Review is tainted by romance.

When my man and I first relocated to the Garden District last summer (at a time when I was still working as a bartender), we settled into a spotless apartment. This apartment boasted a gallery balcony that overlooked Chestnut street. Interestingly, in our otherwise immaculate room, there was a box of clutter left behind by the previous tenant. She had left spoons, a rubber ducky, an unattractive vase, and five Anne Rice novels.

I dedicated most of the summer mornings to sitting on the balcony and reading the Mayfair witches series, commencing with The Witching Hour. Beneath the shade of the magnolia tree adjacent to our balcony, I could actually catch a glimpse of "the Mayfair House" from my window. This was the very house that Anne Rice used to own when she penned the series on Chestnut and First. It was truly a perfect way to spend the summer. So clichéd, yet so wonderful.

Alas, there is no balcony at my new abode in Central City. However, from my gallery windows, I can observe the bar where the Wild Magnolia Mardi Gras Indians rehearse and depart from on Mardi Gras morning and on St. Joseph's Day. It's still a great place, but now I just need a book that matches this new setting.

3.5 stars.

This is a rather long book. The story unfolds in a leisurely manner, meandering along like a slow-flowing river. And that's okay. It suits the detailed history of the Mayfair family, which spans from its earliest origins all the way to modern times.

I would never have been able to get through it without listening to the audio version. The actual book has tiny print and closely spaced lines, and I only "read" it when I wanted to finish a chapter that I'd started while driving. The narrator did an excellent job. Her languid voice was very apt for much of the comprehensive description.

I enjoyed many aspects of this story, but in the end, I just wanted it to be over because it was simply too long. I'm certain that it could have lost about 300 pages without sacrificing the integrity of the story.

This was my first experience with Anne Rice. I know that she more commonly writes about vampires, so I would be intrigued to see how she approaches that subject. There are two sequels to this book, but I doubt I will continue with the series. This one was enjoyable enough as a stand-alone.

When I read Anne Rice anywhere, the first thing that comes to my mind is heavy reading, and of the great kind. However, after one gets accustomed to her style and takes things calmly, one can enjoy the great way of storytelling of this author and the genius when creating her characters, who are completely complex and with extremely particular personalities.

Throughout this book of over a thousand pages, we get to know the Mayfair family, entire generations of the family, and how throughout its history this family has been involved in witch hunts and stranger-than-fiction events.

Although this first installment of the trilogy is practically an introduction, it serves as a basis for the events that will come later and that show us the true Driver of the family.

For those who are brave enough with this tome, a great story awaits. It is recommendable.

Gothic is indeed southern. Eastern fairy tales, northern fairy tales, and the west is completely wild. That is to say, you can expect anything but sophistication.

Southern Gothic is exquisite. It is mysterious, mystical, and redundant. Both cultural and parasitic, it grows violently in the south, and all paths lead to thickets where evil lurks. It can take on a seductive and attractive appearance, appealing to pity and compassion, or vice versa - beckoning with entry into higher spheres, promising wealth, popularity, and love. But woe to you if, having believed, you allow it to enter into yourself.

"The Hour of Witchcraft" is the first novel of the epic canvas that will unfold in the following volumes. It gives introductory notes, indicates the layout, and introduces the main characters.

This is just the beginning. Then it will be more interesting and without discounts on vintage.

The story of the Mayfair witches is about a thousand different things, including family relationships, the history of European, southern and northern American witchcraft, psychological anomalies, wealth and poverty, professionalism and moral limitations in the profession, mysticism, love, and New Orleans. For which Rice did with this book approximately what Carlos Ruiz Zafón did for Barcelona. But the main thing is still the nature of evil and the ways in which it enters a person.

Anne Rice wrote her epic before Hurricane Katrina, which reduced the population of the beautiful and terrible city by a third. Then, in the middle of the 1990s, its prosperity seemed unshakable. Today, everything is perceived very differently, through the prism of the misfortunes and disasters that befell New Orleans and America at the beginning of the millennium.

In the sense that the description of the attributes of a beautiful life with an ocean yacht, a sports car, and first-class flights looks a bit old-fashioned today, and the suddenly flaring love of the beautiful, rich, educated, professionally successful, and paranormally talented heroes against the background of a miraculous rescue seems like a light and fluffy fruit.

