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“WHAT CAN I CONFESS? I'M ASHLAR. I'M A TALTOS. It's centuries since I've seen one single other member of my own species. Oh, there have been others. I've heard of them, chased after them, and in some instances almost found them. Mark, I say almost. But not in centuries have I touched my own flesh and blood, as humans are so fond of saying. Never in all this time....[pg. 64]
When Ashlar learns that another Taltos has been seen, he is suddenly propelled into the haunting world of the Mayfair family, the New Orleans dynasty of witches forever besieged by ghosts, spirits, and their own dizzying powers. For Ashlar knows this powerful clan is intimately linked to the heritage of the Taltos.
In a swirling universe filled with death and life, corruption and innocence, this mesmerizing novel takes us on a wondrous journey back through the centuries to a civilization half-human, of wholly mysterious origin, at odds with mortality and immortality, justice and guilt. It is an enchanted, hypnotic world that could only come from the imagination of Anne Rice . . .
When Ashlar learns that another Taltos has been seen, he is suddenly propelled into the haunting world of the Mayfair family, the New Orleans dynasty of witches forever besieged by ghosts, spirits, and their own dizzying powers. For Ashlar knows this powerful clan is intimately linked to the heritage of the Taltos.
In a swirling universe filled with death and life, corruption and innocence, this mesmerizing novel takes us on a wondrous journey back through the centuries to a civilization half-human, of wholly mysterious origin, at odds with mortality and immortality, justice and guilt. It is an enchanted, hypnotic world that could only come from the imagination of Anne Rice . . .
4 pages, Audio Cassette
First published January 1, 1994
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About the author
Anne Rice
366books26.8kfollowersAnne Rice (born Howard Allen Frances O'Brien) was a best-selling American author of gothic, supernatural, historical, erotica, and later religious themed books. Best known for , her prevailing thematic focus is on love, death, immortality, existentialism, and the human condition. She was married to poet Stan Rice for 41 years until his death in 2002. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history.
Anne Rice passed on December 11, 2021 due to complications from a stroke. She was eighty years old at the time of her death.
She uses the pseudonym for adult-themed fiction (i.e., erotica) and for fiction featuring sexually explicit sado-masochism.
Anne Rice passed on December 11, 2021 due to complications from a stroke. She was eighty years old at the time of her death.
She uses the pseudonym for adult-themed fiction (i.e., erotica) and for fiction featuring sexually explicit sado-masochism.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,025 reviews
April 21, 2011
this character "Ashlar" just up and jizzes all over the faces of the preceding novels in the series, except that it is not hot, not hot at all. The Witching Hour was a fascinatingly cracked historical-family saga and Lasher, although a much lesser work, was a disturbingly oedipal psychodrama. Taltos is like a big bucket of spooge, just silly and disgusting and entirely unappealing to even contemplate. ugh, thanks a lot Rice for ruining a perfectly good series! almost as criminal is the increasingly revolting elevation of the character Mona, surely one of the most unlikeable, creepy (and not in a good way) characters that Rice has ever created. please no more pedophilia disguised as romance..."empowered" juvenile characters like Mona need to vanish from literature without a trace, post-haste. my gosh, surely that is not too much to ask?
April 7, 2011
If you've already been sucked into the Mayfair trilogy, you're going to have to read this book. I'm sorry. It's not good.
Really though, this series is worth finishing, even if you LOL your way through the last book because it's so freaking ridiculous. There is a good explanation for what Lasher is, and how he came to be involved with the Mayfairs, and what the Talamasca knows about it; you're going to want to know this stuff.
Unfortunately, the characters (particularly the family members) have all lost their minds. Some poor relations come out of the swamp which is pretty cool, but they're just as crazy as the rest of them, except more functional. Keep a punching bag handy.
Really though, this series is worth finishing, even if you LOL your way through the last book because it's so freaking ridiculous. There is a good explanation for what Lasher is, and how he came to be involved with the Mayfairs, and what the Talamasca knows about it; you're going to want to know this stuff.
Unfortunately, the characters (particularly the family members) have all lost their minds. Some poor relations come out of the swamp which is pretty cool, but they're just as crazy as the rest of them, except more functional. Keep a punching bag handy.
October 20, 2022
The final novel of the Mayfair cycle is rather not about the witches of a venerable New Orleans family, but about elves. Why do I say "elves" and not "taltos"? Because I have not met with this word anywhere outside of the epic, although I have read a lot of esotericism.
As for the elves, tall and slender aesthetes, ageless, beautiful and sweet-voiced, excellent musicians and sharpshooters - this is the whole folklore and most of the literary tradition long before Tolkien, since the time of Shakespeare and the Arthurian cycle. Why did Ann Rice need to multiply entities? Go figure it out, she is the creator, has the right to name her creation as she wishes.. Anyway, the dark elf of the last book Lasher is replaced by the light taltos Ashton. Further here.
Summarizing: it's worth reading, none of the books in the cycle are UG and if you are looking for a place to escape from the nightmare of reality - the world of Mayfair witches with its approximately two and a half thousand pages will provide such a portal for a long time.
Эльфийская кантата
Таковы мечты юных - править, господствовать над всеми. Тиранами в истории становятся те, кто так и не вырос.
Заключительный роман Мэйфейрского цикла скорее не о ведьмах почтенного новоорлеанского семейства, но об эльфах. Почему я говорю "эльфы" а не "талтосы"? Потому что с этим словом не встречалась нигде за пределами эпопеи, хотя всякой эзотерики перечитала изрядно.
Что до эльфов, высоких и стройных эстетов, нестареющих, прекрасных и сладкоголосых, отменных музыкантов и метких стрелков - на этом весь фольклор и большая часть литературной традиции задолго до Толкина, со времен Шекспира и Артуровского цикла стоит. Зачем Энн Райс понадобилось умножать сущности? Поди разбери, она творец, имеет право назвать свое создание как пожелает.. Так или иначе, на смену темному эльфу прошлой книги Лэшеру идет светлый талтос Эштон.
