Rating: 
Summary: Geez people, it was a decent book
Review: While I don't think it's Anne Rice's best the story in the book was entertaining to me. I had been waiting to find out what happened after the end of Blackwood Farm. I think people also have to take into account what was going on in Anne's personal life when she was writing this book and cut some slack. A lot of people hated Memnoch too, but it was a really great book.
Rating: 
Summary: Since when???
Review: I have not read this book yet (I live in a rural town that isn't selling it- about 8 copies of Blackwood are in the bargan box at the book store, when Anne was insanely popular here when I was in school). I was about to buy it, but Anne's obvously gone mad. Am I the only one who remembers that vampires can't see ghosts? Maharet clearly articulates this in QoTD. Yet ever since Memnoch and Roger's haunting (which outraged me) ghost have been in almost (if not every) future chronicle. Why?? no explanation is given for Maharet saying this nor for vampires like Armand who, if his story is to be taken serious, knows of ghosts. Anne runs out of ideas and breaks her own rules.
Rating: 
Summary: The Land of Missed Opportunities.
Review: In reading some of the earlier reviews of this book, as well as those of its predecessor, "Blackwood Farm," I agree that "Blood Canticle" has the look and feel of a first draft. If Anne Rice had put it away for a bit and then come back to it, I believe she could've corrected many of its flaws.One subtle thing that bothered me right off the bat was the style of language used by Lestat's character. It is markedly different than his speech in the other books and his new style of speaking, saying things like "babe" and "cool," really doesn't work. He sounded more like Austin Powers than he did Lestat. Something that could've been developed a lot more were the references to "Memnoch." For example, there's a reference made in either this book, or "Blackwood Farm," to Lestat's mind or consciousness being "stolen" by Memnoch or other angels. To what end, the reader isn't told. This seemed like an obvious point to follow up on and I was disappointed that it wasn't. I was also disappointed to see the pages that were wasted by the appearance of Patsy's ghost. In my mind, that whole tangent added nothing to the book. And finally, I had read a rumor that Anne Rice was going to use the Blackwood saga to delve into the origins of the Talamasca. I was quite disappointed to see that she didn't do so in either of the books. The organization's beginnings are discussed somewhat in the "Witching Hour" trilogy (it is hinted, by the Lasher character, that it was started to breed Taltos), but, I think, never fully fleshed out and explored. In conclusion, I believe that this book is rife with missed literary opportunities.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I am an avid Anne Rice fan. I have read and reread the Vampire Chronicles and the Witching Hour series. They are excellent. This final book, however, is very disappointing. First, Anne should be very careful when she is complaining through Lestat in the first chapter. It isn't Lestat, it's Anne, and it's obvious. I wished for so much more. I am rereading the Witching Hour just to get this book out of my mind.
Rating:
Summary: Not Anne Rice's Best
Review: I'm usually as excited as a kid at Christmas when Anne publishes a new Vampire chronicle. But this volume was just not up to par. The story is forced and contrived. The reader feels that Anne's heart just wasn't in it. Lestat is overly chatty. His monologues serve as fillers. His ramblings are pointless and annoying. Our beloved eternal bad boy has been reduced to a caricature. One wonders why this book was written? Did Anne really want to tell a story or did her publishers just demand a new book? On the plus side, it's a very easy book to read. On the minus side, it's easy to read because it contains none of the intelligence, beauty of language, richness of history, or witticisms of her previous works. Perhaps Anne needs some time to regroup and mourn the loss of her beloved husband and muse, Stan Rice, before attempting to continue the Vampire Chronicles. If you are a true Anne Rice fan you will read this book anyway, but you'd be better off reading an Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novel by Laurell K. Hamilton. Ms. Hamilton's style is not like Anne Rice's, but the point is, you don't expect it to be.
Rating: 
Summary: A sad ending to the Chronicles...
Review: I've always been a fan of Anne Rice way back when I discovered "Interview" when I was a freshmen in High School. I've read every single one of her Vampire books, as well as a few others like Servant of the Bones. I bought this book the day it came out, hoping for a wonderful classic ending to the Vampire Chronicles. After reading Canticle, I cant say I wasnt disappointed. I personally wasnt offended by Letstat's rant about Memnoch/being a Saint, I found it a way to lighten up the book. But to me this is not the Anne Rice of old - where are our beautiful descrptions, where is the elegant language? Plot wise, this book is horrible. To be the end of the Chronicles it seems to me that this was more about the Taltos! All of the "loose threats" remaind untied. Overall, I give it 3 stars because its by Anne Rice and its a Vampire Chronicle - I cant really make myself dislike it, I did enjoy reading it. But it definately wasnt as good as I expected, and it was a horrible way to end the great Vampire Chronicles that I've enjoyed so long.
Rating:
Summary: Difficult to appreciate
Review: Although I love Anne Rice and her works, it's sometimes a love-hate relationship and occasionally one seems to dominate over the other. In the case of this book, I'd like to be more optimistic, but find myself strained to be so. I would recommend this book, it's not a waste of your time, but it's definitely not the older books. I personally *HATE* the witch books, and I hate it even more when they cross with the vampire books. Why? Because witches have no relevance to the world of the vampires. Lestat could set them ablaze with a thought, and frankly, I find them boring. The notions of family are well developed, but simply have no place in the realm of the vampire, where family notions tend to fall apart because of the very nature of the vampire as developed by Anne Rice herself. Sigh, I really wanted a better end, one more in tune with the classic writing style of yore. I think she was better off writing other stories than demeaning the vampire chronicles with stories involving witches or narrative experimentations. I actually thought she caught on in Blackwood Farm where Merrick was mercifully set ablaze. Apparently, I was wrong. I don't know, I definitely recommend her other books, but this should never have been written. If she wanted to send Lestat off in the blaze of glory, she should've turned him into an Archangel opposed to God and Memnoch alike and let it go from there. I hate saying this, believe me, but I was disappointed. If you're a fan, you'll probably feel the same way, if not, I recommend you start with another of her books.
