khlese's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
That history was the most compelling aspect to me. I didn't even really like the characters until after the half-way mark and even then my like/dislike fluctuated; which may have also been the point that the characters are not supposed to be entirely likeable, idk. Also the Talamasca is an utterly useless organization. They bemoan the devastation wrought on women/those with supernatural gifts and they HAVE the wealth and influence to interfere yet they do nothing...? They KNEW what was happening in that house, to the legacies of the Mayfair powers, and they stood by and did nothing...? They suspected there was incest/rape/abuse under that roof/within that family...and just stood by and did NOTHING...? Disgusting imo.
I also think I would have liked this book more if it had been centered on breaking the generational trauma the Mayfair family had endured, as it seemed that was the path it was going, the total change/swerve away from that was utterly disappointing. Though I also understand breaking through that kind of trauma is difficult. Perhaps that is also addressed/a main aspect of the later books in the series.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Racism, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Rape
lilisilver's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Incest, Rape, and Abortion
rumireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Pedophilia, Rape, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Suicide, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Torture, Murder, Excrement, Gaslighting, Incest, Death, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gore, and Body horror
bpjacks's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Rape, Emotional abuse, Incest, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, and Murder
birdieandthebooks7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
https://youtu.be/5E4wXrnEdLY
Graphic: Incest
matildelive's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Incest, Rape, and Death
barbsantos's review against another edition
- 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
Also it's pretty disturbing
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Incest, and Violence
Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
missbegonia's review against another edition
Spoiler
I was enjoying this story until I got to the double whammy of romanticized slavery and erotic incest between father and daughter. I was truly disgusted at how Anne Rice wrote about slavery. Using the excuse of a character in the past and their journals, Rice glorified slave owners simply because they were Mayfair Witches and white washed the traumatic history of an enslaved person’s kidnapped life.The incest just kept going even up until the end of the book. Glad I just skipped ahead to find out the ending wasn’t worth reading the whole book.
Graphic: Incest, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Colonisation, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Torture, Pregnancy, Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/injury detail, Infidelity, Child death, Suicide, and Terminal illness
mr_sosotris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love how Anne Rice sets up this sweeping tragic, horrifying family history, and leaves the reader wondering just how true any of the gossip and legends surrounding the Mayfairs really is. Questions of free will entwine throughout this massive story, and the reader is left uncertain of what is actually true until the novel’s final moments.
Lasher is a compelling, mysterious figure existing in the background and possibly pulling the strings throughout the centuries, and Rice beautifully weaves a complex tapestry of human drama, populated by fun, tragic, hopeful characters.
I love Rowan and Michael, and I like how each character’s specific strengths and flaws play into how the story plays out. There’s no easy answers, and the mysteries are compelling. I love this book so much!
Moderate: Rape, Murder, Pedophilia, Incest, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
tesssiob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Rape and Incest