After a series-halting diversion into Harkat Mulds's origins in an alternate world in Lake, Darren Shan resumes the over-prolonged battle against the Vampaneze in Shadows. Melodramatic and inconsistent, Shan still depends on ginned-up prophecies and convenient taboos to goad along his poorly thought-out plot and under-utilized vampire conceit. The lost momentum likely won't be regained in time for the proposed series finale.

Gr 5 Up-Part-vampire Darren Shan is traveling again with Mr. Tall and his Cirque du Freak in the 11th and penultimate book in the series. When he returns to his hometown, Darren would love to see his family and friends, but he knows it is too dangerous, especially at this point in his battle with the Vampaneze. Steve Leopard and his evil minions manipulate events to bring about a fight to the death between Steve, the Lord of the Vampaneze, and Darren. The winner will determine the fate of vampires everywhere. The story, fast-paced, violent, and gory, is filled with anger, revenge, and death, with a touch of redemption and a cliff-hanger ending. Readers of the series will anticipate the conclusion, whether they catch the foreshadowing or not. This book is not for the young or faint of heart, but others will eagerly devour it.-Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

For months, Vampire Prince Darren Shan has been on a mission to kill Steve Leopard, the Vampaneze Lord and Darren's greatest enemy. Unable to shake the knowledge that either he or Steve must rise to become the deadly Lord of the Shadows and lead the world into possible devastation, Darren suffers from nightmares and frets about his humanity. He is now living back in his hometown, where his adventure began at the Cirque du Freak. During Darren's travels, Steve has amassed an army of humans and vampaneze and is now sending them to harm Darren's friends and family, including a nephew Darren never knew he had. No one but Steve can kill Darren, but Steve is determined to make winning the war as difficult as possible for Darren and his comrades. Even after eleven books (of twelve planned), this series still has great momentum. The gory, heart-pounding action sequences-a staple of this series-do not deflect from Darren's personal growth. Darren falls in love and experiences some very painful losses, but readers who pick up the books for the blood and guts will not feel dragged down by the human or vampire relationships. There is one very disturbing murder near the end of the book, but it is a necessary plot point to fully determine that there is no hope of redemption for Steve. Fans of the series will anxiously await the final volume.-Carlisle Kraft Webber.