Bit slow

Not Anne Rice's finest moment. The book started slowly and then finished with a whimper.

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Good finish, bad narration

Love the series, always been a fan. The story here was good, but narration and effort to deliver voices was really poor. I read to my kids with more expression.

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Rubbish narrator

The Narrator clearly hasn’t done his research. He’s awful with the voice. He cannot pronounce any of their names and it’s beyond frustrating...!
It’s like getting to the last Harry Potter book but every1 calling him hairy pooter. It’s just not right. The narrator should’ve listened to the way it’s been read in the past before he took the job.... almost ruined the book.. well... it did ruin the book.
I use it to sleep now and not for enjoyment. Sad times.

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Mixed feelings

I was an Anne Rice fan from my early teens inhailed the books and read them over and over again. ALL of them not just the vampire ones. when I saw there was another new installment I was delighted. I enjoyed the story although not one of her finest and extremely predictable and dare I say rushed? But the nostalgia of all the characters made me want to re read everything. But I'm sorry I wasted a credit on the audio version and not bought the actual book.

The narrator .. made it a tough listen. He had no animation no interest in what he was reading and it showed. He might as well have been reading a cereal box or stereo instructions. Even the way he said the name Lestat. Just made me facepalm myself. This was my first audio book of Anne Rice and by god I wish I read the reviews before I bought it. It was extremely hard to keep up with where or what was happening or who was talking.. and it was a slog to finish..

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Anne Rice excels as always.

Written in Anne's inimitable style, as wonderful as all the rest, my only dissappointment is that with the reading, Lestat has changed character and is not the strong if impulsive vampire we have come to know and love. I am sure I am not the only listener who has come to identify Lestat with the voice of Simon Vance and find it difficult if not impossible to accept a substitute.

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5 people found this helpful

The performance didn't do it any favours but

The performance didn't do it any favours but I love these characters. Wouldn't put this at the top of a vampire chronicles reading list but if you're a big fan of the series go for it.

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Great way to bring everything to an end.

I've breezed through the last three Prince Lestat books in the last month or so and have been extremely entertained by them! Although the last book was a little slower and a lot less happened, I thought it was appropriate for the end of the series to have extra time for character interaction. And I always love a happy ending. Lestat was blessingly in character.
The narrator change for the last book was a bit disappointing, and I missed the different accents and variation in voices, but after a few chapters I was in and had a pleasure listening to it all throughout.

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I can’t listen to this!

Please do not buy this if you’re involved in the storyline
Hopefully Simon Vance will reread this.
I had been waiting for ages but , no offence to the reader- I have ordered the book. This is a reader who has done no research and sounds like an 11 year old drama student.
Mispronunciation of almost every name and over exaggeration in every wrong place, has driven me NOT to be able to enjoy this audiobook for the first time.
Anne Rice deserves better- Lestat deserves better and the avid audience deserve better
Total disappointment!
I can’t rate the story honestly because I can’t listen to it!

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15 people found this helpful

the awful narration was awful .

The choice of narrator is simply a disgrace. It sounds like he is either a children's narrator, or sounds like he is making fun of the content. It is a shame considering this is last book in the chronicles. I gave up after chapter 3. I couldn't make sense of what I was hearing, couldn't get past the awful narration, the tone, the lack of differentiation in characters, pace and connection to previous books. I'm beyond disappointed. it's an absolute tragedy.

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A Very Disappointing Audiobook in The Vampire Chronicles Series

I am a massive fan of Anne Rice and the Vampire Chronicles. I have listened to all of the audiobooks in the series, and really enjoyed each of them. That is until now.

It’s fair to say I found Blood Communion at best boring and frustrating. I desperately wanted to enjoy the final audiobook in the chronicles so far. But in my opinion it is the weakest book in the Vampire Chronicles series.

The story is not one of Anne Rice’s finest. It is slow to build and very predictable. It lacks the twist and turns she has given us in her other books.

However, what really spoils Blood Communion is the narration. Eric Shaw Quinn narrates using one tone regardless of any action taking place, so his narration is very boring and monotonous.

He does not change his voice as characters change. So you find yourself trying to work out exactly who is supposed to be talking at that point, making the audiobook difficult to follow.

He also clearly hasn’t listened to any of the other Vampire Chronicles audiobooks. He constantly mispronounces characters names, which I found really annoying.

From the start of the book I found myself thinking please bring back Simon Vance. Reading reviews of other books in the series he seems to be the fans favourite and the true voice of the “Brat Prince”, Lestat.

If you’re a die hard fan like me, I guess you will listen to this audiobook regardless of the feedback. However, don’t be surprised if you are very disappointed.

Hopefully the publisher will take notice of the reviews, and reissue Blood Communion with Simon Vance as narrator.

I also hope Simon is used for any new Vampire Chronicles Anne Rice writes that has Lestat as the main story teller.

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2 people found this helpful