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The Saga of Darren Shan #1-12
The Saga of Darren Shan Pack Books 1 - 12
Cirque du Freak is the saga of a young boy whose visit to a mysterious freak show leads him on a journey into a dark world of vampires.
Paperback
First published February 29, 2000
82 people are currently reading
1333 people want to read
About the author
Darren Shan
246 books8,291 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 191 reviews
April 16, 2024
I don't care what anyone's says really, this series is a sweetheart to me.
It's a baby that grow old with me, It helped me through my hardest time, during teenage years. Me hitting puberty and the depression hitting me back so hard that i couldn't move or get out of my bed for days.
I would just lay down. I ate nothing, i drank nothing and i only had my very limited english knowledge at the time with a very poor translated version of the books (it wasn't published or translated or anything yet. Some dude had translated it and published it on the internet, and looking back, it was a terrible translation)
I cried with every single book i think, i cried with darren and steve, and i fell in love with larten. He was my first crush and i couldn't stop thinking about him for years and i even got a boyfriend with light brown hair bc i wanted to pretend he was larten.
Anyyywaaayyyy
I've read these series like eleven twelve times, each book twelve times! I can't even imagine how much time i spent on rereading only the parts that made me cry. Not trying to spoil anything here. (I could cry right now if i think about it and im 20 years old...so you know when i say it's my baby i mean it)
I was scrolling down on my goodreads books and i saw them again :'[ every single one of 'em.
I sat down to reread the whole series and i finshed it... again. And omg it was an emotional rollercoaster. I remembered every part and every little detail as well as all the emotions i was going through every time i've read it.
I swear one day i will get a tattoo on me of this book, someday i find a good tattoo design but i mean, nothing can really show how much love i have in every fiber in my body for this series.
The series could be nothing serious, nothing too special, but to me, it made my horrible days easier, it made my childhood, it made me stay up all night just to read, it got me into reading, it got me into fantasy world, and it also got me into dudes that are way older than me. (LOL he was hundred years old. I've got some serious daddy issues i need to work on)
so i love it :)
It's a baby that grow old with me, It helped me through my hardest time, during teenage years. Me hitting puberty and the depression hitting me back so hard that i couldn't move or get out of my bed for days.
I would just lay down. I ate nothing, i drank nothing and i only had my very limited english knowledge at the time with a very poor translated version of the books (it wasn't published or translated or anything yet. Some dude had translated it and published it on the internet, and looking back, it was a terrible translation)
I cried with every single book i think, i cried with darren and steve, and i fell in love with larten. He was my first crush and i couldn't stop thinking about him for years and i even got a boyfriend with light brown hair bc i wanted to pretend he was larten.
Anyyywaaayyyy
I've read these series like eleven twelve times, each book twelve times! I can't even imagine how much time i spent on rereading only the parts that made me cry. Not trying to spoil anything here. (I could cry right now if i think about it and im 20 years old...so you know when i say it's my baby i mean it)
I was scrolling down on my goodreads books and i saw them again :'[ every single one of 'em.
I sat down to reread the whole series and i finshed it... again. And omg it was an emotional rollercoaster. I remembered every part and every little detail as well as all the emotions i was going through every time i've read it.
I swear one day i will get a tattoo on me of this book, someday i find a good tattoo design but i mean, nothing can really show how much love i have in every fiber in my body for this series.
The series could be nothing serious, nothing too special, but to me, it made my horrible days easier, it made my childhood, it made me stay up all night just to read, it got me into reading, it got me into fantasy world, and it also got me into dudes that are way older than me. (LOL he was hundred years old. I've got some serious daddy issues i need to work on)
so i love it :)
December 12, 2012
i started to read this series when i was about twelve and the last book came out when i was 20. it made me crazy waiting about six months for the next book to come out but it was definitely worth it!
those books are really captivating - everytime i got a new one i read it in one or two days. you just can't put them out of your hands.
the story is very original, with a lot of twists, dramas, humour etc. it simply has everything one wishes for in a good book.
shan's writing style is easy-to-understnad, nothing too complicated - but you can't expect something too complicated for a teenage-book.
all in all: excellent books that you can't compare with anything else, they're just awesome!
those books are really captivating - everytime i got a new one i read it in one or two days. you just can't put them out of your hands.
the story is very original, with a lot of twists, dramas, humour etc. it simply has everything one wishes for in a good book.
shan's writing style is easy-to-understnad, nothing too complicated - but you can't expect something too complicated for a teenage-book.
all in all: excellent books that you can't compare with anything else, they're just awesome!
March 19, 2014
Ok, Ok... Let's just calm down a little... This series... is amazing. I've read it three times and it's still good. It's like one of those songs that you can listen to fifty times and it never gets old... Yeah... Um... That's a good simile.. ANYWAYS! I finally got the series for Christmas and I'm very much planning on reading it again but I piled up on books that I need to read. For example, Maximum Ride has slowed me down, Skulduggery Pleasant I'm in the process of reading, and there's also the Raising Dragons series that i started before all of these. Oh and Divergent, etc. people want me to read. So CDF is going to have to wait, sadly.
July 16, 2018
The Saga of Darren Shan is a brilliant read for teenagers who are interested in creepy vampires rather than the romanticised creatures we now find everywhere. They are proper vampire books rather than the love struck teenage angst stories that are so popular. They’re more than worth a read for that reason alone.
June 5, 2019
This nook was a fantasy and horror. It's the first book in the series. I liked it because it had a strong story line. It was quite exiting and the ending was good. I would recommend this to all teenagers.
June 4, 2024
My mum and I were obsessed with these books for ages. I love them.
November 13, 2024
childhood
February 1, 2025
This was my most favourite book series when I was growing up and what got me into reading. I love the characters and have re-read this series numerous times over my lifetime and will continue to.
January 19, 2021
While most people in my generation grew up with Harry Potter, I grew up with Cirque du Freak. This was one of my favorite series in middle school and high school. I’ve gone through it twice, and would gladly go through it again. It has adventure, mystery, drama, humor, death, plot twists, and several characters return after not being seen for some time. They are never forgotten. Things get tied up pretty well, without loose ends.
It has compelling and well-rounded characters, and raises a lot of moral dilemma questions without doing it in a preachy way. It gets you thinking, to the point where you sometimes understand why even the villainous characters or unlikeable characters sometimes do what they do. There’s a little bit of good and bad in everyone.
This series came out before the vampire craze in YA, and is highly underrated. Shan’s vampires here are a nice mix of traditional (they burn in sunlight, are not super attractive, live for centuries, etc.) and his own twist on it (half-vampires can go in sunlight but can’t when they become full vampires, the vampire transfers blood into the fledgling, there are some who kill and some who don’t, etc.). I personally find these vampires more fascinating than a lot of others, both old and new.
If it were all one book, or even just three or four books, it would probably seem like too much. Vampires, a traveling circus, a second type of vampires, humans that somehow get tangled up in the mess, animals, time-traveling…but since it’s spread out over twelve books, it worked out well. It’s actually hard to say which is my favorite book or trilogy out of the series (since it’s four trilogies that all go together). Everything fits together perfectly. Truly an epic read.
My two favorite characters are probably Evra Von and Harkat Mulds. Darren is a great protagonist though, and I enjoyed reading through his perspective. The books are each pretty short, and the writing is simple, in a good way. They always get straight to the point, and occasionally they even manage to break the forth wall.
