Rating: 
Summary: I'm supposed to feel something here, right?
Review: Well, this certainly is not the best of Anne Rice's books...But for the content and genre it is one of the best. If you want to read a book about witches and demons, this would be a good choice. I was a little repelled by the violence and sex, but I also beleive that it added a greater depth to the story and the characters. Being 13, my brain has not yet gained the capacity to understand some of the emotions shown in this book, but I think as far as the story goes I understood. I wouldn't recommend this book for people with weak stomachs or for those to young to be engaged in this kind of reading. (You may be thinking i'm too young, but I believe that as long as you understand the content to a certain extent, your not too young for any book.) In short, I liked it. I recommend this book for any Anne Rice fan or anyone who is fond of the horror/tragedy/drama genre. That is all I have to say.
Rating: 
Summary: Not What I Was Expecting
Review: Well, I recently finished Lasher, and I have to say that it didn't measure up to the standards of the Witching Hour, but was still an excellent book. At the end of The Witching Hour, Rowan Mayfair, the heir to the Mayfair legacy gave birth to Lasher, the demon that has used her family for it's own purposes for twelve generations. She then runs away with him, to the dismay of her family, friends and husband, Michael. Lasher is the story of the Mayfair's search for Rowan, and Rowan's imprisonment by Lasher. Throughout Rowan's imprisonment, Lasher's loyalties are divided between the woman who brought him into the world, and furthering his own race. Rowan has several miscarriages before escaping Lasher and giving birth to Emaleth. Back in New Orleans, the Mayfair family is plagued by deaths. Several female members of the family, including matriarch Gifford Mayfair, are killed by apparent miscarriages. Only three people have any clue as to what is causing this, Michael Curry, Rowan's husband, Aaron Lightner, a member of the Talamasca, and the culprit. While trying to figure where to begin looking for his wife, Michael is seduced by 13 year old Mona Mayfair, chased by Talamasca members, and visited by the ghost of Julien Mayfair. Lasher is finally drawn to New Orleans because of Rowan's escape. With Michael almost dead, Emaleth, now full grown, arrives and kills Lasher, but dies herself. Lasher was a good book, but not on the scale of The Witching Hour. In The Witching Hour it was fascinating to read an entire family history, albeit a historically accurate family history created by a person. A good book, for any Ann Rice fan or just an interested reader.
Rating: 
Summary: So disappointed in Anne Rice readers......
Review: I am so disappointed in a lot of the people who read Anne Rice books...you just don't get it! There is suppose to be a lot of description, sex, violence, evil, and confusion. We are talking about VAMPIRES and WITCHES for GODSSAKES!!!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: The second star is out of respect for the author
Review: I was very surprised when I read this book. It is so uncharacteristically bad that I don't even know where to begin. The ending in the "Witching Hour" was quite abrupt so I was greatly anticipating to read the sequel. First of all, what is the point of naming the book after a character and spend so little time devoted only to him. I understand that Lasher's presence affects every Mayfair but I expected to either have Lasher narrate the book or have his story (just his) on the frontburner. Neither happened. My second complaint is inconsistency in character development. Although I didn't care much for Michael in the "Witching Hour", he sank very low in "Lasher". Rowan, so strong and cool in the beginning of the "Witching Hour", becomes a sobbing, blabbering mess at the end and that continues throughout "Lasher". Also, there are too many inconsistencies to mention in Lasher's character (the being he was before the Mayfairs is vastly different than what he was during and both are remarkably different than what he became after). Although some vague reason is given, there is not enough evience for this sudden and unexpected change unless you buy the explaination that "he's evil". But the most disappointing character of all is Aaron. He suddenly looks and acts like a mindless idiot, instead of a true gentleman and gentle watcher that he was in the "Witching Hour". The "Talamasca" controversy did not bother or interest me very much. Plus, it was not explored very well. And what's the point of introducing a new character, giving him a deep and enchanting background, and dropping him until the very and then spending miniscule amount of time intigrating him with the action? I know that there is another sequel "Taltos" but this is ridiculous. "Lasher" should stand on its own, not be just a transitional piece between the beginning "The Witching Hour" and conclusion "Taltos". Other new or newly developped characters that I came to hate: were Gifford (what a pining, whining mess), Beatrice (she's so unnecessary and does not match well with Aaron), Ryan (a bore), Pierce (a younger version, but still a bore), and, the most unlikable character I have EVER read about -- Mona. I understand that part of her appeal is that she is 13 years old going on 40, in everything including brains and sexual experience, but she is actually MORE unlikable than Rowan which I thought was impossible. I just REALLY did not like her. It might have had nothing to do with the author, but since I didn't like her, I couldn't get passed mentions of her fast enough. Another important and distressing trend in "Lasher" is that history is re-written. Julien loses all of his charm and becomes a cliche. Mary Beth, my favorite Mayfair woman, also loses her luster and becomes just another pathetic excuse for a woman. It just painful to read and wonder what happened. Finally, I could care less for Lasher's story. When you finally learn what it is, you don't feel sympathy or understanding, you are just more confused than ever. If he knew all the consequences, why would he intentionally hurn anyone? The reason: he's evil. That is the best that Anne Rice can come up with? If that is the case, than I am truly sad. The only good thing about the whole book were the characters of Yuri and Ancient Evelyn. I truly liked Yuri and wished that Anne Rice did not take him in the direction that she did. (Those of you who read the book know what I mean). Ancient Evelyn is extremely original and much more sympathetic than her great-granddaughter Mona. Also, it's good that she does not go into describing what happened in the "Witching Hour". That way, whatever sorry action that exists in this novel, can be propelled forward. I refuse to read "Taltos" because I honestly do not want to find out if she sinks any lower.
