The Mayfair Witches: The Witching Hour ¦ Anne Rice ¦ Review

[@ObscuredByTime]

When you commit yourself to an Anne Rice novel, you're taking a deep dive into another reality more than with just about any other author. It's like a dream of the best warm bath you can imagine. You sink in, and you just never want to get out.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

They are fantastic books!

[@TadiKAT]

Well said.

[@southerner66]

I've been reading Anne Rice for 30 years, and I think The Witching Hour is her best book, both in terms of plot structure and the number of well-developed, nuanced, and layered characters she creates of different nationalities, classes, and backgrounds. It represents the peak of her powers as a novelist.

[@TadiKAT]

My favorite too

[@ryanconklin9699]

Couldn't agree more.

[@SaschaPendegraft]

Me too!!! It’s The Best

[@scoobydoo6167]

Ahhh...The Vampire series is much better.

[@gregorygraham3145]

The interview was a simple but effective idea idk I am going to start this book soon just to see if it is better.

[@benjaminodonnell258]

I loved that the middle third of the book was literally a file - a collection of reports and statements and evidence gathered by the Talamasca investigators over generations of surveilling the Mayfaire Witches...

[@teaukeri]

Definitely my favorite part of the book! You feel like you’re Michael, in that room, reading this family history

[@renansouza2195]

I'm currently reading this masterpiece 💖 Anne is my favorite writer, long live the Queen Anne 😍🌸

[@maryanncarreon4868]

Amen

[@sweetalice7475]

I actually love the Mayfair Witches books even more than the Vampire Chronicles. I envy you being at the beginning of your journey with them. There are so many wonderful characters waiting for you in those books, with amazing stories told the way only Anne Rice could tell them.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Yeah it's just a fantastic book. Might be my favourite novel of hers.

[@fishsp8]

I think the supernatural, Lasher, is the driving force behind the love affair. Lasher's interference and ability to alter the natural progression the relationship accounts for the strange speed at which this relationship moves. Loved your review!

[@angelch8847]

I just can't get enough of The Witching Hour. I've read it 3 times, I do wish they turn it into a drama series or movie but at the same time I'm worried they will screw it up haha.. I agree the ending is somewhat disappointing. I think what drew me into this book is the fact that the story is inspired by the house at 1239 First Street so it feels somewhat realistic.

[@quinnmallory9025]

it’s supposed to be coming to HBO if i heard correctly as a series

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Yeah In think the descriptions of the house are just fantastic. I would love to visit the house that inspired it someday :)

[@stevegarcia3174]

Actually I heard amc bought the rights and is going to be made into a series in 2022 so hopefully we get lucky like what lifetime did with Vc andrews books can’t wait loved the witching hour great book loved how the family history went from so much drama

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

@@stevegarcia3174 I hope they do it justice, but I don't know, I've been becoming quite cynical of book adaptions lately unfortunately! But always happy to have my mind changed by some excellent ones :)

[@karengreybill2860]

I'm currently re-reading for the 3rd time. I'm from Fort Walton Beach/Destin area so this part (and the fixing up of the First Street house in New Orleans) was my favorite part. Would LOVE to see this turned into a decent mini-series as long as they don't condense the history too much.... Scarlett Johannson would make a credible Rowan and David Attenborough fits the Aaron Lightner part perfectly.

[@Bondi_baby]

Ive read this book dozens of times. I loved it and the others as well. I cant wait till the movie or series comes out in the future.

[@joshuaortiz4886]

amazing review! I think you nailed the book's highs and lows perfectly. I agree with you on Rowan and Michael's relationship being hard to believe at points, and I felt the same way you did- that there could've been a supernatural motivator behind it. tbh, I personally think there was, even if it wasn't stated directly! after all, it was Michael falling for Rowan that rooted her in New Orleans after Deidre passed away. in my eyes, that was all part of Lasher's plan, and why he showed himself to Michael. and, in terms of the sequels- I feel like, the same way that a lot of readers were turned off by Realms of Atlantis from the Vampire Chronicles mixing the series overall gothic atmosphere with sci-fi elements, the same happens in the Mayfair Witches sequels. Lasher and Taltos are less bloated and a bit more direct, and since they embrace certain sci-fi trappings that make the stories more about exploring those aspects as motivators than something inherently supernatural in nature, if that's not your cup of tea, then they could be a bit disappointing. but they're still worthy reads in my opinion! it's another side of Rice that deserves attention.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Yeah I guess it's certainly plausible that there could have been some supernatural element to their relationship. I haven't got that far in the Vampire Chronicles but I did raise an eyebrow when I saw that title! As for mixing fantasy and sci-fi, that's something that could be hit and miss for me. If it's done well it could be really interesting. I did get a sense of sci-fi even in this book, with Rowan's storyline especially, she is a bit Dr Frankenstein maybe? I look forward to seeing where it goes!

