Product Description

It’s the present day.  Toby O’Dare—aka Lucky the Fox—is a contract killer of underground fame on assignment to kill once again.  He’s a soulless soul, a dead man walking.  His nightmarish world of lone and lethal missions is disrupted when a mysterious stranger, a seraph, offers him a chance to save rather than destroy lives. O’Dare, who long ago dreamt of being a priest, seizes his chance. Now he is carried back through the ages to thirteenth-century England, to dark realms where accusations of ritual murder have been made against Jews, where children suddenly die or disappear.  In this primitive setting, O’Dare begins his perilous quest for salvation, a journey of danger and flight, loyalty and betrayal, selflessness and love.

Customer Reviews (146)

Another Christian Novel.. snores
yes, i felt i was reading the story of Christ's life from her previous novel. This one is departure from the youth of Jesus certainly still i felt like i was being preached to again.

The straight path is one of suffering, yawns, so over done, and this novel is about getting on that path.

To be honest, i quit reading it after 280 some pages... wow.. YAWN.. so i don't know how it end and will never know.

Anne writes great novels, I've read practically every one. Why why does she delve into the dull propaganda of the church and the always over repeated Jewish poor poor history. There both baby religions, and her witch and vampire novels have so much older histories, and not preaching histories by self righteous pompous sect.

If it's not vamp or witches, i wont buy another again ever!SADLY, I cant trust her writing to be good anymore.

Classic Anne Rice Writing with Angels
I picked up a copy of this book at the grocery store. This is the first Anne Rice book I've actually read all the way through in awhile. Some of her latest books have not been appealing to me lately. But the subject of angels really grabbed me. I enjoyed the main character and his dilemma of good vs. evil, esp. since he's a hit man. I loved the descriptions of the Mission Inn and San Juan Capistrano. I want to visit the Mission Inn now. The adventure of visiting the past was interesting, and I'm looking forward to the sequel to see where the angel takes Toby next.

I didn't rate it as high as some of her other books mostly because I think it's less engaging than her other vampire books. Though Toby is a killer like the vampire characters, he's not as enrapturing as Lestat and Louise. But I do recommend this book since it still has her brilliant writing style, and creates enough of a reaction that you want to read the next book. The sequel comes out in Nov. 2010. Can't wait. I've preordered it already with Amazon.

Inspiring
I loved it. It was an inspiring tale of redemption and God's love for us. Other reviewers found the character of Lucky underdeveloped, but I really didn't want to know more of the evil phase of his life. The story of his childhood was more interesting. Was it strictly realistic? I suppose not, but it connected with me. Toby was the Prodigal Son, who in his evil and his misery reaches for God, and is rewarded. It's an engaging telling of a classic mral tale.

Not Worth Finishing
I'm a passionate reader and almost never give up on a book partway through. And I was a passionate fan of Anne Rice's earlier work. And yet here I am, about 1/3 of the way through Angel Time, and thinking it's just not worth continuing. It's not that I refuse to let authors grow and change -- although I will admit to being disappointed when Rice announced she would write no more vampire or Mayfair witches books. But the plain fact is that her new fiction just isn't interesting. She doesn't seem to care all that much about her own characters, for one thing. And while I can appreciate good descriptive writing, page after page of a character describing his world with absolutely nothing else going on is wearing. The good vs evil theme has, of course been one of Rice's motifs for years. While at least this novel doesn't slide into the overblown philosophical pedantry that a couple of her later vampire novels did (one, in particular, was so provoking that I went and reread The Brothers Karamozov instead - Dostoyevsky provides a much better treatment of the subject on pretty much all levels). But at least in those earlier rants, Rice wrote with some passion. This, as far as I can see, just doesn't have enough juice to keep it running.

A Tale of Two Tobys
I liked this book so much I have already ordered for my Kindle the next one in the series (Songs of the Seraphim). Anne Rice shows herself to be the master teller of tales that I missed out on because of disliking vampire stories. Once she became a Christian and began writing about Jesus, I took a peek and was very glad I did. She is now on my favorites list. You don't have to have had a spiritual life-changing Christian experience to appreciate the story of Toby O'Day: from street musician, to talented hit man, to a miraculous transportation to a Middle Ages adventure and back. However, if your life has had some severe and spiritual changes, you will be better able to understand Anne's sincerity in relating a seemingly impossible tale. Read either as a believer, or an agnostic, it is a great tale, especially the adventure in the Middle Ages, where the talented Toby saves a young girl's family, before he returns to the 21st century. It seems that Toby, who had worked as a hit man for a secret organization, has because of his broken-hearted prayers, become an agent of God - working for the angels. It looks like more adventures will be coming and I hope to be there too. Although Anne Rice now has given up on "Christianity" because of the hypocracy she found in the Catholic Church, I don't think she has given up on the spiritual and moral teachings of the Faith, we will see in November. ... Read more

Product Description
“I dreamed a dream of angels. I saw them and heard them in a great and endless galactic night. I saw the lights that were these angels, flying here and there, in streaks of irresistible brilliance . . . I felt love around me in this vast and seamless realm of sound and light . . . And something akin to sadness swept me up and mingled my very essence with the voices who sang, because the voices were singing of me . . . ”

Thus begins Anne Rice’s lyrical, haunting new novel, a metaphysical thriller of angels and assassins that once again summons up dark and dangerous worlds set in times past. Anne Rice takes us to other realms, this time to the world of fifteenth-century Rome, a city of domes and rooftop gardens, rising towers and crosses beneath an ever-shifting layer of clouds; familiar hills and tall pines . . . of Michelangelo and Raphael, of the Holy Inquisition and of Leo X, second son of a Medici, holding forth from the papal throne . . .

And into this time, into this century, Toby O’Dare, former government assassin, is summoned by the angel Malchiah to solve a terrible crime of poisoning and to search out the truth of a haunting by an earthbound restless spirit—a diabolical dybbuk.

O’Dare soon discovers himself in the midst of dark plots and counterplots surrounded by a darker and more dangerous threat as the veil of ecclesiastical terror closes in around him.

As he embarks on a powerful journey of atonement, O’Dare is reconnected with his own past, with matters light and dark, fierce and tender, with the promise of salvation and with a deeper and richer vision of love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

thin
I used to be a fan of Anne Rice's darker novels - the vampire series, the Mayfair witches series, and others.I have probably read 12 or more of those books.In those days, a common device was to have stories within stories - often going back in time, sometimes very far back.Her books were characterized by dark passion, violence, horror, as well as an exploration of thoughts and feelings of her characters.

Most fans are aware of the major change to her novels a few years ago, as she took on Christian themes instead.Actually, she had been moving that way for some time, for example when Lasher met Memnoch the Devil in the 5th book of the Vampire Chronicles.I found that book fascinating as she mixed in some religious themes.

Somehow I never was all that interested in her books after the big change, but I had an opportunity to read and review this one through the Vine program, so I gave it a try.

Some things have not changed.She still has stories within stories within stories, going back into the past.She still has supernatural creatures - plenty of angels, and in this book, a ghost.She still gets into a lot of descriptive detail for the places we visit.And we still have plenty of insight into the thoughts and feelings of the characters.

One thing that is very different is that formerly dark character Toby McDare has given up his evil ways and dedicated himself in the service of God.His redemption has made him passionately happy - he frequently weeps with joy.Personally, I can't relate to this, and a lot of pages are spent on this subject, which I find tiresome at best.

Another major change is how short this book is.The Witching Hour had several books within it of the length of this one - it was a very long book.In my edition this book had less than 170 pages with plenty of white space.It seems very thin in terms of its story line compared to previous books.

I think this book is the second in a series on "Angel Time".Enough of the context from the first book is at the beginning that it's easy to be involved in the story, and at the end a new character from Toby's past to form a bridge to the next book.I won't be reading the sequel.

Bottom line: I would give this book 2 1/2 stars if I could.I wanted to like it, and I feel like I gave it a chance with an open mind.I gave it a couple of days to decide whether to give 2 or 3 stars overall, but in the end I feel disappointed: I know that Anne Rice is (or was) capable of delivering much better books than this, and I hoped for more here.

Anne Rice Fan
Anne Rice's Of Love and Evil, Songs of the Seraphim continues, the second in the new series of angels and assassins set in dark and dangerous worlds that is told in our time and in centuries past.Toby O'Dare, former government assassin , heis summoned by the angel Malchiah to fifteenth-century Rome to solve a terrible crime of poisoning and to uncover the secrets of an earthbound restless spirit.His objective is to calm this restless spirit.As the story continues Toby is soon reconnected with his own past.Toby is a post-traumatic stress disorder survivor from his childhood where his mother slaughtered his brother.Due to his past makes him perfect for his mission, a vigilante who dispenses justice; he is a time traveler, and he is set to rid the world of horror.You must read the first in the series (Angel Time, 2009). It sets the stage for this sequel.

I have always been a big fan of Anne Rice and own every book she has ever written, her Vampire Chronicles, the Witches, she is an amazing storyteller.She combines her Catholicism, her fictional takes on the Gospel, and her passion for the dark side.This is a must for all Anne Rice fans, and if you have never read Anne Rice this is a great new series to get started with.
Highly recommended.

Disappointing for a mystery/thriller
My spouse has read this book and gives her opinion:

I really did not enjoy this book. I found the whole thing repetitive, unbelievable, and disconnected with any sense of reality. It's not the fantasy part of the thing.I'm a big fan of fantasy and love immersing myself in imaginary worlds and situations. It was the characters and the story itself that fell flat. The plot was ill-thought out and totally predictable, which is a bad thing for a book that is supposed to be a mystery or thriller. The characters were plastic. Any emotions they display seem to be thrust upon them by the author, and not coming from within themselves...like puppets. I especially had a hard time with the love interest, Liona. For a woman who had been dumped, while pregnant with Toby's child, and abandoned for 10 years, she was inexplicably placid towards him when they reunited. And their little boy, Toby, who had never known his father, is completely loving and trusting as if they had never been apart. I can understand someone being forgiving about a difficult situation, but to show no emotion whatsoever over events that would send most people over the edge in despair is just ridiculous. That Anne Rice expects us to believe any of it is beyond comprehension.I made it as far as the first part of Toby's little adventure in Mediaval Italy, but finally put the book down. I just couldn't take it any more. This is the first time I have ever read anything by Anne Rice. If this is in any way representative of her work, I will not be reading anything by her again any time soon.

Good, but not her best
I adore Anne Rice, but this one left me a little in the dark.First off, Rice typically writes super detailed, lengthy, poetic tomes and this was not quite it.It should be touted as a novella.It lacked Rice's typical depth and eye for detail.Don't get me wrong, Anne Rice could write a phone book beautifully and her prose is not lacking here.

