Darren's vampire story
Begin with A Living Nightmare and follow all twelve numbered books in order.
Book Series · 12 Books
Cirque du Freak Books
In order from A Living Nightmare to Lord of the Shadows.
A twelve-book horror adventure about Darren Shan, a boy forced into life as a half-vampire and drawn into an escalating war between vampire clans.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Cirque du Freak Books
Read the twelve novels in numbered order, from A Living Nightmare through Sons of Destiny. The series tells one continuous story and is grouped into four three-book arcs.
The Saga of Larten Crepsley is a separate four-book prequel about Darren's mentor. It is best saved until after Cirque du Freak so the original series' discoveries and mysteries unfold as intended.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
This is a deliberately dark horror series with blood feeding, frightening creatures, murder, torture, dismemberment, body horror, and repeated character deaths. Children and major characters face serious harm, and the books explore grief, revenge, war, and coercive choices. The brisk adventure style can make the violence feel less graphic than adult horror, but the stakes and imagery are intense.
Where to start
Where Should a New Reader Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$1595
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2000
A Living Nightmare
By Darren Shan
A boy's pact with a vampire leads to a dark, twisted journey.
266 pages· 50,174 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
Hardcover
In reading order
Cirque du Freak Series
12 books · Published 2000–2005
#1
Sale price
$1595
A Living Nightmare
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2000
A boy's pact with a vampire leads to a dark, twisted journey.
#2
Sale price
$2328
The Vampire's Assistant
Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2000
A boy battles his vampire nature while destiny looms and danger awaits.
#3
Sale price
$948
Tunnels of Blood
Chapter Book · Ages 14–17 · 2000
Vampire assistant Darren faces a deadly mystery as blood-drained corpses appear in the city.
#4
Sale price
$1699
Vampire Mountain
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2001
A perilous journey to Vampire Mountain tests Darren's humanity and survival.
#5
Sale price
$948
Trials of Death
Chapter Book · 2001
Survive deadly trials or face death in a vampire clan's test of worthiness.
#6
Sale price
$1599
The Vampire Prince
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2002
Traitor Darren faces death and a Vampire Prince. Can he change his fate?
#8
Sale price
$1699
Allies of the Night
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2002
A vampire prince faces deadly foes and a haunting past as bodies pile up.
#9
Sale price
$1599
Killers of the Dawn
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2003
Vampires face a deadly battle as enemies close in. Can they survive the hunt?
#10
Sale price
$948
The Lake of Souls
Chapter Book · 2002
A Vampire Prince's fate twists at the Lake of Souls.
#11
Sale price
$948
Lord of the Shadows
Chapter Book · 2005
A boy's fate threatens to unleash darkness upon the world.
#12
Sale price
$1699
Sons of Destiny
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2002
A deadly showdown decides the world's fate. Can destiny be tricked?
Hunters of the Dusk
Chapter Book · 2002
No book description provided.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Cirque du Freak series?
There are 12 books in the Cirque du Freak series. It began with A Living Nightmare in 2000, and the newest book, Lord of the Shadows, was published in 2005.
What order should you read the Cirque du Freak books in?
Start with A Living Nightmare and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #12.
What ages are the Cirque du Freak books best for?
The series is best for ages 10–17, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring Cirque du Freak to life.
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