I first read this book when I was 13 (I won't tell you how long ago that was!!!) I recently finished again over the weekend, and the power of the storytelling is still there even after the book was first published in the mid 1970's.

Louis is a 200 year old who one evening tells his story over to a young reporter for his radio show. The boy is at first frightened and taken aback by the fact that this man is actually a vampire, but lets him tell is story in anycase.

It starts in 1791 when Louis suffers a family tragedy and the vampire who made him (Lestat) takes advantage of this and gives Louis eternal life (or damnation however you want to look at it). The story unfolds of his life with his new companion, his burgeoning dislike for him and his wanting to leave him and find other vampires that can help with his education of who he is - devil or saviour.

Enter lenfant terrible - Claudia, his one love. Made a vampire as child, she grows up infront of their eyes, not physically, but mentally and philosophically coming to the point where Louis did so many years ago, wanting to leave Lestat and find others of 'their kind'. The scenes of their leaving their maker are far better than the film, and when they do find other vampires, they are not as they expected, but reall monsters.

It's not until they arrive in Paris, that they encounter vampires like themselves. Then it really gets interesting, with the fight between Claudia and Louis are very memorable.

I think if I tell you anymore, you won't read the book as I will have told you everything. Just read it, enjoy it, and get caught up in the first of the Vampire Chronicles.