mistake and don’t listen to the audiobook versions of this series. The narrator is unfortunately not a great fit for this story and I think I would’ve enjoyed this series slightly more if I hadn’t listen to over 48 hours of the narrator’s terrible narration.
The first part of this book was pretty good. It was action packed and I liked how a lot of women were really powerful in this book. This series started off lacking strong female characters, but by this book, a few of them had become more well rounded. I was eager to find out the fate of all these characters I grew to love and I wanted to know who would win the fated battle.
Then I found out who won… and there was still half of the book left. That’s when I should’ve abandoned ship, but I was hoping that somehow things would surprise me. They did, but not in a pleasant way.
If you’ve read some of the previous books in the series, you probably know time travel is involved in this story (although it’s involvement is very minimal). Shan decided the final book was the perfect opportunity to dive full force into the time travel elements. It takes a master writer to write time travel successfully. Unfortunately Shan isn’t one of those master writers.
The plot became convoluted after the time travel got super involved in the story. The story shifted to tons of infodumping that was really boring. I was hoping all the infodumping would lead to an eventual good conclusion.
It didn’t. The ending that the story led to made the whole other eleven books in the series pointless. That makes me so sad because I genuinely enjoyed those first eleven books, but then Shan decided he wanted to unravel the plot for no reason.
What kills me the most about this book is that you don’t even get any sort of conclusion to any of the characters’ stories except for Darren. 90% of the characters just straight up aren’t involved in the second half of this book. It was really disappointing because what was the point of spending so much time building up all of these characters if they’re just going to be thrown out the window for the last part of the series?
Honestly if you want to read this series, stop reading after you finish part one of this book. There is a clear break in the story between part one and part two. The ending of part one could’ve been a satisfying conclusion, but Shan decided he wanted to extend the story past part one and it ruined the whole series for me.
P.S. Learn from my mistake and don’t listen to the audiobook versions of this series. The narrator is unfortunately not a great fit for this story and I think I would’ve enjoyed this series slightly more if I hadn’t listen to over 48 hours of the narrator’s terrible narration.
January 1, 2022
I wish that I, like Darren Shan, could go back in time and stop myself from wondering how this series ends.
December 18, 2023
First review: 2 ⭐
نمیدونم چه احساسی باید داشته باشم واقعا...
Second review: 3.8 ⭐
خب راستش فهمیدم چه احساسی باید داشته باشم D:
راستشو بخواین، خوندن این مجموعه یکی از بهترین انتخابهام بود. یادمه وقتی دو ماه پیش همینجوری دلم خواست برم کتابفروشی یه چیزی برای خودم بخرم، دیدم قفسه بزرگسالش رو تخلیه کردن برای تعمیرات و ناچار شدم بین کتابهای نوجوانش بگردم. همینجوری میگشتم و میگشتم که چشمم خورد به سیرک عجایب. از اونجایی که با یکی از دوستام همیشه این ایده 'سیرک عجیب غریبا' تو ذهنمون بود، اسمش جذبم کرد و با دیدن اسم نویسندش کتابو خریدم. تا حالا هیچ کتابی از دارن شان نخونده بودم و خیلی خوشحال و شاد و خندان رسیدم خونه و دو هفته بعدش کتابو شروع کردم...
جلد یک تموم شد، غرغرای من پیش دوستم که چرا دو تا جلدشو با هم نگرفتم شروع شد. خلاصه که وسط این غرغرام دوستم اومد گفت همه جلداشو داره و بام قرض میده و منم از خداخواسته ازش گرفتم و تو دو سه هفته، کل مجموعه رو تموم کردم.
اولاش برام یه جوری بود داستانش. خیلی نوجوانانه بود و اینو فکر کنم هزار بار هزار جا گفتم. ولی از جلد دوم به بعد دیگه نتونستم خودمو کنترل کنم که ادامش ندم. باهاش هیجانزده شدم، ذوق کردم، غافلگیر شدم، ناراحت شدم و و و. باهاش زندگی کردماااا. مطمئنم سالها بعد قراره با خودم بگم یاااادششش بخییرررر پاییز یازدهم نشسته بودم با استرس کنکور و قلمچی و درس و امتحان نهایی اون مجموعه دارن شان رو میخوندم (مطمئن نیستم بگم یادش بخیر ولی شاید واقعا خوب بگذره کسی چی میدونه.)
خلاصه که، یکمم از کتاب بگیم.
جذاب بود. واقعا. از خوندنش ابدا پشیمون نیستم. اتفاقاتی که میفتاد منطقی بودن (در عین فانتزی بودن کتاب) و نگم براتون از باشعوری آقای کرپسلی =) عشق منه عشققققق.
