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The Master of Rampling Gate Review

Anne Rice, Contemporary, Fiction, Horror, Literature

The Master of Rampling Gate

Published: February 1984
Author: Anne Rice
Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Horror, Literature

Check the summary of this book here:
The Master of Rampling Gate Summary


The Review:

The Master of Rampling Gate by Anne Rice is a masterpiece. Predictable and far too short, but entertaining for those of us who eagerly anticipated and devoured each new episode of the Lestat series. I like Anne Rice's return to the paranormal and the absence of the ponderous theological philosophy that has pervaded several of her post-Lestat writings.

The Master of Rampling Gate is reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe's suspense short tales. Yes, it's a bleak story. However, the details are vivid. While reading it, you nearly feel as if you are inside the mansion.

Exceptionally well-written and eloquent. It's almost plausible. I nearly forgot this was a work of fiction. This is another fast-paced read. I liked it but was disappointed because it was such a brief narrative, which I already knew.

I strongly advise everyone who likes short tales to read it. You will not be disappointed, even if you may have a want for more.

Despite its briefness, I found the narrative to be entertaining. The Master of Rampling Gate was a short and delightful read that left me wanting more. It was written with Anne Rice's lush, descriptive style that I've come to anticipate.

The ancient home reminded me of the house in The Wolf Gift, and the little background in this short narrative reminded me of Bram Stoker's Dracula.

I recently read The Master of Rampling Gate in The Vampire Archives: The Most Complete Volume of Vampire Tales Ever Published (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard), an anthology of vampire mythology.

I bought this anthology because of the authors participating, which included Anne Rice, Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, Ray Bradbury, and others. I'd say it's a greater value than any one tale, but don't worry, this book is free for Kindle at the time of writing this review.

Do you recall Anne Rice's vampire stories? She did, after all, wrote twelve books about fey, gorgeous, angsty immortals with gothic tastes.

However, in the time between her first two vampire novels, she wrote a short story called "The Master of Rampling Gate" about a "fey, beautiful, angsty immortal." It's written in glossy writing, and the conversation is as you'd expect from the author; but, the characters are flawed, and the relationship lacks the emotional depth like Twilight.

This is due to the story's short length. Remember, this is a short novella, and you can't expect a thousand pages of content in a few pages, even if the author is Anne Rice.

This novel appealed to me because of its atmosphere, inventive elements, drama, and, of course, the Anne Rice characteristics we all enjoy. Julie, the protagonist, is endearing and attractive, and when she and her brother Richard visit their inherited house, Rampling Gate, outside of London, they uncover more than a peaceful retreat.

There is an enigmatic invader. "No ghost would ever dare to harm Rampling Gate," the blind housekeeper says emphatically. Ha! What about an "indescribable threat"? This is a fantastic short story written by a master of the genre. It's just a smidgeon of "silent terror," but it'll whet your appetite.

Julie and Richard inherit the ancestral castle of Rampling Gate after their father passes away. Richard's father made him swear to demolish it before he died, and it appears to be linked to a handsome young man Julie saw years ago.

When he emerges, he and Julie fall madly in love, and he explains why he doesn't want Rampling Gate demolished.

Anne Rice's short story "The Master of Rampling Gate" exemplifies why she should avoid writing short stories. This narrative may have been a highly interesting gothic romance if it had been stretched to a full-length novel, especially since Anne Rice was nearing the pinnacle of her abilities.

Instead, it feels like an adolescent girl's fanfiction written in her voice, simply because it makes you want more and feels so short when you realize the tale is over and no new episodes have been released.

The main flaw in this narrative, as I've stated several times in this review, is that it is far too short. With each turn of the page, you become more intimately interested in the captivating characters as they come to life in the appropriate atmosphere.

Anne Rice does conjure up a sensation of haunting, history-soaked atmosphere, and there are a lot of very wonderful descriptions in this novel. Her old-timey prose, on the other hand, is fantastic as always, adding to the sense of the era and the ambiance, and leaving you wanting to learn more about it.

