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Lord of the Shadows
(Cirque du Freak #11)
by
Book 11 of The Saga Of Darren Shan. Darren's going home. Back to where everything started. The town's changed a lot in the years that he's been away -- but then, so has Darren.
Plagued by nightmares of what the future seems to hold, Darren feels uneasy revisiting the place where he was re-born as a child of the night, as though the universe (as though destiny) is plotting t ...more
Plagued by nightmares of what the future seems to hold, Darren feels uneasy revisiting the place where he was re-born as a child of the night, as though the universe (as though destiny) is plotting t ...more
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Hardcover, First US Edition, 220 pages
Published
May 2006
by Time Warner Book Group
(first published January 1st 2005)
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Lord of the Shadows (Cirque du Freak #11), Darren Shan
Lord Of The Shadows is the eleventh book in The Saga of Darren Shan series by the author Darren Shan. It is also the second book in the Vampire Destiny trilogy. Along with the Cirque Du Freak, Darren Shan returns to his home town, the place where it all began. He was still having nightmares about the Lord of the shadows. While the Cirque Du Freak rests at an old abandoned football stadium, Darren walks through his old home. After spotting his ...more
Lord Of The Shadows is the eleventh book in The Saga of Darren Shan series by the author Darren Shan. It is also the second book in the Vampire Destiny trilogy. Along with the Cirque Du Freak, Darren Shan returns to his home town, the place where it all began. He was still having nightmares about the Lord of the shadows. While the Cirque Du Freak rests at an old abandoned football stadium, Darren walks through his old home. After spotting his ...more

THIS DOES NOT fall into the same pitfalls as the previous two books
Instead of a meandering from the main plot arch, this time we are in the thick of things. I really enjoyed the contrast of Darren now vs Darren could-have-been as he is confronted with his old life and all the what-ifs that could have happened if he hadn't become a vampire.
The cat-and-mouse game between Darren and Steve was both engaging and annoying. I wanted confrontation, I wanted action...and when that happened...oh boy did I ...more
Instead of a meandering from the main plot arch, this time we are in the thick of things. I really enjoyed the contrast of Darren now vs Darren could-have-been as he is confronted with his old life and all the what-ifs that could have happened if he hadn't become a vampire.
The cat-and-mouse game between Darren and Steve was both engaging and annoying. I wanted confrontation, I wanted action...and when that happened...oh boy did I ...more

This series is just full of twists and shocking and tragic circumstances!
In this book, Darren and Harkat are traveling with the Cirque du Freak when the Cirque ends up back in Darren's hometown. Of course, he wants to see how the town has changed and how his family and friends are doing, but he is unsure of how involved with them he should be.
SPOILERS
Of course, Steve manages to show up in this book, and it is revealed that he has a son. I was not surprised to learn who the boy's mother was (An ...more
In this book, Darren and Harkat are traveling with the Cirque du Freak when the Cirque ends up back in Darren's hometown. Of course, he wants to see how the town has changed and how his family and friends are doing, but he is unsure of how involved with them he should be.
SPOILERS
Of course, Steve manages to show up in this book, and it is revealed that he has a son. I was not surprised to learn who the boy's mother was (An ...more

Two years later, and the War of Scars is still going on, yet Darren hasn’t been attending to his princely duties. While still travelling with the Cirque du Freak, Darren and the circus travel to Darren’s original home town where he’d still lived as a vampire. But something sinister is afoot; Darren and Harkat can feel it. There’s Steve and the vampaneze to worry about, and now Darren has to worry about this mysterious future Lord of the Shadows, who may very well be him!
Plot
The end is near with ...more
Plot
The end is near with ...more

This is the 11th instalment in the Darren Shan saga and sees the return of Darren and Harkat from the other world and the Lake of Souls with the knowledge of Harkat’s true identity. It was good to see the return of the Cirque du Freak, Annie Shan and Darren’s childhood friend Tommy, and the lead up to the inevitable final showdown between Darren and Steve but it’s not as good as the earlier books in the series in my opinion. 4 star read for me overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ looking forward to seeing how this
...more

Drawing close to the ending of an amazing series, numerous questions are answered in this book.
Back in his home town Darren is faced with old friends and old enemies alike. With more twists and turns added into this book it is next to impossible to put down, leaving you to read on to the final instalment instantly. Whilst a lot of things come out in the open there are still those unanswered questions which can only be found out through finishing the series.
Back in his home town Darren is faced with old friends and old enemies alike. With more twists and turns added into this book it is next to impossible to put down, leaving you to read on to the final instalment instantly. Whilst a lot of things come out in the open there are still those unanswered questions which can only be found out through finishing the series.

