Darren Shan's days as an ordinary schoolboy are over, and his life as the vampire's assistant has begun! With his mentor, Larten Crepsley, Darren joins the Cirque du Freak and slowly begins settling into his new role there, an adjustment made simpler when he makes a couple of new friends among the Cirque's performers. But life as a half-vampire can never be easy or ordinary - as Darren learns only too well when tragedy strikes!