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The Vines
The dark history of Spring House, a beautifully restored plantation mansion on the outskirts of New Orleans, has long been forgotten. But something sinister lurks beneath the soil of the old estate.
After heiress and current owner Caitlin Chaisson is witness to her husband’s stunning betrayal at her birthday party, she tries to take her own life in the mansion’s cherished gazebo. Instead, the blood she spills awakens dark forces in the ground below. Chaos ensues and by morning her husband has vanished without a trace and his mistress has gone mad.
Nova, daughter to Spring House’s groundskeeper, has always suspected that something malevolent haunts the old place, and in the aftermath of the birthday party she enlists Caitlin’s estranged best friend, Blake, to help her get to the bottom of it. The pair soon realizes that the vengeance enacted by this sinister and otherworldly force comes at a terrible price.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2014
1099 people are currently reading
3715 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Rice
37 books2,585 followersChristopher Rice is the recipient of the Lambda Literary Award and is the Amazon Charts and New York Times bestselling author of A Density of Souls; Bone Music, Blood Echo, and Blood Victory in the Burning Girl series; and Bram Stoker Award finalists The Heavens Rise and The Vines. An executive producer for television, Christopher also penned the novels Ramses the Damned: The Passion of Cleopatra and Ramses The Damned: The Reign of Osiri with his late mother Anne Rice. Together with his best friend and producing partner, New York Times bestselling novelist Eric Shaw Quinn, Christopher runs the production company Dinner Partners. Among other projects, they produce the podcast and video network TDPS, which can be found at www.TheDinnerPartyShow.com. He lives in West Hollywood, California, and writes tales of romance between men under the pseudonym C. Travis Rice. Visit him at www.christopherricebooks.com.
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September 23, 2014
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
You ask, “is this another book about evil plants????” Why yes, yes it is. You say, “but it’s been done before (and probably better).” To that, I say:
This one adds a little twist. Not only are there terrifying plants that might kill you, there are also deadly bugs
No, not that kind of bug. Huge, evil, swarms of bugs hungry for human flesh
Close enough.
Caitlin Chaisson appears to lead a charmed life. She is an heiress who lives in a sprawling mansion called Spring House outside of New Orleans and is happily married to a local hero . . . or so she thought. While witnessing her husband’s tryst with the party planner at her birthday party, Caitlin decides she is going to end her life and slashes her wrist in the mansion’s gazebo. Rather than dying, Caitlin’s blood awakens a dark force that has been lying in wait for over 150 years. It is now up to Caitlin’s estranged best friend, Blake, and her hired man’s daughter, Nova, to figure out the mystery of what exactly resides in the ground at Spring House.
Although there are definitely scarier “plant books” around (specifically The Ruins), this one is more of a mystery rather than an out-and-out horror story and it wasn’t too shabby.
I had not read Christopher Rice until recently due to . . . REASONS . . . but I’m glad I gave him a chance. He writes a good, fast-paced thriller with flowing dialogue and great main characters. He also doesn’t waste a boatload of time/pages dealing with what I like to call the “non-believer syndrome” in preternatural stories. Rice believes in having Character A tell Character B some weird shit is going down and making Character B trust Character A enough to believe there must actually be some weird shit going down. He cuts to the chase and wraps the story up efficiently. Obviously there are some books that demand more pages, but The Vines wasn’t one of them and I’m glad Rice left it at its current length rather than add a bunch of unnecessary filler.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
You ask, “is this another book about evil plants????” Why yes, yes it is. You say, “but it’s been done before (and probably better).” To that, I say:
This one adds a little twist. Not only are there terrifying plants that might kill you, there are also deadly bugs
No, not that kind of bug. Huge, evil, swarms of bugs hungry for human flesh
Close enough.
Caitlin Chaisson appears to lead a charmed life. She is an heiress who lives in a sprawling mansion called Spring House outside of New Orleans and is happily married to a local hero . . . or so she thought. While witnessing her husband’s tryst with the party planner at her birthday party, Caitlin decides she is going to end her life and slashes her wrist in the mansion’s gazebo. Rather than dying, Caitlin’s blood awakens a dark force that has been lying in wait for over 150 years. It is now up to Caitlin’s estranged best friend, Blake, and her hired man’s daughter, Nova, to figure out the mystery of what exactly resides in the ground at Spring House.
Although there are definitely scarier “plant books” around (specifically The Ruins), this one is more of a mystery rather than an out-and-out horror story and it wasn’t too shabby.
I had not read Christopher Rice until recently due to . . . REASONS . . . but I’m glad I gave him a chance. He writes a good, fast-paced thriller with flowing dialogue and great main characters. He also doesn’t waste a boatload of time/pages dealing with what I like to call the “non-believer syndrome” in preternatural stories. Rice believes in having Character A tell Character B some weird shit is going down and making Character B trust Character A enough to believe there must actually be some weird shit going down. He cuts to the chase and wraps the story up efficiently. Obviously there are some books that demand more pages, but The Vines wasn’t one of them and I’m glad Rice left it at its current length rather than add a bunch of unnecessary filler.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
October 28, 2014
Y'all know my absolute adoration for all things creepy, gory, and horrortastic. The bloodier the book, eyeballs popping out, entrails weaved into tapestry, fingernails being pulled - the gorier, the better.
Killer vines who feast on human blood? Yes, please.
Throw in some creepy crawly bugs who yearn for human flesh? HELL, yes.
Main characters that you hate, are completely boring and stereotypical, and you wish to God that your misery would end and they would all just DIE? Yes.
Wait. WUT?
You heard me. I barely got through this book. On top of the dull plot and randomness, the characters were pretty much all pieces of shit that I despised. Stereotypes up the whazoo.
By the end, I was rooting for the vines. (pun-fucking-intended)
2 ninja bunnehs planting
ARC received from NG in exchange for an honest review
Killer vines who feast on human blood? Yes, please.
Throw in some creepy crawly bugs who yearn for human flesh? HELL, yes.
Main characters that you hate, are completely boring and stereotypical, and you wish to God that your misery would end and they would all just DIE? Yes.
Wait. WUT?
You heard me. I barely got through this book. On top of the dull plot and randomness, the characters were pretty much all pieces of shit that I despised. Stereotypes up the whazoo.
By the end, I was rooting for the vines. (pun-fucking-intended)
2 ninja bunnehs planting
ARC received from NG in exchange for an honest review
March 3, 2016
The Vines was a strange novel. It read quickly, (listened quickly?), and it was fun, but the whole time I felt that it was missing something .
I'm cool with plant-creatures and bugs, but I was not satisfied with the explanation for them, nor was I satisfied with the development of the characters. I especially loved Nova and while I felt she had plenty of page time, I did not feel that I got to know her as well as I would have liked. She discovered a program that a professor was putting together regarding slave narratives and I would have enjoyed learning more about that also.
A few times it seemed that the story was trying to figure out what it wanted to be. A commentary on slavery? On homosexuality? On the unfaithful? Or all of the above?
Overall, though, I did enjoy the quality of the writing and the descriptions. Even though I didn't out and out love this novel, I will try more of Mr. Rice's work in the future, because I feel like he has true writing chops and the potential to be amazing.
I'm cool with plant-creatures and bugs, but I was not satisfied with the explanation for them, nor was I satisfied with the development of the characters. I especially loved Nova and while I felt she had plenty of page time, I did not feel that I got to know her as well as I would have liked. She discovered a program that a professor was putting together regarding slave narratives and I would have enjoyed learning more about that also.
A few times it seemed that the story was trying to figure out what it wanted to be. A commentary on slavery? On homosexuality? On the unfaithful? Or all of the above?
Overall, though, I did enjoy the quality of the writing and the descriptions. Even though I didn't out and out love this novel, I will try more of Mr. Rice's work in the future, because I feel like he has true writing chops and the potential to be amazing.
November 6, 2014
The petals of the flower have rounded slightly around the edges, forming a half funnel that is now aimed directly at her. The stamens and filaments within have gone rigid, abandoning the slightly interlaced posture they've held since she first discovered the impossible bloom, and the slender stalk is curling gently back and forth through the water like a tethered tadpole.
Caitlin lives in Spring House, a restored plantation with her handsome husband. But when she finds out about his infidelity at her own birthday party with one of the caterers, instead of stepping up, she flees, intending to end it all in the gazebo. But as her blood is spilled something evil stirs beneath Spring House.
