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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
As always this book was definitely one that had me on edge and turning pages wishing I could read it faster.
http://jordantuxford.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/vampire-mountain-and-trials-of-death-by-darren-shan/
I'm seeing a lot of negative reviews for this book and honestly, most people are just upset because each novel in the series ends with TO BE CONTINUED. Since I own all the books of the Darren Shan series, I don't have this problem of waiting for the next book. I can swiftly read through them all at my own leisure.
Trials of Death just might be my favourite book of this series so far. I cried, I laughed and I was very worried while reading this book. I'm not exaggerating any of those emotions, I seriously cried this morning over a vampire's death.
At first, I thought these books boring, I was just reading them for the sake of reading. But after a while, I have grown attached to all the characters, especially those presented to me in such a short time like Seba and Arra. I must commend the author for the incredible world-building he has done with this vampire community.
Within Trials of Death, there were a few plot twists I was genuinely shocked by, excellent displays of characterization and perfectly crafted culture and customs of vampires.
Trials of Death just might be my favourite book of this series so far. I cried, I laughed and I was very worried while reading this book. I'm not exaggerating any of those emotions, I seriously cried this morning over a vampire's death.
At first, I thought these books boring, I was just reading them for the sake of reading. But after a while, I have grown attached to all the characters, especially those presented to me in such a short time like Seba and Arra. I must commend the author for the incredible world-building he has done with this vampire community.
Within Trials of Death, there were a few plot twists I was genuinely shocked by, excellent displays of characterization and perfectly crafted culture and customs of vampires.
More exciting then the previous book in the series, and the writing and pacing is more like the first books in the series. I have read this book before but as I don't remember exactly what happens, it was still exciting this time around. So far this series holds up under a re-read than I had feared it would.
This is another book in this series that doesn’t really have a beginning or an end and that is beginning to grate on my nerves somewhat if I am honest. There’s a difference between a cliffhanger and just not finishing your damn book and both of the last two offerings in this series fall squarely into the second definition. We begin where the last book left off, which is unsurprising considering it stopped at the point of climax. We end in a similar way, something drastic happens and then BAM, are you going to buy the next one? Well, as it happens I bought the trilogy set on kindle so I already have it... if I didn’t though, I’m not sure I’d be continuing. After all, this is not a complete story, let alone a novel.
That said, if you’ve enjoyed the previous instalments - because that’s what this is turning into; you are buying a full novel in instalments - then you will likely enjoy this. There is far more action here as Darren is forced to complete the Trials; challenges of strength, nerve, intelligence and sheer willpower that usually full blooded vampires looking for the place of General take. The penalty for failure is death - if not death in the Trial itself, then death by execution soon after. As a half-blooded vampire, Darren certainly has his work cut out for him and the Trials will year him to his limits and beyond. All this is well and good; there is action, injuries and grit galore here. What there isn’t however, is plot.
It’s a shame as the writing is engaging and the characters leap off the page at you. There is a really dynamic quality to scenes and unlike many books aimed at the young teen audience, the author doesn’t shy away from the gritty, nasty aspects of life. Darren takes some serious injuries here and there is nobody with a magic wand to make it all better. People die; not necessarily in some great struggle against evil, but simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is undeniably brutal at points and there is no flinching from some unpleasant truths.
But you could put this and the last instalment together and just about make a full novel... although you’d still be stopping in the middle of nowhere. I suspect I enjoyed them more as a teenager because I was less aware of how a novel should be structured and - probably the main reason - is because I was using the school library so didn’t mind the pay per chapter mentality that these books seem to be falling into.
That said, if you’ve enjoyed the previous instalments - because that’s what this is turning into; you are buying a full novel in instalments - then you will likely enjoy this. There is far more action here as Darren is forced to complete the Trials; challenges of strength, nerve, intelligence and sheer willpower that usually full blooded vampires looking for the place of General take. The penalty for failure is death - if not death in the Trial itself, then death by execution soon after. As a half-blooded vampire, Darren certainly has his work cut out for him and the Trials will year him to his limits and beyond. All this is well and good; there is action, injuries and grit galore here. What there isn’t however, is plot.
It’s a shame as the writing is engaging and the characters leap off the page at you. There is a really dynamic quality to scenes and unlike many books aimed at the young teen audience, the author doesn’t shy away from the gritty, nasty aspects of life. Darren takes some serious injuries here and there is nobody with a magic wand to make it all better. People die; not necessarily in some great struggle against evil, but simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is undeniably brutal at points and there is no flinching from some unpleasant truths.
But you could put this and the last instalment together and just about make a full novel... although you’d still be stopping in the middle of nowhere. I suspect I enjoyed them more as a teenager because I was less aware of how a novel should be structured and - probably the main reason - is because I was using the school library so didn’t mind the pay per chapter mentality that these books seem to be falling into.
In this series of books that I am not enjoying that much and considering abandoning, this one gave me hope for more. It was actually really interesting and while I haven't liked most of the others and found them very shallow fiction, this one was pretty good. Best in the series so far. I'll give the next one a go.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book did NOT disappoint. Fast-paced with lots of suspense. The cliffhanger ending wasn't what I was expecting! I'm glad I have the next book, if not, I'd be seriously freaking out. Darren Shan knows how to do morbid- in a good way. :)