by Anne Rice
Part of The Vampire Chronicles, book 6
First published 2000
Armand begins his tale in the ruins of Kiev, where Mongol armies have left the city broken. Tartar raiders capture him and drag him to Constantinople's slave markets. In Renaissance Venice, the vampire Marius finds him and brings him to a grand palazzo. Marius poses as a reclusive painter among mortals while teaching Armand the ways of immortal existence. He transforms Armand with vampiric blood, binding them together across centuries. Their bond faces tests through scenes of wealth and violence, through devil worship and flames that threaten everything Armand holds dear. The story moves from Venice to Paris in the 1800s, then to modern New Orleans. Armand must decide between keeping his dark immortality and finding redemption for his soul. His choice will determine whether he remains forever caught between human longing and vampiric nature.
Genres: historical-fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Constantinople, Kiev, New Orleans, Paris, Venice
Period: 1800s, Renaissance, modern
457 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Ballantine Books
Content warnings: violence