Cirque Du Freak: Allies of the Night, Vol. 8

Cirque Du Freak: The Manga #8

by Darren Shan, Takahiro Arai (Artist)

Vampire prince and "vampaneze" killer Darren Shan faces his worst nightmare yet - school. But homework is the least of Darren's problems. Bodies are piling up, time is running out, and the past is catching up with the hunters fast!

Genres: Manga, Vampires, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Horror, Young Adult, Supernatural

192 pages, Paperback

Published March 29, 2011

About the author

Librarian'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..

Reviews

[Emmy Ruijven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh S. you special snowflake.

[Sarah Maddaford · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I will say that I really enjoyed this book and have enjoyed the series so far (despite some issues). The pacing is always excellent and even though the mythology is somewhat weird it works. The characters are well written. I like the ones that I like and I really hate the ones that I don't. Of course, I don't think I'm as attached to some of the characters as their importance to the story would normally cause, but that's not too big a deal.

The level of violence wasn't as bad in this book as in others in my opinion. There was some high school bullying, some gun and knife fighting, and some minor (nameless) character deaths. Darren kisses Debbie (who is his teacher). There was some cursing I believe, though it may have been made-up cursing rather than modern cursing.

There were some problems though. The fact that Steve returned only to betray them (especially with his elaborate plan) was cliche. I kept hoping that Steve really had shaped up and realized that Darren wasn't his enemy (I didn't really care if he hated Crepsley because not turning him and calling him evil was a pretty big insult), but I figured that the obvious would occur and that he was just leading them on. The thing with Debbie shows part of the reason that vampire romances are creepy: even though they are technically the same age, she is his teacher and thus it is extremely awkward for him to be crushing on her still... That and he still looks fifteen while she looks almost thirty.

[J Jahir · Rating 5 out of 5]

grandísimo libro. creo que ha sido uno de los mejores para mí. Ha estado brutal, y realmente todo lo que había imaginado o me venía suponiendo a lo largo de la serie, se ha cumplido.
Darren en su búsqueda por encontrar al lord Vampanés, llegan al lugar y se involucra en una situación inesperada para evitar que los vampaneces ataquen la ciudad. Ahí se va a encontrar a alguien de nueva cuenta que jamás pensaba volver a ver, y sinceramente yo tampoco. además, aparece en escena uno de nuestros personajes favoritos... (insértese sarcasmo), sí, Steve Leopard. y será mejor que estén atentos. ¿será confiable después de todo? bueno, a descubrirlo.

[Carrie-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finishing off this manga series!
Not as good as the books, but a nice easy read if you already know the story (if you don't I highly recommend reading the actual books rather than the manga series)

[704 Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY thought, was really this
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?! I DO NOT REMEMBER YOU FROM ANY OTHER OF THE SERIES!!
okay, so this RANDOM AS HELL charictar kinda just seems to show up and i forget who this guy is- i don't remember him from the other books
(he is most likely some charictar who was really importent from the before hand in eather the first, second or third book and have no idea.
im kinda stupid when it comes to charictar that only showed up in the first or second books of a series. deal with it) AND IT WAS JUST LIKE THIS: "SUPRISE! I SAVED YOUR LIFE AND CAME OUT AND NOW I HUNT VAMPANEZE NOW, LOL".
and this is were i said something only a sane person would say...
WHAT...THE...F(censored)
(censored because this is a note for school. if it wasint...oh god)
and the swears just went from there...AND THEN THERE WAS THIS RANDOM FEMALE CHARICTAR, AGAIN I DONT REMEMBER AT ALL WHO THE HELL THIS WOMAN IS AND WHY SHE FREAKIN MATTERS...oh wait...its Darrens apparent girlfriend...
WHAT THE F(censoredX100).
also she gets kiddnaped like EVERY OTHER FEMALE CHARICTAR IN MOST STORYS.
because that is one of the flaws of being a hero, the love intrest allways get kiddnaped..I MEAN FREAKIN ALWAYS. its a theme that keeps happening OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER A....*5 hours later*
AND OVER AGAIN...and the way that she got kiddnaped..the song you could of played at the moment was the troll theme.
this is how it was: "IM KIDDNAPING YOUR GIRLFREIND...TROLOLOLOLOOOLLL LOLOLLLLLL..TROLOLOLOLOLOOOOLOOOOLOLOLO!!!!"..yeah
SO much wtf in this book
that is all

[David Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very interesting because I love how Darren and his friends work together to overcome the problems that they were having trouble dealing with. I also loved how Darren's friends helped Darren to deal with the enemies that they have trouble fighting. My favorite part is when his best friend from school as known as Steve Leopard saved Darren from one of the vampaneze. Which were the bad guys, my favorite part is when Debbie Hemlock which is Darren's girlfriend helped Darren catching up with his homework and all of the other work that Darren was missing. I also liked how Debbie fooled around with Darren when Darren was acting wierd. I also liked how Darren and his team of friends helping each other to come up with strategies to defeat all of the vampaneze with teamwork.

