The Mayfair Witches: Lasher ¦ Anne Rice ¦ Review/Analysis

[@Alizeea]

I don't think Lasher impregnated Rowan with himself. She conceived the baby with Michael, but she first betrayed Michael when she gave herself to Lasher - tho as a spirit, he is incapable of impregnating anyone; and then she betrayed him again when she performed the ritual on Christmas eve and bound Lasher's spirit to what should have been her and Michael's baby. This has to be one of the strangest paragraphs I've written...

[@anotherlittlepieceofmyart]

I agree with you on this one and The Witching Hour. I wish A.R. would of wrote seperate books focusing solely on each descendant from Suzanne on down. That would of been amazing. She was so good at the historical descriptions.

[@bm4114]

I really enjoyed this book, even more than first. In the past I’ve liked second books, and second movies in trilogies the best. I’m that weirdo who loves the second matrix movie, and the second Star Wars, and the second lotr. Maybe it’s something about knowing you’re in the thick of it and theres still another installment to go. Maybe it’s the anticipation.

[@MarkGunnells]

I like this book but yes a step down. My biggest problem was Mona, not a fan of that character m

[@joshuaortiz4886]

another amazing review! I really feel like your analysis nailed everything the book was trying to say. the way Rowan dispatched Emaleth shocked me the first time I read it, but upon reading it again, I did feel like it was the only way she could reclaim her autonomy. a complete reversal of the mothering role, like you said. plus, that moment where Michael couldn't shoot Emaleth because he already felt bad about killing Lasher- I feel like that was also showing us how Rowan, in the end, had to take charge yet again after being at the mercy of so many men, of being used as a receptacle. not even Michael could help her sever that chord. she had to do it herself. and I feel like that's also echoed in the way she tells Michael she'll bury Emaleth herself. when it comes Mona, I dislike the character very much, particularly because she tends to come across as someone who's more egotistical than the genius she, and others, percieve her as. her sleeping with Michael rubbed me the wrong way, but I also felt like, in some way, Julien had to do with it, due to how much his Victrola and its music were mentioned during that segment, just for it to disappear afterwards. I'm not sure if it's in this book that someone mentions that Julien's curse is that, as a ghost, he tries to intervene and it never works out the way he intended it to. I see this moment as a perfect example of that. overall, I feel the same way you do! structurally, it's a step down from the more organized The Witching Hour, and it does meander a bit. but what an ending!! and what a way to show that Lasher's goal, that of wanting to go back into the flesh, was quite futile. excited to see what you think of Taltos, and, if you read them, of the crossover trilogy with the Vampire Chronicles! Blackwood Farm, the second novel in the crossover, is fantastic and classic Rice. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it sometime.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Thanks for your thoughts! I wasn't as hard on Mona as I could have been in the video, but I think you're right. I felt like Rice wanted to write a strong child character "beyond her years" but it didn't come off right. I hesitate to say Mary Sue, but I think there is a bit of that, especially in comparison to Rowan, who is powerful but flawed. I'm looking forward to Taltos, and I am definitely going to read the crossovers! That was my original motivation for reading the Mayfair Witches trilogy! :)

[@gramugsp]

I feel like Lives of the Mayfair Witches started off as great gothic fiction and turned into very strange SciFi once Lasher came into physical form. I feel like Lasher was a more interesting protagonist in spirit form. Once he crossed over, I feel a lot of the mystery and intrigue around his character was lost. I felt it also created an interesting dynamic between the different family members since some chose the belief the mythology behind the Other Man vs the more secular Mayfairs who thought it was nonsense or should not be discussed. Also, Mona’s character was really annoying in my opinion, and I think was a sad replacement for Rowan’s character, since she is out of action for most of the story. I did appreciate your review in that you managed to pull out some of the positives that were easy to overlook. Overall, I think it may have been better off if The Witching Hour was left as the only novel, as I feel it is strong enough to have stood on its own as a stand alone work.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

I think I pretty much agree, especially with your last comment. Having had some time to reflect on the series since reading it I think that first book holds up as one of the best things Rice did, and while I think "Lasher" still has some merits, the series would still have been more effective as just one book. Especially because Taltos is not good at all in my view.

