Post by ICBM on Dec 30, 2014 21:45:50 GMT -5
Got the new Vamprire Chronicles book Prince Lestat for Christmas and tore thru it like Taco Bell in my digestive system. I never read a single review of this poor to asking for it. Nor have I read one since. I say that because in my review I will assume some fans hated it and I believe I will know what parts and I'll try to answer to that. I will not spoil specifics but speak in generalities because I want others to read it. So anyway here we go:
Anne never really did mystery, but she did here. One big one that starts right up front. But AR readers will be able to spot and solve without buying a vowel. I had it in the first ten pages. That does not ruin it. It was a good plot device and was dropped with symmetry and launched another phase of the book during the reveal. One point I'm sure cynical readers will be annoyed or angry with is the complete non-stop retconning throughout the novel. In essence she wrote back in more characters presumed dead in 458 pages than all the writers of marvel comics the last ten years. Some I didn't mind but there were a few that just boggled my mind but eventually I accepted and enjoyed the inclusions of familiar faces from novels past. The creation of new characters into the SR universe was done in the same style Queen of the Damned was. All these guys get backstories(she has always been good at doing that) and affect the outcome in the end. Lestat has changed somewhat but that is purposeful and bears on the end state. Readers should not fear the subtle maturation he shows because it is central to the ending. One plot device is created with two new characters that are blood drinkers. This one is tough to get your head around at first but stick with it, it may be far fetched but it enables a good story. The thing gave me a moment of pause that forced me to momentarily consider putting down the book. I didn't and I'm glad for it. There is some mainstay character death. Surprising ones at that. The ending ties up very well and sews up every loose end. The ending was long. Long. I'm talking extend version of return of king long. But I was satisfied on every front because of how detailed the wrap up was. Anyhow I will post some spoilers in a tag for curious readers.
Anne never really did mystery, but she did here. One big one that starts right up front. But AR readers will be able to spot and solve without buying a vowel. I had it in the first ten pages. That does not ruin it. It was a good plot device and was dropped with symmetry and launched another phase of the book during the reveal. One point I'm sure cynical readers will be annoyed or angry with is the complete non-stop retconning throughout the novel. In essence she wrote back in more characters presumed dead in 458 pages than all the writers of marvel comics the last ten years. Some I didn't mind but there were a few that just boggled my mind but eventually I accepted and enjoyed the inclusions of familiar faces from novels past. The creation of new characters into the SR universe was done in the same style Queen of the Damned was. All these guys get backstories(she has always been good at doing that) and affect the outcome in the end. Lestat has changed somewhat but that is purposeful and bears on the end state. Readers should not fear the subtle maturation he shows because it is central to the ending. One plot device is created with two new characters that are blood drinkers. This one is tough to get your head around at first but stick with it, it may be far fetched but it enables a good story. The thing gave me a moment of pause that forced me to momentarily consider putting down the book. I didn't and I'm glad for it. There is some mainstay character death. Surprising ones at that. The ending ties up very well and sews up every loose end. The ending was long. Long. I'm talking extend version of return of king long. But I was satisfied on every front because of how detailed the wrap up was. Anyhow I will post some spoilers in a tag for curious readers.
{Spoiler}Characters brought back from death
Allassandra the "Old Queen" from under. Les Innocents in the vampire Lestat
Raymond Gallant (PS the very origin of the Talamasca is told)
Magnus-yep you read that correctly
Killer and Davis from the Fang gang in QOTD
Avicus and Zenobia still together two thousand yrs later
Heskamen the God of the Grove who brought Marius over
Not dead characters we see again
Bianca Solderini
Kayman
Mekare
Maharet
Jesse
Thorne
Flavius Pandora's Greek slave with one leg
Arjun
Danial
Benji and Sybelle
Gabrielle
Louis
Armand
Marius
Antoine Lestat's other fledgling from Interview
Shocks:
Mael did in fact die in The Vampire Armand (bummer)
Lestat has sex..no shit
Introduction of true death for blood drinkers. Not True Blood style but it is an important discovery
iPhone product placement in a novel. Utterly amazing how commercial this thing is and its a book for god sakes.
Lestat's maturity. An amazing duality. She still gets his high spots in. He is still the brat prince but my goodness, he grew up and got responsible.
Allassandra the "Old Queen" from under. Les Innocents in the vampire Lestat
Raymond Gallant (PS the very origin of the Talamasca is told)
Magnus-yep you read that correctly
Killer and Davis from the Fang gang in QOTD
Avicus and Zenobia still together two thousand yrs later
Heskamen the God of the Grove who brought Marius over
Not dead characters we see again
Bianca Solderini
Kayman
Mekare
Maharet
Jesse
Thorne
Flavius Pandora's Greek slave with one leg
Arjun
Danial
Benji and Sybelle
Gabrielle
Louis
Armand
Marius
Antoine Lestat's other fledgling from Interview
Shocks:
Mael did in fact die in The Vampire Armand (bummer)
Lestat has sex..no shit
Introduction of true death for blood drinkers. Not True Blood style but it is an important discovery
iPhone product placement in a novel. Utterly amazing how commercial this thing is and its a book for god sakes.
Lestat's maturity. An amazing duality. She still gets his high spots in. He is still the brat prince but my goodness, he grew up and got responsible.