Blood Canticle (The Vampire Chronicles)

It's been a while since I read this novel. But I loved the crossing over of Lestat and the Mayfair witches. It was the best of both worlds coming together. Rice was my first glimpse into fantasy, vampires, supernatural, paranormal- so rich, vibrant, clever and a truly amazing writer.

Having just finished this book, I had to put down in words my dismay at all the reviews that blasted it. I understand why some people don't like it. This is not the Lestat they thought they knew. The style of the story is different. And there are none of the friends we have come to know and love, like Louis, Armand and Marius. But if you stop and think back over the whole Vampire Chronicle series, you will see that this book (hopefully not the last as Anne Rice has said) was inevitable. Lestat wants to be a saint; He tells us this almost from the very beginning. He talks about it as if there was nothing left for him to be but a saint. This is not the Lestat we have seen in some of the other Chronicle books. That Lestat was seen as evil, and as "Cain, the slayer of my brother". But you have to remember that Lestat's words have only been used in four of the previous nine books. Louis told us the story in Interview with the Vampire, Armand told his own story, David told us of Merrick, Marius gave us the rest of his tale in Blood and Gold, and Quinn Blackwood told us the story of Blackwood Farm. When these others talked of Lestat, they were not using his words, his style. Blood Canticle is the first book to use Lestat's own words since Memnoch the Devil. And why wouldn't he have changed his manner of speaking in that time? Lestat is the one who, learning from the example of Marius, always found a way to fit in with the times he was living. So one of the lines is the book ends with !!!!!!! Isn't that the way people do things today in the world of Internet chat and email? Why should we be surprised that Lestat is doing it? As for his wanting to be a saint, think back in the Chronicles to a time someone said, "As we get older, we do not really change. We just become more and more ourselves". Re-read The Vampire Lestat. Since he was a child, Lestat dreamed of being a saint. As he gets older, and becomes more and more himself, his earliest dreams and desires would surely come back stronger than ever. I won't talk of the story, because the story tells itself. It is a typical book in the Vampire Chronicles in that for the first little while, you may be confused, thinking nothing is happening in sequence, or meshes with anything else in the story. But then it all starts coming together, as it always does, and you have trouble putting it down. This is not the best of the Chronicles (See Memnoch the Devil). Nor is it the worst. It may not be the best way to end the series (if it is truly finished), but it a very good story, a very good read, and is very true to the Lestat we saw in The Vampire Lestat, Queen of the Damned, The Tale of the Body Thief and Memnoch the Devil. This character has grown into the times. And that's what is making people say this is a bad book; He's not the same. Good for him! This is not a bad book. It's good book. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Anne Rice has combined two of her most popular series: The Vampire Chronicles and the Mayfair Witches series. Although, initially the combination was somewhat contrived, it did have a backstory in the last volume, Blackwood Farm. There were familiar characters, and reminiscences of past events in other books. The character of Lestat was further developed, and even though the character Mona Mayfair appeared to develop borderline personality disorder after a life change, it would be understandable under the circumstances. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of either of the two series it continues. Anne Rice never disappoints! It would be entertaining to see this series continue, and if anyone has the imagination to do that, it's Ms. Rice.

Good read.

As someone who has had a passion for reading for more than 7 decades, my interests have ranged from great literature and science to the esoteric topics of ghosts and vampires. I had read a few of Ann Rice’s books in the past (Interview with a Vampire and others) but I had not read this one (Blood Canticle), which I purchased while browsing on Amazon. I found this novel to be interesting and entertaining as it follows the dark path of those creatures who are obsessed with feeding off, we mortal beings. The Vampire Lestat will entertain you in this novel, If you are a fan of Anne Rice’s vampire books you should check out this one. Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Never trust a politician: A critical review of politics and politicians)

I loved the Mayfair Witches and have read any and all Anne Rice's books that even mentions Rowan, Mona, Michael, Oncle Julien , and Stella! Of course, if your an Anne Rice fan like I am then you have read all the Vampire Chronicles! I have read all the stand alone books like Ramses the Great, I've read them all but the Mayfair family still is my obsession and I wait patiently (well, not really! I've never been very patient) for the next story that brings me back to that jewel of a house in the Garden District. Rowan's fate and what becomes of that gorgeous Irish man, Michael? You can't help but have a crush on that beautiful man. I want something great to happen to Michael. For him to finally find happiness and the family he dreams of having. Did I enjoy this book? Absolutely!!

I am a rabid Anne Rice fan, but I must admit I was sorely disappointed with this little book! Warning Spoilers! I found the characters to be somewhat shallow and lacking the usual definition she is famous for. I understand that she may have felt the need to rush this book somewhat, but it could have been so much more. I was devastated over what happened to Ashlar, but I never really cared that much for Mona or Morrigan. Oberon was interesting, but I guess his sarcastic attitute is probably from the Mayfair blood he carries. One can only assume that Rowan (God I despise her character)will play mad doctor with him and his sisters for awhile. I can find no place in my heart for Rowan. The way she treats Michael is absolutely repulsive. Don't get me wrong, Michael is a weak minded Pedophile, but then again, he does carry Julien's blood. And Julien, Mon Dieu! I was even disappointed in him. The interactions between him and Lestat seemed superficial at best, and he was utterly unlike himself (Julien) in former books. Stella was a breath of fresh air as always. I think Anne just brought in way too many unimportant characters and tried to people the book with them. I have read in other reviews of this book about fans being disturbed over Lestat's ghetto talking. I wasn't particularly bothered by it, though it did seem somewhat out of character for him. Then again, he cannot really be expected to talk 18th century forever. He's a vampire in touch with his time who is trying to make changes in his life. Altogether, I think my review was colored more by what she did to Ashlar than anything else. He was one of my favorite characters, and it was simply too tragic. Alors, Adieu to the Great Saint Ashlar, and the end of an era!

I love the blood canticle as it sums up the story of the Mayfair witches , the taltos and the vampire Lestat as well as the Blackwood farm tale.it gives you an ending to tales spun decades ago. Read it for the conclusions to past stories by Anne Rice!

siendo uno de los libros finales de la serie, blood canticle muestra a un lestat más a detalle que antes. delicioso estilo de escritura y un sensual ambiente, colocan al lector en cada uno de los momentos importantes de Lestat. recomendado a quienes son fans de la serie

J'ai toujours voulu lire les Chroniques Vampiriques depuis le Film Entretien avec un vampire. Et les livres sont fabuleux de profondeur! Un chef d'oeuvre!

This is the concluding book in the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, and if you are a fan of her books you wont be disappointed. Final book takes us on a journey with the Vampire Lestat and his versions of the events from the end of the Blackwood Farm book and the events that followed. This book includes the Mayfair Witch clan and goes some way to explaining their myths although after reading this i am now itching to read the three books Rice wrote on the Mayfair Witches. A must have for any Vampire Chronicles fan.

I was a little disappointed in Lestat's character at times. It is somewhat too feminized, but the story was nonetheless so captivating that I could imagine the humidity of the New Orleans night on my face.

Reading an Anne Rice book is like opening that cupboard and finding yourself in Narnia. Not only the stories but the language itself is so unique and captivating that it truly feels like you enter another world.