282 ratings (3.69 avg)
119 reviews

Malandune

Add friend

Malandune’s Bookshelves

to-read‎ (251)
currently-reading‎ (4)

read‎ (348)
did-not-finish‎ (4)

crime-fiction‎ (66)
serial-killers‎ (17)

Stats | More…

Malandune is Currently Reading

Malandune is currently reading

The Witching Hour (Lives of the Mayfair Witches #1)

by Anne Rice

bookshelves: currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in June 2022

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Malandune said:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

" From an entertainment point I really want to give this 4 stars.
What I didn't like:
At times, the book was too long, and I never say that. By the time I was reading the file on the Mayfair Witches I had almost forgotten what had been said of them in t From an entertainment point I really want to give this 4 stars.
What I didn't like:
At times, the book was too long, and I never say that. By the time I was reading the file on the Mayfair Witches I had almost forgotten what had been said of them in the prior chapters. I love descriptive writing, I really do, but the restoration of the house was too much for me. I was longing for something to happen and nothing did - until it did. Maybe this was meant to mirror the sense that Rowan and Michael had of everything going too smoothly. And I love how Anne Rice is able to create these images but in this case it was just too much for me.
Secondly, I didn't like the romance between Rowan and Michael. It was too fast and too intense. It didn't make sense to me that Rowan would fall in love this easily and this heavily. And it felt very insta-lovey. I mean they are basically getting married two months after meeting.
Lastly, there is a subtle racism pervading the book. It is rather benign, if racism can ever be so. What I mean by that is that Rice does not really engage with Louisiana's violent history. It felt like Rice was glorifying the Deep South because that is where she grew up without acknowledging the fact that she herself enjoyed white privilege. The only time we ever hear about the violence of the plantation slavery is during Charlotte's chapter and how she punishes her slaves severely and yet is always loved because she gives them treats? The only Black characters we meet after are servants, their only purpose to serve the White Mayfairs. The worst bit about this was when they looked at the silver cutlery and discussed that Eugenia would probably like to clean them, like, come on!!!
One more thing, the incest. In particular, the incest without any repercussions for the offspring. Like how would Antha, Deirdre, and Rowan all come from Cortland without there being any physical or mental disabilities. But then I guess, it's a fantasy...
What I liked:
I love Anne Rice's writing. I love the way she creates these magical sceneries in the everyday, how she does not fail to mention even the colour of the sky or the shape of the clouds. Even the house and the city seem Alive in her writing. I love that she basically writes about the human condition in her work but is able to turn this into the most intricate, thrilling fantasies. I loved Lasher. What a brilliant and interesting character. Like Rowan, I was compelled and didn't know what to think. And like Michael I was terrified at times after closing the book. ...more "

progress:

(page 723 of 966)
"WHAT THE FUUUUUCK
there are these moments where I put the book down and when I pick it back up it's a quiet scene, filled with beautiful descriptions of life and its aspects and I find myself becoming a wee bit bored and wishing for some action - next thing I know, there's "groping for the fallen head, squashed fruit on the floor, breaking apart like a melon"" — Jun 07, 2022 01:38PM

Jun 11, 2022 04:33AM · see review