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The Tale of the Body Thief Review

The Tale of the Body Thief Review

The Tale of the Body Thief

Published: 4, October 1992

Author: Anne Rice

The Vampire Chronicles, Book 4

Genres: Family, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Gothic, Horror, Inspirational, LGBTQ+, Literary, Men's, Occult, Paranormal, Psychological, Saga, Spirituality, Vampire


Check the summary of this book here:

The Tale of the Body Thief Summary


The Review:

The Tale of the Body Thief by Anne Rice reads almost like a mystery novel. It is not required to be a vampire enthusiast to enjoy it. It's a fascinating novel to read since nothing happens as planned. Every turn brings a fresh adventure. As you might anticipate, the characters are constantly changing as he flows in and out of several bodies, hence the title "The Tale of the Body Thief." It's amusing to read and not at all terrifying.

I read it in one sitting and didn't even realize it. My advice is to read it over the course of a weekend; because once you start, you'll feel compelled to finish it Then you want it to continue on forever, but fortunately, you can read "Memnoch the Devil" the next book in the series once you've finished it.

The tale is now centered on Lestat thanks to Body Thief. There isn't much interaction with other vampires. Other vampires are only warning voices that will be ignored in any case. Lestat's failure to learn from anything other than his own sorrow and peril is the subject of this narrative. It's also part of what makes the narrative intriguing because his weaknesses are responsible for all of the adventures and misadventures we're reading about.

The Tale of the Body Thief is a simple way to re-enter Anne Rice's vampire universe, as it does not need the readers to re-acquaint themselves with the large cast of characters from the previous works. Lestat is back in the spotlight, and Louis, a New Orleans bloodsucker produced by Lestat two centuries ago, makes an appearance, as does the spirit of Claudia, the vampire kid they created and then lost.

Following the near-apocalyptic events of The Queen of the Damned, Lestat appears to be unhappy and dissatisfied with his vampire existence, distancing himself from his fellow vampires. His only friend is the elderly mortal David Talbot, the leader of the Talemasca, a group dedicated to the study of the supernatural.

In this novel, we are reminded why Lestat is one of contemporary fiction's most recognized anti-heroes in the book's last chapter. A lot of this book is Anne Rice at her best, especially when Lestat and David have long discussions about God and the Devil, and the nature of good and evil. This is something Anne Rice is known for, and it's clear that Lestat is her alter ego, especially when he talks about what he's learned after two centuries of observation of the human condition. 

Her vampires truly have a wonderful gift of gab; it's one of her signature traits. Although the reader may not always agree with what Anne Rice is attempting to convey via her characters, it is always worthwhile to read. The other key to her vampire books' popularity is that she subtly makes the reader feel as if they are one of the gorgeous immortals themselves as if Lestat is interacting with one of his own kind when he speaks to them in the first person.

You can also see where and how the groundwork for 'Memnoch the Devil' and some of the subsequent volumes in the series is being laid down.

Spoiler Ahead: The next paragraph contains information that will reveal the novel's main plot.

Raglan James, a young guy who claims to be able to exchange bodies, approaches the lonely Lestat and informs him that he is actually a 70-year-old man who has purloined the youthful body he currently occupies after hijacking it in a British mental institution where it was in a terminal coma. James has a proposal for Lestat: they swap bodies for a few days, allowing Lestat to reclaim his humanity while James enjoys being inside the incredibly strong body of a vampire for a brief period. What's the worst that might happen? Despite Louis and David's warnings that this is the worst of all possible ideas, and the reader can also clearly see that James is bad news, but Lestat is intrigued by the offer.


Final Thoughts:

Anne Rice continues the Lestat narrative with another fantastic story. Intriguing, with suitable twists and turns that complement what we already know about Lestat while also revealing more about Lestat and his closest associates.

Although certain places may appear to be dragging in "unnecessary information," I loved the change of pace and atmosphere offered for the participants. Another winner in the end!

This is a terrific novel, as is any book by Anne Rice, one of my favorite authors. I've read everything she's ever written at least twice, and for me, she's the gauge against which all other works of this genre (Vampires) are measured. Apart from Bram Stoker's "Dracula," no other vampire tale I've ever read can compare to Anne Rice.