To rub salt in the wound, the love affair is odd. Julie is attracted to the vampire because he is attractive, and he is attracted to her because her intelligence appears to be exceptional.

They fell in love at first sight, without uttering a single word, and resolve to remain together for the rest of their lives. A relationship like that would make Stephenie Meyer proud.

The Master of Rampling Gate is an excruciatingly short piece that would have worked better as a full-length novel.

Despite the fact that the love story and characters are as thin as paper due to the limited space available, the reader is left wanting more and eager to learn more about Julie and the vampire.

Like no other writer in her genre, she creates a detailed web of terror and beauty in her novels. This narrative served as a great teaser for anyone who is unclear what to anticipate from any one of her Vampire Chronicles books; when you're ready for the main meal, your mysterious date Lestat will be there.


Final Thoughts:

Let me start by underlining that this is a Short Story originally published in Redbook Magazine in 1984. As a result, readers anticipating a novel will certainly be disappointed, as The Master of Rampling Gate is just fifteen pages long in the anthology cited.

In conclusion, I recommend getting a vampire anthology as the best way to experience The Master of Rampling Gate.

The only flaw I discovered was that it is only a short narrative, but it isn't advertised as a novel, so you should know that before you buy it.


Synopsis:

“I should have done it Richard, but I was born in that house, as my father was, and his father before him. You must do it now, Richard. It has no claim on you. Tear it down."

Anne Rice lures us once again into the seductive world of vampires with her short story, The Master of Rampling Gate. Set in 1888, Richard and Julie are the sole heirs to Rampling Gate, the beautiful but foreboding 400-year-old family mansion. Despite the dying wish of their father to destroy the property, the siblings visit the ancient home and are immediately enchanted by it. What was the "unspeakable horror" their father saw in the luxurious home they are so drawn to? Slowly memories return to Julie of a handsome, pale-faced stranger, glimpsed only briefly when she was young. The memories soon become a reality when Julie discovers the mystery behind the house and learns who the master of Rampling Gate truly is.

The Master of Rampling Gate was originally published in Redbook magazine in 1984.”


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Rating: 75/100
Recommended: 50/100 Yes.

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Interview with the Vampire (1994) (R)

Queen of the Damned (2002) (R)

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The Feast of All Saints Review

The Feast of All Saints

Published: 16, January 1979
Author: Anne Rice
Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Ghost, Gothic, Historical, Horror, Literary, Literature, Romance

Check the summary of this book here:
The Feast of All Saints Summary


The Review:

I can't say enough good things about Anne Rice's novel The Feast of All Saints. The novel is set in her hometown of New Orleans in the 1840s, and the subject matter is fascinating: the free people of color, the Creole progeny of white landowners, who were a much-overlooked component of New Orleans society at the time. The prose is rich in every aspect, as it is in all of Anne Rice's books, nearly drippy and delectable! One of her best! Beautifully written and painfully expressed! If you like vampires, and who doesn't? you should read this one as well as her third book, Cry To Heaven, but that's a different story.

Another of my favorite Anne Rice novels, this time a historical fiction set in New Orleans in the mid-nineteenth century told through the perspective of a mulatto boy growing up in the French Quarter, the son of an upriver white planter and a free woman of color.

A portrayal of the sophisticated and little-known Creole society, which comprised scholars, artists, craftsmen, and even opera singers, and whose members enjoyed a peculiar position - able to own property, including slaves, yet disenfranchised and relegated to servitude to even the lowest whites. Fascinating! And it's all contained in a single, tightly written volume!

This was a fantastic read for me. I had watched the movie some years before and was familiar with the general plot, but the book was far superior and provided much more depth and complexity to the characters and tale.

I'm used to Anne Rice's vampire and witch novels, and I enjoy otherworldly fiction, but this narrative with an all-human cast was delightful. I wanted, I could travel back in time to New Orleans and spend time with the characters in this novel!

