Darren Shan, the Vampire Prince, must now face his archenemy, Steve Leopard. He will confront a complex and difficult problem - dead if he loses and damned if he wins. Either he or Steve Leopard will die; the other will become the Lord of the Shadows - and will destroy the world. This is the final book in the series... the book that fans have been looking forward to and dreading. Vampire or Vampaneze; who will win? Can Darren cheat destiny?The action is fast and non-stop The plot has many kinks and angles and keeps you guessing until the very last page. The story is full of violence and maybe a bit depressing in spots. Some of the characters are human, but most are not; and some are very frightening, but most are loyal and fierce. Shan writes compelling, scary stories for kids, but while they do have blood and gore in them, they also address some moral issues and show the importance of friendship and sticking to your moral and ethical standards. It seems to me to be a bit too frightening for kids 10 years old and under, but maybe just the thing for older teens who are reluctant to read a book. I recommend starting with volume one and working your way through the series, otherwise you would miss some important parts of the story.