[@manhattanmike6959]

The witching hour is my favorite Anne Rice book of all of them. Loved this series

[@unioncityman63]

Loved this book. Put it up there with David Copperfield, Wuthering Heights as my favorite. Not read in some time, but Stella Mayfair still stands in my memory along with all the dust in the First Street House along with the body rolled up in a carpet and left in the attic.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

I think that is probably right, I missed that. I think the early years are very important; Nelly not only cared for him but didn't spoil him either, while Heathcliff, though he got love from Mr Earnshaw, was also spoiled. I do also think though, from the little hints of fatherly affection, that Heathcliff himself was also kind to Hareton, albeit in his austere way. And that is why Hareton is distraught by his death.

[@gingvidal6155]

I love that trilogy book... One of my favorite books of Anne Rice.. Love Asher and Lasher...

[@javiermorales5106]

So glad you read this one! The first one is theee best from the trilogy. The second one is alright and I didn't like the third one at all! Great review!!

[@staceywillis5802]

I feel exactly the same way!

[@readershigh8377]

have read it a few times, it's my favorite book. I''m currently listening to it in audio format and I have to give props to the person reading the book, she kills it.

[@echoesvayne9790]

yo... the ending was perfect because every character behaved exactly as I would expect based on the rest of the story and their development

[@1987arturito]

Hello, great review!! I love the first book so much, but sadly I can't say the same about the other two books in the trilogy, they are not bad but I feel like they read more like an action/horror hollywood movie rather than the beatiful prose of the first one. oh and Julien Mayfair is the best! haha

[@javiermorales5106]

Yes Julien is awesome!

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

That was my suspicion the reviews of those two that I've looked at. Still, I'm curious to see where things go. And yes, Julien is great! I also liked Mary-Beth, too.

[@jennslifeinhuntingtonwv2678]

It's been so many years since I read this. It was a great book.

[@gramugsp]

Absolutely love The Witching Hour. I felt the first 2/3 of the book is some of AR’s best writing I’ve read so far. I’ve read a lot of negative reviews about the historical flashback which surprised me. I felt the scenes she portrayed in retelling the Mayfair’s history was almost more engaging than the real time events (especially later in the story.) I felt around once we reach the wedding planning towards the later portion of the book, my interest stated to wane a bit. I think you can tell there may have been a struggle with author in trying to end a novel that later was decided to become three separate volumes. One of my least favorite parts was the amount of time talking about Rowan’s plans for Mayfair Medical. I almost felt like there was enough detail to be a business proposal, only to be thrown out the door at the end. All that being said, I think the description and atmosphere was amazing. One of my favorite scenes is in the very beginning when we get opening introduction to the house when Michael is younger. The way Lasher is introduced as more of this ambiguous presence really creates a level of suspense and mystery. I thought you comparison to Akasha was spot on, in that once both characters are confronted at the end, they are dispatched in a very underwhelming way.

[@ElysiaBrenner]

Thank you for this review! I love the way you structure it and analyze the elements and your measured candor. You give me the impression that I would feel the same about the book as you do, and I look forward to your videos about the other two books. If you were up for making some "I read it so you don't have to" videos with more detailed plot summaries, full of spoilers, between now and the release of the new television series on Jan 6, I bet they'd get a lot of views - I'd sure watch them!

[@bentheoverlord]

I'm looking forward to picking this up, I've read a few of Rice's vampire books and really enjoyed them, but I prefer Witches to vampires

[@gdrkmom0810]

Reading now for the 1st time... first Anne Rice book I've ever read

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Hope you enjoy it! :)

[@MarkGunnells]

This was my first Rice and I found it totally immersive and romantic.

[@citizenvixen]

Aloha Joshua:-) Great review! I Love the "Witching Hour", it is one of my favourite Anne´s novels. I have been enjoying her work since the early 90´s and only got to the Witches chronicles later, because I was so deep into the Vampires. When I finally did was inundated with such joy! I found it delightful and just wanted more, much more of Rowan and all the Mayfair Witches. I was also "concerned" when we got to the family back history. Soon enough it became my favourite part of the book. It is so interesting, those Women are delightful and dignified. We do get deep into the novel World, the current and the old. Just like a trance because of all her vivid descriptions. It does feel like an abrupt end because there is still so much to know ... And I just wanted MORE, haha!

