Rating: 
Summary: The Characters Are Unrecognizable
Review: I looked forward to this newest installment of the Vampire Chronicles because I heard from the advance press that it involved my favorite character, Louis de Pointe du Lac.I was very disappointed. Not only does Louis not even make an appearance for several chapters, when he does appear, he is not the same character from the earlier Vampire Chronicles. Louis is pathetic, pining away for Claudia, who has been dead for over 200 years. Why? By the end of the book, Louis has done two things which he has stated in the previous novels that he would not do and there is no reasoning given for this. David Talbot was an extremely interesting character in Tale of the Body Thief. Here, he is not. We are suddenly told that he is obssessed with Merrick, emotionally and sexually, who was a member of the Talmasca at age 14, yet we heard nothing about her when he was telling Lestat about his life and time in the Talamasca. He did explain in Tale of the Body Thief, and re-emphasized in The Vampire Armand, that He is completely disconnected to the Talamasca. Now he is searching out members of the order, and by the end of the book, actually contacts the order himself. Merrick is unformed as a character. She has a great desire to become a vampire, but we are never told why this is. Lestat does make an appearance in the very end of the book, but after his small moment of action, he decides to take another nap, so this is NOT the great return of the Vampire Lestat. Finally, there are several misspellings, timeline inconsistancies, and character feature inconsistancies in the book. This is insulting to any reader and shows a blatant disregard for faithful Vampire Chronicle fans. For the record, his name is MATTHEW, not MICHAEL, David has BROWN eyes which glow with a golden vampiric light, he has been a vampire for 8 years now and he is 6'2, LOUIS is spelled L-O-U-I-S, and it should be explained why the most powerful vampires, Maharet and Mekare STOPPED seeing spirits when they were made vampires, yet both Armand and David CAN. The book portrays 'voodoo' (Vodun) in a completely unrealistic way. This is a religion and should be treated with respect. Vodun simply does NOT work the way it is shown in this book. Finally, the book is entirely too short, only 300 pages, to charge more than 15 dollars for, and it does not end, but rather just stops. I cannot reccomend that anyone spend money on this book. I have only given it one star because this forum does not allow any lower rate.
Rating: 
Summary: Sounds like more to come?
Review: Madame Rice left us the most exciting hints in this book! Surely there is more where this exciting new adventure came from! You can taste the flavor of New Orleans when you read any of her books. And yes, I too thought there was some obscure connection to Mekare. Our beloved character, Louis, is seen in a whole new light. Fascinating read!
Rating: 
Summary: Such great beginnings, but no intrigue
Review: The first two thirds of the book are very satisfying and interesting to read. Unfortunately, the last third of the book I kept hoping for some intrigue, some plot twist, anything to make this book more than one that leads into another. As a book by itself it is really not that spectacular compared to the previous Anne Rice novels. This book, while satiating some apatite for the Vampire universe, doesn't give you the feast you might desire
Rating:
Summary: A Brisk, Entertaining Read but definately a "Lite" Chronicle
Review: Merrick, the latest in the Anne Rice "Vampire Chronicles", introduces the Mayfair witch clan to the world of Lestat, Louis and David Talbot. This was a well woven story and very entertaining but not up to the standard of the early chronicles (Interview with a Vampire/The Vampire Lestat). Having read The Witching Hour, Lasher and Taltos, I was well acquainted with the Mayfair witches and their rich history. Merrick is an intriguing character but I was hoping to find a deeper plot with more embellishment of her "powers". It seems to me that Merrick was written in the same vein as Rice's more recent Vampire Stories (Armand, Pandora, Vittorio). These books are imaginative and entertaining. However, they are not as compelling or full-bodied as the first four Vampire Chronicles and they merely provide background for these earlier chronicles. I think for the next release I'll wait for the paperback version .....
Rating: 
Summary: A Setup for the Next Sequel
Review: I love Anne Rice and, after finishing her latest novel, I have officially read every word that she has ever published. Merrick is a wonderful addition to her Chronicles (Vampire or Witch). As usual Rice is meticulous in describing the scene, the characters, building suspense, and drawing the reader into the plot. Following her somewhat rambling plot, is sometimes a challenge, but a challenge worth the effort for this reaader. Yes, I loved the book, and yes I was disappointed when it ended, as I usually am. My one criticism is the same one I frequently have with her novels. Rice seems to reach a point when she tires of the story, or maybe she realizes she has her requisite 300 pages, so she just ends it. Her ending for Merrick seemed contrived, convenient, and most unlikely.
Rating:
Summary: Average
Review: While I eagerly ran to get this book, thinking both Claudia and Louis would play large roles in it, I was soon to discover I was wrong. Instead I find the starring role being played by Merrick Mayfair. And while I expected her to play a large part in it, I wanted to see the characters I have come to love more. Instead, I find myself with this horrendously boring Merrick, whom I have learned to hate with a passion. While all in all this was a good book, and I do recommend it to all of The Vampire Chronicle fans, don't let your hopes be too high. You'll find her earlier works were much better.
Rating:
Summary: A return to brilliance.
Review: It is wonderful find find this author has not lost the ability to hopelessly hook the reader within one paragraph. A haunting and hypnotic tale, Merrick breathes new life into a series that was losing momentum. Brava!
Rating:
Summary: VC fans beware!
Review: One star is too many for this book. Only a person completely indifferent to the characters of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles would be able to stomach this drivel. Perhaps if the characterization had been better, or at all present, I wouldn't have wasted my money on something I'll dread to ever look at in the future. Her writing only becomes more and more eccentrique, as though with fame and ego inflation comes a disregard for her own creations. Lestat is portrayed as little more than a vampiric waterfountain, ordered hither and yon to give blood (as though being comatose for the past 2 - 3 books left a boundless supply of blood in his *vampiric* body). The gist of the story is about Merrick, who drinks more than she should and is an utterly boring, self-serving character whom everyone thinks is a godsend. Lack of development, plot holes galore, and less cash in your pocket are the only things left for a reader who purchases this book. May result in nausea and resentment for diehard Lestat, David, and/or Louis fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Louis fans will cry
Review: Those who love Louis for his flaws will cry. As with Memnoch the Devil and The Vampire Armand, the characters have the same name and the same looks but not the same soul. I didn't know these vampires. They were strangers to me. Anne did a complete 180-degree turn around on several key facets of Louis' personality. It was heartbreaking. The poor Beautiful One. New readers may like it, but those of us who loved Louis from the beginning weep. Also, this story should be told by Louis, not David. So much wasn't described because David wasn't there to witness it. He only heard about it after the fact. Therefore, much of the really important stuff happens "off-screen" and the reader misses out. If you are a fan of the romantic, sensual vampire, maybe it is time to move to Poppy C. Brite or T.Isilwath.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: Merrick was a interesting read, especially the last few chapters...Am anxious to see what will become of Lestat and the Talamasca. Did anyone else notice any conection between the ruins and Mekare???(Just a thought).
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