This is a great series for younger people, and I enjoyed it again even as an adult. It’s good for anyone who likes fantasy, horror, coming-of-age tales, complex characters, and adventure.
March 30, 2015
Cirque Du Freak is a good book. The name is very catchy. I didn't expect Darren to become a vampire. When Darren and his friend Steve sneak back to steal the spider I knew something was going to go wrong. When Darren is trying to train the spider, his sister comes in the room scaring it and it mortally wounds Steve. The only way for him to get the antidote is from Mr. Crepsley. Mr. Crepsley gives him the antidote, but to pay for it Darren must become a half vampire and be his servant. I didn't think he would do it because Steve said he was going to hunt vampires when he is old enough. Darren has to fake his own death to get away from his family. He throws himself out of a window, but he heals very quickly so it doesn't really hurt him. After the funeral he is dug up and Mr. Crepsley takes him with the freak show. I think he is crazy for going threw all the trouble just to get away from his family. It made me sad when he was told he can't see his family again. When Mr. Crepsley decided to take Darren and train him to be a vampire I was very excited. I like a lot of the other characters in the freak show. My favorite people are the small people. I like the mystery about them. They don't talk and all they do is hunt. I thought the ending left a good lead into the next book.
I would recommend this book to middle school and low high school students. I think boys would like it more because the main character is a boy and he talks like a boy would. Girls won't be able to relate the Darren as much as a boy.
I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars. It is a great book that I highly recommend. There is plenty of action. There is never a dull moment and it always has you wondering what will happen next.
I would recommend this book to middle school and low high school students. I think boys would like it more because the main character is a boy and he talks like a boy would. Girls won't be able to relate the Darren as much as a boy.
I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars. It is a great book that I highly recommend. There is plenty of action. There is never a dull moment and it always has you wondering what will happen next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2014
The Cirque Du Freak series by Darren Shan has been one of the best series by far that I have ever read. I first picked up this series when I was in middle school. I just recently finished it again for the second time. Not only did I catch things I missed before, but the story line made much more sense, now that I am older and can "connect the dots" better.
What I liked best about the Cirque Du Freak series was that the story never got boring. The end of the chapters would leave you begging for more. At night I would have to force myself to put the book down and go to sleep. Also Darren Shan’s detail he gave to characters was unbelievable. Throughout this series I always had a clear picture on what was going on as I read. Now the only downfall to this series would be that it is a total of 12 books, quite a lot of reading has to be done. Each book has at least 250 pages, not too long but not too short in my opinion. In the end the plot has some menacing twist and turns but always leaves the reader wondering what happens next.
To sum it up I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves cliffhangers. Because this series kept me wondering what happened next. Again I picked this series up in middle school so I was around the age of 13 or 14 and it wasn’t difficult to read at all. I think Darren Shan did a great job writing this series. Even though I was highly disappointed with the movie came out and kind of shamed the series. But it is true, the books are way better than the movies.
What I liked best about the Cirque Du Freak series was that the story never got boring. The end of the chapters would leave you begging for more. At night I would have to force myself to put the book down and go to sleep. Also Darren Shan’s detail he gave to characters was unbelievable. Throughout this series I always had a clear picture on what was going on as I read. Now the only downfall to this series would be that it is a total of 12 books, quite a lot of reading has to be done. Each book has at least 250 pages, not too long but not too short in my opinion. In the end the plot has some menacing twist and turns but always leaves the reader wondering what happens next.
To sum it up I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves cliffhangers. Because this series kept me wondering what happened next. Again I picked this series up in middle school so I was around the age of 13 or 14 and it wasn’t difficult to read at all. I think Darren Shan did a great job writing this series. Even though I was highly disappointed with the movie came out and kind of shamed the series. But it is true, the books are way better than the movies.
March 2, 2014
One of the best books I've read! The characters, the plot, the twists... everything.!!
Darren Shan made me love fantasy books, first I thought they were so childish, but, after give them a chance I started the 1st book... and I loved it..!
My favorite quote of the whole saga: " Even in death may you be triunfant "
Si bien es cierto que el tema de los vampiros no es nada novedoso (hay taaantos libros por ahí), Darren Shan les otorgó un sentido de originalidad bastante bueno. No es una historia de amor, ni tiene el clásico final donde todos viven felices por siempre.
Y eso es lo que realmente engancha.
Los vampiros son personajes llenos de actitud, valores y creencias, seres honorables. Darren se ve envuelto en este mundo, y aunque al principio no le gusta para nada, se va dando cuenta que es en donde pertenece.
Personajes bastante originales, y algo " creepys ."
La saga entera alberga momentos divertidos, hilarantes, tristes (mucho, muy tristes) y giros en la trama que sinceramente yo no me esperaba.
Hay personajes que simplemente amas y otros que odias hasta la médula (si... me refiero a STEVE)
Y el final! wow! de diez!
Una lectura rápida y obsesiva (no puedes dejar de leer hasta que acabes)
Sin duda las 5 estrellas se quedan cortas...!
Y mi frase favorita de toda la saga: Hasta en la muerte saldrás triunfante.
Darren Shan made me love fantasy books, first I thought they were so childish, but, after give them a chance I started the 1st book... and I loved it..!
My favorite quote of the whole saga: " Even in death may you be triunfant "
Si bien es cierto que el tema de los vampiros no es nada novedoso (hay taaantos libros por ahí), Darren Shan les otorgó un sentido de originalidad bastante bueno. No es una historia de amor, ni tiene el clásico final donde todos viven felices por siempre.
Y eso es lo que realmente engancha.
Los vampiros son personajes llenos de actitud, valores y creencias, seres honorables. Darren se ve envuelto en este mundo, y aunque al principio no le gusta para nada, se va dando cuenta que es en donde pertenece.
Personajes bastante originales, y algo " creepys ."
La saga entera alberga momentos divertidos, hilarantes, tristes (mucho, muy tristes) y giros en la trama que sinceramente yo no me esperaba.
Hay personajes que simplemente amas y otros que odias hasta la médula (si... me refiero a STEVE)
Y el final! wow! de diez!
Una lectura rápida y obsesiva (no puedes dejar de leer hasta que acabes)
Sin duda las 5 estrellas se quedan cortas...!
Y mi frase favorita de toda la saga: Hasta en la muerte saldrás triunfante.
May 26, 2011
i think this is one of the nicest vampire series ive read so far but i feel sorry for darren because he never knew his father and in the end when he does find out who his father is he also relises that he is his best friend/enemys father too who he had just killed so he kills himself too and becomes a blue cloacked guy who prevented everything from happening anyway the series is about a kid called darren who goes to a freak show but he steals mr krepsys spider who bites steve and makes him go into a comma darren agrees with mister krepsy to become a vampire if he cures steve... steve gets cured and finds out that darren betrayed him and stole his wish to become a vampire... read the series i dont want to reck it for you
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2013
Cirque Du Freak is one of my favorites series. It's different, but I truly believe if you just give it a try, anyone can like it. I actually just watched the movie a few days ago, and got me back into my post-cirquedufreak depression. All books add something new, so you aren't just reading the same old plots like in other series. The last book adds something that is so unexpected, just thinking about it is making me want to open it up and read it now. Unfortunately, the cover throws all my friends off, and none of them have read it, so I have no one to talk to about the final book, The Sons of Destiny. I read this series about two years ago, and am excited to read them again and see if they have the same affect!
June 12, 2014
I loved this book series with a burning passion, and it is probably one of my all time favorite series. It is just very nicely put together and I really enjoyed how the author managed to tie himself into the story. The gore and overall writing was magnificent, I would recommend this series for anyone to read.
