Prince Lestat

The Vampire Chronicles

By: Anne Rice

Narrated by: Simon Vance

A stunning departure, a surprising and compelling return… From Anne Rice, perennial best-seller, single-handed reinventor of the vampire cosmology - a new, exhilarating novel, a deepening of her vampire mythology, and a chillingly hypnotic mystery-thriller.

Rice once again summons up the irresistible spirit-world of the oldest and most powerful forces of the night, invisible beings unleashed on an unsuspecting world able to take blood from humans, in a long-awaited return to the extraordinary world of the Vampire Chronicles and the uniquely seductive Queen of the Damned, a long-awaited novel that picks up where The Vampire Lestat left off more than a quarter of a century ago to create an extraordinary new world of spirits and forces - the characters, legend, and lore of all the Vampire Chronicles.

The novel opens with the vampire world in crisis… vampires have been proliferating out of control; burnings have commenced all over the world, huge massacres similar to those carried out by Akasha in The Queen of the Damned… Old vampires, roused from slumber in the earth are doing the bidding of a Voice commanding that they indiscriminately burn vampire-mavericks in cities from Paris and Mumbai to Hong Kong, Kyoto, and San Francisco.

As the novel moves from present-day New York and the West Coast to ancient Egypt, fourth century Carthage, 14th-century Rome, the Venice of the Renaissance, the worlds and beings of all the Vampire Chronicles - Louis de Pointe du Lac; the eternally young Armand, whose face is that of a Boticelli angel; Mekare and Maharet, Pandora and Flavius; David Talbot, vampire and ultimate fixer from the secret Talamasca; and Marius, the true Child of the Millennia; along with all the other new seductive, supernatural creatures - come together in this large, luxuriant, fiercely ambitious novel to ultimately rise up and seek out who - or what - the Voice is…

From the Hardcover edition.

©2014 Anne Rice (P)2014 Random House Audio

There is Wonderous Power in The Blood - I loved it

The Vampire Chronicles spans 38 (Real Life) years now. I read borrowed copies of “Interview With The Vampire” and “The Vampire Lestat” (which ended in a cliff-hanger) then waited what seemed like an eternity for “Queen of the Damned.” I read that novel, and the ten subsequent novels and the related Mayfair Witches novels as they were released. After Blood Canticle, I did not expect to ever meet my old fictional fiend-friends again.

This is the 13th book in the Vampire Chronicles. It is written in mixed 1st Person, and 3rd Person Narration, with Lestat primarily written in First person. It flows together very nicely and I did not initially even notice the change in narration Point of View. I was impressed by this. Often changing of points of view in this fashion jolts me out of the story, and in “Prince Lestat” that only happened once, and only for a few paragraphs. This is not a flaw in the book. I learned something new to me about writing that I need to study further.

There is noticeable product placement in “Prince Lestat.” Good for Ms. Rice. It isn’t done in a heavy handed way, and in this case (as apposed to some best selling novels where the product placement often is so blatant it seems more important then story,) using product brands enhances the story. This is modern age “Patronage.” Marius would approve. Celebrity Endorsements are more difficult for writers then musicians. The one issued that Ms. Rice doesn’t face with use of brand names is dating the story. Dating the story actually an enhancement when writing about the angst of immortal creatures.

Simon Vance did an amazing job reading this book. He got to warm up reading the long awaited unabridged version of “Memnoch the Devil.” Bravo Mr. Vance! Lestat’s accent comes and goes, French to American, or a Fusion of both. This was well done and realistic. Marius’ accent must have been a challenge. I would have made his spoken voice more languid and detached, however that is just my personal take on the character. This is also not a flaw. I’m looking forward to hearing him read “Memnoch,” but I’ll wait a weeks or so before taking that journey again.

I enjoyed every single word of “Prince Lestat.” There were several passages that moved me very deeply. I suspect other readers fill also find bits of their own mortal life’s journey reflected in this novel. If one has read all the preceding books, I believe you will find this 13th a welcome reunion with old friends. To me it felt like, “Putting on my old leather jacket once again, as Winter cold approaches.”

I do not recommend starting with this novel. If you haven’t read the preceding novels, I suggest that you go back and read “Interview With The Vampire,” “The Vampire Lestat,” and “The Queen of the Damned” before (if you really have to) skipping ahead to “Prince Lestat.” The reader will get the most out of this 13th book by reading all of them in order, as well as “The Witching Hour,” “Lasher,” “Merrick,” “Blackwood Farm” and “Blood Canticle.” I thought until recently that “Blood Canticle” was the end of the story. It most certainly is NOT.

Didn’t disappoint, she’s still got me hooked.

Been a fan of Anne Rice for decades and this installment kept me as enthralled as the others.

Blah, Blah, Blah. I'm the great Vampire Lestat.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Not really. Predictable from the start and no great character development.

Did Prince Lestat inspire you to do anything?

No.

Any additional comments?

Most of the first books of the Vampire Chronicles are good and will inspire you to read more of her earlier works. We should remember Anne Rice for those works.

A good read but not what I expected

What did you like best about Prince Lestat? What did you like least?

The Prince Lestat is really a collection of short stories. For those who cannot get enough of the wonderful world that exists only between the pages of the Vampire Chronicles books this will be a welcome taste of something new. I liked it but I was expecting a full novel like the others in the series.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I was sad. Of course. I'm always sad when the read is over

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

Lestat

Do you think Prince Lestat needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Obviously not. Its simply a book of short stories.

Any additional comments?

I would have liked to have known this was a book of short stories and not a novel before buying it. I might have preferred to buy something else. That's why I bothered to write this review.

More vampire chronicles: Less Lestat

I have to state that I like Ann Rice's vampire chronicles. The passion in those undead immortals Ann Rice created makes them seem more viable, and accessible.

Of all the Vampire Chronicles I have read, I'd say the Prince Lestat is most like Queen of the Damned in terms of build. Prince Lestat a complex weave of character storylines, of other vampires other than Lestat that later fuse with his story.

Such a trip through all these vampires lives, (who are prompted by "the voice" to burn their fellows) is a tedious affair. Then there are characters Rose and Victor too.

As complex as this story was, and as disappointed as I was to find out it wasn't a story about just Lestat, I wound up really liking Prince Lestat.

The ending was satisfying.

Loved it all!!

The story line and performance are superb! Helped get me through my day and not to long for boredom! Lol!

Best yet I've read by Anne Rice, as it goes. Wordy

Parts were great and other parts were overly wordy. But she also takes time with the right parts. easy to hear again, you always read them again if you own them. This is not a horror story. It is a tale of love,occultism and magic. Not a lick of Catholicism or preachiness. Thank god.

Excellent premise

I am so glad I listen to this book. Ms Rice wrote so well, bring back to life characters I had hazy memories of.

Another great book!

This was a great addition to the series in my opinion. Without saying anything spoilers, or trying not to at least, I find it great how you can really feel sense the realness of what would happen after the events of The Queen of the Damned, and even Lestat view on things after his interactions with the body thief and with Memnoch “the Devil”.. It shows how all the characters have matured and changed in certain ways.. If you've read the other books, this is a MUST read! Or, pick this book up and start from here, either way, a great book. Thank you Anne Rice, and thank you Prince Lestat for sharing your thoughts and story with us mortals. I look forward to the next in the series!

As always, I adore the vampire chronicles.

Make more please- I want more stories of the Vampire Chronicles! God bless Anne Rice for such creativity.
Brava brava brava. Brava!!!