Rating: 
Summary: Worthy of the Vampire Chronicles
Review: Anne Rice never ceases to amaze me. There were times when I was losing my faith in her writings, as with Queen of the Damned and Tale of the Body Thief. Then came Memnoch the Devil and I was revitalized, for what greater adversaries could Lestat have than God and the Devil themselves.
Merrick is a beauty of a book in that it takes the logical next step in the storyline and that we get to see some more character development of Louis and David Talbot.
Merrick is a voodoo queen from the Mayfair family and also a student of the Talamasca. David Talbot takes us through her story, of malevolent spirits and horrific spells, and finally with the summoning of the restless ghost of Claudia. It's a return to what made Interview with the Vampire such a great classic.
This book wouldve received five stars, but there were some problems with it. It didn't have the majestic oration that Interview had. It seemed that there could have been more characterization and description used, some better wording to describe the horror and beauty wrapped into one.
But the book ends with you wanting more. By the end of the story Lestat is back and ready for more adventures with his small coven of beautiful vampires, and they have an enemy that will scour the world looking for them, eager to destroy them. To me it seems this book is best looked as a prologue for what comes next in the story. Definately a worthy read.
Rating:
Summary: More like 3 and a half stars.
Review: Hmmmm... Well it's definitely not one of Anne Rice's best, but contrary to the opinion of the previous reviewers, it is not her worst ... Actually, Merrick is a worthwhile read, after you suffer through the first 150 - 200 pages, then beyond that, it is a true gem. Merrick herself is a very interesting character. I wish that Rice had made her the narrator of this tale. Instead she made her worst character... David Talbot, the storyteller in this potentially riveting tale. David Talbot, British fuddy duddy supreme, an old geezer whom Lestat had a passing fascination with, and instead of letting him die, Davids soul is transported into the body of a young studly Latino, and in it Lestat bestows upon him, the Dark Gift (that happens in another book). Merrick is the object of this old/young mans affection. So, not only is it difficult to imagine this seemingly weak pancified man in another body, we must now imagine him as a strong and passionate individual who actually desires a woman. Pushing David Talbot aside (kind of hard to do), the story in itself is quite good. Merrick Mayfair is a powerful seductress, coming from the bloodlines of the Mayfair Witches. She joined into the Talamasca at a young age. David was her mentor of sorts. I understood well how she came into existence. I loved her character, and I truly wished that we could have delved a little more into the life and mindset of this Voodoo enchantress. Louis is as always Louis, and Lestat is, well, you should read the story to find out. Even when you find yourself bored to tears by David's ramblings (you will), don't stop. Go forward, because the end is quite riveting and shocking. Well worth the effort.
Rating: 
Summary: Heck of a read
Review: It's hard to say which is my favorite Rice novel. Certainly INTERVIEW comes to mind, a well as LASHER and THE WITCHING HOUR. But if I had to pick, MERRICK would probably take the prize. I think what throws most Rice fans off concerning this book is that it's not like her others. Well in some ways, obviously, but for me it had a differnt feel. The characters seemed more "flesh and blood" and while I didn't feel the dialogue was as good in this book as in INTERVIEW or LASHER, the overall effect of the novel was well beyond those two. Also recommended: Lasher, Grisham's The Firm, and Mccrae's Bark of the Dogwood
Rating: 
Summary: As Enchanting as Watching Paint Dry
Review: So, Once upon a time, a woman by the name of Anne Rice wrote a most wonderful book. Taking the form of an interview, it detailed the life of a passionate, wounded vampire by the name of Louis. The evocation of of heady New Orleans life and fin-de-siecle Paris, the drawing out of old myths and the presence of an embittered girl trapped in a child's body made it memorable. The voice of the tale was darkly passionate, the language flowed with a Romantic fervour rarely seen in modern works. That book was a true classic. Along came the sequels, "The Vampire Lestat" and "The Queen of the Damned", which, whilst not exactly being high literature made a decent stab at it. They were rousing escapist fantasies. Then came "The Tale of the Body Thief"; interesting, not as successful, but a passable read. And after that, the series became less about vampirism than a forum for Rice's every whim. We had an attempted re-write of Dante's superior work in "Memnoch the Devil"-- I won't touch upon what was wrong with that, but why did we need an exposition on heaven and hell in a series where half of the characters are atheists? We then went through Mann with "Death in--" sorry, "The Vampire Armand" and now we have *this*. Anyway, last year's whim was witchcraft. So, the now near-lifeless vampires are dragged into a farcial love-affair with a cardboard cut-out called Merrick. Her qualities are astounding; she practices incredibly powerful witchcraft-- which, er, we don't get to see until the end, in a totally unneccesary and farcial scene. She wears white all the time, and drives around in numerous Rolls-Royce cars. She wears Chanel and drinks rum. A lot. And that's her character! Can you imagine how frustrating it is to read for the thousandth time how much she loves to drink rum? No word from her on important events, or details into her personality, simply just what she likes to eat and drink! Despite the fact that she is self-centred and had all the personality of a plank, every vampire loves her instantly. Lestat doesn't rip her head off for the nasty trick she plays on Louis, while Louis in return is obsessed with her and David cannot get enough of her.... The characterisation of Louis and Lestat, though, is the final insult. Louis has always been beguilingly naive and darkly sensual; he understands the value of life and the tragedy of death-- and yet, in this novel, he wants, like any teenager, 'to belong.' Lestat, who keeps getting up and back down on that chapel floor like some vampire yo-yo gets up again and, lo and behold, he's been robbed by the Personality Thieves! The descriptions of lusty, hot New Orleans are very good; that is all I can say for this book. I could go further into detail and draw out its many bad points, its few good ones, but I really cannot be bothered. This book is awful, Rice's writing is down the pan, and only the most blind and easily-pleased of readers will sing the (unearned) praises of this book. Go and re-read Interview. Or, better yet, spend your money on an exciting, new and decent author-- none of which describes Rice any more.
