In the first books of this twelve-book series, we meet Darren Shan, a 16-year-old boy who acquires a most interesting fate when he steals a poisonous spider from none other than the vampire, Larten Crepsley. In exchange for the life of his friend, Steve Leonard (AKA Steve Leopard), Darren agrees to become an assistant to the vampire, who transforms him from a normal kid to a half-vampire. Darren explores his new identity, leaves the home of his parents only after feeling the urge to drink his own sister's blood, and sets out on a life-changing journey with Mr. Crepsley and his friends, the other members of the Cirque du Freak. While with the Cirque, Darren develops strength, makes a life-long friend named Evra Von, and basically learns the ways of the vampires. Harboring quite a bit of resentment toward his master, Darren often thinks about murdering Mr. Crepsley while he sleeps in his coffin or fleeing and setting out on his own. While Darren is discovering himself, a war is raging between vampire and Vampaneze, the purple-skinned vampire cousins who drink to kill. In the midst of a journey to Vampire Mountain, Darren faces a round of trials called the Trials of Initiation, in which he faces extreme tasks and must rely on his vampirism to be triumphant. When he fails, he is sentenced to death; yet, he flees and uncovers a plot by Kurda Shmaldt, a vampire who is in line to become a prince, to kill the princes and make a treaty with the Vampaneze. When he reveals this plot to the vampire Princes, he is vindicated and made into a Prince himself, the youngest one ever known. As the War of the Scars rages on, Darren finds himself caught up in the brawling action and, along with his little-person friend, Harkat Mulds, Mr. Crepsley and a vampire Prince known as Vancha March, hunts for the presumed Lord of the Vampaneze, a human-turned-Vampaneze who withstood the coffin of fire and is said to bring about the complete destruction of the vampires if he is not defeated. In a revelation following the death of his master and friend, Steve Leopard lets it be known that he is the Lord of the Vampaneze. This series has it all--from vampires to witches and everything in between.
Personal Impressions
I am actually in the process of finishing up the 12th and final book of this series. I found that with each new book, Shan's writing improved. The plot thickened, and my interest heightened. I chose to read this series because my students were reading them. The librarian could hardly keep them on the shelves last year. I guess I wanted to know what the hype was all about. I am really glad I did, because this series is just phenomenal. I have always been a fan of the mythical creatures that inhabit literature and movies. Shan paints a very unique perspective of vampires, one I have never seen prior. I love that his vampires are not evil, have religious beliefs, have consciences. It's just completely original. I can't wait to finish the final book and see how it all ends. I understand why it is a big hit with my students.
Professional Reviews
The following review was featured in the online journal, CM: Canadian Review of Materials.
It was a flyer, an advertising pamphlet for some sort of traveling circus. There was a picture of a wolf's head at the top. The wolf had its mouth open and saliva was dripping from its teeth. At the bottom were pictures of a spider and a snake and they looked vicious, too.
Just beneath the wolf, in big red capital letters, were the words:
CIRQUE DU FREAK
Cirque du Freak is the first of a series of four books by Darren Shan, an Irish writer who has long been fascinated by vampires. The novel is full of thrills and chills and slowly building suspense and will appeal greatly to any reader interested in the horror genre.
Darren and his friend, Steve, obtain tickets for a freak show in a rather dirty, dingy, run-down old theatre which, in itself, lends an air of the macabre and supernatural to the story. Fifty pages of the book are given to a detailed, gross and gruesome description of this unreal entertainment. The freaks run the gamut from a vicious wolf man to a contortionist, a fat man, and a spider who apparently works from telepathic signals. The boys are mesmerized by their journey into this world of grotesque creatures and find their experience both thrilling and disturbing, amazing yet horrifying.
Steve is attracted by Mr. Crepsley whom he recognizes to be a famous vampire. Darren, on the other hand, has always been intrigued by spiders and so is fascinated by Mr. Crepley's pet, Madame Octa. This love of arachnids ends up changing Darren's life completely.
Events spiral out of control: Darren steals the performing spider and subsequently Madame Octa bites Steve, leaving him paralyzed and in a coma, near death. To obtain the necessary antidote, Darren must...... literally..... sell his soul.
