Rating: 
Summary: Mystifying
Review: Once again, Lestat and Anne Rice have brought the beautiful and sorrowful into a most luscious courtship. The emotions I felt through every word for all the characters involved, actually, was like water being washed over my every pore. The reader can really obtain a unique inside view into both Lestat and Memnoch apart from what they are, and feel really WHY and HOW they are, and why we love Lestat, in particular, so very much.
Rating: 
Summary: More like 2.5 stars
Review: _Memnoch_ is not a well-written book. I've never been a huge Rice fan, and _Memnoch_ does not change my opinion, but I do believe it is better than the average Rice novel simply because the idea is somewhat intriguing. Some of the theology is entertaining and having the Devil as a main character is always a good selling point. As usual, Rice is overlong and belabors the point ad naseum, but at least she is trying to accomplish something here. When Lestat is not talking to the Devil, he is constantly preoccupied with another character's menstration and there is plenty of needless and boring explication of exactly how many levels of angels there are and every step of the creation of the universe. I can't recommend the book. But it is better than the trash that the two previous books in the series have been. Disclaimer: avoid the book if you are offended by religious images or ideas that are unorthadox.
Rating:
Summary: Wish this was the real story
Review: I loved this book. This is how I would like to believe if there truly is a devil. The real struggle between good and evil.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing, but vaguely interesting.
Review: I hate to suggest that this is anything less than four stars for the wonderful Vampire Chronicles, but I have to be honest: this is kind of a letdown. But I also have to say that is was not entirely unexpected, at least on my part. My personal tastes regarding the Vampire Chronicles is the history and adventures of the vampires. Rice is a very unique author in that she blends rich, textural description with historical accuracy. That, to me (and many others) is what made her books so interesting. With Memnoch the Devil, she forsakes that to tell an interesting, but flawed story. First of all, my main complaint is that this really didn't have to be a book of the Vampire Chronicles. This story could have happened to a mortal man as well as a vampire. Every novel before this, from "Interview" to "Tale of the Body Thief" was centered around the vampire experience and/or told from the point of view of a vampire. Memnoch the Devil is a story that could be told by any person, so in that regard it loses points for failing to live up to the rest of the books in terms of a vampiric adventure. Secondly, the book drags, which is something fairly unusual for a Rice novel, as she can usually make the most mundane of stories interesting. Some passages seem a little boring or pretentious in description. I had to re-read a page or two every time I picked it back up and it took me the longest of the Chronicles to finish. Another thing that I dislike, although many will consider minor, is that there were not enough of the other vampires present in this novel, although I am probably spoiled from reading Queen of the Damned. Louis, Armand, David, and extremely brief appearances by Maharet and Mael are all there is. David is only second to Lestat, and he is the least interesting of vampires, as far as I am concerned. Still, it was good to see Armand and Louis make a reappearance, though it was odd that Marius couldn't be in this one, especially near the end. The ending, also, is a little too unbelievable for me, with the plot involving Veronica's Veil (which I won't mention here). It requires alot of faith on the part of the reader, which many may not be able to stomach. All bad things aside, this is actually a very intersting story. Rice's conception of Christianity and the Creation is an interesting one that manages to weave alot of different beliefs into a huge tapestry and still make it believable, although this book requires huge suspensions of disbelief for the most part. Reincarnation, Creationism, and Evolution are all convincingly (for the most part) woven into an interesting conception of the creation of the universe. Her views on God and the Devil are especially interesting, with each seeming to take on the other's role at various times. It is a far cry from the Christian Bible's portrayal of God, and it manages to raise a few questions: can the Devil loath his position? Can God be all-powerful? Her Catholic upbringing is very obvious in many parts of the book, especially in the descriptions of Heaven, which includes the famous Nine Choirs, and all manner of angels, including Michael and Gabriel. Memnoch's position is especially interesting, and very different from all the other preconceptions of the Devil and his actions. The other good point to this book is that Rice manages not to totally abandon her style: she revels in discriptions of historical events, no matter how brief, from the Crucifixion, to the Fourth Crusade desecration of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Scenes and battles are described very accurately and thoughtfully, not submitting to literary embellishment, like alot of romanticizing authors. Still, this book will probably disappoint most expecting a more "contemporary" vampire adventure. I still think the story itself is fairly good, but could have been better as a seperate novel in its own right, with more description of the fall of Memnoch and the arguements between Memnoch and God. Vampires simply aren't necessary to this story, which, to me, is not really an edition of the Vampire Chronicles at all.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant... the best of the series
Review: Anne Rice gives us exactly what we need after the previous book in the series (Tale of the Body Thief). Deep textures and rich prose yields a wildly emotional novel that takes us from Heaven to Hell. Memnoch the Devil gives us more of the intricate storytelling that was so prevalent in The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Dammed but sadly missing in Tale of the Body Thief. As of now, this is my favorite novel in the series. The only disappointment is that we don't really learn more about Lestat (whom I love).