It was obvious to me that I was missing something, as I had not read the previous book in this (and I hate to say it) "series." I was thrown off a little by this, but the plot seemed to revolve around angel intervention in human lives.It could have been so much more.I missed Rice's ability to tell you everything about a character in such a way that I feel like I know them.I missed the details in general.I was expecting an interesting well researched book that takes place in late 1400s in Italy--- I would have hardly known the book takes plaace in Italy at all. Truthfully, there was not enough conflict either.While I get the "Christian literature" slant, there is a LOT of conflict in Christianityand ideology, but where was it hiding?

Over all, a good book, but lacked Rice's illuminating sparkle.

Second in the series...
Having read the first novel in this series, I was thrilled to read this one. This is the second novel in a planned series by Anne Rice, who in recent years has reconnected with her Catholic upbringing. She has written a series, which I have not read yet, about Jesus. And now she is creating a series about angels and absolution. The first book in the series bears a bit of a hokey title, that isn't so hokey once you learn what the story is about - Angel Time. Of the two books in the series that I have read now, the first one was definitely the best.

Of Love and Evil picks up where Angel Time left off. We are immersed in the life, longing, and regrets of Toby O'Dare, a reformed contract killer. Shortly into the story, Toby reconnects with the girlfriend of his former life and the son they share - one that he was unaware of until the angel told him that he had a son. He knows he is needed for another mission for the angel Malchiah and has his reunion cut short by the mission. Just as he had been thrust back in time in Angel Time, he is again thrust back in time to work hard to right a great wrong. This one seems insurmountable, creating a truly suspenseful tale.

I'm not entirely sure what genre this book fits into. Perhaps fantasy? Given some of the fantasy reading I have read recently, I can see that it can be flexible genre that doesn't just involve elves, fairies, vampires, and sword play. It can also involve stories of the bizarre and supernatural with roots in the present. This story most definitely fits the latter.

This story was an excellent and suspenseful tale. Beautifully created by Anne Rice, who gives description without inundating the reader with it - subtle description brought this story to life. This book would appeal to anyone who likes well written fiction be it contemporary or fantasy. It has earned keeper status on my shelf. ... Read more

Product Description
The Prince awakens Sleeping Beauty and brings her to his castle, where she has a series of erotic adventures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (302)

Absolutely Wonderful
Anne Rice, though she may find practices of BDSM morally repulsive, seems to have a true understanding of the dom/sub relationship. Great look into the minds and practices of those involved in this lifestyle.

spanking and more spanking
If you enjoy heavy s&m themed works this will suit you. I found the book repetitive and quite boring. Constant beatings of all sorts were common throughout the story with little let up for more tender fare.

Crazy
I thought over all this book was good. It is the first book I've read by Anne Rice. It was very erotic but also very harsh. I was horrified by the torture. I know if I were a character in this book it would have killed someone to save my life. But, I could not put the book down only because I wanted to see what on earth Beauty would do. I am a big fan of romance novels and there is no romance at all. Just pure sex and torture. I don't think there is even a real plot to this story. But, like I said, I simply couldn't put the book down.

You could do SO much better with your time and money
Beauty is a re-imagining of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale, except with a lot of spanking, dubiously consensual sex (cast in the best light; in the worst, it's serial rape), and hardcore D/s total power exchange.

I'm very apathetic about this series. On the one hand, it certainly has its share of titillation for those who enjoy BDSM fantasies, and there's both a fair amount of creativity and a fair amount of truth in Rice's exploration of it. I'd go so far as to venture that Rice had firsthand experience in the scene before she wrote this . . . though not very much.

On the other (much larger) hand, the two egregious issues with this book are a total lack of believable setup and a near-total lack of believable character development/motivation.

The setup issue comes down to how flimsy the excuse was for getting the princes and princesses into their servitude. I won't spoil it for you, but trust me, it's ridiculous.

The development/motivation issue is a significant problem that consistently pulled me from the narrative, most especially at the end of the book. There were some moments that really hit the nail on the head, such as the breaking point of Beauty's secondary love interest (an enslaved prince). But most of it felt artificial, railroaded, as if Rice was familiar with the motions of BDSM but not the *e*motions or thought processes of a submissive. This led to a lot of eye-rolling on my part, because I felt like she was writing a self-indulgent fantasy rather than a realistic one that I could buy into and enjoy along with her.

Conclusion? Read them if you're bored. Borrow or swap for them; don't buy them. They're moderately entertaining, despite the flaws, but I suspect much of the enjoyment comes out of the way she twists a beloved childhood story into something naughty.

If you want to read a really great BDSM story, hit up any one of a number of independent presses who specialize in erotica, rather than wasting your money on this.

(For more reviews and recommendations in this genre, check out my Goodreads profile at [...]

Disgusting
I am now a worse off person for reading this book.I also know why Anne Rice used a fake name when she released this, the fear of what others would think of her twisted mind.But alas I guess there there many other unfortunate people out there who are just as twisted.I kept reading in hopes that Beauty would find a way to kill that horrible price and his mother.Plus it made no sense that only her kingdom would behave in such a manner.If every other flipping kingdom had to go through that horrible ordeal, why on earth wasn't it spread across the lands?If Beauty was so bored, then why didn't she just tell her parents to adapt such horrilbe rituals as well?Maybe that's in the next books in which I will never waste my precious time on this earth reading.If you are looking for erotica, don't bother with this book, it will only make you sick. ... Read more

Product Description
The second book in Anne Rice's hugely ambitious and masterful life of Christ.

It's a winter of no rain, endless dust, and talk of trouble in Judea. All who know and love Jesus find themselves waiting for some sign of the path he will eventually take. After his baptism, he is at last ready to confront his destiny. At the wedding at Cana, he takes water and transforms it into red wine. Thus, he's recognized as the anointed one and called by God the Father to begin a ministry that will transform an unsuspecting world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (117)

The Road to Cana
This book is great-you don't want to put it down but at the same time, don't want it to end. The first book about Christ is also excellent.They give you an idea of what Christ and the times might have been like.

Great great great
I loved both these books Ms. Rice has written about the life of Christ, and I hope she will continue this series.Great great great books.

Christ as a young man
So very well written!The humanity of Jesus was opened for me in this book.He became so real and accessible.I cried when He surrendered the opportunity to live a "normal" life with a wife and family.I have always focused on His sacrifice on the cross... this account of His life showed me all the many ways He sacrified for us on His way to the Cross..very moving and not at all dry.

Yeshua saves the story
I was apprehensive with this volume, because I had found the previous one at least slightly naive. I had not even written a review. But this second volume has another dimension. I will neglect the paraphernalia of religious belief in miracles. But I will insist on the deep human empathy the book contains. Empathy for the two little boys at the beginning of the book who were stoned to death because they were accused blindly, that is to say that the accusers were not called forward and there was no real trial, accused of improper behavior, meaning gay sex. Empathy for Avigail who is victimized by her own father for something that did not happen when she was abducted by some brigand and saved by the villagers and consoled by Yeshua. Empathy for Yeshua who provides Avigail with the dowry she needs to be married properly in Cana. Empathy for John the Baptist and his vision of a Messiah in Yeshua. It is quite admirable that this man who went into the desert for forty days, so is it said, and came back with all kinds of delusions and convictions be still able to have a coordinated and rational sounding discourse, though highly provocative. Empathy too for Jason, the educated intellectual that can read and write Greek and is so unfitted, not to say a plain misfit, in the small village he is living in. In fact that Jason is definitely pathetic in his intellectualism in an agricultural village and in a civilization that does not believe in the market place fool. This empathy creates a true power in this tale and the miracles are like some marvelous things happening in front of our eyes as if we were in a film or something. This dimension of the book makes it a real novel, a real story about real men and women and we are not surprised that after forty days in the desert where he is inclined to believe he had been fighting with the Tempter as he calls him in his thirst and hunger fantasy if not delirium, we are not surprised that he sees a road for his future and that he brings to people some kind of solace in their lot that make them look at him as some kind of Savior. The water changed in wine, and the best vintage possible, the mute or silent girl made to speak anew, the Mary from Magdala extracted and saved from some psychotic possession, all that appears naïve for sure but based on such an amount of empathy and compassion and told with such a level of discreteness that we accept it as natural and believable fictional stuff. Yeshua appears as a real humane person who cares for his neighbors that he calls his brothers and his sisters. It is a rather entertaining story told by a good storyteller, who is a lot better than a tax collector or a bank teller, automated or not. Though this tax collector will prove a good gospel writer later on in his life.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, University Paris 8 Saint Denis, University Paris 12 Créteil, CEGID

The Becoming

This is a book about a young man from a large family coping with the awesome truth that he is selected by God for saving his people, and indeed the whole world. It is written by a world famous author, who is currently known for her Vampire novels, and told by the young man himself. Starting with the teenage sexual struggles so common to all, the story proceeds though a metamorphosis of the Christ from a fairly typical young man to a final awareness that he must try his best to lead the world past violence to the peaceful path that God intends - to ultimately sacrifice his all. As the story proceeds, he makes rain (to his surprise) is baptized by his cousin John, hears God speak, meets Satan in the desert, attracts disciples, and turns water into wine. We have read about all of these events in the Bible, but to hear them described in a very personal way by Jesus himself is fascinating - how did it feel to drive out demons, to turn water into wine?What was the significance?

I don't like Vampire stories and had never read Anne Rice. Now I will. She is a very good writer to say the least. For example, her description of Jesus' encounter with Satan was spooky-awesome. (It was as well insightful, showing good knowledge of the background theology.) She also, in Jesus' words, brought out the theology behind changing water to wine, a subject that usually gets slight treatment from the pulpit.

A previous Rice book, which I did not read, covered Jesus' birth and early years up to his family's return from Egypt. I think she must follow this present book with at least one more - preferably two more. They might be titled: "The Way", and "Road to the Cross". I wish her all success with this book, because I eagerly look forward to down-loading to my Kindle the ones following.
... Read more

Product Description
In her new novel, perennial bestseller Anne Rice fuses her two uniquely seductive strains of narrative -- her Vampire legend and her lore of the Mayfair witches -- to give us a world of classic deep-south luxury and ancestral secrets.

Welcome to Blackwood Farm: soaring white columns, spacious drawing rooms, bright, sun-drenched gardens, and a dark strip of the dense Sugar Devil Swamp. This is the world of Quinn Blackwood, a brilliant young man haunted since birth by a mysterious doppelgänger, “Goblin,” a spirit from a dream world that Quinn can’t escape and that prevents him from belonging anywhere. When Quinn is made a Vampire, losing all that is rightfully his and gaining an unwanted immortality, his doppelgänger becomes even more vampiric and terrifying than Quinn himself.

