Taltos

Finally, this book offers the history of Taltos. The world-building narration of the Taltos' history is intriguing and exciting, however it still is not quite the richness of the witches history from The Witching Hour.
The problems with Mona's character continue from the second book. It just becomes more ludicrous, obnoxious, and unbelievable. Even worse is Morrigan. Why is she so unconditionally accepted by everyone after what happened with Lasher and Emaleth in the second book? Rowan's character is completely useless throughout the book. There is one shining moment for her, but just that.

I started this book with the sense that it was unnecessary; after all, Lasher and Emaleth, the only two Taltos still alive, were both killed at the end of the last book, bringing a close to the conflict between the Taltos and the Mayfair witches. However, because people love trilogies just as much as Anne Rice loves interview-style exposition, we get a third part to the Mayfair saga.

All kidding aside, this is a very interesting book; we meet a new, more mature Taltos named Ashlar, and he freely shares with the Mayfairs the history of his species, stretching back to Atlantis, to the Picts, and continuing up until medieval times and beyond. We also learn about what's going on inside the Talamasca, specifically with regards to the excommunications of Yuri and Aaron in the second book. Overall, I think I would say that I prefer this trilogy to Rice's vampire work.

Ok read