This book had a strong start, and I enjoyed the flashbacks through history that added to the overall mystery within this book. I have seen the killer vines done before in The Ruins, but I enjoyed the different take on the origin of these "plants".
However as, the book progressed, I found myself losing interest. The characters were bland, with nothing to really set them apart. I would say the most interesting was Caitlin, but the rich girl with problems is a stereotype that has been done so many times before.
The story was interesting enough, but with characters there were unremarkable and writing that didn't exactly give me goosebumps I'm going to have to go middle of the road with this one. It is not very frightening and the gore is minimal, which for me is an unsuccessful horror, but others who enjoy a quick read that isn't going to keep them up at night may enjoy this one.
Cross posted at Kaora's Corner.
Caitlin lives in Spring House, a restored plantation with her handsome husband. But when she finds out about his infidelity at her own birthday party with one of the caterers, instead of stepping up, she flees, intending to end it all in the gazebo. But as her blood is spilled something evil stirs beneath Spring House.
This book had a strong start, and I enjoyed the flashbacks through history that added to the overall mystery within this book. I have seen the killer vines done before in The Ruins, but I enjoyed the different take on the origin of these "plants".
However as, the book progressed, I found myself losing interest. The characters were bland, with nothing to really set them apart. I would say the most interesting was Caitlin, but the rich girl with problems is a stereotype that has been done so many times before.
The story was interesting enough, but with characters there were unremarkable and writing that didn't exactly give me goosebumps I'm going to have to go middle of the road with this one. It is not very frightening and the gore is minimal, which for me is an unsuccessful horror, but others who enjoy a quick read that isn't going to keep them up at night may enjoy this one.
Cross posted at Kaora's Corner.
January 31, 2015
The first 25% of this story was excellent. The last 75% ...not so much.
Bummer.
Bummer.
January 6, 2017
2.5 stars
THE VINES, by Christopher Rice caught my attention right away. I enjoyed the premise, and the flashbacks were very realistic. While there was plenty of good "imagery" in the story, I just couldn't get into it as I do most stories. I think it comes down to the characters.
Nova, the caretaker's daughter, had a lot of promise, but in the end didn't come off as strongly as she could have. Aside from the resident evil, a side-story from Blake's past was easily predictable, with the author giving it away very early on in the book. While there were a lot of things happening, I just couldn't care much about Caitlin (even after her dramatic beginning!), and felt that the characterization was very stereotyped and "thin" all throughout the novel.
I honestly enjoyed the idea, the slave-flashbacks, and the revenge; but without being able to understand and appreciate the motivation behind the "current" characters, so much of the story just felt like it was missing something.
The writing style was fluent, and had more attention to detail been put into the development of the key players, I feel that I would have enjoyed this much more.
THE VINES, by Christopher Rice caught my attention right away. I enjoyed the premise, and the flashbacks were very realistic. While there was plenty of good "imagery" in the story, I just couldn't get into it as I do most stories. I think it comes down to the characters.
Nova, the caretaker's daughter, had a lot of promise, but in the end didn't come off as strongly as she could have. Aside from the resident evil, a side-story from Blake's past was easily predictable, with the author giving it away very early on in the book. While there were a lot of things happening, I just couldn't care much about Caitlin (even after her dramatic beginning!), and felt that the characterization was very stereotyped and "thin" all throughout the novel.
I honestly enjoyed the idea, the slave-flashbacks, and the revenge; but without being able to understand and appreciate the motivation behind the "current" characters, so much of the story just felt like it was missing something.
The writing style was fluent, and had more attention to detail been put into the development of the key players, I feel that I would have enjoyed this much more.
October 26, 2014
I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Vines is Southern Gothic horror blended with historical fiction and shrouded in mystery. I turned the first page, and immediately my curiosity was peaked. Soon after, I knew the story had me ensnared.
The plot is multilayered, weaving between past and present as it unveils new horrors both human and paranormal. Set in an old Southern mansion plagued with a sinister history, one woman mistakenly sets into motion the transformation of nature's beauty into something terrifying.
The characters are well-developed and all interconnected in some way. A common flaw in the horror genre seems to be a lack of character depth. This story avoids that flaw, setting it apart from the standard horror novel. The reader is compelled to empathize with the characters, establishing an investment in the story and its events.
It's thrilling with a supernatural atmosphere, and surprisingly raw. Fast-paced and gripping, The Vines is everything a successful horror novel should be. I hated having to put it down. Highly entertaining and definitely worth the read!
The Vines is Southern Gothic horror blended with historical fiction and shrouded in mystery. I turned the first page, and immediately my curiosity was peaked. Soon after, I knew the story had me ensnared.
The plot is multilayered, weaving between past and present as it unveils new horrors both human and paranormal. Set in an old Southern mansion plagued with a sinister history, one woman mistakenly sets into motion the transformation of nature's beauty into something terrifying.
The characters are well-developed and all interconnected in some way. A common flaw in the horror genre seems to be a lack of character depth. This story avoids that flaw, setting it apart from the standard horror novel. The reader is compelled to empathize with the characters, establishing an investment in the story and its events.
It's thrilling with a supernatural atmosphere, and surprisingly raw. Fast-paced and gripping, The Vines is everything a successful horror novel should be. I hated having to put it down. Highly entertaining and definitely worth the read!
September 22, 2014
Louisiana – hot, humid, lush…a place full of hidden things and dark histories. At Spring House, under gazebo floorboards, something has been sleeping for a very, very long time. Until one evening when Caitlin, distraught over discovering her husband Troy’s betrayal, accidentally awakens the sleeping vines and launches events that will have devastating consequences, not only for friends and complete strangers, but most of all for herself.
This is a quick synopsis of The Vines, a new supernatural thriller authored by Christopher Rice (son of author, Anne Rice).
Sounds like we’re in for some pretty creepy and scary goings on right? Wrong.
Unfortunately, the story never fulfills the promise of the idea. Now, I don’t expect a whole lot of substance when it comes to these kinds of novels. This isn’t Anna Karenina, Crime & Punishment or Proust. This is candy. We don’t expect nutrition from candy, we just want to enjoy the yummy taste. And don’t get me wrong, after I read a challenging book, I love me some candy.
But there’s good candy and then there’s the candy we haven’t liked or touched since we were little kids, and The Vines just isn’t good candy. The tiny little plot is thin and full of holes, the characters are uninteresting and one-dimensional and, worst of all, there’s no suspense to make you want to keep your lights on all night after you read it. The last 20% feels tacked on with a tie-in that is so forced you feel as if you blinked and found yourself reading a different novel entirely. In fact, I went back a few pages because I thought my Kindle version had combined two different books.
I could go on, but really, that’s enough talk about The Vines, a short story that has been lengthened into a novel-sized product (and not in a good way). I want to talk more about Christopher Rice and his writing.
Here’s the thing: Mr. Rice can write. After reading several of his books and even more of his mother’s books, I suspect that he writes better than she does (ok, no brick throwing, please). The problem is that he has adopted the melodramatic, overdone, florid style that Anne uses; which she can sometimes get away with because she’s generally writing about characters and/or events from times long ago. That baroque style is fine when the characters are baroque as well.
But Mr. Rice’s settings are more firmly entrenched in the modern world. Yes, he may flavor that world with elements from events long past, but his world is modern, as are his characters. So when his writing seems to channel Anne Rice with Longfellow thrown in on top of it (“A name slices through her, as if it’s been whispered in terror by a dozen guardian angels perched in the next room.”), the overall effect is one which makes you feel as if you are reading a regency romance gone awry (“No wound in her soul could ever be deep enough to draw his mouth from that whore’s pale, young flesh.”). So, if Mr. Rice is going to write horror and supernatural thrillers, he needs to use a writing style more appropriate to the genre. Otherwise it’s like going to a rodeo dressed in a ballgown and pearls – the outfit simply doesn’t fit the event.
At this point, Mr. Rice has a number of books under his belt and a large fan base. He also has a lot of talent. It would be exciting to see him move away from this whole tired Louisiana, Anne Rice thing and develop complex material more suited to his creative, talented voice and the considerable potential he obviously has.
I want to thank Net Galley for providing a copy in exchange for a fair review.
This is a quick synopsis of The Vines, a new supernatural thriller authored by Christopher Rice (son of author, Anne Rice).
