Cirque du Freak
 | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (January 2009) |
| File:CirqueDuFreakByDarrenShan.jpg Cirque du Freak 2nd ed. front cover for the UK and Ireland | |
| Author | Darren Shan |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | The Saga of Darren Shan |
| Genre | Young adult, Horror novel |
| Publisher | Harper Collins |
Publication date | 4 January 2000 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (Paperback & Hardback) |
| Pages | 183 pages (paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 978-0006754169 (first edition, paperback) Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
| OCLC | 42745230 |
| Followed by | 'The Vampire's Assistant |
Cirque du Freak (Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare in the United States) is the first novel in The Saga of Darren Shan by Darren Shan. It is part of the "Vampire Blood Trilogy", which comprises the first three of the 12 book saga. Cirque du Freak was first published in Great Britain by HarperCollins in 2000, and was later published in the Vampire Blood Series in 2003 and 2004.
Plot summary
Young Darren Shan has been fascinated by spiders from an early age. His best friend, Steve "Leopard" Leonard has grown up reading horror comics and stories of the Wolfman and vampires.
One day, a friend of theirs discovers a flyer advertising the "Cirque Du Freak", a traveling freak show. Although four boys wanted to go, each flyer is eligible only for the purchase of two tickets; and after a game of chance, Darren and Steve are the winners.
Darren and Steve are mesmerized by the fantastic and disturbing show, especially by the act of the mysterious Mr. Crepsley and his giant spider Madam Octa. After the show, Steve sneaks back into the theatre and confronts Mr. Crepsley about the man being a vampire. He demands to become a vampire too, and join the circus as Mr. Crepsley’s assistant. The vampire is willing, but refuses Steve upon tasting his blood, and declares his blood “evil”. Steve is miserable, and declares revenge on Mr. Crepsley. Unbeknownst to Steve, Darren has been hiding in the theatre, witnessing the confrontation and becoming wary of Steve.
Several days later, Darren develops an obsession for Madam Octa, and returns to the theatre to steal her, using his knowledge of Mr. Crepsley's true nature to his advantage. He trains the spider in secret with a flute that forces the spider to obey his telekinetic commands. Eventually, Steve visits Darren, demanding to know why Darren is avoiding him. Darren confesses that he stole Madam Octa, but does not confess to spying on Steve and Mr. Crepsley. Steve figures out that Darren is lying to him, but still chooses to be friends with him.
When Steve is at Darren's house playing with Madam Octa, Darren's younger sister Annie barges into his room, and screams when she sees the spider. Darren is distracted, drops the flute and loses control over the spider, which bites and fatally wounds Steve. Steve's only hope for survival is if Darren makes a deal with Mr. Crepsley to become his assistant and pay off the cost of the spider venom's antidote. Steve lives, but Darren is turned into a half-vampire and is thrust into the dark world of the vampires. Darren tries to live amongst humans, but decides to join Mr. Crepsley after sucking a friend's blood and nearly attacking his sister. In order to successfully free Darren of all previous bonds, including family, Mr. Crepsley helps his to-be apprentice fake his own death by numbing Darren's entire body, breaking his neck, and throwing him out of his bedroom window, perfectly simulating a fatal fall from out of his window. Following the events of Darren's human body's funeral, Mr. Crepsley returns and digs Darren up. Unbeknownst to Crepsley, however, Steve tries to kill Darren, but chooses not to, saying he is not yet strong enough, instead swearing revenge on Darren for stealing his rightful place of being Mr. Crepsley's vampire assistant and betraying him. Darren does not tell Mr. Crepsley about Steve but continues following the vampire way.