راجع به کل مجموعه چیزی نمیگم ممکنه اسپویل بشه پسسسسس بیاین راجع به پایان بحث برانگیزش صحبت کنیم.
پایان غیرقابلپیشبینی (درسته که این همه نیمفاصله داره-؟) و هوشمندانهای داشت. هر چند که اولش بهم حس "و سپس از خواب بیدار شد" رو داد. ولی چند روز که گذشت و بهش فکر کردم، دیدم نه. بهترین راهش بود. اصلا چجوری میخواست تمومش کنه جز اینجوری؟ باحال بود دیگه.
آقا اینکه اسم خودشو گذاشته بود روی شخصیت اصلی خیلی باحال بووودددد (و بعد از پایانش باحالترم شد) ایده زیبایی بود خوشمان آمد 👏🏻
در کل، خیلیییی راضی بودم و شااااید یکم پایانش اذیتم کرد ولی در کل، دمت گرم آقای شان. چه خاطره خوبی ساختی برام.
مشتاقم بقیه کارای این نویسنده رو هم بخونم. باحال مینویسه.
پ.ن: امتیازم برای کل مجموعه: چهار و نیم ستاره ⭐
نمیدونم چه احساسی باید داشته باشم واقعا...
Second review: 3.8 ⭐
خب راستش فهمیدم چه احساسی باید داشته باشم D:
راستشو بخواین، خوندن این مجموعه یکی از بهترین انتخابهام بود. یادمه وقتی دو ماه پیش همینجوری دلم خواست برم کتابفروشی یه چیزی برای خودم بخرم، دیدم قفسه بزرگسالش رو تخلیه کردن برای تعمیرات و ناچار شدم بین کتابهای نوجوانش بگردم. همینجوری میگشتم و میگشتم که چشمم خورد به سیرک عجایب. از اونجایی که با یکی از دوستام همیشه این ایده 'سیرک عجیب غریبا' تو ذهنمون بود، اسمش جذبم کرد و با دیدن اسم نویسندش کتابو خریدم. تا حالا هیچ کتابی از دارن شان نخونده بودم و خیلی خوشحال و شاد و خندان رسیدم خونه و دو هفته بعدش کتابو شروع کردم...
جلد یک تموم شد، غرغرای من پیش دوستم که چرا دو تا جلدشو با هم نگرفتم شروع شد. خلاصه که وسط این غرغرام دوستم اومد گفت همه جلداشو داره و بام قرض میده و منم از خداخواسته ازش گرفتم و تو دو سه هفته، کل مجموعه رو تموم کردم.
اولاش برام یه جوری بود داستانش. خیلی نوجوانانه بود و اینو فکر کنم هزار بار هزار جا گفتم. ولی از جلد دوم به بعد دیگه نتونستم خودمو کنترل کنم که ادامش ندم. باهاش هیجانزده شدم، ذوق کردم، غافلگیر شدم، ناراحت شدم و و و. باهاش زندگی کردماااا. مطمئنم سالها بعد قراره با خودم بگم یاااادششش بخییرررر پاییز یازدهم نشسته بودم با استرس کنکور و قلمچی و درس و امتحان نهایی اون مجموعه دارن شان رو میخوندم (مطمئن نیستم بگم یادش بخیر ولی شاید واقعا خوب بگذره کسی چی میدونه.)
خلاصه که، یکمم از کتاب بگیم.
جذاب بود. واقعا. از خوندنش ابدا پشیمون نیستم. اتفاقاتی که میفتاد منطقی بودن (در عین فانتزی بودن کتاب) و نگم براتون از باشعوری آقای کرپسلی =) عشق منه عشققققق.
راجع به کل مجموعه چیزی نمیگم ممکنه اسپویل بشه پسسسسس بیاین راجع به پایان بحث برانگیزش صحبت کنیم.
پایان غیرقابلپیشبینی (درسته که این همه نیمفاصله داره-؟) و هوشمندانهای داشت. هر چند که اولش بهم حس "و سپس از خواب بیدار شد" رو داد. ولی چند روز که گذشت و بهش فکر کردم، دیدم نه. بهترین راهش بود. اصلا چجوری میخواست تمومش کنه جز اینجوری؟ باحال بود دیگه.
آقا اینکه اسم خودشو گذاشته بود روی شخصیت اصلی خیلی باحال بووودددد (و بعد از پایانش باحالترم شد) ایده زیبایی بود خوشمان آمد 👏🏻
در کل، خیلیییی راضی بودم و شااااید یکم پایانش اذیتم کرد ولی در کل، دمت گرم آقای شان. چه خاطره خوبی ساختی برام.