Rating:
Summary: Aa great focus for a break from stress and the world .. fun!
Review: This book was a very pleasant surprise. Iit has a lighter, more relaxing, style than the Vampire series books yet still exhibits the careful attention to detail and believability shown in the Vampire Series. Thank you Ann .. I love this seeeries!
Rating: 
Summary: Worst book I ever read!
Review: Pointless, ridiculous plot. Awful characters. I can't believe I read the entire book. I've read some book that were long and started out weak, but eventually got better. I kept hoping this would happen for Lasher, but it never did. Don't waste your time with this book. This book should have never been published. This book wasted 4 days of my life
Rating:
Summary: What a waste!
Review: At first, Anne rice wrote beautiful, evocative, books. Then she became famous. This book was endless and rambling and could have been much better if the editor had had the guts to edit it. Don't waste your money. If you must waste your time, get it at the library.
Rating:
Summary: If you didn't like it, you haven't read Witching Hour
Review: If you loved The Witching Hour, there is no way you couldn't love Lasher. I think some of the people submitting reviews may have read this book out of order or after picking up the Vampire Chronicles. It is imperative that you read the Witching Hour first, otherwise, Lasher will mean nothing. WONDERFUL SEQUEL!
Rating:
Summary: Dark, erotic, and full of image ridden storytelling!
Review: When I first read The Witching Hour, I was thrown into the dark and mysterious world of The Mayfair Witches. Rice has the ability to draw you into her characters, with her lore, and history. More of The Mayfair past comes out in this book, filling in holes and questions we had since the first book coupled with the just the mere thought of the entity known as Lasher has finally become human again - made this book worth reading. All Rice fans should know by now that the story is never fully over with one book and Lasher continues this thought. Lasher starts off as all Rice books begin, giving the reader a brief synopsis and an after math story before she plunges into the core of the book. Lasher as we all know is a very sensual entity with only the thought of love by his side. However, his ideas of love become misconstrued by his actions throughout his life, which makes for a very deep and constructed character. Rice has proven she has a flair for the not so obvious. She goes deep within her characters and expands them. They somehow jump off the pages and makes you wonder if that noise you heard, or that feeling you felt could have been your personal Lasher. Lasher is erotic, mesmorizing, sensual, and deep, and you can drown in his love if not careful. Rice has shown us this through his love affair with every witch in the family. She has also done a marvelous job with telling us more of Julien Mayfair, the only male witch to inhabit the family. Julien is such an integral part of the Mayfair history, that I often wondered if she would make a book dedicated to him. I recommend this book to all of Rice's fans. However, as Lasher comes to a close, she takes on a quick journey to tell the origins of Lasher after he kidnapps his mother Rowan, and his timid return to the Mayfair house he's loved so much to confront his "father" Michael. Lasher's history was too quick. We waited so long to find out where he came from, but is somewhat let down in the end. You decide for yourself though. All in all I loved this book. I devoured it and can't wait to read Taltos. Ms. Rice, if you read this, please - think Julien Mayfair. A book about him would make your fans so happy! Me espcially.
Rating:
Summary: I don't like Lasher
Review: In the end I think it became that simple for me. I don't like Lasher. I don't like the female lead, and Michael wore out his welcome as well. For myself the downfall of the Mayfair Witch series isn't in the prose which is every bit as seductive as ever, it is that the characters became distasteful. While the Vampire Chronicle characters of Lestat, Louis, Claudia, etc have a way of both attracting and repelling the reader, in the end I found most of the characters in this series to be simply repellent. Rice still writes in a wonderful style, but these characters worse than left me cold-- they often disgusted me.
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