The thing that really got me though was the movie. It was rubbish. I don't understand how a director and/or screenwriter could butcher and completely change a story line as much as they did. Why would Darren Shan allow his work to be turned into a complete disaster? It truly makes me want to cry.
The thing that really got me though was the movie. It was rubbish. I don't understand how a director and/or screenwriter could butcher and completely change a story line as much as they did. Why would Darren Shan allow his work to be turned into a complete disaster? It truly makes me want to cry.
Read
January 7, 2015Cirque du freak was an amazing book. This book plays the character of a vampire named Darren Shan in other words. The writers name. After Darren steals a spider from the cirque du freak he gets forced into turning into a half vampire for punishment.
While Darren and his master mr. Creapsley travel around Darren wants to move with the circus to make friends. All that's good until Darren meets mr tiny. A powerful scary person with his army of little people. I would suggest this book to anyone of any age.
While Darren and his master mr. Creapsley travel around Darren wants to move with the circus to make friends. All that's good until Darren meets mr tiny. A powerful scary person with his army of little people. I would suggest this book to anyone of any age.
September 25, 2022
Al fin he podido poner fin a una saga que empecé hace muchos años, además de haber mejorado mi lectura en inglés, así que ni tan mal.
Desde el primer libro hasta el último, esta saga deja un mar de emociones que es difícil de definir: momentos bonitos de felicidad, muerte, guerra, sangre, amor, cariño, tristeza... destino.
Esta cita de uno de los libros de la saga creo que define muy bien toda la historia: "The future is both open and closed. There's only one 'will be' but there are often hundreds of 'can be's'".
Desde el primer libro hasta el último, esta saga deja un mar de emociones que es difícil de definir: momentos bonitos de felicidad, muerte, guerra, sangre, amor, cariño, tristeza... destino.
Esta cita de uno de los libros de la saga creo que define muy bien toda la historia: "The future is both open and closed. There's only one 'will be' but there are often hundreds of 'can be's'".
May 22, 2022
Without a doubt my favourite childhood book series. The plot was so enticing throughout all the books and i binge read all of them and will totally do so again in the future. Definitely a rollercoaster of emotions too. Great book series for teenagers who love gore, the supernatural and adventure.
February 18, 2014
a beautifully written,absolutely wonderful and fast-paced book series.
I'm a HUGE Shanster and I'm hooked!!
I'm a HUGE Shanster and I'm hooked!!
April 30, 2015
The book was very slow then it just goes on and on and on. It was not as good and other books that I have read. If I could recommend this I would suggest read the whole series which is 8 or 9 books.
Currently reading
February 3, 2016In this book “Cirque Du Freak”, Darran has a hard time trying to let his friend trust him. His life is about to change, and if makes a wrong decision everything will go wrong. He has to sacrifice his life in order to save his friend’s. On pages 185-188, Darran talks with Mr.Crepsley (the vampire), and makes a deal with him. Darran is willing to become Mr.Crepsley’s assistant for life, in order to give Steve (his best friend) the serum which will save his life. This book demonstrates the theme, strength and love. What I think the message Darran Shan is sending out to readers, is that even though you go through hard times, you still have to hold on to the people you love, to the people that supports you and helps you. Underneath are my explanations on why these songs represents and shows the theme.
The first song that I chose is called “A Long Down” by One direction. I chose this song because it demonstrates the theme love. In the beginning of the book, Darran and Steve are best friends. After all that they’ve been through it has been crashed just by one decision. In the song it says “ We made a fire/ went down in the flames/we sailed the ocean/ and drowned in the waves/ built a cathedral / but we never prayed/ we had it all/ but we walked away”. These lyrics connects very well to the theme love, it shows a powerful tone of sadness and how love can crash and burn. Which is exactly what happened to Darran and Steve.
The second song I chose is called “Heal” by Tom Odell. I chose this song because it shows how desperate the author wants to heal a love. Which is what Darran wants, more than anything else, to heal the bond between him and Steve. How badly he wants to become friends again with Steve. That is why I chose this song. It’s because Darran wants to heal the love and friendship between them. The lyrics “heal heal heal/ take my past and take my sins/ like an empty sail takes the wind/ and tell me some things last” which shows the desperate feeling of how the artist wants to heal something. Which is what Darran wants, how he wants to mend the bond between him and Steve.
The third song I chose is called “Keeping Your Head Up” by Birdy. I chose this song because it shows how much one wants to help and support another. In this story, before Darran chooses to go and join the vampire, and forever leave his normal life. He starts to realize things, things around him he never saw before. How his family supported him, and how much he loves his sister. This connects to the theme strength, it’s because he appreciates the strength he got from his family and he realizes how much they kept his head up. The song shows a clear powerful connection of his family’s support, his friend’s support towards him. That moment when Darran realizes everything. This song demonstrates what Darran realized, that his family was keeping his head up this whole time. It connects to strength, because of the strength he got from his family. The lyrics “ Times that I’ve seen you lose your way/ you’re not in control and you won’t be told/ all I can do to keep you safe/ is hold you close hold you close/ til you can breath on your own” These lyrics show the strength his family gives him, and that moment when Darran realizes it. The tone and harmony Birdy adds to the song makes the song even more powerful, like how the amazing sadness and thankful feeling Darran gets when he realizes it.
The fourth song I chose is called “Stand By Me” by Tracy Chapman. This is a simple song of a guitar background. It just shows how simple it is, just stand by him. This shows a strong connection to the theme strength. This song just represents the every scene of the theme strength in the book. Every moment in the book can be represented by this song. The lyrics “stand by me/ if the sky we look upon/ she tumble and fall/ oh the mountains/ she crumble to the sea/ I won’t cry/ I won’t shed a tear/ just as long as you stand by me”. These lyrics shows that the strength and support that one person gets. How Darran gets that from his family and friends.
The fifth song I chose is called “Hold Me Up” by Conrad Sewell. I don’t really think the tone of this song fits the support Mr.Crepsley gives Darran. It’s because in this story, Darran kind of hates Mr.Crepsley for making that deal, and hates him for making Steve mad, that he has bad blood. In this song, it shows complete trust and love towards that person, but Darran does not show complete love towards Mr.Crepsley. But in this book, Darran looks for Mr.Crepsley for much help, to save Steve’s life. The lyrics in this song “till you came and saved my life, in the lonely hour, in the lonely hour/ oh im praying for some help/ I can’t do it by myself/ I need you now/ need you right now” These lyrics show that one needs support desperately and needs strength. This song relates to the theme strength, because Darran needs support from Mr.Crepsley in order to save Steve’s life. Although I do not quite agree with the tone and the beat of this song, because it’s a little too fast and it doesn’t really show the complete emotion towards the person that he wants support from.
The sixth song I chose is called “Start Again” by Conrad Sewell. I think this song fits perfectly with the scene where Steve shows up and finds Darran. Then the part where Darran is left to figure out the rest on his own, the desperate feeling on how he wants to start again with Steve. The lyrics “There’s a hole in the middle of a heart again/ can we start again/ can we start again/ there’s a hole in the middle and it never mends/ it never mends/ can we start again”. These few lines, lyrics from the song fits perfectly to what Darran wants to say. It connects to the theme love. To mend the bond between Darran and Steve.