If you add the mysticism of a decaying mansion, a beauty in a catatonic state, and a periodically appearing ghost - it's just a cliché that only the lazy haven't exploited. But this is only the first impression. Very soon, the overly ironic expression will disappear from your face, and the action will draw you in like a whirlpool.

"The Hour of Witchcraft" is the first novel of an epic canvas that will unfold in the following volumes. It gives an introduction, indicates the layout, and introduces the main characters. Neurosurgeon Rowan saves and returns to life a drowning man who, after resurrection, discovers the gift of clairvoyance. The young woman was raised in a foster family, never saw her biological mother, and recently lost her foster parents.

The meeting with the man she saved and their mutual love coincides in time with the death of her real mother. She travels to New Orleans, where Michael flew a day earlier, and comes into contact with a man from a powerful secret order who claims that Rowan is a witch from an ancient clan, promising to present the necessary evidence.

This is just the beginning. It will be more interesting later, and without discounts on vintage.

I received this book as a Christmas gift that year. It was my very first Anne Rice book. At that time, it had been approximately a year since "Interview With A Vampire" was released as a movie starring Brad Pitt, Christian Slater, and Tom Cruise. Let me tell you, people, I was completely amazed. If you enjoy a story similar to "Gone With The Wind" by Margaret Mitchell, but on steroids, seriously, an epic like that, yet extremely adult (parents, make sure your tweens don't get their hands on this one!), and it's such an addictive read that you might even call in sick from work just to keep reading it.

This was by far my favorite novel by Anne Rice, and among all the other sequels and prequels related to it. It's a major recommendation from me for those who love great, compelling, and immersive type of reading. It has the power to transport you into a different world and keep you hooked from start to finish. You'll find yourself completely lost in the story, unable to put the book down. So, if you're looking for a thrilling and engaging read, give this book a try.

What can I possibly say about this that hasn't already been said countless times before?

Anne Rice is, without a doubt, my absolute favorite author. Her writing has this magical quality that makes it feel like I'm coming home every time I pick up one of her books.

This is my third time delving into this particular book, and yet, I continue to discover new and profound things to learn from and ponder over. It truly is a timeless classic.

Despite being a rather large book, I wouldn't have it any other way. In my humble opinion, this is Anne's true masterpiece. Everything about it is sheer perfection.

I love how, through her writing, I can almost smell the intoxicating fragrance of the night jasmine and taste the rich and creamy cafe au'lait. Her attention to detail and ability to create such a vivid and immersive atmosphere is simply brilliant.

I have read nearly everything she has written, but this book holds a special and cherished place in my heart. I cannot recommend it enough to anyone who has a love for great literature.

It is a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page, leaving you with a sense of wonder and a desire to explore more of Anne Rice's enchanting world.

A reread for me.

Yes, it is a very looooong book. However, it is definitely worth the read. This book has captured my attention from the very beginning. The story is so engaging and the characters are well-developed.

As I reread it, I am able to notice details that I missed the first time around. The author's writing style is beautiful and makes the book a pleasure to read.

Even though it is a long book, I find myself getting lost in the story and not wanting to put it down. It has become one of my favorite books and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good read.

I am looking forward to seeing what new insights and discoveries I will make as I continue to reread this wonderful book.

The Mayfair's are an incredibly powerful and affluent family. In every generation, there is a chosen one, a witch, who not only inherits the family home and wealth but also supernatural powers and an evil entity named Lasher, whose sole objective is to become human again.

The Witching Hour is an extremely lengthy novel, consisting of 1207 pages. However, don't let this deter you from reading it as once you open the first page, you'll quickly find yourself completely immersed in the spine-chilling tale of the Mayfair Witches. This novel features a captivating, engrossing, and well-written story with complex and mysterious characters. There are numerous compelling twists and turns in the plot that will keep you interested, and the suspense is masterfully drawn out. The novel is completely unpredictable, and I was truly shocked by the ending!

The settings of each generation of the family, ranging from the plantations in Haiti to the modern-day gothic mansion in New Orleans, are described in such rich detail that you can easily envision yourself in those places. In fact, I adored all of Anne Rice's vivid descriptions of New Orleans and the house on First Street, which I felt really enhanced the intensity of the story.

