Review: Tunnels of Blood (Cirque du Freak #3); Darren Shan

Cirque Du Freak #3: Tunnels of Blood: Book 3
by; Darren Shan

genre } young adult | vampire | horror
rating } All Ages 
date released } April 1, 2003
edition } Little, Brown Books (240 Pages) 
ISBN } 0316606081 | 978-0316606080
acquisition } borrowed
purchase @ } Book Depository | Amazon.com

Darren, the vampire's assistant, gets a taste of the city when he leaves the Cirque Du Freak with Evra the snake-boy and Mr. Crepsley. When corpses are discovered--corpses drained of blood-- Darren and Evra are compelled to hunt down whatever foul creature is committing such horrendous acts. Meanwhile, beneath the streets, evil stalks Darren and Evra, and all clues point to Mr. Crepsley. Can they escape, or are they doomed to perish in the tunnels of blood?

Quote

"Do you see me foaming at the mouth? Do you hear me babbling like an idiot? Hmmm?"

I decided to humor him. "Maybe not," I said. "You seem pretty smart now that I think about it."

"Of course I'm smart! Young Murlough's got brains. Can't be crazy if you've got brains, not unless you get rabies. See any rabid animals?"

"No," I said.

Why exactly I picked out this book?

The last book was hanging at the end, and my hands are just itchy to read the next one immediately, hence the immediate book after the last one. Darren Shan has the nick to leave you hanging on the last book so you will pick out the next one in the series.

My 2 ¢ ♠♠♠♠♠

Book Cover. Well... You probably be thinking the same thing as I did. Why is that guy big and purple pink?!

Ok. I am not going to repeat the back story of Darren being turn into a half-vampire to save his best friend's life and had fabricated his death to the world of the living. Became a vampire's assistant to Mr. Crepsley and how he became best friends with a snake-boy, living in Cirque Du Freak.

Wait.. I just did that whole background thing, didn't I? *purses lips*

Anyhoo...

So.. new book, but related storyline to prior book in the series. Mr. Crepsley had to go to his hometown suddenly, and bring along Darren and Evra (the snake-boy, if you must know). This would give both of the boys the chance to have "just being boys" days while Mr. Crepsley sleeps during the day. Oh yeah.. Darren got himself a girlfriend in this book, and her name is Debbie Hemlock, who loves to know Darren is bit strange and Evra a bit special. Instead of screaming away, she and Darren became close through out the book. Evra, one night, saw a suspicious horrifying news in the news about dead bodies piling up, and drained of blood. He told Darren about it, and they went all Sherlock Holmes about it, suspecting Mr. Crepsley immediately. Darren just thing, this is a chance to kill Mr. Crepsley.

This is a very fast pace book. I just couldn't put it down period. I just have to read it in any chance I get, even if it's just 5 seconds to spare! The plots are full of suspense and some are just heart warming. Of course in the end, Darren left me hanging and I just have to immediately pick up the next book! ACK! Don't get me wrong though, that just means it's a good read!

Librarian Muse

Word of advice. Get this book! But if you do, make sure, you get the prior books before this one because it would actually confuse your patrons, when they read it. It's either that, or you get that old... "Where's the book before this one?" conversation. The problem is, this book actually connects to each other, and there's no stand alone so far, since I've been reading this.

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Review: Cirque du Freak 2: The Vampire's Assistant; Darren Shan

