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
moreau's review against another edition
dark
funny
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
this was the most atrocious book I've ever read. worse than prince harry's, worse than all the tiresome classics and 2010s manga. i thought queen of the damned was mid, this is an abomination. i couldn't put it down, so i'm still giving it 3 stars. also david is a chad (as is ever character played by paul mcgann) but this is a violation to all the senses, even though its just words on paper. so many descriptions of piss and shit, the least sexy sex scenes, a full on rape scene and an extremely rapey vampire transformation. what even is the plot?? why the fuck are mortals psychic now? how do you get your fucking body stolen? lestat went from being the best character in the series to a mega mary sue. sure he was always a dick and somewhat abusive, but now he's a rapist?? and he's got every fucking vampire power and is so dumb he gets his body stolen. HIS BODY. STOLEN. he is so dumb, overpowered, abusive and over all circle tool flipaclip 2017 furry oc. anne rice shouldve been arrested for conjuring up this fuck of a book. im definetely reading something else between this and the next vampire chronicle as my head hurts from this bullshit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Excrement, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Abandonment, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Vomit
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