Он, владеет империей игрушек и развлечений. Не случайно частым определением современника стало "человек играющий". Кроме прямой коммерческой выгоды, красивые игрушки и развивающие игры всех сортов содействуют обучению, прививают эстетический вкус (ну, я не про Doom и Countr Strike, хотя есть мнение. что стрелялки тоже отводят агрессию в более мирное русло).
Итак, "Талтос": хорош собой, богат, безумно одинок и "он не стар, он суперстар". Во всех смыслах. Знаменитый и уникальный, прекрасный и нездешний как уайльдов Мальчик-звезда, но в отличие от последнего, живет на свете очень долго. Может быть современник пирамид. Это именно он был Святым Эштоном, легенда о котором рассказана в прошлой книге.
Я назвала роман завершающим, на самом деле будет еще трикнижие. в котором некоторые персонажи: Роуан, Мона, Джулиен - снова появятся, но это уже будет другая история, на пересечении с вампирской сагой, которую, если хорошо пойдет, воплотят создатели сериала АМС, запускающие серию в параллель с "Вампирскими хрониками" Энн Райс.
Что до этой книги, то присутствие персонажей из предыдущих в ней сводится к достаточно пассивной роли Роуэн и Майкла в изгнании ренегатов из ордена Таломаска, а также довольно активной - двух молодых ведьм, наследницы мэйфейрского легата Моны и Мэри-Джейн, предвосхитившей болотную русалочку Дэлии Оуэнс (тот же,что в "Поющих раках" бриллиант самородок на луизианских болотах).
Вообще. по части предвосхищения этот цикл просто Клондайк, например дитя, которое через неделю уже практически взрослое,как в "Сумерках" Стефани Майер дочь Бэллы с Эдвардом, здесь появляется за 15 лет до. В кинговой "Песни Сюзанны", кстати, та же тема, его Райс обогнала на десять лет.
О детях не случайно, Мона оказывается беременной, люто спойлерить не буду, но по некоторым оговоркам вы можете догадаться, что не все с этой беременностью будет так однозначно.
Резюмируя: читать стоит, никакая из книг цикла не УГ и если вы ищете куда сбежать от кошмара реальности - мир Мэйфейрских ведьм с его примерно двумя с половиной тысячами страниц обеспечит такой портал надолго.
As for the elves, tall and slender aesthetes, ageless, beautiful and sweet-voiced, excellent musicians and sharpshooters - this is the whole folklore and most of the literary tradition long before Tolkien, since the time of Shakespeare and the Arthurian cycle. Why did Ann Rice need to multiply entities? Go figure it out, she is the creator, has the right to name her creation as she wishes.. Anyway, the dark elf of the last book Lasher is replaced by the light taltos Ashton. Further here.
Summarizing: it's worth reading, none of the books in the cycle are UG and if you are looking for a place to escape from the nightmare of reality - the world of Mayfair witches with its approximately two and a half thousand pages will provide such a portal for a long time.
Эльфийская кантата
Таковы мечты юных - править, господствовать над всеми. Тиранами в истории становятся те, кто так и не вырос.
Заключительный роман Мэйфейрского цикла скорее не о ведьмах почтенного новоорлеанского семейства, но об эльфах. Почему я говорю "эльфы" а не "талтосы"? Потому что с этим словом не встречалась нигде за пределами эпопеи, хотя всякой эзотерики перечитала изрядно.
Что до эльфов, высоких и стройных эстетов, нестареющих, прекрасных и сладкоголосых, отменных музыкантов и метких стрелков - на этом весь фольклор и большая часть литературной традиции задолго до Толкина, со времен Шекспира и Артуровского цикла стоит. Зачем Энн Райс понадобилось умножать сущности? Поди разбери, она творец, имеет право назвать свое создание как пожелает.. Так или иначе, на смену темному эльфу прошлой книги Лэшеру идет светлый талтос Эштон.
Он, владеет империей игрушек и развлечений. Не случайно частым определением современника стало "человек играющий". Кроме прямой коммерческой выгоды, красивые игрушки и развивающие игры всех сортов содействуют обучению, прививают эстетический вкус (ну, я не про Doom и Countr Strike, хотя есть мнение. что стрелялки тоже отводят агрессию в более мирное русло).
Итак, "Талтос": хорош собой, богат, безумно одинок и "он не стар, он суперстар". Во всех смыслах. Знаменитый и уникальный, прекрасный и нездешний как уайльдов Мальчик-звезда, но в отличие от последнего, живет на свете очень долго. Может быть современник пирамид. Это именно он был Святым Эштоном, легенда о котором рассказана в прошлой книге.
Я назвала роман завершающим, на самом деле будет еще трикнижие. в котором некоторые персонажи: Роуан, Мона, Джулиен - снова появятся, но это уже будет другая история, на пересечении с вампирской сагой, которую, если хорошо пойдет, воплотят создатели сериала АМС, запускающие серию в параллель с "Вампирскими хрониками" Энн Райс.
Что до этой книги, то присутствие персонажей из предыдущих в ней сводится к достаточно пассивной роли Роуэн и Майкла в изгнании ренегатов из ордена Таломаска, а также довольно активной - двух молодых ведьм, наследницы мэйфейрского легата Моны и Мэри-Джейн, предвосхитившей болотную русалочку Дэлии Оуэнс (тот же,что в "Поющих раках" бриллиант самородок на луизианских болотах).
