Title: Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare
Author: Darren Shan
Series: Saga of Darren Shan #1
Genre: Horror Urban Fantasy (Middle Grade)
Pages: 266 Pages (Paperback)
Original Publication Date: January 4, 2000
Overall Rating:
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Summary from Goodreads
In the tradition of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, Cirque Du Freak is the frightening saga of a young boy whose visit to a mysterious freak show leads him on a journey into a dark world of vampires. Filled with grotesque creatures, murderous vampires, and a petrifying ending, Cirque Du Freak will chill, thrill, and leave readers begging for more.
My Thoughts
There are a few minor spoilers throughout this review, but I don’t think it will ruin the book if you haven’t read it.
Corey and I saw Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed the movie so I thought I’d give the books a try. The movie’s actually based on the first two books in the series so having just finished the first book, I’m about halfway through the movie.
A Living Nightmare is about a boy, Darren Shan, who goes to see the Cirque Du Freak with his best friend, Steve Leonard. Darren has always been mesmerized by spiders (at which point I had a hard time forcing myself to keep reading the story) and sees the beautiful and talented Madam Octa, a unique and very poisonous tarantula, perform at the show with Larten Crespley, who’s actually a vampire.
Darren becomes so obsessed with Madam Octa that he steals her from Mr. Crepsley. While Madam Octa is in Darren’s care, she bites Steve and sends him into a coma. In order to save his friend, Darren makes a deal with Mr. Crepsley to become his assistant, a half-vampire.
I have to admit that the book seemed a little slow at first, but I think that’s because I was waiting for certain things to happen having just watched the movie a few weeks ago. There were a few parts that were hard for me to read but that’s only because of the author’s vivid detail about the spiders Darren is so mesmerized with; it just gave me the creepy crawlies. I did enjoy the story and I look forward to the second book because I think it’ll be faster paced now that most of the background to the story’s out of the way.
Hi Jenni. Just checking in here. Interesting to see what you thought about this book. I don’t think I’ll ever read it. I can’t wait to see you on Saturday!!