The Lake of Souls (Cirque Du Freak, #10)

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The Lake of Souls (The Saga of Darren Shan #10)

4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 · rating details · 9,744 ratings · 228 reviews

"If you step through after Harkat, you might never come back. Is your friend worth such an enormous risk?"
Darren and Harkat face monstrous obstacles on their desperate quest to the Lake of Souls. Will they survive the savage journey? And what awaits them in the murky waters of the dead? Be careful what you fish for...

Paperback, 263 pages

Published September 1st 2006 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (first published October 6th 2003)

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Oct 27, 2009 Xavies rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: all my friends

Recommended to Xavies by: Mr. Z

This book is soooo good. I can't put it down. EVER!! I read all nine books in a mounth or so.Right now i'm on the tenth book, and almost finish with this one.I'm looking forward for to the elevnth and twelve'th book.

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Mar 26, 2009 Jeff_§of2014 added it

Shelves: 7th-grade-ir-book-stacy

This is book 10 of the Cirque Du Freak series. In this book Harkat, a Little Person created by a dead soul by Mr. Tiny, is trying to figuire out who he really is. He protected Darren in all his adventures no its Harkat's turn to have one. Mr. Tiny visits the Cirque Du Freak taking Harkat with him to find his real soul. Darren jumps in with Harkat when he was not supposed to but Mr. Tiny allows it anyways. Mr. Tiny sent Harkat and Darren to a harsh desert. After enduring a very long journey thru...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Nic Echo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Nic by: Tesk

Shelves: cirque-du-freak, darren-shan, young-adult, vampire, urban-fantasy

About the Book:
Shan takes a step back from the War of Scars and focuses on a character that we all have come to know and love: Harkat Mulds. Harkat's nightmares have returned, and Mr. Tiny shows up to transport Darren and the Little Person to another world so that the latter can figure out who he was in his past life.

Review:
Well, this book has definitely taken a different path from the rest of the series, and I must admit I very much enjoyed it. It was like a nice vacation, only not so relaxing....more

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Mar 10, 2011 sabisteb rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: buch, fantasy

Nach der Schlacht in Band 9 Die Flammen der Verdammnis., in welcher Mr. Crepseley im Kampf gegen den Lord der Vampyre starb, flüchtet Darren zum Cirque de Freak, das einzige zuhause, das ihm geblieben ist. Er hat die Nase voll vom Krieg der Narben, er will nur noch trauern und allein sein. Aber schon wieder steht er vor einer Wahl, entweder begleitet er Debbie und Alice zum Berg der Vampire oder Harkat Mulch zum See der Seelen.

Dieser Band ist eine letzte Verschnaufpause vor dem Showdown. Harkart...more

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Nov 18, 2009 Viveia94 added it

The Lake of Souls takes place right after Killers of the Dawn, with Mr. Crepsley dead and Steve's revelation that he is the Lord of the Vampaneze. Darren is unable to cry. He feels numb, but with the help of the bearded lady, Truska, he eventually does so. Mr. Tiny then appears and tells Harkat that if he wants his nightmares (which have returned) to stop, he must walk through a portal that Mr. Tiny makes. Harkat refuses to let Darren go with him. Debbie Hemlock and Police Chief Alice Burgess wa...more The Lake of Souls takes place right after Killers of the Dawn, with Mr. Crepsley dead and Steve's revelation that he is the Lord of the Vampaneze. Darren is unable to cry. He feels numb, but with the help of the bearded lady, Truska, he eventually does so. Mr. Tiny then appears and tells Harkat that if he wants his nightmares (which have returned) to stop, he must walk through a portal that Mr. Tiny makes. Harkat refuses to let Darren go with him. Debbie Hemlock and Police Chief Alice Burgess want to start an army to combat the vampets, but have to get the approval of the vampire princes first, so they are only mentioned briefly. Darren later decides that he should go with Harkat, much to Harkat's dismay. Darren and Harkat then walk through the mysterious portal, and are thrown into a strange, gray world.

