Like I said after reading Blackwood Farm, I'd better read Taltos next. Am glad I have done. I finished it on Sunday, (11th,) so it took me considerably less time to read than the other two "Lives of The Mayfair Witches" novels. At 520 pages in small print, for the paperback version, it is not a "quick read". Although slow to start, the plot soon draws you in, and I found myself no wanting to put it down.
For those of you have read The Witching Hour and Lasher, Taltos in this novel is the same type of being as Lasher, but without his controlling nature.
To read the synopsis from Anne Rice's website click here
There were one or two things that disappointed me in this novel, just niggly things although I am guessing the bulk of the copies of Taltos were sold in the USA, and these things wouldn't bother US reader. We have roads and motorways here in the UK, not highways, another thing was again just a language difference thing, but I've forgotten what it was, so it wasn't too bad. The other thing was we haven't had pound notes since 1982, it was just something that made me take notice at the time, as I presumed the novel is contemporary to when it was written.
Apart from those, I loved the way Anne Rice developed Mona Mayfair's character, and the introduction of Mary Jane Mayfair was just the right touch of humour. As a foil to Ash, the Taltos, Samuel was well developed, and never farcical, although he could have been. (No, I won't say who Samuel is, read the book to find out.) The speed with which Mona's pregnancy progresses would be shocking to someone who had just picked up Taltos as a random read, but I don't think it would spoil their enjoyment, as sufficient background is supplied.
I thoroughly enjoyed Taltos.
I love Anne Rice's books. Well, the Mayfair Witch series, and the Vampire Chronicles. This volume starts to bring together the Vampire Chronicles and Mayfair Witches.
Quinn Blackwood deliberately searches out Lestat at the start of the book, then Quinn relates the history that has brought him to act as he does. The plotline,[ as with all of Anne Rice's books that I have read,] is well crafted and has surprises
This one, even though 530 pages long, took me much less time to read than some others. I do have "Blood Canticle", which is the next and last Vampire Chronicle, but I feel I should read "Taltos" before reading it as I believe "Blood Canticle" ties together the Mayfair Witches and the Vampire Chronicles
For more information about Blackwood Farm, click here.