Вообще. по части предвосхищения этот цикл просто Клондайк, например дитя, которое через неделю уже практически взрослое,как в "Сумерках" Стефани Майер дочь Бэллы с Эдвардом, здесь появляется за 15 лет до. В кинговой "Песни Сюзанны", кстати, та же тема, его Райс обогнала на десять лет.
О детях не случайно, Мона оказывается беременной, люто спойлерить не буду, но по некоторым оговоркам вы можете догадаться, что не все с этой беременностью будет так однозначно.
Резюмируя: читать стоит, никакая из книг цикла не УГ и если вы ищете куда сбежать от кошмара реальности - мир Мэйфейрских ведьм с его примерно двумя с половиной тысячами страниц обеспечит такой портал надолго.
June 4, 2022
Only read this if you hate yourself.
May 11, 2018
It’s a shame this book follows after The Witching Hour and Lasher, arguably two of the best (and scariest) novels in Anne Rice’s catalogue. This book is a mess.
I’m not even going to review this shit.
I’m not even going to review this shit.
October 19, 2016
Rice remembered all the detail but forgot to throw in some story to go with it. First two books were great. Maintain a safe distance from this one.
February 26, 2014
I loved this trilogy so much and the last part doesn't let it down. Rowan and Michael are great characters and the usual southern new Orleans setting works so well for these books. The talamassca is in these more than her Vampire novels and it was great to learn more about the shadowy organisation.
Mona Mayfair is another good character and in this book she gets a lot more time as she is central to the storyline. We also find out just who Lasher was, where he came from and the whole history of the Taltos race. It makes for fascinating reading. All your questions from the first two books are answered very well.
There are some huge surprises and I love Ash, the century's old Taltos Rowan and Michal find. A brilliant end to the trilogy and there are two good tie ins to the Mayfair Witches in and which are her last two Vampire chronicles books. I'd definitely recommend these books.
Mona Mayfair is another good character and in this book she gets a lot more time as she is central to the storyline. We also find out just who Lasher was, where he came from and the whole history of the Taltos race. It makes for fascinating reading. All your questions from the first two books are answered very well.
There are some huge surprises and I love Ash, the century's old Taltos Rowan and Michal find. A brilliant end to the trilogy and there are two good tie ins to the Mayfair Witches in and which are her last two Vampire chronicles books. I'd definitely recommend these books.
January 2, 2022
Después de tenerlo por bastante tiempo en mi librero, me decidí a leerlo y darle así un cierte a la magnífica trilogía de “las brujas mayfair�; y la verdad no me ha decepcionado para nada.
Me encanta la forma en como la escritora describe de forma preciosa y precisa a cada uno de sus personajes principales, lo que piensan, lo que sienten después de cada acción que realizan (ya sea buena o mala); poder llegar a conocer las motivaciones incluso de aquellos personajes secundarios (que son muchísimos, ya que describe varias generaciones hasta llegar a la protagonista)
La historia me cautivó desde el inicio, describe la vida de generaciones de brujas (no de las buenas); y cómo cierta situación del pasado desencadena una serie de eventos oscuros en el presente.
Si bien encontré que el final fue un poco precipitado (esperaba un poco más), sin embargo, estuvo lleno de tensión hasta la última página, pero innegablemente quedé con la incertidumbre de si hubiese sido posible continuar con esta historia...
Me encanta la forma en como la escritora describe de forma preciosa y precisa a cada uno de sus personajes principales, lo que piensan, lo que sienten después de cada acción que realizan (ya sea buena o mala); poder llegar a conocer las motivaciones incluso de aquellos personajes secundarios (que son muchísimos, ya que describe varias generaciones hasta llegar a la protagonista)
La historia me cautivó desde el inicio, describe la vida de generaciones de brujas (no de las buenas); y cómo cierta situación del pasado desencadena una serie de eventos oscuros en el presente.
Si bien encontré que el final fue un poco precipitado (esperaba un poco más), sin embargo, estuvo lleno de tensión hasta la última página, pero innegablemente quedé con la incertidumbre de si hubiese sido posible continuar con esta historia...
February 24, 2016
So, I am writing this review many, many years after the fact. This was my third Anne Rice novel after The Witching Hour (which I loved) and Lasher, which was OK. And along comes this book? I just couldn't get into it. It was so horrible, squicky and stupid. In fact, my best memory of it was the woman at the laundry in Georgia who saw me reading it and warned me not to delve into books like this, they would only wreak havoc with my soul. If only she knew how prescient that comment was! Just not in they way she intended. You are dead to me, Anne Rice. Dead to me! Because of Taltos.
April 12, 2015
Every time I read an Anne Rice novel I come away from it feeling as though for a while I were peeking into another world, a world I would very much so like to exist in. Knowing my luck even if I did exist in this world she's created I'd never happen upon one of these amazing creatures, and so I'd still never be the wiser or I'd become a part of a short tragic scene. Taltos is another example of Anne's amazing skill as a writer, and master story teller. Her words are the paintbrush while your mind is the canvas! I just simply love Anne's work so much, and highly recommend it to everyone.
December 19, 2022
The completing of a trilogy is always bittersweet for me. Sad to have it end and happy to have closure and resolution.
Anne Rice's writing is spectacular and wondrous. She weaves the setting and the characters exquisitely. Her descriptions are vivid and elaborate. It's just so easy to get fully engrossed in her storytelling.
The full saga of the Mayfair Witches is something that will remain with me forever. I cared deeply for Rowan and Michael. I was constantly rooting for them.
Overall, I really enjoyed this third book in the trilogy. The writing is commanding and powerful. Anne Rice creates an enchanting and captivating story and I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity to have experienced it!
Anne Rice's writing is spectacular and wondrous. She weaves the setting and the characters exquisitely. Her descriptions are vivid and elaborate. It's just so easy to get fully engrossed in her storytelling.