[@Sotnasbentsion]

I'm following the chronological order. The last one I read was The tale of the body thief. I'm going to read another one this year. Love your reviews.

[@dangremillion]

Having lived in New Orleans near the house on First Street, I could not put this book down. I was lucky to have met Ms. Rice and her son at a book festival in Savannah several years ago.

[@erinsullivan9338]

I actually thought that Rowan's and Micheal's relationship was really interesting in that fact that she was a neurosurgeon and he a person that had a near death experience. They were a lovely contradiction and I think in a lot of ways that's something Anne Rice loved to do. It was so rediculously opposite, Rowan based in the physical, and Michael in the spiritual. In a way, it was him that helped her come to terms with something more than what science could capture, and that is why they came together so fast and so well. Two polar opposites. Luois and Lestat, Lestat and Aaron Lightner. Rowan and Michael. Rice loved opposites. Besides her love for back story, her penchant for contrast is what, in my opinion, is one of the things that made her books amazing.

[@sofiaannexochiquetzal8162]

Its one of my favorite. I have read all anne rice book. But my most favorite is this witching hour, vampire lestat and tale of the body thief. ❤

[@crossbowskiss]

Ive read this book yearly since it was first published.. you are taken into another world...

[@LeOhio817]

I have been a fan of Anne since I picked up Interview With a Vampire in 1989. It was a random pick on a bookstore’s Halloween Reading Table. I was instantly obsessed and had to read all existing efforts and obtain the new ones the day they were released. I listened to the abridged audiobooks - unfortunately, there were no unabridged version early on. I now have most of the more recently released unabridged digital copies and have been binging the Mayfair Trilogy for the current Halloween season. I am still enthralled by this world, the same way I was upon my initial reading. Ms. Rice made it mandatory that I visit New Orleans, which I have done twice. It was as magical and mysterious as she portrayed it. I didn’t get to visit her home on 1st Street, but I did tour the beautiful Garden District. This series is definitely among my favorites and I do recommend it to anyone interested in witchcraft, history, Victorian architecture, New Orlean and mayhem. Great review.

[@verucasalt4535]

I just started this book yesterday and am 86 pages in. I wanted to get 100 pages in but I was just too tired to keep going. I kept putting off reading it because it's over 1000 pages! I finally started it because Halloween is coming up and it's super hot and muggy here like in the setting. I love her writing and wish I'd pick up more of her works. I'm 36 and the only book I've read of hers was Interview which I read in high school. Vampires are fine but I LOVE witches.

[@filmcourage]

Thanks for breaking this down! Looking forward to watching the upcoming show.

[@AnaMV]

I loved de book the first time I read it. That was like 15 years ago. Now I'm going for the 2nd round and I still love it. I don't know if there are some things missing in the translation (I read mostly in Spanish), yet there is her unique and subliem style. Liked the review, BTW.

[@cjacja21]

Brilliant review. Tempted to read this again, it’s one of my favourite novels

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Glad you liked the review, and you definitely should give it another read! For that matter, so should I! :P

[@cityofbooks7268]

The middle section was hands down my favorite part. The mayfairs are all so different and dynamic that learning about them was so interesting. Rowan and Michael being insta love was kibd of a turn off but i think they were kind of trauma bonding. Rowan was aline and he almost died

[@russolmt]

This was my first Anne RIce book. It was recommended to me by a fan of the Discovery of Witches, but, I found the book incredibly scary and long. I wanted to know more about the apparition (Lasher) so I kept reading. The ending was very disappointing but the chronicle of the witches was amazing. I'm not sure if I will ready Lasher. I order a free sample just to see.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

If you want to know more about Lasher then you might like the next book as it does focus on his origins a lot more!

[@charliemgray]

Sharp jacket! So cute, and I agree with many parts of your critique!

[@ebethg5628]

I absolutely love The Witching Hour! The digressions and "tedious" descriptions (they give the story a beautiful depth) this story plays like a movie in my head. I refused to watch the television version. How could they kill off Michael?!

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Did they kill him off? I thought they didn't include him at all?

[@ebethg5628]

@@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall oops! You're absolutely right and that's even worse. Why could they do away with him?

[@reallyitsjackiev.meadows7578]

I read all the books about the Witches I loved them I actually wanted more. The new series doesn't live up to the books....but I also didn't expect it would or even could.

