3,5 ( )

This is the second trilogy of Darren Shan books. Yes, these are kids books and neither complexed or wonderfully written, they're not going to make it into the halls of litterary greats but what the hell! They're great fun and Darren has made a fascinating world of vampires which is unique and compelling.
Darren appears to have taken a leaf out of JK's book and has allowed his writting style and content to steadily age with the main character. The first trillogy was obviously written for young children but as this one progressed the themes become increasingly grown up and and consiquences increasingly unpleasant. There's lots to be seen of my favourite character Mr Crepsley and you get to know him and his history a little better. You also get to know Gavner Purl, another favourite of mine, a lot better.
The ending of this trillogy does let it down a bit. It is very obvious where the story is going and it's more than a little far fetched based on everything that has happened, but as it's a kids book that hardly seems to matter. After all Harry Potter became the chosen one and vanquished the dark lord at 18 so whats wrong with a half-vampire doing something equally mental at the approximate "real" age of about 21.
On their own the three books that make up the Vampire Rites would be a bit of a dissapointment but tape them together into one book and you have an enjoyable little jaunt into a imaginative vampire world. Well worth the 5 stars as it kept me up to 2am because I couldn't put it down. Damn you Darren Shan ;-) ( )

Vampire Rites comprises of books 4-6 of the Darren Shan Saga. ( )