Rating: 
Summary: Let's hope Anne will do better than this ...
Review: I've been a fan of Anne Rice for almost a decade and the vampire chronicles from IWTV to MtD have been a treasured jewel. I was thrilled to hear about Merrick as it promised a return of our beloved Louis. And I believe like many fans out there, I have been waiting for some bizzare adventures of Louis and Lestat...and those ever-enduring romantic undertone. Disappointingly, Merrick reads like a normal (a word I've before this, refused to use on my fav. author) novel - Indiana Jones-like adventure, and worse, a too-unlike-Rice love triangle that seems all superficial! What happens to the Rice we love? Where are the mysteries, the love-hate, the struggles, the bitterness and sweetness .. I miss the misery, the haunting and those burning sensations I used to get when reading a vampire chronicle. Anne, please listen to your fans and oh, ... the editing of the book was terrible, if there was even one!!
Rating: 
Summary: Repetetive racket?
Review: I never thought I'd find myself thinking this way about Anne Rice, I truly consider her to be one of the greatest storytellers...of the 70's and 80's, but I'm sorry, her stories have become utterly repetetive and pointless. Although Merrick has somewhat of a plot, and THANK GOD, Anne decided not to describe every single leaf on every single tree the characters ran into, the plot is quite weak and it doesn't really take the reader anywhere. For a new reader, the book might be acceptable and even different (a friend of mine hadn't read anything by Rice, and found it fascinating, but confusing), but for someone who has read ALL of her novels, Merrick is the same coffee but in a new cup. The story is very predictable and I believe that as much as we have learned to love her vampire heroes, we all need a PERMANENT break form these boring tales. I must admit Merrick is better than Armand, which is boredom itself in a book. I'd like to add that I've heard Anne is releasing her new book about....MARIUS! All I can say is, FORGET IT! I can't take any more of these dull novels.
Rating:
Summary: Talky and Disappointing
Review: After all my anticipation, this book just left me flat. Too much talk and recollection, very little actual action. The main plot engine - the recall of Claudia's ghost - turned out to be an anti-climax, and it was never resolved as to whether it was "real" or not. The other major plot turn happened "off-stage" and was explained only briefly by the two participants. This book read to me as though Rice simply published her first draft - even containing misspellings. According to the A&E Biography show, Rice refuses to be edited. IMHO, she is doing herself a disservice.
Rating: 
Summary: New adventures of old literary friends
Review: As a long time Anne Rice fan, I was thrilled to rejoin the continuing adventures of David Talbot, Louis, Lestat, and yes, even Claudia. Rice's ability to get into the heads of these characters is always amazing; she creates worlds in her stories that are so descriptive, believable and tantalizing. Merrick is a return to the old days of Anne Rice, and longtime fans of the Vampire Chronicles should be pleased.
Rating:
Summary: Fine return to decent storytelling for Rice
Review: While not as powerful as INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, THE VAMPIRE LESTAT, or QUEEN OF THE DAMNED, MERRICK is, nevertheless, a return to form for Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. The plot is straightforward: on behalf of Louis, who is still guilt-ridden over child-vampire Claudia, David Talbot approaches his former pupil and enamorata, Merrick Mayfair, with a request to raise Claudia's ghost. A relative of the poweful Mayfair witches, Merrick joined the Talamasca at the age of 14 and has tremendous powers. As she has in other books, Rice employs a great deal of recollection. Much of this book involves David recounting his relationship with Merrick for Louis. Fortunately, these recollections are interesting and inform the reader, as much as Louis, what forces have shaped Merrick. When the action settles into the present and Merrick raises Claudia from the dead, it's a great rollercoaster ride to the finish, full of surprises. I hadn't read a Vampire Chronicle since I threw MEMNOCH THE DEVIL against the wall in frustration. If you've been waiting for Rice to return to form, MERRICK is for you. I closed this book with a smile on my face!
Rating:
Summary: Diversity In New Orleans
Review: Merrick is my first attempt at a Rice novel. There will be more. The author employs a classic style with many similarities to Henry James. Most impressive are the characters, extraordinery monsters portrayed as sympathetic personalities with similar needs as you or I. Merrick, herself, is rich in ambiguity that leaves the reader guessing about her intentions. My only concern was some redundant dialog. When David is trying to convince someone of a point, he tends to be repetitive of his arguements. Since he is the narrator, the repetition comes in words and thoughts. This is a minor concern that is offset by wonderful settings, language and tension. I look forward to Merrick's impact on the her companions. A female perspective among the undead can only improve an already popular series.
