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Summary: Anne Rice may be relating too closely...
Review: Although I love Anne Rice and her Vampire Chronicals, this one left me a bit cold. I felt it was tedious and not up to her normal creative best. I enjoyed this book, but I can't entirely recommend it hands down. She has done better.
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Summary: One of Rice's best yet!
Review: I am a huge Marius fan, and I awaited this book for the longest time. I was not disappointed! Rice begins the tale slowly, a sometimes frustrating habit she tends to have with most of her books, but the writing soon picks up the pace as we go back in time over 2,000 years to the time of Marius de Romanus, a Roman scholar taken, by force, during the prime of his mortal life into the beginning of his immortal life.Marius, intent on finding the answers to his questions about his new lifestyle, heads from the barbarian lands to Egypt, where the horrible answers to his questions fall into his hands in the form of the statuesque Akasha and Enkil, the parents of all vampires. Thus Marius becomes their unwitting keeper. We follow Marius in his travels throughout the ancient world, and his rocky romance with his first and most prominent love throughout the entire tale, Pandora, a girl from his mortal days whom he is forced to bring into his world of vampirism. Rice, sadly, spends very little time on their 200-year life together in ancient Antioch, most likely because that was nearly the entire plotline of her earlier book "Pandora." After leaving Pandora, Marius travels once more about the ancient world, tortured with nightmares of his lost love, and ends up falling into a deep slumber, awakening again in Renaissance Italy where he meets his second love, a noblewoman by the name of Bianca, and creates his next child Amadeo (Armand). Perhaps the largest portion of the book is spent on Marius's life in Renaissance Italy, yet after a near brush with death and Amadeo's kidnapping by Christian cultist vampires, Marius and Bianca are forced to flee. The couple wander aimlessly about Europe, though Marius has a secret mission to find his first love Pandora who is rumored to be in Dresden. Though when he finally finds her, their reunion doesn't turn out the way he had hoped. Marius is perhaps one of the saddest vampires of Rice's creation, because the most disasterous and heartbreaking things continually happen to him, but he is extremely resiliant, and things work out for him at the end of the book, which has surprise twist even I did not see coming, with the return of the red-haired twins from "Queen of the Damned."
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Summary: jonas421
Review: Incredible book, well written as always. It has no dull spots and reads extremely fast. Marius' life has many stories and the book covers them perfectly, while adding depth to many characters touched on in other books. A great addition to the chronicles.
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Summary: The best yet!
Review: This is by far her best of the Chronicles. I have read all of them now, and I can't wait for more. Typical to her style, she takes you through a non-fictional view of history with great detail. It is a heartpounding novel that will take you to another world. A top rate book and worth every penny!
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Summary: Phenomenal, one of Rice's best in years
Review: Having read each and every book in the chronicles, I cruised along the last several. In fact, nothing since book #3, Queen of the Damned, grabbed me as did this one. Blood and Gold fills in the gaps of old stories, gives you different perspectives on the events that we've read. The tales of the vampires, seen through my favorite vampire, Marius, was compelling and a very exciting read. I've always preferred reading the ancient histories and this book contains all the familiar faces, Maharet and Mekare for a short while, Pandora, Armand, Mael, Santino and of course Those Who Must Be Kept. A short portion in the middle was all too similar to a recent novel, The Vampire Armand. While she spun her tale from the eyes of Marius, it felt all too familiar, and I spent several chapters saying, 'I KNOW!' However, this was brief, and I was soon thrust back into the story. Other tales are recounted with the familiarity one might have after reading the first half dozen or so novels, but all was done carefully and I found myself recalling so many little things from prior stories. Putting the pieces together, seeing it all as I had never seen it prior. Construcing an even larger, more complete world of these vampires! Perhaps this is only for those who have kept up with the series, or at least read the first 3 novels of the Vampire Chronicles. You needen't have read the later entries to get into this book. I would recommend the first 3 though, the classic tales! It might be confusing if you haven't read those, but everything since isn't necessary. If you've gotten through the recent books, Vampire Armand, Pandora, Vittorio and want more, then get this. If you were at all losing interest in these stories as I was, I still recommend Blood and Gold. I won't spoil the ending at all, but I was certainly moved and emotionally affected by the tale. Perhaps I've become too involved in Marius, as I said, he's my favorite vampire to read...but overall I think this is Rice's best work in many many years!
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Summary: redundant yet beautiful
Review: I agree with many of the reviews that this story has been already told to a certain extent, however the way Anne Rice spins her beautiful tale makes it just as amazing as any of the others in her series. Marius is incredibly fascinating and wile he has been described in many of the other books he was destined to be explored in his entirety. Redundant at times, maybe, beautiful and captivating, absolutey. After The Vampire Lestat it is probably my second favourite of her series thus far, and it makes good sense to read Pandora immediately following Blood and Gold if you haven't already.
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Summary: A tour in time
Review: Following the Vampire Chronicles from the beginning, I have enjoyed them all. Blood and Gold was not one of my favorites, but I love ancient history and this book takes you back to ancient Rome and Constantinople. I had a little problem wading through some of the emotional introspect, but the plot carried me forward. The discription of Botticelli's paintings peaked my curiosity so, besides the cover art, I looked up some of the painters work in an art book. I think Anne Rice researches her work carefully and to read one of her books is a learning experiance as well as entertaining.
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Summary: It truly takes the Gold.
Review: Truly one of the best books I have ever read I give Blood and Gold Five Stars. Through his 2,400 some odd years of life, it keeps ahold of me through the whole thing. This was the first book of the Vampire Chronicles that I have ever read. I don't know but Marius astounds me through the whole book. If Vampire's actually existed, I would die(not literally) to meet him. Like I said earlier I give this book 5 out of 5. And I would recommend this book to anyone for a love for the Blood Drinkers of Old.
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Summary: The Best of the Vampire Chronicles!
Review: Wow! I just finished reading this masterpiece by Anne Rice, and I am amazed. The old magic that existed in her old Vampire Chronicles is back, and with a vengeance. This is by far, the best tale in her Vampire series. Marius Romanus, Child of the Millennium, keeper of "Those who must be Kept". Through thousands of years of his existence, from the birth of Christ, to the modern day as we know it, we travel with him, in and out of time. Marius, lover of his Ancient home Rome, and as always true to his native country Italy no matter what. True, we are revisited with Pandora, his true love, and his Amadeo (Armand) his child fledgling. We see their story from his point of view. We are introduced to new characters, new and unheard of loves, and new plots, that were not known to us in previous tales. Marius's story of love and woe, obsession and passion, is something that was key to us all. The keeper of Akasha and Enkil, whose life was intertwined with their protection, deserved to have his say, for his story is of the utmost importance. I believe that Anne Rice took her time with this tale. As is with all her tales, it is rich with History, and intricate detail. We are swept up into a world of ancient times, rich with art and lore. Marius has always been a mystery to us all, but here he is revealed, and we gain a better perspective, more so than we ever did in any of her previous stories. Marius the tall and white haired Roman. Quiet and reserved, guardian of "Those who must be Kept". This tale is so heart-wrenching, and I could not put it down. If you get this book, You will love it! You will dream of Marius, and his companions.
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Summary: Magnificent Mrs Rice
Review: A beautiful love story. Anne's style of writing is superb and the words seem to just flow. Very easy to follow. She takes us to places where some have never been (I'm sure she has tho) and describes them beautifully. Please dont read the ending til you get there. And most of all the author separates "Those Who Must Be Kept" from the "Evil One", the Satan worshippers. Go Girl. This book is a real keeper.
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