[@paigewatson623]

When Mona and Michael slept together, I originally thought about Julian's presence and influence with the music and various illusions, as well as Michael's current vulnerability and Mona's power. I recently picked up Taltos and the way Michael mentions that event to Mona still and shows attraction to the younger Mayfairs, like Mary Jane, has led me to believe that maybe Michael has always shown attraction to younger women. I personally don't see how his behavior towards either underage girls or women who are in young adulthood helps the plot, unless it gives insight to how previous events have impacted him or how powerful Mayfair women truly are.

[@lowdog2940]

He was attracted it to her, and Mona had already decided she was going to sleep with mike, but mike wasn’t going to do anything, but the music box put them both in a trance.

[@adamyouker6449]

Lasher is my least favourite novel in the Mayfair Witches Chronicles. Taltos has much more enjoyable parts and I'll be curious to hear your thoughts and opinions of it in future review.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

I'll be getting into it very soon :)

[@rainbowskygayandproud5507]

this was a anther great review and analysis good job Joshua

[@aallerton]

Hello Joshua! It's my first visit to your channel and I like it already! 🙂 That was a great review. I agree on actually all the points you made on "Lasher" as I look back at the time I read it. "The Witching Hour" was just magical for me and I remember I couldn't wait to lay my hands on the sequel and I found myself disappointed for precisely the reasons you listed as well as the lack of that special, mysterious climate that prevailed in the first book. I was able to appreciate "Lasher" more on the second reading and you're right that the ending is incredible, makes a powerful statement and adds more meaning to the whole story. I'm actually curious what you think about "Taltos". I'm a huge Ann Rice fan and have read most of her books but that was the one I simply couldn't finish although I tried twice. For some reason it just couldn't hold my interest to the point that I can hardly remember what the book was about, it was tiring and the magical atmosphere seemed to be gone completely. Maybe something was wrong with me at those points of my life? :-) Anyways, I wonder what your opinion on the third part of the trilogy is. Meanwhile I will surely check out your other videos.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Well not to shamelessly plug my own videos, but I do have a review of Taltos on the channel! :P That said, I'm not a fan of Taltos at all. I think it's a pretty poor conclusion. Mainly because Rice doesn't create any interesting characters and the mythology around the Taltos is not as interesting as her other mythologies. Also, I found out recently that the Mayfair Witch's trilogy was meant to only be one book, "The Witching Hour". But that Rice decided to add the other two after the fact. Knowing this I really think it shows. It also makes me happy in a way, because it means the first book can be read on its own, since it is intended to end in a cliffhanger, mystery way. Those are my thoughts anyhow, thanks for your comment! :)

[@aallerton]

@@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall This was your first video I watched and in the meantime I did find your Taltos review - and couldn't agree more with it. :-) Still, I really appreciate that you took your time to reply with details. Will surely keep watching your videos. Take care!

[@PixieAries]

Hey Joshua! I'm glad I found you! I have a question about Lasher that was buzzing me and I could not find anything on the Internet. Here's a side story: I have read The Witching Hour, I really enjoyed the book, though I read it too fast and I got really tired of it, so I just read some bits/googled some info from Lasher novel. I found out that he's dead and was pissed off a bit. I was really fascinated by Lasher character. I feel that his ambiguity was the scariest part of him; and that he used that human constructs like love, lust and affection while being this alien-like creature. it was hard to understand whether it was real or he mimicked humans in order to manipulate them. To the question: Was it ever explained why he was so strong in his ghost form? Is it Taltos thing or something else? What are the Taltos powers in their body form?

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

I would say "Lasher" is still worth a read, although I found out recently that Rice planned for the trilogy to be just the first book, and she came up with the other too later, which explains why they don't have the same impact as the first, since they are sort of afterthoughts. The Taltos are essentially a race of creatures that are very powerful and were mostly wiped out by human beings. They are the focus of the third book, but to be honest, I don't find the mythology of the Taltos to be anywhere near Rice's best. I think it was a lot better as an ambiguous ghost story, which was the first book really.

[@PixieAries]

@@JoshuaJClarkeKelsallthank you for replying! my initial theory was that the summoning itself was a reason of his strength; his presence in the world was unnatural- Mayfair summoned Lasher which is a forbidden by laws of nature and doomed her family centuries ahead. But I guess that’s not it.