There was a section in the middle, approximately 300 pages or more, that described the history of the Mayfair family over 12 generations! I found this section rather tiresome and overly long, which is why I'm awarding this novel four stars instead of five. I wish the author had shortened this part.

The characters were all quite complex, fascinating, and well-developed. Anne Rice dedicated a significant amount of time to explaining the motives behind her characters and their reactions to the situations in the novel. This made me feel as if I knew each individual character very well. Throughout the novel, I found myself experiencing both sympathy and anger towards the character of Rowan.

Beware, if you attempt to read this novel in paperback format, your eyes and wrists will likely be sore for about a week!

Four stars!

Jar of Death Pick #13

4.5 Stars!

This book is truly a monster!

On the verandah of a great New Orleans house, now faded, a mute and fragile woman sits rocking.

I read those words about a decade ago and I was immediately drawn to this book. The Witching Hour actually belongs to my sister, but after I read it for the first time all those years ago, I just couldn't part with it. I kept it for myself.

And I don't feel the slightest bit bad about it either.

The Witching Hour is about the Mayfair family. The Mayfairs are a family of extremely powerful witches, who are watched over by a powerful, dangerous, and seductive being.

This book has it all. There is romance, incest, murder, more incest, secret societies, and so much more. Did I mention incest? Because there is an abundance of it, along with rape.

If you have any triggers, then this book is not for you. Anne Rice is widely known for her very dark and sexy novels, and I believe that with The Witching Hour, she reached the pinnacle of her writing.

It is truly a must-read for fans of the genre.

**The Witching Hour: A Captivating and Unique Read**

The Witching Hour is truly one of the most remarkable books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. While it hasn't quite dethroned The Stand as my all-time favorite, it's an incredibly close second. I'm rather懊恼with myself for waiting so long to pick it up. If only I'd read it earlier, it might have claimed the second spot on my reading list much sooner.

The story is a fascinating and unique take on the concept of witches and their power. Anne Rice creates a gothic atmosphere that draws you in and keeps you engaged from beginning to end. The characters are well-developed and feel like real people, with their own emotions, motivations, and backstories. Rowan, Michael, and Aaron are the main trio, and they each bring something special to the table. Rowan is brilliant, Michael is dedicated, and Aaron is the epitome of planning and patience.

The ending is unexpected but satisfying, leaving me with a sense of anticipation for the next two books in the trilogy. It also raised a number of questions that I'm eager to explore further. The structure and content of the book are both excellent, with unique storytelling techniques and a lack of formulaicness. The long historical discussion adds depth and richness to the story, and the handling of incest and intimacy is done in a way that feels natural and integral to the plot.

Overall, The Witching Hour is a dark, enthralling, and powerful book that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good supernatural thriller. It's not for everyone, as it's long and contains some brutal content, but for those with an open mind, it's an epic journey that's well worth the time. Thank you, Anne Rice, for writing this amazing book. I can't wait to read Lasher soon.

If you haven't read an Anne Rice book yet, do yourself a huge favor and pick up one right now!

This particular book is extremely thick, but don't let that intimidate you and scare you away. It is neatly broken up into 4 distinct parts. So, go into it with the mindset that you are actually reading 4 separate books.

The fantasy and paranormal genres owe a great deal to this literary legend. There are numerous mentions of the huge fantasy series that have emerged after this book. For example, Twilight and many others.

Y'all know that I am a huge audiobook lover. However, when Anne Rice wrote this book back in 1990, she wrote it with the specific intention that it should be read with your own eyes. I would highly recommend that you read the first few chapters before you decide to listen to the audiobook on its own.

By the way, the audio version is really great too.

Can a book have such a profound impact on you that it completely consumes your thoughts, enchanting you to the point where you are left yearning for more?

This particular book is truly addictive. It has a captivating allure that draws you in and refuses to let go.

Even if it were to be 1000 pages longer, I would not hesitate to devour every single page.

So enthralled am I that I find myself forgetting about the existence of the real world outside the captivating realm of the Mayfair house.

The story within its pages weaves a magical tapestry that keeps me spellbound, eager to uncover each new detail and turn the next page.

It is a literary masterpiece that has the power to transport me to another world and make me lose myself in its charm.

This book is not just a read; it is an experience that lingers long after the final page has been turned.