As the novel moves backwards and forwards in time, from Quinn’s boyhood on Blackwood Farm to present day New Orleans, from ancient Athens to 19th-century Naples, Quinn seeks out the legendary Vampire Lestat in the hope of freeing himself from the spectre that draws him inexorably back to Sugar Devil Swamp and the explosive secrets it holds.

A story of youth and promise, of loss and the search for love, of secrets and destiny, Blackwood Farm is Anne Rice at her mesmerizing best.


From the Hardcover edition.Amazon.com Review
In the past few years, many fans have sworn off Anne Rice, flinging her later novels against the wall with cries of "First draft!" and "Never again!" But these same fans may want to take a chance on her Southern gothic Blackwood Farm, a fast-paced and erotically charged, though uneven, novel of the Vampire Chronicles. Blackwood Farm has an unusual flaw: it isn't long enough. Many of its triumphs and tragedies demand more development than they receive. Motivations are sometimes unlikely or unexplained, and the ending is far too rushed.

Blackwood Farm introduces Quinn Blackwood, the sexy, eccentric young gentleman who becomes both a vampire and the heir to the Blackwood estate. All his life, Quinn has been haunted by Goblin, a doppelgänger no one else can see--or believe in. But Goblin is real, and he is becoming maliciously tangible, strengthened by the blood that Quinn unwillingly drinks. Quinn's only hope of liberation from his increasingly dangerous doppelgänger is to find the legendary vampire Lestat. But Lestat has vowed to destroy any vampire who sets foot in New Orleans....

Blackwood Farm features characters from both the Vampire Chronicles and the Mayfair Witches series, but this self-contained novel makes a good entry point for newcomers to Anne Rice's fictional world (however, Vampire Chronicle virgins really should start with Interview With the Vampire, the first in the series and arguably the finest vampire novel of the 20th century). --Cynthia Ward ... Read more

Customer Reviews (283)

Long and nothing happens
I've read a few of Anne Rice's books before, and I usually liked them.I thought I was going to try this one as it involved ghosts.To be honest, I haven't finished the book yet, but in 172 pages, nothing has happened.The narrator and main character, Tarquin Blackwood tells his story to Lestat the Vampire about his family, hoping he can help with his haunt, Goblin, sometimes good, sometimes malicious.This sounds more like a biography of a fictional character rather than a ghost story.As much as I don't mind and understand that you have to introduce characters in order to understand what goes on in their mind, etc, 172 pages worth of this is just too much and I don't know how much longer I'll be able to read on.I'm highly disappointed.

A fantastic end
Even if you have never read the vampire chronicles, this book is going to bring you into their world right from the start.A fantastic read that is hard to put down.

Far exceeded my expectations
Books about vampires do not typically wind up on my reading list, but I found this to be an exceedingly well written book. It really wasn't a vampire book as I typically think of them (a lot of bloodlust and other kinds of lust), but really well-written literature with vampires making up some of the characters. While I found the primary character to be a little taxing at times, I did appreciate his humanity. Aunt Queen was a delight. Overall, not a bad read, more because of the writing than the subject matter.

Blackwood Farm
In typical "Rice" style we are introduced to a story full of skilfully described detail.The setting is naturally Gothic, in fact our main character lives in a mansion called Blackwood Manor in an hermitage on Sugar Devil Island, part of the Blackwood Estate. The main character is Tarquin, a young vampire who was able to see spirits as an ordinary mortal, he is heir and owner of Blackwood.

In this story we see how Anne Rice tries to develop a connection between The Vampire Tales and The Mayfair Saga, presenting us with a young boy, who from a baby is accompanied byhis double that only he can see.A spirit or a ghost that once Tarquin becomes a vampire attacks him every time he drinks blood and that pushes him to contact Lestat to free himself.

My first impression, once I got into the story was that somehow Goblin the spirit could be a transformation of, or heir to, Lasher from The Mayfair Saga, an element that made me wonder about the quality of this story.However I was relieved to see that Anne Rice evolved the tale in a most unexpected way and I was surprised by who the Goblin really turned out to be.

Tarquin's meeting with Lestat is well described and even though Lestat is not the main protagonist I was intrigued by him as I am very attached to this character.He reminds me of a famous actor who once he is on stage takes everything over.I love the way he is brought to life throuh Anne Rice's words.

Quin, as he is often called in the story, is overcome with remorse at having done terrible things, he is almost too human even after his transformation and needs to be with the people that are dear to him, despite knowing that he is a monster.He doesn't like being with the vampires he wants to be alone like Lestat.

As in Blood & Gold, the narration ismade by the main character to, in this case, Lestat.There is little dialogue and we learn about Tarquin's difficult relationship with his mother and of the hatred between Patsy the mother and Tarquin the favoured son, loved by all except her, in hard hitting terms of notable impact.

The discomfort of the mortal Quin, his difficulties, because he is different to others of his age, the fact that he grew up with adults with only his friend Goblin for company, all this is well described.The doubts and fears that go through the adolescent's mind when he is in a world full of spirits, his search for his sexuality and the admission that he is bi-sexual makes the character more real.The angst of all adolescents is in the narration.All Anne Rice's characters from Lestat to Pandora have characteristics of all human kind and it is easy to identify with them.

As in every good novel the reader is in the action, even the facial expressions described are familiar to us they are so accurate, we as readers are catapulted into that dimension.A real page turner.

Petronia is another fascinating invention in this novel andMona Mayfair also. I would have liked to have seen their characters looked into more in depth.

The central chapters of the novel seem a bit slow but I was very involved in the beginning and indeed the end though I had the impression that the finale was written in haste without much of the
detail seen in the rest of the book.There are lots of things that are left suspended and for me this cut into the fluidity of the story.

In conclusion, this was not one of my favourite novels but I do love Anne Rice's style.Her writing gives life to her characters and I will never tire of reading her work.

new to Anne
somehow, in my already well past middle age, i have missed reading Anne Rice.Blackwood Farm was my first book, picked up as a last resort before a trip.not having had the experience of reading her other books, i enjoyed this story.i enjoyed it enough to go back and begin the Vampire Chronicles from the beginning.i can see how the number of books in the series might lead to some of the stories getting repetitive and old.that is common in a long series.so far, and not having gotten far in the stack, i am enjoying them.
i can recommend Blackwood Farm as a stand alone, or as an introduction to Anne Rice and her writings.from there...you are on your own!:-) ... Read more

Product Description
Fiery, fierce, and erotic, Blood Canticle marks the triumphant culmination of Anne Rice’s bestselling Vampire Chronicles, as Lestat tells his astounding tale of the pleasures and tortures that lie between death’s shadow and immortality. . . .

Surrounded by its brooding swampscape, Blackwood Farm is alive with the comings and goings of the bewitched and the bewitching. Among them is the ageless vampire Lestat, vainglorious enough to believe that he can become a saint, weak enough to fall impossibly in love.

Gripped by his unspeakable desire for the mortal Rowan Mayfair and taking the not so innocent, new-to-the-blood Mona Mayfair under his wing, Lestat braves the wrath of paterfamilias Julien Mayfair and ventures to a private island off the coast of Haiti. There, Saint Lestat will get his chance to slay his dragon. For Mona and the Mayfairs share an explosive, secret blood bond to another deathless species: a five-thousand-year-old race of Taltos, strangers held in the throes of evil itself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (393)

Horrible horrible horrible.
I thought it couldn't get worse than what I consider the worst three books in this series- Queen of the Damned, The Vampire Armand and Merrick.I was very wrong.

I'm in the minority of people who actually kind of liked Blackwood Farm.It was a little ridiculous, and maybe the marriage of the The Vampire Chronicles and the Mayfair Witches series could have been handled- or not handled- much better.But the main problem I've had with this series since Queen of the Damned is that there are too many whiney characters who all seem very alike and constantly talk in long boring dialogues about how miserable (Armand) and/or good looking they are (Lestat), or, worse, about religion (Armand, Lestat, et al).So, I had some hope coming into the final book that some of these issues might be resolved since Blackwood Farm seemed to eliminate a few of them.

Rice does not "resolve" these issues.Instead, she completely eliminates any semblance of these characters' original personalities and replaces them with whiners, and, most horribly of all, a repentant Lestat who uses grimace-inducing, self-aggrandizing slang almost constantly and, although he refers to himself every few pages as "wicked," has lost all of whatever "wickedness" he was supposed to possess.Instead he's a simpering wannabe saint who touts very obviously Rice's own (stupid) beliefs about a good many things.

What's more, the new characters are extremely brittle and two dimensional.Rowan and Michael Mayfair might as well have not existed in this novel.For no apparent reason, Lestat falls in love with Rowan.I can't tell you how many scenes consist of Lestat and Rowan staring longingly at one another.Rowan also constantly cries.Surprisingly, the character I found most entertaining was Mona Mayfair, but naturally, as with almost all of Rice's female characters, she gradually degenerates into a constantly-crying, tortured whiner.Oh, wait, that's all of the characters.Never mind.

Those are the plot problems.Let me get into the writing itself.At one point, Rice uses FIVE- count 'em, FIVE !!!!! exclamation points.She also frequently uses several question marks.Why is this?Is she feeling the pressure of an aged series and wanting to make it "younger?"I know plenty of young people who are familiar with simple grammatical rules.There are also the usual problems with her later books- many completely pointless scenes, needless repetition, the incessant use of words like "beautiful" and the jarring and clumsy erotic scenes that usually come off as just sort of awkward.

Then, there's the Anne Rice Classic, where some characters are involved in a big event, and on the next page, DIRECTLY AFTER YOU'VE READ THIS ENTIRE EVENT, mind you, all of the characters sit around and talk about it, recounting it word for word.

Now, considering all of this horror, you'd think it would be a long book, wouldn't you?But no, it is not.It's fairly flimsy.I cannot comprehend how a person can go from writing something as rich and dark as Interview with the Vampire, Tale of the Body Thief or even Blood and Gold to...this.It's awful.I frankly wish I wouldn't have spent the two dollars on it that I did.

Blood Canticleby Anne Rice
Have finally got the whole vampire chronicle series.Can not wait to read the rest.

Blood Canticle
I have now concluded the entire group and enjoyed every book.Each vampire has told their story and without killing off anybody except for food. They don't sparkle like modern day vampires but they are a lot more enjoyable. Anne is the best.

Excellent book!
Great book.As the series goes on, Anne Rice really puts out some winners and by this point you are so into all of the charachters that you can't get enough.

Someone who is (unfortunately) living in the twilight generation
Now before all you twi-hards attack me for my title let me explain.