Darren and Harkat are forced to complete many diffucult tasks. They first hunt down a black panther and collect a map inside it. Darren finds that the panther's teeth have been marked with letters. They start rearranging the teeth, with Harkat using up all the teeth to get SLAM DARK HUT, and then again to find it reads HARKAT MULDS. Harkat dismisses it as an utter waste of time, as Mr. Tiny loves to meddle with time. Harkat keeps the teeth, saying that they might be useful as they are sharp.

Next they have to steal 'gelatinous globes' from the world's biggest toad. They arrive to see the toad standing in the middle of a lake surrounded by crocodiles. Darren and Harkat zip through the lake, grab a few globes, then run off.

Darren and Harkat eventually meet up with Lady Evanna. Her appearance is completely unexpected, and she does not wish to tell the two how or why she is there. She helps them get across the lake where they meet a man who calls himself Spits Abrams. Spits is a former pirate and heavy drinker, and although Darren and Harkat do not trust him very much, they decide that Mr. Tiny put him in that world for a reason, and decide to take him with them.

They soon reach a small area filled with 'people' which they decide to call Kulashkas (since they are chanting "kulashka" more than any other word.) They are required to steal vials of 'holy liquid'. Darren and Harkat enter the village, Spits being afraid, to find the 'holy liquid' to be the venom from the fangs of a huge creature called the Grotesque. The Grotesque is apparently the Kulashkas' god. Darren and Harkat rush to two vials containing the venom and are attacked by the Grotesque.

Harkat raises the vial as the Grotesque attempts to kill him, and the Grotesque backs off. The Kulashkas arrive, pointing spears at Darren and Harkat, trying to drive them back. They are driven closer to the Grotesque and Darren drives them back with his vial. The chief of the Kulashkas starts trying to speak to them in a non-understandable language, with Darren saying that he can't understand them. The chief starts gesturing that they are free to leave, but must return the vials to the altar which carried them. Darren starts to do so, but a drunken Spits arrives,and cuts the kulashkas with his knife as darren throws one vial at the Grotesque, which explodes, hurting the Grotesque and those nearby it, revealing the liquid to be highly explosive. Harkat sees floorboards underneath them and starts stomping on them. Darren joins in, with Spits saying, "What in the devil's name are ye..." before crashing through the floorboards.

They end up in a tunnel, following it until they reach a room. There is a fridge, which Spits asks about, as he did not have fridges in his time. There are also postcards, signed by Mr. Tiny. Harkat is bothered by the postcards, but does not explain why. They then leave the room, Spits taking a few extra bottles of whiskey.

They soon reach the Lake. It is seen to be covered with dragons and Darren and Harkat figure out that they should make bombs, filling the 'gelatinous globes' with the Grotesque venom and throwing it at the dragons. They finally get up close to the Lake and Spits says that when Mr. Tiny brought him here, he told him that there was a spell on the Lake forbidding dragons to be closer than eight metres to the Lake unless a living person fell into the Lake. Then Spits quotes on how many people are in the Lake of Souls. He starts talking about how the crew on the Prince o' Pariah, the ship he used to serve, loved his meals, revealing that he is a cannibal. Spits says that he plans to stay by the Lake of Souls, feeding of the people who lived there. He is persistently told not to feed on the souls and is accidentally knocked away from the eight metre zone. A dragon soon breathes fire at him and he is seen burning, running around not able to see, and then falls into the lake, breaking the spell.

While being ruthlessly attacked by a dragon, Harkat pulls up his former identity, revealed to be Kurda Smahlt. The world freezes and Mr. Tiny appears to congratulate him. He also tells them, since Kurda and Harkat are of the same soul, only one could survive. It is decided that Harkat will remain alive.

Back at the Cirque du Freak, Harkat removes the panther's teeth and starts juggling the letters around, and just when he reaches HARKAT, he stops, apparently shocked, then rearranges it to find it reads KURDA SMAHLT. Darren then realizes that Harkat's name is an anagram and that the answer was in front of them all along, saying that if they spent more time on the teeth they might not have had to go through all the tasks. Harkat also takes out the postcards, pointing the time and date it was sent, noting that it was all dated twelve, twenty, thirty, and fifty years later. Harkat then reveals his theory: that the barren land they had visited was the future.

