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231 reviews for:
Cirque Du Freak #12: Sons of Destiny: Book 12 in the Saga of Darren Shan
Darren Shan
4.01 AVERAGE
231 reviews for:
Cirque Du Freak #12: Sons of Destiny: Book 12 in the Saga of Darren Shan
Darren Shan
4.01 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 Stars
A finale that ends up being depressing and cheerful at the same time. A beautiful ending that somehow seems hollow but ultimately stays imaginative in its twists and creative in its results. Darren Shan's character being named after the author is fully revealed and makes ironic sense in a warped humor. I think the hollowness is the feeling of so many lives touched that, in the presence and the reality, don't know what they're missing anymore since the events were so changed. But it was a respite to see Darren's end and how all worlds and all lives must come together anyway, so it's good after all. Again, depressing and sad - but cheerful and peaceful in a way too. I would another paragraph or two would have been added to show more of a reunion I wanted, but the magic of mystery stays strong by keeping it short.
There's plenty of action in this one; again the pacing is non-stop and the book easy to breeze through. There's a lot of tragedy and loss, in the ending as well, but the book ends in such a creative way you can't help but admire the plot structure. The fights are brutal and drawn out but not overbearing, and even the worst of the villains become more three-dimensional as they show more sides than 'just evil.' Well, besides that Mr. Tiny...
Such an excellent series, my favorite YA world. Every book has it's ups and downs but it all added together to be a gritty, surreal, one-of-a-kind journey. In a way I admire the ending, in a way I wanted a different one.
The Cirque Du Freak has been visited, it has been experienced, and part of me even survived it.
A finale that ends up being depressing and cheerful at the same time. A beautiful ending that somehow seems hollow but ultimately stays imaginative in its twists and creative in its results. Darren Shan's character being named after the author is fully revealed and makes ironic sense in a warped humor. I think the hollowness is the feeling of so many lives touched that, in the presence and the reality, don't know what they're missing anymore since the events were so changed. But it was a respite to see Darren's end and how all worlds and all lives must come together anyway, so it's good after all. Again, depressing and sad - but cheerful and peaceful in a way too. I would another paragraph or two would have been added to show more of a reunion I wanted, but the magic of mystery stays strong by keeping it short.
There's plenty of action in this one; again the pacing is non-stop and the book easy to breeze through. There's a lot of tragedy and loss, in the ending as well, but the book ends in such a creative way you can't help but admire the plot structure. The fights are brutal and drawn out but not overbearing, and even the worst of the villains become more three-dimensional as they show more sides than 'just evil.' Well, besides that Mr. Tiny...
Such an excellent series, my favorite YA world. Every book has it's ups and downs but it all added together to be a gritty, surreal, one-of-a-kind journey. In a way I admire the ending, in a way I wanted a different one.
The Cirque Du Freak has been visited, it has been experienced, and part of me even survived it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
The 80th book I have finished this year. It's crazy to believe it. I really enjoyed reading this book and loved all the twists and turns that it took. The second part of the book has always been always a little confusing in the explanations for my liking, but I understood what Shan was getting at. Overall, this was a great series and I'm glad that I was able to revisit it. Still, I wish there was a more accurate movie adaptation because that would be great, but I'll live with what we have.
I would've given this a higher rating if it wasn't for the ending - which I will proceed to act that it is not canon. I get what the author was trying to do but I felt (kinda?) betrayed by this, Darren should've been a fictional character, not what the author intended him to be. The ending made the whole thing (the whole damn series) feels like nothing - like nothing happened which is kinda true now? According to the ending? It's the same equivalent to 'it's all just a dream'.
If it wasn't for the 2/3 of the book - which I truly adored and loved - I would've given this one star.
Damn it. I'm disappointed tbh. This series is amazing, addictive, truly great characters, plot and such great themes were explored too but the ending will not do the series justice and that is heartbreaking to me.
If it wasn't for the 2/3 of the book - which I truly adored and loved - I would've given this one star.
Damn it. I'm disappointed tbh. This series is amazing, addictive, truly great characters, plot and such great themes were explored too but the ending will not do the series justice and that is heartbreaking to me.
The end does pick up some and I thought it was clever how he ended it. Maybe boys would love this series, but I started out a huge fan and I just didn't love the rest of it. I kept hoping it would pick up for me, but it's just not my type of Vampire.
Book 12 in the Cirque du Freak series (the grand finale).
The final confrontation between Darren and Steve is at hand. Evanna, after looking into the future, tells Darren that he is doomed, whatever he does. He will either die during the final battle or win and become an evil tyrant.
Is Darren truly doomed, or can he find a way to escape his fate?
Though I enjoyed the series, I was a bit disappointed by the final installment. Mr. Tiny's revelations and the resolution of Darren's story seemed forced. That said, fans of the series will want to find out how the story ends.
The final confrontation between Darren and Steve is at hand. Evanna, after looking into the future, tells Darren that he is doomed, whatever he does. He will either die during the final battle or win and become an evil tyrant.
Is Darren truly doomed, or can he find a way to escape his fate?
Though I enjoyed the series, I was a bit disappointed by the final installment. Mr. Tiny's revelations and the resolution of Darren's story seemed forced. That said, fans of the series will want to find out how the story ends.
You could write a story about a rock giving the middle finger to fate and I would love it.
I think this series, and specifically the ending here, holds up in a general sense. The world and the tone are very expertly crafted.
The thing that holds this series back consistently are its surface-level characters and very immature emotional reactions.
By the end of this series, the main character has been alive for decades, but still behaves and thinks like a young child. I understand that this is due to the young intended audience, but it also limits my enjoyment.
I think this series, and specifically the ending here, holds up in a general sense. The world and the tone are very expertly crafted.
The thing that holds this series back consistently are its surface-level characters and very immature emotional reactions.
By the end of this series, the main character has been alive for decades, but still behaves and thinks like a young child. I understand that this is due to the young intended audience, but it also limits my enjoyment.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Idk how to feel tbh.I can’t believe he’s Des Tinys son. And Steve’s. It seems so rushed. I cant believe he’s gone. And that it’s over
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War