I truly loved this book. I have read all the chronicles (particularly loved Pandora, the construction of the setting and ambiance of that book was really mesmerizing, as was the female protagonist). However I digress. Blood Canticle offers for Rice fans the ability to see in motion the culmination of years of hard work in defining a genre, in constructing timeless characters, and challenging readers to understand those characters in different ways.This book is heavy on the last point. I enjoyed seeing Lestat change and develop from being so consumed by vanity, to questioning himself, and then to fall again, and again. His struggle between these two points was always entertaining to watch, even more so when we relate it to the changing motions of the vampire world Anne Rice created. What each book gives us is the changes in decades, which some of the reviewers have commented on. To construct all this, and then to bring into it characters from other supernatural worlds which Rice has created, and have it even be as remotely as good as this, as thralling as this, is an achievement unto itself. Now to my point. Read this book and the series it belongs to, understand what it did for the vampire in literature; for those purists you must admit that Rice had an impact in resurrecting (o yes the puns!) this ancient creature so many of us have been in love with. She created the vampire with a soul, the vampire with no remorse, the source of all Vampires and the changing faces of these characters reflect even more than what Im saying here. Blood Canticle will shock you if you start from the beginning to end without really considering the characters in transition; but for someone who looks for that transition in Rice's books I was more than satisfied.

Ultimately my point is where is this ancient creature now? The reviews here talk about editing, the technicalities of Rice's writing and prose. You ask such high standards when books such as theTwilight series, which have done nothing for the vampire genre other than popularize it to a rather literature-deprived generation, are being held up on a pedestal saying this is art! I wont get into how technically messy Twilight is, Im sure there are plenty of websites to educate you on this, but my point in comparison is this: what did the most for the character of the vampire? This book is not perfection. You want to blast Anne Rice, do so, even though your voice will be little in comparison to her presence in time as far as the creature of the vampire is concerned. But I for one will not let this book, not the best, but a much better understanding of true character development and mythology, be held down, while true failings are exalted on no real merit at all. It disappoints me as a reader that so many people who have dedicated their time and effort to this series, just don't get it yet! These characters embody so many changes, the very transition of which is the point of Rice's books! And yes you still expected Lestat to play the same tune, and dance the same dance. I wouldn't have had it end any other way than it did.

And if you are a twilight fan, Im sorry I didnt jump on the same boat as you did, but honestly pick up another book to read. Please? this one's a good one to end on (you probably know where to start if you only vaguely know Anne Rice and were around for the 90's).
Anyways thats my two cents :) let the feathers fly!

Seema ... Read more

Product Description
Set includes: Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat,The Queen of the Damned, and The Tale of the Body Thief.Amazon.com Review
For the first time you can find all your favoritenight-stalking, blood-guzzling undead--Lestat, Claudia, Louis, Akasha,Armand, and Memnoch--all in the same place at the same time.Here,collected in one box-set, are the four bestselling, original titlesof Anne Rice's sprawling vampire series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (153)

Good
All the books in the order were a little older than I expected, but they were all in really good shape.My only complaint would be that one of them had a tear in the cover and a page directly after the cover was loose and could potentially fall out. That's it, all in all a good purchase.

A series for even those that don't like vampires.
Lately, I have been getting a little sick of this vampire pandemic that we are in at this moment, but after watching Interview With the Vampire for the first time--yes, I know that I'm a little late at getting to this movie, but I've been busy--I bought the box set. I was a little skeptical at first, knowing that I really wasn't into vampires, but thesebooks are actually more than that. These books tell the story about a man that struggles with creature that he has become because he is a naturally good person, while the thing that he has become is naturally the opposite.

And the gloriously evil Lestat is quite the character,as well. First in Interview With the Vampire, he is a fiend, to say the least, and loves being as evil as he can, as if he only does it just to grate on every last nerve that Louis has left. Then, in The Vampire Lestat, you get to understand why he is so evil and wicked. Lastly, in the Queen of the Damned, you get to realize that he is, in his own delirious way, compassionate with the Queen. I really enjoyed how this series portrayed Lestat and how a man that is definitely evil, can also be capable of having true feelings for the things that are closest to him.

I still don't like vampires, as I am more of a werewolf man, I can still say that I appreciate this obvious classic for the descriptiveness and well-developed plot. I reccomend this box set to every single person that enjoys a challenging read. Please enjoy!

One of the greats!
I have read it several times. Anne Rice is the true Queen of Vampire Lore. I love it every time I read it. I definately recommend it to all new readers of vampire fiction.

Anne Rice complete Vampire Chronicles
If you are interested in Vampire novels this is a great read.Keeps you interested from beginning to end of the book.

interview with a vampire set review
This puts me to sleep whenever I try to pick up the book. I have yet to finish it and purchased it 2 months ago. ... Read more

Product Description
Celebrate the daring gifts of Anne Rice, writing as A. N. Roquelaure, with this beautifully repackaged boxed set of the three erotic novels in her acclaimed Sleeping Beauty trilogy.Amazon.com Review
Anne Rice casts her lurid gaze upon the the traditional tale of"Sleeping Beauty" under the pen name of A.N. Roquelaure.Herre-telling of the Beauty story probes the unspoken implications of thislush, suggestive tale by exploring its undeniable connection to sexualdesire.Reminiscent of the charged erotica of her novelBelinda. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (185)

Very Arousing Fun, But All Erotica, No Story
This trilogy [The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, Beauty's Punishment, and Beauty's Release], written under a pseudonym by Anne Rice, is hardcore erotica. It is set in a generickingdom of medieval Europe. A lovely young princess named Beauty is awakened from curse induced slumber by the kiss of a prince---whom immediately carries her into sexual slavery in his own realm. This story is not as dark as it first seems. The sex is graphic and expands to include a great deal of both female and male gay sex, as well has hetero sex and S & M situations. It is very entertaining, but like hardcore porn, this is little story beyond the endless sex and punishment. Extreme but fun. While this is arousing, it is easy to understand why Ms. Rice chose not to use her real name.

Michael Travis Jasper, author of the novel "To Be Chosen"

Absolutely discusted! This lady is sick and belongs in an asylum for mentaly deranged. Publishers should also be lockedup!
I have never read any Anne Rice books however I knew someone who really liked her Vampire books I happened upon this set that was in a box set next to the trash container in my townhouse units.I thought it might be something that my friend would like because they liked Anne Rice Vampire books so much.This set was brand new and look as if it had never been opened.

This set should have been put into the trash bin instead of setting outside with other books in a box.

I cannot believe that someone who is in the right might can write such absolute trash.I am not a prude and certainly understand that everyone has a right to read what they want, we are all not in the same mind as to what we want to read, however this is so absolutely lurid I cannot believe this lady has been so successful.

I read about 10 pages of the first book "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty" and I want to take a bath and burn this book. If I feel that way after just a few pages she must feel filthy all her life.

Now I understand she is writing about angels!

Where does human dignity come in when publishers pay for this trash and then sell it.No wonder we have so many crazy people out there, they read this trash and think it is what is normal?

I do believe in karma and I think what she had done in this series will come back to her.Shame on you Ms. Rice for your lurid, filthy mind!

Awesome
The books received were in brand new condition.I give this seller ***** (5 stars) and would definately buy from this seller again.Thanks!!!

sex, sex and more spanking sex
This is actually my first time reading Ann Rice erotica.Loved it.She is fabulous.In each book, Beauty is having sex with this one and that one and yes even a little kitty.Who knew?She's spanked, whipped, prodded and holy moly what more can you ask for.Thank you, Ms. Rice.

Never Knew Sex Could Become A Bore!!!
OH MY GOD! Okay, let me start by saying that I am no prude...not by a long shot but good God. These books make your average porno look like an after school special.
These books are littered with an over abundance of ridiculously over the top sex scenes. Everyone loves a good sex scene once in a while but when it's shoved down your throat (no pun intended) every other page, it actually becomes annoyingly boring.

That's all these books are. Sex on hyperdrive, without a plot, substance or decent characters to back them up. And let me not leave you under the wrong impression. We're not talking your average, run of the mill sex nor kinky fun sex. We're talking some freaky, sadistic junk. Yeah, sounds fun right....WRONG! Not fun, not at all.

These books are SO over the top, so strewn with NON STOP sex that the typically fun and captivating subject becomes difficult to dredge through. Not fun, not sexy....just boring. The characters are so underdeveloped (due to Rice's preoccupation with stupid sex scenes) that you end up caring so little for them that the story drowns in a sea of paddles, whips, sexual torture devices, leather phalluses, horse bridles and genitals.

I made myself read all three books in the box set because I spent what was, at the time, a good amount of money on them. I read them to get my money's worth but should have discovered what it would be like to wipe my butt with a couple fifty dollar bills. That would have proven more interesting.....to say the least!!!!

If you'd like to NOT turn yourself off to sex for months....DON'T read these stupid books! UGH! ... Read more

Product Description
Having completed the two cycles of legend to which she has devoted her career so far, Anne Rice gives us now her most ambitious and courageous book, a novel about the early years of CHRIST THE LORD, based on the Gospels and on the most respected New Testament scholarship.

The book’s power derives from the passion its author brings to the writing and the way in which she summons up the voice, the presence, the words of Jesus who tells the story.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (345)

Little creativeness in this story
It is very difficult to write a novel based upon a well known story line, of which the New Testament Bible is well established. The difficulty lies with writing the novel using already available material, and not using your creative juices to create a realistic and dynamic story line. While I enjoyed the first book in this line, I found this one lacking in imaginative material. She quotes from just about every Advent music score in the hymnal. There are plenty of creative turns of the phrase to create a dramatic scene, without resorting to copying established material. This book could be taken right out of the Catholic catechism class. She took a large chunk of years and skimmed through them, while filling out her pages from material found in the Bible, scenes from books banned from the Bible, and music hymnals. Where is the creative drama we saw in Interview With The Vampire? This book could have been written by a sophomore class at the local high school. I'm very disappointed in this second book in the series. I will probably skip the remainder of future books she writes to complete the story. She claims to have done extensive research on the history of the period and the historical Jesus. Obviously, she used sources that follow her Catholic line of thought, and seems to have skipped the more modern Theology teachings on the historical Jesus. I have seen more historical accuracy in a Barry Sadler "Casca" novel than Rice put into this book. Very disappointing, very disappointing.

Inconsistent Anne
Rice is great writer, and I liked being transported back to ancient Nazareth but there are some major problems with Anne's understanding of her new faith.Catholics believe that not only Jesus but Mary and Joseph as well knew who Jesus was from the very beginning.Christ was fully man and fully human; at no time did he not know who he was.The idea that Jesus could, not knowing who he is, accidentally wish someone dead is completely unbelieveable and is very offensive to Catholics (or at least to those Catholics who understand their faith).Rice should have spent more time researching her new faith before she decided to write about it.If she had, this could have been five stars.

