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Summary: This is a good book!
Review: I can't believe how many people are bashing Anne Rice and this novel. I found it extremely entertaining. A fast paced, enjoyable read. A great way of entwining the Vampire/Witch world. Also, Lestat is back! I would definately recommend this book.
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Summary: Gay Fiction has taken over the vampire chronicles
Review: I have enjoyed MOST of the vampire chronicles, and I reiterate MOST because I just can't get into another gay vampire narrative like Merrick. I miss the former high adventure in the first three vampire books. I don't want to read about sensitive immortals verbosely rambling on about homosexual fantasies, psuedo history, and psuedo fine art. Merrick is pure pulp fiction that is rooted in a cheesy Harloquin romance style. If you like adventure and adrenaline in your books, skip this one.
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Summary: Disturbing Undertones
Review: This book is not only poorly written and a travesty to Louis fans, but it is also deeply disturbing. Anne spends a great deal of time trying to justify and explain the sexual exploitation and molestation of a minor. Child sexuality and sexual abuse have been recurring themes in a number of her books, but it really comes to the fore in Merrick. The theme is highly unsettling since she seems to want people to believe that sex with minors is normal and acceptable.
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Summary: What happened?
Review: I've loved all of Ms. Rice's other books on the vampires, and yet I was put off by Merrick. I thought that Merrick was an ill-attempt at the love her yet hate her character. She was poorly characterized and if anything she made me truly unhappy, her becoming a vampire and Louis's near demise were not only crass but they almost destroyed the whole story. How is it that Louis the once timid and tender one, becomes this confident and egotistical character after a blood share with Lestat. And as for Lestat I think it's good he finally arose from his comatose state but he seemed more affectionate than previously described. All in all the book was a complete disappointment. For those of you who have fallen in love with Louis and Lestat then I wouldn't suggest this book. Those of you who think that David should be thrown into prominence then go right on ahead, and even David was horribly written. His views changed and he seemed more of the old man Lestat seduced in the beginning of his adventure then the man whom acquired a young body and was seeking out the immensity of true life. Hopefully Ms. Rice's next book will be more promising.
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Summary: Both Chronicles Continue...
Review: Anne Rice has written the first crossover novel of the Vampire and Mayfair Witches Chronicles. The Vampire Chronicles return to New Orleans after time primarily spent in Italy. Of greatest interest to Vampire Chronicle fans is the return to the forefront of Louis, seriously trying to get up the nerve to do himself in and as devestated as ever by Claudia's fate. With the other vampires gone and Lestat once again in an apparently comatose state, David uses his worry over Louis as an excuse to contact his protege and sometime lover Merrick, a Mayfair Witch who he hasn't seen since his body switch and misses desperately. He asks Merrick to raise Claudia's spirit so that Louis can know the state of her soul. The question is not weather Merrick can, but weather her very contact with David and Louis will corrupt her despite their best intentions. Some of the novel is disturbing - especially when David talks about his rather sordid past - but then again, the whole point of the series (at least to me) is the struggle between good and evil impulses and the consequences when evil wins out. Although not my favorite of the series, no one who's kept up with the chronicles is likely to want to miss finding out if Louis finally gets some closure. And as always, New Orleans - itself one of the series' main characters - haunts you long after you've finished the last page.
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Summary: A Shocking Disappointment
Review: I'm still in a state of shock that my beloved Anne Rice could hack together such a dull and disappointing effort. I feel guilty writing this, since apparently Merrick was medicinal for Anne during her hour of need, but she should have just tossed it in the garbage upon her recovery and spared the rest of us the pain of having to read it. Anne, please don't let this be the beginning of the end! We want the REAL YOU back!
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Summary: Dissapointing, but hopeful
Review: Basically, Merrick is simply an advertisement for future books. There were more hints and teasers than necessary, and I only hope Anne Rice fulfills her often stated "but I don't have time to tell this tale now." As is usual the book ends with a feeling of being left in mid-sentence, but the scattered teasers throughout left me with more a sense of frustration than anticipation. I would have liked to see more effort dedicated to the story at hand which was typical Anne Rice, but in a watered down way. While I agree at times it seems as if Anne stuffed well known characters into the story to suit some vague plot ideals, it WAS refreshing to see the characters change. I for one was sick to death of Louis' melancholia; after living thousands of years a lack of maturation and development would be ridiculous. I get the sense that Anne is in a period of transformation. In and of itself this book could be viewed as a disappointment, some of the story line was simply too trite to swallow. Yet, if it is used as a vehicle for moving the staling stories of the Vampires and the Mayfair Witches into fresh territory, then the book's existence may just be redeemed. Note: I was personally thrilled to notice only one occurrence of the word bougainvillea!
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Summary: Lestat is back!
Review: I've missed Lestat in the last few books. I like the references to a future storyline. Merrick is a good new character but her powers are unclear in the ending chapters. Louis seemed a little too changed from his experience. What happened there? What happened to Lestat while he was out there? Unanswered question are driving me nuts. I WANT MORE!
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Summary: Merrick - Wonder Woman Vampire Charmer
Review: Merrick is probably the weakest book Anne has dished out to date. Through calling itself a vampire chronicle and using the names of many of the old re-occuring characters, these characters never make more than a nominal appearance - and at times the name is spelled wrong at that. The main character of this tale, Merrick, is a two dimesional archetype of the feminine Wonder Woman. She's just super amazing and everyone loves her, even when she manipulates them for her own ends. While that in and off itself is not necessarily a bad thing, those characters who have been established in six books prior to this one, have been sacrificed on the alter of Plot Conveinence. Quite a bit of the action that could have salvaged Merrick as a decent book occurs off stage and leaves us with uninteresting and often irrelevant dialogue. Very often the character of David Talbot appears only as a means of conveying a story when he has no real reason to be in the thick of the action. He's sort of a Humonculus who observes for the sake of doing so. The errors in the text, such as spelling, name changes and continuity errors, lend to the feeling that Anne has given us a very rough draft and did not even bother to run a spell check. Perhaps the use of an editor in the future can help with this problem. Over all, you can definately skip this book in the chronicles and not fear you are missing a key book in understanding this universe. If anything, it will confuse it more.
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Summary: A LUSH,SENSUAL NOVEL IN THE GRAND RICE TRADITION
Review: David Talbot, vampire from previous novels, sets the stage to have Merrick, a witch, help him raise the ghost of Claudia, a vampire child destroyed in "Interview With The Vampire". Merrick will begin telling her story to Talbot, taking him from present day to days gone by in New Orleans, to the Maya Ruins of a century ago, bringing vivid life to the witches of the Talamasca, as well as the vampires. Before ammends can be made with the ghost of the dead child, these stories will have to unfold, and come together for both the vampire and the witch worlds. "Merrick" is classic Anne Rice; sensual, dark, eerie, gothic, lush detailing, and always a pleasure to read. This is Rice's best book in years, bringing the two worlds of the witches and vampires together in a story that is completely fascinating. As any reader of Anne Rice knows, her novels need to be scarce on the plot description, as to keep the reader captivated in the web she is spinning with her story. Anne Rice has created a great heroine in Merrick, and readers will welcome her return in future novels. Fans of her books will enjoy their favorite characters making return appearances, but new readers may be confused as Rice uses many, and I mean many, of her characters from "The Vampire Chronicles" and "The Mayfair Witch's" series. A MUST read! Nick Gonnella
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