The seventh song I chose is called “Revival” by Selena Gomez. This song is mainly about reliving one’s life, and being reborn in every moment, one’s revival. I think this fits the book Cirque Du Freak, because after Darran decides to become a vampire, he has to relive his life. The lyrics “I’m reborn in every moment/ so who knows what I’ll become”. These lyrics I’ve just listed connects to what Darran was thinking about during the last scene. When Steve left, he had these own thoughts going through his mind, like I have to start a new life. A new life where I will follow Mr.Crepsley and I won’t have any children, I will be lonely forever. The last sentence of the book stated “as we walked deep into the woods, into the dark night”. Just sounds like he is starting a new life, he is reborn. Yet the song says “it’s my time to butterfly”, it doesn’t really connect to the book. It’s because being a vampire is a burden for Darran, not a relief.
The eighth song that I chose is “Sorry” by Justin Bieber. When Darran spends his last day in his normal life. I put my shoes in his, and I imagine what he wants to say to his family and friends. He’s sorry, sorry that he has to do this. Sorry that he has to leave them and make this decision. At the same time, he says thank you, thankful for their love. The lyrics “It it too late now to say sorry/ yeah i know that let you down/ is it too late I’m sorry now?” These lyrics link to the words that Darran wants to say to his family on his last day of his regular life. This relates to the theme, love, sorry for the love that he can’t give back to.
The ninth song that I chose is “Home” by Michael Buble. This song doesn’t really relate to this book of the whole series. It’s because the last section of Cirque Du Freak is when Darran leaves with Mr.Crepsley, yet this song is connected to what I think Darran will think after a while with Mr.Crepsley, he wants to go home. This connects to the theme, love, because he misses everything, his home, his friends and family. The lyrics “ but i wanna go home/ maybe surrounded by a million a people i/ still feel alone/ let me go home”. These lyrics shows the sadness in one’s tone, and music is slow and steady. It clearly shows the understanding of wanting to go home. I think this is what Darran will want after a few series, he wants to go home.
The last song I chose is called “Stand By You” by Rachel Platten. This song is about a person standing by and supporting another. Just like what I stated before, how his family and friends stood by him and supported him. This connects to the theme strength, how they give him strength when they stand by him. The specific part from the book, is where his dad said I’ll be there for you when you want to talk, then in Darran’s mind he said “but I won’t be there,” when he knows he will be gone. That part tells me clearly that his parents stands by him, and supports him whenever he needs them. The lyrics “hey if your wings are broken/ please take mine so yours can open too/ cause I’m gonna stand by you”. These show a strong tone of support and love.
Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/callist...
The first song that I chose is called “A Long Down” by One direction. I chose this song because it demonstrates the theme love. In the beginning of the book, Darran and Steve are best friends. After all that they’ve been through it has been crashed just by one decision. In the song it says “ We made a fire/ went down in the flames/we sailed the ocean/ and drowned in the waves/ built a cathedral / but we never prayed/ we had it all/ but we walked away”. These lyrics connects very well to the theme love, it shows a powerful tone of sadness and how love can crash and burn. Which is exactly what happened to Darran and Steve.
The second song I chose is called “Heal” by Tom Odell. I chose this song because it shows how desperate the author wants to heal a love. Which is what Darran wants, more than anything else, to heal the bond between him and Steve. How badly he wants to become friends again with Steve. That is why I chose this song. It’s because Darran wants to heal the love and friendship between them. The lyrics “heal heal heal/ take my past and take my sins/ like an empty sail takes the wind/ and tell me some things last” which shows the desperate feeling of how the artist wants to heal something. Which is what Darran wants, how he wants to mend the bond between him and Steve.
The third song I chose is called “Keeping Your Head Up” by Birdy. I chose this song because it shows how much one wants to help and support another. In this story, before Darran chooses to go and join the vampire, and forever leave his normal life. He starts to realize things, things around him he never saw before. How his family supported him, and how much he loves his sister. This connects to the theme strength, it’s because he appreciates the strength he got from his family and he realizes how much they kept his head up. The song shows a clear powerful connection of his family’s support, his friend’s support towards him. That moment when Darran realizes everything. This song demonstrates what Darran realized, that his family was keeping his head up this whole time. It connects to strength, because of the strength he got from his family. The lyrics “ Times that I’ve seen you lose your way/ you’re not in control and you won’t be told/ all I can do to keep you safe/ is hold you close hold you close/ til you can breath on your own” These lyrics show the strength his family gives him, and that moment when Darran realizes it. The tone and harmony Birdy adds to the song makes the song even more powerful, like how the amazing sadness and thankful feeling Darran gets when he realizes it.
The fourth song I chose is called “Stand By Me” by Tracy Chapman. This is a simple song of a guitar background. It just shows how simple it is, just stand by him. This shows a strong connection to the theme strength. This song just represents the every scene of the theme strength in the book. Every moment in the book can be represented by this song. The lyrics “stand by me/ if the sky we look upon/ she tumble and fall/ oh the mountains/ she crumble to the sea/ I won’t cry/ I won’t shed a tear/ just as long as you stand by me”. These lyrics shows that the strength and support that one person gets. How Darran gets that from his family and friends.
The fifth song I chose is called “Hold Me Up” by Conrad Sewell. I don’t really think the tone of this song fits the support Mr.Crepsley gives Darran. It’s because in this story, Darran kind of hates Mr.Crepsley for making that deal, and hates him for making Steve mad, that he has bad blood. In this song, it shows complete trust and love towards that person, but Darran does not show complete love towards Mr.Crepsley. But in this book, Darran looks for Mr.Crepsley for much help, to save Steve’s life. The lyrics in this song “till you came and saved my life, in the lonely hour, in the lonely hour/ oh im praying for some help/ I can’t do it by myself/ I need you now/ need you right now” These lyrics show that one needs support desperately and needs strength. This song relates to the theme strength, because Darran needs support from Mr.Crepsley in order to save Steve’s life. Although I do not quite agree with the tone and the beat of this song, because it’s a little too fast and it doesn’t really show the complete emotion towards the person that he wants support from.
The sixth song I chose is called “Start Again” by Conrad Sewell. I think this song fits perfectly with the scene where Steve shows up and finds Darran. Then the part where Darran is left to figure out the rest on his own, the desperate feeling on how he wants to start again with Steve. The lyrics “There’s a hole in the middle of a heart again/ can we start again/ can we start again/ there’s a hole in the middle and it never mends/ it never mends/ can we start again”. These few lines, lyrics from the song fits perfectly to what Darran wants to say. It connects to the theme love. To mend the bond between Darran and Steve.
The seventh song I chose is called “Revival” by Selena Gomez. This song is mainly about reliving one’s life, and being reborn in every moment, one’s revival. I think this fits the book Cirque Du Freak, because after Darran decides to become a vampire, he has to relive his life. The lyrics “I’m reborn in every moment/ so who knows what I’ll become”. These lyrics I’ve just listed connects to what Darran was thinking about during the last scene. When Steve left, he had these own thoughts going through his mind, like I have to start a new life. A new life where I will follow Mr.Crepsley and I won’t have any children, I will be lonely forever. The last sentence of the book stated “as we walked deep into the woods, into the dark night”. Just sounds like he is starting a new life, he is reborn. Yet the song says “it’s my time to butterfly”, it doesn’t really connect to the book. It’s because being a vampire is a burden for Darran, not a relief.