The full saga of the Mayfair Witches is something that will remain with me forever. I cared deeply for Rowan and Michael. I was constantly rooting for them.
Overall, I really enjoyed this third book in the trilogy. The writing is commanding and powerful. Anne Rice creates an enchanting and captivating story and I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity to have experienced it!
February 2, 2020
If Taltos was meant to shine a light on the mysteries of The Witching Hour, I was better off in the dark.
May 30, 2023
Really more of a 2.5 but I liked it better than lasher so here we are 🤷🏻♀�
March 4, 2023
I’m just as surprised as everyone else at this rating!
April 16, 2023
Sigh...
This was good, but a very distant third to The Witching Hour and Lasher. There was nothing really wrong with it. It just didn't grab me like the first book. Except I couldn't quite square I liked Taltos more toward the very end. I enjoyed the world-building narration of the Taltos' history, but even still it wasn't quite the richness of the witches history from The Witching Hour.
Now if you'll please excuse me, I have to go chug a gallon of whole milk...
This was good, but a very distant third to The Witching Hour and Lasher. There was nothing really wrong with it. It just didn't grab me like the first book. Except I couldn't quite square I liked Taltos more toward the very end. I enjoyed the world-building narration of the Taltos' history, but even still it wasn't quite the richness of the witches history from The Witching Hour.
Now if you'll please excuse me, I have to go chug a gallon of whole milk...
June 29, 2022
3.5 stars usually it's the middle book in a trilogy that I would give the lesser rating to but in this case taltos was my least fav of Mayfair witches
March 31, 2024
El mejor de la trilogía por goleada (siempre desde mi particular opinión, que es lo que son estos comentarios).
De hecho la trilogía fue creciendo libro a libro y este tercero culminó, incluso sin apenas vislumbre del defecto más claro de la autora (ramificarse en tal multitud de detalles, que a veces se pierde en ellos y se olvida del tronco central. Estos detalles enriquecen la experiencia y la profundizan, pero como dije... a veces se pierde en ellos). Este defecto común a todas las obras que leí en ella, apenas se da aquí.
Un libro que amplía y enriquece los dos anteriores, dándoles otro sentido al que parecían tener, que ilumina y cambia la idea que estaba dando de Talamasca y la reconcilia con la imagen que dio de ella en "Crónicas vampíricas", que enriquece aún más la idea que nos veníamos haciendo de las brujas Mayfair (la rama blanca. No olvidemos que hay una rama de la familia de raza negra de la que apenas se habló aquí y que sí sale en "Crónicas vampíricas") y que por supuesto da un giro absoluto a la nefasta idea que teníamos del los Taltos, gracias al funesto Lasher.
Este libro me ha resultado interesante de principio a fin con un crescendo ininterrumpido y un final genial que me encantó. GL (Restos de serie. Brujas Mayfair)
De hecho la trilogía fue creciendo libro a libro y este tercero culminó, incluso sin apenas vislumbre del defecto más claro de la autora (ramificarse en tal multitud de detalles, que a veces se pierde en ellos y se olvida del tronco central. Estos detalles enriquecen la experiencia y la profundizan, pero como dije... a veces se pierde en ellos). Este defecto común a todas las obras que leí en ella, apenas se da aquí.
Un libro que amplía y enriquece los dos anteriores, dándoles otro sentido al que parecían tener, que ilumina y cambia la idea que estaba dando de Talamasca y la reconcilia con la imagen que dio de ella en "Crónicas vampíricas", que enriquece aún más la idea que nos veníamos haciendo de las brujas Mayfair (la rama blanca. No olvidemos que hay una rama de la familia de raza negra de la que apenas se habló aquí y que sí sale en "Crónicas vampíricas") y que por supuesto da un giro absoluto a la nefasta idea que teníamos del los Taltos, gracias al funesto Lasher.
Este libro me ha resultado interesante de principio a fin con un crescendo ininterrumpido y un final genial que me encantó. GL (Restos de serie. Brujas Mayfair)
August 26, 2011
!!Warning; Can contian spoilers if you haven't read The Witching Hour and Lasher!!
Taltos is the story which birthed the journey of Lasher and the Mayfairs taken in The Witching Hour and Lasher. Yet it also furthers the relationship development between Michael Curry and Rowan Mayfair. After all the tumultuous events in Lasher I tumbled in to a story that I found very bittersweet to read at times. There are more troubles ahead for the Mayfairs. Characters who I had to say goodbye to and more history to absorb from newly introduced characters. Once more, Anne Rice put me through the emotional wringer in Taltos. I absolutely fell in love over the course of this trilogy with the magic of her storytelling but it also took a lot out of me.
The bittersweet unfolding of Rowena and Michael's situation didn't give much room for happy moments. The painstakingly honest dialogues, the sharing of opinions about personal and family matters leave nothing to the imagination. There is no lovey-dovey romance here but an irrevocable bond forged through an attraction that defies all. There is adversity and survival but no sunshine and daisies or an over the top happily ever after for them. Oh no, it is a double-edged sword of pleasure and pain. It has a gritty vibe yet the core of them burns fierce for one another. No matter what they individual decide it is their form of love that fuses them together. The complexity of Rowan and Michael's relationship in gradually layered through the three books. It is but one example how Anne Rice has deepened and enriched various storylines and characterization over the course of this trilogy. I have a penchant for complex and dark romance but even for me it was at times hard to digest all the dilemmas this main couple faced. I wanted some happy time as well but never really got it, not even at the ending, which left a tinge of sadness as I closed this book.
