SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Chapters Read: 18-25

My last blog said I read chapters 9-16, but that was an error on my part HA. I actually had read chapters 9-17.

Oh man the more I read this the more I'm remembering how much of an iconic series this is. It's clever and charming and unique.

Darren and Mr. Crepsley's relationship is complex and slow building which is interesting. Their relationship of mentor/father figure/friend is one of the more unique ones I've read about in all the books I've enjoyed.

Sam Grest is a seriously iconic character and it's a shame what ends up happening. He's smart, wholesome, charismatic. Darren and Sam clearly have a great bond, and I bet they would have been good friends under different circumstances. I guess they'll always be connected. Dang. Ugh, it's a shame how Darren and Sam's last normal-ish interaction went.

It's also alarming how sinister R.V. really is. He arguably has redeeming qualities but he's ultimately way too intense and sensitive and I'm not about to defend him.

It's rather wild how Darren and Sam's fate are forever intertwined. I'll speak on this more after the next part, which will be my final blog on 'The Vampire's Assistant'.

Sam will get his wish of joining the Cirque in the most tragic of ways. They'll even be blood brothers like Sam wanted. In a small mild way he'll even join on Mr. Crepsley's terms but, eh only kinda. I'm curious to see how Darren does change in personality after what's to come... These are aspects I hadn't thought about in the past when I read 'Cirque Du Freak'. I'll be keeping an eye out.

I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but this is just my honest, raw reaction. The foreshadowing is so clever and effortless. It's beautiful really.

This first trilogy of Cirque Du Freak is so well crafted. Darren's obliviousness is on purpose as of course he's young in this first trilogy. In moments when things get serious, the contrast of Darren's perspective and urgent real world threats is distinct and noticeable. Impressive writing. It's so beautiful how this book covers so much of Darren's life. The evolution of Darren is just wild.

Now we're on the last stretch of 'The Vampire's Assistant'. I'm really enjoying this one more than I anticipated. I know my rankings of The Inheritance Cycle, Cirque Du Freak, and Harry Potter is ages away but man that's going to be wild to do and I'm looking forward to it. 'Vampire's Assistant' may be higher on the list than I would have originally thought....