The Vampire's Assistant (Cirque du Freak, Book 2) 
by; Darren Shan

What if you were an unwilling vampire? You needed to drink human blood to stay alive, but you weren't some horror-flick villain; you were you, born human--a nice person, even. Thus is the dilemma of the young narrator-protagonist, Darren Shan, in this tremendously suspenseful, oft-sickening sequel to Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan. In the first book, Darren becomes a vampire's assistant to save the life of his friend Steve. In order to do so, he has to fake his death, get buried alive, and head out--half-human, homeless, and friendless--into the world. The Vampire's Assistant chronicles his new lonely life as a half-vampire, pumped with the cursed blood of his vampire guardian, Mr. Crepsley. Darren has much to learn about his freshly supernatural state. He doesn't grow fangs, for instance, like he thought he might. And he can't change shape or fly. Garlic just gives vampires bad breath... And they eat bagels. Some of the hardest lessons of all come when he joins the traveling freak show Cirque Du Freak, the show that got him and Steve in trouble in the first place. Readers won't be disappointed by this fast-paced, gory, but strangely amiable sequel. In fact, the plot is much better paced than the first and the dialogue far more natural. Deadly pythons, a snake boy, Cormac Limbs (bite off his finger and it grows back!), and an entire cast of dreadfully creepy characters offer excitement beyond expectation. Along the way, we come to really like Darren, who will do absolutely anything for a friend. British author Darren Shan promises more adventures in 2002. (Ages 10 and older) --Karin Snelson

Quote

My fingernails were really thick, and the only way I could cut them was with my teeth; clippers and scissors were no good on my new, tough nails. They were a pain: I kept ripping my clothes when I was putting them on or taking them off and digging holes in my pockets when I stuck my hands in.

young adult | horror { genre

All Ages { rating

October, 2002 { date released

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (256 Pages) { edition
0316606847 | 978-0316606844 { ISBN

borrowed { acquisition

Book Depository | Amazon.com { @ purchase

Why exactly I picked out this book?

The movie made me curious. Plus it has been awhile since I read any vampire genre. I was sick of the genre for a while (can you blame me? there's glittering vampires now!) until I'd picked out the first book from this series. It revive my love for the genre itself, and I tend to read this like an addiction. Hey, just look at the cover, that pulled me in right away, plus this is one of the most checked out books we have at school.

My 2 ¢ ♠♠♠♠♠

Book cover. That reminds me of that one scene from the old Dracula movie pose. Except the fact it's green...and scaly.

Darren Shan is a half vampire and he is also the assistant to Mr. Crepsley, the ever so impatient and sometimes bossy vampire. Darren is going through angst in this book. Mr. Crepsley decided to bring Darren to Cirque Du Freak so he could have companions of around his age, so he could at least have a social life. Isn't he nice... ^_^

The plots and storyline in this book, like the first one, really is a fast page turner for me. I really couldn't put it down. What i see so clearly, is the fact the movie is really different from this book. Remember the monkey girl Darren likes in the movie, she's virtually absent from this book. I'm actually disappointed by it really, because that actually one of the reason, I sometimes prefer watching the movie first rather than read, cause I've enough experiences on being disappointed due to the major differences between the two medias.

Which one do I prefer? I like the book much better, but the movie has it's own attraction. I guess it depends on what individual wants though. 

Librarian Muse

Inclusion of this series in teens library is a good way to promote your library. for any young readers. Having a movie about this book helps in promoting the book itself for the young patrons. For the library which cater DVD's, I suggest in gettign the DVD as well. This would ignite discussions about the difference of the two different medias in their class.

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Review: Killers of the Dawn (Cirque du Freak #9); Darren Shan

Cirque Du Freak #9: Killers of the Dawn: Book 9
by; Darren Shan

Outnumbered, outsmarted and desperate, the hunters are on the run, pursued by the vampaneze, the police, and an angry mob. With their enemies clamoring for blood, the vampires prepare for a deadly battle. Is this the end for Darren and his allies?

Quote:

"You have wasted your life on hatred and revenge," Mr Crepsley said. "What good is life if there is no joy or creative purpose? You would have been better off living five years as a human than five hundred as a monster."

young adult | horror { genre

All Ages { rating

September 6th 2006 { date released

Little, Brown Young Readers (224 Pages) { edition

borrowed { acquisition

Amazon.com { @ purchase

Why exactly I picked out this book?

I was on the roll, reading through this series, so I have no problem in picking it up soon after I've finished the 8th installment.

My Thoughts ♠♠♠♠♠

This has been quite a read for me. It is full with twists and surprises, and if I say out any of it here, it will spoil it for you avid Cirque Du Freak readers out there! But let's see, if I can do this one right without spilling any shall I?

