SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Chapters Read: 19-25

Well, yeah this ending was just about as epic as I remembered. I understand certain aspects of the Kurda/Harkat connection more than I initially did which is pretty exciting.

Once again, Darren Shan just decided to flip a switch and seemingly level up in a big way with his story telling in these final chapters. I mean don't get me wrong, his stories are always awesome throughout but, I'm just basically trying to say that he seriously shines when it comes to the climaxes of these stories.

Darren, Harkat, and Spits Abrams evade/fight dragons while they attempt to literally fish for Harkat's soul in a lake in some unknown land was just epic.

Spits revealing how he's a cannibal was just super random and I think I remember how he's in 'The Saga of Larten Crepsley' which I totally forgot about.

Kurda getting fished out was as nuts as I remember. I'll always think of that moment as one of the biggest plot twists ever in my opinion. Still gives me goosebumps.

But now I understand the Kurda/Harkat connection and it's a lot more thought provoking and profound than I previously understood.

Basically, yes Harkat was Kurda, that much is still correct. But the distinction between the two is a lot more clear to me, but it still leaves a pretty interesting bit of space for one's own interpretation.

Mr. Tiny gave Kurda the opportunity to redeem himself as a resurrected Little Person, and so Harkat was formed from Kurda's remains after he was executed. Of course Harkat's memories as Kurda were locked away thanks to Mr. Tiny and the deal and whatnot.

So yeah, Harkat was basically tasked with protecting Darren and Mr. Tiny was confident Harkat would still give it his all because Mr. Tiny said that if he did so, Harkat's original identity would be revealed at a certain point. Additionally, Mr. Tiny was confident because even though Harkat didn't know his original identity, he knew subconsciously Harkat cared about Darren via his past identity as Kurda and their friendship before ya know, everything went nuts.

Harkat's ORIGINAL Identity

This is something that's clearer to me now when it comes to the distinction yet connection with Harkat's own past as Kurda.

Harkat is, in a sense, an evolved version of Kurda. BUT the only way that this was possible really, was because of Kurda's willingness to try to redeem himself in the first place as basically a guardian angel of Darren. I also believe Kurda's fundamental true colors were shown as Harkat, as Harkat did save Darren on many occasions and was immensely helpful in endless ways.

When it comes to the evolution of Harkat, it's just insane in a fantastic way.

Harkat is truly his own person at this point. He was sort of fundamentally structured by Kurda yes, but Harkat also formed his own memories and experiences throughout his own journey as Harkat along side Darren and Mr. Crepsley and his life in general on Vampire Mountain. I mean a whole series could be made about Kurda and Harkat dude!

When it's revealed that Harkat and Kurda are the same person, Harkat began to get Kurda's memories. But Kurda gets one last choice to do the right thing. I think, and hope, this last decision clinched his place into Paradise. According to Mr. Tiny, Kurda could have chosen life again, but Harkat would cease to exist (besides everyone who met Harkat of course), and his memory would fade as Kurda would not be able to recall Harkat's memories. Whereas if Kurda chose death, Harkat would live on and actually retain Kurda's memories.

Not sure why this is, basically because of laws of the universe and Mr. Tiny saying so I guess.

Kurda chose the right thing, even if it was difficult in my opinion. Kurda has been through a lot dude! He was basically roaming around in regret in The Lake of Souls, thrust back to life, and asked to die again minutes later. YIKES.

But Harkat had established himself as his own man.

Harkat will have:

• his own memories as Harkat throughout his journey alongside Darren
• have Kurda's memories
• have the ability to create new memories and a new legacy as he moves on in the world, as of course Kurda will be officially gone once again, I hope granted into Paradise

It's such a beautiful, incredibly deep situation man. It speaks on a multitude of different types of things at once, it's actually pretty overwhelming. I mean, the only way this doesn't mess with your emotions is if you've never made a mistake in your life, and have zero regrets. I think Kurda sees how it's Harkat's turn to live.

I get how people say regrets and mistakes are how you learn and everything, or whatever. Which is obviously true, that doesn't necessarily take rocket science. But mistakes still hurt, badly sometimes. It can feel like like acid poured on your soul. There's so many things I wish I could take back.

This speaks on like, reincarnation, redemption, karma, and more all at once wrapped up so cleverly. It speaks on Heaven and Hell. I mean the list goes on just how wild this is. I'm sure it speaks on a ton of religious themes. I'm sure an atheist can find some type of connection here as well.

Mr. Tiny once again shows how he's basically insanely powerful and just an inevitable entity that I can't bother to try to fully understand. I do see how he's not necessarily as powerful as I once thought, he himself eluded that there's limitations to his powers, but he's still as close as it gets to like a literal god. I'm not sure what type of god, or the true God. But close enough to a god. He's just unlike any other character I've ever read about. Like Father Time and Mother Nature wrapped into one or something I dunno.

At the end, when Darren and Harkat have to part with Kurda, that was way more emotional than I remembered. Kurda has to face death again which is hard enough, but what got me was when Darren said to Kurda in a salute:

"Farewell, Sire"

Kurda said nothing back, he just waved and seemed to be crying. I didn't cry fully personally but I definitely had my eyes water there which I DIDN'T see coming! Hit me outta nowhere! I thought I knew what to expect but that totally slipped my mind!

Kurda was so close to becoming a Prince, until it all came tumbling down. That must have meant the world to hear Darren say Sire. I bet Kurda felt like a legitimate Vampire Prince, even for a moment.

Dude. Kurda went from being sent to death on the spikes, to getting a really peaceful end with a sense of redemption overall. Like, my gosh!

I totally forgot how intense this ending was, what a wild sense of closure for Kurda's story, also Kurda's life gets to be extended in a very one of a kind way. So it's like an ending, and a rebirth at the same time.

I wonder if this also speaks on genetic memory as well. Epigenetics, whatever.

I really don't know what to say. This book will live rent free in my head for a while. Well, this series in general has always lived in my head rent free, but still.

Just, bravo.