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modkuraika's review against another edition
5.0
What begins as a standalone adventure ends up being one of the most important installments. While I get the complaints that it feels so separate from the rest of the saga, the change of pace and scenery felt refreshing and provides more worldbuilding and foreshadowing than I imagine people may have given it credit for without the framework it provides for the final two books.
litagentsaritza's review
3.0
This was kind of weird--as weird as [a:Darren Shan|5816|Darren Shan|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1192947698p2/5816.jpg] can get--but still a good read. Not as fast-paced as some of the others and still aching from the loss of a main character but I enjoyed seeing an adventure between Harkat and Darren.
What I liked about this book: This book reminded me a lot of [b:The Belgariad|44659|Pawn of Prophecy (The Belgariad, #1)|David Eddings|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170267561s/44659.jpg|2558293] in many ways. The journey to another place to learn about Harkat's past and claim his soul. While I found this book rather slow and not sure how it would move the plot forward until the very end, I enjoyed the camaraderie between Darren and Harkat. I'm just not overly fond of Mr Tiny and his meddling ways (very much like Darren, I suppose). I did enjoy seeing the very Scooby Doo ending though.
Summary: "If you step through after Harkat, you might never come back. Is your friend worth such an enormous risk?" Darren and Harkat face monstrous obstacles on their desperate quest to the Lake of Souls. Will they survive the savage journey? And what awaits them in the murky waters of the dead? Be careful what you fish for...
What I liked about this book: This book reminded me a lot of [b:The Belgariad|44659|Pawn of Prophecy (The Belgariad, #1)|David Eddings|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170267561s/44659.jpg|2558293] in many ways. The journey to another place to learn about Harkat's past and claim his soul. While I found this book rather slow and not sure how it would move the plot forward until the very end, I enjoyed the camaraderie between Darren and Harkat. I'm just not overly fond of Mr Tiny and his meddling ways (very much like Darren, I suppose). I did enjoy seeing the very Scooby Doo ending though.
toriedawn1's review
4.0
oooohhhh, this book was exactly what I was hoping for, surprise, intrigue. I loved how this book progressed and will immediately be reading the next book
_dustypage_'s review
1.0
Sadly, this series is spiraling downwards.
I have officially lost all interest in the plot. I will list eveything I hate about this series so far:
1. The writing is super inconsistent. Everything after book 3 happens so fast, so so fast. The descriptions are weirdly vivid in places, yet not so much in others, especially when it comes to converasations. It feels as if the author is unsure how to write, so he just decides to cut a chunk out of the story and hope that readers will not notice. Too bad we do notice!!!
2. The plot is garbage. The first two trilogies are intriguing at least, as the concept is new, and you are introduced to, first a circus full of amazing people, then to a whole society of vampires. After that, everything feels like it is written by a kid who gives no shit about logic.
3. Badly developed characters. I have come to the tenth book in the series, yet I fail to see a certain characteristics in each of the characters. Darren appears to be foolish in this part, then suddenly becomes super wise in another. Mr. Crepsley is first described to be really cautious and prudent, yet at times behaves like a teenager. Harkat is silent at first, then for no reasons turns out to be a talker. And on and on it goes. I have a strange feeling that since the author cannot decide on one single trait for the characters, he ends up giving them exquisite apperance.
4. Why even call it the Cirque du Freak series if you get to see the people in the circus once every two books? Once the wonder of meeting a bunch of ‘freaks’ wears off, the whole series becomes really boring.
5. Destiny is a bitch, some may say. Yet in this case, it is true, as none of the characters have any say in the fight against this bizarre Mr. Desmond Tiny. They never question, nor go against his will. And therefore, to me, they appear as mere puppets, with no development at all.
6. War of the Scars is supposed to be this really huge fight, a big big event that may shatter the earth and kill so many living things. Yet due to the whole ooh-im-so-scared-Mr-Desmond-Tiny-said-only-three-people-can-fight-so-I-will-sadly-stay-at-home shit, nothing actually happens. You are told that every vampire is getting prepared to go to war with the vampaneze, yet in reality, everything they do is hide in their mountain and let Darren and his bitches do the work. Wow. Talk about wars.
