The Vampire Lestat

The Vampire Chronicles, Book 2

By: Anne Rice

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Once an aristocrat in the heady days of pre-revolutionary France, now Lestat is a rockstar in the demonic, shimmering 1980s. He rushes through the centuries in search of others like him, seeking answers to the mystery of his terrifying exsitence. His story, the second volume in Anne Rice's best-selling Vampire Chronicles, is mesmerizing, passionate, and thrilling.

Listen to more of the Vampire Chronicles.©1985 Anne Rice (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Frightening, sensual.... Anne Rice will live on through the ages of literature.... To read her is to become giddy as if spinning through the mind of time, to become lightheaded as if our blood is slowly being drained away." ( San Francisco Chronicle)

Finally unabridged! Excellently read, great listen

This has always been my favourite novel from the Vampire Chronicles series (even though Interview with the Vampire is more popular) but I've always held off downloading it from Audible because it was only available abridged (aka butchered) but when this edition became available I downloaded this, Interview and Queen of the Damned immediately!

I've read the paperback edition of this book many times but Simon Vance narrates very well and captures the cheeky, elegant character of Lestat very well and brings out some subtleties that I've missed before.

This novel stands alone very well if you haven't read the other Anne Rice books since it only makes a few references to Interview with the Vampire.

I hope Audible will release more unabridged Anne Rice books (The Mayfair Witch novels!).

Lestat-Born Into Darkness

Fantastic narrative by Simon Vance. I could listen to his soothing voice for hours. And I did.

Lestat. I fell in love with him in Rice's second helping of The Vampire Chronicles. I've been wanting to read this series since it's beginnings and this audiobook is outstanding. I was moved by Lestat's sensitive side and laughed out loud when he was testing out his new found strength, running through the forest like a giddy girl, flip-flopping and cartwheeling here and there. The first half of Lestat's story had me enthralled. I began to lose a tiny bit of interest when Armand's story was being told. And, although I've already read/listened to PANDORA (Enjoyed it, btw.) and knew who Marrius was, I got a bit confused somewhere around here. Maybe I fell asleep and missed something. I dunno. I didn't have the patience to wander back through all that child of God/Satanic hullabaloo business. Perhaps I wasn't in the deep, philosophical mood I needed to be in whilst reading this part. Therefore, it gets a one star deduction. Other than that, stellar performance by Vance. Anne Rice was at the top of her game here and I couldn't help thinking many, many times while listening, how does she come up with this stuff?! Best part of the story, besides learning how Lestat was turned? Lestat's relationship with his beautiful mother, Gabrielle. There's a gal that needs her own story!

Should have used different narrator on this one.

Simon Vance is a fine narrator. He did a very good job with Louis in Interview. My problem is these stories are told in the first person and hearing the voice I now associate with Louis, telling Lestat's story, bothered me from beginning to end. The two stars for performance reference the decision to use the same voice for both books and in no way is a critique of Mr Vance's abilities.

Excellent book and performance

Great story and a nice tie-in to the previous book. Excellent voice acting as well.

A lot of slow great conversation and little when it comes to action or a sense of urgence. Fine with me but a small caution for someone who hopes for something more fast-paced.

It was like i was there.

Fabulous story. Excited to listen to the next book in the series. The story is intoxicating.

Fantastic!

This is probably the best vampire book ever written in my opinion. So much better than Interview with a Vampire. Such a true sense of history in the places and characters. The terrible movie with Tom Cruise I can’t watch but this book and the sequel Queen of the Damned are fantastic. Great performance of the book as well.

Great read.

Great book with great narration. Stimulates one's imaginations and curiosity on the topic. Highly recommend this.

Absolutely enthralling.

I could not stop listening! I can not wait to listen to the next book n the vampire series.

Vampire LeStat!!!!

I completely love this book, the writing is phenomenal , the narration is phenomenal. Onto the next book.

savagely beautiful Vampire

Anne Rice wrote such a beautiful tale by telling Lestat's story of his life prior to after he was turned centuries ago. you get a better understanding of why he is as he is in her first book "interview with a vampire" I'm obsessed!