The eighth song that I chose is “Sorry” by Justin Bieber. When Darran spends his last day in his normal life. I put my shoes in his, and I imagine what he wants to say to his family and friends. He’s sorry, sorry that he has to do this. Sorry that he has to leave them and make this decision. At the same time, he says thank you, thankful for their love. The lyrics “It it too late now to say sorry/ yeah i know that let you down/ is it too late I’m sorry now?” These lyrics link to the words that Darran wants to say to his family on his last day of his regular life. This relates to the theme, love, sorry for the love that he can’t give back to.
The ninth song that I chose is “Home” by Michael Buble. This song doesn’t really relate to this book of the whole series. It’s because the last section of Cirque Du Freak is when Darran leaves with Mr.Crepsley, yet this song is connected to what I think Darran will think after a while with Mr.Crepsley, he wants to go home. This connects to the theme, love, because he misses everything, his home, his friends and family. The lyrics “ but i wanna go home/ maybe surrounded by a million a people i/ still feel alone/ let me go home”. These lyrics shows the sadness in one’s tone, and music is slow and steady. It clearly shows the understanding of wanting to go home. I think this is what Darran will want after a few series, he wants to go home.
The last song I chose is called “Stand By You” by Rachel Platten. This song is about a person standing by and supporting another. Just like what I stated before, how his family and friends stood by him and supported him. This connects to the theme strength, how they give him strength when they stand by him. The specific part from the book, is where his dad said I’ll be there for you when you want to talk, then in Darran’s mind he said “but I won’t be there,” when he knows he will be gone. That part tells me clearly that his parents stands by him, and supports him whenever he needs them. The lyrics “hey if your wings are broken/ please take mine so yours can open too/ cause I’m gonna stand by you”. These show a strong tone of support and love.
Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/callist...
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May 21, 2025The book I read this trimester is Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan. The main character, Darren Shan, is half human and half vampire. He has lived in a circus his whole life, not knowing the outside world is full of humans. By the time he turned into a teen, he learned that there was another world out there that he had never known about. One day, he wanted to sneak out and find out what that other world is all about. He spotted 3 kids playing football alone. Darren got closer to them because he was too curious to know what they were doing. Then one of the kids spotted him and screamed because of how Darren looked. Darren got scared and left. Darren has brothers who also saw him sneak out of the circus and were furious because he could've been killed by the humans, just like how their parents were killed. Darren was so concerned about why the kids who weren't half vampire didn't like him at all, so his brothers told him the story of how their parents met and got killed because they weren't accepted as a human and vampire love. When Darren heard the story, he was upset and made him changed his perspective on humans, and all he wanted was to kill those who murdered his parents; he never got to see in his whole life. But he also learned that humans aren't that stupid because they have weapons to protect themselves and but because there are billions of humans in this world who would've killed his parents, so he has to lie low and find out who killed his parents. I chose to read this book because it's all about horror, mystery, and kinda murder. I know many people aren't interested in mysteries, but solving them is what interests me because there could be a twist plot that you could never know if it may or may not happen. I also learn a lot by watching these types of movies, and knowing this book caught my interest, it was just what I expected. My thoughts about this book are that back in the days, people weren't accepted together because of how they looked, for example, their skin color. I keep guessing, like what if he just starts murdering every human, but knowing Darren is a calm half-human and half vampire, it gave me hope he'll find who killed his parent, because why wouldn't you want to avenge someone who cared about you deeply. I don't dislike anything about this book at all. I love this book and would read it again. I find it difficult to know how Darren felt and how he also made human friends, but because his parents were killed by humans, it isn't all about the revenge. People learned that not everybody will dislike you because there is always gonna be someone out there who cares a lot about you, you just don't know it. I find it hard to understand how the characters felt because there was just a lot of mixed feelings and a lot of switches up, which I understand why Darren changed his mind about humans, and I think all he wanted was to know who murdered his parents and the real reason behind it. To summarize all of these thoughts about this book, I chose this book because of what I like in movies are mysteries, murder, and horror. Because these types of books give me curiosity and a lot of action. And having actions in books like these gives more thought about how the book ending would go. It just makes the book even more interesting I rate this book a 5 I would 100% read this again.
June 28, 2023
As I delve into the depths of my childhood memories, there is one series that stands out above the rest - Darren Shan's captivating Cirque du Freak series. Embarking on a thrilling journey filled with mystery, adventure, and the supernatural, these books have etched themselves into my very essence, leaving an indelible mark on my imagination.
Having recently been reunited with these treasured tales, I am determined to reacquaint myself with each book in the series, eager to rediscover the enchantment that once captured my young heart. With the intent of providing an up-to-date review, I understand that my appreciation for Darren Shan's literary brilliance will only be reaffirmed.
Cirque du Freak introduces us to an extraordinary world, where the ordinary melds seamlessly with the extraordinary. It is a realm where vampires, werewolves, and other unearthly creatures reside, hidden from the oblivious eyes of the mundane world. The story revolves around a young protagonist, Darren Shan, and his compelling journey from a typical boy to an extraordinary hero.
What eloquence! What depth! Darren Shan, the master wordsmith, has the uncanny ability to transport readers into an intricate universe brimming with dark secrets and magical encounters. His vivid descriptions bring the circus to life, painting a fantastical landscape that unfolds with each passing page. From the electrifying performances to the spine-tingling encounters with mythical beings, every chapter holds an alluring surprise, keeping readers enthralled throughout.
However, it is not only the enthralling plot that makes the Cirque du Freak series exceptional; it is the profound impact it had on my life. Darren Shan's storytelling was the catalyst that inspired me to pick up a pen and embark on my own journey as a budding writer. With each turn of the page, I felt my creativity soar, mirroring the author's enchanting prose.
Now, as I prepare to relive these beloved books, I anticipate a renewed sense of wonder and a profound appreciation for the craftsmanship that went into their creation. The timeless allure of Cirque du Freak awaits, ready to captivate a new generation of readers and continue to ignite the spark of imagination within us all.
In conclusion, Darren Shan's Cirque du Freak series holds a special place in my heart for the way it shaped my love for literature and unleashed my own storytelling aspirations. With every word penned, Shan has created a world that, decades later, remains etched within my soul. So, join me on this literary odyssey, and let us celebrate the extraordinary journey that is Cirque du Freak once again.
Having recently been reunited with these treasured tales, I am determined to reacquaint myself with each book in the series, eager to rediscover the enchantment that once captured my young heart. With the intent of providing an up-to-date review, I understand that my appreciation for Darren Shan's literary brilliance will only be reaffirmed.
Cirque du Freak introduces us to an extraordinary world, where the ordinary melds seamlessly with the extraordinary. It is a realm where vampires, werewolves, and other unearthly creatures reside, hidden from the oblivious eyes of the mundane world. The story revolves around a young protagonist, Darren Shan, and his compelling journey from a typical boy to an extraordinary hero.
What eloquence! What depth! Darren Shan, the master wordsmith, has the uncanny ability to transport readers into an intricate universe brimming with dark secrets and magical encounters. His vivid descriptions bring the circus to life, painting a fantastical landscape that unfolds with each passing page. From the electrifying performances to the spine-tingling encounters with mythical beings, every chapter holds an alluring surprise, keeping readers enthralled throughout.
However, it is not only the enthralling plot that makes the Cirque du Freak series exceptional; it is the profound impact it had on my life. Darren Shan's storytelling was the catalyst that inspired me to pick up a pen and embark on my own journey as a budding writer. With each turn of the page, I felt my creativity soar, mirroring the author's enchanting prose.
