Reviews

Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan

lightningrain's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

chumpy4's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

cor_luz's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

thedevilreadsfanfiction's review against another edition

3.0

After seeing all the negative reviews about the writing, I think I’ve settled on this book needing to be read in an audio format. I picked this book up on Audible on a whim and to be honest I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did, especially considering it was told from the view of a child which is not something I usually go for. I feel like it’s going to be a fun little series, and the length of the Audiobooks is a real plus as they average out to be about 5 hours per book. We love that.

coleycole's review against another edition

1.0

I really wanted to like this book -- who doesn't want to read about circus freaks? Sadly, the writing is laaaame! Darren Shan uses too many exclamation points! It's totally excessive! Also, I really did not like the main character! Darren, the narrator/protagonist of the same name as the author, is fairly stupid!

rockchicken's review against another edition

4.0

This book got me into reading. Love it. All time favorite.

tylerjames27's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

keberwick's review against another edition

4.0

Darren Shan's journey to the freak show, Cirque du Freak, with his friend Steve "Leopard" Leonard changes his life forever. Ignoring Steve's request for Darren to go home alone after the show, Darren is exposed to the true identity of Mr. Larten Crepsley. Thus begins the saga of Darren Shan, [b:The Vampire's Assistant|8965|The Vampire's Assistant (Cirque Du Freak, #2)|Darren Shan|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1255813244s/8965.jpg|3124176].

This was a series that I started reading when I was in 4th grade and continued to read until I finished it in 6th grade. This was one of my favorite series, although (like a few other series that I read around this age) I didn't actually start with the first book. I started with the second and then went back after the third or fourth to read the first book.

I'm actually really surprised that I read this book so early. This is incredibly heavy stuff, if we're being honest.

Spoiler

Darren fakes his own death, has to listen to his family wailing and crying, and has to actually be buried.

I never noticed it when I was younger, but I was actually really surprised. While I felt the writing at the start was mildly juvenile (exclamation points in almost every third sentence were my main problem), as the story progressed the writing grew up. I assume that's because the subject matter matured to more than just football and school.

hrose95's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

geliopoulos's review against another edition

3.0

jesus i forgot how little happens in the first one