Darren Shan

Two boys who are best friends visit an illegal freak show, where an encounter with a vampire and a deadly spider forces them to make life-changing choices.

Book 1 in the Saga of Darren Shan

Cirque Du Freak #1: A Living Nightmare

After traveling with Mr. Crepsley, the vampire who made him into a half-vampire, Darren returns to the freak show known as the Cirque du Freak and continues to fight his need to drink human blood.

The vampire's assistant

Briar's Reviews

The Vampire's Assistant was an excellent young adult novel that is full of thrills and chills!

I watched the movie adaption of this series YEARS ago, and I had been dying to pick up this series. Unfortunately for me, the bookstore is big and full of millions of books so I'd forget what I was looking for the minute I walked in. Luckily for me, I walked into a bargain bookstore and found an old, extremely damaged version of this book for clearance - so of course I bought it! A little water never hurt anybody!

I hadn't read the first book in this series, but jumping right in was super easy! This book was fun, full of silly frights and awesome character development, and made me remember why I loved vampire novels in my youth!

This book is quick - it moves fast and keeps you interested at every turn. There's some really creepy bad guys, Evra (the snake boy), a wolf man, and some awesome parental-yet-not-so-parental adults hanging around. It's definitely the type of horror book I would read as a kid (but it doesn't scare me at all now - adult me has worse things to be afraid of...like politics and bills...ick).

I highly recommend this book to anyone considering introducing their children to YA books with horror or vampires in it. It's fun and creepy in all good ways! It'll keep the adults interested too!

Four out of five stars!

Sarah

It has been so long since I've last read this series. I used to be so obsessed, and I guess I still am XD

I wish the writing was a little more complicated and detailed, but given that it's YA that's not so much an issue for me. The style matches its intended audience so I really can't complain.

In terms of first novels, this was definitely a captivating introduction. I absolutely got caught hook, line, and sinker. It wouldn't have been a very good stand alone novel--it's very obvious that it was intended as a series.

Tbh I lowkey wish Mr. Crepsley was a sexier anti-villain, but this is a YA novel so the vampires don't have to be sexy... but still... the heart wants what the heart wants XD

bUT, this book/series will always remain one of my faves because when I say I want vampires, this is exactly what I mean!!! Dark, brooding, gothic, creepy creatures of the night who have complicated relationships with life and death, and are not at all one-dimensional. Tbh, this is just an overall, well-written novel, and idk if Darren Shan writes novels for adult audiences, but I really have to check it out because if he does I must read some!

Bri Billaney

I'm reviewing the whole series here. Overall the series gets a 4/5 stars. It was super good, and I enjoyed the type of vampires that are described here, which are vastly different from the likes of Edward Cullen and The Salvatore Bros. This is gritty, grungy, and immersive in the world of vampires, death, and mystery.

caroline

Alost

A living nightmare was good. But this one bored me to death. Darren shows over emotion when its not required and vice- versa. And i did miss steve.

Jana Jenkinns 

Always a good read when it's written by Darren Shan!! Make sure you check his work out, he has some amazing books in his repertoire!

Elizabeth Garza

The ending is the only reason this book got 3 stars out of me. It was poignant and dramatic. The first 3/4ths of the book though ... eesh. I am very happy I'm not an angsty teenager anymore.

Darren goes to a freak show with his friend. It's the gothic Cirque du Freak where weird, half human/half animals appear and interact with the audience. Darren falls in love with a spider and tries to steal it so that he can teach it to perform.

The Saga of Darren Shan

Sharon Mannion

Read these as a child and found them just as amazing now as I did back then. Truly feel for all these characters!

And Other Tales from the Cirque du Freak

The Vampire's Assistant

Lorien O'Brien

As I already read the manga I knew most of the plot (but it's been like 4 years soooo yeah), but it still ripped my heart out.

Even after volume 9 of the manga, and the plot there, I think this one was just sadder. While 9 really really REALLY rips your heart out, this one is longer, and slower, and much more depressing. Darren battles himself, and his fighting with Crepsley add a tone of sorrow to the over all plot, and while Darren finds friends, it's very clear that something awful will happen, and Darren blames himself for a large part of it.

While I love the Vampire belief of someone living inside of you, it was still really sad. Beautifully done, Mr. Shan. :)

I've heard lots about Cirque du Freak, about how it's quite good, has odd wording as Darren Shan was in middle school when he wrote it, but after first the movie (mediocre), then the manga (quite good) I knew I had to pick it up. Bought the first 3 books and swore to start it this year.

When I opened it today I wasn't sure of much beyond the plot thanks to the manga, but didn't expect to finish it in a few hours! Despite the lightning pace (not always a good thing) the plot was (as I knew) well thought out and accurately expressed. A few terms were a bit odd in places, but nothing that could jar you out of the story. It was well done and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to cracking open book 2, The Vampire's Assistant.

Outnumbered, outsmarted, and desperate, the hunters are on the run, pursued by the vampaneze, the police, and an angry mob. With their enemies clamoring for blood, the vampires prepare for a deadly battle. Is this the end for Darren and his allies?

Killers of the Dawn

Cirque Du Freak: The Manga, Vol. 9

After the crazy last volume I wondered how this volume could top it and OH IT DID AND IT HURTS!!!

*ahem*

First of all, this volume started after a WICKED cliffhanger that I'm not looking forward to in the books as I own 8 but not 9.

Darren and the other two hunters were tricked and only got away by the skin of their teeth, but an ally was left behind, and then they're captured by the police of all things. Things go from bad to worse, to hellish, to NO YOU CAN'T DO THAT NOOOOO!!!!

Plus that ENDING!!! The twist!!! I died. Oh it killed me. I knew this was coming as I warned after I read volume 1 (seriously that's all I read and was warned). And of course the wicked twist that is the clincher for this novel...is revealed halfway through the stupid movie. -_-+ WHY!?!

This book built me up, had me begging for more, make we freeze in horror, then smile with relief, and then

RIPPED MY HEART OUT WITH A SPORK. IT HURT. A LOT. I can't bear to let this volume go. I just wanna hug it and pretend the events didn't happen. For someone spoiled, this hurt worse than Allegiant. Yes. ALLEGIANT ISN'T AS HEARTBREAKING!!!!

Darren Shan, you're a genius! YA'LL NEED TO READ THIS SERIES. READ IT! DO IT!

Darren Shan, a normal human boy, is coerced by the vampire Larten Crepsley into becoming his assistant and a half-vampire.

Allies of the Night

Cirque Du Freak: The Manga, Vol. 8

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. :)

Hunters of the Dusk

Cirque Du Freak: The Manga, Vol. 7

** spoiler alert **
           Whoa! Things are really picking up, and I'm eager to see when Darren finally learns who the Vampaneze Lord is (CURSE YOU MOVIE FOR SPOILING THAT! My friends were pissed it spoiled me and now I'm annoyed too). I enjoyed seeing Darren's growth, mental, emotional, and... Physical? That was unexpected! I loved the new characters, and seeing the war playing out, though I wish we saw more of the actual war. It's similar to Hunger Games with the MC being the only voice, and not always being the best voice to see the whole world. And yet, so addicting! Love Darren!

Darren Shan, the vampire's assistant, faces certain death. Branded a traitor, betrayed by a friend, hunted by the vampire clan - can Darren reverse the odds and outwit a Vampire Prince and scores of murderous vampanese, or is this the end of thousands of years of vampire rule?

The Vampire Prince

Cirque Du Freak: The Manga, Vol. 6

Wow, what a roller-coaster of a volume! I never knew where the story was going to take me next, nor what was in store for Darren and the others! The deaths were sad but I'm eager to see what's going to happen next!

Alyssia

I remember reading this when I was like 11 and it was pretty scary. Now, it's basically like any other scary children's book. If I had thought this was anything more than a children's book I would've been disappointed because the writing and character building were terrible and inconsistent, but I can look past it. The story was really fun, although unrealistic at times (besides the supernatural parts). Great cliffhangers too. But it wouldn't work if you haven't read these as a child.

Cirque Du Freak #1: A Living Nightmare Book 1 in the Saga of Darren Shan

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