Prince Lestat ¦ A Return to Form? ¦ Review
Вставка
- Опубліковано 22 лип 2024
- In today's review, I discuss Prince Lestat, the eleventh book in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles series. Unfortunately, can't say I liked this one very much.
WHERE TO FIND ME:
Website: www.joshuaclarke-kelsall.com/
Twitter: / clarkekelsall
/ joshua-clarke-kelsall
Reddit: / jjckelsall - Фільми й анімація
Oh boy, buckle up for the Realms of Atlantis-or, as I like to think of it, “Lestat Goes to Underwater Land” 😂
Except for the son subplot I absolutely adored this book. The way she took the story of the vampire origin and flesh that Spirit out as an actual entity, I loved it and I thought it was so exciting. The middle book in the final trilogy I can't say I cared for but the final one is exquisite to me.
I hope I like the other too books, it would be nice to end this series with a bang. I agree with you about the fleshing out of the spirit though, it was an interesting premise on its own. It was just... almost everything else for me! :P
I quit reading after Memnoch the Devil, so I never read the others. I, by far, prefer the Mayfair witch trilogy, and I thought the chromosome storyline in Lasher and Taltos worked, as science didn’t explain all the supernatural. They used to burn the walking babies in Saint-Domingue. I’d love a book about the Saint-Domingue years after Charlotte, but I suppose the mystery is why I like it.
I agree, I feel like the science / sci-fi elements worked a lot better with the Mayfair trilogy. I felt like there was a good balance of the old lore and mystery with the modern understanding of DNA. For me, the VC’s strength was between the world building and the complicated relationships that developed early on. I read the entire series plus the last trilogy, but for me I really feel like the series could have ended with Blood and Gold.
as a fan who read these books in the 90's as a teenager. I loved it like a fanboy. This is my first time reading Prince Lestat. I almost shed a tear.
I feel like you read books very clinically with the thought of reviewing them in mind... Then again, I could be blinded by nostalgia.
*12:00** as a scientist, the science biz hurts me.* even when she is trying. but that is how medical science would read to someone who thinks they are doing deep research, in a field that isnt there own. & it gets much worse. tho ill always love her. _JC
Not read this one, to be honest I really lost interest in her vampire series around 2000, tried reading some but they just got too predictable in her writing style and repetitive in ways. Christ The Lord of newer books, I thought was pretty good overall. Haven’t read any of the Angel Time series. I generally agree with what you say about books in your reviews, so when I get around to Prince Lestat someday, I won’t have “high hopes”😀
I cannot wait to hear your opinion on the next book, if you somehow have managed not to read any spoilers!
I was so confused when Lestat suddenly became a Gary Stu and had a complete personality change. It was weird how the other characters didn't act like themselves either, and there was no conflict about who wanted what. No one had any differing opinions. No one wanted to be in charge, so they all forced Lestat to do it, despite the fact he was one of the most reckless, impulsive, and mentally unstable characters there. Everyone was suddenly okay with this, and supported him? Louis was the one who first published a novel, not Lestat. Lestat certainly caused a lot of trouble later, but, out of those who published books, Marius made so much more sense. He was stable for a long time, has been around for millennia, and has guidelines that he mostly sticks to.
Anne Rice retconned several details and cannon established in previous books, such as vampires not being able to have sex, which was explored in The Vampire Armand. Now, they can have sex AND even make children? What? The new characters don't have any depth or development either. What's with this creepy love-at-first-sight stuff?
*the next one is insane.* also, if you want to do a special entry on the AMC series for amyfair & especially chronicles: that is...something else. racist, writer inserts, barely the characters at all, the plantation owner is now a black pimp, claudia isnt a child...just...fxxxking wild. _JC
Oh dear! I loved it, but I for sure see your points! I REALLY enjoyed Realms of Atlantis, and Blood Communion was alright. 🤗❤ Hands down, The Witching Hour and The Queen of the Damned are my favorites!
It may not be a popular opinion, but I felt like by this point in the series the characters are just shells based off of the original development that we got in the beginning of the series. There was such rich world building early on that I feel like just got retconned by the last three books. That being said I think the concepts she explores are interesting in the final trilogy, I just don’t feel the connection is there with the original work. Again this probably isn’t a popular opinion, but I think Rice could have given the series a clean ending with Blood and Gold, and started a new series that maybe had the same feeling of being connected to the same or similar universe, without having to be directly tied to the original VC characters. If you read some of her other stand alone books (Servant of the Bones for example) she explores some really interesting concepts and time periods that could have been an opportunity for a new series with fresh energy instead of trying to revive the same characters with a new plot twist or angle.
I haven't read the other books in this last trilogy yet, but based off of this one, I agree with you. It's a shame really, because there is so much interesting stuff to explore in the world.
🦇🌹I love these final three books, the existential questions of life, moody atmospheric touches which I found comforting like a home reunion, the story of the Rose character felt very relevant, Rice's continued effort to take multiple perspectives of the age old vampire tale which I found- unlike you- not 'old hat' but refreshing. You critized her ability to write science fiction, she did massive research on subjects like cellular reproduction and where science currently stands in the field of biology. We'll have to agree to disagree on her writing ability.....I hope you'll like "Realms of Atlantis" better.
Thanks for taking my "Frankenstein" series recommendation into consideration. 😉
Thanks for your reviews. Those of "The Vampire Armand" and "Merrick" convinced me to read them when I'd not planned to, and I thoroughly enjoyed them both. I'm currently reading "Blood and Gold" and had already planned to skip forward to "Prince Lestat" as I had no interest in "Blackwood Farm" and "Blood Canticle," partially based on your reviews of them. Wow. This novel sounds terrible. You just saved me time and money. Cheers.
Hahaha yeah I can't say I'd recommend it. I wonder if I'll ever read the next two...
I've already decided I'm not. Too many other things I want to read. However "Blood & Gold" ends (which I'm thoroughly loving) will be my head canon for how the series ends. Plus, lustyj2's self-described AKA for the next title was an extra bit of data.
The last four books are bad. I’ve read them, because I had to, but it ruined the mystical aspect of vampires and they are all lovey dovey. I still love the first three and reread them often.
I like your point about it being lovey dovey. Rice's vampires definitely seem to have lost their fans a bit, at least in this book.
I assume Rice made those changes when she decided to dedicate her work to Christ.