alexampersand's review against another edition
4.0
This book felt like it took a little while to get going, with the first half of the book not really having much of a "plot" per se, but rather just following Darren's life in the Cirque. But once it did kick into action, it was a pretty great plot, with an enjoyably macabre ending.
ercon's review against another edition
5.0
I still remember how friggin traumatic this book was as a teenager. Now it didn’t have such huge effect, but I mean, knowing what would happen certainly makes it less intense.
I wanted to punch Darren a lot which I also don’t remember wanting to do back then, but he is a fifteen-year-old kid after all, so who am I to judge.
I wanted to punch Darren a lot which I also don’t remember wanting to do back then, but he is a fifteen-year-old kid after all, so who am I to judge.
bookishwiccan's review against another edition
4.0
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!
19minnie's review against another edition
3.0
Het zijn korte verhalen, maar ik vind ze wel leuk. We leren Darren hier wat beter kennen, en het gezelschap waarin hij verkeerd.
that_alt_girl's review against another edition
3.0
I began to really like the characters of Larten Crepsley and Darren Shan. - you can see the developments throughout.
I enjoyed the descriptions - Shan really didn't hold back with the gory details at all and i loved that!
I liked that Darren was also able to put aside his own personal hatred for human blood to help his friend - that showed real character strength.
Overall, a good book but nowhere near the standard of the 5th book onwards (see my review of Trials of Death)
I enjoyed the descriptions - Shan really didn't hold back with the gory details at all and i loved that!
I liked that Darren was also able to put aside his own personal hatred for human blood to help his friend - that showed real character strength.
Overall, a good book but nowhere near the standard of the 5th book onwards (see my review of Trials of Death)
lost_luna's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
lidiaaa222's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Body horror, Violence, and Death
Minor: Child abuse and Abandonment
m3l89's review against another edition
4.0
Miles better than Clique du Freak, I'm very glad I ignored the temptation to disregard the series based on the first book.
Despite feeling like there wasn't much plot content in this, what did happen was relevant and helped with character development.
Despite feeling like there wasn't much plot content in this, what did happen was relevant and helped with character development.
allibookgiraffe's review against another edition
4.0
its been almost four years since reading this book for the first time and I enjoyed it. I look forward to re reading the rest of the series.
alexauthorshay's review against another edition
3.0
After re-reading the first volume and almost not being able to stand the cringe, I wasn't sure I'd make it through more of the series. But my enjoyment of reading it through the first time and a friend wanting to buddy read made me push through. This book was immensely better from the first for the cringe factor, already feeling a bit more grown up than the first book. Darren as a protagonist is still very passive and more observing than active, the books really feeling like a journal rather than a novel. Both books felt relatively flat for action, with no rising action or climax to speak of. But several characters we met in the first book get more fleshed out in this one and I think being interested in them more than anything is what kept me reading. Shan's version of vampires is not at all the standard and I'm intrigued by the world he's made around that.