مشتاقم بقیه کارای این نویسنده رو هم بخونم. باحال مینویسه.
پ.ن: امتیازم برای کل مجموعه: چهار و نیم ستاره ⭐
December 10, 2020
THIS BOOK DOES NOT leave you satisfied with the ending
Seriously, I've slogged through TWELVE books of this series...For this? Shan kills off so many characters, sends us through rabbit hole after rabbit hole.... and this is all we get?
I want to throw something.
I mean, I can kind of see why that had to happen. This book is for middle schoolers and Shan pretty much wrote himself into a corner...either every character he wrote had to die or he's have to do something pretty drastic.
Yet, I still feel cheated. And I don't care for the way Darren manages to save everything in the end. Everything is too perfectly wrapped up. Ugh.
Be prepared for the spoiler rant:
Ugh. Well, at least it is over.
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
Seriously, I've slogged through TWELVE books of this series...For this? Shan kills off so many characters, sends us through rabbit hole after rabbit hole.... and this is all we get?
I want to throw something.
I mean, I can kind of see why that had to happen. This book is for middle schoolers and Shan pretty much wrote himself into a corner...either every character he wrote had to die or he's have to do something pretty drastic.
Yet, I still feel cheated. And I don't care for the way Darren manages to save everything in the end. Everything is too perfectly wrapped up. Ugh.
Be prepared for the spoiler rant:
Ugh. Well, at least it is over.
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
June 25, 2023
2018 edit:
Heads up: the "review" you see below was written by a very immature high school girl more than 10 years ago so don't take it too seriously - this is still one of my most favorite series of all time, one that I've re-read multiple times in its entirety, and I've long since reconciled myself with the ending and actually think it's alright and works for this story. I'd give it 4/5 stars now, but I'm just gonna leave my old rating and review for, I don't know, the sake of posterity and nostalgia, since those were my raw initial thoughts after first reading it as an eighth grader.
2008-ish:
Why oh why did the author have to screw up everything and give us this piece of shit after eleven perfectly good, well-played novels? What kinduva crappy ending is this?? We have no idea what the final say on the vampires and vampaneze are, what happened to Darren's friends, or who Darren really is!! What's with this randomness about Mr.Tiny being Darren's father?!?!?! It's like in one of those movies that's trying to be funny by making one of the characters say 'Luke, I am your father.' And he set everything up!! Who wants a story where everything happened because it was set up!?!
Heads up: the "review" you see below was written by a very immature high school girl more than 10 years ago so don't take it too seriously - this is still one of my most favorite series of all time, one that I've re-read multiple times in its entirety, and I've long since reconciled myself with the ending and actually think it's alright and works for this story. I'd give it 4/5 stars now, but I'm just gonna leave my old rating and review for, I don't know, the sake of posterity and nostalgia, since those were my raw initial thoughts after first reading it as an eighth grader.
2008-ish:
Why oh why did the author have to screw up everything and give us this piece of shit after eleven perfectly good, well-played novels? What kinduva crappy ending is this?? We have no idea what the final say on the vampires and vampaneze are, what happened to Darren's friends, or who Darren really is!! What's with this randomness about Mr.Tiny being Darren's father?!?!?! It's like in one of those movies that's trying to be funny by making one of the characters say 'Luke, I am your father.' And he set everything up!! Who wants a story where everything happened because it was set up!?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2018
I read this series as a teenager, along with a friend, and we loved the series books 1 -11, as in we could not devour those books fast enough and it formed the main topic of conversation for a good amount of time.
Then this book came out, the end to a wonderful series and we felt like we had been tricked. We were so invested in the story and the characters and then this was how Shan decided to end the series! 10 years later I am still angry!
Then this book came out, the end to a wonderful series and we felt like we had been tricked. We were so invested in the story and the characters and then this was how Shan decided to end the series! 10 years later I am still angry!
March 18, 2011
Horrible. I'm so glad that I read 12 books so that I could find out that it was all a dream...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 4, 2022جدی جدی تموم شد و واقعا از تموم شدنش ناراحتم.
تقریبا تمام تابستون داشتم میخوندمش و واقعا تجربه ی شگفت انگیز و دوست داشتنیای بود.
عجب پایانی هم داشت... عجب پایانی...
تقریبا تمام تابستون داشتم میخوندمش و واقعا تجربه ی شگفت انگیز و دوست داشتنیای بود.
عجب پایانی هم داشت... عجب پایانی...
November 1, 2021
I cried lol
March 25, 2015
از زمانی که اولین جلد این سری را در دست گرفتم تا وقتی به آخر جلد دوازدهم رسیدم تنها دوازده روز طول کشید. به مدرسه میرفتم، بعد از تعطیل شدن، بدو دم فروشگاه مرکزی انتشارات قدیانی میرسیدم و بدون کوچکترین مکثی کتاب را میخریدم.