Rating: 
Summary: it has it's moments..... just not enough of them.
Review: Well let's re-cap shall we boys and girls? Lestat is still in his coma awaking only long enough to change CD's. Louis who has been going quietly mad since QOD from thoughts of Claudia. the 7th of the chronicals is told from David Talbot pov (Insert grone here) David, worried by Louis resent talk of ending it, calls on his friend and fellow Talamasca Alum (I smelt it I know you can) Merrick Mayfair, to call on the spirt of Claudia. most of the book consists of Merrick's child hood and powerful liniage, and her entery into the Talamasca becuse unlike Jesse Merrick joined when she was all of 14. (and where Jesse was likeable, Merrick is.... Less so.) Where the middle is interesting, there is far to much info to type here. Well Merrick does call on Claudia, who appears just long enogh to brake Louis heart just before she plunges a jade knife in it. Did I metion that Merrick's favorite trick is to bewitch men? Louis vurable and wounded becomes infatuatted with her, and guess what? the moon has turned blue. He makes her into a vampire. then making good on his threats puts himself out into the moring sun, but underesemating his own sterenth he is not ashes but encased in a charcole shell, leaving behind a note asking for his ashes to be scadered, a greiving new born Merrick, and a extreamly confusded David. And ta-dah! who appears to save the day? Lestat! (all riceins give a cheer the brat prince has returned!) in a process to long to decribe Lestat gives Louis his powerful blood and he his saved...... but no dought changed All right, there are many things wrong with this book (I.M.H.O.) actually Merrick itself was a good book but I'm thinking of what's next? Merrick has changed the sene and not for the better. One. I'm I the only one who is hoping that David will tick off an elder soon? I hate him he brings Nothing to these books. two. Having Louis make anyone into a vampire is a bad idea, let alone flat, dull, unbarably annoying Merrick. three. Rice has built the character of Louis, as the most human, give him more power and our gentle scholer is gone! In conclusion fellow fans let's hope Lestat is in the fore-ground soon, Louis isn't TOO changed, and Merrick and David go the way of Gabrielle, into the relm of guest spots.
Rating:
Summary: A story FOR the "Have's" and NOT for the "Have Not's"¿
Review: Before dear reader picks up this novel, he or she must first put themselves into one of two categories: "Those who have"... OR... "Those who haven't." To pick this book up and start reading, having not read a single one of the Vampire Chronicles that Rice has penned in twenty-five years would lead to certain dissatisfaction. The characters are vampires whose beginnings were explained in most all of the previous Rice creations. To pick up this book and start reading, having never reveled in the trilogy of the Mayfair Witches may also conjure disappointment. Dear reader would not understand a thing that was going on. Dear-reader-to-be is strongly encouraged to start at the very beginning. For "Those who have".... Now THAT's quite a different matter altogether because Rice introduces us to the very beginning of what may turn out to be a very long and interesting time to come! "Merrick" is the long-lost relation of the Mayfair Witches who has exceptional powers of voodoo. Attempting to ease the guilt of a century, she assists a distraught vampire, Louis to raise the spirit of long-defunct vampire child, "Claudia" for guidance and the hope of some form of forgiveness. Although it takes right at about two thirds of the story to occur before this voodoo wonder takes place, so much more is introduced and we may only conclude that "Merrick" is a light pretense to a much greater work of the Rice imagination! Clearly, Rice is back in her favorite territory, so gather round the parlor Yall, on this warm, humid night in the Big Easy. Anne Rice has chosen to puncture our thoughts with a new marriage of vampires and voodoo, sure to suction the attention straight from our supple minds.
Rating:
Summary: Rice has written much better
Review: This, so far, is my least favorite book of Rice's stories - and I'm a fan. Has she finally lost her edge on the whole witch/vampire scene? If so, STOP writing them! Don't tease us with luckwarm reads such as this. Someone ought to clue Ms. Rice in to the fact that it's always best to leave your audience wanting more not feeling cheated and disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Was less than enthused....
Review: When I got Merrick I was under the impression that it dealt with the Mayfair family more directly. I didn't read Merrick right away, instead I re-read The Witching Hour, Lasher, and Taltos so I'd be ready for what I thought was installment #4 of the Mayfair Witches. What a letdown!!! Merrick has very little to do with the Mayfair family and more to do with the Vampire stories. It re-hashes all the old Vampire woes and introduces this distant cousin of the original Mayfairs. I hope Anne Rice does another installment of the Mayfair Witches soon! I am ready for it!
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