7. Darren Shan is a bad character. He has killed like, I dont know, two vampanezes? The rest are slain by his companions. Every where he goes, he gets into trouble, his life is being threatened, then some fucked up deux-ex-machina happnes and he is happily saved. By now I am so so irritated by this half-vampire kid.
8. A lot of things happen in these books have absolutely no connections to other events. And by a lot, I mean A LOT. It’s like the author one day decides ‘Ooh, you know what would be good for this adventure? A dragon. A dwarf. A wizard. A lion. A lizard. A pond. A lake. A cloud. A fucking tree’ And he just randomly throws a dice to see where in the story he would put each item.
9. This book in particular is so so bad. Too many things happen, without any major things actually happening. Dragons are dragged into the story for completely no reason as they have zero impact on the journey. And I swear, if the true identity of Harket does not help in the final two books, I will just go back and change all the previous reviews to one star. That is just how pissed I am right now.
I have officially lost all interest in the plot. I will list eveything I hate about this series so far:
1. The writing is super inconsistent. Everything after book 3 happens so fast, so so fast. The descriptions are weirdly vivid in places, yet not so much in others, especially when it comes to converasations. It feels as if the author is unsure how to write, so he just decides to cut a chunk out of the story and hope that readers will not notice. Too bad we do notice!!!
2. The plot is garbage. The first two trilogies are intriguing at least, as the concept is new, and you are introduced to, first a circus full of amazing people, then to a whole society of vampires. After that, everything feels like it is written by a kid who gives no shit about logic.
3. Badly developed characters. I have come to the tenth book in the series, yet I fail to see a certain characteristics in each of the characters. Darren appears to be foolish in this part, then suddenly becomes super wise in another. Mr. Crepsley is first described to be really cautious and prudent, yet at times behaves like a teenager. Harkat is silent at first, then for no reasons turns out to be a talker. And on and on it goes. I have a strange feeling that since the author cannot decide on one single trait for the characters, he ends up giving them exquisite apperance.
4. Why even call it the Cirque du Freak series if you get to see the people in the circus once every two books? Once the wonder of meeting a bunch of ‘freaks’ wears off, the whole series becomes really boring.
5. Destiny is a bitch, some may say. Yet in this case, it is true, as none of the characters have any say in the fight against this bizarre Mr. Desmond Tiny. They never question, nor go against his will. And therefore, to me, they appear as mere puppets, with no development at all.
6. War of the Scars is supposed to be this really huge fight, a big big event that may shatter the earth and kill so many living things. Yet due to the whole ooh-im-so-scared-Mr-Desmond-Tiny-said-only-three-people-can-fight-so-I-will-sadly-stay-at-home shit, nothing actually happens. You are told that every vampire is getting prepared to go to war with the vampaneze, yet in reality, everything they do is hide in their mountain and let Darren and his bitches do the work. Wow. Talk about wars.
7. Darren Shan is a bad character. He has killed like, I dont know, two vampanezes? The rest are slain by his companions. Every where he goes, he gets into trouble, his life is being threatened, then some fucked up deux-ex-machina happnes and he is happily saved. By now I am so so irritated by this half-vampire kid.
8. A lot of things happen in these books have absolutely no connections to other events. And by a lot, I mean A LOT. It’s like the author one day decides ‘Ooh, you know what would be good for this adventure? A dragon. A dwarf. A wizard. A lion. A lizard. A pond. A lake. A cloud. A fucking tree’ And he just randomly throws a dice to see where in the story he would put each item.
9. This book in particular is so so bad. Too many things happen, without any major things actually happening. Dragons are dragged into the story for completely no reason as they have zero impact on the journey. And I swear, if the true identity of Harket does not help in the final two books, I will just go back and change all the previous reviews to one star. That is just how pissed I am right now.
redknightrabbit's review
5.0
Thanks, I hate it!
J/k, the book is really good, I'm just screaming from the ending! Can't wait to pick up the next one!
J/k, the book is really good, I'm just screaming from the ending! Can't wait to pick up the next one!
jcgreenlee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Stopped this because of the ending of the previous book... couldn't get over it
dead_unicorn's review against another edition
3.0
This was a weird installment. This added a lot of unnecessary and confusing information to the overall story of the series. This one was about Harkat about finding out about who he was. This was strange, they went to a strange world to find Harkat soul. It was interesting and action packed but it made that world so much more confusing.