Trials of Death



Trials of Death is the fifth book in The Saga of Darren Shan and the second book in the Vampire Rites Trilogy.

Synopsis
Darren Shan must take the Trials of Initiation in order to earn the respect of the Vampire Clan. His first task is the Aquatic Maze, where he must go through a maze that slowly fills up with water while dragging a heavy rock,. His second task is the Path of Needles, where he must go through an area filled with sharp stalagmites and falling stalactites.. His third task is the Hall of Flames, in which Darren is burned and loses his hair. In his fourth task, the Blooded Boars, Harkat interferes in order to save Darren's life. This goes against Vampire code and Darren will be executed. Before facing execution, Kurda Smahlt (the vampire that almost become a prince) helps Darren flee down in the tunnels of Vampire Mountain. They soon meet up with Gavner Purl, who joins them in helping Darren escape. They run into a group of Vampaneze along the way, and while Gavner is fighting them, it is revealed that Kurda is a traitor as he kills Gavner. Darren ends up falling down in the torrent and being dragged away by the falls, despite Kurda's best efforts to save him.