Her characters are almost believable, almost human, flawed...and without a sparkle in their eyes...thank you, Anne Rice, for being a part of my life for so long.


Synopsis:

““Anne Rice is our modern messenger of the occult, whose nicely updated dark-side passion plays twist and turn in true Gothic form.”—San Francisco Chronicle

In a gripping feat of storytelling, Anne Rice continues the extraordinary Vampire Chronicles that began with the now-classic Interview with the Vampire. For centuries, Lestat—vampire-hero, enchanter, seducer of mortals—has been a courted prince in the dark and flourishing universe of the living dead. Now he is alone. And in his overwhelming need to destroy his doubts and his loneliness, Lestat embarks on the most dangerous enterprise he has undertaken in all the years of his haunted existence.

Praise for The Tale of the Body Thief

“Tinged with mystery, full of drama . . . The story is involving, the twists surprising.”—People

“Fast-paced . . . . mesmerizing . . . silkenly sensuous . . . No one writing today matches her deftness with the [sensual].”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Hypnotic . . . masterful.”—Cosmopolitan”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Aaliyah, Akasha And Enkil, Akasha, Alain Delon, Ancient Egypt, Anne Rice, Antonio Banderas, Armand, Body Thief, Brad Pitt, Brat Prince, Bruce Spence, Cher, Christian Manon, Christian Slater, Claudia Black, Claudia, Closer To The Truth, Daniel Molloy, Darren Wilson, David Talbot, Destrehan Plantation, Dollmaker, Domiziana Giordano, Drama, Estelle, French Quarter, George Kelly, God and the Devil, Highly Recommend, Hollywood's Homophobia, Hugo Race, Indra Ové, The Interview with the Vampire, Jerk, Jesse, Johnathan Devoy, Jonathan Davis, Julian Sands, Khayman, Kirsten Dunst, Laure Marsac, Lena Olin, Lestat De Lioncourt, London, Lorimar Productions, Louis De Pointe Du Lac, Louis, Lovers Forever, Madeleine Marcel Iureş, Mael, Maharet And Mekare, Maharet, Marguerite Moreau, Marius, Matthew Lassall, Matthew Newton, Michael Rymer, Mississippi River, Mother Gabrielle, Must Be Kept, Must Read, Neil Jordan, New Characters, New Orleans Whore, New Orleans, Oak Alley Plantation, Pandora, Paris Vampire, Paris, Paul Mcgann, Pia Miranda, Point Of View, Queen Of The Damned, Rachael Tanner, Raglan James, Read Interview, Robin Casinader, Rowland S. Howard, San Francisco, Santiago, Sara Stockbridge, Serena Altschul, Stephen Rea, Stuart Townsend, Thandie Newton, Tale of the Body, Thandiwe Newton, The Vampire Lestat Tom Cruise, Vacherie, Vampire Chronicles, Vincent Perez, Warner Bros, Years Ago, Young Jesse, Yvette


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy The Kindle Version Here:


Free With Free Audible Trial:


Interview With the Vampire (1994) (R):


Queen of the Damned (2002) (R):


Compare Kindle E-readers on one page:


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The Queen of the Damned Review

The Queen of the Damned

Published: 12, September 1988

Author: Anne Rice

The Vampire Chronicles, Book 3

Genres: Family, Fantasy, Fiction, Gothic, Horror, LGBTQ+, Literary, Occult, Paranormal, Psychological, Saga, Vampire


Check the summary of this book here:

The Queen of the Damned Summary


The Review:

Anne Rice's The Queen of the Damned is a multi-character drama that stands alone and has its own class. I've searched and haven't found anything that has as many fast-paced narratives, each with its own unique twists and turns. This book is a stunning tapestry woven from a perfect amount of story threads: a must-read for Anne Rice's lovers and everyone searching for a fast-paced cerebral novel.

This work is without a doubt one of the most fast-paced and complicated stories of our time. I was not expecting to be thrown into the world of Anne Rice's vampires when I picked up this book, thinking it to be simply another low-energy serial novel that would put me to sleep at night. This novel contains so many plots that it's difficult to imagine how they'll all fit together.

