The Vampire Chronicles is ten books in total, published from as early as 1976 with Interview with the Vampire, to 2003 with Blood Canticle.
To see the story of Interview with the Vampire click here, and to see reviews click here. This novel is from the perspective of Louis, a vampire created by Lestat.
The Vampire Lestat is the second book in the series, and was published in 1985. This book is written from Lestat’s point of view. It tells of his origins as a human, his confusing re-birth as a vampire. Unlike the Lestat seen in Interview, this Lestat is a sympathetic figure, and he becomes quite entrancing. After a fifty-five year sleep, Lestat awakes both confused and delighted by the modern world. He reveals himself as a vampire and becomes a rock star, but few of his fans truly believe him. He finds some answers when he discovers the original vampires, but his music threatens the entire vampire race.
Queen of the Damned is the third book in the series, and was published in 1988. Lestat narrates this story again, but there are multiple storylines. Lestat is still a rock star, and has a huge concert planned in San Francisco. He is unaware that the crowd contains hundreds of vampires bent on destroying him. A shared dream between the men, women, vampire and mortals around the world; it is a dream of red-haired twins who are tortured and suffer great tragedy.
After many years of searching and inciting the anger of many vampires in search of the origin of vampires, Lestat meets the vampire originator and Queen of the Damned, Akasha. She has been sleeping for the past 6000 years alongside her king, but Lestat’s music, played to her by Marius, has awakened her. She falls in love with Lestat, and plans to rule earth alongside him, after giving him her blood–making him even more powerful.
The Tale of the Body Thief is the fourth book in the series and was published in 1992. Lestat is again the main character and narrator, but he now aspires to become mortal (briefly). The plan goes sour though, when Reglan James runs off with Lestat’s body, while Lestat is trapped in a human body. Lestat realizes that he hates everything about being human, he has forgotten how limited their senses and strength are. This is an action novel, as Lestat chases after “the body thief.”
Memnoch the Devil, published in 1995, is again narrated by Lestat. He has fallen in love with a moral named Dora, the daughter of a drug lord. He meets Memnoch, who claims to be the devil himself. Memnoch allows Lestat to watch the world be created, to visit purgetory, heaven and hell. This is a strange addition to the Vampire Chronicles, but nonetheless, a necessary read. This was one of the first overtly religious novels.
The Vampire Armand was published in 1998, and is written in the perspective of Armand, a tormented vampire who regrets his continued existence. Armand was made into a vampire by Marius (first introduced in Queen of the Damned) who at the time, pretended to be human painter. The story explores Armand’s human and vampiric life, while he questions good-and-evil and debates suicide.
Merrick was published in 2000, and centers around the witch, Merrick. Based in New Orleans, she is a descendent of the gens de colors libres, the children of black mistresses and white men. Her ancestors are the Mayfair Witches. David Talbot (introduced in the Queen of the Damned and is a transformed into a vampire unwillingly by Lestat) is the storyteller, and he recounts Merrick’s tale. This story weaves the witches and vampires world into one.
Blood and Gold was published in 2001, and is written in the perspective of Marius, who recalls his two-thousand year life. He was born in Imperial Rome, and was once a Senator, but he was kidnapped by “Druids” and turned into a “blood god.” He was forced to watch over the King and Queen of vampires, Akasha and Enkil.
Blackwood Farm was published in 2002 and is written in the perspective of Quinn Blackwood, who has been haunted since birth by a ghost/ doppelganger named Goblin. This story merges the vampire and witch world once again, and Quinn is made into a vampire, which only gives Goblin more power. Quinn seeks out Lestat for help, and together they go to Sugar Devil Swamp to discover Goblin’s secrets.
Blood Canticle was published in 2003 and and continues from where Blackwood Farm left off. This novel explores the romantic relationship between Lestat and Rowan Mayfair (a witch), who is married to Michael Curry. Combinding all that has happened in the Mayfair Chronicles and the Vampire Chronicles, this final book is the epitome of Anne Rice’s writing.
Interview with the Vampire 