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on 30 December 2000
Out of the many vampire chronicles i have read, i find 'The vampire Armand' is by far the best. It involves the reader emotionally with the feelings between Marius and Armand, so when they are torn apart you can feel the loss greatly. I suggest to any Anne Rice,Vampire lover that they must read 'Armand' it is a complete overview of what vampires strive for. I rated it a four because although it is the best i have read, it has a lot of emotion at the beginning which draws you in but it is not carried on as strongly through the whole book. Definately one of the most brilliant books ever written!
on 1 October 2006
This book was brilliant from beginning to end and has everthing I have come to expect from Anne Rice. Her discriptions of venice where incredible, I could actually see the winding streets of Venice and the famouse canals that run through the city. I could picture the Plazzo with its beautifully decorated rooms of red and gold.
In this book I also found out so much about the relationship between Marius and Armand the romantic scenes between them where really powerful. From this book I found out the Armand saw Marius more as a lover than a master.
This book was fantastic it had romance, action and drama and I would recommond it to anyone.
In this book I also found out so much about the relationship between Marius and Armand the romantic scenes between them where really powerful. From this book I found out the Armand saw Marius more as a lover than a master.
This book was fantastic it had romance, action and drama and I would recommond it to anyone.
on 12 April 2005
Anyone who says this book isnt good didnt read it write. But maybe i am biased i have loved Armand since i first saw him in the film version of interview with the vampire, though Antonio Banderas's portrayal was perfect he didnt look the part. The Auburn haired Angelic Vampire Armand suffered through most of the chronicles until his apparent suicide in Memnoch the Devil, it was only the knowledge that she hadnt truly killed him off that stopped me from doing something very stupid and childish. With high expectations i sat down to read about armand and was not dissapointed, the more she writes the more Anne Rice knows about her characters and though they are imaginary they appear so real and humane. A Vampire is supposed to be an inhuman killer like Dracula, which i loved but gods i do prefer the modern sensitive vampire who hates the death he causes and either takes those who want to die (like Armand) or takes only the evil doer. The majority of the book is spent with Armand as a mortal youth in Marius's home, a vampire and painter, millenia's old. Who loves Armand dearly and sets about molding him into the perfect companion, but fate intervenes and Armand must be made before his time. Some people do not appreciate the significance of the relationship between the adult vampire Marius and the seventeen year old Armand. Love is love and this type of love is not perverted as some people say but truly marvelous, as Marius a dead being can only kiss and embrace the one he loves, overcoming such odds as those presented in the book shows that this is nothing less than unconditional love and those who think less cannot have experienced it for themselves. Armand enjoys one year of Vamparic bliss with Marius before Santiago's Coven comes to destroy them and the little world they created in Venice. Brilliant also for its history, the vampire Armand takes us through Russia, the land of Armands birth, through the fall of Constantinople to the sweeping beauty of Italy in all its glory and on to the present day. Anne Rice truly created a character in Armand, and we now can see for the first time (apart from the little snippet in the vampire Lestat, another good one)how Armand the lovable child fell out of good fortune and Marius's embrace into a dark coven where he was greatly changed, so much so that he will never again be the Amadeo (beloved of God) we all came to love.
Truly exceptional...
Truly exceptional...
on 24 April 1999
I thought the book was very well done. Many people were not happy with the homosexual content, but there are many points in Rice's books that are suggestive of homosexuality and pediophile. She gave us some ideas about the relationship between Marius and Armand in earlier books, so there should be little surprise concerning their sexual exchanges. It may be a bit uncomfortable (and sad) to think about, but having a slave as a sexual pet was very much a way of life at that point in history. And the sex is really not that explicit. I did like the fact that she made the relationship between the two very beautiful and devoted. I could almost understand (if not condone) how a young man and an older man can have such love. I was totally captivated by their relationship. It was reminiscent of the Claudia/Louis love. I did however keep things in perspective. One must remember that it is, after all, a fantasy. None of us really want some undead person, no matter how beautiful and philosophical, hanging around our house. Just as I don't think men should be seducing young boys. I must add that I especially like how these vampires just absolutly adore each other one minute and are positively put out the next. I believe that is how Rice is trying to show us that they are so different in each other's eyes. For example, my side of an argument is not the same as the person I was arguing with. I rate books on how easily I get drawn in and forget the time. This one was a "Oh! has it been two hours already! Looks like Micky D's for dinner, again."
on 5 June 2010
In having read The Vampire Armand, I feel a great sense of vindication for having subjected myself to reading Memnoch the Devil. Rice has redeemed herself in my eyes with this installation, which is now one of my top three favorites from the Chronicles.
I was weary at first because Armand had never held much of my interest before this, but this autobiography has added much meat and context to the character of Armand and, truly, to the Chronicles as a whole, as well.
With that, I say, "Welcome back!" to the Anne Rice I had come to love before Memnoch. This installation has afforded us another fantastic taste of the historically evocative, sensual style with which Rice is so well reputed to write
I was weary at first because Armand had never held much of my interest before this, but this autobiography has added much meat and context to the character of Armand and, truly, to the Chronicles as a whole, as well.
With that, I say, "Welcome back!" to the Anne Rice I had come to love before Memnoch. This installation has afforded us another fantastic taste of the historically evocative, sensual style with which Rice is so well reputed to write
on 20 July 1999
After painstakingly finishing "Memnoch the Devil" I had started to loose faith in Anne. The Vampire Chronicles are my all time favorite. I don't just love them, I ADORE them. I found "Memnoch" to be so drawn out and lacking in excitement, I had to force myself to finish it. Then when I saw "The Vampire Armand" my hope grew anew. Not only did it live up to my expectations it exceeded them. It was exactly what I needed from her. Armand is so incredibly sexy in this book every woman and man will dream of being with him, I know I did. Reading this was like "hot cocoa on a warm winters night". It really hit the spot. It also gave me an appreciation for "Memnoch", without it some of the best content of "Armand" would not exist. The ending was PERFECT. I walked away daydreaming about it for weeks. Now I can't wait to read "Pandora" and "Vittorio", the only 2 I havn't read. Thank you, Anne, for restoring my faith in you and giving us back our beloved vampires.
on 13 September 2006
This book was utterly amazing and had everything I have come to expect from anne rice books, it had pation, action and emotion. Also anne rice's discriptions of venice where inspireing I could almost see the Palzzo with its beautifuly decorated rooms of gold and red. I also learnt a lot about Marius that I never knew before and found out a lot about how Armand saw Marius more as a lover than a master. Some of the scenes in this book where very powerful in particular the romantisc scenes between Marius and Armand. In conclution this is one of the best anne rice books I have read to date and I would recommend it to anyone who loves the powerful dramas that anne rice creates.
on 9 March 2001
Basically that's it. I always thought Armand was interesting, ever since Interview, and this book is something I personally was looking forward to. It doesn't meet all expectations - at times maybe it's slightly over graphic and at other times it flounders in its own self importance - but overall Armand's story is full bodied, eloquent and expressive. Whilst it doesn't exactly further you in the overall picture at all, I think it lends some depth to his character and to his state of mind. Avoid it if you're likely to chuck your guts up when you read the bits about Marius and the young (human) Armand's relationship - it's pretty grim. Still, I read it in 3 days.