Thought provoking!
by Emily Placido, Julita's Sands: A Memoir

Anne Rice does a wonderful writing job of making Jesus believable as a child and the Son of God.The story is told from Jesus' point of view. He is a young boy who performs miracles and questions his ability to do so. He turns to his mother and father for answers but is encouraged to search for the answers within himself. This book made me look at Jesus CHrist in a different light, fro another perspective.Most stories about Jesus are about his pilgrimage, gathering his disciples and about his teachings. THis book is about a 7 year old child, wholike all children likes to play and have fun with his friends. I love the premise and Rice is fantastic here.I highly recomend this book!

A gem for any Christian library
In Christianity as popularly practiced, there is an excess of attention paid to the helpless infant and the man dying in agony on the Cross. Anne Rice, after consulting with numerous religious and archaeological experts for historical accuracy, has crafted the story of Christ as a living person. The first volume, Out Of Egypt, shows Him from about the age of 7 until His early, pre-teen-ish years. This book picks up where He has become fully aware of what He faces. What makes this book so precious? Simply put, you are shown the fullness of His family life, the foods and habits common to the people of the time, the manner in which they cared for their elderly and the general practices of faithful Jews. You see the loving strain between Mary & Joseph, hampered by having a son who was literally illuminated by an angel. You see the social stresses resulting from wars and the nature of how information flows, sometimes hindered by gossip. For example, there is a growing concern about this intense man named John, baptizing people in the river, with some very human "What should we make of that?" from the crowds. When He is tested in the desert by Satan, she knocks it out of the park, highlighting the Morningstar's classic, self-destructive vanity. You can feel the solidity and power of things, step after step. She has changed nothing of Jesus' story, but has instead polished it to a high sheen by putting it all in perspective with the reality of life at that time. This is the real Jesus, no special effects or huge choirs in the background, just His trials and character, shown in a clear and faithful light. A unique, 5-star work.

Would def. make an interesting movie with the right script...
Written from the perspective of Jesus as a 7-year-old, this is a delicate rendering of what the author thinks may have run through his mind leading up to his discovery of 'who' he is. The book moves slowly and carefully weaving subtly bits of all the gospels and early Christian legend regarding Jesus. It is an interesting read... esp. the quite long Author's Note which details Rice's return (after a long stay as a athiest) to rather Orthodox Catholicism theology (even though she appears to still hold liberal political views - I think). It would no doubt make for an interesting - though no doubt controversial - film, if ever done. ... Read more

Product Description
Demonstrating once again her gift for spellbinding stoyrtelling, Anne Rice makes real a family of witches--a family given to poetry and incest, to murder and philsophy, a family that is itself haunted by a powerful, dangerous and seductive being.
"Unfolds like a poisonous lotus blossom redolent with luxurious evil."
THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
Amazon.com Review
In this engrossing and hypnotic tale of witchcraft and the occultspanning four centuries, we meet a great dynasty of witches--afamily given to poetry and incest, to murder and philosophy, a familythat over the ages is haunted by a powerful, dangerous andseductive being. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (409)

Good Book
This is a compelling history of the Mayfair Witch clan. It is an intriguing look at how the Mayfair's made their fortune, and where their powers originate.

Having read a number of Mrs. Rice's other books, Taltos, The Vampire Chronicles, etc, I found this book to be far less materialistic than some of her other books. She spends less time dealing with the description of aesthetics than in any of the stories of Lestat.

Overall I found this book to be very good and would recommend it!

A Riveting Rice Original
Read one of the great originals in the Anne Rice 'Vampire Chronicles'.Rumor has it that it may soon be made into cable/series/movie. For me, this is New Orleans memorabilia, nostalgia if you will and a book that draws a picture of somewhere probably lost for all times.

The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
Have had great fun with all Anne Rices' work.This is just the beginning to another great series.

A haunting tale...
"The Witching Hour" is the story of the Mayfair Witches, beginning in the present, then shifting to the past through the unique device of a historical record gathered and maintained by the mysterious Talamasca. The Talamasca is an organization who studies the supernatural and has since before the time of the Templars. The Mayfairs are powerful witches, attended by a spirit by the name of Lasher who both controls and is controlled by the witches. The narrative finally finds its way back to the present for the final confrontation with Lasher, which doesn't actually go the way the reader would expect. There is plenty of story left for several sequels, which are already in print. Though it takes some amount of pages for one to become really engaged in this story, once it happens, one is loathe to quit reading. I quite look forward to the continuing tale of this enthralling family.

Seductive, haunting...a novel that will stay with you
Being an avid Anne Rice fan I delved into this collection with both feet in. Truth-be-told....I enjoyed this more than the Vampire Chronicles (which I adore & treasure).Anne Rice hits home for me in this collection. It's seductive, haunting, it's a collection that stays with you. Michael has quickly become one of my favorite characters, as is Aaron Lightner. A must read. Not for the faint of heart.Definitely not for adolescents!! ... Read more

Product Description
Kidnapped by enemy soldiers, Beauty, Tristan, and Prince Laurent are sent across the sea to become sexual slaves to themysterious Sultan. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (63)

Not my favorite of the series
This book had some hot scenes as well, but it's the least favorite of mine in the series. It was interesting to see how everything unfolded, but I felt it didn't live up to the first two books.

Just like new
The used books I ordered were received quickly, and in just-like-new condition.I will definitely buy from this vendor again.

That's it?
This just baffles me.This book is said to be elegantly written erotica, but it has as much class as a drunken frat boy belching the alphabet.Half the scenes are filler, the other half is people being put in positions so ridiculous that it's impossible to find anything sexy about it.This is stuff that comes from a young teenager's twisted mind before they actually learn about sex.

Even if what the characters go through were sexy, the writing is poor and there are even grammar mistakes. Rice forgot to add the emotions that go with sex.When the characters are not telling us how they love a man they just met and who raped them in a more degrading way than they have already been, they do not enjoy what they do, crying at the pain, unwanted humiliation, and abuse, yet they seek it out, even in the same sentence.The rapists do not enjoy themselves either, not even the act of orgasm.This is just a dime-a-dozen poorly acted porn in the form of prose.

But instead of a mere porn, there is a strange sub-lot with no real ending--let alone character development--about love.This would be fine and dandy were the concept of love handled by an adult mind.But to Rice, love is not a person who will protect and care for you.Love is for someone gives you a long speech about how worthless you are while hurting you and treating your privates as things to kick.The whole book is Beauty actually seeking out a person who will not just do that, but do it to the highest extreme.

Take into account all that, the sex without enjoyment from any participant, the need to love the most abusive person imaginable, the replacement of people tied in silly positions and left alone as a replacement for any form of foreplay or sex, and add inconsistencies of and forgotten motivation, actions, characters, setting, and personality.Every chapter has at least 2 out of the mentioned five.

The worst of all, is that this is that she tries to give us the same message as in Salo: 120 days of Sodom.Her wording is pretentious, as if she filled in a mad-lib with words she found randomly in a philosophy book, the characters describe the essence and how wonderful it is to be treated worse and worse, contradicting themselves in their own run-on sentences.

Lastly, Anne shot herself in the foot here.The story has nothing to do with Sleeping Beauty, yet many chapters refer to her sleep and being awakened and taken away by the Prince.Not only is this irrelevant, but it's a hypocritical crutch.Anne could have merely made her own fantasy world about raped royalty or even consensual sex that involved strange positions and lots of toys. But instead, she wrote not just fanfiction--which she is adamantly against, but bad fanfiction with poor characterization and tons of worse sex--the very kind of fanfiction that made her deny fans the right to write fanfiction of her good stories.

The book conveys a heavy, blatant, painful message: write what you hate for no one will be intelligent enough to notice how badly you've done if you use enough big words.

New to this genre, so take this review with a grain of salt...
This was my first foray into this genre, so I had no specific expectations.Unfortunately, I found this whole series disappointing.The 2nd & 3rd books are better than the first one, but the erotic action in all three books is really repetitive and therefore became boring fairly quickly.I kept waiting for the story lines to take off or intermingle in some interesting way, but they just never did.

FANTASY PEOPLE FANTASY!
I am not writing a review for all three books..or maybe I will just copy and paste this post to all three.

My title says is it all. These are Adult FairyTale FANTASY books. Please do not read these books and base them on real life. I need to make that clear. I LOVE these books and think about them often. They are mind blowingly wonderful but fully fantasy. I chuckle when people review "that could never happen" or something like that because, UHM YEAH! not real life. Be warned, there is major kink and lots of spanking.

Pretty much everyone in this world is bi-sexual.
The naked slaves never get cold.
Seems to skip right over winter.
No woman's periods, no STI's or STD's and constant intercourse without protection doesn't seem to result in pregnancy.
This is not a manual of the BDSM lifestyle.
There seems to be hundreds and hundreds of princes and princesses and of course, they are all beautiful.
This is out and out a full on fantasy world and it is wonderfully erotic. I am sure that these books are not everyone's cup of tea but I was very much taken in with this fantasy world. ... Read more

Product Description
"ANNE RICE WILL LIVE ON THROUGH THE AGES OF LITERATURE."
--San Francisco Chronicle
"TALTOS IS THE THIRD BOOK IN A SERIES KNOWN AS THE LIVES OF THE MAYFAIR WITCHES . . . Their haunted heritage has brought the family great wealth, which is exercised from a New Orleans manse with Southern gentility; but of course such power cannot escape notice . . . or challenge. . . Rice is a formidable talent. . .
[Taltos] is a curious amalgam of gothic, glamour fiction, alternate history, and high soap opera."
--The Washington Post Book World
"AN INTRICATE, STUNNING IMAGINATION."
--Los Angeles Times Book Review
"SPELLBINDING . . . MYTHICAL . . . Anne Rice is a pure storyteller."
--Cosmopolitan
"BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN."
--Kirkus Reviews (starred)
"Her power of invention seems boundless. . . . She has made a masterpiece of the morbid, worthy of Poe's daughter. . . . It is hard to praise sufficiently the originality of Miss Rice."
--The Wall Street Journal
Amazon.com Review
In a swirling universe filled with death and life, corruptionand innocence, this mesmerizing novel takes us on a wondrous journeyback through the centuries to a civilization half-human, of whollymysterious origin, at odds with mortality and immortality, justice andguilt.It is an enchanted, hypnotic world that could only come fromthe imagination of Anne Rice... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (111)

book review
The book was thrilling, and completely fasenating. It was in good condition and I am very pleased by the seller.

Taltos
This Anne Rice series on the Mayfair Witches was awesome.At first I wasn't going to read the last book but OMG I'm so glad I did.It really brought it all together.

The series continues to fascinate.
I disagree with the many other reviews which opine that this book is not any good. I continued to enjoy the tales contained in both Lasher and Taltos, and do not think that they detract from the excellent narrative that is The Witching Hour.I like that Rice has created an entirely new species about which to write, having possibly exhausted vampire lore. I am fascinated by the Taltos and extremely interested in reading about them further.

