Rating: 
Summary: Surprisingly...Fairly Good
Review: O.K., as a loyal Anne Rice fan, I feel that it is my honor, priveledge, and, yes, obligation to do a review. This was the very last Anne Rice book that I hadn't read. (Except for Vittorio which, though it breaks my heart to say it, was so awful I couldn't get through it). The Servent of the Bones sat unread on my book shelf while I finished off The Vampire Chronicles, The Lives of the Mayfair Witches, The Mummy, Cry to Heaven, and the Feast of All Saints. After a long period of waiting, (I was afraid to read this book for fear that it might be as bad as Vittorio and therefore shake my faith in Rice again), I finally picked this book up. And to my great surprise, I found that this book was indeed fairly good. (Which I'm sure you have all read in my one-line summary, but I thought you all might like the whole tale if perhaps you had nothing better to do on a Saturday night other than organize your sock draw). So, if you're hooked on Rice, this book is worth it. Hopefully it'll hold you over to the new one in the fall. Thank you for your time.
Rating: 
Summary: Not her best work
Review: I was thoroughly disappointed with this novel. Rice did not seem genuine with the plot line and I was not convinced of Azriel's true purpose. It was an ungraphic and unillustrated attempt at one of her other genius stories. Bones was a simple and clear, while vague and unabsorbant, recapturing of one uninteresting young man's life. I know that I am not some rich and ingenius critic. I probably bear no leaverage at all with wether or not you read a book, but it feels better to vent. The possiblity that Ms. Rice will check this to see an unenthused response to her novel is a bit fetching.
Rating: 
Summary: It could happen!
Review: What is scary about Servant of the Bones - it could happen! The Servant tries to stop a madman bent on taking over the world through his religious empire. I will definitely read this book again.
Rating: 
Summary: Good start, then surprisingly tedious
Review: For someone who is capable of writing The Vampire Lestat, this book is a shame. It starts out wonderfully, with Rice's vivid visions of ancient times, but then fizzles out into ... utter boredom. Who can empathize with a character who deems a thief worthy of murdering? Who can stick with the lifeless plot of the second half of the book? Those who liked the book, I suppose. Seems like this book was written for the author, not the reader.
Rating:
Summary: Painfully boring!
Review: The first Anne Rice book I ever read was 'The Vampire Lestat' and i loved it so much that I decided to read all the books in the Vampire Chronicles. When I bought 'The Servant Of The Bones', it was at a book signing and I even got Anne Rice herself to sign it. Little did I know that Servant would turn out to be absolutely the worst book I have ever read. It took me almost 2 years to read!! The book was filled with names that were just as easily pronounced as the ingredients on a package of gum. The plot just does not seem to go anywhere, but rather drags on and on to point of tears. Overall, this must be one of Rice's worst books, however, the great books from her earlier years makes up for it.
Rating:
Summary: A poorly-written book/sermon from an able authoress
Review: I enjoyed Rice's "The Vampire Lestat" (despite it's anti-church preachiness), but this one is awful. Her vivid recreations of life in ancient times is wonderful, and the book starts off well, but it then degenerates into utter boredom. One gets tired of the self-righteous smugness of the protagonist (it's ok for him to kill, but not for others to do it, even though they seem equally capricious). Also, we are clubbed over the head with her repeated assertions that there were many, many, many, many versions of the Hebrew Bible, and the scribes apparently consulted idolatrous Hebrews to pick the best ones! Has she not researched the amazing obsession for accuracy and trustworthiness of the Hebrew scribes that sets them apart from all other religious scribes? Is Rice anti-Semitic? The servants of the Hebrew God are portrayed as repulsive fanatics, whereas idolatrous Jews who share the same women as their fathers are portrayed sympathetically. Perhaps anti-Semitism is inaccurate - anti-God-of-the-OT maybe. This harping really detracts from the story - whatever that may be, as about halfway through you need a valiant effort to care about what happens next - and what happens next is rather boring. The main character is at first appealing, but later, as mentioned above, his self-righteousness makes you care less and less about the story. Check it out at the library before deciding whether to buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Nice Job
Review: The Servant of the Bones at first seemed like it would be a sad comparison to Rice's other novels, but it is suprisingly interesting and inviting to read. The reader may be put off by the initial Biblical aspects, but after a few chapters, the story opens itself to be enjoyed. This is one of my favorites, and being a fan of the Vampires it is a equally captizating tale.
Rating: 
Summary: Better get a pair of reading glasses...
Review: I just finished this book in large print, and I gotta tell you, it just wasn't nearly as good as it was in regular-size-print. So if you're going to read it, get the regular-size-print edition, or at the outside, the rack size paperback because the large print edition really leaves something to be desired. On the other hand, I would give the regular-size-print edition, 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. The regular-size-print edition is a much better book than this one. Keep 'em coming in regular-size-print, Anne!
Rating:
Summary: Unexpected, But Not Bad
Review: I just finished this one a few days ago and I have to say that my feelings are mixed. My thoughts of the cover and title prior to reading it included a more horrific mood. This just goes to show that you can't judge a book by it's cover. Though unexpected, the story wasn't completely dissatisfying. There is the familiar element of the main character relating an incredible tale with every word being recorded. Trials and tribulations afflict Azriel in his search for the answers to this strange existence. Having knowledge as well as the power to peform acts of kindness is most precious. This book was overall a fairly decent read.
Rating:
Summary: The faith has been revived!
Review: I was very disappointed with Armand's ending so I was not looking forward to reading "The Servant...", but a dear friend of mine asked me to because he liked it a lot, so I took it with me during the spring break and I was hipnotized once again by Anne Rice's writing! This book redims her from the failure of Armand and once again has me believing in her incredible capacity to write compelling stories that can bewitch you and take you away from reality... The characters are very well developed, the scenery is incredible and so real it makes you feel you are actually there. The story is so fluid I read the novel in less than a week... Now I cannot wait to lay my hands in Vittorio!
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