Shan introduces themes of horror, magic and friendship. The book is somewhat reminiscent of R. L. Stine, but Shan's writing is darker and more frightening and, therefore, would probably appeal to somewhat older readers. The entire story is told from the viewpoint of an adolescent boy, and so there is a definite emphasis on the gross qualities of the freakshow, yet the book remains imaginative and displays a rather dark sort of humour. There is plenty of chilling action throughout as the boys get caught up in an unexpected trap which leads to an equally unexpected ending. Certainly the reader is left wanting to know more about Darren's adventures in the sequels!
Cirque du Freak is soon to be a motion picture from Warner Brothers, and, as well, the novel won the IRA Children's Choice Award in 2002.
Highly Recommended.
~~~~~~~~
Review by Ann Ketcheson
Due to the fact that there are twelve books that comprise this series, I am including another review from School Library Journal.
Fiction
A Living Nightmare.
SHAN, Darren. 266p. (The Saga of Darren Shan Series, Bk. #1). CIP. Little, Brown. 2001. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-316-60340-6. LC 00-045648.
Gr 4-8 --In his introduction, 12-year-old Darren claims that this is a true story, though the names have been changed and the country (obviously England) kept secret. When a bizarre-sounding freak show comes to town, he and his friend Steve sneak out to attend, and Steve recognizes one of the performers-as a centuries-old vampire. Darren decides he must steal the vampire's performing, poisonous spider. The theft is successful, and he learns to control Madam Octa with a combination of flute music and ESP-until she bites Steve. Darren must then sell himself into vampire slavery to get the cure to the spider's poison. This volume is neither as well written nor as compulsively readable as the "Harry Potter" books (Scholastic), though surely J. K. Rowling's endorsement on the cover will win it a few fans. Most of the characters aren't developed much beyond their names and a brief description. The slowness of the plot in the beginning might turn some readers off, but once the supernatural enters, they will be hooked. The fun here is in the details and in the uniqueness of the non-evil vampire monster. Several volumes of the series are already out in England, and the movie rights have already been purchased, ensuring that this title and probably its sequels will be in demand.
~~~~~~~~
By Timothy Capehart, Leominster Public Library, MA
Library Uses
For any student who likes the macabre nature of vampires, the Cirque du Freak series is a must-read. I think in a library setting, it would be a great idea to spotlight Shan's series and display the books on a table, special shelf, or even just on top of the shelves. Along with the display, a poster containing facts about the author and series could be displayed. It would be a great thing to do around Halloween actually. In an effort to maximize student interest, the librarian could blog about the series, reviewing it and even perhaps providing a link to the movie trailer. This blog could be accessed from the library's homepage, from the school's homepage, and even be up on the computers or projected onto a white screen so students can read about the books featured and decide more easily what to check out.
References
Capehart, T. (2001). Cirque du freak (Book review). School Library Journal, 47(5). Retrieved 05 December 2012 from www.schoollibraryjournal.com
Ketcherson, A. (2003). Cirque du freak. (The Darren Shan saga) (Book). CM: Canadian Review Of Materials, N.PAG. Retrieved 05 December 2012 from www.umanitoba.ca./cm/
Shan, D. (2000). Cirque du freak: A living nightmare. London, UK: Collins.
Shan, D. (2000). Cirque du freak: The vampire's assistant. London, UK: Collins.
Shan, D. (2000). Cirque du freak: Tunnels of Blood. London, UK: Collins.
Shan, D. (2001). Cirque du freak: Vampire Mountain. London, UK: Little, Brown, and Company.
Shan, D. (2001). Cirque du freak: Trials of death. London, UK: Little, Brown, and Company.
Shan, D. (2002). Cirque du freak: The vampire prince. London, UK: Little, Brown, and Company.
Shan, D. (2002). Cirque du freak: Hunters of the dusk. London, UK: Little, Brown, and Company.
Shan, D. (2002). Cirque du freak: Allies of the night. London, UK: Little, Brown, and Company.
Shan, D. (2003). Cirque du freak: Killers of the dawn. London, UK: Little, Brown, and Company.
Shan, D. (2003). Cirque du freak: The lake of souls. London, UK: Little, Brown, and Company.
Shan, D. (2004). Cirque du freak: Lord of the shadows. London, UK: Little, Brown, and Company.
Shan, D. (2006). Cirque du freak: Sons of destiny. London, UK: Little, Brown, and Company.
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