[@javiermorales5106]

I see your point of view on Mona seducing Michael being a pointless/purposeful twist, but then again I also see it as Mona being a powerful witch and using her witching abilities over him. It’s not specifically written that Mona used a spell upon him or anything of the sort, but I think she did. And Michael was somewhat drugged too from all of the medications he was taking. And it’s also explained how Mona looks older than her age. So Michael was just too high to reason. Great review. I don’t think you’ll like Taltos. The same with me, I LOOOVE The Witching Hour, Lasher is alright, but then Taltos went downhill for me.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Yeah I think it's definitely possible that Mona could have used her powers combined with Michael being drugged up. I look forward to Taltos, even if I won't like it in the end! :P

[@daliborjuhasz6149]

I think it wasn't possible for Ms Rice to top The witching hour. In my opinion it's her masterpiece and nothing will beat it. So I kept an open mind and went in without any expectations and I gladly say that I quite enjoyed Lasher. It has the same vibe, atmosphere and tension as the first book. I didn't mind the new characters and how the story went on. But when it came to Lasher's story it took away from the mystery and from the whole experience. I didn't need an explanation or a POV from Lasher. It felt out of place and unnecessary. Last thought on Michael sleeping with Mona. I think we shouldn't forget that he was heavily sedated and medicated and just from the fact that Mona seduced so many other Mayfairs we can conclude that she has a witchy charm and most men can't resist her. Keep up the good work, loved the analysis / review. 😍🧛‍♂️

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

I agree with you that The Witching Hour was a hard, maybe impossible novel to top. It's still my favourite Rice novel that I've read. On the Michael/Mona thing, I think for me it comes across to much like Rice trying to be shocking. I'm not sure what that plot point adds to the story, other than drama and shock value. But you're right, from a character point of view, Michael wasn't in the best shape and frame of mind when it happened.

[@johnspofford4600]

My thoughts exactly! Great review

[@rachreid8746]

I read this book when I was 12. I was obsessed with Mona. I haven’t read it since but my heart hurts that I was the only one

[@GallifreyXFalling]

you were NOT the only one. idk if you ever interacted on the official page on facebook but around 2012 there were a bunch of us until Anne started banning us from the page for bringing her up

[@rachreid8746]

@@GallifreyXFalling for mentioning Mona?!

[@GallifreyXFalling]

@@rachreid8746 yeah apparently Anne didn't like her, which I find absolutely baffling.

[@rachreid8746]

@@GallifreyXFalling I have so many questions. If we were friends, I would immediately drop everything and call you rn. Lol. So Anne didn’t like the character she created that even crossed over to her vampire books??!! Wowzers. I wanted to be a well read genius like Mona when I was a kid… and maybe come back as a ginger in my next life.

[@rachreid8746]

I bet it I read this books now, it would be a sick way to write a child. I’m read this books when I was like 12, I’m now 40 and I don’t want to read them again. I’m worried I will see everything differently and gross

[@unioncityman63]

Clearly you know the material,for me Lasher and Taltos were a large let down after the magic of The Witching Hour. It’s been some time since I read them, Lasher/Taltos didn’t really leave a lasting impression on me, nothing like Lasher tormenting Deidre, The Witching Hour, by taking flowers right off the altar of St Alphonse church and putting them in her lap. Sometimes reading them I really wondered at times if Anne Rice herself understood what she was writing, thought this too about David Lynch and his Twin Peaks, it just gets so out there it makes no sense,

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

I think Rice is a very passionate writer, and I think sometimes she just follows her instincts and runs with it. When this works, it leads to some fantastic writing. When it doesn't, you end up with contrived plots and contradictions. I think it mostly works for her though.

[@connieelizabethmunoz6021]

Also hate that I'm a few years late for this discussion because I've been having such a hard time finding friends to relay all this to.

[@Astrochic223]

May I make a request you do Blackwood Manor and Merrick where Anne brings her vampire and witch chronicle’s together. “Memnoch the Devil “ also brings Lestat and Rowan together, I’m curious to your thoughts on the philosophy of Memnoch as well!

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Already got reviews of those books on the channel! :P

[@martinmarkjr]

My headcannon theory spoiler: What if the Talamasca poisoned/killed the dude Yuri got up with who brought him into the T thru Aaron? Like that's their MO when someone gets too close or figures them out. I bet that's what happened. Yuri is pretty much the only character I like by the end. I liked this book a little more than Witching Hour I think. Witching Hour went from a 5 to a 3 for me. Lasher is a 4. I read Taltos about 20 yrs ago and have no memory of it. Looking forward to it and your review vid!

