The Servant of the Bones is in many ways a classic piece of Rice fiction, following her prefered format but introducing us to a few new ideas. Fans will love it, those not already taken with her work will probably find no reason to change their minds.
As is so often the case with Rice, we ... Read review
Advantages: classic Rice. Disadvantages: perhaps a bit samey.
The Servant of the Bones is in many ways a classic piece of Rice fiction, following her prefered format but introducing us to a few new ideas. Fans will love it, those not already taken with her work will probably find no reason to change their minds.
As is so often the case with Rice, we find ourselves presented with a modern human setting, and a chap called Jonathan who is in something of a retreat in a cabin. He falls ill, and it ... ...life. Azriel is the eponymous servant of the bones, and appears to have come largely to tell his tale ( a familiar format.) Through his narration, we travel back to ancient Babylon, witness strange magics and rituals that take him from innocent youth, to a brief glory representing a god, followed by what has to be one of the msot horrible and prolonged death scenes I have ever read. Babaylon is as splendid and mysterious in this book as any past ... more
The Servant of the Bones is in many ways a classic piece of Rice fiction, following her prefered format but introducing us to a few new ideas. Fans will love it, those not already taken with her work will probably find no reason to change their minds.
As is so often the case with Rice, we find ourselves presented with a modern human setting, and a chap called Jonathan who is in something of a retreat in a cabin. He falls ill, and it is during this period that a striking young man enters his life. Azriel is the eponymous servant of the bones, and appears to have come largely to tell his tale ( a familiar format.) Through his narration, we travel back to ancient Babylon, witness strange magics and rituals that take him from innocent youth, to a brief glory representing a god, followed by what has to be one of the msot horrible and prolonged death scenes I have ever read. Babaylon is as splendid and mysterious in this book as any past Rice has set out to capture.
Azriel's tale in one of rage, violence, occasionail evil and hope. Bound to his bones (Now covered with gold.) he must serve whoever owns those bones. Endowed with supernatural powers, he can travel the world, steal, interact with the living and seems to have few limits. His story however is more often sordid than noble. Having given you the outline, I will spare you the details as discovering exactly how he became as he is, (always a theme with Rice.) is key to the book and I don't want to spoil it for anyone.
The theme of confession runs strongly through Rice's work - the notion that by telling the story we are some how redeemed and the evil of our actions can be lessened. it is tempting to point towards Rice's catholic inclinations as an explanation for her format. This is another haunted, troubled book that will delight you as you read it, but leave you with a strange hollow feeling in your gut once you've got to the end. I am addicted to Rice - I have to read her work but often I find her very depressing.
For anyone looking to get in to Rice, this may be a good place to start - it is typical of her work, but less daunting for being one moderately long book rather than part of some enormous series. It's better paced than the mayfair books and isn't as hampered by hype as the Vampire chronicles. A good read.
Advantages: A good story with mystery and thrills. Disadvantages: The story of how Azriel becomes the Servant is too long.
...having just finished her book Servant of the Bones instead. The cover shows a gold skull laid on red velvet, with a thin lair of cobweb over it. This actually does give a clue, as it is significant to the story. I already knew that the book was about a ghost, and that Anne Rice had based the character on Antonio Banderas. Not himself, but because of the way he looked in the film Interview With The Vampire.
So what’s it all about? A gold skull? ... ...That’s how Azriel became the Servant of the Bones. A casket was made for the bones, and here the spirit of Azriel would lay until a ‘Master’ called him up. His first Master learnt him his powers, showed him what he was capable of. He was told that he could kill if it was necessary but to be kind to the poor and needy.
Through centuries Azriel was passed from Master to Master. Some he killed in an instant because he knew they wanted ...
carolinesite 16.04.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Servant of the Bones - Anne Rice
Advantages: Interesting story and enjoyable story. Disadvantages: Similar layout to her other books.
...will turn him into the servant of the bones. While chanting the rite they throw the gold covered Azriel into a cauldron of boiling gold, unable to take the pain Azriels spirit leaves his body. When the priest and sorceress empty the cauldron they have the gold covered bones that Azriel is now bound to. In his rage Azriel kills both the priest and the sorceress. He then collected his bones and set off to find out what happed to him and what he is.
... ...Through his time as the servant of the bones Azriel had many master, some were good and so Azriel remained with them but others were evil so he killed them.
After many centuries Azriel was called upon, but he didn’t know by whom. The first thing he knew he saw a young woman murdered in a shop by three men. He kills the three men, not knowing what else he is supposed to do. He then searches for his bones and the person who summoned him and tries ...
Azurel 14.04.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Servant of the Bones - Anne Rice
Advantages: Whiles away the lonely nights.... Disadvantages: You can feel somewhat depressed since his life is so extraordinary....And dull compared to your own....
Welcome to the superb, awe-inspiring world of Anne Rice! It is hard to classify this book, as Anne Rice cleverly combines genres such as romance, the supernatural, and historical elements into one gripping novel. The perfectly described world of Azriel ( a spirit ) takes you on a journey over the centuries, starting in Babylon, the "city of God". This novel has the winning set out of Rice's famous book Interview With The Vampire, and has such brilliant ...
TifaJamieson 15.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Servant of the Bones - Anne Rice
Advantages: Good book to read if never read Anne Rice books before Disadvantages: This is a sad tale, if you are looking for happy, don't read.
This is a great book to read if you have never read an Anne Rice tale before. This story is not part of a series as is her usual style with the Vampire Chronicles and the Tales of the Mayfair Witches. It is also a great book for any Anne Rice fan, to get a new story not related to the witches or vampires. I enjoyed this book very much, as I am a very big fan of Anne's, and have read all of the vampire and witch tales. I was ready for a new story, ... ...is a very sad tale of tricks and long suffering, so those of you looking for a happy story will want to go with something else. However, if you are a horror fan, or like plot twists or detailed descriptive background stories of deceipt and trickery, not to mention ghosts and the like, then this is a book for you.
It is an excellent tale of grief and long suffering, as told by the main character in a style similar to Interview with the Vampire. If ...
catina122 13.08.2006
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Product Information for "Servant of the Bones - Anne Rice" »
Product details
Type
Fiction
Genre
Horror
Title
Servant of the Bones
Author
Anne Rice
ISBN
0099184427; 0676970036; 0963192566
Manufacturer's product description
This story begins with a murder on modern-day Fifth Avenue in New York and reaches back across the centuries to an equally ruthless Old Testament world. Through the hero, Azriel, it explores the pogroms, the diaspora, arcane mysteries of the Kabbalah, the Fall, and the nature of good and evil.
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