هر کتاب 1800 تومان بود و من به سرعت به آخر پسانداز نه چندان پُرم رسیدم. یکی دوبار از بابام پول گرفتم و کار به جایی رسید که فکر کرد کسی برایم توی مدرسه قلدری میکند و پولهایم را به زور میگیرد. البته که درباره زورگیری حق داشت اما قلدر نه توی مدرسه که توی جادوی «حماسهی دارن شان» قرار داشت.
ایده کتاب فراتر از جذاب است. شاید الآن و با شروع تب همهگیر کتاب و فیلم و سریال خونآشامی از آثاری با این محوریت دوری کنید اما اطمینان میدهم که اینطور نیست. خبری از داستان عشق تینیجری با پیشزمینه خونآشام و گرگینه و اینها نیست. با داستانی طرف هستیم که در نوع خودش یکتاست.
ترجمه ایراد دارد؟ صد البته. حتی میخواهم پا را فراتر بگذارم و به پرداخت داستان ایراد وارد کنم. دارن شان ایدههای نابی دارد اما...
اینجا و با پایان مجموعه اعلام میکنم که «حماسهی دارن شان» رسما از هریپاتر سر است. مطمئنا خیلیها با این نظر مخالف هستند اما اگر هیجان پسرکی سیزده جهارده ساله را داشته باشید. اگر هنوز دلتان با دنیای فانتزی باشد؛ میفهمید که چوب جادویی هری سالها از چاقویی که دارن در دست میگرفت دور است.
بهترین مجموعه فانتزیای که بعد از «ارباب حلقهها» خواندم. جسور، سرشار از شگفتی و پر از معماهای پلیسی (اسم کتاب دوازده یکی از آنهاست). جایی که به تمام شجاعت خواننده برای جلو رفتن نیاز است. میدانم که حداقل سه بار کل مجموعه را خواندهام و هیچوقت ازش سیر نشدم و فکر نمیکنم چنین چیزی شدنی باشد.
هر کتاب 1800 تومان بود و من به سرعت به آخر پسانداز نه چندان پُرم رسیدم. یکی دوبار از بابام پول گرفتم و کار به جایی رسید که فکر کرد کسی برایم توی مدرسه قلدری میکند و پولهایم را به زور میگیرد. البته که درباره زورگیری حق داشت اما قلدر نه توی مدرسه که توی جادوی «حماسهی دارن شان» قرار داشت.
ایده کتاب فراتر از جذاب است. شاید الآن و با شروع تب همهگیر کتاب و فیلم و سریال خونآشامی از آثاری با این محوریت دوری کنید اما اطمینان میدهم که اینطور نیست. خبری از داستان عشق تینیجری با پیشزمینه خونآشام و گرگینه و اینها نیست. با داستانی طرف هستیم که در نوع خودش یکتاست.
ترجمه ایراد دارد؟ صد البته. حتی میخواهم پا را فراتر بگذارم و به پرداخت داستان ایراد وارد کنم. دارن شان ایدههای نابی دارد اما...
اینجا و با پایان مجموعه اعلام میکنم که «حماسهی دارن شان» رسما از هریپاتر سر است. مطمئنا خیلیها با این نظر مخالف هستند اما اگر هیجان پسرکی سیزده جهارده ساله را داشته باشید. اگر هنوز دلتان با دنیای فانتزی باشد؛ میفهمید که چوب جادویی هری سالها از چاقویی که دارن در دست میگرفت دور است.
بهترین مجموعه فانتزیای که بعد از «ارباب حلقهها» خواندم. جسور، سرشار از شگفتی و پر از معماهای پلیسی (اسم کتاب دوازده یکی از آنهاست). جایی که به تمام شجاعت خواننده برای جلو رفتن نیاز است. میدانم که حداقل سه بار کل مجموعه را خواندهام و هیچوقت ازش سیر نشدم و فکر نمیکنم چنین چیزی شدنی باشد.
May 14, 2014
[SPOILER ALERT]
Now that I've finally finished the entire series, I'd rather give a review of the entire books in general, rather than just this ONE end to the Saga.
Of this specific book, however, it was one of the worst of the series. It was dragged out and boring. I don't see the purpose of furthering the book after Darren's death, and even if we accept his moment in purgatory, what was the point of that last chapter? Farewell to the fans? It was just too melodramatic to me.
