It Runs in the Family: Prince of the Damned

I've never read an Anne Rice novel, mostly because I don't think it's my style. But Macky has actually read a fair chunk of her stories, and today, he's sharing his thoughts on the latest in her Vampire Chronicles series, Prince Lestat. I'm going to let him take it away now after I share a few pertinent details about the book itself.

Prince Lestat by Anne Rice

Series: Vampire Chronicles #11

Publisher: Knopf

Publication Date: October 28, 2014

Source/Format: Borrowed from the library || Kindle e-book

The vampire world is in crisis – their kind have been proliferating out of control and, thanks to technologies undreamed of in previous centuries, they can communicate as never before. Roused from their earth-bound slumber, ancient ones are in thrall to the Voice: which commands that they burn fledgling vampires in cities from Paris to Mumbai, Hong Kong to Kyoto and San Francisco. Immolation, huge massacres, have commenced all over the world. Who – or what – is the Voice? What does it desire, and why?

There is only one vampire, only one blood drinker, truly known to the entire world of the Undead. Will the dazzling hero-wanderer, the dangerous rebel-outlaw Lestat heed the call to unite the Children of Darkness as they face this new twilight?

O. M. G. That’s really the only thing I want to say about the latest in the Vampire Chronicles series, Prince Lestat. 

There’s a unique feeling that comes about when crossovers and story arc consolidation are done well. I’m talking when Faith Lehane, rogue slayer, woke up from her coma and terrorized Sunnydale in two episodes of Buffy, and then raised some exquisite hell in Los Angeles for two episodes of Angel. I’m talking the first time Marvel and DC decided… it’s time to bring all these superheroes into one book and voila! Enter the Justice League and the Avengers. I’m talking about the Dark Phoenix Saga, the Infinity War, Crisis and heck even Flashpoint (fare the well my Pre-52 world, you’ve been reborn somehow in this time, after convergence). This is the great fables crossover with the figures of speech. This is Tennant and Smith admiring each other’s glasses 30 minutes or so before they show Capaldi’s eyes as they ALL decide the fate of Gallifrey. This is the now non-canon Star Wars New Jedi Order that tied ALL STARWARS BOOKS IN (THEN) CURRENT HISTORY together to weave a totally different story. I reference these not as great examples of crossovers, but to capture the rapture that I felt reading Prince Lestat. 

I’m sure there are a ton of haters and hard core fans out there that will hate on Prince Lestat. Haters gonna hate. That’s just how the world is.  Are there parts I didn’t like? Sure. Nearly nothing is perfect and I find that anyone with a human brain will always identify something to nitpick at. 

Still, my love for this book is something I claim stems from my personal sentiment. Prince Lestat is a family piece, and I love me my family pieces. If you never cared for the vampires in the Vampire Chronicles, this book isn’t for you. If you’re a purist fan of the first five books… I honestly don’t know how you’ll take this. But I certainly believe this is my favorite of the Vampire Chronicles thus far. It’s a brave new world, and should Ms Rice write more books that happen after the events of Prince Lestat… I sure would like to find out what happens next.