Lasher

Great book.

I decided to read the books again after many years after seeing the AMC series. I used to read Ann's books when they first came out. Then for some reason she started painfully going on and on with the characters thoughts and their guilt. Sometimes pages of it that I found boring. That being said with rereading it I skipped over those pages and could enjoy the story. My favorite is Michael and Aaron and the history of Stella and Julian. AMC decided to combine Michael and Aaron and completely skip Stella and Julian. They put the whole book in one season instead of splitting it into 2 seasons and staying true to the books. This review is for the book and I do suggest you read it and skim through the guilty thoughts parts.

I am not sure these reviews are read by the authors or publishers - or even Amazon employees. However, I have a major complaint. I will explain, but the issues detailed here meanThe earlier works by Anne Rice need to be made available in electronic format. This applies to other author and books as well.Electronic book pricing is the same if not more than paper publications depending on whether the book is new or used, so I cannot comprehend any reluctance that publishers may have about providing all books by a given author in electroic format. Also, I believe electronic books are less prone to loaning out or selling used. I loaned the entire Sookie Stackhouse series to my best friend, but I have yet to loan out a single electronic book as I am not willing to give up my IPAD, even to my father who is elderly and living with us (selfish, I know. Told him he can buy a Kindle/IPAD and I'd manage the electronic side!) So I actually believe the physical books (paper in other words) are more likely to be shared which definitely cuts into the profits of publishers and authors.I would assume people who have purchased an electronic reading device will agree that it is superior to physical publications for a number of reasons. The following list mentions only a few.1. Ease of readability due to ability to change background and fonts. As we grow older, we truly appreciate being able to read without glasses (which frankly give me a headache due to eye strain)2. Ability to read in the dark without an awkward reading light. Wonderful for reading in bed with partner and in the car after dark3. Conservation of shelf space. I read ALOT. I finish a book on average in one or two days. Right now I am reading at least 2-3 a week. My house is simply full of books. So I give those I do not want to re-read to friends, sell them to used Bookstores or donate them to a worthy organization. Again a real profit cutter for publishers as they do not earn a dime from those who read my books. Those readers obviously like the same types of books so they might have purchased them otherwise.4. Ease of purchase. No trips to bookstore or shipping costs. Awesome. I do not plan to buy books in paper format again.5. Immediate availability. I can purchase a book in seconds and immediately start it. We are a spoiled bunch of consumers now and I know that when I am really get into a series ANY delay is torture.5. Ability to sample books (seems like about 25 pages or so at least). This has led me into buying even more books and the discovery of great authors. Very exciting and again good for the publishers, Amazon, so forth.I am not sure why there seems to be reluctance and even fear about electronic books. As a CPA and consultant with well over 20 years experience I view this as an incredible opportunity to make money. Sure seems like a winning situation for the publishers AND the purchasers. If I were in the business, I would formulate a business plan to take advantage of this new technology promote more authors, provide more books and make more money. The savings on materials and binding alone I would imagine is significant.BOTTOM LINE: I REFUSE TO PURCHASE THE OLDER MAYFAIR WITCH AND VAMPIRE books until electroic versions are available. As that is quite a large number of books and will also eliminate the sales of the newer books currently avaiable through Kindle Store, this is a fairly significant loss to the publisher, author and Amazon - even from one customer. When you consider other consumers who might have similar opinions, this could add up to a loss worthy of consideration even by large corporations.I realize this is probably the wrong forum for this narrative, but I hope someone reads this and really considers the opportunities and problems at hand.Thank you,Your Discouraged and Voracious Reader who is LOVING the electronic format!

Anne Rice was a literary genius whose imagination has captivated generations.The descriptions are so amazing, you are transported to the places she describes in your mind. The language she uses is brilliance and beauty. It pains me to watch the adaptation as it is a butchery of the magic of Anne Rice and diminishes her literary legacy.

Lasher has a lot going for it. Some spoilers in this review so beware! The sequel to "The Witching Hour" hits the ground running right after the cliffhanger ending of that previous novel. Lasher is in the flesh and is about as evil and horrible a being as there ever was, yet with a certain chilling innocence and candor. He is just as manipulative and ruthless as he was as a spirit, and it turns out he is actually a different species than human and he is hoping to repopulate the earth with his own kind.We learn interesting things about the genetics of the Mayfair witches and Michael. We see Rowan, still conflicted as her heart is with Michael but she is fascinated by Lasher and what he is as well. There is a prophecy and a long flashback from Julien"s ghost so you know where the story is headed. Lasher gets a big flashback scene as well and we get to know his whole backstory. Lots of it is good old vintage gothic horror as only Anne Rice can write.So why 3 stars? Well.... Anne Rice got a bit too into certain aspects of the story that made the overall experience of the novel fairly unpleasant. Rowan goes through a lot of abuse at the hands of Lasher that is painful to read. Rapes, miscarriages, being duct taped and left for days on an old mattress. Just awful. And senseless - Lasher needs Rowan to accomplish his goals and it is amazing she doesn't die before halfway through the novel. Rowan was a very interesting character in the first novel but is relegated to a helpless prisoner role that is overall a minor point in the story. Instead, the main female romantic lead is...... A little girl!Remember Mona Mayfair from the first book? She always had a bow in her hair and was a flower girl at the wedding? The impression given was a 8-10 year old at most. It is revealed in this novel suddenly that she is 13 and is a precocious genius and a powerful witch as well as being beautiful and very voluptuous for her age. She actively seduces Michael while Rowan is away. She self proclaims that she had "eradicated" her own virginity and started experimenting with partners at the age of 8. She usually experiments with her relatives (since incest is de rigeur in these novels). Her inner and outer dialogue is super-annoying and filled with big words in a way that even a "genius" would almost never use and it doesn't seem authentic. just like showing off. The pedophile theme repeats itself multiple times in Julien's flashback.Also Michael is supposed to be a "good" character!!! And though Mona really practically forces him into it is not pleasant to read about a 48 year old man having sex with a 13 year old girl in excruciating detail. Over and over again. At least it is pretty easy to skim over these parts of the story.Also, though the end is heavily foreshadowed and makes sense within the book's universe, I kind of wish they didn't do what they did to Lasher. I mean he was one of a kind and it would have been believable if they opted to give him more of a chance. Oh well - In the end not a bad book altogether but the overall effect is a distasteful and unpleasant read due to the violence and pedophilic aspects of the book.

Looking forward to reading this book when I finish the other book in the series.

Better than the first book - the witching hour

Very good print and quality.

Looking forward to reading this. Arrived in ok used condition.

Not an easy read but, so worth it!!! Mrs. Rice’s descriptive writing keeps my imagination flowing. I love this author. Rest In Peace, Anne. Xoxo

Am re-reading and it is nice to have pocket book size