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Woot, I was pretty excited about the return of Steve but I can't believe Darren was so easily persuaded he was good. I actually had a thought once before that he might actually be the vampaneze lord... but guess not? Maybe he is and it's all a rouse? We'll see.

Also the return of Debbie was interesting enough...

2 down, 2 more chances to go! I already know that Mr. Crepsley is going to die... and I'm sure there will be some sort of overly done moment where before he dies he tells Darren how much he cares about him and how much Darren has grown to become an amazing vampire... but I'm going to be sad nonetheless. He's my fave ♥

[Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Darren Shan going to Mr. Crepsleys's home town once again to hunt down vampaneze. Strangely the principal of a high school says that Darren hasn't been to school in a long time so he has to come back to school, and one of his teachers is his old girlfriend. At night Mr. Crepsley and Darren hunt down vampaneze. When they are hunting them down they find out that R.V. is now a vampaneze!!!(R.V. is from book 2.)I would recommend this book to all boys and girls that like vampires and heart racing action.

[Neldehaibi7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darren wanted to find the vampaneze lord in order to have the vampire clan victors of the War of Scars. But, the vampaneze side of the clan are tricking Darren into going to school. So, as Darren attends his new school, his english teacher is his ex-girlfriend, Debbie, and he also comes across his old friend Steve. Then, the vampaneze hunters encounter the vampaneze and officially starts the bloodshed. Cirque du Freak: Allies of the Night is a book about fate, good vs. evil, and sacrifice.

[Btheilmanngohr3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, we meet some returning characters, such as: Debbie, an english teacher, R.V, whose now a vampaneze, with hooks for hands, and Steve. Steve tries to play good guy at the beginning, but ends up being the bad person he is. They also encounter the vampaneze lord a second time, but fail. The book also leaves off where Darren and Co. have to escape the sewers, with Steve as hostage.

[Tanya Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many words to describe this lovely book <3
I was sooo glad to see Debbie and Steven again
I gotta say, Darren looked pretty cute in his school uniform lol
I cant wait to read the next volume >:D
And i totally agree with Takahiro Arai "DAMN YUUUU STEEVE!!!"

[Myka · Rating 5 out of 5]

My reaction to older Steve's manga reincarnation was worth the price of admission.

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liking the art more as the series goes on. I wasn't sure about it at first, but its good. Not great but good.

[Brittany Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 8 of the Cirque du Freak manga, adapting Allies of the Night, presents a compelling blend of alliance and conflict within the shadowy world of vampires and vampaneze. Illustrated with the masterful artistry of Takahiro Arai, this volume deepens the narrative’s complexity through intense action sequences, intricate character dynamics, and a richly atmospheric visual style.

Arai’s art excels at portraying the tense alliances and shifting loyalties that define the storyline. His detailed character expressions convey subtle emotions—trust, suspicion, determination—enhancing the narrative’s psychological depth. The dynamic fight scenes burst with energy and precision, perfectly capturing the brutal stakes of Darren Shan’s world. The dark, moody palette accentuates the manga’s gothic and suspenseful tone, immersing readers fully in the perilous environment.

Thematically, the volume explores the uneasy partnerships forged in times of crisis, the challenges of trust, and the resilience required to face overwhelming adversity. The manga’s pacing expertly balances high-intensity action with quieter, reflective moments that develop the characters’ internal struggles and relationships.

In conclusion, Volume 8 of the Cirque du Freak manga—Allies of the Night—is a five-star instalment that successfully combines thrilling supernatural drama with profound emotional complexity. It is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and graphic novels, delivering a powerful chapter that advances Darren Shan’s saga with both heart and intensity.

[The Book Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The search for the Vampaneze Lord has brought Darren and Crepsley back to Crepsley’s hometown. And someone set a plot in motion, forcing Darren to go to school where he meets an old friend.

But the best is yet to come, when Darren is attacked by a Vampaneze with hooks for hands, another old friend comes to the rescue. Steve Leonard.

