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Palace of the Damned

(The Saga of Larten Crepsley #3)

Darren Shan (Goodreads Author)

4.33 · Rating details · 3,399 ratings · 153 reviews

Before Madame Octa...

Before the Cirque...

Before Darren Shan...

Larten Crepsley was a young man.

After failing his mentor and killing the entire crew of a ship in a bout of revenge for the death of his assistant, Larten is bereft with guilt. He no longer has the drive to live the vampiric life, and hides out in Paris, masquerading as a human. There, he finds some happiness ...more

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Hardcover, 256 pages

Published October 3rd 2011 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (first published January 1st 2011)

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2011 October YA Releases

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Start your review of Palace of the Damned (The Saga of Larten Crepsley, #3)

Apr 25, 2015 Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 21th-century, paranormal, horror

Palace of the damned, Darren Shan
In the third instalment in the creepy, captivating Larten Crepsley series, Larten finds out what it means to love... but is he also damned to find out what it means to lose? Lost in the arctic waste, carrying a baby whose love he could never deserve, Larten faces the darkest time he has ever known. But hope has a way of shining through even the smallest of cracks, and just as Larten reaches the end, a new beginning presents itself. The trouble is, for Larten, the ...more

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Mar 06, 2020 Dean rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror

Review on BookLover

In the third book of his Saga, Larten grows quite a lot. He's got a baby to take care of, one he doesn't wish to be the father of. And, as he meets an old friend, Larten seems to find a life of peace. Or so he thinks, before all goes to Hell (or, better, to the Lake of Souls!).

As I said before, the Larten Crepsley books are a bit more mature than the Darren Shan saga. I'm sure a lot depends on the fact Larten's books are directed towards older readers, but I am also certain th Review on BookLover

In the third book of his Saga, Larten grows quite a lot. He's got a baby to take care of, one he doesn't wish to be the father of. And, as he meets an old friend, Larten seems to find a life of peace. Or so he thinks, before all goes to Hell (or, better, to the Lake of Souls!).

As I said before, the Larten Crepsley books are a bit more mature than the Darren Shan saga. I'm sure a lot depends on the fact Larten's books are directed towards older readers, but I am also certain that it depends on the protagonist too.
In this third book, Larten mostly struggles in the Human world and finally finds his place in the Vampire world; he faces feelings of Love and Loss, he finds himself in hard places. And yet, he also finds his true family, and old characters we have learned to love in the Darren Shan saga reappear here to be a huge part of Larten's life.
This book, in particular, features my favourite character of the original Saga, and we get to know so much about him! I'm talking about Gavner Purl, of course. I don't want to spoiler anything, but I'm gonna say this: the final pages of this volume are now my favourite of the year. I do not care we're only in March. They win.

Speaking of characters... A lot of them we've met already. Vancha, Seba, Arra, Arrow, Mika, Evanna... We have the pleasure (or displeasure, depends if you like the character or not) to meet them in the past and see how they have evolved and how they became who they are in the Darren Shan Saga.
I was mostly pleased with the Arrow arc myself: this is the Vampire Prince we've had less information on in all the books, and in the original Saga he looks so... stoic. Here, we manage to see emotions. We get to see what makes him Human. Vampire. You understood, c'mon.
I also really like Arra. As always, she's got her priorities in check and has no time for lovebirds coming her way when she's got stuff to do. Go, Arra. Be the Vampire Princess we always deserved and never got.

But I have to say: I'm "angry" at the author this round.
This book contains one of my favourite scenes, concerning Seba and Larten. And I can't believe for the life of me that the author made Larten say the F-word (No, not the bad word) to Seba, and we didn't get a similar scene between Darren and Larten. I am extremely disappointed, here. Also gonna throw it in here, but Darren should've called Seba "grandpa" at least once. Don't fight me on this, I am right.

Speaking of style and language, I think, as a non-native English speaker, this is an accessible book. Okay, maybe you have to be at least a B1-level, but it's readable. I want to compare his children's books to his adult books and see how I feel.

Anyways, I got to the point that when I make games where someone has to guess what book I'm reading currently, they just go with "A Darren Shan one". Unfortunately, it's not always the case, but it says a lot about me raving about this author's books with my friends! ...more

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Nov 25, 2018 Chloe rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018

I'll review the series properly when I finish the last one but I am really impressed with the way these books are written! ...more

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Oct 24, 2011 chucklesthescot rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, youngadult, horror, vampires

Larten is at rock bottom when he flees the ship with the baby, escaping to Greenland where he plans to let himself die. He discovers a legendary vampire palace and his life is saved by Desmond Tiny who indicates that he has an important future ahead of him.

