Darren Shan, vampire prince and vampaneze hunter, must face his worst nightmare--school--while his worries about the bodies piling up and time running out multiply.

Visiting his hometown with the Cirque Du Freak, Darren falls into a vampaneze trap and is shot with a bowgun by Steve's son, Darius. Saved by the vampirites, Darren is reunited with his friends, but another enemy attack leads to Evra's son, Shancus', abduction. With Darius held hostage in order to strike a deal, Darren witnesses the horrible sight of Steve murdering Shancus. And to make things worse, Darius is Darren's nephew!

Betrayed by Kurda and reeling from the brutal slaying of Gavner, the vampire's assistant, Darren Shan, finds himself branded a traitor and hunted by the vampire clan.

Welcome to the Cirque du Freak, a traveling sideshow filled with magical creatures, misunderstood freaks, and the mysterious vampire, Larten Crepsley. Drawn to the dark, unpredictable world of the Cirque, 16-year-old Darren decides to trade in his ordinary life for a chance to become an immortal vampire. As Darren explores his newfound powers and faces unexpected enemies, he'll find that his existence as a member of the undead is filled with more...