Rating:
Summary: Reading Anne Rice is like returning to an old friend!
Review: Merrick was a wonderful blend of the Mayfair Witches and The Vampire Chronicles. The story told from David Talbot's perspective started slowly but took off in the fine tradition that we have always known Rice to be capable of. David begins his tale by searching out Merrick to request her help in contacting the spirit of Claudia. Louis suffers unending guilt for producing the fledgling Claudia, and needs reassurance that she has moved on to a happier existence. This will set off a chain of events that will take you back in time and introduce you to some of Rice's most vivid characters. Merrick uses a blend of Voodoo Magic and Catholicism to conjure up spirits that you will never forget. Lestat plays a small but important role in this book and the ending leaves us with the promise of tales of his time spent out of body. A gauntlet is thrown down by the Talamasca, leaving us wondering if it will step out of its age old position of observation only. The events surrounding this are what will keep you turning the pages. This book brings me back to the style of the original Vampire Chronicles, which I so needed from this author.
Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous
Review: Gorgeous truly is the best word i can do to describe this book. Those looking for the intense and suspenseful fashion that Rice wrote Vampire Lestat, Queen, Body Thief, and Memnoch will be disappointed. It really is her way, it seems, to captivate the reader in a seuqential turn of events and a tying in of all aspects that she had already described. This book is more of an introduction, though a lengthy and often over-accurate account. But that is Rice. She described New Orleans, the jungles of Guatemala, Oak Haven, and Merrick and her sensuous features so perfectly that it makes you long for all of it. This book is the first book it seems that David Talbot really is the main focus point, and i found this to be one of the more interesting points of the book Talbot is unlike any vampire. He lived a long life as a human, and experience many different things, and he was compelling enough as a human with all of his knowledge and passion. As a vampire, and all of the things that happened in Body Thief, it really makes him insatiably interesting. As a vampire he still doesn't look like an old man (which would have had its peaks in my eyes) because of the body switch and so he is a young man when he becomes a vampire. Not only that he comes into the vampiric world extremely powerful, because he was made by Lestat. So he is a powerful vampire, attractive and young, along with a whole lifetime's worth of experiences as a human, which include his sexual urges. His lust for Merrick and Rice's description of it is impulsively beautiful, and I loved every word. Louis, the dark angel, was also attractively described by Talbot, who seems to be very much in love with him. The entire book, as i said, all seems to be building up to SOMETHING, and then it is all so savors of anti-climax. But it also leaves us with a promise of further adventures, and many changes have occurred in the four main characters of this book, Talbot, Louis, Merrick, and Lestat. Rice has made somewhat of an inconsquential novel, but may prove ultimately important. Everything is redeemed by the utter beauty of her writing and everything about the book. extremely happy to have read it.
Rating: 
Summary: It could have been worse
Review: Ok, this isn't the best of Rice's "Vampire Chronicles," but at least it isn't the worst. Rice was in good form in her descriptions--a bit over the top at times, but she maintained the same sensuality and lushness of description for which she's known. The African vodun elements were fascinating, and the character of Merrick was a breath of fresh air compared to Rice's recent vampires. On the other hand, there really wasn't a lot of plot to the book. Much of the narrative was made up of flashbacks told by David Talbot, the book's ostensible "author," in between comments about how much he loved Merrick. As for action in the present, there really wasn't much of it. Claudia's character deserved more than just a token ghost raising. That event could have provided the core for a much longer, better book. It felt like Rice had gotten tired of writing and ended the story just when it was getting going. And one more gripe--why does every interesting character in a Rice novel have to become irresistably fascinated by the undead and end up vamped? She really needs to come up with a new plot line.
Rating:
Summary: Review by Tara
Review: I love all of my Vampire Chronicle books, but I do have to say that this one did not touch me as much as I had hoped. The story on its own merits is good. I just did not get to spend the time with the charecters I truley wanted to. Anne Rice has done this before, when she went from INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE to THE VAMPIRE LESTAT. That was very successful we all fell in love with Lestat. I just never felt as if I truley cared for David Talbot, or his adventures. As for the charecter Merrick, she is very interesting. The time you do get to spend with our old friends, Louis, Claudia, and Lestat is well spent and revives some of the chills you had in the very first of these books.
Rating: 
Summary: This was awful
Review: Perhaps die-hard Anne Rice fans are more likely to enjoy this. For the casual reader, albeit one who has read and enjoyed early Anne Rice, this book was something to be endured, rather than enjoyed. The only characterisation I can recall was of Merrick herself, who seemed to be a Mary Sue. The plot was unengaging and the dialogue clunky and stilted. Read 'Interview' instead.
Rating:
Summary: A Let Down
Review: I've read all of Anne Rice's novels and loved them all, but where did this one come from? I felt Merrick lacked originality and it seemed Rice just whipped up some character to obtain her yearly paycheck. Also, the attempt to tie Merrick to the Mayfair family was pathetic and pretty much pointless other than making some sort of connection between vampire and witch.
On the other hand, I was pleased that we were brought back with Louis and Lestat, but neither character seemed in form. Louis to me was completely out of character and I almost stopped reading the book due to this. I realize characters change over time but this was a completely different person (especially in the end of the novel).
In all, I was pleased to see the story pick back up with my favorite duo but I felt this was one of Rice's most poorly orchestrated novels to date. I will admit the book keeps you reading for more, but I ended up only attaining a great feeling of dissapointment when I finished.
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