[@maryanncarreon4868]

I am currently reading the witching hour for the first time I remember when this book came out I think I was in high school. I’ve read all of her vampire books, short stories. Your review of the book is interesting. I remember years ago in the book signing in Chicago she had said also I think in a recorded interview and rice stated that because her books were so popular vampire books that when some of the other books came out the editors didn’t critique them the way she would like because she was so respected they just printed it the way she wanted it,not to say that it didn’t go through your revisions and what not but the publishers at Knopf, pushed out her books because she was so popular at that time. One thing that you said struck me, was the relationship between Michael and Rowan that it wasn’t organic, of course it wasn’t organic to what your perception is. It’s kind of weird and magical and odd I agree but what’s interesting was Lasher in my humble opinion organized this whole thing Michael being in the water row and getting him out of the water he seeing the vision and excepting lashes proposal it’s kind of like last year was kind of momentum every generation of Mayfair and with this particular generation of the Mayfair women he was going to manipulate even further and made that instant chemistry between the two takeoff the way it did again in my humble opinion. I know I have a lot here I’m talking into it I’m tired I’m not gonna prove it maybe I will tomorrow thank you for your review I really enjoyed what she had to say and I hope by the time this is been on and I’ve seen it I think it’s a year I hope you have gone onto the other two books because I know I will

[@hindsightpov4218]

I wish I had your ability to read with relative ease. If I managed to finish the entirety of The Vampire Chronicles, I would progress to Rice’s The Lives of the Mayfair Witches.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

I think lockdown has helped a lot. And having the channel. I didn't use to read much at all before then, maybe like a couple of books a year if that. Now I'm borderline obsessive about it! :P

[@magnoliamike]

This series on AMC is pretty good

[@fpeterlaskey332]

Memnoch the Devil is one of my favorite Anne Rice books.

[@duqswan5325]

I love this book but I'm wondering if & how Julien is related to Merrick & Quinn Blackwood

[@Prague4Introverts]

Currently re-reading it. When I first read it over 20 years ago, I always imagined Michelle Pfeiffer as Rowan. Now I'm not so sure.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

I could see that back in the day! :)

[@angelaholmes8888]

Just finished reading the book it was good but not a favorite by anne and the book has over 900 pages definitely will be reading the sequel

[@thomasfranche6770]

Yeah, The Witching Hour and The Feast of All Saints are my favorites. I don't care as much for the Vampire books. Anything after Taltos/Memnoch I don't think is worth it. The parts I really loved were in Saint Domingue (Haiti). So mysterious. They even had an old 17th century map of Saint Domingue on the wall in First Street. I wish there was more about the other branches of the families, like Lestan's line. There were taltos' born in those lines, but they were killed at birth.

[@williamthomas1]

AMC must not have read the book very closely because two of the most important characters, Michael Curry and Aaron Lightner, are not even included in the TV series.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Haha wow, I guessed that from the adverts for it. I haven't/won't watch to be honest. Disregarding two of the three main characters tells me that they aren't really adapting the books at all. That would be like remarking Harry Potter without Ron and Hermione. Ah well, maybe we'll get a real adaptation one day! :P

[@williamthomas1]

@@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall It's just laughable at this point. These two are the key plot points to the whole trilogy.

[@williamthomas1]

@@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” C.S. Lewis

[@akrialet]

Anne Rice said in a television interview when promoting Lasher that when she originally wrote The Witching Hour it was intended to be a standalone novel. The ending was supposed to be open ended, leaving the reader with the question of if Michael was used by the spirits of the family to accomplish Lasher's plan and if Rowan becomes resigned to her "destiny." Only the reader could answer that question for themselves. I always thought that was so interesting, especially because I thought the third book in the trilogy was quite a let-down. In The Witching Hour, Anne Rice wrote that an entire book could be written about Mary Beth's life...I wish we could have gotten that. Mary Beth is endlessly fascinating to me.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

I totally agree with you there. It would work so much better as a standalone novel. And I also think it might have been more interesting to explore the ancestry of these characters, especially because so many of them play a role in The Witching Hour, but in the following books Rice only really cares about Julien and none of the others.

[@akrialet]

@@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall Clearly Anne Rice loved her wicked, queer male characters. Much like Lestat in Interview, I doubt Julien was intended to be such a central character when she wrote TWH.

[@theentitytak2764]

Loved this review❤️ subscribed!