I particularly liked when Alice slapped Darren in the face and reminded him that he was not a child. I think this is an essential problem I have in the book. Darren is roughly 28 years old but still thinks and acts like a child. There can be NO justification for that. The whole idea of the child vampire has been done before, and it was far more realistic and better executed. I'm referring to Claudia, the little girl vampire in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. Even Claudia, trapped in a child's body (even younger than Darren's, and SHE NEVER AGED) matured mentally. Darren still talks, acts, reasons like a child throughout the whole damn book. It drove me INSANE!
In fact, ALL the characters were childish and in no way realistic representations of adults. Vancha was like an overgrown child, himself. And Mr. Crepsley was so overdone that I felt like I was watching one of those low budget, burlesque, crappy Disney sitcoms. The only real adult there was, was Alice.
Another contention of mine in this specific installment of the series was the fighting scene. How does Darren find so much time for chatter? I'm not even talking about the observation of everything going on around him, but he just stands there looking on while everyone else is fighting. Taking so long to make decisions that one of his friends almost dies right before him- and no doubt, many more he didn't see. Darren is a worthless vampire. I'm better off finishing the damn Twilight series if I was able to stomach this.
Another problem I had with the book was the overall writing style. Why on earth do we have so many "asides" facilitated by more hyphens and brackets than I see on a balance sheet in accounting? To me, it is a sign of poor writing when you cannot WORK the important details in, but have to just drop the bomb here and there because you remember it JUST when it's CONVENIENT. A good example, was Truska's ability to move her beard. Where did that come from? That was just out the clear blue, but of course there was an aside to make it seem normal and A-okay.
The IRONY though I believe is in the ending of the book when he wonders if the new Darren Shan will grow up to be an amazing writer, who will be able to successfully spin his journals into workable fiction.
Well I do believe I have the answer, Master Shan.
The answer is, "No! He did not."
Now that I've finally finished the entire series, I'd rather give a review of the entire books in general, rather than just this ONE end to the Saga.
Of this specific book, however, it was one of the worst of the series. It was dragged out and boring. I don't see the purpose of furthering the book after Darren's death, and even if we accept his moment in purgatory, what was the point of that last chapter? Farewell to the fans? It was just too melodramatic to me.
I particularly liked when Alice slapped Darren in the face and reminded him that he was not a child. I think this is an essential problem I have in the book. Darren is roughly 28 years old but still thinks and acts like a child. There can be NO justification for that. The whole idea of the child vampire has been done before, and it was far more realistic and better executed. I'm referring to Claudia, the little girl vampire in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. Even Claudia, trapped in a child's body (even younger than Darren's, and SHE NEVER AGED) matured mentally. Darren still talks, acts, reasons like a child throughout the whole damn book. It drove me INSANE!
In fact, ALL the characters were childish and in no way realistic representations of adults. Vancha was like an overgrown child, himself. And Mr. Crepsley was so overdone that I felt like I was watching one of those low budget, burlesque, crappy Disney sitcoms. The only real adult there was, was Alice.
Another contention of mine in this specific installment of the series was the fighting scene. How does Darren find so much time for chatter? I'm not even talking about the observation of everything going on around him, but he just stands there looking on while everyone else is fighting. Taking so long to make decisions that one of his friends almost dies right before him- and no doubt, many more he didn't see. Darren is a worthless vampire. I'm better off finishing the damn Twilight series if I was able to stomach this.
Another problem I had with the book was the overall writing style. Why on earth do we have so many "asides" facilitated by more hyphens and brackets than I see on a balance sheet in accounting? To me, it is a sign of poor writing when you cannot WORK the important details in, but have to just drop the bomb here and there because you remember it JUST when it's CONVENIENT. A good example, was Truska's ability to move her beard. Where did that come from? That was just out the clear blue, but of course there was an aside to make it seem normal and A-okay.
The IRONY though I believe is in the ending of the book when he wonders if the new Darren Shan will grow up to be an amazing writer, who will be able to successfully spin his journals into workable fiction.
Well I do believe I have the answer, Master Shan.
The answer is, "No! He did not."
August 14, 2020
Yeah the Cirque du Freak ends here. I had so much fun reading this series. Twelve books. Almost two years of reading, one every two months more or less. This is a middle-grade series that deserve to be more talk about even if its dated a bit. It has everything I love in children literature. Great characters, action, good plot and twists, which, I mean is also what I like in adult books. I just feel like too often the action, the horror and even the violence is often hide or not present at all. But children can take some, that won't traumatize them and that could even bring them into reading more for some. I'm not saying we should get bloody and gory all over, but a small dose, when it serves the story is totally fine and acceptable. I also like the way the author wrap it up, end it all with this one, it was a nice way to do so. I loved it and now I want to discover more from this author (I know he has written a bunch of series on various names, both children and adult books, just got to think and pick one up).
