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eleasofia's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i enjoyed this a lot less than the previews books in the series. in general, the entire premise and storyline of the book felt so much less high-stakes and relevant. i really don't like it when the premise of a book is that the main character does something stupid while knowing that it's stupid and the consequences will be bad and then the book is just about the main character dealing with the very predictable and avoidable consequences. exploring what it would be like for a vampire, especially lestat, to be human again is somewhat intriguing, but i don't know if it needed to be told in this many words.
the beginning of the book was just dragging on. then the middle, i actually really disliked. i didn't care much for all of the religious talk. i really dislike feeling secondhand embarrassment on behalf of the characters in a book. at around 50% it became actually interesting and exciting again, so i really feel like it could've been condensed. i know that the previous books were also long and somewhat slow, but the history of the vampires and all that was happening felt high-stakes and important and i liked reading about it from multiple povs etc., but that just wasn't the case for this book.
also, i really disliked some of the things lestat did in this book. of course, the genre is horror, lestat is not supposed to be a "good" person and will do horrible things. the vampires drink blood and murder people constantly.but the rape by lestat really bothered me. unlike the rape by khayman in ancient times, i didn't feel like this was something that needed to happen for the plot. i didn't like the rape by khayman either, obviously, but it was only recounted as an event that had happened and led to a child being born, which was basically the beginning of the big family and important to the entire plot, and it was something that was forced by the circumstances and the time. and the entire chapter where lestat first becomes human again was just terrible to read. i know that it was probably intentional, that this chapter was supposed to show the reader that lestat is not "bad" because he is a vampire and it is his nature to drink blood and kill people, but that even as a human he is still easily capable of horrible acts. doesn't change that i still really disliked it.
nevertheless, i finished it, and i'm glad i did because i still plan on reading the rest of the series.
the beginning of the book was just dragging on. then the middle, i actually really disliked. i didn't care much for all of the religious talk. i really dislike feeling secondhand embarrassment on behalf of the characters in a book. at around 50% it became actually interesting and exciting again, so i really feel like it could've been condensed. i know that the previous books were also long and somewhat slow, but the history of the vampires and all that was happening felt high-stakes and important and i liked reading about it from multiple povs etc., but that just wasn't the case for this book.
also, i really disliked some of the things lestat did in this book. of course, the genre is horror, lestat is not supposed to be a "good" person and will do horrible things. the vampires drink blood and murder people constantly.
nevertheless, i finished it, and i'm glad i did because i still plan on reading the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Blood
bluelilyy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
despite the ridiculous amount of time it took me to finish this book, i did enjoy it quite a lot.
lestat just kept pissing me off BAD so i took a lot of breaks and put down the book for like two weeks before picking it back up.
im gonna take a break from the vampire chronicles for a bit. i do have memnoch, whenever i decide to pick that up but i want to read something else and just take some time before i read anymore of these books.
lestat just kept pissing me off BAD so i took a lot of breaks and put down the book for like two weeks before picking it back up.
im gonna take a break from the vampire chronicles for a bit. i do have memnoch, whenever i decide to pick that up but i want to read something else and just take some time before i read anymore of these books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Toxic friendship
peggy_racham's review
4.25
What would you give up to be mortal again?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
manudonato's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Rape, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Cursing
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
joonjxne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, and Blood
Moderate: Grief
avie_j's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
cyberhavok's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Excrement, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide attempt
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