Sounds like we’re in for some pretty creepy and scary goings on right? Wrong.
Unfortunately, the story never fulfills the promise of the idea. Now, I don’t expect a whole lot of substance when it comes to these kinds of novels. This isn’t Anna Karenina, Crime & Punishment or Proust. This is candy. We don’t expect nutrition from candy, we just want to enjoy the yummy taste. And don’t get me wrong, after I read a challenging book, I love me some candy.
But there’s good candy and then there’s the candy we haven’t liked or touched since we were little kids, and The Vines just isn’t good candy. The tiny little plot is thin and full of holes, the characters are uninteresting and one-dimensional and, worst of all, there’s no suspense to make you want to keep your lights on all night after you read it. The last 20% feels tacked on with a tie-in that is so forced you feel as if you blinked and found yourself reading a different novel entirely. In fact, I went back a few pages because I thought my Kindle version had combined two different books.
I could go on, but really, that’s enough talk about The Vines, a short story that has been lengthened into a novel-sized product (and not in a good way). I want to talk more about Christopher Rice and his writing.
Here’s the thing: Mr. Rice can write. After reading several of his books and even more of his mother’s books, I suspect that he writes better than she does (ok, no brick throwing, please). The problem is that he has adopted the melodramatic, overdone, florid style that Anne uses; which she can sometimes get away with because she’s generally writing about characters and/or events from times long ago. That baroque style is fine when the characters are baroque as well.
But Mr. Rice’s settings are more firmly entrenched in the modern world. Yes, he may flavor that world with elements from events long past, but his world is modern, as are his characters. So when his writing seems to channel Anne Rice with Longfellow thrown in on top of it (“A name slices through her, as if it’s been whispered in terror by a dozen guardian angels perched in the next room.”), the overall effect is one which makes you feel as if you are reading a regency romance gone awry (“No wound in her soul could ever be deep enough to draw his mouth from that whore’s pale, young flesh.”). So, if Mr. Rice is going to write horror and supernatural thrillers, he needs to use a writing style more appropriate to the genre. Otherwise it’s like going to a rodeo dressed in a ballgown and pearls – the outfit simply doesn’t fit the event.
At this point, Mr. Rice has a number of books under his belt and a large fan base. He also has a lot of talent. It would be exciting to see him move away from this whole tired Louisiana, Anne Rice thing and develop complex material more suited to his creative, talented voice and the considerable potential he obviously has.
I want to thank Net Galley for providing a copy in exchange for a fair review.
July 24, 2015
So, this book. This book is a lot of things. Southern gothic horror done right, evil manifested and fueled by hatred, revenge, and passion; creepy monsters with some serious sexual overtones (no monster porn though, sorry), and just an all-around good ride if you can bypass a couple of confusing bumps in the road.
There's a checklist of things I expect when reading a book by Christopher Rice.
- Gorgeous prose
- Atmosphere that can overload my senses
- Multiple POVs
- A creeping sense of unease to develop slowly but surely
- And a WTF is this book talking about? moment in the last quarter of the book
Well, I've not read the dude's entire backlist (yet) but it seems like my expectations were realistic because they were all met.
I love southern gothic horror, and this book is outstanding in that regard. You have that heavy, humid Louisiana atmosphere, the personalities fueled by culture that I understand with just the right sprinkling of backstory here and there, and accents that roll off the page in a way I can hear without the need of cumbersome and self-indulgent overwriting. Same with the prose. Every sense is hit up with just the right amount of words, and there may be some repetition here and there, but the visuals are perfection.
Even when they're motherfucking terrifying. The monstrous (and phallic) vines were honestly not the most terrifying part of this book. It was the goddamn bugs. Obsidian, soul-searching, adulterer-eating bugs. They came out of nowhere for me (and were WTF? moment #1. WTF moment #2 came at the 90% mark which is not a surprise at all), but they were so badass and creepy that I got over it once Blake started going off about "the process". I had no clue what Blake was talking about and I'm still not sure what sparked his epiphany, but I was into the action at that point and didn't get hung up on the "but, why?"s.
I keep comparing this book to The Heavens Rise, and I like this one much better. There are similar themes: an ancient evil (no fucking voodoo), scorned lovers, revenge, monsters, a tragic past that haunts one of the MCs, and of course Southern Louisiana. And a significant gay character who is way more than his sexuality. But despite the similarities, this book worked for me much more than The Heavens Rise did.
It felt less manic, less abstract and confusing, and I could follow the thread of the story through the distant past, not-so-distant past, and the present without needing a ton of explanation and transitions. The pieces fit together perfectly, and the history was woven in without heavy-handed LOLZ LOOKAT ALL MY RESEARCH subtext. I still think I should start playing POV drinking games when reading one of his books, but the brief POV changes didn't feel random here. It felt more like a change of scene in a movie than a digression, and that pimply kid in the motel totally won my heart even if he only had 3 pages to himself.
There was a major WTF moment at the end, but by now I kind of expect that when reading Rice flavored horror and, that aside, I am really looking forward to the next.
There's a checklist of things I expect when reading a book by Christopher Rice.
- Gorgeous prose
- Atmosphere that can overload my senses
- Multiple POVs
- A creeping sense of unease to develop slowly but surely
- And a WTF is this book talking about? moment in the last quarter of the book
Well, I've not read the dude's entire backlist (yet) but it seems like my expectations were realistic because they were all met.
I love southern gothic horror, and this book is outstanding in that regard. You have that heavy, humid Louisiana atmosphere, the personalities fueled by culture that I understand with just the right sprinkling of backstory here and there, and accents that roll off the page in a way I can hear without the need of cumbersome and self-indulgent overwriting. Same with the prose. Every sense is hit up with just the right amount of words, and there may be some repetition here and there, but the visuals are perfection.
Even when they're motherfucking terrifying. The monstrous (and phallic) vines were honestly not the most terrifying part of this book. It was the goddamn bugs. Obsidian, soul-searching, adulterer-eating bugs. They came out of nowhere for me (and were WTF? moment #1. WTF moment #2 came at the 90% mark which is not a surprise at all), but they were so badass and creepy that I got over it once Blake started going off about "the process". I had no clue what Blake was talking about and I'm still not sure what sparked his epiphany, but I was into the action at that point and didn't get hung up on the "but, why?"s.
I keep comparing this book to The Heavens Rise, and I like this one much better. There are similar themes: an ancient evil (no fucking voodoo), scorned lovers, revenge, monsters, a tragic past that haunts one of the MCs, and of course Southern Louisiana. And a significant gay character who is way more than his sexuality. But despite the similarities, this book worked for me much more than The Heavens Rise did.
It felt less manic, less abstract and confusing, and I could follow the thread of the story through the distant past, not-so-distant past, and the present without needing a ton of explanation and transitions. The pieces fit together perfectly, and the history was woven in without heavy-handed LOLZ LOOKAT ALL MY RESEARCH subtext. I still think I should start playing POV drinking games when reading one of his books, but the brief POV changes didn't feel random here. It felt more like a change of scene in a movie than a digression, and that pimply kid in the motel totally won my heart even if he only had 3 pages to himself.
There was a major WTF moment at the end, but by now I kind of expect that when reading Rice flavored horror and, that aside, I am really looking forward to the next.
November 9, 2016
I liked the flash backs more than I did the modern day sections but I think that's just me. When there is flashbacks in books, I usually end up liking those parts more. With that being said, there was just something about the characters that kept me from liking it enough to give this book 4 stars. It wasn't horrible but I wouldn't pay full price for this one in any form. Wait for that sale!
July 18, 2016
I got lost in The Vines when reading it, did not really come up for air properly until I had finished the book. My first taste of Christopher Rice and his atmospheric writing, but not my last. A stunning, chilling, creepy and imaginative novel. Southern Gothic horror at it's best.
What I loved so much about this book was the imagery, I was right THERE in the book, I could see, feel and sense everything that was around me whilst reading, it was like a total reading immersion experience. Rice has the ability to paint the picture with you sitting in it. Very well done.
The dark history of Spring House, a beautifully restored plantation mansion on the outskirts of New Orleans, has long been forgotten. But something sinister lurks beneath the soil of the old estate.
After heiress and current owner Caitlin Chaisson is witness to her husband’s stunning betrayal at her birthday party, she tries to take her own life in the mansion’s cherished gazebo. Instead, the blood she spills awakens dark forces in the ground below. Chaos ensues and by morning her husband has vanished without a trace and his mistress has gone mad.
