Tag Archives: anne rice

Book Review: Prince Lestat by Anne Rice

Prince LestatPrince Lestat, the latest book in Anne Rice’s epic The Vampire Chronicles series is one hell of a big read – especially in hardback format. But then, it’s telling one hell of a big story. Told from many, many points of view (so don’t rush reading it, or you risk getting lost or confused), Prince Lestat deals with a crisis in the vampire world. Young vampires are being slaughtered all over the world – nests being burned by ancient vampires. But why? It soon transpires that there is a bigger force at play, much bigger than the vampires that must come together and solve this problem before their race is completely wiped out.

I can’t say too much without giving the plot away, but this is a seriously ambitious book. It tells multiple stories from many different perspectives and time periods, then brings it all together in an epic climax. There were times when I did wonder where the narrative was going, what the relevance was to some of the chapters, but I shouldn’t have worried. Rice is a master (or should that be mistress?) storyteller, and she manages to lead the reader on a huge, huge journey, with many characters, twists and turns, yet still leave them having a light bulb moment at the end, where it all comes together. Really, I should have re-read the entire series of books again before coming to this one, but in a way, it didn’t matter. There were enough recaps of relevant parts that I didn’t feel I was missing too much. But it did make me want to refresh my memory, spend more time with characters that are only touched on in this book.

Another compelling addition to the series, I look forward to what comes next.

Available from:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
The Book Depository

Win a SIGNED Copy of Anne Rice’s New Novel, Prince Lestat! #giveaway

The Queen of the Undead is back, with her first Vampire Chronicle in over a decade – marking the return of one of the most popular vampires of all time: Lestat de Lioncourt

 

Prince LestatPrince Lestat by Anne Rice is published on the 30th of October and the publisher Chatto and Windus are offering one lucky winner a signed copy of Prince Lestat.

Anne Rice is among the best-selling authors in the world and the master of modern gothic. Her novel Interview with the Vampire was published to huge success in 1976, transforming the vampire genre and becoming the first of the dangerously enticing Vampire Chronicles series.

In Prince Lestat the vampire world is in crisis – their kind has been proliferating out of control and, thanks to technologies undreamed of in previous centuries, they can communicate as never before. Roused from their earth-bound slumber, ancient ones are in thrall to the Voice: which commands that they burn fledgling vampires in cities from Paris to Mumbai, Hong Kong to Kyoto and San Francisco. Immolations, huge massacres, have commenced all over the world. Who – or what – is the Voice? What does it desire, and why? 

Anne Rice’s epic, luxuriant, fiercely ambitious new novel brings together all the worlds and beings of the legendary Vampire Chronicles, from present-day New York and Ancient Egypt to fourth-century Carthage and Renaissance Venice; from Louis de Pointe du Lac; Armand the eternally young; Mekare and Maharet; to Pandora and Flavius; David Talbot, vampire and ultimate fixer from the Secret Talamasca; and Marius, the true child of the Millennia. It also introduces many other seductive supernatural creatures, and heralds significant new blood.

Prince Lestat, Anne Rice’s new novel in the Vampire Chronicles series, will be published 30 October (Chatto & Windus). The Wolves of Midwinter will be published simultaneously in paperback (Arrow), eBooks also available. Visit annerice.com for more information.

To enter the competition to win a signed copy simply use the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for the Legacy, Mr Stoker

Bram StokerToday is the 100th anniversary of Bram Stoker’s death, so I wanted to mark the occasion with a blog post.

Naturally, the main thing he left behind was the fabulous novel, Dracula. He had a series of other novels and short stories too, but it was Dracula that seemed to catch the imagination of the world and has spawned a multitude of other vampire-related books, TV shows and movies (not to mention all the merchandise that goes with them!). As a fan of this particular genre, I couldn’t be happier. There is an endless supply of vamp-tastic stuff to keep me occupied forever and a day.

So thank you, Mr Stoker, for Dracula, which I’ve read many times (which certainly made my school, college and University courses much easier!), but really must re-read at some point soon. And thank you for helping to pave the way for some of my favourite things (in no particular order):

  • Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles (I met Anne Rice last year at a signing, but got her to sign her Beauty trilogy instead, as I was only allowed to have three books signed)
  • Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy novels
  • Charlaine Harris’ The Southern Vampire Mysteries (and the show based on them, True Blood)
  • Rachel Caine’s The Morganville Vampires series (I’m going to a signing of hers next month, woohoo!)
  • L. J. Smith’s The Vampire Diaries (though it has to be said, the TV show is vastly more entertaining)

That’s just a tiny selection of vamp stuff I love. There are films and books galore that I could mention, but I’ll be going on forever, and I’ll still end up missing some out!

In case you didn’t know, here’s where vamps have sneaked into my work…

And I’ve no doubt there will be more! Despite what the press say about the vampire thing being ‘over,’ I don’t think it is. I still enjoy reading, watching and writing the stuff, and I’m sure many others do, too.

So thank you again, Mr Stoker. You’ve provided us with many, many happy hours of entertainment. RIP.

P.S. Looking for something vamp-tastic to read? Besides the four of my titles mentioned above (of course!), Victoria Blisse just released the third title in her Point Vamp series, The Vampire’s Choice. I haven’t read it yet, but I loved the first two so it’s definitely on my list!