SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Chapters Read: 12-17

These were pretty incredible chapters. Darren has officially exposed Kurda and the plan to eliminate the vampaneze from Vampire Mountain begins. Everything moves incredibly swiftly. They initially decided they can't battle the vampaneze head on, due to the vampaneze position in the mountain, without sustaining large losses of vampires. So they consider just essentially chasing them off and catching any stragglers in the mad dash.

But then Darren forms a plan, essentially using the spiders to create chaos among the ranks of the vampaneze and then striking while they're distracted. A pretty straightforward, yet solid plan.

It's pretty cool how Seba, Larten, and Darren are in charge of the spiders. Seba mentored Mr. Crepsley, Mr. Crepsley has mentored Darren. Three generations essentially.

It's also an interesting full circle moment in general as spiders, well a singular spider anyway, sort of started Darren's journey to begin with. It seems that an interest in spiders is a similarity shared between the three. Now spiders are being used to help Darren and the vampires. Each trilogy in this series is simultaneously a trilogy finale as well as a mini series finale. Book six feels especially unique because well, it's literally the halfway point of the whole series. Each trilogy Darren matures and levels up a bit more.

These chapters featured pretty intense fighting. If my memory is reliable enough, I believe this is the first full, large scale battle of the series and it's definitely exciting. Darren feels sickened by the bloodshed. Darren shares a lot of similarities and wisdom as Kurda, it's interesting he doesn't necessarily realize this. I wonder what Kurda was really planning once he became a Prince. I'm curious if we'll ever find out. I can't remember.

These chapters brought back so many memories for me. I remember what I was doing for the most part when I first read these. Books can really be a time machine. Crazy. It brings back good memories for the most part, peaceful ones at least.

Arra's death hit me harder this time than when I first read the series. I guess because I've had relationships nowadays. Arra said, as she struggles to live from her battle wound, that she wants Darren's life to be spared. She tells Mr. Crepsley to make sure he doesn't let the vampires sentence him to death. I find this touching for many reasons, Arra was cool for one and likeable. But also considering Arra and Larten's past romantic situation, how they were together years ago and still clearly share a connection. I wonder if Arra cares a little extra for Darren because Larten Crepsley cares so much for him. Pretty fascinating and touching. She says that she doesn't want a kiss from Larten because she is in no condition or whatnot. But Larten says there's plenty of time for kisses because she'll live. But she doesn't live. I wonder if they ever got that kiss.

Ugh. That hurt man. 💔

But yeah, these chapters were entertaining and surprisingly more powerful than I anticipated. I'm feeling surprisingly shook at the moment. For like twenty different reasons. My gosh.

Last part of the book comes next... My brain is a bit fried. In an sentimental type of way.