Well, darn. Thinking back on my impression on these last two books from when I read them all those years ago, I remember them being quite chaotic and grim. I sort of felt as if they were rushed in a sense, but now that I read them again, I feel differently about them. I'm enjoying them more this time. Well, I mean I've only read one of the last two now, so I guess I shouldn't jump to any conclusions here before the finale. But this eleventh was quite exciting.
Exciting yes, but still I remain feeling like it's pretty chaotic and grim. I feel the anxiety of Darren's situation a lot more this time around.
Darren is essentially losing his mind a bit here. It's actually hard to blame him. There's so much going on, it's quite relentless actually. There's no pause, no mercy.
If I stop and think about it now, it's pretty nuts how much Darren has been through in general since that night he went to the Cirque. Now within these past few years, and these past few days actually, it's been utter madness.
Darren watched Mr. Tall die, and while he wasn't remotely as close to Mr. Tall as he was Mr. Crepsley, Mr. Tall was still a fairly solid mentor and role model in Darren's life. Then, Steve literally kills Evra's son in front of everyone which...was insane. I think I mentally blocked that part of the book out of my mind. This is peak Steve evil at the end of book eleven dude. Like, even his dialogue in general as he commits the act, was absolutely terrifying.
I mean, Evra is awesome, Darren and Evra's friendship has evolved and changed over time but, they're still friends and they go back practically twenty years at this point. This child Steve did this to, was literally named after Darren. Shancus called Darren godfather. Holy crap. I know I've read this before, but like I said, I think I sort of blocked out this part of the book because it was so heavy and I don't know. Just insane.
So Darren has to deal with all of this while becoming a full vampire. Additionally, Evanna tells Darren once and for all, even though it kinda was already expressed, that there's basically no winning for Darren here. Steve or Darren, regardless of what happens whatsoever, will become Lord of the Shadows. Knowing this fate is imminent, it just hits harder.
Reading all of this myself, I felt for Darren a lot. It's truly as though there's no options whatsoever, and that everything is pointless. At times in my own life, I've felt versions of this. OBVIOUSLY not regarding the end of the world. But sometimes in life, it really feels like there's no positive choice, no winning. For Darren this is obviously magnified to an unheard of extent. It's not just no winning for Darren, it's no earth. It's certain destruction no matter the path he chooses.
This is such a grim, wild scenario for me to read even as an adult. Truly, this is pretty dark stuff man. I can feel the dread on the pages.
Darren nearly matches Steve's atrocity by killing Darius which is just.... SHEESH. Darren is really deteriorating here and it's actually tragic.
But just when Darren is a moment from becoming a true monster, in a super sick and twisted way, Steve actually saves Darren by revealing that Darius is not just Steve's son but he's also Darren's NEPHEW....
I mean like, Steve is truly on par with Voldemort and Galbatorix at this point. I think I really forgot just how bad Steve is. I think it's the name Steve. It just doesn't sound like an evil guy's name. Well, Steve Leopard is pretty noteworthy I guess.
Steve and Darren staring each other down this whole time, and the way Steve was presenting this information, and doing these deeds, is just bonkers. I mean, Steve challenges Darren to kill Darius like a school boy saying 'I dare you' which is some Joker level crap. Before Darren can harm Darius Steve says 'Be careful, Darren! You don't know who you're killing!' Which is just nuts. I mean even the scenario in which Steve kills Shancus, was wild because they were about to swap the children. But Steve doesn't follow through anyway, because of this ace (Darius being Darren's nephew) up his sleeve.
I mean, Steve is operating on some other level, and I DON'T mean that as a compliment. I mentioned Voldemort and Galbatorix, but Steve is definitely more like the Joker or something. I genuinely think Steve has plotted this scheme out since the very moment he figured out Darren was a half-vampire. I mean, I guess that's obvious to an extent but yeah.
I remember saying way back probably in a book one post, as well as telling a friend years ago, that this series evolves unlike any other series I've read. These last two books feel like straight up adult books.
I don't even know what else to say. Everything Darren cares about is going to ashes here.
This is basically Darren's adult phase. As an adult, it does feel like things come at you in 87 different ways. Feeling trapped, is unfortunately common. Feeling like the world is on your shoulders is common too. Being misunderstood is common. There's bad people that will try to provoke or influence you every step of the way. Tough man.
This series is wild. I love it. I only have one more book left now... Bummer. I'm glad there's the Larten Crepsley series though. Darren Shan is a GOAT for that.
Book twelve will be CRAZY. I can't wait to rant about it.
