Rating: 
Summary: Don't blame the vampires
Review: I made the mistake of beginning my reading of Anne Rice with this book, the latest installment of the Vampire Chronicles. She makes references to people and events which, as a first timer unfamiliar with her previous books, make no sense to me. (Of course I knew Lestat and Louis from Neil Jordan's ill-fated film version of Rice's first novel.) It would definitely help to read at least some of the other titles, so my next foray into Riceland will be the original INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE.One could accuse Rice of false advertising here, as the book is more about witchcraft than vampires. The appearances of Lestat and Louis seem almost perfunctory, as though the publishers told Rice, "Hey, Anne, we need some vampires here. What can you do?" An even bigger problem is the book's inertia. Too much talk and not even action makes the reader impatient. Of course Rice does rise to the occasion in several parts of the novel, where she accomplishes some bravura set pieces. I'm talking of Louis's stalking victims in a derelict part of New Orleans, the "interview" of Great Nananne by Talbot, Merrick's transformation into her dead sister Honey, and the resurrection of Claudia. But these moments come only occasionally and are not enough to sustain overall interest. This is a disappointing introduction to a novice like me, but at least I am curious enough to begin at the beginning.
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely gripping!
Review: If you are a fan of the Mayfair witches and the Vampire chronicles you are going to love this book! I don't understand some negative reviews on this book. I guess you have to be a fan of her writing. Though some books of hers have been not very good like "armand" but this one is definitely a keeper. I was totally mesmerized by the plot and of the main character "Merrick". Anne details carefully the voodoo and the underworld perfectly as if you are there with "merrick" and the narration has gotten better since "Armand" which the narration just dragged. But this book will also leave you breathless, I was so exhausted reading a chapter that I had to take a breather for a moment because the adventure (especially in Guatemala) was a roller coaster ride. It's just not one chapter it's many chapters especially toward the end. Anne I want more of "merrick", Mayfair witches and the vampires. This book I rank as good as her early vampire books, excellent! Anne never stop writing no matter what anybody says!
Rating: 
Summary: Changes, Wins and Losses
Review: I cannot be exactly sure why I like this book, as it seems (as other reviewers have noted) out of character in many ways, although I suppose the reader should not be too enamoured with the traditions of any kind of chronicles. After all, times change, and so do people and in time, I suppose, even immortals. As a piece of writing 'Merrick' is a delight, though stylish it reads very easily and the plot keeps up an atmosphere of suspense, mystery and, above all, tragedy. Characters readers have come to know and love over the past years do experience a major change in many ways, and I cannot say I welcomed all of those, but nevertheless I have to disagree with the review I read, although maybe not true in every instant to the Vampire Chronicles, it remains a carefully researched piece of literature very well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Not to be missed by fans of the chronicles
Review: Spellbinding.. although the title character, Merrick that is, is not a likable character (hence, minus one *). She's hollow, manipulative and conniving. Such cruel magics she performed on David and Louis. Yes, the truly Beautiful one, Louis. Thank you, Anne for bringing back to us once more our most beloved Louis... and Lestat, of course. Louis sending himself up to the rising sun... I wept. Lestat's rising to bring back his tender fledgling and one true love.. ah, that was simply beautiful. But how could we have not been granted those critical and most infinitely intimate blood exchange between the Master and Child once more? Imagine.. the 'making' of Louis once more, by his most beloved maker? Oh, I truly hope Anne's keeping this for her next installments of her chronicles. Perhaps, Lestat will share with us these passionate moments, the momentum..? Yes, Lestat has always been the skillful one in sharing these moments, hasn't he? I just can't help wondering... What was he thinking, feeling.. embracing his lover once more, showering Louis once more with the dark gift..? And Louis, surely he has felt the heat as well? Oh.. I simply can't wait!! And I sure hope this newly infused blood will bring out the most beautiful of Louis.. his love, tenderness, passion and his quiet, gentle strength...Please, please, please!! As mentioned, Merrick is rather awful and does not deserve a place amongst Lestat, Louis and David. She's selfish and abusive..She tricked David and Louis into bringing her over using some magic she claimed not to fully understand!? Such hypocrisy! Nevertheless, once I picked up the book, I couldn't let it down though I must admit I actually didn't quiye enjoy that few chapters on Merrick mainly. Ah..anyway, Anne has given us another beautifully written chronicle. Thank you once more for the magical work...and for bringing back Louis and Lestat. Fans must definitely not miss this.. even for only those few brief moments when in the quiet chapel, Louis so devotedly and lovingly read to the slumbering Lestat... How sweet, how heartbreaking. Only Anne can write with such simplicity at times, yet infusing the moments with such passion! Love you, Anne... thank you once more and I simply can't wait for the next adventure of our gentle, beautiful Louis and the ever dashing Lestat! I recommend this book highly!