[@TadiKAT]

Brilliant review! 👏 most aren't. I'm a subscriber now . Thanks ! 💗

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Thank you, glad you liked it! :)

[@Doomsday22]

Do I have to read first Lasher to read this one? I have read some of the vampire chronicles books , but none of the mayfair witches.

[@gauchesymbiote1039]

You have to read The Witching Hour first. I've read all 3 of the Mayfair Witches books. With the Vampire Chronicles, I only got partway through Memnoch, although I did read Armand and I think a couple of the other ones about specific vampires. I actually recently learned there's a big crossover that happens between the vampires and the Mayfair in later Vampire Chronicle books.

[@Doomsday22]

@@gauchesymbiote1039Thanks 👍

[@AnotherJenn42]

I have to disagree on this one. I picked this up when it first came out, but never finished it. The history was interesting, but it went on too long. I wanted to read about the protagonist, but I felt the author kept abandoning her for a story she found more interesting. Even still, I was determined to finish the book … until necrophilia was introduced. It wasn’t a shock, the story was heading in that direction, but it was the straw for me. I’ve never revisited the book and lost all interest in Anne Rice after that. No regrets either.

[@Raw7771]

I'm looking forward to read ITT

[@dwaynehamilton4953]

You look like Harry styles so much!

[@sailor_c1929]

You look like a young Dwight Schrute, very handsome!

[@jesafe09]

You are so cute 😊 I really liked this video and your info.

[@NoDetourAhead]

What I’ve learned reading Anne rice’s books is that she’s really a bad writer. Her ability to tell a story is weak in that she spends too much time covering background information and then she rushes the main storyline.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

That's fair. I think it can be a weakness in her storytelling, but I think that this approach can work well, if it is integrated into a narrative appropriately. For me The Witching Hour does this; it's a book about exploring family history and drama. That said, there are a few Rice books where I think she does this badly. Those are my thoughts anyhow. :)

[@randalllaue4042]

Supposed to be in works...

[@MarkGunnells]

Have you read Violin?

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Not yet! What did you think of it?

[@MarkGunnells]

@@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall Fantastic. I think one of her best stand alones. A great ghost story in which she put a lot of her own life. That and Cry to Heaven are my favorite stand alone Rice novels.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

@@MarkGunnellsI'll definitely have to check it out then!

[@jeffpagan7735]

Read the series. It needs to be a show.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

That'd be good, if they could do it justice!

[@jeffpagan7735]

@@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall who could play taltos? I guess that bendy guy from pans labyrinth?

[@rainbowskygayandproud5507]

I have some books that I want to recommend to you Joshua and the first one is Kay concepts in the gothic by William Hughes and the Victorian gothic by Andrew smith and William Hughes and Andrew smith both edited a book that I can’t say the name of because it has the q word in it and KZbin does not like the q word but I highly recommend that you check it out and there is also men in love masculinity and sexuality by George haggerty and George has other books that I highly recommend reading and there is other books that I want to recommend to and the are about gay religions and gay spirituality’s and the first one is blossom of bone by randy p. Conner and gay spirituality and gay perspective and finding your own myth by Toby Johnson and gay witchcraft and sons of the goddess by Christopher penczak and there is also a book by will roscoe that I can’t say the name of because it also has the q word in it but I highly recommend that you check it out and that is all my recommendations

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Thanks for your suggestions!

[@rainbowskygayandproud5507]

Joshua J Clarke-Kelsall happy to be of help

[@MarkGunnells]

Oh and I'll say I was ready to marry my husband after a week lol

[@brantbiggs]

You are way overanalyzing it, especially since I dont have a degree in literature, and I dont know a lot of your terms, but this book is my favorite of all time..I make it a point of not rereading it too often! I love her house descriptions, the gas lighting, all the stories within stories. I go back and reread passages 2-3 times, she is as good as Thomas Harris!!

[@whatever4566]

this is such a weird book

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

And that's why I love it! :P

[@whatever4566]

@@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall me too :)

[@Austin8thGenTexan]

A great review for a wonderful book! It's exciting to know that "the Mayfair Witches" is coming out on film in January 8, 2023. 🪅 💃 🎉

[@GayBlkWorld]

Joshua I have discovered in the tv series coming out in 2023. Michael Curry’s name has been changed . I suspect that the tv series Mayfair Witches will bare virtually no resemblance to the book. May be Anne should have been in control of how the movies are based on her book . Like Jk

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Yeah I think the tv series looks a little naff to be honest. Retconning one of the two major protagonists... really? Ah well, hopefully we'll get through this malaise of terrible adaptations soon, eh? :P