Now, as I prepare to relive these beloved books, I anticipate a renewed sense of wonder and a profound appreciation for the craftsmanship that went into their creation. The timeless allure of Cirque du Freak awaits, ready to captivate a new generation of readers and continue to ignite the spark of imagination within us all.
In conclusion, Darren Shan's Cirque du Freak series holds a special place in my heart for the way it shaped my love for literature and unleashed my own storytelling aspirations. With every word penned, Shan has created a world that, decades later, remains etched within my soul. So, join me on this literary odyssey, and let us celebrate the extraordinary journey that is Cirque du Freak once again.
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March 5, 2020I initially chose this book because it was in the horror and mystery genre. I also chose this book because the summary on the back looked interesting and I wanted to read more into it. In this book, it is about a group of boys that has this flyer for the circus. All the boys combine their money to be able to buy tickets. One of the boys named Steve agreed to go buy them from a buyer. Unfornutaly, Steve was only allowed to buy two tickets, so the boys had to decide who goes. Steve and Darren end up going to the circus but felt a lot of guilt for lying to their parents. So Darren and Steve walk to this creepy building where the circus was at. It goes through all the acts and how the crowd reacted ad how Darren and Steve reacted. The book is written in Darren's point of view, so we end up knowing a lot of his thoughts and feelings. During the show, Steve ended up knowing who one of the acts was and told Darren they could be in danger. At the beginning of the book, it tells readers about an obsession that Darren has of spiders. His obsession might lead to trouble after the show, making Darren do something he wouldn't believe. At the end of the book, it brings you into unimaginable thinking because of all the surprises and shocks. The genre of this book is horror and mystery because of all the suspense on what each freak does and the setting gives off a creepy dark vibe that gives readers the chills. My overall reaction to this book is that I really enjoyed it because it always was interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat. I really liked how the main character was dynamic because it made the book a lot more interesting when he changed. Also how the secondary character was a foil character and made the main character a different person. This book was also interesting because there was a lot of situational irony in this book and it made the book a lot more excited and was used correctly because the readers don't expect any of those things to happen. I don't have anything I didn't like and this is one of a few books that I have actually read and enjoyed. This book did hold my initial interest because it kept my interest throughout the whole book and kept the suspense and mystery interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes horror and mystery genre.
August 7, 2013
The Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan are one of the best book series I've ever read in my life: it's right up there with the Harry Potter, The Last Apprentice, and Escape from the Furnace series. I've read many books, and book series, and not many have touched me quite like this.
The Characters:
Vampires:
Darren Shan: Darren Shan is the main character of the series, and, basically, it's about him becoming a half- vampire (later, a vampire)and having to prove his worth as a vampire. I like how, in the series, his character changes: not just in that he was once human, then half- vampire, then a vampire; but his personality and way of thinking. He grows and matures as the series continues, and is a well- rounded character.
Larten Crepsley: Darren Shan's vampire mentor, fatherly- figure and my favorite character in the whole series. Admittedly, when I first read Cirque du Freak (before reading The Saga of Larten Crepsley) I wasn't a big fan of him. I didn't love him, but I certainly didn't hate or dislike him. I felt like I didn't know enough about him to be a huge fan or anything. And when he died later on in the series, I felt sad because of his death, but mostly because of how depressed Darren got. But, after reading The Saga of Larten Crepsley, he officially became my favorite character in the whole series. His back story is shocking and tragic, and, I have to say, while he and Darren had both been through a lot of crap in their lives, I personally think he had an overall harder life. Before he became all stuffy and serious in Cirque du Freak, he was rebellious and a lady- killer. He also had done some shady things in his life that would haunt him years later (like killing those people on the ship), and witnessed things no boy should see (Vur's death, for example.) And he was betrayed by two characters I consider some of the worst in the series (Webster and Tanish.) Since they don't appear in Cirque du Freak, I'll go more in depth later. After re- reading the series, I found myself liking his character more. He had a great personality (he was sarcastic and witty) smart... I could go on. Bottom line, my favorite character in both Cirque du Freak and The Saga of Larten Crepsley.
Kurda/Harkat: I. Hate. Kurda. I'm sorry for all of you Kurda fans, but I really don't like him. I understand he wanted to do what he thought was right, and he had good character traits, but the way he went about it made me feel a deep hate for him that would be nearly impossible to change. I know he didn't want the vampires and vampaneze to go to war: I understand that! Des Tiny's prophecy for one, the fact there would be losses on both sides, I get it! But, the turning point for me was when he killed Gavner Purl. Was that really necessary, Kurda? Was that really necessary?! That was when you officially became a traitor, when you killed one of your own kind, practically in cold blood! But it gets worse: he planned not only to sneak the vampaneze in the vampire mountain to use the stone of blood to force an alliance, but he planned to kill all of the vampire princes so he could do it! If he went about trying to make an alliance between the two clans in another way, I probably wouldn't hate him. I know he thought he was doing all of this for the greater good. But the way he planned to do it... just made me feel so furious! He was willing to murder pretty much anyone for the vampire/vampaneze alliance. And he succeeded in killing poor Gavner! And he would've killed the princes (Paris, Arrow, Mika...). He was a traitor. He was well meaning, but the way he went about it almost made me nauseated. I feel that strongly about it. *On a side note, I don't think his death was Darren's fault. I believe at some point either Des Tiny or Evanna even told Darren it was unavoidable* While it was honorable he became re- incarnated as Harkat to protect Darren, knowing that in a way he'd be helping with his death, I still couldn't bring myself to forgive him after what he'd done and what he'd planned.
Vancha March: I liked his personality: he was tough, amusing, and crude. And for some reason, he was under the impression that ladies liked him. I also like how his brother was secretly Gannan Herst (vampaneze) and how they were both adopted by Evanna. But it was kind of weird that Evanna had their children, when I really think about it. I know that Evanna wasn't blood related to Vancha or Gannen, but, still, the thought is pretty strange.
Vampaneze:
The Vampaneze Lord/Steve Leopard: I. Hate. Steve. Darren sacrificed everything for him to save his life, and even after being told over and over again the truth, he still had the paranoid delusion Darren took his place as a vampire. As for Larten saying his blood was evil: I think it's true. Maybe it hurt him to hear it, but even as a kid, he was a bit violent (pushing Darren and yelling at him) (I forget what page, but I think it is when Darren tells him he saw him talking with Larten, and Darren gets nervous about the evil blood thing, and Steve really overreacts.) Steve is evil! He took pleasure in making others' suffer. He was cruel, on a personal level: he screwed Annie, Darren's sister, and had a child with her just to wound Darren even more than he already was! He killed Shancus, Evra's innocent child, just to hurt Darren and Evra! (It's also a little freaky to think this whole time, he and Darren were brothers (half- brothers?) so when he had Darius with Annie, it was incest.) Granted, he had no clue they were related, but it was still disturbing. There is nothing I can think of that redeemed his character, even in the end. Even after he dies. He deserved to rot in the Lake of Souls.
Members of the Circus:
Evra Von: Even though he is a relatively minor character, he was a great friend to Darren, a great father, and a great snake- boy/snake- man. I liked him. His personality, everything about him, pretty much.
Other:
Des Tiny: He is just as bad as Steve. I hate him. I don't think an explanation is needed. If you've read the whole series, you'd know how hate- able he is.
Evanna: Personally, I disliked her. Hate is too strong of a word, I don't hate her, but I dislike her. I didn't like how she treated her servants like Arra Sails and Malora. And if she honestly felt so bad about giving Larten his scar, why didn't she, I don't know, heal it; or better yet, not have given it to him at all?! Her personality annoyed me. I just felt she could be so cold and elusive.
