ダレン・シャン 1 奇怪なサーカス [Darren Shan 1: Kikaina Circus]

 Darren Shan was just a normal kid, until fate played it's hand and he found himself going to the Cirque du Freak, the infamous Freak Show that parents don't want their kids going to. There, he meets Larten Crepsley, and his whole life is turned upside down.This was my first taste of young adult horror, back when I was twelve years old. I found it in the library when my Dad finally stopped monitoring the horror books I was reading, and found this gorgeous designed book, and picked it up. Finding out it was about vampires, I immediately checked it out and took it home with me. I devoured this first book in one sitting, not even getting up for dinner when Dad called me.I love the Cirque du Freak series so much and this is a brilliant opening for it. This book really does well of introducing all the characters and the basic premises of the whole series. Shan did amazing with it. The characters are all absolutely wonderful. The descriptions of everything – including the ‘freaks’ - kept me so enamoured. Honestly, after reading this I actually actively looked for a freak show to go to because I was so enamoured, I thought they must be as magical as Shan has portrayed them (I never went to one). The characters in this have lived with me ever since I have read this series, and I’m pretty sure I’ve read the whole series two or three times over. Shan’s writing is capturing. I couldn’t put it down. As with all his other books, the writing in this flows brilliantly, holds the reader’s attention, and creates a magical world that I wanted to escape into so many times. I would have absolutely adored to live in a world like this, vampires or no.This book has got me through so much, just by allowing me to escape my life, and I would really recommend this to anyone. Even now as an adult, I can read this through and still enjoy this book as much as the first time I read it. It’s a masterpiece, and sure to be a classic in the horror genre in years to come. 

Was not a very big fan of this book