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, Toxic friendship, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Rape, Physical abuse, and Medical content
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
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). 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)
Spoiler
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 doIf 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: Sexism, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Child death, Classism, Death, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Blood, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Biphobia
nausikaaah's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I want to review this properly but honestly, I am currently only able to think about a Tumblr post that pondered if Lestat had remained a rockstar... how long would it have taken for him to start singing about David Talbet the way Lana Del Rey sings about old men?
Good freaky Friday vibes, this better be included in the tv show.
Good freaky Friday vibes, this better be included in the tv show.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, and Rape
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, and Physical abuse
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: Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
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