Reviews

The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice

rossire10's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

theobscureboleyngirl's review against another edition

4.0

“I never lie,” I said off hand. “At least not to those I don’t love.”

I read ‘Interview with the Vampire’ years ago and fell in love with Louis. I despised Lestat & his cruelty, and since ‘The Vampire Lestat’ tells of his beginning, I couldn’t bring myself to read it. Now that I have, I must admit that it had the desired effect that a good origin story sets out to do - it gave me understanding. I can now appreciate Lestat’s complexity. He is enthralled with his new existence and yet still cannot quite let go of his past, which is a surprisingly human response given the circumstances.

There was a time when I wasn’t sure that I would ever continue with The Vampire Chronicles. Now that I’ve gotten my second taste {bite?} I cannot wait to read the rest.

I just realized that I failed to mention that this was actually one of my audiobooks for this month, rather than the actual text, and I really enjoyed the quality of Simon Vance’s voice. I look forward to listening to it again in the future.

gofftree's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

meganharnett's review against another edition

3.0

Well this book is definetely better then the first one in the series, although I didn't enjoy it that much. I like the character Lestat much better then Louis because he is more sure of himself and not brooding like Louis is. Although this whole issue of immorality and the philosophy behind it and the ever gathering of knowledge is a little boring for my taste. I don't get what the big deal is. Let's hope the series gets better or I am really going to regret reading all of them. Plus they are long books and take forever to read!

itzelgmadrid's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.5

abogges1's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

laughlinesandliterature's review against another edition

5.0

When I read Interview with a Vampire, Lestat was the least likeable character in my opinion. I thought he treated everyone around him like possessions and I really didn't like him at all. So imagine my surprise when I pick this book and just fall in love. I know he's not a good man, but he never pretends to be. He's just human with the same hurts and fallacies as the rest of us. This book gave me a totally different perspective on Lestat and I love it. He was so different from how Louis talked about him and it's clear that Louis' viewpoint on his turning is different than how Lestat would see it. It's funny in the first book the reader doesn't get the impression that Lestat cared about Claudia and it's only until this book that you realize how much he did. I also loved the introduction of new characters like Gabrielle and Nicki. Oh sweet Nicki, I felt so terrible for him because he had this curse put up on him and he never really wanted it. Nicki's only flaw was that he loved Lestat too much, what a tragic ending for him. Then there is Gabrielle. I love this woman so much that words can't describe. I know that she wasn't terribly motherly but I feel for her because if she were a modern woman there was no way that she would've ever married and had children. She was well educated, intelligent and had it in her to be something great and all of that was denied to her because of her gender. In my mind she is one of the greatest characters because although not terribly maternal she did love Lestat and wanted what was best for him. I loved that she left him to go exploring, it is so fitting for her that she would choose to do so. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I'm glad that I picked it up. It definitely allowed me to see a different side of Lestat.

alysian_fields's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

3.75

dio2003's review against another edition

5.0

though i give both this and the first book five stars this is the one going on my favorites list! it is absolutely timeless and narrating through a beloved character with a flair for dramatics is exactly what i want in a book! lestat is such an interesting character it's hard to not laugh at the way he talks about himself during this book. the first-page introduction was enough to get me to not put it down. the thing that separates this five star plus favorite and the first book's five stars is that this one flows in a constant river of adventure and there's not a boring moment with the prince lestat de lioncourt.

odaaahae's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0