Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare

From the Master of Horror comes the first gripping book in the twelve book New York Times bestselling Saga of Darren Shan. Start the tale from the beginning in the book that inspired the feature film The Vampire's Assistant and petrified devoted fans worldwide.
A young boy named Darren Shan and his best friend, Steve, get tickets to the Cirque Du Freak, a wonderfully gothic freak show featuring weird, frightening half human/half animals who interact terrifyingly with the audience. In the midst of the excitement, true terror raises its head when Steve recognizes that one of the performers-- Mr. Crepsley-- is a vampire!

Stever remains after the show finishes to confront the vampire-- but his motives are surprising! In the shadows of a crumbling theater, a horrified Darren eavesdrops on his friend and the vampire, and is witness to a monstrous, disturbing plea. As if by destiny, Darren is pulled to Mr. Crepsley and what follows is his horrifying descent into the dark and bloody world of vampires.

This is the beginning of Darren's story.

• The Vampire's Assistant (Cirque du Freak, Book 2)
• Cirque Du Freak #3: Tunnels of Blood: Book 3 in the Saga of Darren Shan
• Cirque du Freak: Vampire Mountain (Book Four)
• Cirque Du Freak #5: Trials of Death: Book 5 in the Saga of Darren Shan
• Cirque Du Freak #7: Hunters of the Dusk: Book 7 in the Saga of Darren Shan
• Cirque Du Freak #6: The Vampire Prince: Book 6 in the Saga of Darren Shan
• Cirque Du Freak #8: Allies of the Night: Book 8 in the Saga of Darren Shan
• Sons of Destiny (Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan, Book 12
• Cirque Du Freak #9: Killers of the Dawn: Book 9 in the Saga of Darren Shan
• The Lake of Souls (Cirque Du Freak #10)