272 reviews for:

Trials of Death

Darren Shan

4.01 AVERAGE

ebarbz45's review

3.0

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kimjamlee's review

3.0

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Three and a half stars.

meg_beatty_jr's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

cameron_g's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

salad_milo's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

buggieop's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

uhhlexiconic's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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A step up from Vampire Mountain, Trials of Death still feels like an incomplete piece. Trading the horror of the first three volumes for culture shock and adventure, Trials of Death still sells appealing characters in brutal scenarios.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Fire/Fire injury

autocorrecttodemons's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

wombat_88's review

4.0

adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

alternbruno's review against another edition

3.0

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This book improves the character of Darren pushing him a little out of the grey and actually making him look like someone with nuances. However, the effort is dull and unfinished. And I am not refering to the obnoxious attempt of a cliffhanger at the end.

In general the main idea of the second trilogy sounds quite interesting, that Darren is going to get to know the clan and learn his rites and customs. The execution is poor for one capital sin of the writer: explaining rather than showing. Puting monologues in character's mouths rather than letting them act and let the reader judge them is tiresome because this creates a lack of interaction between the one behind the book and the one in front of it.

Also, I find cliché that the trials seem to obey a 4 element pattern. That mysticism is cringey and unworthy at best.