Product Description

Darren Shan has been made a half-vampire by Mr Crepsley, but the Cirque Du Freak holds more unpleasant surprises for the vampire's assistant. THE SAGA OF DARREN SHAN BOOK 2 Darren joins the vampire, Mr Crepsley, as his assistant and they return to the Cirque Du Freak. There, Darren makes friends with the snake-boy, Evra Von (who knows what Darren is) and a local boy, Sam, and RV, an eco-warrior and animal lover (who do not). Darren begins to enjoy his life among the Cirque performers as the youngest half-vampire in existence, but he defiantly refuses to drink human blood -- the whole idea sickens him -- and he tries desperately to cling on to the part of him which is human. Darren comes face to face with pure evil in the form of Mr Tiny, the leader of the Little People who join the Cirque Du Freak, and who eat anything -- including human flesh. When he discovers animal bones, RV frees the wolf-man from his cage -- and no-one could possibly guess how truly terrible the whole effect would be.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1395 in Books
• Published on: 2000-05-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

From Amazon.co.uk
The Vampire's Assistant is the second instalment in the saga of Darren Shan, which began with Cirque du Freak. Then, Darren made the difficult decision to become a half-vampire to save his best mate Steve Leopard's life. Now, he must leave his friends and family behind as he travels cross-country with the vampire Mr Crepsley and the Cirque du Freak. Early on, Darren dispels the vampire myth in his typically facetious fashion:

Crosses and holy water didn't hurt us. All garlic did was give us bad breath ... A stake through the heart would kill us, of course, but so would a bullet or a knife or electricity ... We were tougher to kill than normal people, but we weren't indestructible.

However, despite Darren's seeming flippancy, The Vampire's Assistant is not for the squeamish or faint-hearted. How long can Darren go before he must drink human blood? How safe are Darren's new-found friends? Why don't the mysterious, blue-hooded dwarves speak or cry out in pain? And does their master Mr Des Tiny really feed on little children? No one is safe in this gruesome, macabre tale--more a who's-going-to-do-what than a who-dunnit:

And then the red monster was on him. Stanley opened his mouth to scream, but before he could, the monster's hands--claws?--clamped over his mouth. There was a brief struggle, then Stanley was sliding to the floor, unconscious, unseeing, unknowing.

Familiar characters include Mr Tall, the wolf-man and Evra, the snake boy, who are more fleshed out in this follow-up. New characters include Darren's new mate Sam and R G (Reggie Veggie), an ecowarrior. If book one whet your appetite, then The Vampire's Assistant will certainly leave you hungry for more. Watch out for the next fang-tastic sequel. --Nicola Perry

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Vampire's Assistant is the second instalment in the saga of Darren Shan, which began with Cirque du Freak. Then, Darren made the difficult decision to become a half-vampire to save his best mate Steve Leopard's life. Now, he must leave his friends and family behind as he travels cross-country with the vampire Mr Crepsley and the Cirque du Freak. Early on, Darren dispels the vampire myth in his typically facetious fashion:

Crosses and holy water didn't hurt us. All garlic did was give us bad breath ... A stake through the heart would kill us, of course, but so would a bullet or a knife or electricity ... We were tougher to kill than normal people, but we weren't indestructible.

However, despite Darren's seeming flippancy, The Vampire's Assistant is not for the squeamish or faint-hearted. How long can Darren go before he must drink human blood? How safe are Darren's new-found friends? Why don't the mysterious, blue-hooded dwarves speak or cry out in pain? And does their master Mr Des Tiny really feed on little children? No one is safe in this gruesome, macabre tale--more a who's-going-to-do-what than a who-dunnit:

And then the red monster was on him. Stanley opened his mouth to scream, but before he could, the monster's hands--claws?--clamped over his mouth. There was a brief struggle, then Stanley was sliding to the floor, unconscious, unseeing, unknowing.

Familiar characters include Mr Tall, the wolf-man and Evra, the snake boy, who are more fleshed out in this follow-up. New characters include Darren's new mate Sam and R G (Reggie Veggie), an ecowarrior. If book one whet your appetite, then The Vampire's Assistant will certainly leave you hungry for more. Watch out for the next fang-tastic sequel. --Nicola Perry

Review
Cirque Du Freak "!fast-paced and compelling book!full of satisfyingly macabre touches!which leaves the reader hungry for more." JK Rowling 'Brilliant, macabre tale.' Guardian "I read Cirque Du Freak last week. I loved it. I love the way you manage to juggle the funny with the unpleasant, the affection with the hurt. It's great story-telling." Roddy Doyle The Vampire's Assistant "The Vampire's Assistant blazes a thrilling, gruesome trail through a fascinating plot." The Good Book Guide Vampire Mountain "Get your teeth into it!" Funday Times

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Customer Reviews

Absolutely Brilliant. The best thing I've read for AGES!!!
It is absolutely brilliant. I'm waiting and waiting for the bookshop to get me Tunnels of Blood, but I'm rereading this book now. I just got to the mega creepy gory bit - you know what I mean - and I practically fainted. I don't like blood... But honestly, this book is the best I've read since Harry Potter, and Harry Potter hasn't even TOUCHED the feelings I get when I read this book - a shiver right down my spine

A must read book! Totally awesome! Darren Shan does it again
If you are a fan of vampire novels, this book is a must read!! Darren Shan continues his saga of the character,Darren Shan, who is now a vampire's assistant. Mr. Crepsley, Darren and all the Freaks are back again in this novel of thrills and chills. Adults and children alike will LOVE this novel. I enjoyed this book better than the first! Mr. Shan is writing this saga in about 20 parts, so these novels will keep all of us entertained in the future.

Darren Returns!
This is the second in the series. Before this you should read "Cirque Du Freak"... now that's over with we'll get on with the review!

This book picks up a couple of months after that the first one finished. Darren has been travelling with Mr Crepsley... but is longing for friends his own age... people who will accept him for what he now is. Mr Crepsley agrees to take Darren to the Cirque Du Freak.

Back at the Cirque Du Freak Darren makes friends, both with the performers, members of an Eco warriors group and a local boy called Sam. Unfortunately these friendships ultimately lead to a heart rendering tragedy.

Darren faces another challenge... he won't drink human blood. If he does he feels his humanity will die... if he doesn't he really will die.

Splattered with enough gore and humour this novel will keep anybody entertained... and the ending will stay with long after the final page has been turned.