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greylagoon's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder
bolivianrash's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Starting from 5 stars:
-1.0 for SA
-0.5 because wtf Louis
-0.5 because David deserved better
+0.5 for good boy Mojo
-1.0 for SA
-0.5 because wtf Louis
-0.5 because David deserved better
+0.5 for good boy Mojo
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
raybudbury's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
*gets up on soapbox* the entertainment while reading this book was what lead me to giving it 5 stars there are a few things I could’ve done without the rape scenes… technically two of them and then she runs rampant with fucking a nun for a bit there too I feel like Anne Rice has such a compelling, juvenile at times but that’s partially just Lestat’s personality, voice while writing.
Part of loving this book was I am in such a Vampire Chronicles headspace in the moment as I wait for szn 2 in May that I was craving any more content that I hadn’t already consumed. also sending my friends screenshots and voice memos of me reading passages which I think made me love this book even more because I was giggling and being like wait this is a good concept/paragraph/line. Like yes parts of it were WILD and reminded me of a 90’s sitcom the stand off between the ‘villain’ of the book and lestat happens on a cruise ship which is so funny to go from iwtv olden times to 90’s cruise body switching + anytime Lestat was talking about shitting/pissing/weeping had me belly laughing. . I kind of find Anne rice’s writing delicious even if she is going on a theological tangent or making lestat reprehensible at points. Also the concept of a vampire switching bodies with a human and having to deal with human weaknesses is such a great idea. It’s like oh shit yes he would be upset about eating and peeing because he didn’t have to do this for like 200+ years. The whiplash of the tone of the book was also so funny and good at times. Like lestat’s ending the book by lighting a candle for himself and then there’s another chapter that’s literally like…. Actually there’s one more chapter read if you dare. And then the next chapter is MORALLY BAD LESTAT. I also really loved the power dynamic switch between him and Louis in this book. Actually any time Louis and lestat interacted in this book I was like oh fuck yes. anyway what a fever dream but so good in my opinion
Part of loving this book was I am in such a Vampire Chronicles headspace in the moment as I wait for szn 2 in May that I was craving any more content that I hadn’t already consumed. also sending my friends screenshots and voice memos of me reading passages which I think made me love this book even more because I was giggling and being like wait this is a good concept/paragraph/line. Like yes parts of it were WILD and reminded me of a 90’s sitcom
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
econsidine's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There are other reviewers who put it better, but this feels like the book where Anne Rice really, really wanted to remind readers that her main character Lestat is a terrible person. He's a fan favorite, since he's charismatic as hell and an entertaining narrator, but it's easy to forget that he's done and continues to do some horrendous things to the people he claims to care about. If you love Lestat and see him as a misunderstood/tortured soul, this will be a tough read. If you enjoy him as a character/narrator but would hate to meet him in real life, you'll probably still enjoy this one.
There's nothing really new or surprising if you've read the first three, unless you've been reading this character with major rose-colored glasses on, but this book really hammers home his selfishness, violence, and complete lack of respect for other people's bodily autonomy. In this book he (vague spoilers ahead; see tags)rapes a woman, burns his lover's house down, and turns someone into a vampire against their will. He also murders a lot of people as vampires tend to do . As narrator, he acts like all of this was on impulse and he had no control over himself, immediately regretting all actions afterward, though I'd argue none of this is portrayed as okay or redeemable in the text. The "Body Thief" of the title very much refers to Lestat in a LOT of ways other than the obvious.
If you're okay reading all that, then you'll get a few beautiful moments with Louis (in his best taking-no-bullshit-era), Claudia haunting everything, and one of the best dog characters ever. Otherwise it is a lot of Lestat being horrible and having conversations with his old man friend David. Which really doesn't interest me. All that to say, gonna pause here with the series for now.
There's nothing really new or surprising if you've read the first three, unless you've been reading this character with major rose-colored glasses on, but this book really hammers home his selfishness, violence, and complete lack of respect for other people's bodily autonomy. In this book he (vague spoilers ahead; see tags)
If you're okay reading all that, then you'll get a few beautiful moments with Louis (in his best taking-no-bullshit-era), Claudia haunting everything, and one of the best dog characters ever. Otherwise it is a lot of Lestat being horrible and having conversations with his old man friend David. Which really doesn't interest me. All that to say, gonna pause here with the series for now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Biphobia
carrionkid's review against another edition
3.0
This book could've been good. There were a lot of plot threads and concepts presented that could've been honed into a compelling final product. Unfortunately, miss Rice decided to fire her editor and my GOD does it show!
There's multiple completely incoherent passages. So many descriptions of pissing. Wildly unsexy erotic scenes. Wholesale rape. And the whole thing should've ended much sooner than it did, which she tried to play off coyly as a self aware joke in chapter thirty two, which ultimately fell flat because it should've ended well before even that.
However, it's a perfect example of why a published author needs an editor so I guess it serves one greater purpose.
There's multiple completely incoherent passages. So many descriptions of pissing. Wildly unsexy erotic scenes. Wholesale rape. And the whole thing should've ended much sooner than it did, which she tried to play off coyly as a self aware joke in chapter thirty two, which ultimately fell flat because it should've ended well before even that.
However, it's a perfect example of why a published author needs an editor so I guess it serves one greater purpose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, and Fire/Fire injury
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