Great Book
The book arrived in good order and is a terrific read. the second in the trilogy of the Mayfair Witches.Anne Rice has a dreamy quality to her story telling which I find facinating , the depth of the plot is a `can`t-put-it-down factor .

Yay Anne Rice!
What a great book! I would suggest reading the interview with a vampire series first because they get you really interesting in the taltos and make these a more interesting read. I have come to realize that Anne Rice's books are more of a winter read, when you have time to sit and really think about it because her writing is so involved. ... Read more

Product Description
“RICE WRITES WITH HER USUAL EROTIC AND HISTORICALLY EVOCATIVE FLAIR.”
–People

Once a proud Senator in Imperial Rome, Marius is kidnapped and forced into that dark realm of blood, where he is made a protector of the Queen and King of the vampires–in whom the core of the supernatural race resides. Through his eyes we see the fall of pagan Rome to the Emperor Constantine, the horrific sack of the Eternal City at the hands of the Visigoths, and the vile aftermath of the Black Death. Ultimately restored by the beauty of the Renaissance, Marius becomes a painter, living dangerously yet happily among mortals, and giving his heart to the great master Botticelli, to the bewitching courtesan Bianca, and to the mysterious young apprentice Armand. But it is in the present day, deep in the jungle, when Marius will meet his fate seeking justice from the oldest vampires in the world. . . .Amazon.com Review
Time heals all wounds, unless, of course, you're a vampire. Cuts may heal, burns vanish, limbs reattach, but for the "blood god," the wounds of the heart sometimes stay open and raw for centuries. So it is for Marius, Anne Rice's oft-mentioned and beloved scholar. We've heard parts of his tale in past volumes of the Vampire Chronicles, but never so completely and never from his own lips. In Blood and Gold, Rice mostly (but not entirely) avoids the danger of treading worn ground as she fills out the life and character of Marius the Lonely, the Disenchanted, the Heartsick--a 2,000-year-old vampire "with all the conviction of a mortal man."

Plucked from his beloved Rome in the prime of his life and forced into solitude as keeper of the vampire queen and king, Marius has never forgiven the injustice of his mortal death. Thousands of years later, he still seethes over his losses. Immortality for Marius is both a blessing and a curse--he bears "witness to all splendid and beautiful things human," yet is unable to engage in relationships for fear of revealing his burden.

New readers to the Chronicles may wish for a more fleshed-out, less introspective hero, but Rice's legions of devoted fans will recognize Blood and Gold for what it is: a love song to Marius the Wanderer, whose story reveals the complexities and limitations of eternal existence. --Daphne Durham ... Read more

Customer Reviews (205)

Very Happy
I was very pleased with the condition of the book, and the speedy delivery in which it arrived.

great book!
This was a great book.A suggestion, make it a winter read so that you have plenty of time to sit and enjoy.

One of the Best
I read almost all of MS. Rice's Vampire novels but enjoyed The "Vampire Lestat", "The Queen of the Damned", "And Blood and Gold" the most of the series.

No news in the vampire`s night
Blood and Gold is the biography of one of the most mentioned and known character in the Vampires' Chronicles, Marius.

For those who have read the previous chapters, this works as a summary of the whole saga, few new characters and facts. And as a summary, it can even be enjoyable.

However, for those people who don`t know what comes before, my advice would be to abstain. They might get lost and overwhelmed by facts and characters they are not familiar with. It seems to be a recycling of the author`s previous books without the splendor and novelty they provided. One might even think it was written by a different author, since it lacks the sensuality and poetry we were used to feel and enjoy in Anne Rice`s writings.

Chains made of hair?!Really, Anne?Really?
Blood and Gold is the Vampire Chronicle by Anne Rice about her Roman Vampire Marius, whose back story is first told to us in the novel The Vampire Lestat. Much like with The Vampire Armand (whose story is also first told in The Vampire Lestat) I think it would be best for most people to just stick with the earlier books.

Continuity errors bug me and like most of the later Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice this one is riddled with them.

Personality inconsistancy: Marius went from the kindly father figure character to a whining, child-like character in Blood and Gold. Not to mention the S and M whippings in The Vampire Armand when in The Vampire Lestat Armand told Lestat Marius would never harm him. Now he's coming off as a pervert. Also he blames Lestat for Akasha rising. How could he? It was Akasha who told Lestat her name when Marius took Lestat to the island. It was Akasha who opened the tabernacle and planted the idea in his head to play Nicholas' violin for her. And it was Marius who had Lestat's music videos video taped for her to watch yet he blames Lestat for her rising? I can't believe he's become so illogical so quickly.
Up until about Tale of the Body thief we see Marius as the kindly father figure who called Lestat the damned creature in a playful bemused sort of way.
In The Vampire Armand we're told Marius physically whipped Armand and was into S and M with young boys. There is no such mention of this in the earlier books. Then by Blood and Gold he's a whining child in that he blames Lestat for things Lestat could not be accountable for.
Marius is the one who took Lestat to the island. Akasha is the one who planted the idea in Lestat's head to play Nicki's violin for her. She opened the tabernacle for him. Then he, himself, was going to play Lestat's music videos for them and yet when Akasha rose to Lestat's music videos Marius blames Lestat. It was all Akasha's choosing. Why would the wise and patient Marius suddenly act like a child and not think logically? Why would his life in the past suddenly be described differently from The Vampire Armand on ward? He, like Lestat, and Maharet are basically behaving like their own opposites in the later books.

In Blood and Gold Marius claims vampires to be immune to dirt (supposedly it won't cling to them) yet the Satanic vampires under Les Innocents in The Vampire Lestat were filthy and Lestat is quoted as saying Eleni would be pretty if she would be forced to stand under a water fall to wash the dirt off of her. Also, Marius himself was filthy after being trapped in the ice in The queen of the damned novel. And Lestat was filthy when Marius pulled him out of the Earth in The Vampire Lestat novel.

In Blood and Gold Maharet (the vampire whom had lost her eyes before ever becoming a vampire) takes the eyes of a fellow vampire. She chains up a fellow vampire and plucks out his eyes, promising to take care of him. This vampire is an old rival of hers who claimed he was going to kill her.
Maharet takes his eyes at the end of Blood and Gold. Ironically he's the one who suggests she should do it. (Side note: He whispered something to the tongueless vampire, Mekare and no one has any idea what he said to her.) So Mahare took his eyes yet in every chronicle before this, for supposedly six-thousand-years, she has steadfastly made it clear that she would never take the eyes of any vampire, thinking it too cruel and disloyal to do that to her own kind. There is really no explanation for this change of heart.

In Blood and Gold we find out the chains that held Lestat at the end of Memnoch The Devil had Maharet's hair woven into them. Are we really to believe just because she's the oldest vampire that her hair is indestructible? Wasn't it plausible enough that heavy chains held Lestat? Also if her hair is indestructible how did she cut it to weave it into the chains? These are the chains Maharet uses on her vampire captive, whom she took the eyes of.

It's the personality and plot inconsistencies that bug me about this novel.
... Read more

Product Description
"STARTLING . . . FIENDISH . . . MEMNOCH'S TALE IS COMPELLING."
--New York Daily News

"Like Interview with the Vampire, Memnoch has a half-maddened, fever-pitch intensity. . . . Narrated by Rice's most cherished character, the vampire Lestat, Memnoch tells a tale as old as Scripture's legends and as modern as today's religious strife."
--Rolling Stone

"SENSUAL . . . BOLD, FAST-PACED."
--USA Today

"Rice has penned an ambitious close to this long-running series. . . . Fans will no doubt devour this."
--The Washington Post Book World

"MEMNOCH THE DEVIL OFFERS PASSAGES OF POETIC BRILLIANCE."
--Playboy

"[MEMNOCH] is one of Rice's most intriguing and sympathetic characters to date. . . . Rice ups the ante, taking Lestat where few writers have ventured: into heaven and hell itself. She carries it off in top form."
--The Seattle Times Amazon.com Review
The fifth volume of Rice's Vampire Chronicles is one of her mostcontroversial books. The tale begins in New York, where Lestat, the coolestof Rice's vampire heroes, is stalking a big-time cocaine dealer andreligious-art smuggler--this guy should get it in the neck. Lestat is alsogrowing fascinated with the dealer's lovely daughter, a TV evangelist who'snot a fraud.

Lestat is also being stalked himself, by some shadowy guy who turns out tobe Memnoch, the devil, who spirits him away. From here on, the book mighthave been called Interview with the Devil (by a Vampire). It's arousing story interrupted by a long debate with the devil. Memnoch isn'tthe devil as ordinarily conceived: he got the boot from God because heobjected to God's heartless indifference to human misery. Memnoch takesLestat to heaven, hell, and throughout history.

Some readers are appalled by the scene in which Lestat sinks his fangsinto the throat of Christ on the cross, but the scene is not a mereshock tactic: Jesus is giving Lestat a bloody taste in order to winhim over to God's side, and Rice is dead serious about the battle forhis soul. Rice is really doing what she did as a devout young Catholicgirl asked to imagine in detail what Christ's suffering feltlike--it's just that her imagination ran away with her.

If you like straight-ahead fanged adventure, you'll likely enjoy the firstthird; if you like Job-like arguments with God, you'll prefer the Memnochchapters. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (488)

Memnoch the Devil
Since becoming a vampire, Lestat has brooded on the existence of both God and the Devil.When a mysterious being begins stalking Lestat, he becomes convinced that the Devil is coming to take him away to Hell.This is indeed the Devil, but he has come with an offer for Lestat; the Devil would like help against his adversary, God.The Devil, Memnoch, will show Lestat Heaven and Hell and then allow him to make his decision whether or not to die and become Memnoch's lietenant, or to remain in his immortal vampire form.

This is my favorite of the Vampire Chronicles since Interview with the Vampire.The descriptions of Heaven and Hell were amazing, and I loved hearing Memnoch's version about the reasons he is God's adversary and the situation that cast him from Heaven.This is a unique and fascinating interpretation of these well-known Christian themes and was definitely thought provoking.Well worth the read even though it is different than the other novels in the Vampire Chronicles.

Rivetting
"Memnoch the Devil" is an excellent, exciting tale written in the style of Anne Rice that we've all come to love and expect. It truly is riveting and as keeps us on the edge of our seats, making it a "can't put down" tale and leaving us thoughtful about whether such an experience with the "other world" could truly happen.

Memnoch the Devilby Anne Rice
Can not seem to put this book down.I will be buying this series for my kindle so I can read again and again where ever I am.

