The Vampire Armand

The Vampire Chronicles

By: Anne Rice

Narrated by: Jonathan Marosz

Length: 15 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

In the latest installment of The Vampire Chronicles, Anne Rice summons up dazzling worlds to bring us the story of Armand—eternally young, with the face of a Botticelli angel. Armand, who first appeared in all his dark glory more than twenty years ago in the now-classic Interview with the Vampire, the first of The Vampire Chronicles, the novel that established its author worldwide as a magnificent storyteller and creator of magical realms.

Now, we go with Armand across the centuries to the Kiev Rus of his boyhood - a ruined city under Mongol dominion—and to ancient Constantinople, where Tartar raiders sell him into slavery. And in a magnificent palazzo in the Venice of the Renaissance we see him emotionally and intellectually in thrall to the great vampire Marius, who masquerades among humankind as a mysterious, reclusive painter and who will bestow upon Armand the gift of vampiric blood.

As the novel races to its climax, moving through scenes of luxury and elegance, of ambush, fire, and devil worship to nineteenth-century Paris and today's New Orleans, we see its eternally vulnerable and romantic hero forced to choose between his twilight immortality and the salvation of his immortal soul.

©1998 by Anne O'Brien Rice (P)1998 by Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"ARMAND'S LIFE UNFOLDS IN RICH, VELVETY PROSE. . . . THIS IS A SUMPTUOUS ADDITION TO THE SERIES."--Library Journal

"ANNE RICE FANS WILL NO DOUBT BE THRILLED. . . . [Armand] until now has played a small role in the Vampire Chronicles. Here he assumes center stage, relating his five hundred years of life to fledgling vampire David Talbot, who plays amanuensis to Armand as he did to Lestat. . . . It's not just the epic plot but Rice's voluptuary worldview that's the main attraction. . . . Elegant narrative has always been her hallmark. . . . Rice is equally effective in showing how Armand eventually loses his religion and becomes 'the vagabond angel child of Satan,' living under the Paris cemeteries and founding the Grand Guignol-ish Theatre des Vampires. In the twentieth century, a rehabilitated Armand regains his faith but falls in love with two children who save his life. By the conclusion of Armand, the pupil has become the mentor."--The Washington Post

"A FASCINATING AND DAZZLING HISTORICAL TAPESTRY . . . BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN, INCREDIBLY ABSORBING."--Booklist

New narrator needed...

This is a wonderful story, however, a new narrator is desperately needed! The gentelman that narrates this story is American, and speaks as such with no accent. Anyone who's read the book, or even just listens to it knows that he is from Rome. His tone is very bland as well. I would have been thrilled with this book and have given it 5 stars had they gave someone with a strong European accent the part.

Narration not good

My two least favorite Vampire Chronicles are Vittorio the Vampire and The Vampire Armand. Unfortunately, I think I may have liked the books better had they been read by someone else, such as the narrator for "Blood and Gold". I just couldn't get excited about the books because the narrator sounds so bored. He reads with no expression and a draggy, monotone voice, that just makes me not want to listen.

OK Book, Not So Great Reader

The Vampire Armand is an OK book, definately worth reading if you're a Vampire Chronicles fan. Like other reviewers, I think I would have enjoyed the reading of this book more if there had been a better reader -- at least someone who could do a wide rage of voices and accents (the reader of Blood and Gold would have been a better choice). Armand has always been such a sexy, passionate character, but this reader's rendition seemed to take all the joy out of Armand. In addition, this book is the first in which Ms. Rice delves into religous issues with her vampire, and unlike other books, it just comes off boring and overdone. If you're a fan of the series, then you must listen, if not, it's OK to pass. Listen to Blood and Gold instead.

listen to sample - bad reader - good story

Actually - if you listen to the reader - after about 5 minutes on the sample - the narrator is less nasal on his "R"s and "N"s and his accent less pronounced - but man - what a bad choice of readers- bad tonation of voice. Simply all wrong. I've done voice acting - man - what was the director thinking taking this direction with this guy.. Well listen to the free sample yourself.. and if you get past it and can stand it - then its ok I suppose. The story is as good as any other Anne Rice Novels - such as Blood and Gold.

Interesting Story, Horrible Narration

The narrator is horrible. Hopefully they make a new audio version with Simon Vance. There is a difference between someone reading a book AT you and TO you.

Jonathon Marosz as Narrator

I love Anne Rice and her books. Especially the Vampire Chronicles. I have read all of them, but now I'm listening. Although the story itself is great, this narrator drives me to distraction when compared to the other narrators. He feels uninvolved in his own story. When he uses the characters voices,Jonathon Marosz is fine. But as the character Armand is telling his story, Marosz gives him no personality. My rating of the book is strictly on the content, not on the read. I will avoid future listens when I see his name as the narrator. I wish that Roger Rees had been the narrator for this as he did such a great job with Blood and Gold.

The Vampire Armand

The Vampire Armand is one of the more interesting books in the Vampire Chronicles. Despite what the previos reviewer has said, I thought the narration to be fine, and have listened to this book more than once.

This book tells the story of the life and making of Armand. It is a very interesting and compelling story of a young man, made a vampire.

I highly recommend this book!

Why, oh why?

Is there anything you would change about this book?

How did someone let this narrator destroy the listening of this book. I am just gritting my teeth so to get the story but think I might soon give up and send it back! How can anyone let him narrate any book. Simon Vance is so amazing a voice actor and I miss him dearly.

What didn’t you like about Jonathan Marosz’s performance?

Dull, a monotone, a constant vocal drop at end of almost every phrase, and no sense of what he is reading. He is not acting the parts, no voice for each character, barely even an attempt! He has no sense of the action, even young children would fall asleep listening to him.

Was The Vampire Armand worth the listening time?

No! Because of the narrater.

Any additional comments?

Can you not have this redone?

Sweet mother of monotone

He needs to read the news not this book. Armand was the eternal child he sounds like a weather man.

good book reader did very well depicting emotions.

very good book. great reader, not a lestate book, reader showed good emotions for the characters.