Nova, daughter to Spring House’s groundskeeper, has always suspected that something malevolent haunts the old place, and in the aftermath of the birthday party she enlists Caitlin’s estranged best friend, Blake, to help her get to the bottom of it. The pair soon realizes that the vengeance enacted by this sinister and otherworldly force comes at a terrible price.
I don't like gardening. At all. And after reading The Vines I know now I have good reason to hate it. This book has put me off gardens for life! Oh! The atmosphere is chilling in this book as malevolent things from below the earth are awakened by the taste of rage filled blood. This taste for blood leads to a taste for more blood, and body, and soul.
The book does not waste any time getting into the good stuff, with a few eyebrow raising scenes right from the start, just to whet your appetite for more. From then, I was hooked, nothing was going to stop me from finishing this book. It's one of those books that challenges the imagination to go with it and gives you imagery seared on the brain for days. I absolutely loved it.
The characters in this book are all very interesting, and so are the dark secrets and awful history that this grand old house holds. There are secrets buried deep, deep in the ground. It's a lesson in not playing with fire, um...mud...um plants, vines, big vines. Don't go there. Trust me.
There are a few moments in this book that literally had my face twisted in disgust, just wait until you get to the scene in the motel, I shall not spoil it for you, but yes, that one got to me and disturbed me somewhat. This has a very clever plot and really holds on to you until the end.
Some say this is mediocre for Rice's writing. If that is the case then bring on more of his books as I thought this was brilliantly done. If you like a chill factor with a touch of southern gothic atmosphere and tension, a bit of horror tossed in with a good plot then The Vines is a book you may well enjoy. Just stay away from the garden shed.
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I received a copy of this novel thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, many thanks.
What I loved so much about this book was the imagery, I was right THERE in the book, I could see, feel and sense everything that was around me whilst reading, it was like a total reading immersion experience. Rice has the ability to paint the picture with you sitting in it. Very well done.
The dark history of Spring House, a beautifully restored plantation mansion on the outskirts of New Orleans, has long been forgotten. But something sinister lurks beneath the soil of the old estate.
After heiress and current owner Caitlin Chaisson is witness to her husband’s stunning betrayal at her birthday party, she tries to take her own life in the mansion’s cherished gazebo. Instead, the blood she spills awakens dark forces in the ground below. Chaos ensues and by morning her husband has vanished without a trace and his mistress has gone mad.
Nova, daughter to Spring House’s groundskeeper, has always suspected that something malevolent haunts the old place, and in the aftermath of the birthday party she enlists Caitlin’s estranged best friend, Blake, to help her get to the bottom of it. The pair soon realizes that the vengeance enacted by this sinister and otherworldly force comes at a terrible price.
I don't like gardening. At all. And after reading The Vines I know now I have good reason to hate it. This book has put me off gardens for life! Oh! The atmosphere is chilling in this book as malevolent things from below the earth are awakened by the taste of rage filled blood. This taste for blood leads to a taste for more blood, and body, and soul.
The book does not waste any time getting into the good stuff, with a few eyebrow raising scenes right from the start, just to whet your appetite for more. From then, I was hooked, nothing was going to stop me from finishing this book. It's one of those books that challenges the imagination to go with it and gives you imagery seared on the brain for days. I absolutely loved it.
The characters in this book are all very interesting, and so are the dark secrets and awful history that this grand old house holds. There are secrets buried deep, deep in the ground. It's a lesson in not playing with fire, um...mud...um plants, vines, big vines. Don't go there. Trust me.
There are a few moments in this book that literally had my face twisted in disgust, just wait until you get to the scene in the motel, I shall not spoil it for you, but yes, that one got to me and disturbed me somewhat. This has a very clever plot and really holds on to you until the end.
Some say this is mediocre for Rice's writing. If that is the case then bring on more of his books as I thought this was brilliantly done. If you like a chill factor with a touch of southern gothic atmosphere and tension, a bit of horror tossed in with a good plot then The Vines is a book you may well enjoy. Just stay away from the garden shed.
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I received a copy of this novel thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, many thanks.
September 4, 2014
It was an honor to receive an Advance Reader Copy of The Vines by Christopher Rice. I was the first person to win an ARC from Christopher on http://thedinnerpartyshow.com/ Facebook Page. I have been a fan of Christopher’s work for a long time. I am particularly thrilled that he has broken into the world of Supernatural Thrillers.
From the first chapter you will be drawn into the drama. When Caitlin discovers her husband in the arms of another woman she is intent on killing herself but instead awakens a botanic nightmare. Nova (the groundskeeper daughter) and Blake (Caitlin’s former best friend) come together to discover the secret behind Caitlin’s husband’s disappearance. During their adventure they learn much more than they expected to find. They discover the mystery behind more than one murder and one of them finds themselves on the precipice of committing a murder as well. Meanwhile Caitlin struggles with the knowledge of what she has awakened and whether it can be controlled or will it control her.
I was drawn into the lush descriptions of scenery and locations. The history of the location is interwoven very well into the modern setting. The characters are written realistically and you can not help but love them despite their faults. My favorites were the characters of Nova and her father Willie, specifically the dichotomies of their two generations and their interactions with the white people of their respective generations. Willies dialect is perfect. I could hear his voice in my mind when he speaks.
I would recommend The Vines to anyone who enjoys Supernatural Thrillers or Horror. It is well written and captivating without being overly gross. There is blood spilled, but there is no exorbitant usage of blood and gore. Those of you who enjoyed The Heavens Rise will love The Vines.
From the first chapter you will be drawn into the drama. When Caitlin discovers her husband in the arms of another woman she is intent on killing herself but instead awakens a botanic nightmare. Nova (the groundskeeper daughter) and Blake (Caitlin’s former best friend) come together to discover the secret behind Caitlin’s husband’s disappearance. During their adventure they learn much more than they expected to find. They discover the mystery behind more than one murder and one of them finds themselves on the precipice of committing a murder as well. Meanwhile Caitlin struggles with the knowledge of what she has awakened and whether it can be controlled or will it control her.
I was drawn into the lush descriptions of scenery and locations. The history of the location is interwoven very well into the modern setting. The characters are written realistically and you can not help but love them despite their faults. My favorites were the characters of Nova and her father Willie, specifically the dichotomies of their two generations and their interactions with the white people of their respective generations. Willies dialect is perfect. I could hear his voice in my mind when he speaks.
I would recommend The Vines to anyone who enjoys Supernatural Thrillers or Horror. It is well written and captivating without being overly gross. There is blood spilled, but there is no exorbitant usage of blood and gore. Those of you who enjoyed The Heavens Rise will love The Vines.
October 20, 2017
2.5-3 stars
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley!
As my first foray into the prodigal son of Anne and Stan Rice, I was left with wanting more (or more of the old Anne I should probably say). Christopher Rice's writing is decent as was the story I guess, but it fell flat. The characters were developed, but I felt no attachment to them and at times I was bored and hoping for more depth. At some point I will give him another try but this one didn't really do anything for me.
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley!
As my first foray into the prodigal son of Anne and Stan Rice, I was left with wanting more (or more of the old Anne I should probably say). Christopher Rice's writing is decent as was the story I guess, but it fell flat. The characters were developed, but I felt no attachment to them and at times I was bored and hoping for more depth. At some point I will give him another try but this one didn't really do anything for me.
July 3, 2019
The Vines, my first book by Christopher Rice, has been sitting in my Kindle queue for a while. After reading the book’s summary, it captured my attention because of the historical fiction aspect as well as the haunted house scenario set in one of my favorite places, New Orleans. I won’t recap the story or go into details. Mr. Rice is a talented writer, his depictions and prose excellent. But this story was not what I’d expected, well not haunted vines and bugs.
The beginning of the story pulled me in as Caitlin Chiasson happens upon her cheating husband in her own home, and of all places, the bathroom with the door open. I was dismayed by her reaction, the hoping she burst through the door and confront her cheating husband. But, instead, Caitlin, walks straight out of the house toward the gazebo breaks a wine bottle and considers taking her own life, thwarted by blood-sucking vines. Well, at least they cured her wound and made the weak, self-loathing southern belle more courageous.