Another complex character was Taltos himself. The very thought of such a being tantalizes my fantasy. He was vast intelligence wedded to primal instinct with at times innocent reactions or emotions. Every single time a character opens up about his or her past I'm mesmerized by their stories. They take me back to other times and in the case of Taltos, to forgotten times. Anne Rice spins her own take on the history of the Picts, the creation of Stonehenge and historical England. Via Taltos I was shown a time in which he lived, what his customs and rituals were, how he encountered mankind and how he ultimately got cursed. I was completely absorbed again by the imaginative and at times such detailed storytelling! I was rapidly flipping the pages to discover more and in my queste to discover more I turned to be quite the gluttonous reader.
On the other hand I got a bit tired of the Talamasca. The slow disintegration of their duty to watch but never to interfere was evident. There was scheming within the Talamasca by individuals but I was done with all the scheming on their part. These three self-absorbed characters were annoying the daylights outta me. Before their introduction in Taltos I did not know them, their motivations contrived and they failed to add any suspense to the overall plotline. The Elders also irked me, I was to be believed they never came forward in moments of need and loss of structure. Or when a being of significant importance to their history was brought over, that they would not react. That they would choose to be forever cloaked in mystery. For me the dialogues and story development between Taltos and the Mayfairs was all that mattered. The Talamasca had lost its effect and function for me at a certain point in the story.
The arrival of Mona Mayfair in Lasher allowed the plot to thicken that much more in Taltos. She is a strong headed teenager and together with the spunky Mary Jane they added an exuberance with their antics and interactions. Both were quick witted and I instantly liked them. Even with things that were hard to swallow, such as the pregnancy, it wasn't an uncommon thing in the Mayfair family. Anne Rice has created a family with its own set of customs, rituals, habits and structure. They fascinated me to no end and it was this very factor that made me read on and on from the first page in The Witching Hour. All these woman, whether strong, normal or weak, they all came alive with their quirks. Many had an imperative part to play and I cherished them for it.
With the ending I found some closure but many questions are left unanswered. Perhaps this is what Anne Rice wanted, to leave many things to the imagination of the reader and it does fit the complete vibe of the storytelling. Still, with such an intense emotional investment in reading this trilogy I would've liked an ending that gives a bit more satisfaction. I'm left with questions and an image of resignation, that in the end the Mayfairs have been pawns in the larger scheme of things. While Michael and Rowena's gestures speak of approval, what did they think of the final moments? What is in store for them now? How will Mona deal with the decisions made? What did the Talamsca do with Tessa? Smaller story threads found a conclusion but the bigger picture is definitely left to the imagination of the reader. I stand divided about it, at one hand I find it completely fitting and at the other hand I wanted an ending that left me with the knowledge that after all this pain and strife the Mayfairs are in a good place. And I did not get that notion...
3.5 stars
Taltos is the story which birthed the journey of Lasher and the Mayfairs taken in The Witching Hour and Lasher. Yet it also furthers the relationship development between Michael Curry and Rowan Mayfair. After all the tumultuous events in Lasher I tumbled in to a story that I found very bittersweet to read at times. There are more troubles ahead for the Mayfairs. Characters who I had to say goodbye to and more history to absorb from newly introduced characters. Once more, Anne Rice put me through the emotional wringer in Taltos. I absolutely fell in love over the course of this trilogy with the magic of her storytelling but it also took a lot out of me.
The bittersweet unfolding of Rowena and Michael's situation didn't give much room for happy moments. The painstakingly honest dialogues, the sharing of opinions about personal and family matters leave nothing to the imagination. There is no lovey-dovey romance here but an irrevocable bond forged through an attraction that defies all. There is adversity and survival but no sunshine and daisies or an over the top happily ever after for them. Oh no, it is a double-edged sword of pleasure and pain. It has a gritty vibe yet the core of them burns fierce for one another. No matter what they individual decide it is their form of love that fuses them together. The complexity of Rowan and Michael's relationship in gradually layered through the three books. It is but one example how Anne Rice has deepened and enriched various storylines and characterization over the course of this trilogy. I have a penchant for complex and dark romance but even for me it was at times hard to digest all the dilemmas this main couple faced. I wanted some happy time as well but never really got it, not even at the ending, which left a tinge of sadness as I closed this book.
Another complex character was Taltos himself. The very thought of such a being tantalizes my fantasy. He was vast intelligence wedded to primal instinct with at times innocent reactions or emotions. Every single time a character opens up about his or her past I'm mesmerized by their stories. They take me back to other times and in the case of Taltos, to forgotten times. Anne Rice spins her own take on the history of the Picts, the creation of Stonehenge and historical England. Via Taltos I was shown a time in which he lived, what his customs and rituals were, how he encountered mankind and how he ultimately got cursed. I was completely absorbed again by the imaginative and at times such detailed storytelling! I was rapidly flipping the pages to discover more and in my queste to discover more I turned to be quite the gluttonous reader.
On the other hand I got a bit tired of the Talamasca. The slow disintegration of their duty to watch but never to interfere was evident. There was scheming within the Talamasca by individuals but I was done with all the scheming on their part. These three self-absorbed characters were annoying the daylights outta me. Before their introduction in Taltos I did not know them, their motivations contrived and they failed to add any suspense to the overall plotline. The Elders also irked me, I was to be believed they never came forward in moments of need and loss of structure. Or when a being of significant importance to their history was brought over, that they would not react. That they would choose to be forever cloaked in mystery. For me the dialogues and story development between Taltos and the Mayfairs was all that mattered. The Talamasca had lost its effect and function for me at a certain point in the story.
The arrival of Mona Mayfair in Lasher allowed the plot to thicken that much more in Taltos. She is a strong headed teenager and together with the spunky Mary Jane they added an exuberance with their antics and interactions. Both were quick witted and I instantly liked them. Even with things that were hard to swallow, such as the pregnancy, it wasn't an uncommon thing in the Mayfair family. Anne Rice has created a family with its own set of customs, rituals, habits and structure. They fascinated me to no end and it was this very factor that made me read on and on from the first page in The Witching Hour. All these woman, whether strong, normal or weak, they all came alive with their quirks. Many had an imperative part to play and I cherished them for it.