Just hallelujah Steve’s back and he’s aged well. And that Van Helsing entrance and getup looks very good on him. And if I’m calculating right, he’s right about my age~ (You older readers will understand my joy)

If you haven’t guessed, Steve is my second favorite character (Gavner is still number one) despite what happens at the end. I do love a good villain~

This series has 12 volumes and is based on the Darren Shan novel series Cirque du Freak.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cirque Du freak: Allies of the Night starts off with Darren, Harkat and Mr. Crepsley heading into Mr. Crepsley hometown to investigate whether the vampaneze had set up nests again but when they arrive the main character, Darren is found by the police and is forced to go to school. Mr. Crepsley eventually has to leave the town to attend a funeral leaving Darren and Harkat to investigate on their own. One night, Darren is attacked by a vapeze but he is saved by an old friend named Steve who joins him later in his hunt for vampeeze. A vampaneze Leads them into a trap that leads them to the vampaneze lord. Darren tries to kill him but is stopped by Steve who turned out to be half vampaneze and betrays Darren and Harkat. The hunters and the vampaneze begin to fight. Darren beats up Steve but Rv uses Debbie as a hostage and threatens to kill her.

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The time has come for Darren, current Vampire Prince and hunter, to face the ultimate challenge: returning to the daily routine of school with his old friends! "Allies of the Night" returns to its roots with an engaging entry to the "Cirque Du Freak" series, where a mixture of art by Arai and story by Shan make for a wonderful read. Settle down for an enjoyable adventure that keeps the surprises coming at a breakneck pace!

[Meri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aside from the change in Debbie's ethnicity (which continues to bug me), it was a very well done adaptation. Lots of tension and the stakes are high, leaving readers on a cliff-hanger ending.

Also, I really love the little comments section at the end by Takahiro Arai. The London journey is so sweet!

[Jennifer Pletcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why didn't I start with the first book do you ask? Well this one fit a challenge, and honestly - because it is a middle grade book - it made little difference. This book was fine. It is a quick read with a thin plot as you would imagine for this age group. It has some twists and turns and a little love story thrown in. Not much else to say.

[Amara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat predictable. I feel the story is slipping.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

there were certain parts in the book that i felt like Takahiro Arai did great in to fully add dramatic effect, however the way he portrayed two certain characters i have problems with. first is Darrens estranged girlfriend Debbie. I do not have a real problem with her skin color (in the original book she was described to have dark skin) but i am confused to which why the author decided to make her the same skin color of Darren. my second problem is Steve to which i feel is a bigger problem. i felt that when i saw him he was nothing like what the original book described him to be which was suppose to be a scruffy old guy how is practically bathed in dirt. in the manga version, he just looks like his older him. again Takahiro made parts that were good such as when Darren discovers that he was tricked by Steve, or the sad look on Debbie's face when Darren was trying to act persistent to further their relationship back to boyfriend girlfriend status. however, those small details did distract me a little from the story.

[edel · Rating 3 out of 5]

After putting the series down after a while, I found it surprisingly easy to get back into it. Some of the details were foggy (who is this "x" character you speak of?) but it didn't hinder me so much.

This volume was cute. A bit cheesy, but cute. Okay, describing a "Cirque du Freak" book as cute is wrong on all levels. But the romance in this volume was so hard to ignore and me being a girl, that's what I remember the most from this. Although, it's as action packed as it usually is! Just... Cheesier.

[Lorien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooh, more revelations in this volume, getting closer to the big reveal! It was really interesting where I couldn't predict the characters goals very well, as what was happening didn't line up exactly with the identity of the Vampaneze Lord. I really enjoyed seeing Darren's team finally on the front lines, as well as all the romance!

The only odd thing was the school system of this European nation matching with the ideas of a Japanese school. Oh well, the mangaka is from Japan, so it's understandable. :)

[Ash Ebrahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story started shaky at first. Darren, Larten and Harakat went back to larten's hometown after crimes of sucked blood spread out. So they went to a hotel and someone knocked and said that they got all Darren Shan papers and he's prepared to go to school..... When that happened I was like OH SNAP.
But the story evolves in every chapter and many characters that we missed came back again (that's the best part) unlike the 7th this book had to be continue ending just like the other books.

[Kevin Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

good in the book some new or should I say old friends come back. some shocking new facts about the team and school in a way you never thought of before war fare and loved ones leaving for ever all in one book

[BCPL Youth Services Librarian]

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

[Hazel Fung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good, some old characters came back. Was a nice story in the middle, then fights at the end. Can't wait to read next one!

[Garry Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just got this app but I'm actually unsure of how to work it, if someone could give me some tips that's would be great

[Rachel (Sfogs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not surprised that he is still as evil as ever.

[C.j.slack · Rating 5 out of 5]

good