Darren Shan is going home--and his world is going to hell. Old enemies await. Scores must be settled. Destiny looks certain to destroy him, and the world is doomed to fall to the Ruler of the Night....**From School Library JournalGrade 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, ORCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Review''Fast paced and compelling, full of satisfying macabre touches, 'Cirque du Freak' explores the powerful fascination of the dangerous and the unnatural and also, movingly, the obligations of friendship.'' --J. K. Rowling, praise for the series''Shan is uncannily skillful in sucking readers into his macabre world.'' --Children's Literature, praise for the series