Too many of the characters are what we would consider teens nowadays, which I find a little "off the beat." No matter what their social background is, they talk and act like someone five to 10 years older than you would anticipate for 14 to 18-year-olds.

"When you shame yourself, you shame us." This novel's subject is defined by this single line. You must be able to rise beyond your feelings of rage. No matter how hard someone tries to get you into trouble, act like a gentleman (or a woman).

Anne Rice's Feast of All Saints necessitates the employment of various adjectives. It's engaging, enthralling, and, above all, incredibly dramatic, especially as the narrative nears its conclusion.

Historical fictions are known for being dramatic, and The Feast of All Saints is no exception. On top of that, the book's location and situations are based on actual events. It's an enthralling time of history to study.

The novel itself is a non-fiction work with no clear storyline. The story's most significant element is undoubtedly its characters, as well as their interactions with one another, some of which will surprise the reader and others of which will confirm whatever preconceptions you may have.

The characters are well-developed, and the philosophical insights that we witness in them only add to their credibility. It's the kind of novel that appears to start at any point, and the reader is essentially thrust into the plot while the characters are still in the thick of it.

The narrative is divided into three parts, the second and third of which are far more remembered than the first. Much of volume one (which, don't get me wrong, is still excellent) introduces and develops the novel's various characters and their circumstances.

A decent narrative becomes really, really fantastic in volumes two and three. The novel will surprise you with unexpected twists and turns, notably in the closing phrase of Volume 2, which makes it nearly hard to prevent your jaw from dropping and increases your want to keep reading.

However, the first half of the novel moves at a snail's pace at points. It might feel like you're slogging your way through every now and again.

These periods are few in comparison to the length of the book; nonetheless, the thrilling aspects far surpass any of these occurrences.

Anne Rice's novel The Feast of All Saints is a fantastic read. Her passion for what she wrote is contagious. I believe it's a touch long-winded, but I'm sure Anne Rice put her heart and soul into this immensely emotive (and, once again, theatrical) depiction of the free people of color who lived in New Orleans at the time. This is a great book for historical fiction fans.

The fact that "mixed" couples were not allowed in the French Quarter was something I wish had been stressed more. (See New Orleans Architecture: The Creole Faubourgs by Pelican Press, as well as The Esplanade Ridge by the same source.)

Soldiers from Napoleon's invading army of 1803, who survived yellow fever on Santo Domingo, swiftly married locals of African origin. Their union was sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church.

When these men and their wives and children arrived in New Orleans in the early 1800s, the Catholic Church taught them that their marriages were not "genuine" because they resulted in "miscegenation," or the mixing of European and African blood, which was considered a sin! These husbands had to change their wives' status from wives to mistresses; "placage" served a more sad function than the one implied in this tale.

The new neighborhood (faubourg) Marigny was located downstream from the French Quarter (see Frenchmen, Desire, Good Children and Other Streets in New Orleans by John Chase). There were a lot of free people of color who settled there.

It was a pleasure to read this book. It's not a supernatural story like the others I've read by the author, so it was a refreshing change. While I admit to being a huge admirer of all of her novels and a lover of the supernatural, I adore her writing style, so I expected to enjoy this book as well and I did.

Giving you a glimpse into a new culture while also telling you a gripping narrative. This book will engross you and keep you reading for a long time. It's well worth the read, and it'll make you love Anne Rice even more.


Final Thoughts:

When it comes to crafting a novel, the author never fails to impress and in most of her works, she weaves a lot of history in, and this one is no exception. I've never read an author that is so committed to both entertaining and educating their audience.

Anne Rice's language is really exquisite in this novel. Exhilaration in its ultimate formula! Unequivocally magical!

The lives of the characters in Anne Rice's work will both educate and fascinate you!!!! A work of art!

A masterwork that is underappreciated. I've read everything Anne Rice has written and adored them all, especially Cry To Heaven, before moving on to The Feast of All Saints.

This novel, on the other hand, is like a cozy blanket on a chilly night. You won't be able to put it down, and the tale engulfs you and transports you to a different time and location in this nation.