This story is not about a cheating husband, a bad marriage, or Caitlin’s misery, but the history of Spring House, and a powerful slave named Virginie Lacroix’s vengeance―a strong supernatural power, manifesting itself after her death in the form of vines around Spring House’s cursed grounds and bugs―many, many bugs that devour cheaters and sinners.
After several chapters, I felt I was in a Stephen King novel. The story’s a little bizarre. Vines and bugs elicited no fear, nor did the characters capture my heart.
I give Mr. Rice four stars for a well-written prose, originality, and creativity. If you like haunted vines that suck at your essence and bugs that rip every cell of your body to nothingness without a drop of blood, then read The Vines.
The beginning of the story pulled me in as Caitlin Chiasson happens upon her cheating husband in her own home, and of all places, the bathroom with the door open. I was dismayed by her reaction, the hoping she burst through the door and confront her cheating husband. But, instead, Caitlin, walks straight out of the house toward the gazebo breaks a wine bottle and considers taking her own life, thwarted by blood-sucking vines. Well, at least they cured her wound and made the weak, self-loathing southern belle more courageous.
This story is not about a cheating husband, a bad marriage, or Caitlin’s misery, but the history of Spring House, and a powerful slave named Virginie Lacroix’s vengeance―a strong supernatural power, manifesting itself after her death in the form of vines around Spring House’s cursed grounds and bugs―many, many bugs that devour cheaters and sinners.
After several chapters, I felt I was in a Stephen King novel. The story’s a little bizarre. Vines and bugs elicited no fear, nor did the characters capture my heart.
I give Mr. Rice four stars for a well-written prose, originality, and creativity. If you like haunted vines that suck at your essence and bugs that rip every cell of your body to nothingness without a drop of blood, then read The Vines.
October 21, 2014
ARC Review
The Vines may sound like some laughable horror story personification. But get a few pages in, and you'll begin to realize.. You've been ensnared in it’s lush plot.
In Southern Louisiana Cane fields are common, and speckled among them are historic plantation homes. But the grounds that surround Spring House are far from sweet. Something the characters of this story become all too aware of after a shard of Caitlin Chaisson’s broken heart is taken into it’s soil. Mending the bridge between it’s grim past, and the present day.
This story was remarkable. At first I was ambivalent about continuing on. The opening chapters striking the same chords heard whaling from a Casio Keyboard on the soundtrack of a cheesy Chiller flick. But as the plot began to Blossom, my blatant misconceptions were revealed to me.
After finishing the story, the only thing I was conflicted about was which character I loved the most. I adored Nova; sassy, strong, and comical. But I felt so close to Blake, whose traumatic past rekindled memories of my greatest fears living life in the closet, somehow manifest on someone else. This book made me think about my life (not my mortality, but my life). I just wasn't expecting it, so it was a bonus.
If I had to honestly complain about anything, it was the climax and ending. It isn't bad, but it is ambiguous. The information was there, but it still felt unresolved. I suppose it’s a door he’s left a crack open. Like he's waiting to see what we think of it before he finishes/starts a sequel??
It’s hard to say more about this book without giving spoilers. I feel like every little piece of it is important for a new reader to find. I’ll will say this though. I am genuinely hoping for a sequel, Blake and Nova are so swollen with potential that my book won’t shut.
The Vines may sound like some laughable horror story personification. But get a few pages in, and you'll begin to realize.. You've been ensnared in it’s lush plot.
In Southern Louisiana Cane fields are common, and speckled among them are historic plantation homes. But the grounds that surround Spring House are far from sweet. Something the characters of this story become all too aware of after a shard of Caitlin Chaisson’s broken heart is taken into it’s soil. Mending the bridge between it’s grim past, and the present day.
This story was remarkable. At first I was ambivalent about continuing on. The opening chapters striking the same chords heard whaling from a Casio Keyboard on the soundtrack of a cheesy Chiller flick. But as the plot began to Blossom, my blatant misconceptions were revealed to me.
After finishing the story, the only thing I was conflicted about was which character I loved the most. I adored Nova; sassy, strong, and comical. But I felt so close to Blake, whose traumatic past rekindled memories of my greatest fears living life in the closet, somehow manifest on someone else. This book made me think about my life (not my mortality, but my life). I just wasn't expecting it, so it was a bonus.
If I had to honestly complain about anything, it was the climax and ending. It isn't bad, but it is ambiguous. The information was there, but it still felt unresolved. I suppose it’s a door he’s left a crack open. Like he's waiting to see what we think of it before he finishes/starts a sequel??
It’s hard to say more about this book without giving spoilers. I feel like every little piece of it is important for a new reader to find. I’ll will say this though. I am genuinely hoping for a sequel, Blake and Nova are so swollen with potential that my book won’t shut.
October 27, 2014
A modern take on ancient Lovecraftian monsters, with a voodoo Southern gothic twist.
The most horrific things of all are usually the most outwardly innocuous, as anyone who's every visited rural Louisiana can attest. Vines and Spanish moss both drape like a belle's hooped skirts and slither with the promise of venomous snakes.
The horrific is also intimately tied to the sexual. Our basest fantasies (to the extent we are willing to admit it) center on the things that scare us the most. Here, a white woman's fear of her own sexuality, fear of her femininity, fear of crossing a deeply rooted racial divide -- results in her debasement and destruction. Adulterers are punished, consumed in a faceless black swarm. A gay man is ripped from a teenage tryst by faceless assailants. And the burrowing vines and swarming hordes are after them all.
More impressive than deeply rooted sex and violence and bigotry are the depth of Rice's words.
Rice writes, "the house has always looked to Blake like a fat, sweating wedding cake," and I am standing in the Garden District, ogling an impossibly chintzy Victorian mansion.
Rice writes, "that's what guilt truly is, Scott realizes, a fishhook's tug on the third or fourth minute of every happy moment," and I nod my head in astonished agreement that he has put such a singular emotion into a simple sentence.
Rice writes, "he bends forward and places his face in hands because it feels like it's going to fall off him, along with the rest of his skin and anything else designed to armor his soft, interior parts," and I know this intertwined feeling of physical and mental vulnerability.
In sum, not perfect but damn close to it. My first book by Rice but certainly not my last (thanks S). Highly recommended.
The most horrific things of all are usually the most outwardly innocuous, as anyone who's every visited rural Louisiana can attest. Vines and Spanish moss both drape like a belle's hooped skirts and slither with the promise of venomous snakes.
The horrific is also intimately tied to the sexual. Our basest fantasies (to the extent we are willing to admit it) center on the things that scare us the most. Here, a white woman's fear of her own sexuality, fear of her femininity, fear of crossing a deeply rooted racial divide -- results in her debasement and destruction. Adulterers are punished, consumed in a faceless black swarm. A gay man is ripped from a teenage tryst by faceless assailants. And the burrowing vines and swarming hordes are after them all.
More impressive than deeply rooted sex and violence and bigotry are the depth of Rice's words.
Rice writes, "the house has always looked to Blake like a fat, sweating wedding cake," and I am standing in the Garden District, ogling an impossibly chintzy Victorian mansion.
Rice writes, "that's what guilt truly is, Scott realizes, a fishhook's tug on the third or fourth minute of every happy moment," and I nod my head in astonished agreement that he has put such a singular emotion into a simple sentence.
Rice writes, "he bends forward and places his face in hands because it feels like it's going to fall off him, along with the rest of his skin and anything else designed to armor his soft, interior parts," and I know this intertwined feeling of physical and mental vulnerability.
In sum, not perfect but damn close to it. My first book by Rice but certainly not my last (thanks S). Highly recommended.
January 14, 2015
Copy provided by publisher/author via NetGalley for honest review.
I wanted to love this book so much.
I don't think it was a case of haveing high expectations, I just didn't like the story.
The mysteries kept getting solved before I even thought there was a mystery. This seems to be a product of not enough character development.
Who was Virginie? She seems like the most intiresting character in the whole story but you never get more than a glimps of her.
Blake? His lover died. It was appartently a big mystery who did it. I didn't really realize this until I was told who did it.
Oh.
Nova? I still don't know anything about her character and frankly....I don't much care to.
Caitlin. The 'main character'. I don't have much more to say about her than she was very bland.
It wasn't scary. It was kinda grose but that is about it.
I liked the writing style. I will try another book by Christopher Rice but this one was certainly a miss for me.
I wanted to love this book so much.
I don't think it was a case of haveing high expectations, I just didn't like the story.
