Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare

The Saga of Darren Shan, Book 1

By: Darren Shan

Narrated by: Ralph Lister

Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the tradition of Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes and Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, New York Times best-seller Cirque du Freak is the first title in the popular Saga of Darren Shan series.

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!

Steve confronts the vampire after the show finishes - 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 Darren’s story.

©2013 Darren Shan (P)2013 Blackstone Audio

Still love it.

I first got this book in grade 3, some 10 or so years ago and loved reading it. It really brings back great memories listening to it.

I love it!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend because it's FREAKING AWESOME!!!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare?

When Darren told us about the vacuum cleaner incident. :)

Which scene was your favorite?

When they met Mr.Tall.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

He's a vampire's WHAT!?!

Any additional comments?

Peeps out there, you should listen to this!

Best Book Series I’ve Ever Read!!

This was the only book series I ever read when I was younger. It was so intriguing and mysterious I could never put it down. As the story progresses it gets better and better keeping you at the edge of your seat, it truly amazes me how Immersed I became the story just pulled me in I never wanted it to end...So I decided to visit it again and I’m not regretting it!

I admit, I hadn't heard of this till the movie

Often, the book is better than the movie, but the movie brings in people who'd never heard of the book. I am one of those. This book was great! The Narrator seemed to be a little old for the kid, but he was such a delight to listen to, I forgot about that quickly. I've gotten books two and three already. I listen to this on my way to work, and try to go the long way now, just so I can listen!

Horror for children

Originally posted at Fantasy Literature.

“Only the world’s dumbest person would run a risk like that again. Step forward — Darren Shan!”

Darren Shan (which is the name of the author and the protagonist of the CIRQUE DU FREAK series) was having a pretty normal life until one of his best friends finds an advertisement for the Cirque du Freak. After they “borrow” some money from their parents and sneak out at night, Darren and Steve discover a weird world that they never could have dreamed of. Darren is particularly enchanted by Mr. Crepsley and his performing spider, Madam Octa. This spider kills a goat on stage and then obeys Mr. Crepsley’s commands. When they stay after the show, Darren and Steve discover that Mr. Crepsley is a vampire!

Darren should have left well enough alone, but, unfortunately, he makes another crucial error in judgment. And another, and another. Horror is heaped upon horror and, at the end of the book, the lives of Darren and his friends and family are changed forever. In a very bad way.

A Living Nightmare is a horror novel for older children and young teens (I’d say ages 10-15 are probably the target audience) and it’s pretty effective. As an adult, I found it scary and it even gruesome in parts. Kids who don’t like horror may not appreciate it, but those who do are likely to find this to be a fast-paced, compelling, unputdownable read. The series is immensely popular around the world and a movie has been produced.

Even though Darren makes some really dumb mistakes, he’s a likeable kid who you can’t help but root for. I do wish, however, that he’d had a better grammar teacher. Sentences such as “Steve and me looked at each other and gulped” really make me cringe.

As a parent, I hated the ending of A Living Nightmare. I can’t tell you what happens or it will spoil the whole thing, but I’ll just say that it’s obvious that Darren Shan (the author) was not a parent when he wrote this. A particular conversation that Darren’s mom and dad have at the end would never happen. But, even so, the ending is completely (horrifyingly) compelling and will have most of Shan’s readers eager to pick up the next book, The Vampire’s Assistant, immediately. Which is what I did.

There are twelve books in the CIRQUE DU FREAK series and Blackstone Audio has been releasing them on audio. They’re narrated by Ralph Lister. Lister is one of the most enthusiastic narrators I’ve ever listened to and sometimes I love him and sometimes I don’t. He’s wonderful with the scary tense scenes, but he tends to overplay the quieter scenes which, I think, disrupts the tension-release that author Darren Shan does so well. I’d suggest listening to a sample to make sure you like Lister’s style.

loved it

loved these books since i read them in middle school. enjoyed his reading of it. i was able to get lost in the story

My kids have to read this

Buying them all for kids. Why have I, an avid reader never heard of these? I loved it!

My first audio book experince

I really love this book I do perfer reading to listening so this was a differnt experince for me and very interesting bit I would love to go back and read this book myself because I love to sink myself into the story but this is nice when you are doing something and you want to read something.

Such a great introduction book!

Would you listen to Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare again? Why?

Yes. I loved the narrator, and I fully enjoyed this quick listen.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked the circus master. I can't remember his name, but he sounds so mysterious and creepy, but you want to know more.

What does Ralph Lister bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I started reading it, but I decided to try the audio and I'm so glad I did. He adds an extra oomph of creepy.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did, and I'm so glad I was able too, because I loved it so much.

Any additional comments?

Start it now!

Fun and Interesting

I remember reading this back in middle school and loving it. I saw it and had to get it to see if it was as good as I remember it if it was really cheesy like the movie kind if made it. And I was pleasantly surprised how good it was! There was a lot I had forgotten that happened my first read, abd a lot that once it happened I remembered as it was happening.

this is definitely something I would recommend for something that's nice to listen to and has an interesting plot. There's no action and the actual vampire isn't in it too much, but it doesn't take away from the story since it is just building up to everything in this first book. Im excited to jump into the next one and see where it leads. I vaguely remembering the other books. I can't remember if I finished the series though

Stephen King meets Harry Potter

I am so excited to continue this series after this book. The story could trim a little fat and unessesery suspense slows down a otherwise fast paced and refreshing story. I can't say now, but it looks like this is a series I'll be reading for my kids one day, along with lotr and hp series. Give it a go!

Must read!

It really is a great book, readed it as a child and now listening to it again brings back so many good memories back. If you are in to fantasy stuff, this book is right for you!

Fangtastic!

Excellent reading and an even better story. I get to enjoy my beloved childhood again!

Amazing

I love this book, I mean really love it, it is well read and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Great Series

While I love both the saga of Darren Shan and the demonata books I felt the americanisation too jarring .
pounds changed to dollars .. football changed to soccer.
but would still recommend that you give the audiobooks a try.

exellent

loved it
great book and the narrator was fantastic throughout, cant wait to listen to the rest of them.

love these books

av got all the books but better listing to it good job voice is great

Brilliant!

loved these books as a kid and as an adult they are still just as enjoyable :)

came higly recommended

im a hufe vampire fan and this book came recomended from several friends. however ther is little original thoght to be found and almost nothing happens. every book i though ok next book stuff is going down but each finale was more disapointing tyan the one before

Very well performed!

I have always taken a liking to darren shan from the demon saga. This book is definiatly the best so far, truely brilliant.