May 17, 2012
You know, I'm honestly not entirely sure how I feel about this book. On the one hand, I think it was the greatest series ending ever. But, on the other hand, I completely hate how Darren was manipulated and, ultimately, forced to choose a fate that I really didn't like. But I really can't go into that without going into A LOT of spoilers. So, let's just say, I've enjoyed this series so much and I'm almost in complete denial that I'm actually finished since I've been reading it sporadically for about two years now. And when I think about how this series ended, sometimes I'm at peace with it and other times, I wish there had been another way.
So, I'll just say really all I know how to say. Thank you, Darren Shan, for giving us this incredible series. It was quite a ride. And I, well, I would say I enjoyed every minute of it but, in certain moments, 'enjoyed' may be too strong a word. I'm not great with watching my favorite characters die and quite a few of them were lost in this series. But I honestly and truly loved this series and I really can't believe I've finally finished it. Had I my own way, it-- like Harry Potter, Georgia Nicholson and my other favorite book series --would go on and on.
So, I'll just say really all I know how to say. Thank you, Darren Shan, for giving us this incredible series. It was quite a ride. And I, well, I would say I enjoyed every minute of it but, in certain moments, 'enjoyed' may be too strong a word. I'm not great with watching my favorite characters die and quite a few of them were lost in this series. But I honestly and truly loved this series and I really can't believe I've finally finished it. Had I my own way, it-- like Harry Potter, Georgia Nicholson and my other favorite book series --would go on and on.
July 28, 2009
I hate this book. This is the only book in the series that I hated. Everything that happened in the previous 11 books were not done because the characters had a choice. Everything was caused by Mr. Small. This book made very mad and sad. Reading the first 11 books was a waste of my time because of the last book.
May 4, 2008
Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com
With this book, we come to the end of the CIRQUE DU FREAK series by Darren Shan, the one we have been waiting for and dreading. Now the Vampire Prince must face his archenemy, Steve Leopard. It is a complex and difficult problem -- He will be dead if he loses and damned if he wins. One of them will die -- the other will become the Lord of the Shadows and destroy the world. Vampire or Vampaneze; who will win? Can Darren cheat destiny? The action is fast and non-stop The complex plot will keep you guessing until the very last page. The story is full of violence with blood and gore. Some of the characters are human, but most are not, and some are very frightening, but most are loyal, and fierce.
Kids can't seem to get enough of Shan's brand of compelling, scary stories, but they also address some serious issues, and show the importance of friendship and sticking to your moral and ethical standards. It seems to me to be a bit too frightening for kids ten years old and under, but maybe just the thing for older teens that are reluctant readers. It's an ongoing story that you might want to start reading with volume one and work your way through the series, but this one has enough background information that you can enjoy it by itself.
With this book, we come to the end of the CIRQUE DU FREAK series by Darren Shan, the one we have been waiting for and dreading. Now the Vampire Prince must face his archenemy, Steve Leopard. It is a complex and difficult problem -- He will be dead if he loses and damned if he wins. One of them will die -- the other will become the Lord of the Shadows and destroy the world. Vampire or Vampaneze; who will win? Can Darren cheat destiny? The action is fast and non-stop The complex plot will keep you guessing until the very last page. The story is full of violence with blood and gore. Some of the characters are human, but most are not, and some are very frightening, but most are loyal, and fierce.
Kids can't seem to get enough of Shan's brand of compelling, scary stories, but they also address some serious issues, and show the importance of friendship and sticking to your moral and ethical standards. It seems to me to be a bit too frightening for kids ten years old and under, but maybe just the thing for older teens that are reluctant readers. It's an ongoing story that you might want to start reading with volume one and work your way through the series, but this one has enough background information that you can enjoy it by itself.
April 3, 2016
Thank God that's over!
I seriously disliked this book series. It wasn't good. I originally bought all twelve books because, one it was an amazing deal, and two I had read most of the first one and it was brilliant. But the series was dragged out and pointless most of the time. I honestly felt like the author could have ended it when Darren became a Prince.
These books are so thin, and are normally all under 200 pages long, yet they take me so long to read because they just drain me of energy. There is nothing interesting about it. The story line is boring, Darren dying is boring, Darren becoming a Little Person is boring, everything is boring. It was a huge effort to pick up the book and open it. I was reading a paragraph and that would keep me going for a few weeks. I just didn't see the point in the War of the Scars. It was pointless and a waste of time. When I first started this book, I thought Darren was going to become Lord Loss from the authors another book saga, The Demonata series and honestly that idea would have made this book one thousand times more interesting.