The mysteries kept getting solved before I even thought there was a mystery. This seems to be a product of not enough character development.
Who was Virginie? She seems like the most intiresting character in the whole story but you never get more than a glimps of her.
Blake? His lover died. It was appartently a big mystery who did it. I didn't really realize this until I was told who did it.
Oh.
Nova? I still don't know anything about her character and frankly....I don't much care to.
Caitlin. The 'main character'. I don't have much more to say about her than she was very bland.
It wasn't scary. It was kinda grose but that is about it.
I liked the writing style. I will try another book by Christopher Rice but this one was certainly a miss for me.
September 12, 2014
REVIEW: THE VINES by Christopher Rice
I was tremendously eager to read THE VINES, as Christopher Rice' s earlier book, THE HEAVENS RISE, had left such an endearing and enduring impression on me. My anticipation was fully justified; THE VINES is every bit as incredibly Supernaturally edifying, and educating, as its predecessor. I felt I walked the paths the characters trod, both in the present day and in the bloody mid-19th century. With them, I marveled in awe and wriggled in fright at.the various momentous Supernatural occurrences. And I roiled in anger at the many crimes of the recent past and present, as well as the inhuman 19th century treatment of the slaves. I closed the book, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually satiated.
I was tremendously eager to read THE VINES, as Christopher Rice' s earlier book, THE HEAVENS RISE, had left such an endearing and enduring impression on me. My anticipation was fully justified; THE VINES is every bit as incredibly Supernaturally edifying, and educating, as its predecessor. I felt I walked the paths the characters trod, both in the present day and in the bloody mid-19th century. With them, I marveled in awe and wriggled in fright at.the various momentous Supernatural occurrences. And I roiled in anger at the many crimes of the recent past and present, as well as the inhuman 19th century treatment of the slaves. I closed the book, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually satiated.
November 23, 2025
The Vine is a fast paced, quick read with a deep and twisted plot.
One woman’s, Caitlin’s, rage awakens an ancient plant under the grounds of her pre-civil war plantation.
Caitlin’s best friend is a police officer named Blake. Blake goes out to help her with her husband’s disappearance only to discover something is serious wrong with Caitlin and the plantation.
Caitlin also relies heavily on the black man working her plantation, Willie Thompson, and his daughter Nova. Willie and Nova were aware of the ancient plant but never saw the extent of its fury until Caitlin awakens it.
This puts all the people Caitlin cares about in harm’s way.
Blake and Nova try to uncover the origins of this destructive force while Willie claims ignorance. We, the readers, are taken back through the bloody history of the plantation that was built on the backs of slaves.
This is a supernatural horror tale filled with magic and mystery that alluringly unravel before your eyes. Constructed with the perfect Louisiana plantation back drop, this dark story delves deep into issues that still rage within south.
I like weird and unusual in my reading material especially if it is fresh and totally original. The Vines take it one step beyond on all accounts. The story does contain killer plants and bugs, but it is not Little Shop of Horrorsish. Yes, the story is also unusual and there were a few times I thought this is a little too weird, but in the end Rice pulls it all together.
This was a one-stop read for me. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I just couldn't put it down until I made heads and tails out of this story.
Ultimately, this is not just a story about killer plants but betrayal, sins of the past and ultimately forgiveness.
I received this ARC copy of The Vines from Amazon Publishing - 47North in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication October 21, 2014.
One woman’s, Caitlin’s, rage awakens an ancient plant under the grounds of her pre-civil war plantation.
Caitlin’s best friend is a police officer named Blake. Blake goes out to help her with her husband’s disappearance only to discover something is serious wrong with Caitlin and the plantation.
Caitlin also relies heavily on the black man working her plantation, Willie Thompson, and his daughter Nova. Willie and Nova were aware of the ancient plant but never saw the extent of its fury until Caitlin awakens it.
This puts all the people Caitlin cares about in harm’s way.
Blake and Nova try to uncover the origins of this destructive force while Willie claims ignorance. We, the readers, are taken back through the bloody history of the plantation that was built on the backs of slaves.
This is a supernatural horror tale filled with magic and mystery that alluringly unravel before your eyes. Constructed with the perfect Louisiana plantation back drop, this dark story delves deep into issues that still rage within south.
I like weird and unusual in my reading material especially if it is fresh and totally original. The Vines take it one step beyond on all accounts. The story does contain killer plants and bugs, but it is not Little Shop of Horrorsish. Yes, the story is also unusual and there were a few times I thought this is a little too weird, but in the end Rice pulls it all together.
This was a one-stop read for me. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I just couldn't put it down until I made heads and tails out of this story.
Ultimately, this is not just a story about killer plants but betrayal, sins of the past and ultimately forgiveness.
I received this ARC copy of The Vines from Amazon Publishing - 47North in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication October 21, 2014.
February 16, 2015
The thing I loved most about THE VINES is the fact that while creepy as all get out, there isn't a clear cut right & wrong/us vs. them vibe. Of course bad things do happen, but at the same time ... you understand them. Maybe even empathize with them a little? At one point while reading I turned to my husband and said "Go vines go! Kill the people!" I am pretty sure he just rolled his eyes at me and went on doing whatever he was doing at the time. But that was a fun and unexpected turn of events in a story that reminded me of a lot of the classic horror stories I have read.
The story opens on a southern plantation - creepy by reputation alone - where we witness a woman being wronged emotionally. From there we follow her through an emotional spiral that leads to a desperate act - which leads to her vengeance. I won't really talk about the story much past that, I really don't like to ruin things for you! I will say that at first I didn't like the expanding cast of characters ... until suddenly I did. Not sure why that changed; maybe because I got a wider view of the world, but I never felt like I was missing out when I was with one person - I knew all the gaps would be filled.
The end crept up on me, I was too involved in the story to notice the percent read getting higher and high until BAM - the book was over. While there was certainly some closure, I am not sure if I was mentally ready for the story to be over.
If you like ambiguous entities, bad people, good people, and killer plant life, then by all means pick this story up!
The story opens on a southern plantation - creepy by reputation alone - where we witness a woman being wronged emotionally. From there we follow her through an emotional spiral that leads to a desperate act - which leads to her vengeance. I won't really talk about the story much past that, I really don't like to ruin things for you! I will say that at first I didn't like the expanding cast of characters ... until suddenly I did. Not sure why that changed; maybe because I got a wider view of the world, but I never felt like I was missing out when I was with one person - I knew all the gaps would be filled.
The end crept up on me, I was too involved in the story to notice the percent read getting higher and high until BAM - the book was over. While there was certainly some closure, I am not sure if I was mentally ready for the story to be over.
If you like ambiguous entities, bad people, good people, and killer plant life, then by all means pick this story up!
September 18, 2014
This story really reads like a short story turned into a longer tale. The elements of a great short story are all here. However, it's the addition of other material to flesh out or extend this tale that drags it down for me.
New Orleans is always a great setting for supernatural events, especially ones that involve pre-Civil War era plantations. The notion of the departed souls inhabiting the plants and rising up to purge evil is very well presented.
There are a few other plot lines that begin to be involved in the story that starts to distract from the supernatural creepiness and make this more of a story of revenge. The ultimate resolution of the story was a bit of a let down for me as it didn't play well to the initial story line but seems to try and tie up the smaller ones instead.
A fun short read, I just wish it had stayed true to the roots of the story. Sorry for the plant pun.
New Orleans is always a great setting for supernatural events, especially ones that involve pre-Civil War era plantations. The notion of the departed souls inhabiting the plants and rising up to purge evil is very well presented.
There are a few other plot lines that begin to be involved in the story that starts to distract from the supernatural creepiness and make this more of a story of revenge. The ultimate resolution of the story was a bit of a let down for me as it didn't play well to the initial story line but seems to try and tie up the smaller ones instead.
A fun short read, I just wish it had stayed true to the roots of the story. Sorry for the plant pun.
May 21, 2015
I really wanted to like this one. I mean, vines haunted by a slave woman out for revenge? Fantastic.
Not so much. I think this book needed about 250 more pages of character development, plot build and suspense to be decent. The present tense was really distracting combined with Rice's writing style. The big mystery of Blake's assault was just laid out splat without any build to a good reveal. The deal with Caitlin was very shallow, no depth to her motivations or character. Nova was a promising character but again ended up having nothing to actually do with the resolution of the story. The slave woman was a sure thing for creating a really cool dynamic but that went absolutely nowhere, to the point I was pissed. I'm pretty shocked that this was nominated for a Bram Stoker award (although why I'm surprised when I've read other terrible books that have been nominated...sigh).