It is also told by Lady Evanna that no matter who wins the War of the Scars, either Darren or Steve would become the Lord of the Shadows who is a ruthless ruler of the night.(less)

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Jul 01, 2009 Ralphie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 8th-grade-ir-shelf-snorita-michan

In the 11th book of the best selling Cirque du freak series by Darren Shan,'Lake of souls harket goes and find out about his past. Harket is a little person who is dress in blue robes,no ears,no sense of taste or smell,and eats almost anything.This book shows him and Darren who goes to a quest to find Harket's past. They went against a jaguar,through a tunneled room,dragons and a lake of souls which shows all bad Vampires and vampaneze that broke the rule and didn't flow to paradise. The met a d...more

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Nov 01, 2009 Aaron rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: grade-8-ir-books

With Mr.Crepsley being dead, Darren is sad, but unable to cry. Mr.Tiny, a Cirque Du Freak member, makes a portal to the Lake of Souls, to stop the nightmares that Harkat, a member of Mr. Tiny's little people, is having. He and Darren meet Lady Evanna there. After Harkat is completely revived, Lady Evanna tells Darren that he must face Steve in order to decide the fate of the world.

I can relate myself to Darren. He has to recover from his master's death. He is so sad he cannot even cry. Mr. Creps...more

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May 22, 2010 Damian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 8th-grade-ir

Lake of souls in he 10th book of the series Cirque Du Freak. This book is about Darren shan who is a vampire prince and his new closet friend Harkat Mulds facing new monstrous obstacles on their journey to the lake of souls. The lake of souls is a swamp like lake that leads to the temple of a monster called the Grotesque. The 2 must go into the temple to face the beast. The setting takes place in the vampaneze homeland. One main character in this book is Darren Shan. He is a vampire prince who i...more

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Mar 02, 2010 Stefanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Stefanie by: Continuation of the series

Shelves: 2010, ya-and-juvenile, series, library, fantasy, dark-fantasy, reviewed

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 16, 2011 Tina Rae rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of the series

Recommended to Tina Rae by: Desire' Smith

Well, I think I can safely say this is up there in my favorites of this series. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment in the series. The search for Harkat's true identity? Wow. I had such fun with their adventures through the other world that would, eventually, lead them to the Lake of Souls. It was a wild ride, I can tell you that. Creatures you never could imagine that are brought to life before your very eyes. I was a bit disappointed that this one didn't seem to have a lot to do with the war...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Jose Maldonado rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Jun 02, 2009 Daniel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 9th-grade-advisory

The Lake of Souls
by Darren Shan
Little, Brown Young Readers
272pp.
isbn: 0316016659

Darren eventually mourns for Crepsley and continues on. He and Harkat( a little person in a robe, worker of Mr.Tiny) go into a portal to discover Harkat's true identity and stopping the nightmares. They travel far and meeting all kinds of things. But while being chased by dragons, he remembers, he was the vampire who was going to be a prince soon, Kurda Smahlt. Though he chooses to remain as Harkat.

Darren Shan choo...more

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Jun 08, 2010 Serafinviola rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the tenth installment in the Cirque Du Freak series. I picked this book mainly because it took you away from the main conflict in the story and sent the main characters into a chaotic world which where humans became ants, and dragons became humans. To my surprise, that world was the future. I absolutely loved how the riddles to get to the Lake of Souls came together, such as the teeth with letters scratched on to them, the liquid bubbles that made bombs, and how Harkat found out that he...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Emily Kilcar rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow! This is another great book by the amazing...... Darren Shan! Harkat and Darren are sent out to find who Harkat used to be. Harkat is a little person made by Mr. Tiny. He makes them out of the leftovers of people's body's. I had definitely guessed he had been a vampire but I didn't expect him to be........ Kurds Smahlt! I was just thinking "How could that have happened if Harkat was born before Kurda died?" Then Mr. Tiny told Darren he went into the future took Kurda's body and replaced it w...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Hope rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was mainly focused on Harkat and finally concerning about who he really was before he was made a Little Person.