Having his life saved by the creepy thing that is Desmond Tiny sends fear through Larten, as does the responsibility of being father to the baby, now named Gavner. It was interesting to see his true connection to Larten after him being one of ...more

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Jun 22, 2019 Oswaldo Martinez rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I swear this man.. This man is truly noble no matter what

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Apr 30, 2011 April rated it really liked it

(Originally posted @ CSI:Librarian.)

3.5 Stars - I could not be happier (or more relieved) to report that Palace of the Damned was vastly more enjoyable and engaging than the previous book in Larten's Saga.

Events, emotions, and reflections were still overly summarized and I would have liked more detail. I didn't feel like Shan was bored or in a rush when it came to the writing itself, but the summarizing definitely made the minor characters read a bit flat from time to time. I liked them well eno ...more

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Sep 05, 2011 Adeeb rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I have been a huge fan of Darren Shan ever since I first read a book by him, which was Demon Thief. He's one of my top five authors EVER! Can you guess why? Well, this book is one of the reasons he's one of the best authors out there.

First of all, I have to add, this book was an improvement to Ocean of Blood. I'm not saying Ocean of Blood was bad. It was just a "slower" story.

This book picks off where Ocean of Blood ended. Larten is not all alone. He's accompanied with the baby he rescued.

We fur ...more

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Jun 23, 2011 Ash Ebrahim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Actually 4.5 stars

I honestly didn't enjoy the second book as the first, but after reading this book I think that the prequel series is back to its right track.
The story starts with Larten Crepsley with the baby facing the killing cold. Larten is lost and cold with a baby that he can't take care of, and he has no idea why he saved him, until he finds this cool palace.
I expected the story to focus on the supposedly PALACE OF THE DAMNED, but it didn't. In the cover (UK cover ofc)The palace look ...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Eunice rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Look at Hipster Larten Crepsley wearing a Spirithood.
***
I think I love these books too much to notice any plausible flaws.
The plot-line, as usual, was fascinating and unpredictable, as well as clever, with the typical Darren Shan style (i.e. past events you thought minor and unremarkable come back and bite the characters in the arse).

His characters, as always, have flaws AND qualities (even the 'bad' characters); no one is perfect. The women are strong, be it physically or mentally or emotionall ...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Marie-Josee Larouche rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to Marie-Josee by: My boyfriend

This is the 3rd book in the saga of Larten Crepsley. This one was very interesting, it started to tie into the things that happend in the 1st and 2nd book with Tanish Eul and Wester Flack. It tells the stories of what happends when he was a Cub, and what happends when he suddenly falls in love with a human.

This book was really good. I generally like all Darren Shan's books, I justr have nothing bad to say about them, they're that great. He his a master story teller.

SPOILERS!!!

This story tells o ...more

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Apr 23, 2015 Christel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own

Palace of the Damned starts off with a big surprise as Destiny steps in and changes the fate of Larten's course and possibly the fate of the entire vampire clan. While Ocean of Blood had a definite sad tone to the book, in Palace of the Damned Larten's spirits seemed to pick up a bit more after his sudden meeting with Destiny. Larten even settles down for a while until an old "friend" of his pops up and his hard won peace comes crashing down. ...more

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Nov 02, 2011 Hesa Almuhairi rated it liked it

i was really excited about this book, but to tell the truth im really disappointed,i was expecting more action violence in the story so i liked the previouse parts, and the first one is still my favorite

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Sep 06, 2011 Carmen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Excellent installment of Larten's past - great cliffhanger ...more

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Oct 22, 2011 Jonathan rated it it was amazing

Its amazing and lartens love life was so touching but to bad they didn't give two chapters for the forth book at the end but other then that i loved this book. ...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Ashley rated it really liked it

Larten Crepsley is running from a horrible sin he just committed. After slaughtering almost the entire crew of the Pearly Tornado, he has docked at Greenland and is making his way across the icy island with the baby he has silently vowed to protect. Larten vows to find a cave to put the baby to rest in and find his own death. This part of the book was very heart wrenching. Larten believes that there is no redemption for the sins he has committed on that ship. He views himself as the monster othe Larten Crepsley is running from a horrible sin he just committed. After slaughtering almost the entire crew of the Pearly Tornado, he has docked at Greenland and is making his way across the icy island with the baby he has silently vowed to protect. Larten vows to find a cave to put the baby to rest in and find his own death. This part of the book was very heart wrenching. Larten believes that there is no redemption for the sins he has committed on that ship. He views himself as the monster others must surely pin him as.

After suffering though the cold, he finally comes upon an opening in a cave. He is astonished to find the missing ice tomb of Perta Vin-Grahl. He views this as good as any place to lay to rest the child and take his own life, but is shocked to realize at the last minute that he repents and actually finds reason to continue. Thankfully Desmond Tiny steps in to save the day. Larten soon finds himself alive and still in charge of the baby boy. I was shocked when I found out that the baby was none other than Gavner Purl! He is a highly respected General in The Cirque Du Freak series!