Rating:
Summary: Don't be fooled by the author's name.
Review: Apparently Anne Rice has decided to sacrifice quality for being on the best-seller list. Having read all of her books, I was hopeful after reading Blackwood Farm, but not anymore. If you want to read great Anne Rice, try the Vampire Chronicles before Memnoch and the Mayfair witches before Canticle. She's turned into the McCaffrey of horror, writing more for money than quality. This book is a disgrace to the fans and to their beloved Brat Prince.
Rating:
Summary: dragonmage2003-The author failed NOT the fans!
Review: Stop blaming the fans for the failure of the AUTHOR!!!! Anne Rice is the one churning out crap book after crap book, NOT THE FANS! So we should blinded praise her awful books so as to not hurt Anne's feelings right? So we can read more crap books about Lestat as she's destorying her vampires, right? Get real!
Rating:
Summary: A Lighter Turn
Review: 'Blood Canticle' is by far the fastest-reading one of the Vampire Chronicles. I found myself surprised by the pace, as I've been reading Anne Rice for years and am accustomed to their taking a bit longer to get through. This one was a three-nighter. I'd call this one 'Anne Rice for people who don't really read Anne Rice.' It's a bit lighter fare than some of the others and it's quite playful in places. I for one enjoyed Lestat's opening diatribe chastising readers for not liking 'Memnoch' and found his recent discovery of 'lingo' amusing. I can't understand why so many readers were so violently upset over Lestat's linguistic change - I mean sure, maybe 'yo' and 'dude' and 'shove it' are a little behind the times, but that aside, do some of us have a problem with Lestat entering the 21st century? He is getting on to 300 years old, is he not? He's an immortal, is he not? Hadn't he better get used to the world changing? Hadn't the readers better get used to it too? It would NOT work for a character like Louis or Armand to be talking that way, but it works for Lestat - he is an always has been completely full of himself and I think that's a fine and funny way to keep things fresh. It was kind of strange to have Maharet communicating by email! That threw me for a loop but again, it is the 21st century. Missing from this book are some of the lengthy narrative descriptions - Anne Rice is a master of description and in many of her books this can go on for pages. While it can sometimes be a bit bogged down, I almost found myself missing it in 'Blood Canticle.' It was as if something had been abbreviated. The characters seemed somewhat abbreviated too - especially the Mayfairs. 'The Witching Hour' is my favorite Anne Rice and one of my favorites, period, and I was delighted with the idea of incorporating Mayfair with Vampire Chronicles. But after the lushness of 'The Witching Hour,' these characters return in 'Blood Canticle' somewhat diminished. I forgot Michael Curry was even in the room on several occasions - wouldn't even know he was there until he spoke some line of dialogue. The same went for Quinn, who also disappeared almost completely in this book. I liked him in 'Blackwood Farm' (and yes, I liked 'Blackwood Farm'!) but in 'Blood Canticle' he's rather reduced to a vehicle for shushing and comforting distraught females. Oncle Julien didn't seem quite himself either, although putting him in the book was throwing a great bone to the readers. I never really understood why it was Stella who appeared with him, of all the Mayfair witches to choose from, and it occurred to me that if you hadn't read 'The Witching Hour,' you'd have no idea who Stella was. The Rowan/Lestat thing made sense to me. They've both done some unspeakable things in their lives and they're both seeking redemption in some way. They each see the goodness in the other and they're drawn to one who sees their goodness. However, I found their teenager-like encounter at the base of the oak tree unnecessary. This thing existed in the book on a much loftier, almost metaphysical plane until that happened and I was a bit grossed out. The whole Taltos thing was rushed and needed more explanation for readers who haven't read the Mayfair books. I totally understood what was going on because I have, but I imagine that someone who hadn't wouldn't cotton at all to the Taltos business, and some of the reviews I've read here are obviously by readers who haven't read 'Taltos,' 'Lasher,' or 'Witching Hour.' Those three books are the perfect example of suspension of disbelief and they are great. I did feel sad at the end knowing that this is the last of the Vampire Chronicles because for all these years I've been reading them, but I suppose we can all just use our imaginations from here on out and hope that Anne Rice will continue writing, even if it's something completely different. Subject matter aside, she is an excellent writer and while I don't necessarily love each and every one of her books, I'll always continue to read them. I'm shocked by some of the mean-spirited reviews I've read here. Everyone's entitled to their opinion and that's why this is a great website, but to be so destructive in attacking Anne Rice only deters people who have never read any of her books, and now never might. No, it's not 'The Witching Hour' or 'Interview with the Vampire' or 'The Vampire Lestat', but 'Blood Canticle' is fun. It's a good time reading it. It's entertaining and it's good escapism. What else are you looking for if you just want to enjoy yourself with a book? Sure, I would have loved to see Louis but it looks like Louis has moved on with his life so more power to him and let the rest of us take his example.
| 