Rating:
Summary: Simply brilliant ...
Review: My favourite from the series. Deeply philosophical. Not a book I would consider "religious" this oeuvre has it's place in mythology. Whether you beleive in God or not, is not the point in this book, it is a view of what could be, of what might be, perhaps, of what should be.
Rating:
Summary: excellent novel
Review: If indeed that was Ms. Rice sticking up for her book, she doesn't need to. Certainly most thoughtful readers will be moved immensely by Lestat's spiritual quest, perhaps even so much as to reconsider their own deepest held beliefs. This novel reminds me of another often misunderstood American classic challenging and ultimately recasting the character of the punitive afterlife so dear to Western power brokers: James Branch Cabell's Jurgen. Read that as well if you appreciated Memnoch. My only complaint about this novel is that it takes a while to get going. But then so does Gravity's Rainbow.
Rating:
Summary: The Author Makes a Brief Statement
Review: Be assured, for what it's worth, that this book was written with considerable spiritual ambitions. Lestat is my soul. For me and for him, this quest was inevitable. The Vampire Chronicles are meant to entertain, yes, but they are meant to do a great deal more than that. Does no one want to remark on the fact that in this book Lestat turned his back on a cosmos obsessed with crime and punishment for an experience with the character Dora which affirmed what is often called "the eternal feminine?" Does no one want to connect that experience, in which Lestat drinks the blood of Dora's menses, with the legends surrounding Veronica's veil which figures so prominantly in the novel? I appreciate the thoughtful comments, but wonder if we can raise the level of discourse here for some of the other readers. Let me repeat my assurance: If you took this book seriously, trust me that it was meant seriously. Enough said. Anne Rice, New Orleans, La.
Rating:
Summary: 5 stars x 3.............definetely
Review: i've been reading some reviews for this book, and im appalled!!!! this is one of my all time favorite books. it deserves to be recognized for its utter magnificence. I will be the first person to admit that Anne Rice is a little wordy, but in this book, im "A-Ok" w/ it. Memnoch, Roger, Dora, & Lestat... *sigh* perfection. the plot, setting, the revelations of evolution make you actually go "hmmm?" the ending, oh my god, no pun intended, but it was just superb!!!! There aren't enough words in the english language to describe this book.
If you are open-minded and not some right-winger, bible thumper, you will LOVE this book.
MEMNOCH THE DEVIL, i truly insist YOU reading this, if you love fiction, that makes you think, this is your book, baby!!!
Rating:
Summary: Praise for Memnoch The Devil
Review: A wonderful work of pure elemossanary. Filled with chilling moments and pure delight to the darkest ages of horror. When Lestat meets Memnoch a whole new world opened before my eyes.
Anne Rice has created another masterpiece and attained a new height. I loved this wonderful story. It kept me on the edge at all times.
I embrace this keen story full of style and wit. This book with enlope your mind and your body within every word. I felt this book was a spectacular work.
Lestat has done it again and now because of his acts he reveals a new threat and adventure. When you want vampires and a great plot read this book. I practically drank up the story and at the end my thirst was for more.
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