Anne Rice crafts a whole universe and entire characters with all of the plots: no gaps, no unresolved questions. Anne Rice demonstrates that she can describe a poor southern rape victim with just as much emotion and vivid detail as she can a billionaire vampire falling in love with another vampire.

I enjoyed being whisked from one corner of the world to another. Anne Rice's world encompasses the core of ours, including both what we value and what we'd prefer to leave out.

In The Queen of the Damned, the Children of the Darkness have their "Baltimore Catechism," as Anne Rice calls it. The novel does an excellent job of getting a new reader up, but it's best to start with The Vampire Lestat and before that The Interview with the Vampire.

The books appear as characters in this novel, much as they did in The Vampire Lestat. The characters are given significant depth, such as Daniel, the original writer of "The Interview with the Vampire," who aspires to be a vampire and follows Armand about until Armand agrees.

Jesse, a redhead who appears to be related to the original Twins who dealt with the Queen in 5000 B.C., is one of the new characters presented.

The novel starts out sluggish, with a lot of explanations about what's going on in Louis' life, New Orleans, the mystery organization Talamasca, and other mystical nonsense that was at times difficult to comprehend.

Midway through the story, all of the individuals we've met assemble at a cabin in Sonoma to discuss what they'll do about the Queen, who actually just wants to destroy the whole male half of the human race, since males are so terrible. In this regard, I thought Anne Rice's writing to be really engaging.

At times, Lestat appears to be behaving out of character, acquiescing to his Queen and even participating in the carnage instead of opposing. That was a major disappointment.

I won't give away the finale, but after all the build-up, I thought the final encounter was rushed and unsatisfactory.

The concluding pages were entertaining: Lestat revels in his newfound power, and Anne Rice lays the stage for the next novel The Tale of the Body Thief.

In the end, it's entertaining, but you'll need the patience of an Exorcist to get there! Best character: Jesse, despite the fact that she was largely absent from the tale from the start. Worst of all would have to be Mael, who didn't have much of a part in the last act.


Final Thoughts:

Great novel, deserving of its place in the Vampire Chronicles. I like learning about "how it all began" and imagining those tremendously strong entities. It genuinely immerses you in the scene; I could smell the desert air and see palm trees. If you like Anne Rice's other vampire novels; you must read this one also.

In my opinion, this is the most compelling of the Chronicles. Mostly because it includes other vampires who either get to share their own stories or have their stories told to us.

It's a shame that the movie ostensibly based on this book misrepresents the plot of the book. This should have been the simplest of the series to adapt for the big screen. This is, without a doubt, the greatest of the group, and it could easily stand alone from the rest of the series. 


Synopsis:

““With The Queen of the Damned, Anne Rice has created universes within universes, traveling back in time as far as ancient, pre-pyramidic Egypt and journeying from the frozen mountain peaks of Nepal to the crowded, sweating streets of southern Florida.”—Los Angeles Times

In a feat of virtuoso storytelling, Anne Rice unleashes Akasha, The Queen of the Damned, who has risen from a six-thousand-year sleep to let loose the powers of the night. Akasha has a marvelously devious plan to “save” mankind and destroy The Vampire Lestat—in this extraordinarily sensual novel of the complex, erotic, electrifying world of the undead.

Praise for The Queen of the Damned

“Mesmerizing . . . a wonderful web of dark-side mythology.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Imaginative . . . intelligently written . . . This is popular fiction of the highest order.”—USA Today