Larten soon makes a life for himself and Gavner in Paris. He now goes by the name of Vur Horston in an attempt to leave his ugly deeds in the past. Although he tries to find a better life for the young boy, he shows him no compassion and keeps him at arms length. In an attempt to protect the boy's feelings he believes this is the right thing to do, but ultimately he is hurting the boy far worse by pushing him away. Larten falls in love with a young woman named Alicia Dunyck who immediately accepts Gavner as her own and soon finds himself engaged and prepping for a human life. Alicia is not aware that Larten (Vur) is a vampire, nor does she know that Vur is not his real name. Everything seems to be going great for the couple until an old friend makes a reappearance.

Tanish Eul disappeared long ago after shaming himself in front of his fellow cubs. Now he is back wealthy, cold hearted, and obese; a completely different man than Larten remembers. He propositions Larten with a partnership. Tanish runs a couple of casinos and "escort" services. Larten reluctantly agrees against better judgement. I found this hard to accept. I am always one to follow my better judgement, and I was upset that Larten so foolishly threw his aside. He would have found himself in a better position had he heeded his conscience.

Larten soon realizes that something is not right. Women that work for Tanish are disappearing. He approaches his friend and brings to light the evidence he has come across. He is taken by surprise by how uncaring Tanish appears to be after hearing the information. Larten decides he can only take matters into his own hands. Tanish is still a coward and is still allowing others to fall in his stead. I despise Tanish's character. He represents everything I hate in a person. He is arrogant, cowardly, pompous, and has no heart. I was secretly hoping for his untimely death. We see Larten's true character shine through in this moment. He has compassion for others and does not stand by while others perish. He wants to help make matters right. I was happy to see his honor shine in a moment like this. It made his character all the more likable! Larten ends up having to answer for his heroism though.

Tanish betrays Larten in a moment of pure selfishness. He attacks Larten just when he receives the upper hand in battle against a vampaneze. In a show of mercy, Larten refuses to turn on his friend and loses everything. Tanish murders an innocent and accuses Larten of being a vampire. He has no choice but to flee and leave his family behind. My heart broke at this part for Larten. Although he was destined for greater things, Alicia did make him happy and he did love her. He knows that things will never be the same after she finds out who he really is. I was so disgusted with her at this point. Loving a person means you love them even in their times of pain and shame. She turned her back on him in the moment of his greatest need. That said to me that she did not love him as much as she claimed.

Larten decides it is time to return home to Vampire Mountain and continue his training to become a General. He found his way on his journey back. He realized that becoming a General and seeing his friends is what he has been missing all along. Larten is concerned that his past sins will be what condemns him to death once he reaches the Mountain and so he shows up with a heavy heart. Yet, even the worst sins can be forgiven when the sinner has truly repented as Larten soon comes to find out. After completing the rest of his training, Larten finally becomes a General. He has come a long way since first being blooded.

Arra Sails also shows back up in Larten's life in this book. She is now a vampiress and is on her way to becoming a General. I was really hoping that this would be the time for them, but she is very focused on her training and so asks Larten to give her time. I like Arra Sails. She gives Larten a challenge in his life. She is exactly what he needs to bring him out of this pity party he has for himself.

I was quite saddened when Larten goes back to Paris to find out what happened to his lost love. He comes to find out she got remarried and had a child. I could not imagine the pain this would wreck if I were in the same position, but Larten decides he must find them to make sure they are alright. What he finds is not what he thought. Alicia is widowed and left with a young child and Gavner has run off. He went away with Tanish when he made a reappearance in their lives a couple years after everything hit the fan. Larten is livid. How dare he come back for the boy!

When push comes to shove, this book sent me on a roller coaster of emotions. I was so upset with the injustices Larten had to face. He lost so much and all for nothing. He has suffered immensely. The way that he downgrades his character is dreadful. We as readers can see the good and just in him. We see how caring and compassionate he really is. I was touched by the brief encounter Seba and Larten shares when he makes it back to Vampire Mountain. This was definitely a good book, and I would recommend it to any reader. ...more

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Oct 17, 2017 Lexine Higgins rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This series is getting better as the books go on, and I'm genuinely sad that there's only one book left now.

I've had a problem with the time jumps in the previous books, but in this book the time between scenes is much smaller and it doesn't feel like so much is being left out now.

