HORROR ANNOTATION

BLOOD COMMUNION

By Anne Rice; illustrated by Mark Edward Geyer

Published Oct 4^th, 2018 by Knopf

288 pages

ISBN: 978-1-5247-3264-6

Synopsis:

Lestat, ‘Prince of the Vampires’ narrates the book which he wrote for ‘his fellow blood-drinkers’ so they would know their history. He realizes mortals would read it and think it a work of fiction, but the story tells of how ‘‘we vampires came together to form the blood communion.’’ Lestat realizes that trying to survive in a human world and going undetected is almost impossible. He has the vision to create a ‘safe haven’ for all young and old vampires where all are welcomed. Unfortunately, not all agree with this vision. Rhoshamandes, an older vampire, is against this idea of ‘community’. He believes in living in an atmosphere in secret and detachment with his lover Benedict. Lestat must face this adversary who opposes him at every turn threatening the success of this dream……What is the outcome? Who will pay the price?

Genre: Horror

Rule of Three: Appeal

Protagonist: Flawed, complex, likable, sympathetic character; Pace: Easy quick read; Tone: Dismal, bleak; Mood: Reflective, disturbing, dark, violent; Plot driven; 

Read-a-likes

American Gothic by Michael Romkey

Similarities: Character-driven vampire tales which are creepy and melancholic display the painful and distasteful price of immortality.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Similarities: Stories contain troubling, atmospheric tales of narratives showing the continuous hardships of the vampire royalty within the contrived saga.

Saint-Germain Series by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

Similarities: Vampires portrayed as antiheroes and heroes in tales with a strong sense of romance and historical details.

Diaries of the Family Dracul Trilogy by Jeanne Kalogridis

Similarities: Stories portray vampires with human characteristics such as longings and the ability to feel both good and evil. Readers are drawn into the painful world of immortality.

Personal Comment: 

Reviews that I read portray this book as ‘horror’, because of subject matter (the world of vampires). But the main character, Lestat, is such a likable being who really cares about his fellow vampires. He is on a mission and he is surrounded by close loving protective companions. The definition of ‘horror’ includes fear and revulsion which is not the case for this character (a hero), but only the others he encounters.

References

Novelist Plus. Ebscohost. Accessed 13 February 2019 through the Indianapolis Public Library.

Saricks, J. (2009). At Leisure: The Rule of Three. Booklist, 106(3), 25. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Saricks, J. (2009). The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: American Library Association.