I think I will still read The Heaven's Rise, but was disappointed with this one as a whole.
September 22, 2014
This is my first time reading Christopher Rice. It won't be the last.
'The Vines' is a terrific horror novel. It's scary, unique, and dripping with creepy atmosphere. Rice brings us back to the sins of our fathers as a plantation's past creeps up to terrorize its current day inhabitants. It's a bloody, fast, and fun read.
Louisiana's dark past plays a pivotal role, as do modern day feelings about race and sexuality. While the book reads like good old fashioned horror, it's still timely.
While all the characters are extremely vivid, it was Blake I loved. He's a perfect wounded hero and I loved reading him.
The book was pure fun and I'll definitely read the author in the future!
*ARC provided by NetGalley for review purposes.
'The Vines' is a terrific horror novel. It's scary, unique, and dripping with creepy atmosphere. Rice brings us back to the sins of our fathers as a plantation's past creeps up to terrorize its current day inhabitants. It's a bloody, fast, and fun read.
Louisiana's dark past plays a pivotal role, as do modern day feelings about race and sexuality. While the book reads like good old fashioned horror, it's still timely.
While all the characters are extremely vivid, it was Blake I loved. He's a perfect wounded hero and I loved reading him.
The book was pure fun and I'll definitely read the author in the future!
*ARC provided by NetGalley for review purposes.
December 29, 2020
I have to admit that I requested this book for review because the author is Anne Rice's son and I was curious. I've read and enjoyed several Anne Rice books and wondered if writing skill is hereditary. It's impossible for those of us familiar with her work to read his without making some comparisons.
My first impression on starting to read was that it didn't compare favorably. Part of the reason for this is that the story is written in present tense, which I dislike intensely. There is good reason why nearly all the best books of the past have been written in past tense. It just works better for storytelling.
It starts out like a bad Romance novel with a woman catching her husband having another woman perched on the bathroom sink, then leads to a horrific situation in the gazebo where a little spilled blood seems to awaken a window to the past and a monstrous force hidden in the soil of the plantation.
As Horror stories go, the plot was actually interesting. I didn't see how the bugs fit in until the very end, but there were some interesting ideas, even if some of them beggared believability. The best character was Nova, the daughter of a black caretaker who still treated his employers as if they were in the old south in the time of slavery. Until the last few chapters, she seemed to be an intelligent and sensible character.
The one problem with the story is that it lacked depth. This may be partly due to present tense writing, but things didn't flow as smoothly as they could have. I was actually surprised to read that Rice had already written four other books (and won awards, nothing to do with his literary family I'm sure) because this read much like a first novel. It was okay, but just okay.
My first impression on starting to read was that it didn't compare favorably. Part of the reason for this is that the story is written in present tense, which I dislike intensely. There is good reason why nearly all the best books of the past have been written in past tense. It just works better for storytelling.
It starts out like a bad Romance novel with a woman catching her husband having another woman perched on the bathroom sink, then leads to a horrific situation in the gazebo where a little spilled blood seems to awaken a window to the past and a monstrous force hidden in the soil of the plantation.
As Horror stories go, the plot was actually interesting. I didn't see how the bugs fit in until the very end, but there were some interesting ideas, even if some of them beggared believability. The best character was Nova, the daughter of a black caretaker who still treated his employers as if they were in the old south in the time of slavery. Until the last few chapters, she seemed to be an intelligent and sensible character.
The one problem with the story is that it lacked depth. This may be partly due to present tense writing, but things didn't flow as smoothly as they could have. I was actually surprised to read that Rice had already written four other books (and won awards, nothing to do with his literary family I'm sure) because this read much like a first novel. It was okay, but just okay.
April 18, 2018
Here we have a young lady who can harness deadly vines (which can apparently harness bugs...or something) that grow under a gazebo on her own property. But she's stuck on the property, thus not much room for a series. This author's latest, "Bone Music" has a young lady who can harness super powers anywhere she wants, thus roaming the country and allowing the author to establish a series. Thus, "Vines" is a rather nonsensical dry run for the far superior "Bone Music." Skip this one and head right to "Bone Music." Proof positive that Christopher Rice is learning his craft.
September 17, 2014
Love to garden? Like unusual plants? Think a Venus Flytrap is scary? Do you talk to your plants? Welcome to a gardener’s nightmare-come-to-life in this supernatural thriller where betrayal can be as deadly as forgiveness is uplifting.
It was a not-so- Happy-Birthday for the wealthy Caitlin when she saw her husband and a beautiful woman “sharing” an intimate moment on a bathroom counter. Yeah, sexy, huh? Her anger summons to ancient spirits that are buried in the land under her massive estate, Spring House and vengeance for both old and new betrayals is sought through the supernatural power of killer vines. Her husband goes missing and no one can accept the stories that are told, but could this be the answer to where others have disappeared to? What lies beneath Spring House and when will death strike again? Is death the legacy that will remain long after everyone is gone? Will Caitlin become its next victim, should it control her, too or will she come to terms with the truth and move on, leaving Spring House to those who can better understand its heritage? Only the tenacity of two innocent bystanders can unearth the past.
The Vines by Christopher Rice is a trip into the world of myth and legends, vengeance and history. Told with vividly descriptive scenes, one wonders how a land so beautiful can harbor such darkness. The emotional prints left by great characterization add to the atmosphere and brings this dark tale to life. Was I hooked from the start? Did I feel an emotional reaction to this tale? Yes and yes. Amazing what a woman scorned can do, isn’t it?
I received an ARC edition from 47North in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 Stars
Publication Date: October 21, 2014
Publisher: 47North
ISBN: 9781477826638
Genre: Sci-fi|Thriller
Print Length: 226 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
It was a not-so- Happy-Birthday for the wealthy Caitlin when she saw her husband and a beautiful woman “sharing” an intimate moment on a bathroom counter. Yeah, sexy, huh? Her anger summons to ancient spirits that are buried in the land under her massive estate, Spring House and vengeance for both old and new betrayals is sought through the supernatural power of killer vines. Her husband goes missing and no one can accept the stories that are told, but could this be the answer to where others have disappeared to? What lies beneath Spring House and when will death strike again? Is death the legacy that will remain long after everyone is gone? Will Caitlin become its next victim, should it control her, too or will she come to terms with the truth and move on, leaving Spring House to those who can better understand its heritage? Only the tenacity of two innocent bystanders can unearth the past.
The Vines by Christopher Rice is a trip into the world of myth and legends, vengeance and history. Told with vividly descriptive scenes, one wonders how a land so beautiful can harbor such darkness. The emotional prints left by great characterization add to the atmosphere and brings this dark tale to life. Was I hooked from the start? Did I feel an emotional reaction to this tale? Yes and yes. Amazing what a woman scorned can do, isn’t it?
I received an ARC edition from 47North in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 Stars
Publication Date: October 21, 2014
Publisher: 47North
ISBN: 9781477826638
Genre: Sci-fi|Thriller
Print Length: 226 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
September 29, 2014
With The Heavens Rise, Rice established himself as a more-than-competent player in the horror genre. With The Vines, he’s undoubtedly making some of his veteran horror peers nervous. In fact, that Bram Stoker award he should have won for 2013? Stephen King: watch out.
As with all of Rice’s novels, he presents to readers a cast of dimensional leading characters. The most intriguing of all is Caitlin, who is seen so disparately different from all the different lenses that we get to observe her through. In fact, how the other characters see her gives us almost as much insight into them as it does her. At the end of the book, I still wasn't sure how to feel about her, and I see that as a compliment to the writing. Nothing in the real world is less black and white than the view of how different people view others.
When I read Rice's horror offerings, I'm reminded why horror as a genre is often hit or miss for me. For me, horror must possess a certain fluidity, a literary appeal. Gore does nothing for me unless presented on a platter with specific finesse. Rice's natural gift of language (which comes forth in a beautiful delivery, rather than overly showy) brings this story to the level of "literary horror" for me. I am connected equally, on a sensory level, to the characters, the story, and the setting. And all of this is delivered at just the right pace. The suspense unfolded so well I finished the book in half a weekend, and was utterly useless on all other fronts.
