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From School Library Journal

September 1, 2006
Gr 5 Up -Part-vampire Darren Shan is traveling again with Mr. Tall and his Cirque du Freak in the 11th and penultimate book in the series. When he returns to his hometown, Darren would love to see his family and friends, but he knows it is too dangerous, especially at this point in his battle with the Vampaneze. Steve Leopard and his evil minions manipulate events to bring about a fight to the death between Steve, the Lord of the Vampaneze, and Darren. The winner will determine the fate of vampires everywhere. The story, fast-paced, violent, and gory, is filled with anger, revenge, and death, with a touch of redemption and a cliff-hanger ending. Readers of the series will anticipate the conclusion, whether they catch the foreshadowing or not. This book is not for the young or faint of heart, but others will eagerly devour it." -Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Horn Book

July 1, 2006
After a series-halting diversion into Harkat Mulds's origins in an alternate world in [cf2]Lake[cf1], Darren Shan resumes the over-prolonged battle against the Vampaneze in [cf2]Shadows[cf1]. Melodramatic and inconsistent, Shan still depends on ginned-up prophecies and convenient taboos to goad along his poorly thought-out plot and under-utilized vampire conceit. The lost momentum likely won't be regained in time for the proposed series finale.

(Copyright 2006 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)