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bibbbidybobbidyboop
2.0 out of 5 stars Spoilers/possible trigger warning - Lestat's character takes a weird turn
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2020
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This should have been a fun side story - the iconic Lestat's tangential side adventure with David Talbot rather than any of the host of vampires which Rice has introduced in the series so far (brilliant). The writing meanders a bit too much but the storyline is entertaining and a blend of predictable and unpredictable. Louis and Claudia make appearances as well. To those ends, this is a refreshing and lighter tale after the intensity & density of Queen of the Damned (which is pure gold).

However, there are 2 big issues that detract from Lestat's adventure. These either did not age well from her initial intent, or somehow Rice thinks her audience will gobble up without question: literal rape, and figurative rape. Lestat is flamboyant and narcissistic but has been depicted thus far with a varying degree of compassion for humanity in general (he feeds only on those who hurt others) and for those he 'loves' (i.e., Gabrielle and Louis). He's entertaining and deviant--all Id and very little Ego, so to speak. But the character here veers so far from that into intentional and enjoyable harm to those who he loves or who don't deserve it. I was troubled for quite awhile after reading the scene where he rapes (literally rapes - she screams 'no') a random waitress while he's human (and it makes even less sense because if it's about desire, he has a consensual relationship with a female later on). Lestat even 'feels bad' and brings her jewelry at the end (so he knows what he did, and uses the term 'rape' several times), but seems to have no concept of the psychological impact of what he's done. I was also troubled (but less so) at the end when he violates David's wishes and turns him, ending his life without his consent (again, David protests and yells 'no'). He also burns Louis's house down, among other things. However, he keeps a nice dog alive so there's that.

In an otherwise lighter and entertaining story, these incidents take Lestat in a somewhat bizarre direction. I wanted to read more about David--her writing is much more lively when discussing David, and he's fascinating. You're also rooting for David & Lestat to hook up (which they don't). But too much focus on Lestat and the rest of the story just doesn't congeal. Maybe it's some attempt at extending the fact that he didn't really have a choice in being turned against his will (?), or saying 'hey Lestat if you were human your actions wouldn't fly' but she took Lestat from flamboyant 'brat prince' to callous and a little bit psychopath. He's more interested in demonstrating his power over people than anything else. I was going to keep reading the series, but I'm not interested anymore. Can't root for Lestat after this.
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"Kindle Addict"
4.0 out of 5 stars If you love reading "Lestat's" work, worth a read
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2013
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I read some reviews before I downloaded this, and they are mixed... I'm glad I read some of the bad reviews, however, because I really didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I'm also glad to have read reviews that didn't spoil anything for me plotwise. In fact, something one of the negative reviews said had me thinking the plot was about Lestat stealing bodies. So here I am, thinking Lestat is going to murder victims and pile them up in a basement like some serial killer. Glad that is not the case. The current top negative review gives away the major idea for the plot in the first few lines, and I really think it was better for me not to know where the book was headed until I got there.

No spoilers here, though. It makes it hard to say why I liked the book so well, but what I can say, is it is told from Lestat's viewpoint. And, if you are considering this book you've likely read the first three Vampire Chronicles. So at this point, you are familiar with Lestat, and if you like him, I think you'll really enjoy this part of his story. The experiences he has in this book are unlike any that he or any of the other vampires have experienced at this point, and some of it is quite moving.

More than one reviewer said Anne Rice's writing in this book is not as good as previous books. I thought there were plenty of moving passages. In one section a character repeated something he'd said earlier and it felt like a mistake, but it may have been intentional. It didn't detract from the story. So I can't say I agree with it being badly written.

In summary, I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to continue with Vampire Chronicles and Lestat fans because it is an interesting and unique story. Once it hooked me, I did not want to put the book down until I knew what was going to happen.

