Rating: Summary: The Vampire Armand....all mystery stript away? Review: I believe that this book has been so awaited for by Anne Rice's fans. We all seem to love the grand mysterious Armand "who first appeared in all his dark glory in Interview with the Vampire". The book finally came out and I rushed like so many fans to buy and devour it expecting so much from that glorious imagination of Anne Rice. I admit that I haven't been disappointed on that front. The setting and the historical background are simply fascinating. But I've expected a grand novel that behooves that mesmerizing dark angel Armand with whom we have not been completely acquainted yet. Well, by the end of the novel I was completely disillusioned. All the dark glory, mystery and complexity that have seemed to be Armand's attire were stript away and he stood there before me...naked, not a very powerful vampire, nor a really complex character and not even a mystery. I felt a bitterness for that and I wanted to dress him up again in his old attire but... alas! It's too late now. What was done cannot be undone.
Rating: Summary: One of Anne's best works yet Review: If you want a fine example of Anne's work, you simply have to read this book. It's details are so rich and crafted, you feel that you are right at Armand's side throughout the book. I read through it more than twice...who couldn't? A warning though, once you pick it up, you can't put it down.
Rating: Summary: The Vampire Armand Review: All right, I won't get into the wonders and virtues of this book. It was excellent, I admit to that, but it was not the best book ever written. Rice is a good authoress and she presents the minds and souls of vampires extremely well. This book is only the second that I have read of hers, and in both she tends to get into lenghty descriptions and histories that seem to repeat things from the rest of the books in the series. There is nothing wrong with this, but, at the same time, she forces the current story to be put on hold. The recollections are helpful in understanding the story, but they really are too extensive, they take up more time for the reader than they should. It could be said that Rice is trying to fill up space with information that many readers already know. On the other hand, for those that haven't read many of her books, it is probably a blessing, an aid to better understand her story and get sucked (pardon the pun) into reading more of her books so they can understand the entire story. In addition to that, if people have read her previous books and they need a review, I am sure that the recollections are helpful in aiding them with connections. I still find it rather annoying, but the book was good overall so I can't give it any lower than 4 stars.
Rating: Summary: Thumbs up, but questions to be answered Review: Dedicated Rice fan that I am, I still find that this book reinforces Rice's power over the written word. Her return to Armand and the situation with Veronica's Veil links this book to the rest of the chain, giving us updates on Lestat and our other beloved "Children of the Night". I read the book from cover to cover, and relished every word, ever description. I absolutely adore the setting, in Venice, and the development of Armand's relationship with Marius, otherwise unknown through the rest of the series. One thing, I think, that was lacking was Lestat. It sounds shallow, but I find it hard to focus on Armand and his woes when Lestat, known and loved by all, is lying on the cathedral floor. The plot lacks nothing, the stlye is elegant, as usual, and Armand has finally lost his strange, unusual mystery. Great read!
Rating: Summary: A Bad Sample of Anne Rice's Work Review: I agree with the majority of the other reviewers. I have tried to read this book twice, and have never gotten more than half way through it. I found Anne Rice's book very engaging, but I was seriously disappointed with this book. I chose not to purchase her latest book, because I found the Vampire Armand so lacking in quality.
Rating: Summary: it's too much mish mash rehash Review: I know it's a bit stupid to write a review if you have not finished the book but i'm nearly at the end so give me a break. I don't think i can finish it though. See, i'm at the part where she's describing (RE-describing for fans) all the characters so that it begins to sound like it's setting the scene for The Bold and The Vampiric. Why does this have to happen? i know that it's so that new readers won't get confused and so that they can perhaps be drawn into the series but it's too much of a chore. This is Armand's tale (duh) and it starts out in Venice and there are beautiful descriptions as usual of everything, you know it. Marius takes Armand in etc. etc. It wasn't too bad but still i felt myself 'wading' through it. The story picks up sort of in the middle when he tells of the "Children of Darkness" part. i found this more interesting and thought yay! But i was disturbed when huge chunks were left out, basically all we're left with is what we already know from previous books except for more embroidering on characters. i know obviously 300 years can't be described but it's like the story is hurrying to get to the part before "Memnoch' or something, i can't spell it, i haven't read it. Something about an egg, a russian egg, a bird coming out of it, ikons. i keep getting confused about 'who is Dora?' and some Veil. Unfortunately i have already read the Amazon reviews for 'Memnoch' where it was completely trashed so...... All in all it's not too bad and enough to bring new readers in. How convenient. i noticed most of the people who say it's so brilliant haven't read Rice before so i must just be biased. But if you're expecting something like 'Interview,' or the Vampire Lestat you won't get it. For die-hards.
Rating: Summary: Anne Rice never fails to amaze... Review: This is a sumtuous telling of Armand's story in Italy, and she provides so much detail, you almost could reach out and touch the characters. Although I am curious why she did not list this as a Tale of the Vampires novel, with Vitttorio and Pandora (what connection does Vittorio have to her mainstay characters?) it was still magnificent, and as usual, she gives her readers a history lesson they are almost unaware of.
Rating: Summary: Beautyful return to her best Charachters... Review: I've read all the books from Anne Rice, and this one has a wonderful way of taking us back to the Vampire Chronicles' magic, It was needed for all of us(Rice's fans) to keep on knowing about this Charachters she made us once love, specially about Armand we couldn't have more than a superficial sight...it was perfect to have the chance to really "know" him with this book...But I find that it needed more from her heart.....it gets too cold in more than one part..that's why I give it 4 stars Anyway I hope we can have more news about this Charachters as soon as possible, I already miss them...Thanks Anne,
Rating: Summary: Wonderful. Armand is a perfect Vampire Review: I cant believe there are so many bad reviews on here of this book! Awesome book. the ending was a shocker. This is one of the best Chronicles next to Interview and Vampire Lestat. I wish Louis would have had a bigger part since he's my favorite, but it was still awesome.
Rating: Summary: armand- what happened? Review: I really did not like this novel, because it seemed too mass produced. i loved anne rice books before i read this one, she was my favorite author. from what i could gather from interviews with her and comments she made on her web page, (about her writing)it seems to me she is no longer writing from the heart. i love the earlier books but not this one. i thought it had no story to it except to give readers a lesson on material culture of the era. when armand or other charachters did get speckled into the chapter they were too worried about who was having sex with the other. why? what did that have to do with the cronicles as a whole? personally i thought this book was a real let down to the anne rice fan and to the series. although i did give two stars instead of one beacuse i did learn a little about history that i hadn't known before.
|