Hunters of the Dusk (Cirque Du Freak Series #7), Vol. 7 by Darren Shan

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
The hunt for the Vampaneze Lord is on as Darren and team set out to defeat the creature who threatens to destroy the vampires forever. Chock-full of the suspense that's made Shan's Cirque du Freak series a smash hit, the seventh installment revs up when Mr. Tiny visits Vampire Mountain with surprising revelations about the Vampaneze Lord and some new, unexpected troops he's managed to create. Soon, Darren, Mr. Crepsley, and Harkat are on their way to finding the enemy, which leads to shocking truths that Darren learns about his own half-vampire condition, another official hunter to join in the quest, and the help of a powerful sorceress with poisonous frogs guarding her home. Shan's legions of followers won't find as much bloody action here as in other books, but important events and explanations will quench your inquisitive thirst about vampire culture and history. With a sample excerpt from the eighth book to keep readers on the edge of their seats, Hunters of the Dusk is a darkly thrilling, crucial read in the series. Matt Warner

From the Publisher

The pursuit begins...

Darren Shan, the Vampire Prince, leaves Vampire Mountain on a life or death mission.

As part of an elite force, Darren searches the world for the Vampaneze Lord. But the road ahead is long and dangerous - and lined with the bodies of the damned.

Christopher Moning - Children's Literature

Things are really heating up in this novel, the seventh installment in Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freak series. Darren Shan—the character shares his name with the author of the series—is a half vampire, and now one of only five Vampire Princes in the world. Vampires are six years into "The War of Scars," against their blue-veined cousins, the vampaneze. Vampeneze are creatures that, unlike vampires, kill their victims after they feed on them. The powerful yet shady Mr. Tiny has prophesied that Darren and two of his brethren will have four chances to kill the Lord of the Vampeneze. Darren, together with his mentor, Mr. Crepsley, and another Vampire Prince, Vancha March, set out on a mission to hunt down and destroy the vampaneze. First, they visit a powerful witch named Lady Evanna, who sometimes provides aid to vampires but more often refused to take sides in the war. Darren is briefly reunited with his friends at the Cirque Du Freak, but soon is engaged in deadly combat with the enemy. Well-paced and smoothly flowing, Darren Shan has crafted another finely wrought effort in the best selling "Saga of Darren Shan." 2004 (orig. 2002), Little Brown and Company, Ages 10 to 14.

Lori Matthews - VOYA

Darren Shan's adventure as a Vampire Prince continues in volume seven of the series. The war that was foretold by Mr. Tiny has begun. The Vampaneze Lord has arisen and is trying to bring about the destruction of the Vampires. So far, the Vampires are holding their own, but with the Vampaneze Lord's invention of a new breed of half vampires called Vampets, it is getting more difficult for Darren and his followers. It is up to Darren, Larten Crepsley, and the illusive Vampire Prince Vancha March to create a plan to find the Vampaneze Lord and destroy him before it is too late. Mr. Tiny offers the Vampires a small clue when he tells them that they have five chances to kill the Vampaneze Lord, and they have already wasted one by killing Kurdha Smahlt, but Mr. Tiny will not say more. His only advice is to "follow their hearts." Of course, their hearts take them to the Cirque du Freak and Lady Evanna, who has a very disturbing prophecy about Darren. This installment is a must-read for fans of the series. They will not be able to put it down. The prologue at the beginning of the book is great for providing the background of Cirque du Freak for those who are unfamiliar with the series. The story itself is enthralling and will create instant Darren Shan fans of any new readers. As with all books in the series, the cliffhanger ending will leave readers desperate for the next chapter of the Darren Shan saga. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2004, Little Brown, 192p., Ages 11 to 15.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-The young half-vampire Prince is on a quest with his guardian, a Vampire General, and a Little Person (a creature who had once been human and works for the vampires) to defeat the Lord of the Vampaneze. While on their action-packed journey, the unlikely quartet meets a sorceress who tells them that they will have four opportunities to kill their enemy, and that if they fail, only one of them will remain alive to witness the fall of the vampire clan. Following this dark prophesy, Darren and his group come in contact with the Cirque du Freak and a group of vampaneze and encounter the villain himself. Character development is evident in Darren, but less so in more minor characters. A few explanations of earlier events will help readers who have not read the earlier titles. Incidents of intoxication and graphic depictions of violence, along with a few obscenities, are vital to the story. Simple language, a fast pace, humor, and a suspenseful plot are the hallmarks of this seventh entry in the series.-Jessi Platt, Auburn Public Library, AL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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