A Modern Deal with the Devil
4 stars but not for all.
In the time period in which she wrote the book, horror mags would not publish deal with the devil stories.
Anne Rice wrote the best of them as a novel. Though one that would appeal to horror fans with a Christian background or interest in it... in that sense it is brilliant.
But horror and vampire fans that are more offbeat or new age or atheist would hate the book.
The Pope and his Cardinals couldn't do a better job of painting a picture of heaven, hell and purgatory and angels and so on. But she does them another one better with a portrayal of Jesus making crude conversation with the devil about bedding women.
On the other hand, her vampires are a bit faggy and seem like women playing men. Her ghost story with Roger is good. Isure don't believe in a heaven where singing is the main preoccupation.
But to end, considering the type of story she tried to do and as a novel it is brilliant. No one else would even attempt it.
(but there is disappointment in wondering why anyone would want to do such a story. perhaps she should have taken a stab at real theology instead of writing it as horror fiction. and if she believes in a Jesus who slept with women, perhaps she should say it as theology and not fiction)

a good read
This was an interesting book, though perhaps not as entertaining as some of the others in the series.It was different and it was thoughtfully done.Was happy to find Lestat again.


J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'" ... Read more

Product Description
Beauty is sold into erotic slavery and forced to obey the orders of the Captain and Mistress Lockley. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (74)

Wow!
This book was by far my favorite out of the trilogy. Super hot scenes- especially when Beauty works in the inn with the Captain! Be sure to have a fan nearby because things heat up quick!!!!

Just like new
Used books were received very quickly, and in just-like-new condition.I will definitely order from this vendor again.

Beware!
Based on the Rape of Sleeping Beauty Anne Rice has written this series as an over erotic S&M fantasy story featuring Sleeping Beauty and others in humiliating acts of submission and torture.

Oh, dear Lord.
I read all three of these books, partially out of train-wreck syndrome and partially because I was working as a tow-truck dispatcher and was bored (the other dispatcher got them from the library and passed them on to me, because I read fast.) They were so un-exciting I felt no shame at all reading them at work.

But this one, out of the three, was the absolute worst. I can sum up the reason in two words (SPOILER ALERT, and no, those are not the two words): THE CAT.

Oh, God, the cat. Whether or not the concept of bestiality squicks you, the practical concerns of a cat licking a sensitive area? OW. Take a look at a close-up picture of a cat's tongue - go ahead, I'll wait. See? That there's nature's Velcro, man, and not the soft fuzzy side of the Velcro, either, either. But apparently in Anne Rice world, that doesn't hurt at all.

I'd long suspected that Anne Rice was, in fact, two sandwiches short of a picnic, but that confirmed it.

insightful
This book is insightful into submissive dominant relationships. It also seems to have rehabilitating qualities in concern to this. ... Read more

Product Description
In this mesmerizing new novel, Anne Rice demonstrates once again her gift for spellbinding storytelling and the creation of myth and magic, as she weaves together two of her most compelling worlds? those of the Vampire Chronicles and the Mayfair witches.

Amazon.com Review
Just when you thought it was safe for a bloodsucker to go out in the dark in New Orleans, along comes Merrick Mayfair, a sultry, hard-drinking octoroon beauty whose voodoo can turn the toughest vampire into a marionette dancing to her merry, scary tune. In Merrick, Anne Rice brings back three of her most wildly popular characters--the vampires Lestat and Louis and the dead vampire child Claudia--and introduces them to the world of her Mayfair Witches book series.

It is Louis who brings about the collision of the fang and voodoo universes. Louis made Claudia a vampire in Rice's classic Interview with the Vampire, in which she was destroyed, and now he's obsessed with raising her ghost to make amends and seek guidance from the beyond. (Claudia physically resembles Rice's young daughter who died of a blood-related illness. Rice nearly died of a diabetic coma in 1998, and writing Merrick turned her excruciating recovery into an exhilarating burst of creativity).

Vampire David Talbot lobbies Merrick to call Claudia's spirit and slake Louis's guilt, but Talbot winds up in the grip of an obsession with the witch. You see, Talbot, unlike most vampires, lived 70 years as a human, so his sexual response to humans is still as strong as his blood thirst. Merrick can cast spells to make men crave her, and Talbot is tormented. After she reads his palm, he muses, "I wanted to take her in my arms, not to feed from her, no, not harm her, only kiss her, only sink my fangs a very little, only taste her blood and her secrets, but this was dreadful and I wouldn't let it go on."

The secrets of Merrick are dark and sensuous, but the book is a romp animated by Rice's feeling of coming back to life through the magic of a literary outpouring. The narrative flashes back to the past, to an Indiana Jones-ish adventure in a Guatemalan cave, and to scenes from many other Rice novels. It may be helpful to read Merrick with the Rice-approved guidebooks The Vampire Companion and The Witches' Companion at hand.

After many books, Rice's grand Vampire Chronicles tale was in peril of getting long in the tooth. Merrick Mayfair's magic represents an infusion of fresh blood. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (324)

Great Anne Rice
This is a good book - typical Anne Rice creepy but beautiful - if you like Anne Rice you will like this also

Side stepping from the main story - but, still good.
David Talbot goes to a young VooDoo witch for help while she ends up trying to seduce him and Louis.
During this story Merrick saves Louis from the sun and becomes the very thing that David never wanted her to be.

great book!
Great book! You get a little insight into the Mayfair witches and the taltos! Would definately read this one!

well worth the time
This book is wonderfully visual because the discriptions are so well thought out!I could just see myself in that beautiful city of New Orleans in the sweltering heat and the magical atmosphere!

Enjoyable
Like 'Pandora', this tale does not contribute much to the overall vampire world, but is a good read in its own right, with Vampires and Mayfair Witches, but not too much from either as much of the story is Merrick's own, from before soe joined the Talamasca, which was interesting because I was curious if the Talamasca would make another appearance. While not as solid as earlier Vampire Chronicles, Merrick is a interesting character and the story was a lot of fun to read. 3.5/5 stars. ... Read more

Product Description
Anne Rice’s first work of nonfiction—a powerful and haunting memoir that explores her continuing spiritual transformation.
 
Anne Rice was raised in New Orleans as the devout child in a deeply religious Irish Catholic family. Here, she describes how, as she grew up, she lost her belief in God, but not her desire for a meaningful life.  She used her novels—beginning with Interview with a Vampire—to wrestle with otherworldly themes while in her own life, she experienced both loss (the death of her daughter and, later, her beloved husband, Stan Rice) and joys (the birth of her son, Christopher).  And she writes about how, finally, after years of questioning, she experienced the intense conversion and re-embracing of her faith that lie behind her most recent novels about the life of Christ. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (83)

A Sad Tale of Attrition
It is so sad that Anne Rice has returned to ignorance after finding enlightenment. Anne, it was the darkness that gave you your fame and fortune. Now you repay the Darkness by turning your back on it. How convenient it must be to embrace Darkness, become filthy rich from it, and then with all your money in tow, you return to Church (an insurance policy for confused souls). It is so sad to see you leave us for the "other side". Though we are all sad at your choices, I bid you to go in PEACE.

One last thing...Anne, have you forgotten? SOMETIMES THE DARKNESS IS THE LIGHT.

Goodbye and Best Wishes
I read and loved all of Ann Rice's Vampire Series and the books that went along with them of individual characters. I read the subject matter of her new books and was shocked. I'm not a Catholic although I am married to one. I'm sorry to hear of the trageties in Ms Rice's life. I thank her for all of the entertainment the fictional books gave me. Her books have gone in a direction I don't follow. I wish her all the best her future.

Amazing!
I knew Anne Rice was a good writer from the popularity of her books and reviews from friends.I never personally allowed myself to read anything of her work because of the darkness and vampire subject matter.I happened upon her more recent works about the life of Christ and cautiously read her essay regarding the way she researches for her books at the end of "Out of Egypt"... so well written that I felt safe in reading what she had to say about the life of Christ.I have been looking for the sequel to those two books ever since and found her Spiritual Confession.WOW!A simply amazing account of a remarkable spiritual journey and for a non-Catholic, it answered so many of my questions about the Catholic church.I have been spiritually moved by each one of these three books and recommend them often.Anne Rice is on my top 5 list of authors, and may be the very best.Her writting is compelling, facinating, visual, thought provoking, and NOT tedious!

Not for Me
I guess I won't reading any of her new books any more if they are going to be about this, if I wanted to read about god which I don't I would be reading that other popular fiction book.. what's called, oh that's right the bible.

From Witches to Jesus

I love this book, and am blown away by how much of Anne Rice's feelings about life and religions are similar to my own.

If I had to describe the book in one word, it would be "honesty".

Anne lays her life all out before us, taking us from her childhood, in an intellectual New Orleans family where she developed a deep love of her beautiful Catholic Church, through moves to Texas, and to California, where she and her new poet husband threw out all religion, and lived on the fringes of the San Francisco hippy movement, through her surprisingly hugely successful career writing books about witches and vampires (I never read any of these, but she sold 100 million of them). Finally, she covers beautifully, her heartbroken return to the Jesus whom she had still loved but could not believe in,and to the Church of her childhood. Her final description of what it means to truly follow Jesus (and how difficult it is to just love, instead of following man-made rules), was very moving to me - it struck me right in the heart. If I could give this book a 5+, I would.
... Read more

Product Description
See the difference, read #1 bestselling author Anne Rice in Large Print

* About Large Print
All Random House Large Print editions are published in a 16-point typeface


In the latest installment of The Vampire Chronicles, Anne Rice summons up dazzling worlds to bring us the story of Armand - eternally young, with the face of a Botticelli angel. Armand, who first appeared in all his dark glory more than twenty years ago in the now-classic Interview with the Vampire, the first of The Vampire Chronicles, the novel that established its author worldwide as a magnificent storyteller and creator of magical realms.

Now, we go with Armand across the centuries to the Kiev Rus of his boyhood - a ruined city under Mongol dominion - and to ancient Constantinople, where Tartar raiders sell him into slavery. And in a magnificent palazzo in the Venice of the Renaissance we see him emotionally and intellectually in thrall to the great vampire Marius, who masquerades among humankind as a mysterious, reclusive painter and who will bestow upon Armand the gift of vampiric blood.

As the novel races to its climax, moving through scenes of luxury and elegance, of ambush, fire, and devil worship to nineteenth-century Paris and today's New Orleans, we see its eternally vulnerable and romantic hero forced to choose between his twilight immortality and the salvation of his immortal soul.