With the ending I found some closure but many questions are left unanswered. Perhaps this is what Anne Rice wanted, to leave many things to the imagination of the reader and it does fit the complete vibe of the storytelling. Still, with such an intense emotional investment in reading this trilogy I would've liked an ending that gives a bit more satisfaction. I'm left with questions and an image of resignation, that in the end the Mayfairs have been pawns in the larger scheme of things. While Michael and Rowena's gestures speak of approval, what did they think of the final moments? What is in store for them now? How will Mona deal with the decisions made? What did the Talamsca do with Tessa? Smaller story threads found a conclusion but the bigger picture is definitely left to the imagination of the reader. I stand divided about it, at one hand I find it completely fitting and at the other hand I wanted an ending that left me with the knowledge that after all this pain and strife the Mayfairs are in a good place. And I did not get that notion...
3.5 stars
October 28, 2012
It took me a while to get around to this third installment of Rice's Mayfair trilogy. I started it a while back and realized I couldn't quite handle it yet so I moved on to other things for a while then came back and was able to finish it. There's just something about this story, from beginning to end (1st book to 3rd book) that has gotten under my skin. It's one of those stories I won't soon forget... beautifully written yet intensely disturbing. The perfect formula for an unforgettable tale.
Anyway, as to this book specifically I just have to say... Rice's vision of the "Taltos," a forgotten, practically extinct race of beings that are so close to human they can pass as human but the differences are so NOT human, and THEY ARE SO CREEPY, well it's brilliant to say the least. These beings have been around since the dawn of time and when humans began making an appearance the Taltos made fun of them, describing them as "hairy monkey things." As humankind evolved and advanced, the Taltos managed to stay out of their way, until disaster struck and their "paradise," their island of plenty, fell into the sea. The surviving Taltos were forced to journey to the bitter cold land of Britain where they managed to hang on. (Being able to give birth to walking, talking, fully knowing children was a definite plus in terms of replenishing their numbers). They were able to pass as human for a long time, until humans became smart enough to question why they had no "young" and finally began to catch on to the differences. Of course mass slaughter of the Taltos was the inevitable outcome; pretty obvious social commentary here. However, the graphic scenes of Taltos being forced to procreate as part of religious ceremonies (the "children" are born almost instantly upon conception), offspring being forced to procreate and then being tossed into the fire and on and on until the people were satisfied enough "sacrifice" had taken place... well, I had nightmares to say the least. It's the mark of a very good author when a story sticks to you like this.
I don't know how I feel about the ending. Happy and horrified at the same time I guess. Rice kinda sorta left it open for another sequel, but I really hope that never, ever happens. I honestly don't even want to know what could potentially happen next...
Anyway, as to this book specifically I just have to say... Rice's vision of the "Taltos," a forgotten, practically extinct race of beings that are so close to human they can pass as human but the differences are so NOT human, and THEY ARE SO CREEPY, well it's brilliant to say the least. These beings have been around since the dawn of time and when humans began making an appearance the Taltos made fun of them, describing them as "hairy monkey things." As humankind evolved and advanced, the Taltos managed to stay out of their way, until disaster struck and their "paradise," their island of plenty, fell into the sea. The surviving Taltos were forced to journey to the bitter cold land of Britain where they managed to hang on. (Being able to give birth to walking, talking, fully knowing children was a definite plus in terms of replenishing their numbers). They were able to pass as human for a long time, until humans became smart enough to question why they had no "young" and finally began to catch on to the differences. Of course mass slaughter of the Taltos was the inevitable outcome; pretty obvious social commentary here. However, the graphic scenes of Taltos being forced to procreate as part of religious ceremonies (the "children" are born almost instantly upon conception), offspring being forced to procreate and then being tossed into the fire and on and on until the people were satisfied enough "sacrifice" had taken place... well, I had nightmares to say the least. It's the mark of a very good author when a story sticks to you like this.
I don't know how I feel about the ending. Happy and horrified at the same time I guess. Rice kinda sorta left it open for another sequel, but I really hope that never, ever happens. I honestly don't even want to know what could potentially happen next...
August 31, 2017
Still full of excitement... Hard to write a review...
First of all, I am happy I have finished reading all "Mayfair witches" series. After "Vampire Chronicles" I thought that "Mayfair witches" won't be so good and I'll be disappointed... BUT... I wasn't. All these three books were as good as Vampire Chronicles. Anne Rice is my favorite author, I'm fascinated how she created such families, their histories, family trees and everything else. And I just love when she mixes real history with her fiction, it's like..."revealing truth of hidden historical facts".
Her characters are brilliant. They all remind me of some people I know, or of myself. In this book I mostly was amazed by Ashlar. I must say, my heart was touched by every single part about dolls. I even did notes of some quotes. The way author writes about dolls, makes me so...I don't know..very touched. Dolls for me are my whole life, my children, my family...and when I found these scenes about dolls in this book, I had to read few times everything again to get stuck in my mind. Parts about dolls- were my favorite. It's like her thoughts came out of my mind. Anne Rice is a brilliant author, because she can touch every single reader's heart.
I wish there would be more books about this family of witches. It's such a story that you want to know more and more. Since I'm very interested in genealogy, I am trying to make a family tree of these witches. All this genealogy thing in these books made me so excited!
First of all, I am happy I have finished reading all "Mayfair witches" series. After "Vampire Chronicles" I thought that "Mayfair witches" won't be so good and I'll be disappointed... BUT... I wasn't. All these three books were as good as Vampire Chronicles. Anne Rice is my favorite author, I'm fascinated how she created such families, their histories, family trees and everything else. And I just love when she mixes real history with her fiction, it's like..."revealing truth of hidden historical facts".