Now this book is exactly what this series has been leading up to. There's a lot of great action. Darren and Steve are finally facing each other. And there is a looming dark prophecy about the Lord of the Shadows.
All of the ultra powerful who meddle with the future make appearances. You have to love Evanna the witch of the wilds.
As always, it ends on a cliffhanger which is so beyond annoying at this point. I'm ready to finally see the end of the War of Scars, I just worry there won't be a full w ...more
All of the ultra powerful who meddle with the future make appearances. You have to love Evanna the witch of the wilds.
As always, it ends on a cliffhanger which is so beyond annoying at this point. I'm ready to finally see the end of the War of Scars, I just worry there won't be a full w ...more

Things are heating up, and the next volume is the last, and there's a lot to cover in the final volume. This volume sees some major happenings, some I saw coming others I did not. Overall this has been a top notch series and while I hate to see it end, I can't wait to see what happens!
...more

Called the kids parents new it. Seriously is it just me that is finding these 'twist' anything but twisty?
Was a good book though. ...more
Was a good book though. ...more

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

Originally posted at Fantasy Literature.
Lord of the Shadows is the penultimate book in Darren Shan’s CIRQUE DU FREAK series. If you haven’t read the previous books, but plan to, I recommend that you don’t read this review until you’ve read them, for I will certainly spoil the plot for you.
Darren Shan’s adventures in the vampire world began when he made a series of bad mistakes. First he stole money from his parents and snuck out of the house to visit the Cirque du Freak, an illegal traveling cir ...more
Lord of the Shadows is the penultimate book in Darren Shan’s CIRQUE DU FREAK series. If you haven’t read the previous books, but plan to, I recommend that you don’t read this review until you’ve read them, for I will certainly spoil the plot for you.
Darren Shan’s adventures in the vampire world began when he made a series of bad mistakes. First he stole money from his parents and snuck out of the house to visit the Cirque du Freak, an illegal traveling cir ...more

Dec 21, 2012
Nic Echo
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Nic by:
Tesk
Warning! The summary for this book contains spoilers for those who have not read its prior counterparts. In other words, there are no spoilers for this particular book, just the ones before it. The review itself is, for the most part, spoiler free, however.
About the Book:
Darren returns to his home town, ready for the ultimate showdown with Steve Leonard, the Vampaneze Lord. Meanwhile, Darren is worrying about the prediction Evanna told him. In The Lake of Souls, Darren and Harkat find out that t ...more
About the Book:
Darren returns to his home town, ready for the ultimate showdown with Steve Leonard, the Vampaneze Lord. Meanwhile, Darren is worrying about the prediction Evanna told him. In The Lake of Souls, Darren and Harkat find out that t ...more

This is the 11th book of 12 in the saga of vampires and how Darren lives his daily life as one. In this book, old friends are back for revenge, when Darren vowed to be a half vampire, he also had to leave behind his family, his friends, his town, everything. Darren soon adapted to this life-style by meeting vampires like himself and others much older than him. One of his friends, Steve, is back for revenge. Darren was a traitor to Steve and went with Mr. Crepsley, his mentor, than go with Steve
...more

Lord of the Shadows
by Darren Shan
In this fantasy book, it is really interesting. They have a different aspect of the vampires. Unlike many other vampire books, it was vampires that were evil and they seek blood, and they kill their victims. But in this series, they have a new race of vampires. It wasn't the vampires who have been killing their victims when they drink blood from them, it was the vampaneze who drain blood dry from their victims.
I love this book because it is different from other ...more
by Darren Shan
In this fantasy book, it is really interesting. They have a different aspect of the vampires. Unlike many other vampire books, it was vampires that were evil and they seek blood, and they kill their victims. But in this series, they have a new race of vampires. It wasn't the vampires who have been killing their victims when they drink blood from them, it was the vampaneze who drain blood dry from their victims.
I love this book because it is different from other ...more