It explores many of the themes I love about the vampire genre. What they've lost, what they've gained, how they relate to humans, what is left of their humanity... and while the idea that drives this plot may have been done elsewhere, for me it's a first. Overall, I say it's a good read.
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leander
5.0 out of 5 stars Lestat! Wake up!
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2019
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This is probably my least favorite of the vampire Lestat’s adventures. I don’t like seeing my favorite characters make dumb mistakes. It was however Lestat and of course, Anne Rice so I give them both a pass. The book is well worth reading, please don’t get me wrong.
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Amazonsly
5.0 out of 5 stars If you love good books... read Anne Rice!
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2015
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If you love good books... read Anne Rice!
Has been my favorite author since Jr High, and I have always been quite the bibliophile (now in my 30s). I have my 7th grade daughter reading these books now. They are transforming, rich, educational, and complex. I have more respect for Anne Rice then any other fiction writer rivaled only by Daniel Quinn, possibly. Her characters and dialogues are so well written that I would easily believe that she listened to these conversations as they happened. Vampires that were "created" 6,000 years ago to today from locations all over the world provides readers with tantalizing glimpses into histories and cultures that must have cost Rice quite a bit of research to deliver. Romantic and dark, her books find the spark of poetry in the most Stoic of souls--- as poetic as that may sound, I am known for being fairly Stoic.
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Colin A. Brodd
3.0 out of 5 stars One of the less satisfying installments of the Vampire Chronicles . . .
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2015
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When I first read The Tale of the Body Thief, I was thoroughly disappointed. After the grand, epic themes of The Vampire Lestat and The Queen of the Damned, t seemed such a silly, tawdry little story. Having re-read it many times since then, I have come to appreciate the better aspects of the story, including the deeper thinking about the nature of incarnation (which feeds into the 5th installment, as I recall) . . . but it still is one of the less satisfying Vampire Chronicles . . .
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Top reviews from other countries

Dill
2.0 out of 5 stars Body Thief
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 1, 2014
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I didn't like it. The story was quite predictable and it was nothing original to it.
The same opinion I had about The Wolf Gift (The Wolf Gift Chronicles), the Wolves of Midwinter (The Wolf Gift Chronicles), Of Love and Evil....
All these books, by A. Rice, are rated with 4 stars out of 5. I trusted other people ratings and opinions, and I still regret it.
In my opinion, some of them should have been rated between 2 to 3 starts only.
If amazon publish in its pages only the favorable ratings, but not the critical ones. Then, how on earth people who rely in other people opinions & comments, are going to be able to make an informative decision, about purchasing the book or not.
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Miketang
5.0 out of 5 stars On all cylinders
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2013
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Well she's really had me hooked with this one; I mean reading all night hooked once I got into it. Lestat's in self-destruct impulsive curiosity-killed-the-cat mode getting involved with a mean but seductive varmint with a fit body and giving in to the temptation to re-experience mortal life after 200 years. Won't spoil the plot, but predictably he gets his fingers burnt. It's a bit of a slow start. I find all the David Talbot stuff rather a yawn. He does come across as a stuffy schoolmaster type. Can't see the attraction myself. But the treatment of his experiences once the switch takes place is fascinating. She doesn't skip the basics or go in for a predictable plot line.
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NickitaJ
1.0 out of 5 stars Absolute disgrace
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 27, 2020
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Avoid like the plague. If they think the conditions of the books they class as new are new then they need their eyes testing. Absolute time wasters. Avoid!
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Ian
5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Entertainment!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2009
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I always thought that the 'true' Vampire Chronicles comprised of only the first three books, and I overlooked this one completely. In a way I'm glad I waited years to read this as I read her other books when I was quite young, and being in my 20s now I can appreciate Anne Rice's writing much more.
The story of this book crosses the Globe, and features an excellent few chapters on the QE2 cruise ship near the end! The entertainment is non-stop, however Anne sometimes has a tendency to ramble on for page upon page of thoughts, but then this adds to the sense of self-importance and delusions of grandeur that Lestat has.

It is a shame that Anne Rice has chosen to abandon her Vampire writing in favour of more religious works, and that on her website she discourages her new readers from reading the vampire chronicles. I can sort of see why...her Vampire Chronicles (especially this book and the wonderful Merrick) are violent, filthy, dirty, mean, romantic, racy, apparently blasphemous, dark and also very very funny, and that is why they are so damn good!!
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mrskvetoslavac
3.0 out of 5 stars ok story, but you do not miss anything if you don't read it
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2010
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This one i think was my least favourite one so far. I have read it and it was a good adventure story, but as title says, you would not miss it if you don't read it. I cannot even really remember anything spectacular about it. the ending i felt was a little forced, Lestat is impossible and always does what he sets his mind to regardless anyone else and any good advice. But it was a little out of character even for him to turn David against his will.

the relationship he has with the nun is interesting a little, and the way he deals with being in human body, but it is just a straight forward story which in the case of Leatat is a little boring. In my opinion.

The next one is brilliant though, Memnoch the Devil.... So read quick and get the next one...
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