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| Maharet and Mekare |
Prince Lestat continues the story of the
red haired twins, Maharet and Mekare. It was exquisite.
Spoiler alert
This story picks up from when Mekare fulfilled an ancient
curse. Vengeance was exacted from a deranged Queen. As she lay dying, the twins consumed her heart and
brain. They honored their dead with this act but they
didn’t do it for Akasha out of love. Inside her was the spirit that animated
the immortals. The Twins meant to continue that legacy.
In this story, the mindless spirit that consumed in the form
of a vampire’s blood lust was no longer unconscious. The novel begins with
unexplained burnings. Then it becomes the madness of the ancients.
spoiler alert
Secrets are revealed in the course of this story. First, the
Talamasca was founded by a supernatural being.
Once,
Pandora beheld a spirit in her travels. Instead of
turning from it in fear she said, “
If you
would have fleshy life, human life, hard life which can move through time and
space, then fight of it. If you would have human philosophy, then struggle and
make yourself wise, so that nothing can hurt you ever. Wisdom is strength.
Collect yourself, whatever you are, into something with a purpose”. Gremt
did as asked and the Talamasca became the guardians of history.
Among the spirits is Magnus who made Lestat. In the
Vampire Lestat, Magnus is an old and deformed. In this story, he is
youthful and perfect as he wishes to be. The spirit asks for forgiveness for
having brought Lestat into the blood and abandoning him. It is a moment every
child hopes for as she comes into her own, having had an imperfect childhood.
It was a moment that a parent acknowledges despite their absence, that she has
become more than the parent could have imagined. Magnus tells his
fledgling with much pride that he “burned bright”. Lestat was all too willing to leave his past for
a more precious future with the spirit of Magnus in it.
All the while, the story of the twins continues. Maharet,
once the living Queen of the blood drinkers withdraws from her mortal and
immortal family. She knows the Voice driving the others to madness is
coming from her twin. She withdraws further into the Amazon jungle, to protect
her sister and the others. I read the story of her unraveling and eventually
her demise but it wasn’t the end she chose.
Maharet had thought to throw herself
and Mekare into a volcano. It would have been the only way to end their lives. It would have annihilated the
voice but also their vampire race. Only a Queen could have borne such a
conflict. The story didn’t continue as the great Maharet would have done.
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| Pacaya |
It is Lestat that has to bear the burden of this choice. It
was an unintended consequence that his writing and rock star antics united the
immortals. But our hero is not without the abilities for such a task. We meet
Victor, Lestat’s biological son. It is love drives that drives Lestat to seek and destroy
anyone who may do Viktor harm. The same virtue also allows Lestat the capacity to forgive for the greater
good. We are witness to his foresight to comprehend the once unconscious Voice. Finally, like any great ruler, he willed for his tribe to be in harmony with the world. They were creatures of God and not an abomination. Prince Lestat is a beautiful and profound story.
Twenty years ago I use to call Anne Rice’s number in New Orleans and leave her messages (I told you I was a groupie). She allowed this for her fans. Upon reading
this novel, I am reminded of why I did those things. Ms. Rice is still
schooling this writer on the vastness of her imagination. All hail Prince
Lestat!
Found these gorgeous images...
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| Akasha and Mekare |
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| Forgotten by time |
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| Maharet |
