Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis by Anne Rice

Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis by Anne Rice
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - In and out over 6 days

Pages - 451

Publisher - Knopf

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

At the novel's center: the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt, hero, leader, inspirer, irresistible force, irrepressible spirit, battling (and ultimately reconciling with) a strange otherworldly form that has somehow taken possession of Lestat's undead body and soul. This ancient and mysterious power and unearthly spirit of vampire lore has all the force, history, and insidious reach of the unknowable Universe.

It is through this spirit, previously considered benign for thousands of vampire years and throughout the Vampire Chronicles, that we come to be told the hypnotic tale of a great sea power of ancient times; a mysterious heaven on earth situated on a boundless continent--and of how and why, and in what manner and with what far-reaching purpose, this force came to build and rule the great legendary empire of centuries ago that thrived in the Atlantic Ocean.

And as we learn of the mighty, far-reaching powers and perfections of this lost kingdom of Atalantaya, the lost realms of Atlantis, we come to understand its secrets, and how and why the vampire Lestat, indeed all the vampires, must reckon so many millennia later with the terrifying force of this ageless, all-powerful Atalantaya spirit.


My Review

I have read the previous books in the series over X amount of years, some I remember more clearly than others and Lestat has certainly been on a journey. This time we see him being the Prince of their people, leader/ruler and he has as an inner spirit hitchhiking in him Amel. When the counsel hear of a vampire being murdered and his brain eaten it brings to attention a new person(s) of interest and a threat to the vampires but they have no idea of just how unique these people are or their purpose!

I really struggled in parts with this one. Some of it was really interesting especially those who can harm vampires, I am purposely being vague here to avoid spoilers. Torture, spirits, higher beings there is a lot in this and a bit of past and present with stories of old being told and beings trying to work out their place amongst each other, both them and the vamps.

Lestat is very different from how I remember him, he is much more chill and wise but he has been through a hundred life times. Louis pops up again not really playing a huge part but then nor are really any of them excluding Amel, Lestat and the others. I almost felt this was a foundation laying book for what is to come, the next book but it was so very long, disjointed a bit and I kept getting pulled out of it. I just don't think it flowed as well as the previous books nor where the characters overly engaging. David popping up did make me think of The Mayfair Witches trilogy and I think I will re read them at some point as I loved them and the Talamasca group - I actually would have loved a book purely on them to be honest. Whilst it is nice to get a few tidbits/updates on previous book characters nothing was overly in depth if you exclude the others and folks from their story. 3/5 from me, of course I will read the next one which I believe is the last in the series but this wasn't my fave by any stretch.

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The Rabbit Hunter by Lars Kepler

The Rabbit Hunter by Lars Kepler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 5 days

Pages - 512

Publisher - Knopf

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

The sixth novel in the Joona Linna thriller series, The Rabbit Hunter, sees the renegade detective superintendent emerging from a prison sentence to solve a bizarre and macabre crime.

Joona Linna has spent two years in a high security prison when he is taken off to attend a secret meeting. The police need his help to stop a mysterious killer who goes by the name of the Rabbit Hunter. The only connection between the victims is that they all hear a child chanting a rhyme about rabbits before the killer strikes. A quirk of fate unexpectedly places celebrity chef Rex Müller at the centre of events. He is about to spend time with his son Sammy for the first time, but instead of three relaxing weeks, he finds himself in a terrifying fight for survival. Joona Linna and Saga Bauer are forced to work together in secret to put a stop to the Rabbit Hunter before it's too late. You never know what fate has in store for you, or what might catch up with you if you don't start running right now.

Thriller maestro Lars Kepler is back with a new page-turner about Detective Superintendent Joona Linna.



My Review

I haven't read all of the previous books in the serious but I did read at least one and like it, I need to go back and read the others. Linna is in jail but the powers that be need his help to catch a serial killer, The Rabbit Hunter and the killers targets are very high profile people in society. In and out leaving no traces but he does leave a witness at the first scene, leaving the police to ponder the significance. A race against time to figure out who is the next target, how the killer is picking them and try and get to the target before the killer does.

So there are a few things to highlight in the book, there are a few graphic sex scenes so if you get upset by things like that you can get by skimming them as they aren't throughout the whole book. Animal cruelty, again it isn't through the whole book but there is enough and when it is, it is hard going. The killers name becomes clear and poor wee rabbits, really horrific to read.

The book centers around the investigation, the agencies involved and bringing Linna out of jail, we visit him just prior to this and follow him as he helps the investigation. Linna is a great character, a good guy, smart as and can look after himself (think Jack Reacher style).

Lots of action, some very questionable behaviour, murder, violence, abuse, sex, past & present as ever intertwining. Pacey and very engaging, I found the animal stuff though, brief in the bits it showed up, really difficult to get past though but relevant to the killer and background. I get the why but still find animal stuff really hard to read, 3.5/5 for me. I will absolutely be reading this author again and looking forward to the next book in the series!

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