vampires

The Vampire Armand is a huge step up from Memnoch the Devil. However, compared to Anne Rice's other books, TVA is often dull, umimaginative, and unoriginal.

I should say that I'm a *big* Anne Rice fan. When I read Interview with the Vampire, I was amazed that vampire could be potrayed so beautifully. I then read newsgroups, message boards, and created a webpage about Anne Rice's books.

Ever since Memnoch, however, the books have been getting worse and worse. Armand has been one of my favorite characters, but as I read TVA, I found myself thinking "Who cares?"

Of course, TVA has it's good points. I liked reading about Armand's abduction, and his time with Marius. However, Anne Rice filled the book up with pointless characters, meaningless sex (which didn't offend me, but it added nothing to the book), and once again too much religion.

There's only so many times that I can read about the "lovely Sybelle" plunking the Appassionata, or descriptions of Russian religious icons.

So overall, TVA is a decent addition to the Chronicles, but can't even be compared to Anne Rice classics like Interview with the Vampire or The Vampire Lestat.

-Julia

This book tells the story of Armand, from his kidnapping from a Ukraine, via his initiation as a vampire, in Venice, to Paris and the Vampires' theatre, up to the present day. All of your Anne Rice favourites are here.

This book is less about plot, and more about the investigation of an important character, and of course, the usual pure indulgence in sensual delights. Armand has tried just about everything, including abstinence, and we get his take on all of it.

I've re-read this book, and it doesn't tire the second time round. There is so much detail, that there is always something new to appreciate. As historic fiction, this book is fascinating, because it takes you to unusual places. As fiction it is fun, because even minor characters get properly rendered.

If you have started to read Anne Rice and like it, then this book is a worthy successor to the rest of the series. I can't be sure how this book would read by itself - obviously it has spoilers for the other books, especially the first, but I think that it would stand well on its own.

I read this and this is one of the very few books that has ever made me cry. I have come to feel for Armand as much as I do any of the other characters in this series. I think out of all of them, he's had it the hardest.

Overall, this is a gorgeous book. The descriptions are amazing, as if you are right in the heart of Venice. The love affair between Armand and Marius was beautiful and hearttrending as well.

A beautiful read.