I seriously disliked this book series. It wasn't good. I originally bought all twelve books because, one it was an amazing deal, and two I had read most of the first one and it was brilliant. But the series was dragged out and pointless most of the time. I honestly felt like the author could have ended it when Darren became a Prince.
These books are so thin, and are normally all under 200 pages long, yet they take me so long to read because they just drain me of energy. There is nothing interesting about it. The story line is boring, Darren dying is boring, Darren becoming a Little Person is boring, everything is boring. It was a huge effort to pick up the book and open it. I was reading a paragraph and that would keep me going for a few weeks. I just didn't see the point in the War of the Scars. It was pointless and a waste of time. When I first started this book, I thought Darren was going to become Lord Loss from the authors another book saga, The Demonata series and honestly that idea would have made this book one thousand times more interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2021
I would've given this a higher rating if it wasn't for the ending - which I will proceed to act that it is not canon. I get what the author was trying to do but I felt (kinda?) betrayed by this, Darren should've been a fictional character, not what the author intended him to be. The ending made the whole thing (the whole damn series) feels like nothing - like nothing happened which is kinda true now? According to the ending? It's the same equivalent to 'it's all just a dream'.
If it wasn't for the 2/3 of the book - which I truly adored and loved - I would've given this one star.
Damn it. I'm disappointed tbh. This series is amazing, addictive, truly great characters, plot and such great themes were explored too but the ending will not do the series justice and that is heartbreaking to me.
If it wasn't for the 2/3 of the book - which I truly adored and loved - I would've given this one star.
Damn it. I'm disappointed tbh. This series is amazing, addictive, truly great characters, plot and such great themes were explored too but the ending will not do the series justice and that is heartbreaking to me.
August 25, 2023
Re-read 25/08/23: Audiobook. Series reread complete ✅
This series is so nostalgic for me. Really glad I got around to rereading it again.
This series is so nostalgic for me. Really glad I got around to rereading it again.
December 4, 2020
Amazing end to an amazing series. Always will be a childhood favourite. I love how original the storyline is, how short the books are, how many plot twists and realistic characters there are. I also love the time jumps between books, and all of the background that's explained, and the development. I think it just all went together so perfectly, might be a case of the nostalgia for me, but I think this series can do no wrong. Shan's writing has always just captured me completely.
The ending to this was so good, we get to see more into Evanna's mind, and also get some closure!
The ending to this was so good, we get to see more into Evanna's mind, and also get some closure!
July 19, 2016
I'm not so satisfied with the ending and it's too open... And a little dissapointing tbh. All Darrens work all his adventures FOR NOTHING? For his deeds to be replaced by some other random kid... While we don't even know what exactly happened to that kid.
I'm still having the 'so what happened now' moment right now. Darrens adventures were amazing and I loved every moment of it. The ending was not as I expected and it was definitely one that fucked with my mind.
My biggest wish would have been a reunion with Mr. Crepsley and very briefly it's mentioned but I wanted more! (I loved him his death wrecked me)
I must admit it was a big plottwist I had not seen that coming but after Leonard and Darren fighting it honestly went downhill. Like okay I could have accepted Darren changing the past in a way but not for him to have never made all his friends and stuff??
I see that after what Darren did this outcome was probably like the only one
I can't believe the last book could be so... changing? It just made all the rest feel so surreal. I loved the series but the ending not so much. In a way it does satisfy me though, it makes the world we live in now what really happened so we actually (sort of) know the outcome.
So why still 3 stars? I loved Darren Shan and I still think it's clever how the author made it all fit into eachother from the beginning until the end. In a way I can accept the ending if I ignore some factors (none of Darrens adventures happening being the biggest one) but still it's a hard pill to swallow.
I won't say I'm 100% satisfied but I have very mixed feelings about it.
I'm still having the 'so what happened now' moment right now. Darrens adventures were amazing and I loved every moment of it. The ending was not as I expected and it was definitely one that fucked with my mind.
My biggest wish would have been a reunion with Mr. Crepsley and very briefly it's mentioned but I wanted more! (I loved him his death wrecked me)
I must admit it was a big plottwist I had not seen that coming but after Leonard and Darren fighting it honestly went downhill. Like okay I could have accepted Darren changing the past in a way but not for him to have never made all his friends and stuff??
I see that after what Darren did this outcome was probably like the only one
I can't believe the last book could be so... changing? It just made all the rest feel so surreal. I loved the series but the ending not so much. In a way it does satisfy me though, it makes the world we live in now what really happened so we actually (sort of) know the outcome.