To be continued.
*Edit
About Kurda: While I do hate him, I feel I've neglected to mention some of the things I actually admire about him: he did save Darren's life in the trials by convincing the princes to pretend they had other business to attend to and they couldn't make it to his trials; therefore giving Darren a few more days to recover from the burns. And while I hated some of his ideas, I admire some of them. (I'll have to get the book out to quote them later, I don't have them with me.) So, while I mentioned all the things I hate about him, there are a few admirable traits he had.
The Characters:
Vampires:
Darren Shan: Darren Shan is the main character of the series, and, basically, it's about him becoming a half- vampire (later, a vampire)and having to prove his worth as a vampire. I like how, in the series, his character changes: not just in that he was once human, then half- vampire, then a vampire; but his personality and way of thinking. He grows and matures as the series continues, and is a well- rounded character.
Larten Crepsley: Darren Shan's vampire mentor, fatherly- figure and my favorite character in the whole series. Admittedly, when I first read Cirque du Freak (before reading The Saga of Larten Crepsley) I wasn't a big fan of him. I didn't love him, but I certainly didn't hate or dislike him. I felt like I didn't know enough about him to be a huge fan or anything. And when he died later on in the series, I felt sad because of his death, but mostly because of how depressed Darren got. But, after reading The Saga of Larten Crepsley, he officially became my favorite character in the whole series. His back story is shocking and tragic, and, I have to say, while he and Darren had both been through a lot of crap in their lives, I personally think he had an overall harder life. Before he became all stuffy and serious in Cirque du Freak, he was rebellious and a lady- killer. He also had done some shady things in his life that would haunt him years later (like killing those people on the ship), and witnessed things no boy should see (Vur's death, for example.) And he was betrayed by two characters I consider some of the worst in the series (Webster and Tanish.) Since they don't appear in Cirque du Freak, I'll go more in depth later. After re- reading the series, I found myself liking his character more. He had a great personality (he was sarcastic and witty) smart... I could go on. Bottom line, my favorite character in both Cirque du Freak and The Saga of Larten Crepsley.
Kurda/Harkat: I. Hate. Kurda. I'm sorry for all of you Kurda fans, but I really don't like him. I understand he wanted to do what he thought was right, and he had good character traits, but the way he went about it made me feel a deep hate for him that would be nearly impossible to change. I know he didn't want the vampires and vampaneze to go to war: I understand that! Des Tiny's prophecy for one, the fact there would be losses on both sides, I get it! But, the turning point for me was when he killed Gavner Purl. Was that really necessary, Kurda? Was that really necessary?! That was when you officially became a traitor, when you killed one of your own kind, practically in cold blood! But it gets worse: he planned not only to sneak the vampaneze in the vampire mountain to use the stone of blood to force an alliance, but he planned to kill all of the vampire princes so he could do it! If he went about trying to make an alliance between the two clans in another way, I probably wouldn't hate him. I know he thought he was doing all of this for the greater good. But the way he planned to do it... just made me feel so furious! He was willing to murder pretty much anyone for the vampire/vampaneze alliance. And he succeeded in killing poor Gavner! And he would've killed the princes (Paris, Arrow, Mika...). He was a traitor. He was well meaning, but the way he went about it almost made me nauseated. I feel that strongly about it. *On a side note, I don't think his death was Darren's fault. I believe at some point either Des Tiny or Evanna even told Darren it was unavoidable* While it was honorable he became re- incarnated as Harkat to protect Darren, knowing that in a way he'd be helping with his death, I still couldn't bring myself to forgive him after what he'd done and what he'd planned.
Vancha March: I liked his personality: he was tough, amusing, and crude. And for some reason, he was under the impression that ladies liked him. I also like how his brother was secretly Gannan Herst (vampaneze) and how they were both adopted by Evanna. But it was kind of weird that Evanna had their children, when I really think about it. I know that Evanna wasn't blood related to Vancha or Gannen, but, still, the thought is pretty strange.
Vampaneze:
The Vampaneze Lord/Steve Leopard: I. Hate. Steve. Darren sacrificed everything for him to save his life, and even after being told over and over again the truth, he still had the paranoid delusion Darren took his place as a vampire. As for Larten saying his blood was evil: I think it's true. Maybe it hurt him to hear it, but even as a kid, he was a bit violent (pushing Darren and yelling at him) (I forget what page, but I think it is when Darren tells him he saw him talking with Larten, and Darren gets nervous about the evil blood thing, and Steve really overreacts.) Steve is evil! He took pleasure in making others' suffer. He was cruel, on a personal level: he screwed Annie, Darren's sister, and had a child with her just to wound Darren even more than he already was! He killed Shancus, Evra's innocent child, just to hurt Darren and Evra! (It's also a little freaky to think this whole time, he and Darren were brothers (half- brothers?) so when he had Darius with Annie, it was incest.) Granted, he had no clue they were related, but it was still disturbing. There is nothing I can think of that redeemed his character, even in the end. Even after he dies. He deserved to rot in the Lake of Souls.
Members of the Circus:
Evra Von: Even though he is a relatively minor character, he was a great friend to Darren, a great father, and a great snake- boy/snake- man. I liked him. His personality, everything about him, pretty much.
Other:
Des Tiny: He is just as bad as Steve. I hate him. I don't think an explanation is needed. If you've read the whole series, you'd know how hate- able he is.
Evanna: Personally, I disliked her. Hate is too strong of a word, I don't hate her, but I dislike her. I didn't like how she treated her servants like Arra Sails and Malora. And if she honestly felt so bad about giving Larten his scar, why didn't she, I don't know, heal it; or better yet, not have given it to him at all?! Her personality annoyed me. I just felt she could be so cold and elusive.
To be continued.
*Edit
About Kurda: While I do hate him, I feel I've neglected to mention some of the things I actually admire about him: he did save Darren's life in the trials by convincing the princes to pretend they had other business to attend to and they couldn't make it to his trials; therefore giving Darren a few more days to recover from the burns. And while I hated some of his ideas, I admire some of them. (I'll have to get the book out to quote them later, I don't have them with me.) So, while I mentioned all the things I hate about him, there are a few admirable traits he had.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2020
The book is about a freak show with a lot of monsters. The main characters Darren and his best friend Steve went to the show. The story took place in a village , but the main part of the story took place in an old theatre within the village. A decent part of the story also took place in the bedroom of Darren. The story happened nowadays. And mostly during the night…
Darren stole a spider from Mr. Crespley without even thinking about the consequences. Later in the story Steve gets bitten by the spider and the only cure is that Darren becomes Mr. Crespley’s assistant. The story shows you that you should never steal!
The first main character is Darren. He’s a boy who really enjoys life. He has a lovely family. He lives with his mom, dad and his little sister. The second main character is Steve. Steve didn’t like his life much so he wanted to become a vampire. He only lives with his mother, who doesn’t like him that much. Steve and Darren are best friends of each other and together they went to the freak show.
The book is called cirque du freak because the freak show was called cirque du freak. Within the freak show there were multiple freaks, like snake boy and a woman with a beard as strong as steal.
I really liked the book, as it’s very obvious that the main character is making huge mistakes. For example stealing a spider from a vampire. Who does that? The storyline isn’t what you would expect, because every chapter there happens something unusual. I like the book because it’s different then other books. In the book they say make vampires really different. In the book they even had a conversation that normal people don’t really know what vampires are and do. I also like the story, because it hasn’t got a happy end, but a cliff-hanger so you really want to read the next parts of the book.