“A tour de force.”—The Boston Globe”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Aaliyah, Akasha And Enkil, Akasha, Alain Delon, Ancient Egypt, Anne Rice, Antonio Banderas, Armand, Body Thief, Brad Pitt, Brat Prince, Bruce Spence, Cher, Christian Manon, Christian Slater, Claudia Black, Claudia, Closer To The Truth, Daniel Molloy, Darren Wilson, David Talbot, Destrehan Plantation, Dollmaker, Domiziana Giordano, Drama, Estelle, French Quarter, George Kelly, Hollywood's Homophobia, Hugo Race, Indra Ové, The Interview with the Vampire, Jerk, Jesse, Johnathan Devoy, Jonathan Davis, Julian Sands, Khayman, Kirsten Dunst, Laure Marsac, Lena Olin, Lestat De Lioncourt, London, Lorimar Productions, Louis De Pointe Du Lac, Louis, Lovers Forever, Madeleine Marcel Iureş, Mael, Maharet And Mekare, Maharet, Marguerite Moreau, Marius, Matthew Lassall, Matthew Newton, Michael Rymer, Mississippi River, Mother Gabrielle, Must Be Kept, Must Read, Neil Jordan, New Characters, New Orleans Whore, New Orleans, Oak Alley Plantation, Pandora, Paris Vampire, Paris, Paul Mcgann, Pia Miranda, Point Of View, Queen Of The Damned, Rachael Tanner, Read Interview, Robin Casinader, Rowland S. Howard, San Francisco, Santiago, Sara Stockbridge, Serena Altschul, Stephen Rea, Stuart Townsend, Thandie Newton, Thandiwe Newton, The Vampire Lestat Tom Cruise, Vacherie, Vampire Chronicles, Vincent Perez, Warner Bros, Years Ago, Young Jesse, Yvette


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy The Kindle Version Here:


Free With Free Audible Trial:


Interview With the Vampire (1994) (R):


Queen of the Damned (2002) (R):


Compare Kindle E-readers on one page:


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Any kind of support, even a simple 'like, thumbs up or a small comment' is enough and helps me grow, create and freely do more stuff and work on projects for the benefit of many.
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The Vampire Lestat Review

The Vampire Lestat Review

The Vampire Lestat

Published: 31, October 1985

Author: Anne Rice

The Vampire Chronicles, Book 2

Genres: Family, Fantasy, Fiction, Gothic, Horror, LGBTQ+, Occult, Paranormal, Psychological, Saga, Vampire


Check the summary of this book here:

The Vampire Lestat Summary


The Review:

Any Anne Rice fan, or any fan of vampire fiction in general, should own The Vampire Lestat. It's the sequel to Interview With A Vampire. While the Interview With A Vampire was recounted from Louis' perspective, The Vampire Lestat is told from Lestat's perspective. It's essentially an autobiography in which he recounts his life as a human and how he got to be a vampire.

We witness not just his deliciously wicked side, which Louis describes in the previous book, but also his more human side in this book. The Brat Prince isn't as bad as everyone else portrays him to be, but he's certainly not a saint. This book is fantastic and very worth it; I have all four forms of all the books in this series, Audio, Hard Cover, Paperback, and the Kindle version.

Since I was a youngster, I've liked Interview With A Vampire. I chose to start the series and have been fully engrossed from start to finish. I love vampire fiction, and Anne Rice's writing brings the events and people to life, bringing them even closer to being alive and real to us. I was concerned that, having enjoyed the last book/movie (in its own right and equally), I might lose interest in this one. But, no, I believe this book brought him to life, and I couldn't put it down until I completed it.

A one-liner, once again, does not do the novel credit because there is so much more to it than Lestat becoming a rock star! I don't want to give too much away, but the way the storylines intertwine adds to the realism. I liked getting to know Lestat better, and hearing his thoughts on the first book made him feel even more genuine.

I think the hyperawareness of the books being novels (but yet being real) is wonderfully written. Anne Rice's vampires (both vicious and gorgeous) changed the vampire game, and even those that choose to write their vampires in the same gentlemanly vein don't manage to pull it off with the same pulse and vitality as Anne Rice's. Her vampires are the gentleman vampires, to be sure.

I am sure almost everyone has seen the movie Interview With A Vampire and has most likely read the book. However, if you don't read this novel, you'll have a hard time comprehending Lestat. There's a lot more to him than the insane persona we've grown to admire.

I believe that we not only witness Anne Rice tell a fantastic tale during this series, but I am hard-pressed to think of many other authors who perform a greater job of character development. I'm a big lover of scary movies. But I adore good fiction also, and this is just all of what I want.

Here I'm only using a legendary author's name to make a point and I mean no disrespect to him: Tolkien may be a greater writer, but Anne Rice does a far better job of enabling her characters to grow.

In my opinion, Anne Rice is the creator and supreme authority of literary vampire legend. She's done what no other novelist has done: she's made vampires sexy.

Her books explore the inherent conflict that exists between human morality and the drive to murder and eat in order to preserve immortality.