From the Trade Paperback edition.Amazon.com Review
In the familiar style of vampire as seducer, narrator AlfredMolina (BoogieNights) uses his smooth, tranquil voice to excellent effect,luring listeners ever deeper into the dark, mysterious, andblood-soaked world of The Vampire Armand. Rice has crafted anintriguing plot, one that expands on events from her earlier books,yet stands alone as a compelling exploration of the Cimmerian secretsthat have shaded one of her most fascinating characters. Molina is atalented reader, and he revels here in the expertly crafted storyline, lush language, and tortured emotions of a haunted soul caught inthe eternal darkness that lurks between the living and thedead. (Running time: four hours, four cassettes) --George Laney ... Read more

Customer Reviews (450)

the vampire armand
I liked this book a lot, because you got to know Armand from the inside out. Why he went from good to bad and back to good. Excellent story

a good read
Don't know where to put vampires in my list but this will do.The Anne Rice books, particularly early books on vampires are good.This one is very good and interesting.It takes you along with the story to see what is going to happen.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

great book!
Great book! I absolutely became so engrossed with all of the charachters that I was devouring the books to get the backstory on them and find out how they became vampires and what made them tick. This was definately worth the read!

Probably my least favorite of the series
I didn't like the character when he was a supporting one in the other books and I like him even less here. Whiney spoiled little brat with way too much drama.

The other thing that bugs is this reads like gay fiction. Rice has always brought a great deal of androgyny to her characters but this one is way over the top with it's man/boy love theme throughout.

I didn't like Armand before reading "his story," but I get it now.
In the previous book of the Vampire Chronicles, Armand seemed to me to be a little whiney, spoiled, stuck up brat. This story sure sheds light upon this creature. What a great story it is! I like this guy just as much (maybe more) than Louis. Anne Rice does a superb job of relating Armand's Renaissance-Era life to today's reader. I felt like I was sitting there with them in Venice. For Armand to go through tough times, wonderful times, tough times with pressure and being abandoned from everything, then meeting Lestate - who is the exact opposite of empathy and sympathy. It's funny in a sad way. Which defines this story: Ironic, Complex and Soulful. ... Read more

Product Description
In this first of a series, David Talbot, vampire survivor of "Memnoch the Devil", calls forth Pandora, last seen in "Queen of the Damned", to tell her own extraordinary tale. Once a mortal girl in ancient Rome, she was given immortality by Marius, her lover and the dark genius of the Lestat novels.Amazon.com Review
Anne Rice fans will greet Pandora: New Tales of theVampires, the first of her new vampire chronicles, as hungrilyas the Fang Gang facing a fresh new neck. Our heroine, Pandora, asenator's daughter in Augustus Caesar's day, flees to Antioch when herfamily gets killed and discovers the antidote to stern Romanrationalism in the occult wisdom of the East."Somethingattacked my reason," Pandora writes. "The very thing theRoman Emperors had so feared in Egyptian cults and Oriental cultsswept over me: mystery and emotion which claim a superiority to reasonand law."

Pandora gets her sexy vampire initiation at the fangs of handsomeMarius (who later inducted Rice's famed vampire Lestat). Pandora tellshow a nice Roman girl became a vampire in modern Paris, but mostly thebook celebrates the sights and sounds (and philosophicalbloodlettings) of the classical world. Pandora is more likeRobert Graves's sublime I, Claudius thanRice's The CompleteVampire Chronicles.

Yet Pandora is a logical extension of Rice's work, and Pandorais a combination of her past vampire heroes and the nakedly,horrifyingly autobiographical heroine of Rice's 1997 novel Violin. Now,Violin is remarkably messy, but it captures the volcanicpassion that erupts in her best work--Rice calls it "a study inpain." Pandora is really a dramatized debate betweenpassion and reason, which Pandora calls "male reason." Sheteases her vampire mentor: "Marius guarded his delicaterationality as a Vestal Virgin guards a sacred flame. If ever anyecstatic emotion took hold of me, he [would] tell me in no uncertainterms that it was irrational, irrational, irrational!" (To hearhow close Pandora's voice is to her passionate creator, listen to the1997 audiocassette Interview with AnneRice.)

Rice's research gives fresh blood to her storytelling. Even herchronic third-act problem scarcely slows down this brisk romp of anovel. Pandora has intellectual thirst as well as blood lust, and sheconveys the high old time Rice obviously had imbibing historicallore. "It is fun to read these mad Gnostics!" exults Pandorain the early Christian era. It is also fun to read this madPandora. Anne Rice hasn't been this fun to read in years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (425)

Good book!
This was a good book, but not as good as some of the others. I really thought this one would have more story to it because from the other books I was really interested in Pandoras story.It was good...just not enough....

Unbelievably boring ... don't waste your time
Ms. Rice creates such a beautiful story of Marius in "Lestat, the Vampire".

To pair him with the one dimensional character of Pandora is a insult.

This book starts out well and then dumps into the stupid.

Anne, U outdid Urself!
I love this book. Anne Rice introduces us 2 a world of splendor and magic in Pandora. PandoraI believe readers will fall in love with the characters and this book.

Excellent Christmas Gift
I purchased this for a friend for Christmas.The book was in excellent shape when I received it.She read it on the trip to Colorado to ski.Thanks.

Excellent performance
The story is very captive. Unusual, at least to me, because I am not really into vampires.
The performance by Janet McTeer is superb. With her versatile voice she makes the characters come `alive` as if listening to a complete cast of actors.
... Read more

Product Description
"SEDUCTIVE MAGIC...SPELLBINDING...Rice stages her scenes in a wide variety of times and locales, tapping deeply into the richest veins of mythology and history."
--San Francisco Chronicle
"STEAMY...FAST-PACED AND HUGELY ENGROSSING...Rice's title character--a seductive, evil, highly sexual and ultimately tragic creature--is fascinating."
--The Miami Herald
"BEHIND ALL THE VELVET DRAPES AND GOSSAMER WINDING SHEETS, THIS IS AN OLD-FASHIONED FAMILY SAGA....Rice's descriptive writing is so opulent it almost begs to be read by candlelight."
--The Washington Post Book World
"RICE SEES THINGS ON A GRAND SCALE...There is a wide-screen historical sweep to the tale as it moves from one generation of witches to the other."
--The Boston Globe
"EROTIC...EERIE...HORRIFYING...A tight tale of the occult in present-day New Orleans...Anne Rice is a spellbinding novelist.... LASHER quenches."
--Denver Post
A MAIN SELECTION OF THE LITERARY GUILD(c)
Amazon.com Review
At the center of this dark and compelling tale is RowanMayfair, queen of the coven, who must flee from the darkly brutal,yet irresistable demon known as Lasher.With a dreamlike power, thiswickedly seductive entity draws us through twilight paths, telling achilling and hypnotic story of spiritual aspiration and passion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (126)

ELECTRONIC/KINDLE VERSION NEEDED - Refuse to purchase
I am not sure these reviews are read by the authors or publishers - or even Amazon employees. However, I have a major complaint. I will explain, but the issues detailed here mean

The earlier works by Anne Rice need to be made available in electronic format. This applies to other author and books as well.

Electronic book pricing is the same if not more than paper publications depending on whether the book is new or used, so I cannot comprehend any reluctance that publishers may have about providing all books by a given author in electroic format. Also, I believe electronic books are less prone to loaning out or selling used. I loaned the entire Sookie Stackhouse series to my best friend, but I have yet to loan out a single electronic book as I am not willing to give up my IPAD, even to my father who is elderly and living with us (selfish, I know. Told him he can buy a Kindle/IPAD and I'd manage the electronic side!) So I actually believe the physical books (paper in other words) are more likely to be shared which definitely cuts into the profits of publishers and authors.

I would assume people who have purchased an electronic reading device will agree that it is superior to physical publications for a number of reasons. The following list mentions only a few.

1. Ease of readability due to ability to change background and fonts. As we grow older, we truly appreciate being able to read without glasses (which frankly give me a headache due to eye strain)
2. Ability to read in the dark without an awkward reading light. Wonderful for reading in bed with partner and in the car after dark
3. Conservation of shelf space. I read ALOT. I finish a book on average in one or two days. Right now I am reading at least 2-3 a week. My house is simply full of books. So I give those I do not want to re-readto friends, sell them to used Bookstores or donate them to a worthy organization. Again a real profit cutter for publishers as they do not earn a dime from those who read my books. Those readers obviously like the same types of books so they might have purchased them otherwise.
4. Ease of purchase. No trips to bookstore or shipping costs. Awesome. I do not plan to buy books in paper format again.
5. Immediate availability. I can purchase a book in seconds and immediately start it. We are a spoiled bunch of consumers now and I know that when I am really get into a series ANY delay is torture.
5. Ability to sample books (seems like about 25 pages or so at least). This has led me into buying even more books and the discovery of great authors. Very exciting and again good for the publishers, Amazon, so forth.

I am not sure why there seems to be reluctance and even fear about electronic books. As a CPA and consultant with well over 20 years experience I view this as an incredible opportunity to make money. Sure seems like a winning situation for the publishers AND the purchasers. If I were in the business, I would formulate a business plan to take advantage of this new technology promote more authors, provide more books and make more money. The savings on materials and binding alone I would imagine is significant.

BOTTOM LINE: I REFUSE TO PURCHASE THE OLDER MAYFAIR WITCH AND VAMPIRE books until electroic versions are available. As that is quite a large number of books and will also eliminate the sales of the newer books currently avaiable through Kindle Store, this is a fairly significant loss to the publisher, author and Amazon - even from one customer. When you consider other consumers who might have similar opinions, this could add up to a loss worthy of consideration even by large corporations.

I realize this is probably the wrong forum for this narrative, but I hope someone reads this and really considers the opportunities and problems at hand.

Thank you,
Your Discouraged and Voracious Reader who is LOVING the electronic format!

Meh.
Though not as compelling as its prequel, Lasher is an entertaining read. Again shifting back and forth from past to present, Lasher tells his own story, Julian tells his, and we meet the enchanting present-day Mona. While in "The Witching Hour" the method of telling about past events was unique, the historical documents of the Talamasca, in "Lasher" we are told about the past in narrative fashion from the ghost of Julien, as well as Lasher himself. It's a perfectly acceptable convention, but not quite as unique. It was good to get more back-story, although Julien's is more fill-in-the-blank as we know most of that from the first book.
What this volume does have over it's predecessor is a much more satisfying ending, one I really didn't see coming, considering the existence of a sequel.

Found it only on Amazon
I looked in all of the resale book stores for Lasher but no luck. So finally I looked on Amazon and found in for a great price! It arrived very quickly, in great shape, right before I went on vacation.

A stand alone Novel
Being an avid Anne Rice fan I delved into this collection with both feet in. Truth-be-told....I enjoyed this more than the Vampire Chronicles (which I adore & treasure).Anne Rice hits home for me in this collection. It's seductive, haunting, it's a collection that stays with you. Michael has quickly become one of my favorite characters, as is Aaron Lightner. A must read. Not for the faint of heart.Definitely not for adolescents!!

a good read
I like her books which concentrate on one individual such as this one.The one about the grooups of witches are not as interesting to me.This one was at times difficult reading but made it through and enjoyed it.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'" ... Read more