After his bizarre trip with Harkat into the land of the Lake of Souls, Darren returns to the Cirque du Freak--a place with such history for him--but without his mentor, Mr. Crepsley, he travels around with the circus, headed by Mr. Tiny. When the Cirque arrives in his old hometown, he wishes for reunion with those who think he's dead, but the possibility of leading the vampaneze to his loved ones makes this too risky. But there is one reunion he won't be able to avoid: a clash between him and hi
...more

Lord of the Shadows by Darren Shan is the 11th book out of 12 books in the series. This book made me want to finish the series. It really made up for the 10th book, which wasn't as great, and gave excitement. There was also action and unexpected things that could suprise the reader. Darren Shan's way of writing, leaving you in a cliffhanger throughout the book, would make someone keep on reading until the end of the series and could even persuade you to read other books by him. This book is base
...more

**Some minor spoilers ahead, so you might want to avoid**
I just want to say two things:
First, it is getting REALLY annoying that at the end of each book Steve reveals sth heartbreaking and leaves everybody baffled and frozen. How many times are you going to use that trick? Cause it's getting really old.
Second, I hate Debbie. I really do. She is always weepy, full of mushy feelings and without an once of reason. There's no character there, no personality. She's like an element brought in every ti ...more
I just want to say two things:
First, it is getting REALLY annoying that at the end of each book Steve reveals sth heartbreaking and leaves everybody baffled and frozen. How many times are you going to use that trick? Cause it's getting really old.
Second, I hate Debbie. I really do. She is always weepy, full of mushy feelings and without an once of reason. There's no character there, no personality. She's like an element brought in every ti ...more

This series has just hit a point where it went from poorly written to just ridiculously boring. All the characters bore me. They're like children playing hide and seek rather than older men and women fighting a war.
Also Darren's sudden change looked more like a last minute convenience than fate. And I knew from Darius's first appearance that he was the nephew. And that Steve was his father. And Darren got a good enough look at his nephew to describe him so how could he not have seen the resembl ...more
Also Darren's sudden change looked more like a last minute convenience than fate. And I knew from Darius's first appearance that he was the nephew. And that Steve was his father. And Darren got a good enough look at his nephew to describe him so how could he not have seen the resembl ...more

Darren Shan is approaching his final showdown with the Vampaneze Lord. The hunters will be pit against the Lord and his most loyal servants. Only one side will remain unscthaed, and the victor will become a horror…
“Lord of the Shadows” is the second to last book in the Cirque du Freak series, and begins to wrap up the story. There is lot’s to enjoy. The book successfully takes elements from the previous books and touches on them, which wasn’t something some of the previous books did well. The ...more
“Lord of the Shadows” is the second to last book in the Cirque du Freak series, and begins to wrap up the story. There is lot’s to enjoy. The book successfully takes elements from the previous books and touches on them, which wasn’t something some of the previous books did well. The ...more

Nov 07, 2009
Samantha wickedshizuku Tolleson
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Vampire fans, Demonata fans, Neil Gaiman fans, Brom fans, Horror fans, Young men
Recommended to Samantha wickedshizuku by:
Goodreads
Shelves:
reviewed,
paranormal,
favorites,
make-hubby-read,
male-lead,
5-stars,
read-it-again,
not-manga,
2011,
vampires
When I finished this book I was biting my nails to get the next one. I was constantly devouring Darren Shan's words every waking moment when I bought this series. Not only is he a brilliant writer; he is a master of terror.
The book starts off a little slow compared to the Lake of Souls, Book 10, did. Also I had gotten confused for a minute because I was also reading Shan's Wolf Island in the Demonata series. (excellent as well!) I'm honestly living some of the situation Darren does. Coming back ...more
The book starts off a little slow compared to the Lake of Souls, Book 10, did. Also I had gotten confused for a minute because I was also reading Shan's Wolf Island in the Demonata series. (excellent as well!) I'm honestly living some of the situation Darren does. Coming back ...more