Her characters are brilliant. They all remind me of some people I know, or of myself. In this book I mostly was amazed by Ashlar. I must say, my heart was touched by every single part about dolls. I even did notes of some quotes. The way author writes about dolls, makes me so...I don't know..very touched. Dolls for me are my whole life, my children, my family...and when I found these scenes about dolls in this book, I had to read few times everything again to get stuck in my mind. Parts about dolls- were my favorite. It's like her thoughts came out of my mind. Anne Rice is a brilliant author, because she can touch every single reader's heart.
I wish there would be more books about this family of witches. It's such a story that you want to know more and more. Since I'm very interested in genealogy, I am trying to make a family tree of these witches. All this genealogy thing in these books made me so excited!
April 12, 2022
”Be old enough and patient enough for kinds of love, seasons of it, be quite in your soul so that when happiness comes again you will know it�
I think this is my favourite one in the trilogy. After I finished Lasher I honestly couldn’t think how Rice would continue with the story, but as always she came out of the left field, and entertain me with a tale I couldn’t believe.
I think this is my favourite one in the trilogy. After I finished Lasher I honestly couldn’t think how Rice would continue with the story, but as always she came out of the left field, and entertain me with a tale I couldn’t believe.
October 3, 2013
A profoundly dumb conclusion to the series. It's Anne Rice—I don't expect Chekhov. I liked "The Witching Hour" because it was smutty and dark. But the answers we receive in this book are so dumb that they reduce a good ghost story to the level of weird, sci-fi slash fiction. This is "The Force is caused by midichlorians," level stuff. The series would have been so much better if it had just ended as a sort of open-ended horror tragedy after book one.
February 14, 2014
Well, Anne Rice is definitely committed to her vision.
May 10, 2024
After reading the vampire chronicles I wanted to give this a go and so glad I did a good trilogy from start to finish from religion to witches to New Orleans to London a must read
August 30, 2010
This is the final book in the original trilogy. I've found two others with Mayfair Witch characters but they are mixed up with the Vampires in those two books, and I'm not sure I really want to deal with either of them.
We finally get to know a real Taltos in this book. One who was around when disaster struck this not-quite-human species. They are normally a separate species, but even though Ash doesn't remember a time when the two species were a single one, they have to have been one at some time because they can interbreed, and have, over and over again according to his story.
Once again there are multiple tales in this book. A couple of them in the present day. One about Mona and her child and a second one where we find out what was really going on with the Talamasca, who turn out to have a dark and angry side of their own.
But primarily we find out about the history of the Taltos.
I had a wonderful time with all three books, once again, and I'm sorry that time is over.
We finally get to know a real Taltos in this book. One who was around when disaster struck this not-quite-human species. They are normally a separate species, but even though Ash doesn't remember a time when the two species were a single one, they have to have been one at some time because they can interbreed, and have, over and over again according to his story.
Once again there are multiple tales in this book. A couple of them in the present day. One about Mona and her child and a second one where we find out what was really going on with the Talamasca, who turn out to have a dark and angry side of their own.
But primarily we find out about the history of the Taltos.
I had a wonderful time with all three books, once again, and I'm sorry that time is over.
July 13, 2022
I read this book before. It was many many many many many many years ago but I read this book before. And I had no memory of it. You could not pay me to give you a synopsis of anything that happened in this book prior to my reread. It has been over 20 years since I read the trilogy, so I will say that definitely colored my memory. And a lot of the things that happened in book one I attributed to book 2 and three respectively. But now I think I know why I didn’t remember anything from this book.
The first book was the best in the series. And while I really like the storytelling that we got in the second installment because it enriched the history of the Mayfair family, the third book while giving me so much of the history that I love overall didn’t actually have much of a plot. There was a lot of storytelling, and while I think Anne Rice has a beautiful prose when it comes to that storytelling, there’s no larger over arcing plot at this point. So while I was really invested in the chapters while I was reading them there was no motivation to keep going because we weren’t looking forward to anything.
I really liked learning the history of the taltos, I really enjoyed seeing how the author took all of these things from human history that we don’t have explanations for and wove them in ways that perfectly utilize the setting to the fantasy that she was building. It was artfully done and I love it. Still, outside of learning that history which is not real history, there’s nothing. The first book had us stressed at Lasher‘s machinations. The second book had us scared of what else he was bringing to the table, what other horrors he would unleash. Book 3 didn’t have any of that gravitas. And I think it might have been better to extend Lasher‘s story into the third book simply to have a nice conclusion point.
I know that this series does eventually continue into a crossover with the vampire Chronicles, but I have never read that. I actually stopped reading the vampire Chronicles just before the crossover event. So I cannot say whether or not the way that this ended would be fixed in anyway in the coming novels. But I will say that compared to the intensity of the first two books this one was a letdown. Still beautiful story telling in all of our history lessons, but there was not much else outside of that.
The first book was the best in the series. And while I really like the storytelling that we got in the second installment because it enriched the history of the Mayfair family, the third book while giving me so much of the history that I love overall didn’t actually have much of a plot. There was a lot of storytelling, and while I think Anne Rice has a beautiful prose when it comes to that storytelling, there’s no larger over arcing plot at this point. So while I was really invested in the chapters while I was reading them there was no motivation to keep going because we weren’t looking forward to anything.
I really liked learning the history of the taltos, I really enjoyed seeing how the author took all of these things from human history that we don’t have explanations for and wove them in ways that perfectly utilize the setting to the fantasy that she was building. It was artfully done and I love it. Still, outside of learning that history which is not real history, there’s nothing. The first book had us stressed at Lasher‘s machinations. The second book had us scared of what else he was bringing to the table, what other horrors he would unleash. Book 3 didn’t have any of that gravitas. And I think it might have been better to extend Lasher‘s story into the third book simply to have a nice conclusion point.
