Darren Shan

[Leandra]

Hmph. I've read Cirque du Freak and had to fight to finish it. It didn't catch my interest at all, and I didn't ever bother to read the following books. I couldn't tell you why, though.

[IMPERIAL.??????]

the darren shan books are good you should give them another chance

[The T Dude]

lol in england hes on his econd saga the demonata and hes on his 4th book witch im reading is there a darren shan movie comeing up cus i bet it will be like a 12-15 cus the books are so dam violent

[Patrick Mahon]

Originally Posted by Leandra

Hmph. I've read Cirque du Freak and had to fight to finish it.

I must admit, Leandra, having read the first two volumes in that series, I sort of agree with you. The ideas are interesting enough, but the writing style is so melodramatic - why does every chapter (almost) have to end with an exclamation mark?

For those who have read the Demonata series, is his writing still like this, or has he calmed down a bit? I'm not sure I can be bothered to make my way through the other ten volumes of the Darren Shan series, but I could be tempted to have a look at the Demonata series, if others say they are less over-written...

[Nijinski]

The writing gets less "overwritten" as the story (and character) develops, at least thats what i think (maybe i just stopped noticing after a while, i never really noticed the amount of exclamation marks)
The idea's stay interesting as the story continues and they get even better. I'm a huge fan of the darren shan saga, and even tho i kept reading cos i did like the 1st volume, its not 'cirque du freak' itself that got me totally 'hooked'. Was more from the 3rd or 4th book that i really could not stop reading.

Ive read the 1st two books of 'demonata' now, they made less impression on me but as i wasnt all that thrilled about 'vampires' at that stage i'm pretty certain that will change still.

Maybe not a very useful answer...guess all im saying is "do bother with the other 10"

[Scriven]

I think he's quite overrated. I tend to put his books on a par with those cheap 'school library' collections like Goosebumps - samey, not the best writing, and the series never seems to end.

[IMPERIAL.??????]

The books are great i do agree that 12 books it a lot for just 1 story but i read them all and they are good. but if you think about it the books 1 book is only minimum 130 pages long so there not very long alltoghter. I think it was a great book VAMPIRES RULE. The wold of the vampires in this book is flipped on its head and not traditional like drinking blood out the neck and killing when drinking it gave detailed discriptons and helped ou to understand the way of life for them, if you hated 'cirque du freak' you should give it a chance.

[The T Dude]

if you dont get captured by the fist one thats ok its probably the boring 1 but its very dromatic and i liked it alot but the 2nd one last few chapters r very good but after that they get good around 4-12 12 is definatly the most exciting giv them a goood try the next saga is extremely violent and horid but so exciting 2 read for exaple 'the demon lunged forward and graped the corps of darrus's son and began to use it as a wepon strikeing at the rest of the children with the corpse of the young boy' so its alot like that and very good

[Sathai]

I've only read two books by him, Cirque du Freak and The Vampire's Assistant. I enjoyed them both, I thought they were an interesting YA horror.

[AphroditeMSC]

I loved the Darren Shan books. I've read them all. Including the standalone novel. The Demonata books are a bit more gruesome than the vampire ones. I have a special place in my heart for Lord Loss for some reason lol. Probably reminds me of my kids' dad lmao.

[Dritzz133]

darren shan has written the best books i have ever read

[Crazihors]

I think he's overrated. THe Saga of Darren Shan was all right, not the best thing I've ever read, but not too bad either. It made me have high hopes for Lord Loss, especially since it was about werewolves. But his style of wroting in the present tense was just annoying, and I had to struggle to finish it. Since then, I have lost interest in darren Shan, and I disbelieve it when it says on his books that he is 'master of horror'

[power 0wns]

Darren shan is a really good author, i would recomend him to anyone, i have read all his books so far, ( I think ) I love the demonata series, and look forward to reading "demon apocalypse" the new book he has just published

[Ramoth's Rider]

I think that part of the charm of Darren Shan is that he's writing as i child in more like a diary sort of way. Not in tuesday went to school got bit by vampire came home but as a teenager who is telling the story and from that point their quite believeable.

My son loved them and has just finished book 6 i think of the demonata.

[Feordel]

I love Darren Shan.
I've read the first 3 of the demonata and read Cirque du freak today it blew me way. Will be buying the rest this weekend!