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Blackwood Farm : The Vampire Chronicles

Blackwood Farm : The Vampire Chronicles

List Price: $29.95
Your Price: $18.87
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Sure I'm Dead, But I'm Rich!
Review: Used to be, Rice's books had narrative, thrills, and even some decent writing. Now, she is in thrall to a sort of materialistic version of porn, and a view of the South that - if it ever existed as she writes it (and I'm a Southerner) - died out 72 years ago. Am I the only one troubled that, when the narrator is grieving over the death of his dearest friend, he takes pains to mention that he rode to her funeral in the deceased's "luxurious limousine?" Welcome to "Lifestyles of the Rich and Undead." Oh, and by the way, the story is awful, and no character is real.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great build-up, no climax
Review: I enjoyed reading about the Blackwood family history, their mansion and the blunders of dashing, new, vampire-hero Quinn. I was also thrilled by the overlap of some familiar characters from the Mayfair witches: Mona, Rowen, The Talamasca and the famously-fertile uncle Julien.

The main plot is driven by a ghost image of Quinn that nourishes him as a child and then grows up to terrorize his family. We begin reading in present time, as Quinn "the vampire" begs Lestat to help him defeat the "now evil" Goblin; we then travel back in time as Quinn recalls his "mortal-life" story of growing up with a gentler Goblin.

At the beggining of Quin's story Rice takes her time developing the characters, knitting a suspenseful tale around a long-dead woman of ill reputation who comes back to life to help Quinn lose his virginity.

Then the pace quickens half way through as "human" Quinn bumps into Mona Mayfair. They run away to a luxurious motel that apparently rents by the hour, have safe sex, fall in love, share ghost anecdotes and then get reluctantly separated in a tearful episode that ends with Mona being whisked away in a stretch limo.

The story continues at a halt and go rhythm that leaves several subplots underdeveloped: we find out that Quinn's grandfather imported a vampire from the ruins of Pompeii & struck a deal to become a vampire himself; now he spends eternity playing chess in a Mediterranean villa overlooking the sea. How did he convince this vampire not to make him lunch? Why do they still hang out? We don't know.

The end of the book really takes off at overdrive speed with several mysteries solved within a few pages: Merrick Mayfair makes a bland cameo appearance; Mona is improving, she's dying, she's undead. Most dissapointing of all: we finally find out Goblin's identity and the reason why he clings to Quin but then he's gone without ever "talking to us." Goblin is the reason why Quinn risked destruction to get in touch with Lestat. His relationship with Quinn is the point of the story. To do away with him so fast and so easy left me craving for more.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Terrific Blend of Southern Hospitality and Ghastly Horror!
Review: Although This novel is my favorite by Anne Rice, I cannot argue that she has done better, i.e. Interview, and Memnoch. But this Story definitely draws you in with a mixture of her tales of the Vampires, Witches, and even Ghosts... Readers will not be dissappointed with the main characters, Qiunn, quest for Freedom from Goblin, love for Mona, and struggle to please Aunt Queen. Even though this Book is slightly longer than her other Chronicles, Anne really should have delved a little longer with her story line. Readers will finish this exciting novel itching for a more Concrete ending. But i guess thats why we all have to wait and read Blood Canticle....

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Anne didn't do her research very well for the end.
Review: While I did enjoy this book, I have to say that I was surprised by the lack of research Anne did here. I will not be giving the ending away now, just know that what she proclaims to be the facts is untrue. It would be opposite of what she would have you believe in this book. Anne has always been good in the past about research and I am just very disappointed about the lack of it here.

