The Vampire’s Assistant

Darren Shan has been made a half-vampire by Mr Crepsley, but the Cirque Du Freak holds more unpleasant surprises for the vampire's assistant. THE SAGA OF DARREN SHAN BOOK 2 Darren joins the vampire, Mr Crepsley, as his assistant and they return to the Cirque Du Freak. There, Darren makes friends with the snake-boy, Evra Von (who knows what Darren is) and a local boy, Sam, and RV, an eco-warrior and animal lover (who do not). Darren begins to enjoy his life among the Cirque performers as the youngest half-vampire in existence, but he defiantly refuses to drink human blood -- the whole idea sickens him -- and he tries desperately to cling on to the part of him which is human. Darren comes face to face with pure evil in the form of Mr Tiny, the leader of the Little People who join the Cirque Du Freak, and who eat anything -- including human flesh. When he discovers animal bones, RV frees the wolf-man from his cage -- and no-one could possibly guess how truly terrible the whole effect would be. Key title / The worldwide bestselling series relaunched and ready to be loved by a whole new generation of Shansters! / Cirque Du Freak - the movie from Universal Pictures is due in cinemas in February 2009!! Directed by Paul Weitz (About a Boy, American Pie, In Good Company), starring Salma Heyek and John C Reilly - it's guaranteed to attract new readers to Darren's books / The Saga of Darren Shan 12 book series has sold over 1 million copies in the UK alone and is published all over the world / Supported by a large scale marketing & PR campaign to include bespoke Darren Shan dumpbin in all high street retailers and massive online PR/viral campaign to recruit new readers / Competition: Paul Stewart

Darren Shan has been made a half-vampire by Mr Crepsley, but the Cirque Du Freak holds more unpleasant surprises for the vampire’s assistant.

Darren Shan has been made a half-vampire by Mr Crepsley, but the Cirque Du Freak holds more unpleasant surprises for the vampire’s assistant.

Darren joins the vampire, Mr Crepsley, as his assistant and they return to the Cirque Du Freak. There, Darren makes friends with the snake-boy, Evra Von (who knows what Darren is) and a local boy, Sam, and RV, an eco-warrior and animal lover (who do not). Darren begins to enjoy his life among the Cirque performers as the youngest half-vampire in existence, but he defiantly refuses to drink human blood – the whole idea sickens him – and he tries desperately to cling on to the part of him which is human.

Darren comes face to face with pure evil in the form of Mr Tiny, the leader of the Little People who join the Cirque Du Freak, and who eat anything – including human flesh. When he discovers animal bones, RV frees the wolf-man from his cage – and no-one could possibly guess how truly terrible the whole effect would be.