Lestat is a delightful devil. Like no other, he ponders his existence and purpose amid the harshness of his reality. If you've encountered him in another Rice novel (maybe in an Interview With A Vampire), you should read this one since it offers you a better idea of his character.

When Louie relates his narrative, you just get a glimpse of one side of his personality. You will see Lestat in a whole new perspective after reading this book, and you will be able to comprehend some of the decisions he took in the previous book.

This novel, in my opinion, is also necessary for gaining a better understanding of all of Rice's other vampire stories. You shouldn't really need a good review to buy this book. You can't deny yourself this novel if you're as charmed by Anne Rice's prose as I am, any more than Lestat could refuse Akasha's invitation to sip the world's oldest and most potent blood.

The Vampire Lestat is a large book about the life, creation, and afterlife of the mysterious Lestat de Lioncourt, a petty French aristocrat who yearns for more than the pointless existence defined by his place as the younger son of a poor but pompous family. But there's a lot more to this novel than meets the eye.


Final Thoughts:

With a broken and sad heart, I announce that our beloved Anne Rice passed away a few days ago on December 11, 2021. I had planned to begin reviewing all of her books for a long time but hadn't had the opportunity, and from the day she passed away, I was nearing the end of another late great author Patrick O'Brian's series, so I decided to wait until that series was finished before continuing Anne Rice's books again.

This second Chronicle is significantly longer than the first because it includes not only Lestat's 'life' story and personal development but also the histories of two older vampires, the elegant Marius and the lost Armand, as well as legends about the vampire race's origins and the first vampires, Enkil and Akasha.

The Vampire Lestat, like the previous book, continues to examine life and death, good and evil, and where vampires fit into the big scheme of things, but there is also a lot of action and adventure, giving the entire narrative much more bite and improving its pace.

Despite the fact that I preferred this to “Interview With A Vampire” I feel that both novels should be read rather than just one. The events of “Interview With A Vampire” are placed in the context of Lestat's life, and much of what transpired between Lestat, Louis, Claudia, and Armand is explained in 'The Vampire Lestat.' It's almost as though 'Interview With A Vampire' is more of a teaser for 'The Vampire Lestat' than a standalone novel.


Synopsis:

“#1 New York Times Bestselling author - Surrender to fiction's greatest creature of the night - Book II of the Vampire Chronicles

The vampire hero of Anne Rice’s enthralling novel is a creature of the darkest and richest imagination. Once an aristocrat in the heady days of pre-revolutionary France, now a rock star in the demonic, shimmering 1980s, he rushes through the centuries in search of others like him, seeking answers to the mystery of his eternal, terrifying existence. His is a mesmerizing story—passionate, complex, and thrilling.

Praise for The Vampire Lestat

“Frightening, sensual . . . Anne Rice will live on through the ages of literature. . . . To read her is to become giddy as if spinning through the mind of time, to become lightheaded as if our blood is slowly being drained away.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Fiercely ambitious, nothing less than a complete unnatural history of vampires.”—The Village Voice

“Brilliant . . . its undead characters are utterly alive.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Luxuriantly created and richly told.”—The Cleveland Plain Dealer”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Alain Delon, Anne Rice, Antonio Banderas, Armand, Body Thief, Brad Pitt, Brat Prince, Cher, Christian Slater, Claudia, Closer To The Truth, Daniel Molloy, Destrehan Plantation, Dollmaker, Domiziana Giordano, Drama, Estelle, French Quarter, George Kelly, Hollywood's Homophobia, Indra Ové, Interview With The Vampire, Julian Sands, Kirsten Dunst, Laure Marsac, Lestat De Lioncourt, London, Louis De Pointe Du Lac, Louis, Lovers Forever, Madeleine Marcel Iureş Mississippi River, Mother Gabrielle, Must Be Kept, Must Read, Neil Jordan, New Orleans Whore, New Orleans, Oak Alley Plantation, Paris, Paris Vampire, Point Of View, Queen Of The Damned, Read Interview, San Francisco, Santiago, Sara Stockbridge, Stephen Rea, Thandie Newton, Thandiwe Newton, Tom Cruise, Vacherie, Vampire Chronicles, Yvette


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy The Kindle Version Here:


Free With Free Audible Trial:


Interview With the Vampire (1994) (R):


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