As a whole, I did enjoy the introduction of Quinn and the return of Mona, with some taste of the Mayfairs. The story had me entertained until the end. Which is why I gave it 4 stars.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Riveting
Review: I don't know where to begin on this one. I must admit rightout that I had to read the first few chapters a couple of times as there was so much information here...For the record, I did this with The Witching Hour as well. However, reading the first few chapters a couple of times did not make a difference on my 5 star rating of this book. There is so much involved!! This book has my heart as do the Mayfairs. From family history, to a beloved hero, Quinn, to ghosts and shrouded mystery, this book had me glued to the end. This book, once again, took my breath away. There are multiple simultaneous plot twists and subjects in general to keep the reader so entirely focused on Quinn's world, they forget their own! Absolute must read.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Perfection-A mix between perfect love and perfect hate
Review: This book was worth every red cent and then some. The tale Rice spins is one so spellbinding that you can't help to be caught-up for hours even days.. at re-reading such a wondrous tale. Anne Rice is absolutely the best storyteller in modern history. As for the book itself, I was happy to see the reoccurring ghost of Julian Mayfair, who is the ultimate protector and guild to his lineage. I think by far my favorite part of the book is the end when Merrick comments on the sexual prowess of Julian, who was a complete scoundrel when he was alive. "Julian has left more bed un-made" I loved it. But Quinn Blackwood is one of the finest characters Rice has written in years. His love for his family, and the description of it, I think left off where Maharet's story should have taken us in Queen of the Damned. Quinn, who is unwilling to let his mortal life go, adapts his life new style to be with those he loves. Quinn is an ever-versatile character that moves all sorts of emotions when you read his tale. All I can say is that ANNE is back in full force. From her previous few novels that left slightly bored (The Vampire Armand, and Blood and Gold... Mostly because there was far too much Marius) But as a true and avid fan, your unable to put this book down no matter what's burning on the stove. Hell I even read while sitting in traffic. Blackwood Farm ranks up there with her epic tales, of Queen of the Damned, and the Witching Hour. This one is a winner, and like other reviewers, I cannot wait for the next. -Happy Hunting.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A tasty blend
Review: I'm a fan of crossovers. To most, they represent a cheap money-making gimmick. To me, they are the epitome of the craft. Nothing is more difficult than to weave two or more stories together and make them one. Anne Rice does this very well. Many people are opposed to Lestat's habits now. He's no longer the rebel,taking more of a patriarchal attitude. From time to time he's accused of being a whiner. Lestat, at long last, is growing up. For centuries he's been a rebellious teenager. Now that's changing. This is a good thing. Rice's work is only getting better. Her allusions to historical events are staggering. And the world she's building only gets more intricate and fascinating.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Been there, done that.
Review: "Blackwood Farm" seems to be quite derivative of Anne Rice's earlier work. There were shades of the Lasher character from "The Witching Hour" in the spirit character of Goblin. And the ending steered towards making someone a vampire, which seems to have become a very stock conclusion for Rice's vampire books. While it was new in "The Queen of the Damned," using it again in "Tales of the Body Thief" and "Armand" AND "Merrick" is a bit tired. To say it's formulaic is an understatement.

Another thing this book had in common with "Merrick" is the revelation that Julien Mayfair is an ancestor of the main character. I thought Rice had done a good job of building up the history of the Blackwood family as a separate and distinct entity prior this revelation. I don't think it's necessary to pull out this "Julien factor" every time a character with witch-like powers appears.

If Rice is looking for new ground to cover, I think she should look at exploring the history of the Talamasca a bit more. She made a good start of it in some of her earlier books, but its exact origins would be interesting to hear about. Another topic, which Rice has curiously ignored, is what happened to Lestat's mother, Gabrielle. That is another character we would all be curious to discover more about.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: blackwood farm
Review: i like this book. i liked the thought of bringing in a doplleganer into the story. it was great to see lestat back in a novel

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Very good for the most part.
Review: I loved this book even though i think that anne needs to stop making all her vampires homosexuals. It seems that she thinks that all men are gay at heart, and that is the reason why the only Vampire Chronicles book that i hated was "The Vampire Armand". This book has far less of that sort of thing in it, however it does have a hermaphrodite in it.

Before you start critisizing me because of what i said, just know that i don't hate gay people. I just don't want to read books about them because i can't identify with them.


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