I know that this series does eventually continue into a crossover with the vampire Chronicles, but I have never read that. I actually stopped reading the vampire Chronicles just before the crossover event. So I cannot say whether or not the way that this ended would be fixed in anyway in the coming novels. But I will say that compared to the intensity of the first two books this one was a letdown. Still beautiful story telling in all of our history lessons, but there was not much else outside of that.
October 7, 2015
I was almost considering not reading this book--not because I didn't enjoy the 2 earlier installments of the Mayfair Chronicles, but because they were just so....meandering. I often had to force myself to work through the denser, long-winded descriptions and too-drawn-out, chapters-spanning monologues of characters recounting every last detail of their backstories that Rice seems to be quite fond of. But I pushed through for my love of her expertly-crafted characters and spellbinding world.
So I was completely taken aback when "Taltos" ended up becoming my favorite book of the series. It was almost the same length as "Lasher," the preceding title, and yet the writing was far more compact and relevant. We still get Rice's long and beautiful descriptions, but within reason. There is only one chapters-spanning backstory monologue in this novel, and most of it remained both interesting and significant. The new characters Rice introduces are captivating and fit right in with the rest of the cast.
"Taltos" was probably the only book of the series that I consistently had trouble putting down--definitely a page-turner. I am sad to see the Mayfair Chronicles dwindle to a close, especially with an ending like this; I want to know what happens next! All in all, this series has been a wonderful ride, and I highly recommend all three books to anyone even remotely intrigued by the supernatural.
So I was completely taken aback when "Taltos" ended up becoming my favorite book of the series. It was almost the same length as "Lasher," the preceding title, and yet the writing was far more compact and relevant. We still get Rice's long and beautiful descriptions, but within reason. There is only one chapters-spanning backstory monologue in this novel, and most of it remained both interesting and significant. The new characters Rice introduces are captivating and fit right in with the rest of the cast.
"Taltos" was probably the only book of the series that I consistently had trouble putting down--definitely a page-turner. I am sad to see the Mayfair Chronicles dwindle to a close, especially with an ending like this; I want to know what happens next! All in all, this series has been a wonderful ride, and I highly recommend all three books to anyone even remotely intrigued by the supernatural.
April 25, 2009
Culmination of the Mayfair Witches' trilogy, this sometimes feels as though it's an entirely separate book as much of it is concerned with the relating of Ashlar's tale, which is a delicious mix of history with myths and legends, all imbued with the inevitable sadness that comes from having lived a centuries-long life.
The events concerning the Mayfair's (other than Rowan and Michael, who simply listen to Ashlar for the most part) and the reclamation of the Talamasca are relegated to the sidelines, which is a shame as I would have liked to have seen a little more to these stories, particularly in the case of the Talamasca (though that part does have a fantastically grisly punishment at it's conclusion).
I enjoyed elements pertaining to Mona and Mary Jane, and would have liked to have found out a little bit more about the Fountevrault Mayfair's, but was slightly ambivalent about Morrigan and this part of the story was that which I enjoyed least.
It's arguable that this book is the least necessary in the series as it was hard to see where things could go after the events in the last book, which would have seemed a more natural conclusion, but nevertheless this was still highly enjoyable and definitely worth a read.
The events concerning the Mayfair's (other than Rowan and Michael, who simply listen to Ashlar for the most part) and the reclamation of the Talamasca are relegated to the sidelines, which is a shame as I would have liked to have seen a little more to these stories, particularly in the case of the Talamasca (though that part does have a fantastically grisly punishment at it's conclusion).
I enjoyed elements pertaining to Mona and Mary Jane, and would have liked to have found out a little bit more about the Fountevrault Mayfair's, but was slightly ambivalent about Morrigan and this part of the story was that which I enjoyed least.
It's arguable that this book is the least necessary in the series as it was hard to see where things could go after the events in the last book, which would have seemed a more natural conclusion, but nevertheless this was still highly enjoyable and definitely worth a read.
Read
September 8, 2017Bad to the point of being unreadable. I finally gave up reading and skimmed the rest.
I rate this a 0, but ŷ doesn't have a zero.
Each book in this series declines as Rice uses badly theorized pseudo-science to explain away witchcraft and demons. I (and lots of other readers, having read some reviews) would have just preferred less outrageously bad scientific rationale. Evil can be magic and spirits. That's okay.
And Mona's character just becomes ludicrous and unbelievable. Also, YUCK. Just. Yuck.
I rate this a 0, but ŷ doesn't have a zero.
Each book in this series declines as Rice uses badly theorized pseudo-science to explain away witchcraft and demons. I (and lots of other readers, having read some reviews) would have just preferred less outrageously bad scientific rationale. Evil can be magic and spirits. That's okay.
And Mona's character just becomes ludicrous and unbelievable. Also, YUCK. Just. Yuck.
September 14, 2017
No. Gross. Awful. Never again.
No more freaky tall babies fucking each other. No more thirteen year olds getting pregnant with freaky tall babies fucking each other. This series has essentially ruined Anne Rices writing for me.
Easiest way to get through this book was skipping the Taltos chapters. The only good character was Mary Jane, had a weird fascination with the way she spoke.
Now, to read a hopefully better book than these trash heaps.
Real rating -100000/5, or GOD PLEASE NO/5
No more freaky tall babies fucking each other. No more thirteen year olds getting pregnant with freaky tall babies fucking each other. This series has essentially ruined Anne Rices writing for me.
Easiest way to get through this book was skipping the Taltos chapters. The only good character was Mary Jane, had a weird fascination with the way she spoke.
Now, to read a hopefully better book than these trash heaps.
Real rating -100000/5, or GOD PLEASE NO/5
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