This is something that has been mentioned a lot in the previous books and I'm glad that this book was mainly focused on Harkat discovering himself. It was a book to tie up a loose end before advancing towards the end of the saga.

Some parts, I found hard to keep up so I can't exactly remember what happened because I was just not getting into it but it was an enjoyable read with...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Flame rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children, vampires

I loved this book. Now, I know I read this series many years ago, about 6-8 years? Thing is, I don't even remember this book! Some parts are a little familiar, but not the book as a whole.

That being said, the book was simply amazing. For once, we are drawn out of the vampire world. I love the vampire world, don't get me wrong, I just like a change:)

So basically the whole book was a quest to find out who Harkat Mulds is! Yes, the ending was surprising and that was one of the only things that was...more

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Oct 27, 2008 Stasia de Tilly-Blaru rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who like gory books

Recommended to Stasia by: my older brother

i really liked this book because it kept me thinking about the clues and mystery that that you have to find out i expected the journey to the lake would be much longer and the lake much bigger

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Feb 24, 2009 Jordan added it

Shelves: q32009

Darren Shan, who is the author of the cirque du Freak series, has created a masterpiece with his tenth book, Lake of Souls. Darren, who is a vampire prince, goes on a new adventure to help his friend, Harkat Mulds, find out who he used to be befor he died. Changing drastically, the setting is completely different as Darren and Harkat are pushed through a magical door into a different dimension with all sorts of weird creatures and dragons. I loved this book because it is a new and exciting chang...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Halida rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

At first, I thought The Lake of Souls was a tad bit boring. I didn't see why it should be that thick (well, compared to the previous book, this one is thick). Although this book is supposed to be about an adventurous quest, it lacks the thrill and surprise until literally the end of the book when they found out who Harkat really was in his past life. I never realized his name was an aforethought anagram, which is awesome. And come to think of it, Harkat is an even more complicated and dynamic ch...more

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Jun 12, 2010 Francisco added it

Shelves: 10th-grade

This book is a continuing series of how Darren Shan has always been sure of his identity, but in this time of war with the vampaneze, he must help a friend who has no memory of who he is or how he got to where he is.He is
sent on a scavenger hunt across lands that might have been, Darren and Harkat encounter dangerous creatures and have to use all their wits to find the Lake of Souls. In this lake, they know they'll find the secrets of Harkat's past! It was a very difficult journey for him but in...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Karl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Darren Shan and Harkat Mulds step into a new world. Mr. Tiny, a mystical creature, tells them they have to kill a panther. When they kill it, the find a map in its stomach. Where will it lead them? dun dun dun dun.....

I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 because it wasn't the best book in the series. But I gave it four stars because the author is very creative. He thinks about what to put in the beginning that is going to connect with the end. For example, after they kill the panther, Harkat de...more

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Jun 25, 2010 MissAnnThrope rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, fantasy, library-book, vampires, young-adult

Whaaaaaaat?!?! Seriously?

Finding out Harkat Mulds true identity has been the single driving force (aside from the stupid OCD) pushing me to finish this series. What a complete disappointment.

I almost stopped reading after Darren and Harkat grotesquely find their clues from the black panther. I really should have stopped there. Being one who is decent at anagrams, I figured out the big clue in the panther's teeth, so there really was no point for me to read on. Unfortunately, I have to finish a...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 12, 2013 Nerya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: febru-r-2013

Desiate Darrenove dobrodružstvo nezačína práve najveselšie, ale to sme mohli po stratách, ktoré nás postretli v predošlej knihe aj očakávať. Darren sa zdržuje v cirkuse Monstruoso, takmer s nikým sa nerozpráva a je nepriateľský. To však jedného dňa zmení návšteva v podobe Alice, Debbie a prekvapivo aj pána Sudda, ktorý sa rozhodol, že je konečne čas zastaviť Harkatove nočné mory a poslať ho na pátranie po tom, kým kedysi býval.

