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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
happy to confirm that since I last read this in middle school it has not gotten less scary
Cirque Du Freak - 3/5
Flew by pretty quick. Nice return to a book I loved when I was younger. Didn't entirely hold up on a reread but still a good time and makes me want to continue with a reread of the rest of the series.
Flew by pretty quick. Nice return to a book I loved when I was younger. Didn't entirely hold up on a reread but still a good time and makes me want to continue with a reread of the rest of the series.
this series
was a favourite
when I was younger
having read it through
3-4 times
as an older person
it’s a simple story
and maybe
a little
easy
the writing style
straightforward
but damn
is it ever
fast paced
silly
and grotesque
it certainly
hits different
as an adult
but a fun
afternoon
or 2 am
read
while up with
a sick little one
nonetheless
was a favourite
when I was younger
having read it through
3-4 times
as an older person
it’s a simple story
and maybe
a little
easy
the writing style
straightforward
but damn
is it ever
fast paced
silly
and grotesque
it certainly
hits different
as an adult
but a fun
afternoon
or 2 am
read
while up with
a sick little one
nonetheless
Darren Shan was just a normal kid, until fate played it's hand and he found himself going to the Cirque du Freak, the infamous Freak Show that parents don't want their kids going to. There, he meets Larten Crepsley, and his whole life is turned upside down.
This was my first taste of young adult horror, back when I was twelve years old. I found it in the library when my Dad finally stopped monitoring the horror books I was reading, and found this gorgeous designed book, and picked it up. Finding out it was about vampires, I immediately checked it out and took it home with me. I devoured this first book in one sitting, not even getting up for dinner when Dad called me.
I love the Cirque du Freak series so much and this is a brilliant opening for it. This book really does well of introducing all the characters and the basic premises of the whole series. Shan did amazing with it. The characters are all absolutely wonderful. The descriptions of everything – including the ‘freaks’ - kept me so enamoured. Honestly, after reading this I actually actively looked for a freak show to go to because I was so enamoured, I thought they must be as magical as Shan has portrayed them (I never went to one). The characters in this have lived with me ever since I have read this series, and I’m pretty sure I’ve read the whole series two or three times over.
Shan’s writing is capturing. I couldn’t put it down. As with all his other books, the writing in this flows brilliantly, holds the reader’s attention, and creates a magical world that I wanted to escape into so many times. I would have absolutely adored to live in a world like this, vampires or no.
This book has got me through so much, just by allowing me to escape my life, and I would really recommend this to anyone. Even now as an adult, I can read this through and still enjoy this book as much as the first time I read it. It’s a masterpiece, and sure to be a classic in the horror genre in years to come.
This was my first taste of young adult horror, back when I was twelve years old. I found it in the library when my Dad finally stopped monitoring the horror books I was reading, and found this gorgeous designed book, and picked it up. Finding out it was about vampires, I immediately checked it out and took it home with me. I devoured this first book in one sitting, not even getting up for dinner when Dad called me.
I love the Cirque du Freak series so much and this is a brilliant opening for it. This book really does well of introducing all the characters and the basic premises of the whole series. Shan did amazing with it. The characters are all absolutely wonderful. The descriptions of everything – including the ‘freaks’ - kept me so enamoured. Honestly, after reading this I actually actively looked for a freak show to go to because I was so enamoured, I thought they must be as magical as Shan has portrayed them (I never went to one). The characters in this have lived with me ever since I have read this series, and I’m pretty sure I’ve read the whole series two or three times over.
Shan’s writing is capturing. I couldn’t put it down. As with all his other books, the writing in this flows brilliantly, holds the reader’s attention, and creates a magical world that I wanted to escape into so many times. I would have absolutely adored to live in a world like this, vampires or no.
This book has got me through so much, just by allowing me to escape my life, and I would really recommend this to anyone. Even now as an adult, I can read this through and still enjoy this book as much as the first time I read it. It’s a masterpiece, and sure to be a classic in the horror genre in years to come.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was a good, young-adult literature book. Perfect for the middle school age kid that is into vampires and scary stuff. It was a very quick and fun light-weight book to read.
The book was actually recommended to me because a middle schooler (who doesn't ordinarily read) read the whole series last year. I just may have to pick up the next book in the series.
The book was actually recommended to me because a middle schooler (who doesn't ordinarily read) read the whole series last year. I just may have to pick up the next book in the series.
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
Found this on Libby after just searching the word "vampire" and checked it out without noticing it was a children's book. I figured I didn't want to waste a borrow and that there are some good children's books out there, so I listened to it anyway.
Better than I was expecting! I recently tried listening to the original Wizard of Oz audiobook and did not like the narrator, but this narrator was really good. The writing style was really good for a middle grade book! I feel like middle grade and YA (and even some adult novels) can have really grating snarky narration, but this didn't fall into that, which I am grateful for as a 20-something reading a book for middle schoolers.
Overall, very upset I didn't find this as a kid, but will definitely pass it on to my cousins who are in the age range for it!
Better than I was expecting! I recently tried listening to the original Wizard of Oz audiobook and did not like the narrator, but this narrator was really good. The writing style was really good for a middle grade book! I feel like middle grade and YA (and even some adult novels) can have really grating snarky narration, but this didn't fall into that, which I am grateful for as a 20-something reading a book for middle schoolers.
Overall, very upset I didn't find this as a kid, but will definitely pass it on to my cousins who are in the age range for it!
ultimate book series that deserves a 13 series netflix adaptation
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes