Years ago I watched the film and fell in love with this series. It was a shame the movies never continued because I was enchanted and adored it. I had a Harry Potter-mania type love for it. Why wouldn't I? I'm a girl obsessed with Halloween and all things spooky!

As an adult, it's weird picking this book up. I can totally tell I'd be obsessed with this book series as a middle grader. It's a real shame I never grabbed it back then. It would have totally fit on my shelves next to my Goosebumps and Bunnicula!

Darren Shan being the author and main protagonist is interesting. I did read this series out of order, so it was weird knowing what happens next, but it was still good! I can totally see why middle graders loved this series and I can see why it was so popular. I want to keep reading its because it's fun, mysterious and full of frights. It has a male lead, which is different from what I normally get, so it also made reading it a bit more interesting. A vampire tale told by a male becoming a vampire and not a girl chasing after them? Not my norm! Oh, and it's dark. I love that!

Overall, I really liked this book. It's got a whimsical tale with lots of spooky lore and mysteries that will surely be expanded upon. I want to see how the world of Cirque Du Freak works and what will become of Steve.

Four out of five stars. ( )

Fine, kind of a nothing story for middle-grades that I'm sure is fun for the right age and personality.

A primera vista Darren Shan Parece un chico normal y corriente: le gusta jugar al fútbol con sus compañeros, reírse en clase y le encantan las arañas. Hasta que un buen día Stev, su mejor amigo, consigue entradas para un extraño espectáculo del Cirque Du Freak, que ha sido prohibido en la ciudad y en el que actúan personajes siniestros y criatura inverosímiles: un hombre lobo que casi devora a una espectadora, la mujer barbuda cuyo sedoso pelo es imposible de cortar, un ser mitad niño mitad serpiente y un lúgubre adiestrador de arañas, míster Crepsley, en el que Steve cree reconocer a un mítico vampiro. Pero lo que más fascina a Darren es Madam Octa, la venenosa y astuta tarántula, capaz de obedecer todas las órdenes de míster Crepsley, y no puede resistir la tentación de robarla e intentar domesticarla por su cuenta. Pero su atrevimiento tendrá fatales consecuencias.

Reread (listened) on audio. It must have been at least 15 years since my first read, and I don't think I reread more than once when I was younger. I was amazed by how much gender typing this did--there was a really cringey moment where Darren talks about how boys don't really talk about feelings and I thought NOOOOoooOOo don't tell the youth that! This was still super fun though and I think I'm about to commit to rereading this entire series because the last book was so mindblowing. ( )

This is one of the best fantasy adventure JA books out there, I think that if you liked Harry Potter, you will love this series, there is even a movie... which sucks in my opinion, they could have easily made this book into an amazing, AMAZING film like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, but oh well... Anyways back to the book, the book is about Darren Shan, a kid like any other with his best friend Steve Leopard, everything in his life is normal, until a freak show comes to town, from there on they fall into the hands of destiny as they meet Mr. Larten Crespley a vampire... I dont want to spoil more or everything about this amazing series and its not a spoiler to say the books are about vampires, so READ THIS BOOK even if you are an adult, I am 21 and STILL one of my FAV SERIES, provably read them 5 if not more... AMAZING ( )