Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan Books in Order

A twelve-book young-adult horror saga following a boy named Darren Shan who, after stealing a spider at a mysterious freak show, is drawn into the shadowy world of vampires and becomes a half-vampire's assistant. The story unfolds across four connected trilogies, building to an epic war between the vampires and their enemies, the Vampaneze.

Publication order

In the order the books were originally released.

  1. Cover of Living Nightmare

    Living Nightmare

    2000 · Darren Shan

    When ordinary schoolboy Darren Shan and his best friend Steve sneak into a forbidden traveling freak show, Darren becomes obsessed with a performing…

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  2. Cover of The Vampire's Assistant (Cirque du Freak, Book 2)

    The Vampire's Assistant (Cirque du Freak, Book 2)

    2000 · Darren Shan

    Now bound to Mr. Crepsley as a half-vampire, Darren joins the Cirque Du Freak and struggles to accept his unnatural new existence and his thirst for…

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  3. Cover of Tunnels of Blood (The Saga of Darren Shan #3)

    Tunnels of Blood (The Saga of Darren Shan #3)

    2000 · Darren Shan

    Darren and Evra leave the Cirque to travel with Mr. Crepsley to a sprawling city, where the vampire keeps mysterious nightly appointments. As bodies…

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  4. Cover of Vampire Mountain

    Vampire Mountain

    2001 · Darren Shan

    Mr. Crepsley brings Darren on a grueling trek to Vampire Mountain so the boy can be presented to the clan's ruling Princes and Generals. Along the…

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  5. Cover of Trials of Death (The Saga of Darren Shan #5)

    Trials of Death (The Saga of Darren Shan #5)

    2001 · Darren Shan

    To prove he truly belongs among the vampires, Darren must survive the Trials of Initiation, a brutal series of physical ordeals that have killed many…

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  6. Cover of The Vampire Prince (Cirque Du Freak #6)

    The Vampire Prince (Cirque Du Freak #6)

    2002 · Darren Shan

    With Vampire Mountain in turmoil and a traitor exposed, Darren faces the consequences of the Trials while the clan braces for the threat of the…

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  7. Cover of Cirque Du Freak #7

    Cirque Du Freak #7

    2002 · Darren Shan

    In the wake of war brewing between the vampires and the vampaneze, Darren and his companions set out to track down the prophesied Lord of the…

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  8. Cover of Allies of the Night

    Allies of the Night

    2002 · Darren Shan

    Returning to a human city on the trail of their enemies, Darren is unexpectedly forced to enroll in school, juggling a normal teenage life with the…

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  9. Cover of Killers of the Dawn (Cirque Du Freak, The Saga of Darren Shan #9)

    Killers of the Dawn (Cirque Du Freak, The Saga of Darren Shan #9)

    2003 · Darren Shan

    Framed for murders committed by their enemies, Darren and Mr. Crepsley find themselves hunted by both the police and the vampaneze. As the deadly…

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  10. Cover of The Lake of Souls (Cirque Du Freak The Saga of Darren Shan #10)

    The Lake of Souls (Cirque Du Freak The Saga of Darren Shan #10)

    2003 · Darren Shan

    Reeling from devastating loss, Darren joins a quest into the eerie Lake of Souls in search of something precious that was taken from his world.…

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  11. Cover of Lord of the Shadows (Cirque Du Freak #11)

    Lord of the Shadows (Cirque Du Freak #11)

    2004 · Darren Shan

    Back in the human world, Darren returns to the Cirque Du Freak and crosses paths with figures from his distant past, forcing him to confront how much…

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Frequently asked questions

What order should I read the Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan books in?

Publication order — Author Darren Shan and publisher HarperCollins; the twelve novels form a single continuous chronological narrative grouped into four trilogies, so publication order matches story order. Start with “Living Nightmare.”

How many books are in the Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan series?

We list 11 books by Darren Shan , published between 2000–2004.

Where can I buy the Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan books?

Each title above links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.