You have no clue where it's going or how things will turn out, which is unusual in today's literature. You won't care since Anne Rice's characters are ageless.

I feel like I robbed myself by putting off reading this for so long. I can see this being read a few more times in the coming years.


Synopsis:

“In the days before the Civil War, there lived a Louisiana people unique in Southern history. Though descended from African slaves, they were also descended from the French and Spanish who enslaved them. Called the Free People of Color, this dazzling historical novel chronicles the lives of four of them - men and women caught perilously between the worlds of master and slave, privilege and oppression, passion and pain.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Anna Bella, Anne Rice, Civil War, Couleur Libre, Cry To Heaven, Feast Of All Saints, Free People, Gens De Couleur, Historical Fiction, Interview With The Vampire, New Orleans, People Of Color, Subject Matter, Vampire Lestat, Vampires Or Witches, Witching Hour, Years Ago


Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 50/100 Yes.

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The Feast of All Saints (2001) (R)

Interview with the Vampire (1994) (R)

Queen of the Damned (2002) (R)

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Violin Review

Anne Rice, Family, Fiction, Horror, Occult, Psychological, Saga, Vampire

Violin

Published: October 15, 1997
Author: Anne Rice
Genres: Family, Fiction, Horror, Occult, Psychological, Saga, Vampire

Check the summary of this book here:
Violin Summary


The Review:

With Violin, Anne Rice delivers on her promise. Murder, suspense, and mystical beings are all waiting for you. Don't let the negative reviews deter you from reading this book, as I did for so long. The opening of the book devotes the required time to character development in order for the novel's plot to have the most impact on the reader. Fellow readers, it's called reading. This is an excellent book to read. If you like Anne Rice's books, you'll adore this one!

This is a beautifully written and intimate story of complexities, tragedies, dreams, and stunning glimpses of Anne Rice herself. I'm astonished that anyone who has read this hasn't been blown away by Anne Rice's brilliance.

I found Anne Rice's exploration of the role of music as a passageway between worlds fascinating — between this world and other worlds; between the past, present, and future; between memory and fantasy; between self and others; between one's spirit and one's daily life, between the dream world and this world; between all the hallways of the mind that intersect in so many unusual ways, both destructive and healing.

I particularly like how the naive musician Triana expresses herself through long-form improvisation, and how her unique music is so well received by others!

Several distinct personalities are spotlighted in this work. It's worded well to entice the reader and unfold with deft simplicity. Author has an inexhaustible creativity, which appears brightly in this work.

Anne Rice's ability to create people and stories that reverberate with both the agonies and the beauty that exists in all of mankind has made her a well-known novelist.

She uses immortality to advocate for the human condition in a smart way. As a result, this is a narrative about both, and it delves into the depths of what immortality entails.

I'm not sure how much more I can say without giving anything away. And this is a story worth remembering. Certainly, I do. As a result, I hope you will dismiss other people's opinions and make your own decision.

Anne Rice's books were well-received before the publication of this one, and they continue to be well-received afterward. There's a good explanation for it.

She is a literary mastermind. I believe it is a blood-borne gift, since she and her late poet husband, Stan Rice, have bestowed literary gifts on their son Christopher Rice.

We must also remember that she was the first to introduce vampires, magic, and the search for immortality to best-selling contemporary fiction. Her charge was followed by everyone who came after her.

She is modest and does not claim her due throne, although she is widely regarded as The Queen of the Damned, an excellent title to one of her excellent novels, and one that fits Anne Rice herself.

Violin has a lot of things that I liked about it. Anne Rice's unmistakable use of language is one-of-a-kind and distinctive to her. Violin is a ballad about loss, pain, remorse, and obsession.

Never before have I seen an author so expertly put sadness into words. The tale arc of Stefan, the tortured ghost violinist, was typical of Anne Rice. Author's allegorical settings and her protagonist's wandering grieving were easy to follow.