So why still 3 stars? I loved Darren Shan and I still think it's clever how the author made it all fit into eachother from the beginning until the end. In a way I can accept the ending if I ignore some factors (none of Darrens adventures happening being the biggest one) but still it's a hard pill to swallow.
I won't say I'm 100% satisfied but I have very mixed feelings about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2010
This book is from one of the greatest vampire series i have ever read. Not to bash on the twighlight series or any other vampire series, but i would have to say that they just don't compare. For instance every person who knows anything about vampire lore knows that vampires cannot come out in light! No if ands or buts about it! yet other vampire series would have you believe that vampires are sparkling love twisted undead teens. Do not believe in this new rise of "want to be" vampires stick to the basics like Darren Shan has. For instance he keeps the tradition and has them burn in the light, also he shows them as what they are, vampires! Bloodthirsty vampires, not desperate housewives vampire version.
The book is the final in the Cirque Du Freak series and is a masterpiece. Darren finally gets to meet his worst enemy in one final confrontation. Who wins? Darren or Steve? The final battle is epic it is insane, however i will not give it away but let me just say that it will keep you on the edge of your seat, like the entire series has! So if you love vampires who fight their evil blood crazed counterparts then you will love Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freaks, especially the final part of saga, Sons of Destiny!
Zach Rowley.
The book is the final in the Cirque Du Freak series and is a masterpiece. Darren finally gets to meet his worst enemy in one final confrontation. Who wins? Darren or Steve? The final battle is epic it is insane, however i will not give it away but let me just say that it will keep you on the edge of your seat, like the entire series has! So if you love vampires who fight their evil blood crazed counterparts then you will love Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freaks, especially the final part of saga, Sons of Destiny!
Zach Rowley.
October 3, 2017
Tak... a co teď?
September 2, 2011
This book was one of the biggest let downs of my reading life. A twelve book series, with the first eleven books never disappointing me for even a moment, and then this. The description and the rich world that Shan created are still there, so I do not want to discredit his ability to create an amazing, intricate world and to help his readers visualize it with rich detail, but the "twist" was far to predictable and the ending was a bit of a cop-out.
In this book, one of the many characters was named Desmond Tiny. We were supposed to be very surprised to find out that Darren and Steve, the protagonist and antagonist respectively, are the sons of Des Tiny when the title of the book is Sons of Des(Tiny)...really?
The most important thing I learned from this book, is to have a great deal of respect for my readers and to not spoon feed them the final twist.
In this book, one of the many characters was named Desmond Tiny. We were supposed to be very surprised to find out that Darren and Steve, the protagonist and antagonist respectively, are the sons of Des Tiny when the title of the book is Sons of Des(Tiny)...really?
The most important thing I learned from this book, is to have a great deal of respect for my readers and to not spoon feed them the final twist.
August 26, 2024
3.5 stars for the conclusion of this series.
Phew, what a series, though!
Fast-paced, full of action and adventure, destinies and terror. Not to mention the great and terrific characters, the personalities and the drama.
Overall I would give the whole series 4 stars for its greatness.
The book I disliked the most was book 2: The Vampire's Assistant.
The book I loved the most was book 10: The Lake of Souls.
The series escalates very quickly, it goes down so fast, you don't even have time to breath properly.
I have outgrown supernatural books over the years, but I can say that this series was really likeable and I enjoyed it. Not as amazing as Vampire Academy which is my favourite vampire series of all, but still this one delivers a lot!
So please, supernatural lovers, give yourself a favour and read this one. You won't regret it!
Phew, what a series, though!
Fast-paced, full of action and adventure, destinies and terror. Not to mention the great and terrific characters, the personalities and the drama.
Overall I would give the whole series 4 stars for its greatness.
The book I disliked the most was book 2: The Vampire's Assistant.
The book I loved the most was book 10: The Lake of Souls.
The series escalates very quickly, it goes down so fast, you don't even have time to breath properly.
I have outgrown supernatural books over the years, but I can say that this series was really likeable and I enjoyed it. Not as amazing as Vampire Academy which is my favourite vampire series of all, but still this one delivers a lot!
So please, supernatural lovers, give yourself a favour and read this one. You won't regret it!
November 15, 2019
I absolutely hated the ending. I was really excited for the huge finale that all 12 books have been milking, only for it to be pried from my hands and ripped to shreds. Don't get me wrong, the series itself was great, but I'm extremely disappointed with the ending. It's as if the author gave up half way through writing it, and looked for the easy way out.
January 28, 2010
The ending to this series was a total disappointment. I read 12 books to get to an ending that sucked. I can't belive that Darren Shan ended the story the way that he did. It was like he was tired of writing it and just said, hmmm, here you go...I'm done.
September 21, 2009
this book doesnt deserve a rating its that bad
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