Vampire fiction takes a new turn

PRINCE LESTAT AND THE REALMS OF ATLANTIS Anne Rice Loot.co.za (R254) Chatto and Windus REVIEWER: DENZIL MOYAGA

I CELEBRATE authors who can shake up readers without warning, such as Anne Rice. Her latest book in the Vampire

Chronicles book series catches up with the blood drinkers after the dust has settled in the wake of the deaths of Maharet, Khayman and Mekare – the trinity of ancient vampires.

Our famous brat prince, Lestat, has evolved into a great, though reluctant at first, leader of the undead, being the host body of the link of all vampires.

The storm isn’t over, though, as the 5 000-year-old villain Roshamandes, killer of Maharet and Khayman, isn’t backing down without a fight after being exiled by Lestat. He harbours a secret he thinks will let him back into the ranks.

The most intriguing, and perhaps heart-warming, part of the book is the unravelling mystery of Amel, the spirit that gave birth to all the vampires through the defeated tyrannical queen Akasha, the first vampire. This mystery dates back to the fabled city of Atlantis. Enter a new group of very old and resilient humanoids, the Replimoids, who reveal shocking details about Atlantis, its demise and a “great one” called Amel.

What they reveal has the entire group of vampires shuddering. With this book of origins, Rice has managed to turn our knowledge of vampires on its head, and no doubt has carved a new path for vampire fiction by weaving in an unexpected romantic story about the mythical city. What a read!