Cirque Du Freak (The Saga of Darren Shan, Book 1) - Softcover

Shan, Darren

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007139004 ISBN 13: 9780007139002

Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks, 2000

Synopsis

‘fast paced and compelling, full of satisfying macabre touches – Cirque du Freak explores the powerful fascination of the dangerous and unnatural and also, movingly, the obligations of friendship’ J. K. Rowling

THE SAGA OF DARREN SHAN BOOK 1
Darren goes to a banned freak show with his best mate Steve. It’s the wonderfully gothic Cirque du Freak where weird, frightening half human/half animals appear who interact terrifyingly with the audience. Darren – a spider freak – ‘falls in love’ with Madam Octa – an enormous tarantala owned by the circus proprietor. Darren determines to steal the spider so that he can train it to perform amazing deeds. But his daring theft goes horrible wrong. The spider bites his best mate and Darren has to sell his soul to an evil vampire to get the antidote.

Something out of the ordinary is set against the background of children’s normal lives to chilling effect. Atmospheric, funny, realistic, moving and... terrifying.

About this title

Review:

Darren Shan seems like your average boy--he likes playing football with his mates, passing notes in class and loves spiders. Then, one day, his best mate Steve gets tickets for a banned freak show and Darren starts experiencing things that no average boy would dream of. At the Freak show he sees a limb-chewing wolf man, a woman who can grow a beard in front of your very eyes, a snake boy and a goat-eating tarantula called Madame Octa. But what about the mysterious people in blue-hooded robes whose faces you never see? And is Mr Crepsley really a vampire?

Don't be deceived by the facetious tone of the narrator, this book will have you screaming out in revulsion and horror. Wrap yourself up in your duvets and get prepared to be scared. This is outrageously gruesome:

Anyway, that's enough of an introduction. If you're ready, let's begin. If this was a made-up story, it would begin at night, with a storm blowing and owls hooting and rattling noises under the bed. But this is a real story, so I have to begin where it really started ... It started in the toilet.

Cirque du Freak is Darren Shan's first novel and the first in a series highlighting Darren's adventures and misadventures. You'll be baying for blood if you miss out.

And, remember, it's all true. (Age 10 and over) --Nicola Perry

Review:

Cirque Du Freak
“...fast-paced and compelling book which engages the reader’s attention early and keeps it up to the very end. Full of satisfyingly macabre touches, it explores the powerful fascination of the dangerous and unnatural and, also, movingly the obligations of friendship. The narrator struggles with his conscience and with the unforseen consequences of his actions, both foolish and noble, which make for a plot full of twists – while the climax is fittingly unexpected and leaves the reader hungry for more.”
JK Rowling

‘Brilliant, macabre tale.’
Guardian

"I read Cirque Du Freak last week. I loved it. I love the way you manage to juggle the funny with the unpleasant, the affection with the hurt. It's
great story-telling."
Roddy Doyle

The Vampire’s Assistant
“The Vampire’s Assistant blazes a thrilling, gruesome trail through a fascinating plot.”
The Good Book Guide

Vampire Mountain
“Get your teeth into it!”
Funday Times

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0007139004
• ISBN 13: 9780007139002
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192