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A review by midrel
The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
2.0
This is really as deeply enthralling as it is a deeply flawed book. The book begins at its strongest, little by little building the mystique and mystery of Deirdre and Antha and the house and the phantom called Lasher. And this is probably what it does best, establishing a fascinating setting that promises an exquisite gothic story to come.
Only, such never happens.
Momentum immediately peters down as we are tossed into Michael's curry point of view and past. This is, for the most part, an odious, terrible bore, and the fact I willed myself to read through it is nothing short of a miracle. I'd not blame anyone in a million years for not having the same patience.
Unfortunately, even when we are outside of that mire, things don't really improve. Rowan and Michael are frankly boring characters, and though I was eager to see how the plot would affect them, everything was ultimately a letdown because instead of rising to the quality of the plot and setting, those two petered down to the same bland quality of the characters, right down to the unsatisfying and unremarkable ending.
Honestly, it feels like Rowan and Michael's story was just an excuse, a frame story to write about the line of the Mayfair witches, which is what really interested the author. If so, I wish she had just focused wholly on it. As it is, the historical archive on the Mayfair witches is probably the best part of the novel, along with the very beginning, but the style it is written it makes it drag at numerous points.
If it had been written as a novel proper, it'd have been marvelous.
Alas. As it is, I cannot in good conscience give this more than two stars for the horrendous mismatch of potential and wasted possibility.
Only, such never happens.
Momentum immediately peters down as we are tossed into Michael's curry point of view and past. This is, for the most part, an odious, terrible bore, and the fact I willed myself to read through it is nothing short of a miracle. I'd not blame anyone in a million years for not having the same patience.
Unfortunately, even when we are outside of that mire, things don't really improve. Rowan and Michael are frankly boring characters, and though I was eager to see how the plot would affect them, everything was ultimately a letdown because instead of rising to the quality of the plot and setting, those two petered down to the same bland quality of the characters, right down to the unsatisfying and unremarkable ending.
Honestly, it feels like Rowan and Michael's story was just an excuse, a frame story to write about the line of the Mayfair witches, which is what really interested the author. If so, I wish she had just focused wholly on it. As it is, the historical archive on the Mayfair witches is probably the best part of the novel, along with the very beginning, but the style it is written it makes it drag at numerous points.
If it had been written as a novel proper, it'd have been marvelous.
Alas. As it is, I cannot in good conscience give this more than two stars for the horrendous mismatch of potential and wasted possibility.