the thin executioner by darren shan

Title: The Thin Executioner
Author: Darren Shan
Pages: 496
Rating: 4/5

Summary (Goodreads):

In a brutal nation of warriors, Jebel’s family holds the highest honor: his father is executioner. But Jebel is considered too thin to compete to replace him. Humiliated and furious, Jebel vows to regain his honor in a quest to petition the fire god for invincibility. The journey is long, filled with unknown monsters. And by the end of it Jebel isn’t quite sure what he wants anymore. In Darren Shan’s imaginative first standalone novel, he explores themes of religious tolerance and cultural understanding, and champions the idea that peace is often the bravest choice of all.

My Thoughts:

This is a book that really drawing me in! Darren Shann never fail to attract my attention of reading his books. I like his Cirque Du Freak books and this one is also is a very good premise. It starts with an awful beginning as the head rolling and also the sound of how the head cut from the neck of the prisoners. I thought, "I'm not good with with this dreadful reading stuff". Turn out, it is not so bad at all.

Thin executioner is actually introducing us a very thin young man who is on a quest with his slave to a far away on highest mountain to harbor a fierce God to give him a superhuman strength so that he could prove to everyone back ta home that he's also worthy man to be honored like his two brothers. However, the quest with his slave open his eyes about the outside world since he's been thought that his tribe is very respectable tribe compared to others. His character is so arrogant, proud, selfish, and he likes to snort. While he's slave/companion is very humble, obedient, sometime very optimistic for a slave. He's also very patient with Jebel's grunts and sulking. Every characters are well described and yes, they are quite interesting. Shann imaginations in his writing is very impressive.

The book has a fast pace, likely a page turner, imaginative, interesting, alluring your interest and imagination. It may sound quite disturbing whenever Jebel remembers how the executions stuff, heads rolling and everything but I ensure you that the book has so much to give. The story itself is very adventurous, engaging and very consistent excitements. Although they have quite a lot of adventures in a very short period like in 2 or 3 chapters, every adventures ends with a good closure, very well put and no cliff hanger.

It maybe sounds a bit weird, but I really enjoyed reading the book, very much. And I should tell you this, I was quite frustrated with the ending but it was satisfying once you know why, and I think it is for the best. A very good twist.

vampire blood trilogy by darren shan

Title: Blood War Trilogy (The Saga of Darren Shan #1)
Author: Darren Shan
Pages: 511
Rating: 5/5

My Own Summary (**Mind you the spoiler!**):

It first started with Cirque Du Freak, where Darren and his best friend went to watch a freak show performance in an old theater. I love everything Darren portrayed about everyone in the freak show. It was awesome and I'm awed. The characters are wonderful even the bad one. But wait, in the first installment, Mr. Crespley is kind of the bad guy. Darren is a good kid with his loving family, adorable sister, Annie. But, worst thing happened as Steve was stung by Madam Octa (like a tarantula spider, deadly poisonous). Darren was scared, and he made a deal with Mr. Crespley to be his vampire assistant in order to save Steve.

You should read it to know how he faked his death and all to vanish from his family and this world. It is so believable!

The second one, The Vampire Assistant, continuing the journey of Darren as a half-vampire. He was so bored with his new life and he was sad not to able make friends with normal kids. He tends to hurt them even he doesn't mean it. I felt so sorry for him. Well, it's a bit sad you know. Then Mr. Crespley asked whether he would like to join the Cirque Du Freak. They joined them and Darren was so happy when Mr. Crespley asked him afterward about how he's doing, Darren answered; "I made a friend". Simple sentence, but hell yes I love the feeling of a happy kid. He befriended with Evra Von, a snake boy and he's a nice young boy too. And afterward, they made another good friend, Sam and even a bad one too. This installment is a quest of how Darren become a full vampire. Before, he insisted not to drink human blood and only survive on animals blood only. Eventually, he has to drink human blood in order to live. Darren did. He drained his best friend blood Sam at the end of the second book. Don't get him wrong. Sam nearly died after being half eaten by the wolf-man and he has to do that so he could restore the memory and Sam's good life in him. If not, Sam would be a ghost, wandering around without being able to cross to the other world; heaven.

The last installment of the saga is Tunnels of Blood. Up until now, Darren and Mr. Crespley are not in a very good term. Darren confused, as he always thinking about to kill Mr. Crespley while he was sleeping. he talked to Evra about this a lot when the followed Mr. Crespley for his work. Both Evra and Darren played, made a girlfriend, shopping, meeting people and have loads of fun together. And, made an enemy; Mr. Crespley himself. A few dead bodies, blood drained empty found around the city. The worst part, Mr. Crespley is the killer. Evra and Darren planned to follow and take actions to kill him when the right time comes. Which in the end, they were nearly be killed by a vampenenze. Sounds like a chimpanzee though. *LOL*. The truth came out, the vampenenze is the one building a nest of blood tunnels under the city. Yup. Spooky and scary. So, it ends up Mr. Crespley and Darren made a truce. They will trust each other onwards.

My Thought:

Superb!! I totally love the first three series of The Darren Shan Saga a.k.a. Vampire Blood. What I like the most is that the author is Darren Shan himself. Well, maybe it is the twist of his own life journal but I found it rather amusing and a bit neat.

There are few interesting facts about vampires in the series.

1) Vampires are immortals. But they don't live forever as they will die eventually. Vampire's aging 1 year in 10 years of human world. So I guess if I'm 100, then he's only 10. Wow. While half-vamp is 1 in 5 human years.

2) Vampire don't have fangs. Face the truth people. They only slit the throat open with their nail and sucked the blood in a small dose in order to survive.

3) They can and they have to eat regular human food to survive. A vampire that live only on blood are vampenenze and they slaughtered the victims. But, they are loyal and can be trusted. Keep their promise more than anything.

4) Cirque Du Freak has incredible people. I wish I could watch it my self. =)

That is actually some of awesome facts I found. In this book, I didn't see any spectacular writing, the thing that drew me in was the plot. The whole thing was near perfect. However, I just love it as it is now. If I were 15, this would be my best read EVER for this year! I love Harry Potter and I love Darren Shan too!I never read Percy Jackson yet, but i know I will collect this series. I know my review doesn't give much this time because I love the book. I am not a horror book fan but this one is different.

I give this book 5 stars because of it's incredible imagination. Also, there's some cool actions from the characters. I highly recommend this book to any person who loves a good vampire story. And whoever love Harry Potter, R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike!

I also found a few blogger who already read this and I think their review are better than mine. Check them out! If you also have read this, I would glad to know what your reviews. Leave a link =)

Wondrous Reads: Cirque Du Freak
YA Vampire Books: The Vampire Assistant, Tunnel of Blood

p/s: I didn't watch the movie yet. Did you guys ever watch it? Is it fun?