Lidička sa tak púšťa na dobrodružstvo, ktoré ho môže stáť vlastný živ...more

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Apr 29, 2013 Trân Lâm rated it 3 of 5 stars

Lại một lần nữa, cuộc hình trình của chúng ta lại quay về con số Zero!!!
Nói thật cho mà biết, đây là quyển sách có 25 chương nhé! Dài hơn tất cả những quyển trước lẫn 3 chương nhưng nó có mang lại cái gì hay ho hơn không?

không
Không
KHÔNG
KHÔNG

Sau khi đọc xong tập này TẤT CẢ những gì mình biết là Harkat chính là Kurdar VÀ Kurdar của mình LẠI bị chết thêm một lần nữa!!!

Oh Holly Shit!!! Lạy thánh Charma ơi, ảnh chết tức tưởi một lần thì Ngài chưa vừa lòng phải không lại còn vực ảnh dậy thêm một lần...more

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Mar 09, 2010 Reagan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This book counted as two books.

Darren and Harkat are on one of their biggest missions yet. For Harkat to discover who he used to be they have to go on a deadly quest. They go to a place where you might as well be asking for danger. Is this weird place another world, another dimension, Earth in the past? Will Darren and Harkat survive this terrifying journey?

This book wasn't like the others. It had more mystery and cliff hangers to it. almost as if Darren Shan the author has grown. Personally...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Margo Quadra rated it 5 of 5 stars

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May 16, 2013 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, ghost-or-horror-books, fantasy, mystery, teen, vampires, war-battle, 2013-book-challenge

A different twist and approach on the series . This book takes a way/break from the present war between the vampires and vampaneze - instead it is a full packed adventure on finding out who Harkat really was. And believe you me your going to get a shock because i sure did! Anyway there are little bits or mystery flung in things to work out - which was fun. There's also fantasy with the creatures of the world in which they embark and lastly there is also a little bit of good old fashioned scare (...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Gabriella rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampire

Book 10 of The Saga Of Darren Shan. It's time for Harkat to learn the truth about who he used to be ...

To unlock the mysteries of his past, he and Darren must place themselves in the hands of Mr Tiny and leave the world of humanity behind. Can they survive in a place of savage killer animals, monstrous mutants, and fiery winged beasts of lore? And even if they do, will they unravel the riddle of Harkat's identity before they are destroyed?

This book was bit weird.I was a bit disappointed that thi...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Tyler Mickelson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mr-shan, own

The plot thickens as Darren and Harkat are thrown in to a new world in search of Harkat's true identity. Mr. Tiny, sends the boys on a cryptic mission to the lake of souls, but tasks and supplies must be gathered along the way or the two are doomed to fail. In this new barren wasteland ruled by dragons, giant toads, and a monster worshiping colony, Darren and Harkat meet and unlikely accomplice, a vodka pickled pirate who had become stranded here by some form of magic. With their new found ally...more

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About Darren Shan

Librarian's note: Also writes under the name D.B. Shan.

Darren Shan (born July 2, 1972 in London, England) is the pen name of the Irish author Darren O'Shaughnessy, as well as the name of the protagonist of his book series The Saga of Darren Shan, also known as The Cirque Du Freak Series in the United States. He is the author of The Demonata series, as well as some stand-alone books, and a series o...more

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Books by Darren Shan

A Living Nightmare (Cirque Du Freak, #1)

The Vampire's Assistant (Cirque Du Freak, #2)

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Quotes from The Lake of Souls

“It is too easy to say 'what if' and paint a picture of a perfect world.” — 82 people liked it

“If he comes in the dark, then it's KYAG Time!"

- Harkat Mulds (The Lake of Souls)” — 27 people liked it

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The Lake of Souls (The Saga of Darren Shan #10)

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