We of course now knows, Hooky the Vampaneze is RV "my hands! My hands!" sorry that just part is just funny. We also know the Vampaneze have Vampets to do their errands for them. And of course, now Darren, Mr Crespley, Harkat and Vancha are most wanted by the human authorities. Now since that has been added to their troubles, we also know Steve Leopard is back (and yes!) runs an evil plan! with the Vampaneze! Ok what you don't know is, this book is full of pack thrillers and adventures that would push you to the end of your seat. I can't spill! I can't spill! I can't spill! You have to read it! Oh yead they found Debbie and the police chief is now on their side.

But behold!

There's trouble in air. There's sorrow in the air! One of them... will died :(

Librarian Muse

Honestly.. I still say they should include this series in a full set in any school or library, if they are getting one or 2 of these. Seriously! This will pull readers out!

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Teaser Tuesday: Rabid? you calling me RABID?

♣ Grab your current read
♣ Open to a random page
♣ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
♣ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
♣ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Do you see me foaming at the mouth? Do you hear me babbling like an idiot? Hmmm?"

I decided to humor him. "Maybe not," I said. "You seem pretty smart now that I think about it."

"Of course I'm smart! Young Murlough's got brains. Can't be crazy if you've got brains, not unless you get rabies. See any rabid animals?"

"No," I said.

~Tunnels of Blood (Cirque Du Freak 3); Darren Shan

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Review: Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare; Darren Shan

Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare
by; Darren Shan

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.

Quote:

Steve was the center of attention that Friday. The whole class crowded around and begged for his story. They wanted to know what had poisoned him, how he'd survived, what the hospital had been like, if they operated on him, if he had any scars, and so on.

young adult | horror { genre

All Ages { rating

June 1, 2002 { date released

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (266 Pages) { edition

borrowed { acquisition

Amazon.com { @ purchase

Why exactly I picked out this book?

I was being pick on by my own curiosity and this has been sitting in my TBR for way too long of a time and it kinda nags now since it has a movie version of it. 

My Thoughts ♠♠♠♠♠

I have avoided this series for a while now, since I thought I have had read one way too many vampire series. Honestly, it took a while after the movie came out too, but I can't stand seeing it there.. telling me to pull it out.. read it especially when I have been rewatching the movie like crazy - out of boredom *yes*

My first reaction? Yes Sir! I was disappointed to see the movie was kinda off from the book itself. But I must say one thing. I love the book! Regardless this series kinda start off a bit um.. weird for me, but it has been quite an experience. What I must mention here is, I have read 6 books from this series before I actually started writing this first review of it. I can say one thing, the book itself is NOT a stand alone book from the series, it depended on each other, because after a couple of books, Darren stop explaining who is who, what is what, which is which. You would be lost at what's going on. So I suggest any readers interested in this series should start from the first book.

What you can expect is... friendship gone astray, betrayal; yes, of course a circus featuring "Cirque Du Freak", Snake boy, beard lady. and then some. It started like any other normal story.. a boy with his friends, then boy sneak out with best friend to a Cirque Du Freak. More sneaking around. Then stealing. then close to death experience, and then broke up a friendship... and of course death by a deadly spider!

But that's not the end.. that's the beginning of everything. Darren Shan, died so he could live (reluctantly) as the creature of the night as a Vampire's Assistant to Mr. Crepsley. Darren Shan thought he could live his life as a half-vampire like a normal kid. But when Darren fell out when his best friend was just heartbreaking to read. Especially when his best friend was said to have bad blood by Mr. Crepsley!

It is a fast read for me, and I ended up wanting to read the next book as soon as I finished this one. I found myself so wrapped up, there are points I actually gasped at the horror of what's happening,  of course there are some scenes, that would caught me by surprise that left me in dismay. Humor isn't left out from this particular book. I found myself so pulled in into the story I can't help reading it where wherever, and whenever I could! Yes, I am that kind of book worm. I actually enjoy reading it!

Librarian Muse

This has been one of the most wanted series in the library I'm working at, so I guess it would be a good addition as any school library there it, who students are very keen into the Horror Genre. But I must warn you librarians out there, this is one series, you can't get without getting at least the prior books if you're set into getting one of this books in the middle of the series.

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