[@martinmarkjr]

O Mona is still a teen. Scratch the liking Yuri I guess. Yikes Anne Rice.

[@warlockchasekelch]

I think vampire books is good for him to read it. He really like gothic vampire books and historical then he read this books.

[@lostpear]

The thing with Mona and Michael is her age and the pattern of her lineage with all the mothers getting pregnant at age 13. Ancient Evelyn, her mother, etc... And I think that number is a pattern that Julienne coaxed them together. It's a weird way to highlight the new heir's power and influence.

[@marniekilbourne608]

13 was only sickly "acceptable" in the very far past in general. It's not acceptable at all for any reason after it was stopped in history. Rice has Marius want to marry a 10 year old in Pandora. She also includes a lot of incest and it's gross given what we know the ramifications of incest are nevermind the mental damage. These things are completely unnecessary. You can have the same story with the women getting older per how society grew and life spans increased. We don't need pedophillia and incest shown as acceptable in any way and certainly not in our fiction given it's a disgusting part of reality.

[@boomerdragon314]

Mona and Michael sleeping together was a contrivance Julian who wanted the union to happen he created Illusions weren't really there to entice Michael and Moana

[@johnspofford4600]

I agree. Lasher should not hav been a monster because he was so loving and faithful to the other legacies. That part kinda drifted away from his character

[@angelaholmes8888]

I give this book a 3 star rating i didn't like mona and the hole lasher storyline hopefully the shows second season will do better

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

The Mona storyline is truly awful... but in my view, the only thing worse is the AMC tv show! :P

[@coreyroth2979]

Ancient Evelyn

[@JCResDoc94]

*pregnancy is a full on caper;* hormones change the minds of women (certainly more than men, for pretty obvious reasons); it is a dangerous state, almost in the face of evolution: it is an interesting take. _JC

[@paulettegrant9996]

Welllllllllll, someone had to be the bad guy, and Lasher was it. I feel kinda sorry for him. I like Lasher.

[@randalllaue4042]

What is update?

[@connieelizabethmunoz6021]

Its always somewhat disappointing when a writer brings in a new character to further the plot especially when they have never been mentioned prior. With that being said, mona and ancient Eveliyn are interesting characters. I feel like their purpose of the plot is to highlight the mentality the mayfair family must have to uphold the mayfair legacy as a whole. Monas character is uncomfortable, but since i know shes writen by a women its somewhat digestible. Although, women are also subjected to have internalize misogyny which is made apparently in all of AR works (im not judging and im not trying to make a feminist statement) Mona behavior is understandable. Horny 13 year old girls do exists rather we like it or not.😅 but her night with Michael and every other man/boy is a result the lack of supervision. Makes me sick when she discussed the difference between an older man and a youger boy 🤢 but luckly for us Anne Rice has created a works were we can discuss and analyze real life horrors such as in€est and rap3 and i dont believe she glamories these themes at all, but highlights them in away that helps us develop our moral judgment.

[@marniekilbourne608]

Well, as an American, I sure as hell feel like women should damn well have the say over their own bodies when it comes to pregnancy. It is a major medical issue and not at all without damage and danger to the woman carrying the child. I think it should really only be used in cases when the mother's life is in serious danger and rape/incest. But those are just my feelings. If you give the right to choose you can't put stipulations on it. It is not without a lot of mental anguish and later regret that women choose to put up a child for adoption but at least that child has a life and hopefully with a good deserving family. It makes me sick when women use it as a means of birth control because they are lazy and irresponsible. But those people will have to live with themselves and answer for it some day. I'm utterly shocked and sickened that women in the U.S. no longer have that right! It was fought for hard and won with Roe V. Wade and that should have been the end of it. But no, in the damn 21st century it was taken away from women. No man would agree to any forced medical situation so it's total bullshit. It's not the choice I would make unless I would most likely die or if I was raped but I firmly believe that it should be a choice. Especially for young girls and women who are raped or the victims of incest! There is NO healthy thing about forcing a woman to have the child of her rapist and children of incest often have physical and mental problems. It's just unbelievable that is the ever so FREE U.S. we can no longer decide.

[@charliemgray]

Love this! And you’re so dang cute! 🥴

[@katienoneofyourbusiness1048]

A youtuber whining about a book and full character that took Anne Rice months to make. It makes me sick when people like this get credit for a ten minute video and don't even say the names correct.