"Cirque Du Freak - A Living Nightmare" Chapters 1-9 - My Thoughts
So my re-read of my all-time favorite books continues! Too fun. I've been talking about this for awhile and after completing 'The Inheritance Cycle' and associated books, I'm finally entering the second phase here with 'Cirque Du Freak'. I'll read all twelve books and I'll likely have about three to four reviews per book I'm guessing.
Then I'll also re-read the fantastic four book prequel series of 'Cirque Du Freak' about Larten Crepsley as well.
To end my favorite series re-reads, I shall finish with good old Harry Potter. Perhaps at that point once HP is done, the show will be around the corner! Who knows. I could be finished much earlier than that but, time flies.
After my three favorite series are completed my book rambles shouldn't stop. I'm really enjoying this. I also plan on reading the books by Patrick Rothfuss called the 'The King Killer Chronicle'. Those I've never read.
There's also this non-fiction book I have about what life was like in America during the Great Depression through the end of World War II that would be cool to read and write about. I like history or so I claim. I'd like to actually read some history books for once. YouTube is an outstanding source for these things, but books have tremendous value as well.
From then on there might be one more classic series from when I was a kid I might read, we'll see. Sort of an honorable mention series. I'll probably do so honestly LOL. Why not. Those books were important to me for a reason, why not re-experience them.
Then, well I'll just maybe hit up my local library and start reading whatever. Or buy some books.
One day I really would love to have an epic library. Ya boy can dream!
I've read a ton of single, stand alone novels in my life and there's of course tons of undiscovered books out there to dive into.
Just having fun with it!
'Cirque Du Freak' man, what a series. This series means a lot to me.
It's a masterpiece in my opinion. I am not an elite reader in terms of my volume of books I've read. But I had a serious reading era in my life and at this point in 2026, I think I've certainly read more than the average person.
From what I remember, 'Cirque Du Freak' stands out because of how it evolves so beautifully. It starts out very much a kid's book and by the time the last book arrives, it's a pretty mature adult type of series. Like the contrast between the first three books, and last three books is pretty stunning. I've never actually experienced a series that does such a good job at evolving.
This is how I remember it anyway. I think I've read this series maybe three times in my life, but it's been ages since my last read. I've the Larten Crepsley series once.
I must mention that I did read this series prior to that awful movie coming out which I will not speak on. The person/people that made that movie had zero respect for this series, that much is clear. There's no other logical way to explain that film.
'Cirque Du Freak' was the first series I read in full after Harry Potter. I was addicted to these books, I'll never forget the thrill of grabbing the next book from my library and dashing home.
These books also inspired me to want to write a book series myself, and well that hope hasn't left me for the most part. I even emailed Darren Shan as a teen and swore I'd do so HA. Reading these books is sort of re-inspiring me, it's kind of wild. I'd still love to publish something someday, anything is possible. I tentatively have tried here and there and each try is a bit more serious than the last time.
I have moved a ton over the years. Somehow I've managed to stay in the place I'm currently in for nearly five years, I have no clue how but here we are.
Still, the consequences of moving so frequently remain. I've had to re-purchase lost books and there's plenty of books that are still very much lost. One day I'd love to get my collection back to it's former state, and then some.
'Cirque Du Freak' is a prime example of how random my collection has gotten. Without ranting too much about the history of all of this, I've essentially got four different copies of 'Cirque Du Freak - A Living Nightmare'....
I was seriously stressing about which copy exactly I was going to read out of!
This is the first original style l own. I don't actually own many of these original covers, but at the library back in the day I did read each of these with these original first gen covers. The style is one of a kind and so different. They stood out so strongly from the other books I've read and were just so creepy.
I'll be reading from this book. It's a First U.S. Edition! This book has the red opening and closing pages. Not sure what you'd call those. Also each chapter has this cool spider graphic in the corner. I notice other editions I own don't have these subtle features.
This is the second generation cover I have. I assume it's second generation anyway. Maybe this is strictly in America, I'm unsure. After book three, these style covers are what I'll be posting. These may not be original but, they are still very beautiful.
That splatter look on the side of the cover is a part of the book HA. I had to double check myself.
The manga/graphic novel style! I'd love to own a copy of all of these for 'Cirque Du Freak' for sure. This is the only manga/graphic novel I own in general.
This is a unique, and I imagine a rare copy of 'Cirque Du Freak'. I was mildly hopeful the movie was actually going to be decent at that point in time. Also, the cover was pretty generic so I figured it was a safe buy. It wasn't obviously a straight up movie cover for the book. It's just some dude (Darren), in a very dark setting.
Finally this copy has the first three books in one! The convenience/value factor was outstanding. This was the first copy of 'Cirque Du Freak' I bought on my own and eventually read from outside of a library. It's also the only copy of 'Tunnels of Blood' I own.
At the end of the day, when it comes to my Golden Trio series:
- 'The Inheritance Cycle' / 'Murtagh' and future books
- 'Cirque Du Freak' / 'The Saga of Larten Crepsley'
- 'Harry Potter'
I'd love to have a massive collection of all types of covers from throughout the world even. Alternative covers, foreign covers with different languages etc.
Then of course have a collection of other books to have a more diverse library. But to have a core of those three would be dope.
So yes, I've read the first nine chapters of the first book. The first time I've read a page of 'Cirque Du Freak' in who knows how long. It's always wild how many memories flood back and how current me interprets the book after simply living life.
SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
Chapters 1-9
Darren is so young and just oblivious to the world around him in this extremely early stage. It's crazy.
I notice now more obviously how his best friend Steve is rather volatile and unpredictable. It's intriguing how he's labeled an 'idiot genius'. There's so many subtle hints about the difference in personality between Darren and Steve and it's pretty fascinating. Steve grew up with a single mom and man, his lack of guidance is rather um understandable let's say. Whereas Darren certainly has a more stable upbringing and a loving household. These personality differences and hints about their mindset are subtle and come and go swiftly but they're there.
It's so impressive how Darren Shan, the author planned out the series. As the later books come about, it really feels like a natural growth for Darren, the character. Natural discovery, natural maturity. Bravo man.
I remember upon my first read, when the series develops and the plot thickens that, I underestimated the series and how deep the lore was going to get.
Knowing what's to come, being a bit older and smarter and wiser, it's fun to process the book in a different way and look for the hints and everything that I missed before.
Mr. Tall is such a cool character. Creepy, and mysterious in a blunt, strange way.
The unexpected violence is also stunning. This abruptness sort of sets the stage for how fast paced and unexpected the series can be. The wolf-man at the 'Cirque Du Freak' show bites off the lady's hand out of nowhere. The cliff hangers at the end of many chapters are just so addicting.
But yeah, it's striking how overall wholesome these chapters are. These opening chapters might actually be the most wholesome, normal chapters in the entire series, it's rather sad actually.
These pages fly by for sure and I'm certain that I'm going to enjoy this series greatly. That's what's so cool about this series. Each book is pretty short BUT there is twelve books so it feels like twelve healthy bites that form a rather sizeable, delicious meal that's shockingly filling.
These chapters were pretty swift and straight forward. Since I'm reading out of a First U.S. Edition, I'm noticing some genuine typos and it's so cool!
I'm ready for more!