Larten is in a bad place at the start, and we're beginning to realise how dark of a past he has before he met Darren. We see him lose himself, and then find the strength to get back up and carry on, which is admirabl ...more

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Aug 22, 2017 Fionn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: all, series-the-saga-of-larten-crepsley, author-darren-shan, all-read, category-young-adult, genre-fantasy, genre-horror, subgenre-vampires, subgenre-paranormal, rating-4-star

The love story in this book was a little slow but overall this book moved along much fast than the previous book without skipping over too much. The returning characters from The Saga of Darren Shan added a lot to this book and it was nice seeing the characters develop and grow in this book too.

I liked that it was set during WWI, it was interesting that even the vampires were shocked and disturbed by the amount of violence and death among the humans. The book did hint that Desmond Tiny may have ...more

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Jan 01, 2019 Katharine Lancaster rated it it was amazing

Shelves: cirque-du-freak

The book starts almost immediately after the end of "Ocean Of Blood", with Larten and the baby stranded in the icy wastes of Greenland. Larten searches for death in the snowdrifts, but is spared by a very unexpected twist of destiny. The action then jumps forward several years, to Paris at the turn of the 20th century. Larten is in love, and successful in business, but a face from his past threatens to lead him astray and undermine his happiness. In this sweeping novel, Larten also returns to Va ...more

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Jul 10, 2018 Urosh Novakovic rated it it was amazing

There's something about "The Saga of Larten Crepsley" and "Cirque du Freak" that will always pull me into the universe and have me glued to my spot no matter what age I am. Palace of the Damned is, so far, my favorite in Larten Crepsley's story. I simply love the pacing of this installment and the character development we get to see among most key members of the clan. ...more

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Sep 18, 2018 Lilu rated it really liked it

This started off pretty slowly and wast that full of adventures. I’d say this was the slowest book so far but it was still good and worth reading.

If you’re reading this, don’t put it down, read up to it age 100 at least.

I’m on the verge, I don’t wanna finish this series and say but to all these people of the vampire mountain, but what can I do?

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Mar 31, 2019 Saloni rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-have-read-in-dp

Larten Crepsley is full of guilt after killing a whole ship's crew. He is bent on ending his life but stuff gets in the way and yeah, you know the drill.

Spoilers ahead.

Read full review here . ...more

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Oct 31, 2020 Connor's Library Corner rated it it was amazing

4.5 🌟 book
4.5 🌟 series

I found Lartens story really interesting and I love seeing characters appear from the Darren Shan Saga as well as those that did not and the fate that befell them

This book more than ever made me realise that you need to read this Saga after you've read Darren Shan as it does spoil a few elements of that series ...more

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Oct 31, 2019 Cynthia rated it it was amazing

After years of not reading the Saga of Darren Shan or Larten Crepsley I'm loving this. All my favorite characters back in one book(and alive), plus a romance story I actually care about (which doesn't happen often).

I can't wait to continue this thrilling story! ...more

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Aug 28, 2017 Tyler Alt rated it it was amazing

Good

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Jan 18, 2018 فرنام خسروی rated it liked it

the storyline sometimes slows down and often you can guess what's goin' to happen. but eerie adventures and curiosity to find out Crepsley's fate would nail you at your seat! ...more

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Mar 30, 2018 Melanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

i just love this world so much

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Apr 17, 2018 Freya Beavis rated it it was amazing

Oh my GOD! This series just keeps getting better! And excuse me but PLOT TWIST! Y’all should know what I’m talking about!

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Oct 25, 2020 Mikemukula rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mike

So nice I wish I were him

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Feb 02, 2021 Mark Young rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A thoroughly enjoyable YA series that gets better as it goes along.

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Mar 02, 2021 Allen Pamaong rated it liked it

I liked this more than Ocean of Blood but the first will always be the best one in my opinion.

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About Darren Shan

Darren Shan

6,988 followers

Librarian's note: Also writes books for adults under the name Darren Dash. And in the past he has released books for adults under the names D.B. Shan and Darren O'Shaughnessy.

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 ...more

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A Living Nightmare (Cirque Du Freak, #1)

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Quotes from Palace of the Damned

“You didn't want to die. Most mortals don't, even if they find themselves in as desolate and soul-destroying a spot as you. Almost all of those who take their own lives wish at the last moment that they hadn't. They see at the end how much they've given up, how precious life is, even when it's treated them like dirt and crushed their dreams. Many think they've passed beyond hope, but they never really have, not until they pass beyond life itself. Alas, that knowledge comes too late for most would-be-suicides and they die with regret. Very few are offered the chance that you have been handed.” — 16 likes

“But I also slaughtered you real mother and father. In a moment of mad rage, I took their lives and left you an orphan. If you choose to take my life as a payment for theirs, you will be within your rights and no vampire will hold it against you. Pass judgment on me, Gavner Purl, and let your hand rise or fall as destiny decides it must."
-Larten Crepsley” — 11 likes

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