Half-vampire Darren Shan is traveling with the Cirque du Freak again. They return to his hometown and he knows he must not visit his family because they think he is dead. However, he talks to a lady near his old house and she says his parents moved away years ago and that his sister had a child when she was sixteen. Darren was very shocked and left the area of his old house. To make matters more exciting, one of his old friends, Tommy, has become a famous soccer player and there is a game right in his hometown! When Tommy comes to the Cirque du Freak show he finds Darren and gives him a ticket to the game. Once the game is over a tragedy happens and Darren finds himself face to face with his arch-enemy Steve, the Lord of the Vampaneze. Steve has captured one of Darren's friends' children, but Darren has Steve's own son held captive. When they were about to switch off the children to each other, Steve did another horrible thing and left Darren pondering what to do. Does he mirror Steve for revenge, or will he push his anger aside and do what is right?I thought that this was an absolutely amazing addition to the Cirque Du Freak series! After reading the other books in the series I knew that this one had just as much of a creative plot as the rest. It is the eleventh book in the series and keeps the suspense and action at a high just like the rest. I loved that an old friend of Darren's came into play again and was so significant but not overpowering. The vocabulary for Lord of the Shadows is amazing as well. The author, Darren Shan, once again left you hanging at the end which makes me want, or rather NEED, to read the twelfth and final book in the series. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes vampires or fantasy.There is a lot of violence.