Darren stole a spider from Mr. Crespley without even thinking about the consequences. Later in the story Steve gets bitten by the spider and the only cure is that Darren becomes Mr. Crespley’s assistant. The story shows you that you should never steal!
The first main character is Darren. He’s a boy who really enjoys life. He has a lovely family. He lives with his mom, dad and his little sister. The second main character is Steve. Steve didn’t like his life much so he wanted to become a vampire. He only lives with his mother, who doesn’t like him that much. Steve and Darren are best friends of each other and together they went to the freak show.
The book is called cirque du freak because the freak show was called cirque du freak. Within the freak show there were multiple freaks, like snake boy and a woman with a beard as strong as steal.
I really liked the book, as it’s very obvious that the main character is making huge mistakes. For example stealing a spider from a vampire. Who does that? The storyline isn’t what you would expect, because every chapter there happens something unusual. I like the book because it’s different then other books. In the book they say make vampires really different. In the book they even had a conversation that normal people don’t really know what vampires are and do. I also like the story, because it hasn’t got a happy end, but a cliff-hanger so you really want to read the next parts of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2024
If you even want your fantasy loving teenager to start reading, I recommend this series. I myself found this to be one of the best series I've ever read. Now that I am an adult, I read it again after more then 15 years and (to my relief) was not dissapointed!
This is still my all time favourite fantasy series. I got to know these series when a was around 13 years old. I picked it up again now that I needed an easy read. But it became so much more. So when I got stuck at home, sick from covid I decided to give it another try and discovered that this is still my go to youth book, for good reason. I was afraid it was going to read differently now that I am an adult but NO. I'm still intrigued by the story and almost finished it in one quarantine (about 10 days). I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. The story is captivating, well written and original. It got me into reading again after a long break. It's amazing that this youth series has more depth then a lot of books I've read before and after. it never feels to rushed or to slow. I love it.
Reasons why I still love this book?
- The worldbuilding is amazing.
- It never gets boring
- The characters are believable and quite well written. which makes both tragic and joyous events stick to your bones.
- It reads fast. the pace of the story is perfect. It does not feel as I have to 'earn' it. It's just an experience on it's on. You are sucked into the world of Darren Shan.
- because of what I've written above: It will make you feel all kinds of emotions
- Alhough it is about vampires it avoids the stereotypical or romanticized portrail
- I want to keep reading. I could not put my book down.
- 100% will read a 3rd time!
This is still my all time favourite fantasy series. I got to know these series when a was around 13 years old. I picked it up again now that I needed an easy read. But it became so much more. So when I got stuck at home, sick from covid I decided to give it another try and discovered that this is still my go to youth book, for good reason. I was afraid it was going to read differently now that I am an adult but NO. I'm still intrigued by the story and almost finished it in one quarantine (about 10 days). I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. The story is captivating, well written and original. It got me into reading again after a long break. It's amazing that this youth series has more depth then a lot of books I've read before and after. it never feels to rushed or to slow. I love it.
Reasons why I still love this book?
- The worldbuilding is amazing.
- It never gets boring
- The characters are believable and quite well written. which makes both tragic and joyous events stick to your bones.
- It reads fast. the pace of the story is perfect. It does not feel as I have to 'earn' it. It's just an experience on it's on. You are sucked into the world of Darren Shan.
- because of what I've written above: It will make you feel all kinds of emotions
- Alhough it is about vampires it avoids the stereotypical or romanticized portrail
- I want to keep reading. I could not put my book down.
- 100% will read a 3rd time!
December 24, 2022
I read this series in middle school and loved it. I decided to revisit this world now at the age of 30 and I still loved it. Darren is sometimes really frustrating and as an adult, I am yelling at him to make better decisions. In the later books, he may still look like a child but he isn't actually a child and should be wiser, but he is not.
My favorite books were 5-9, the Vampire Rites, and Vampire Wars trilogies. Those books had the most compelling and shocking storylines.
I didn't love the Vampire Destiny trilogy which is books 10-12 as much, probably because someone special to the series was killed and the books just felt like they were missing something.
Now I want to speak of the ending of the series so potential spoilers.
When I first read the last book, Sons of Destiny, I HATED it. It undoes the whole series and it all felt like a waste. This time around I didn't mind that trope as much. It actually made a bit of sense because Darren took this life that was predestined for him into his own hands.
What I didn't understand when I was younger is that Mr. Tiny SA'd Darren and Steve's Moms because he wanted to have these children be pitted against each other. Which WTF! Are you serious? Mr. Tiny was so evil and how did he have so much power?
Overall I am really happy I revisited the series and was just as captivated as I was when I was younger.
My favorite books were 5-9, the Vampire Rites, and Vampire Wars trilogies. Those books had the most compelling and shocking storylines.
I didn't love the Vampire Destiny trilogy which is books 10-12 as much, probably because someone special to the series was killed and the books just felt like they were missing something.
Now I want to speak of the ending of the series so potential spoilers.
When I first read the last book, Sons of Destiny, I HATED it. It undoes the whole series and it all felt like a waste. This time around I didn't mind that trope as much. It actually made a bit of sense because Darren took this life that was predestined for him into his own hands.
What I didn't understand when I was younger is that Mr. Tiny SA'd Darren and Steve's Moms because he wanted to have these children be pitted against each other. Which WTF! Are you serious? Mr. Tiny was so evil and how did he have so much power?
Overall I am really happy I revisited the series and was just as captivated as I was when I was younger.
December 7, 2025
I listened to the audio book version of the series. It was my go to listen when driving alone for months. We read the first book at GCSE level years ago and I remember some classmates talking about finishing the series and I overheard a small spoiler. But I wanted to know for years what that “spoiler” meant. I kept listening waiting for that part. I had some audiobook credits to use so got a couple, then I had to buy more credits to finish the series. I was sitting in the car after getting home to finish a chapter. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book series with this many books (although they are short) so the ending had some serious pay off to deliver. I thought it actually did it really well. The writer can kind of gloss over any complex mechanics, which makes sense for the narrator, but as long as you’re there for the story, I thought it was unique and satisfying. I dislike books without ‘consequence’ although a teenager who makes some stupid decisions is frustrating, I like that it doesn’t just default work out every time, not in a warm fuzzy feeling kind of way anyway. Hard to explain without spoiling. Shame I don’t know anyone who read it recently, I’d love to talk about the ending with someone!
March 25, 2021
As an adult I'm sure I could critique this book series in numerous ways, it's not a literary masterpiece. It's more than that. It is one of those magical, special books that can inspire children to love reading, treasure books and seek out new worlds of imagination. Darren Shan is my go to recommendation for anyone who wishes to encourage their child to read for enjoyment. It is wonferfully written; engaging, exciting, scary, gory, sad, action packed and funny. It has well developed characters including bad guys that you love to hate. I remember my Mum picking this series out for me when I was about 10 in preparation for a long haul flight, I wasn't overly excited by it but as a compulsive reader with an obsession with all things vampire I went with it. I started reading before take off and I don't think I looked up for the next 10 hours. When I think of pivotal moments and books that shaped my love of reading, this memory always springs to mind. My Dad read the series after me, and loved it just as much. And I'm excited to share it with my own children when they're old enough. I cannot recommend this series enough. It should be given to all parents and children.
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