Overview
In her mesmerizing new novel, the author of The Vampire Chronicles and the saga of the Mayfair Witches demonstrates once again her gift for spellbinding storytelling and the creation of myth and magic. Here, in a magnificent tale of sorcery and the occult, she makes real for us a hitherto unexplored world of witchcraft.At the center is the beautiful, unconquerable witch Merrick. She is a descendant of the gens de couleur libres, a society of New Orleans octoroons and quadroons steeped in the lore and ceremony of voodoo, who reign in the shadowy world where African and French--the dark and the white--intermingle. Her ancestors are the great Mayfair witches, of whom she knows nothing--and from whom she inherits the power and the magical knowledge of a Circe.
Into this exotic realm comes David Talbot--hero, storyteller, adventurer, almost-mortal vampire, visitor from another dark realm. It is he who recounts Merrick's haunting tale--a tale that takes us from the New Orleans of past and present to the jungles of Guatemala, from the Maya ruins of a century ago to ancient civilizations not yet explored.
Anne Rice's richly told novel weaves an irresistible story of two worlds: the witches' world and the vampires' world, where magical powers and otherworldly fascinations are locked together in a dance of seduction, death, and rebirth.
Synopsis
In this mesmerizing new novel, Anne Rice demonstrates once again her gift for spellbinding storytelling and the creation of myth and magic, as she weaves together two of her most compelling worlds? those of the Vampire Chronicles and the Mayfair witches.
From the Paperback edition.
Publishers Weekly
Talbot, a vampire familiar to Rice readers, though now inhabiting a different body, relates this eerie tale about an "octoroon of exceptional beauty" named Merrick, a Mayfair witch with whom he has been obsessed for an eternity. The narrative weaves through time--from present-day New Orleans, to Talbot's first meeting with Merrick, to an adventure they shared years ago in the jungles of Guatemala. Flashbacks aside, this story focuses on Talbot's attempt to convince Merrick to use her voodoo magic to conjure up the vampire daughter of his friend and fellow vampire Louis. Fans will recognize characters from past books, including Louis and Lestat. Rice offers a haunting look at the separate but equally intriguing worlds of witches and vampires united here through Merrick's witchcraft on Talbot's behalf. Jacobi's reading of the tale is spellbinding. His refined British tone--with the slightest trace of a classic Transylvanian accent--fits Talbot's character perfectly, and he flavors the narrative with verve and mystery accordingly. Simultaneous release with the Knopf hardcover (Forecasts, Aug. 14). (Oct.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
The Barnes & Noble ReviewMerrick is bewitching -- Anne Rice is in top form with this novel of witches and vampires. In the sultry world of Rice's New Orleans, the almost-mortal vampire David Talbot, of the notorious Talamasca, meets Merrick, the sensual Mayfair witch. Lestat, Louis, and other Rice favorites make appearances in this tale. This novel is Rice's ultimate marriage of her bestselling witch and vampire story lines -- and it should not be missed.
Anne Rice has earned literary accolades and international fame for her darkly sensual novels featuring magical worlds and otherworldly creatures. Whether it's vampires, witches, or body thieves, Rice's characters are among the most unforgettable in literary history. And now, with the release of her latest novel, Merrick, Rice brings all of her worlds together and resurrects (in one case, in the most literal sense) some of her most memorable characters, including the vampires, Lestat and Louis. The star of this latest tale is a new member of the Mayfair witch clan: Merrick, a beautiful woman with incredible powers.
Merrick, a descendant of a little-known African-American branch of the Mayfair family, is raised in New Orleans by her godmother, Great Nananne, a powerful voodoo woman. Merrick is only eight when her Great Nananne dies. Eventually Merrick is found and cared for by the then-mortal David Talbot and his friend Aaron, both of whom have connections to the Talamasca. But David's connection to this beautiful creature, who he comes to love with an intensity that is both frightening and puzzling, is lost when he falls victim to the body thief and, later, to Lestat.
As Merrick grows, so do her powers, including her ability to raise the spirits of the dead. It is this particular power that leads vampire David Talbot to seek her out, hoping she can help Louis, who has become despondent with guilt over the role he played in young Claudia's conversion to vampirism and subsequent death. Louis is desperate to know that Claudia's soul is at peace and that she forgives him. But when Merrick tries to bring back Claudia's spirit, all hell breaks loose.
This is classic Rice at her best, exploring the moral and philosophical quandaries of the undead and showing how utterly human they are despite their inhuman makeup. The spirit-conjuring scenes are spooky and chilling, and the plot leaves the door wide open for a sequel that promises to be even more exciting than any of its predecessors.
--Beth Amos