June 1, 2001
What we've all been waiting for: the 2000-year history of Marius, mentor to the Vampire Lestat. At 750,000 copies, the first printing measures up to Marius's long reign.
Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
October 1, 2001
After a long, deep sleep, the vampire Thorne looks to centuries-old Marius for guidance as he comes back into the world. Thorne is curious about Marius's life and his relationship to others in the community of Blood Drinkers, and Marius consents to tell all. It is this story that makes up the bulk of Rice's newest entry to the "Vampire Chronicles," the first of which was Interview with the Vampire. This complex tale presents the history of vampires through the eyes of Marius, who offers his perspective on several characters, most of whom have appeared in earlier volumes. Marius, who is something of an erudite philosopher, brings his own spin to the stories of the various undead he has met in his long existence. Though it is not as engrossing as the earlier books perhaps because so much of the story has already been told devoted followers of the series will find new information about familiar characters, and new readers will find this a good introduction to Rice's world of the vampire. Most public libraries will want to purchase. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/01.] Patricia Altner, Information Seekers, Columbia, MD
Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
August 1, 2001
Rice's new Vampire Chronicle tells the story of Marius, a mentor to Lestat, the creator of Armand, and the lover of Pandora. He has appeared in almost all the other chronicles, which presents Rice the task of maintaining continuity without treading too much old ground. The first 100 pages here are somewhat flat, especially for series neophytes, who may be confused by the detailed backstory. Once on new ground, the story picks up. For a while, Marius travels with the vampires Avicus and Mael, the latter of whom is responsible for Marius being turned into a vampire. Marius' own strict ethics allow him to feed only on those who have committed crimes. He also carries the serious burden of guarding the very first vampires, the Parents, and that somehow always separates him from any happiness and deep companionship he finds. The middle of the yarn is much more compelling than the beginning and the end, too, which contains more old news. Since this probably isn't the last Vampire Chronicle, let's hope Rice finds some new blood before the next installment. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)
September 24, 2001
Maker of Lestat, lover of Pandora and drifter through time, Marius, one of Rice's most fascinating vampires, shares his side of the story in this latest intriguing yet rushed installment of the popular Vampire Chronicles. The intellectual and artistic "Child of the Millennia" meets ice-age Thorne, another vampire, who's just waking up after a very long sleep and is eager to hear his history. Marius grants Thorne's wish, taking him and the reader on a rollicking vampire adventure through time. Marius was born in Imperial Rome, made a vampire by Druids and has visited ancient Egypt, where he became the protector of the Divine Parents (Akasha, later the Queen of the Damned), and watched the fall of ancient Rome. The best segment covers Marius's stay in Venice and Florence, as well as his "making" of Amadeo (later the Vampire Armand) and his unrequited school-boy infatuation with the artist Sandro Botticelli. He describes his erotic "Perfect Time," when he was in love with the teen Amadeo and with Bianca, who eventually shared the Blood Kiss with Marius after he was almost destroyed by Santino, a Satan-worshipping vampire. How the centuries devoted to the protection of Those Who Must Be Kept are finally brought to an end is told in a story framed by Thorne's lesser developed viewpoint. This device only satisfies partially, as the book speeds to a jarring and gory finale, suggesting that these Vampire Chronicles might well be as endless as world-weary Marius's sojourns through time. (Oct. 31)Forecast:With a 750,000 printing, this BOMC, QPB and SF Book Club main selection is guaranteed to fly up the charts.