Rating:
Summary: A truly enjoyable read!
Review: I was totally caught unaware of the ending of this book ~~ and once again, Anne Rice surprises me! Last Rice book I read was Armand, which had a tendency to make me fall asleep. Merrick didn't. This book is such a lovely cross between the Mayfair witches and the Vampires. And reading it over a few foggy nights sure help set the mood for reading Merrick. I don't get scared very easily, but Rice's description of hunting for a long-lost mask is a little nerve-wracking. Her descriptions once again is very vivid ~~ I almost feel I was there. She is a little weak on the characters' interactions with each other ~~ she seems to have glossed over lots of meaningful conversations and focused too much on David, Louis and Merrick's physical beauty as well as their sexual attractions. But reading it makes up for those small deficiencies. I've always enjoyed Anne Rice's books and she didn't disappoint me on this book. It's not her best (The Witching Hour is much better), but it's not as bad as other fans seem to think. If you're looking for a good read, Merrick won't disappoint you there.
Rating: 
Summary: continuing downhill
Review: I have abandoned this latest of Anne Rice's bad books, and will now feel no urge ever to read her again. Why? Because the Anne Rice who wrote so powerfully in Interview, Lestat, Queen and Witching Hour is long gone. Instead, she makes so much money for her publishers that they're afraid to tell her "this isn't good enough." In fact, I've read that she refuses to allow her writing to be edited. It shows. Now we get tired books like Pandora, Armand and Vittorio, and unreadable books like Violin and Merrick. She's become unbearably self-indulgent. Her writing has grown lazy and precious: too much telling rather than showing, too many one-sentence paragraphs, too much telegraphing of emotion (in both senses of the word), too much self-conscious conversation unlike anyone human (or even "formerly human") ever spoke--in other words, as another review remarks, entirely too much filler. Save your money and re-read the earlier books.
Rating:
Summary: It was sad
Review: Anne Rice does her best to make a tale which drains the very personality out of her beloved vampires Lestat, Louis, and David. She has this silly witch Merrick who puts charms on everyone to fall madly in lovw with her, taking away the romance and mystery out of Louis and Lestat's relationship. Arelationship die hard fans have loved since Interview and which helped make her famous. It seems like Anne Rice is constantly trying to reform her male character's from the love they have for each other by providing them with women which are frankly boring, women like Merrick, Dora, and Sybelle. It's almost like she sees love between two male characters an inferior love that needs to be fixed with providing them with a woman, this is sad, it makes her characters Louis and Lestat sadly trite, and comercial. And worse it's a very negative message to gay readers that same sex love is inferior to love between a male and a female, Anne has drained the romance out of the chronicals.
Rating: 
Summary: PLEASE revive the original characters
Review: Does Anne Rice really have the heart to tarnish one beautiful character she has built and developed over several long immortal years? LOUIS, the beloved of Lestat and many, many fans of the chronicles .. Isn't he the one who is gentle yet strong, reticent yet intelligent, ..the one who is so refined, loyal, patient and loving? Haven't some of the most beautiful and memorable moments in the chronicles been marked by the love between Louis and his maker, despite all their conflicts and misunderstandings? We have loved the chronicles so much mainly because of the love-hate between Louis and Lestat, and were often waiting for these to appear. How we have eagerly yet patiently waited for more adventures of Lestat, together with Louis .. (DIDN'T Lestat mention that he would loved to bring Louis back to Pris and to make him love Paris once more?)... How we have longed for Lestat to bring Louis along in his next adventures ... Instead, we have Merrick! And we really don't like David ... Please, please, please ... we miss those little, yet penetrating moments between the Lestat and Louis!
Rating:
Summary: No Mas
Review: Anne, you used to be an author. Please, in the name of all that's holy, please stop.
Rating:
Summary: PLEASE revive the original characters
Review: Will Anne Rice have the heart to tarnish a character she has built over so many immortal years? LOUIS, the beloved of Lestat and many fans of the chronicles has always been the beautiful one, not just physically, but in heart, in spirit, in mind and in character. Isn't Louis the one who is gentle yet strong, refined, loyal, patient and loving in character? Haven't some of the most beautiful and memorable moments in the chronicles been marked by the love and loyalty between Louis and his maker despite all? We were looking forward to some brilliant adventures of Lestat and Louis ... instead, we had Merrick.
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