Since my major likes are her Vampire, Witch, and Wolf novels, some of which I've read over and again, this was Anne Rice as I'd never read her before. Violin is one of those books that I wish I had read when it was originally published.

How can one begin to explore the internal demons that lead to psychological suffering? The majority of nonfiction works focus on the 'feelings' rather than the actual happenings.

Even to a therapist, things might be too painful to speak about. Only the agony and consequences are acknowledged, and then masked...possibly with medications.

Author describes things that are too painful to contemplate, let alone feel, yet they were all too real for me.

And I'm willing to bet that they are real to a lot of other people. I must admit that the otherworldly entity in Violin captivated me, but it was Author's agonizingly realistic portrayal of all-too-common human situations that won me over.

I've felt remorse and guilt, as have all or most people, but I've never seen it come so close to being reflected in writing. I've never felt so terrible for a fictitious character like Triana or Stefan or felt so beautifully victorious when hope and redemption were finally shown.

This isn't the only reason I enjoy Anne Rice's novels. She isn't afraid to show the horror in what's ugly, and she has a gift for keeping hope alive even in the dead. My only regret is that I didn't read Violin when it was first published.


Final Thoughts:

Anne Rice's Violin is a remarkable presentation. It's hardly a book you'd want to read on the beach or on your summer vacation. It is a book for which you must be prepared by life.

It is not a book to be read on the lesser levels of consciousness that her earlier novels allow. It is not a novel for the young or the unaffected by life. To enjoy and comprehend Violin, you must be academically and emotionally equipped.

It is a literary work, not a work of pulp fiction. This isn't a book for the average reader. If you're searching for a quick, enjoyable read, you'll be not only disappointed but also bewildered and repelled.

Anne Rice has a plethora of titles to pick from to occupy the lazy days of summer or the cocooning days of winter. Choose one of these for a fun read.

If you insist on reading Violin, be warned that you will be required to read it at the maximum degree of your consciousness. It is not, and was not intended to be, a light read. This is the author at her best. This is Anne Rice on a professional level.

This is author at the point where just a small percentage of her readers have read all she has written. This is Anne Rice, untethered and free to roam the most treacherous terrains of human awareness. It's not for the faint of heart, nor for those with limited experience or intelligence.

Anne Rice's most advanced piece is Violin. It was a huge risk for her to write it. The reader, on the other hand, must assume significant risks in order to read it. It can only be accessed and comprehended at the greatest degree of consciousness.

Before you start reading this book, think twice. You just aren't ready if you aren't ready. Otherwise, it will be intellectually discordant. Author will take you there and bring you back to completeness when the time comes for you to confront the demons that torment your existence. Simply be prepared.

There's no need to know the plot because it would give too much away about the tale. And if there's one thing I don't like, it's spoilers. As a die-hard Anne Rice fan who has read and reread everything she's written, I can attest to the fact that she's in good form here.

It would be a tragedy for anyone to miss out on this heartfelt, innately lovely narrative.

This story is a stand-alone, and I've read it several times. It has such a haunting beauty that I can't stop myself from returning to read it again.


Synopsis:

“Anne Rice's Violin tells the story of two charismatic figures bound to each other by a passionate commitment to music as a means of rapture, seduction, and liberation.

At the novel's center: a uniquely fascinating woman, Triana, and the demonic fiddler Stefan, a tormented ghost who begins to prey upon her, using his magic violin to draw her into a state of madness. But Triana sets out to resist Stefan, and the struggle thrusts them both into a terrifying supernatural realm.

Violin flows abundant with the history, the drama, and the romantic intensity that have become synonymous with Anne Rice at her incomparable best.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Alcoholic Mother, Anne Rice, Classical Music, Cry To Heaven, Ever Read, Interview With The Vampire, Main Character, Mrs Rice, New Orleans, Rice Fan, Vampire Chronicles, Vampire Lestat, Witching Hour


Rating: 85/100
Recommended: 50/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

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Interview with the Vampire (1994) (R)

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