Blackwood Farm - Anne Rice

Advantages: Lose yourself in amazing tales and subliminaly soak up the history
Disadvantages: Lose touch with the rest of the world until the tale is told

...finished reading her newest novel Blackwood Farm. It is one of her longer ones, 530 pages long in hardback and 52 chapters. Unusually I had been a bit disappointed with Blood and Gold so had not started Blackwood farm with as much enthusiasm as I normally would with an A.R novel. I was wrong and very soon hooked. Blackwood Farm is set on, surprise surprise, Blackwood Farm in New Orleans and introduces a new vampire to the chronicles: Tarquin Blackwood ...
...and bloody past of the Blackwood family and the terrible things that have happened to Quinn’s ancestors which in the end all tie together and seal his and his families fate. He eventually falls desperately in love with a Mayfair but this is doomed from the start and will move you to tears in the end. I have to say the way Quinn is ‘bought over’ is by far the most ingenious and totally gross way that A.R has conceived so far, I am trying my best ... Read review

Advantages: Always well written**Good colourful character**A new character just as enchanting as the rest
Disadvantages: non so far

...lost in the world of Blackwood Farm from the very beginning, and the main character Tarquin Blackwood is one of her best characters at least in my mind. On the cover of the book there is an image of Tarquin, with haunted looking eyes. Actually I'm not sure if it's meant to be Tarquin or Goblin, but I'll explain Goblin to you in a minute. The story goes, that the whole time Tarquin has been growing up, before he can remember, he has always had a ...
...Sugar Devil Swamp that surrounds Blackwood Farm, and the island that is hidden somewhere in the swamp. Also on the farm is a very memorable and mysterious character called Rebecca, who was murdered by Quinn's Great Great Grandfather Manfred, as well as by a mystery vampire who makes herself known later on in the book. This vampire is the same one who finally makes Quinn a vampire. Blackwood Farm is one of Anne Rice's longer books, and my hands were ... Read review

Advantages: A WONDERFUL return to true Rice
Disadvantages: What disadvantages?

...up in a large mansion, Blackwood Farm, with his "shadow", his best friend that no one but him can see, named Goblin, his grandmother SweetHeart, and his great-grandfather Gravier. Of course there are other staples, the maids (Jasmine in particular) and the house men, all the people necessary to make such a beautiful mansion run perfectly as a bed and breakfast. I digress. Anyway, the fledgling, named Quinn, is desparate. His "Goblin" is beginning ...
...blood that Quinn takes for nourishment. And, having developed a taste for blood, Quinn justly fears what Goblin might do, so he appeals, knowing it is a death sentance to go to Lestat's flat in New Orleans, to the most famous and dangerous vampire of them all, Lestat. He makes a plea in his letter, perhaps stroking the vanity of this vampire, with the mention of Cameos. And, although he knows this is a death sentance, he pleads with Lestat, in his ... Read review

Advantages: Continues the vampire chronicles, attention-grabbing
Disadvantages: Slightly predictable in places

Similarly to 'Blood and Gold' and 'Vittorio the Vampire', 'Blackwood Farm' introduces yet another new character into the ever-popular Vampire Chronicles. Overall, the storyline is original as ever, and proves Rice's ability to keep your attention to the story - I found it very hard to put down the book after I started reading! The characters are well-rounded and described in a way that makes them seem almost real. This book seems to link in with ...
...Witches'; it also refers to events from one of the previous vampire chronicles, 'Merrick' so I would not recommend reading 'Blackwood Farm' until after reading 'Merrick' The only weak point in this book is that the story is predictable in some places, although the book's addictiveness proves and Anne Rice has certainly not lost her touch. ... Read review

Advantages: mysterious, captivating, exciting. Anne Rice at her best!
Disadvantages: very hard to put down!!

...most fantastic character in Tarquin Blackwood since Lestat himself. No offence Lestat! i've been reading Anne 's books for about 5 years now and i think i've got all of them under my belt, trust me when i say this is one of the most innovative novels she has written since inventing the Taltos. Its a must for fans but would also suit the new-comer to her books as it starts a new adventure with a new cast except Lestat. This book brings to your attention ...
...well as in Fantasy. Tarquin Blackwood is haunted by a wicked spirit who is later revealed to be connected to him from birth. the books gives you some wonderfully colourfull characters such as Aunt Queen and Jasmin. it also brings in the powerful mayfair witches who we have see in their own chronicals. So, it will have you wanting more from the offset and if your new to Anne Rice you'll definatly want to find her other books. ... Read review