Tunnels of Blood (Cirque du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan, Book 3) Audio CD – Audiobook, CD, Unabridged

Originally posted at Fantasy Literature.Warning: This is the third book in the CIRQUE DU FREAK series, so this review will contain spoilers for the previous books. You don’t have to read the previous books because author Darren Shan gives a short but sufficient recap, but starting at the beginning would be ideal.Mr. Crepsley is the only full vampire that Darren had ever met until Gavner Purl, Vampire General, shows up at the Cirque du Freak. After Purl meets with Mr. Crepsley, Darren is told that he and his mentor will be taking a little break from the freak show and going to live in a city while Crepsley takes care of some business there. Darren is allowed to bring his friend Evra the snake-boy.At first the city is fun and Darren even meets a girl who becomes his first girlfriend. But then things start going badly, as they always do. Darren and Evra see a news report which says that corpses have been showing up around town — corpses with the blood totally drained out! Naturally, Darren and Evra suspect Mr. Crepsley and they’re eager to stop his murderous activities. When they start following him on his nightly forays, they discover a new deadly evil.Readers who enjoyed the first two CIRQUE DU FREAK books are certain to enjoy Tunnels of Blood. It’s another short, fast-moving installment that’s gruesome and terrifying. The scariness is nicely offset by some sweet moments of friendship and joy.In each of the CIRQUE DU FREAK books so far I’ve had trouble believing in the events at the plot’s climax and resolution. This book’s plot is the most unlikely so far. Darren sets out a plan that is much more likely to be disastrous than to work, and it’s hard to believe he thought it was a good idea. Another problem is Mr. Crepsley’s unnecessary secretiveness which greatly increases the tension but doesn’t really make sense. Still, the author’s fans are likely to be forgiving of these little issues and, if they are, they’ll find Tunnels of Blood to be another exciting high-stress story.Ralph Lister’s narration is sometimes brilliant and sometimes awful in Tunnels of Blood. I can’t stand his voice for Evra the snake-boy, and his voice for the villain is completely over the top, but Lister’s performance makes the whole thing even scarier. Again, I’d suggest listening to a sample before purchasing.

(spoilers alert, please read at your discretion)Darren has finally accepted he's a half-vampire. He's watched a friend die and drank his blood to carry his memories with him. It's been over a year since his change.In this installment of Darren's story, we meet Gavner Purl, a vampire general. He's come to the Cirque du Freak to give some mysterious news to Mr. Crepsley. This news sends Crepsley, Darren, and Evra into the city.In the city, Evra and Darren learn from the news grisly murders are happening where the victims are drained of their blood. Darren believes Mr. Crepsley is to blame. To discover the truth, Darren and Evra play investigator following Crepsley around on his nightly outings. During their "off" time Darren has made a new friend, girlfriend actually. And once again feels a touch of the human boy he once was.In their quest to determine the killer of the blood drained people Darren and Evra learn Mr. Crepsley isn't the killer Darren hoped he wasn't. Instead it's something else, a vampaneze. Another race of vampires.After Evra and Darren are captured by the vampaneze Darren makes a deal with the monster to trade Evra's life for his girlfriend's. In the end Mr. Crepsley is the winner and the monster is dead. Darren says a bittersweet goodbye to his girlfriend.As the 3rd book in the Cirque du Freak series, I was again enthralled by the story. Following in the footsteps of the first books, this is again a page turner and great for all ages. You are pulled into the story unable to put it down. And when the end comes, it leaves you needing to read the next book. Although this book isn't as good as the first, it's worth the read. This series is a must have and definite re-read.

My son loved books, always wanted books, always reading. His only problem was that he never read much of any book, only a few chapters then he became bored. I bought him the first Cirque Du Freak because of the monsters, especially the boy with snake like skin, but was very pleased to find he LOVED it. He was about 14 then and at 19, with a kindle, has reread them over and over, sharing them with all his friends, letting people borrow them. Now the paper is worn out and I am buying them for his kindle as a treat. The writing is well done, written by a kid, who uses his own name as the main character. There are vampires, werewolves, and other "monsters" who don't really turn out to be too bad. Of course there is a villian, and just like any good villian, there is no question that he is bad. But the good guys are not always good, they have a bit of a past and can be mischievous. Any moral lessons are subtle enough that the teens aren't bored by them, and none of the vampires twinkle. Don't let the movie fool you, these will grab you and make you want to read the whole series!

Darren Shan continues his addictive series with the tunnels of blood. Shan keeps the reader's interest by adding yet another new wrinkle with mysterious killings occurring. Darren finds a love interest and is able to explore a part of his life he thought died when he became Mr. Crepsley's assistant. Evra the snake boy goes along to show the strength of Darren's friendship with Evra, and their relationship is definitely tested.What is discovered in the Tunnels of Blood only adds to the suspense that consistently builds in this series. EVERYTHING presented in these first books of the Cirque series will be relevant in later books. Fortunately Shan re-visits characters and pieces of plot at exactly the right time.Darren Shan is quite a talented author who writes a series that can be enjoyed by any age group, and this series needs to be made into a film ASAP.The writing is brilliant, yet simple.

Read the Darren Shan books when younger at school and thought I would get on kindle and read again digitally. To go with my Harry Potter and Narnia collection as a trip down memory lane! The Darren Shan books are easy to read and are quite short books, so read this instalment in two sittings. They are a good stop gag read really. The story a bit far fetched and target audience definitely young teenagers but hey ho, brought backs memories of sitting in the school library reading it when I was a kid.Enjoy!

I bought the whole series of these books for my grandson, he loved everyone. TBH I also read a few and found them a good read. They helped my grandsons reading progress too.

Excellent gran daughter loved it

Super book. A+

This book is a great read. I bought this for my daughter and she didnt put it down until she was finished it. Darren Shan is a great author for any young teenager. Good product, great quality. I would recommend it. Shipping in the time as stated. 100% recommended.

Good

My son loves it

Great

The standard remains high and it's nice to see the characters growing up and their relationships developing. Happy to report there's gore and mystery and setting it in the city makes a playground for the likeable half vampire.

Having read all of these books years ago, it’s crazy how many subtleties I had missed when I was younger. Darren Shan is truly remarkable.

Brilliant series of books for young teens

This is a great book that will turn it's pages for you just can't get enough of it can't wait to read the next book. Read it read it read it

brought as a gift for my daughter, she was very pleased

GOOD

Really getting into this collection of vampire books, well worth reading and this book fits in nicely. As an adult I think a child under supervision would be ok to listen.