Do you trust your friends? Well Darren docent after Steve his best friend try's to kill him!
Evanna is a witch that can see the future and is warning him that he is to become an evil monster that will destroy the earth! Darren is set of to find a loop hole. Sometimes I feel like a monster ready to destroy the earth, but that's just me. Darren has come across Steve and is trying to rule the world and once again Darren is stuck in the middle.
Book By: Darren Shan ...more
Evanna is a witch that can see the future and is warning him that he is to become an evil monster that will destroy the earth! Darren is set of to find a loop hole. Sometimes I feel like a monster ready to destroy the earth, but that's just me. Darren has come across Steve and is trying to rule the world and once again Darren is stuck in the middle.
Book By: Darren Shan ...more

Darren, the lead charactor, was influenced too much by situations around him, so he never decided his act by himself.
Although he hated his fates, he didn't try to change that entirely.
There is a tendency to do so after the seventh volume, but this book is awful.
I wonder that The last volume will recover it... ...more
Although he hated his fates, he didn't try to change that entirely.
There is a tendency to do so after the seventh volume, but this book is awful.
I wonder that The last volume will recover it... ...more

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

So, that happened. Series getting crazier it seems but you can't help but what to know what happens. Guess we have one more book left then? Sad to see it end.
...more

This was a pretty explosive book. Darren sees someone again for the first time since he was a child, since actually book 1…and he’ll encounter them in the final book. Steve, being the villain of course, is a murderous lunatic who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, and to torment Darren. Steve has always been evil, but there’s something in particular he does in this book that is even worse than anything he’s done so far. It’s so bad, that even RV is horrified by it. One of the Cirque memb
...more

“I'd become a savage animal set on taking a young boy’s life.”
Will you take his life? The choice is yours. He is out to kill and destroy the vampire clan. You know he is evil inside, but he is just a little kid. You raise your knife up to his throat, this is it. You've made your decision. You've nicked the kid’s neck with the sharp blade. Soon he'll be drowning in his own blood, but for right now it is trickling down his neck and chest. You're out of control, you can't stop yourself. Then you ...more
Will you take his life? The choice is yours. He is out to kill and destroy the vampire clan. You know he is evil inside, but he is just a little kid. You raise your knife up to his throat, this is it. You've made your decision. You've nicked the kid’s neck with the sharp blade. Soon he'll be drowning in his own blood, but for right now it is trickling down his neck and chest. You're out of control, you can't stop yourself. Then you ...more

Maddeningly stereotypical and utterly predictable, while being quite a bit more adult in its delivery and execution than a YA book. Let's try to stay on course for the good of the Vampire nation. Good guys adhere to the moral code, while the villains act with impunity.
I feel Shan writes toward supposed plot twists and failed shock moments, without considering the actual steps required to enact the proposed plot he presents. In turn, that creates head shaking moments of doubt as to why one reads ...more
I feel Shan writes toward supposed plot twists and failed shock moments, without considering the actual steps required to enact the proposed plot he presents. In turn, that creates head shaking moments of doubt as to why one reads ...more

A bearable book. I suppose the intention is to draw a circle before the final confrontation, but come on. It is almost a mockery. Visiting Darren's hometown, coming across childhood friends and family. The stage is just to dull to be believable and all the scenery is tearing apart.
The unnerving final description about Darren and Steve being face to face is abusing mysticism and something downright fraudulent superstition. Also this "purge" that serves as a trope for puberty kills neurons altoget ...more
The unnerving final description about Darren and Steve being face to face is abusing mysticism and something downright fraudulent superstition. Also this "purge" that serves as a trope for puberty kills neurons altoget ...more

I literally close this one with goosebumps! This one is probably the best of the series! It had everything that I love about this series. We get back a little to the Cirque du Freak, we get a little of Darren old life «links», we get a tons of actions and a good evolution in the main plot, which was of course needed since there is only one left. I love how this series and author aren't scare to get a bit violent, dark and bloody. Even if this is a series for children, if children are into a vamp
...more
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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
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
Other books in the series
Cirque du Freak
(1 - 10 of 12 books)
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