I guess this is my night to trash endings for great series. The Vampire Chronicles is excellent and makes this book worth reading; unfortunately, I have to warn you that it turns into a cheesy devil-and-Jesus tie-in that honestly left me gagging. Other than the fact that this is the meat of the plot, the book overall consists of Ms. Rice’s superb character and scene setting, and centers around everybody’s favorite vampire, you-know-who. (If not, you have no business reading this book! Go back to square one - Interview with the Vampire.)
In this book, the protagonist goes through an also-biblically inspired ’Job treatment’ - he loses all that he once held precious and falls frail. What was less obvious in previous books is now laid bare as a naked tool - this character, Lestat, is there to teach the reader about Anne Rice’s mythology. I think her readers would have forgiven her if it had taken more books to accomplish the same job with a subtler tool.
Another strike against this story is the extent to which it excludes supporting characters. Perhaps this was to enhance the feeling of finality, which does seem to be the intended tone of the work.
Anne Rice lovers who don’t want to be turned off of her work might do well to stop reading The Vampire Chronicles after they finish Tale of the Body Thief, and move on to her other series - unless they’re dying to finish it all in one go. The fourth installment has a superb climax that leaves you satisfied and well-educated in her stories’ histories.