It's hard to breathe new life into an old idea, but I loved the amalgam of decadent wealth, Southern culture, and the supernatural elements that provide the underlying emotional beat for the story. Having visited many of the plantations on River Road, I could even almost believe the story had a basis of truth.
Without revealing spoilers, I'll add that I'd love to see where the story goes from here. There was enough closure to satisfy a single book, but, equally, potential to take the story forward.
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.
As with all of Rice’s novels, he presents to readers a cast of dimensional leading characters. The most intriguing of all is Caitlin, who is seen so disparately different from all the different lenses that we get to observe her through. In fact, how the other characters see her gives us almost as much insight into them as it does her. At the end of the book, I still wasn't sure how to feel about her, and I see that as a compliment to the writing. Nothing in the real world is less black and white than the view of how different people view others.
When I read Rice's horror offerings, I'm reminded why horror as a genre is often hit or miss for me. For me, horror must possess a certain fluidity, a literary appeal. Gore does nothing for me unless presented on a platter with specific finesse. Rice's natural gift of language (which comes forth in a beautiful delivery, rather than overly showy) brings this story to the level of "literary horror" for me. I am connected equally, on a sensory level, to the characters, the story, and the setting. And all of this is delivered at just the right pace. The suspense unfolded so well I finished the book in half a weekend, and was utterly useless on all other fronts.
It's hard to breathe new life into an old idea, but I loved the amalgam of decadent wealth, Southern culture, and the supernatural elements that provide the underlying emotional beat for the story. Having visited many of the plantations on River Road, I could even almost believe the story had a basis of truth.
Without revealing spoilers, I'll add that I'd love to see where the story goes from here. There was enough closure to satisfy a single book, but, equally, potential to take the story forward.
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.
October 18, 2014
Chris Rice does it again. The Vines once again proves Mr. Rice can really do horror well. Set in the sultry climes of Louisiana in and around New Orleans, we get treated to not just the darker side of the supernatural but also, some of the dark history that permeates the antebellum south and remains there today.
Woven tightly together, the past collides with the present in some unexpected but intriguing ways. What happens when an ancient power is accidentally released makes for some exciting reading. I would suggest clearing a day or pulling an all nighter because Mr. Rice makes it nearly impossible not to want to find out what happens next.
Add to the action relationships between husbands and wives, old friends, and family retainers coming to endings that are not always pleasant and then pile on past and present tragedies and you have as heady a mix as the scent of the Vines can produce. How the action is resolved is at once clever and very rewarding. The power of the Vines is unforgiving, unrelenting, and not to be refused. Consequences remain for those who welcome the power as well as those who reject it.
There are hints of the struggles between the layers of Louisiana society. There is a class system at play, but also a sexual division the runs through the south which is well explained. How does someone make amends for dismissing those divisions? In the Vines the answer is swift and life changing. It is an amazing ride that's well worth the read. (As an audio book fan, I can't wait to see who gets picked to bring these characters to life).
The ending answers most of the questions a reader may have but remains open enough that there may be (I hope) at least a sequel to see where the action finally leads the remaining main characters. Do yourself a favor and pick up the book as soon as it hits the stands.
Woven tightly together, the past collides with the present in some unexpected but intriguing ways. What happens when an ancient power is accidentally released makes for some exciting reading. I would suggest clearing a day or pulling an all nighter because Mr. Rice makes it nearly impossible not to want to find out what happens next.
Add to the action relationships between husbands and wives, old friends, and family retainers coming to endings that are not always pleasant and then pile on past and present tragedies and you have as heady a mix as the scent of the Vines can produce. How the action is resolved is at once clever and very rewarding. The power of the Vines is unforgiving, unrelenting, and not to be refused. Consequences remain for those who welcome the power as well as those who reject it.
There are hints of the struggles between the layers of Louisiana society. There is a class system at play, but also a sexual division the runs through the south which is well explained. How does someone make amends for dismissing those divisions? In the Vines the answer is swift and life changing. It is an amazing ride that's well worth the read. (As an audio book fan, I can't wait to see who gets picked to bring these characters to life).
The ending answers most of the questions a reader may have but remains open enough that there may be (I hope) at least a sequel to see where the action finally leads the remaining main characters. Do yourself a favor and pick up the book as soon as it hits the stands.
November 29, 2014
This was a truly terrible book. I always considered Christopher Rice a talented writer, but I fear he may have been lobotomized prior to writing this. I realized about 2/3 of the way into this book that it wasn't going to improve or make more sense, but I felt obligated to finish it so that I could write this review. Thankfully it was not a long novel, and it was an Amazon library book, so I didn't waste money on it, just time.
So what made the book so terrible? Well, the premise is so ridiculously stupid, it could have been a late-night B movie, or a bad dream the author had and decided to flesh out in the daylight, bad idea. Here are some of my favorite selections of laughably rotten prose:
"So the three of them are walking close together through the garden's small maze of fountains and waist-high hedges when a sound comes from underneath the gazebo like mud being hurled into a wood chipper. " What? Am I, the reader, supposed to know what that sounds like?
Or this: "Willie makes no move to lower the oily-looking firearm. He has changed from his silk dress pants into a pair of blue jeans, and the cartridge of shells makes an obscene bulge in his front pocket." Really? You are in a moment of crisis, fearing for your life, and you focus on the bulge in his pants?
"They are not mere bioluminescence; they are a presence, a glow that looks powerful enough to float free of the plant structure itself." Oooooh, scary, not just a killer plant, but a GLOWING killer plant?! Eek.
So I'd like to conclude that you should do yourself a favor and skip this, even as a freebie, and I'm making a mental memo to stop reading the trash both mom and son Rices vomit up for their publishers these days.
So what made the book so terrible? Well, the premise is so ridiculously stupid, it could have been a late-night B movie, or a bad dream the author had and decided to flesh out in the daylight, bad idea. Here are some of my favorite selections of laughably rotten prose:
"So the three of them are walking close together through the garden's small maze of fountains and waist-high hedges when a sound comes from underneath the gazebo like mud being hurled into a wood chipper. " What? Am I, the reader, supposed to know what that sounds like?
Or this: "Willie makes no move to lower the oily-looking firearm. He has changed from his silk dress pants into a pair of blue jeans, and the cartridge of shells makes an obscene bulge in his front pocket." Really? You are in a moment of crisis, fearing for your life, and you focus on the bulge in his pants?
"They are not mere bioluminescence; they are a presence, a glow that looks powerful enough to float free of the plant structure itself." Oooooh, scary, not just a killer plant, but a GLOWING killer plant?! Eek.
So I'd like to conclude that you should do yourself a favor and skip this, even as a freebie, and I'm making a mental memo to stop reading the trash both mom and son Rices vomit up for their publishers these days.
January 9, 2015
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I'd actually chosen this book as a Halloween read, but I didn't manage to read it till late December. However I was really looking forward to it.
After Caitlin witnesses her husband's cheating on her at her Birthday party she decides to kill herself in the gazebo. But instead of dying her blood brings an old force back to life. What force? The very evil force of plants and bugs.
I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The story was just very thin (not that I expected deep philosophical questions to be answers) and not that original. And there were a lot of things that just didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the story. The ending felt weird too. Although it never became the horror story I thought it would be, it was enjoyable to read (as long as I didn't start to think about the plot holes and just kept reading).
The writing was quite good, I still have another one of his books, A Density of Souls, and I'm hoping I will enjoy that story better. When I requested The Vines, I'd no idea it was Anne Rice's son and frankly I haven't read anything by her either, so I won't be able to compare anything.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I'd actually chosen this book as a Halloween read, but I didn't manage to read it till late December. However I was really looking forward to it.
After Caitlin witnesses her husband's cheating on her at her Birthday party she decides to kill herself in the gazebo. But instead of dying her blood brings an old force back to life. What force? The very evil force of plants and bugs.
I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The story was just very thin (not that I expected deep philosophical questions to be answers) and not that original. And there were a lot of things that just didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the story. The ending felt weird too. Although it never became the horror story I thought it would be, it was enjoyable to read (as long as I didn't start to think about the plot holes and just kept reading).
The writing was quite good, I still have another one of his books, A Density of Souls, and I'm hoping I will enjoy that story better. When I requested The Vines, I'd no idea it was Anne Rice's son and frankly I haven't read anything by her either, so I won't be able to compare anything.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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