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Taltos (Lives of the Mayfair Witches #3)
by
Anne Rice
"ANNE RICE WILL LIVE ON THROUGH THE AGES OF LITERATURE."
--San Francisco Chronicle
"TALTOS IS THE THIRD BOOK IN A SERIES KNOWN AS THE LIVES OF THE MAYFAIR WITCHES . . . Their haunted heritage has brought the family great wealth, which is exercised from a New Orleans manse with Southern gentility; but of course such power cannot escape notice . . . or challenge. . . Rice is a...more
--San Francisco Chronicle
"TALTOS IS THE THIRD BOOK IN A SERIES KNOWN AS THE LIVES OF THE MAYFAIR WITCHES . . . Their haunted heritage has brought the family great wealth, which is exercised from a New Orleans manse with Southern gentility; but of course such power cannot escape notice . . . or challenge. . . Rice is a...more
Mass Market Paperback, 576 pages
Published
March 31st 1996
by Random House, Inc.
(first published September 19th 1994)
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this character "Ashlar" just up and jizzes all over the faces of the preceding novels in the series, except that it is not hot, not hot at all. The Witching Hour was a fascinatingly cracked historical-family saga and Lasher, although a much lesser work, was a disturbingly oedipal psychodrama. Taltos is like a big, wasteful bucket of spooge, just silly and disgusting and entirely unappealing to even contemplate. ugh, thanks a lot Rice for ruining a perfectly good series! almost as crimi...more
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This is the final book in the original trilogy. I've found two others with Mayfair Witch characters but they are mixed up with the Vampires in those two books, and I'm not sure I really want to deal with either of them.
We finally get to know a real Taltos in this book. One who was around when disaster struck this not-quite-human species. They are normally a separate species, but even though Ash doesn't remember a time when the two species were a single one, they have to have been one a...more
We finally get to know a real Taltos in this book. One who was around when disaster struck this not-quite-human species. They are normally a separate species, but even though Ash doesn't remember a time when the two species were a single one, they have to have been one a...more
Culmination of the Mayfair Witches' trilogy, this sometimes feels as though it's an entirely separate book as much of it is concerned with the relating of Ashlar's tale, which is a delicious mix of history with myths and legends, all imbued with the inevitable sadness that comes from having lived a centuries-long life.
The events concerning the Mayfair's (other than Rowan and Michael, who simply listen to Ashlar for the most part) and the reclamation of the Talamasca are relegated to ...more
The events concerning the Mayfair's (other than Rowan and Michael, who simply listen to Ashlar for the most part) and the reclamation of the Talamasca are relegated to ...more
after reading the first two in the series, I was excited to read this last one. I had so many questions from the first two books that I was looking forward to getting answered. The way she introduced two new characters was sudden and vague. It was only after I read about 5 or 6 pages about them, that I realized she was writing about people completely new to the story. I found that it was a little confusing. The ending was rather lackluster and still left you asking too many questions, but...more
Wow, I really loved this series. I did not want it to end. It's one of those stories that you get so wrapped up in you feel like it's really happening somewhere and you forget that it's only fiction. The reason I gave this book only 4 stars is because I wanted a little more closure at the end. She did end it well and mostly happy, but I feel like she could now write an entirely new series on what inevitably happens after the last sentence. I know that all stories have to end. And it's probably t...more
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!!Warning; Can contian spoilers if you haven't read The Witching Hour and Lasher!!
Taltos is the story which birthed the journey of Lasher and the Mayfairs taken in The Witching Hour and Lasher. Yet it also furthers the relationship development between Michael Curry and Rowan Mayfair. After all the tumultuous events in Lasher I tumbled in to a story that I found very bittersweet to read at times. There are more troubles ahead for the Mayfairs. Characters who I had to say goodbye to a...more
Taltos is the story which birthed the journey of Lasher and the Mayfairs taken in The Witching Hour and Lasher. Yet it also furthers the relationship development between Michael Curry and Rowan Mayfair. After all the tumultuous events in Lasher I tumbled in to a story that I found very bittersweet to read at times. There are more troubles ahead for the Mayfairs. Characters who I had to say goodbye to a...more
It starts off acting like a Bourne adventure; intrigue and suspense, action scenes and car chases, mysterious figures firing guns and disappearing into the mist ... all in the name of some grand plot that must be uncovered by our intrepid (and emotionally devastated) heroes. Then it takes a right turn at Albuquerque and we end up learning a new mythology and sensing final destruction.
I wish it had stayed with the action adventure plot a little longer. There was a redemptive quality...more
I wish it had stayed with the action adventure plot a little longer. There was a redemptive quality...more
Just finished this last book and must say am mildly disappointed--it leaves you hanging, drags you on for at least a hundred pages with this confusing stream of consciousness memory trail and confuses you by turning your favorite characters into dependent mindless ninnies..it is crazy to meet Mona and love her headstrong mind and mischeviousness and then see her become doting and helpless after a strange experience..What can I say I loved the premise, thought most of the chararcters were okay (...more
John
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Recommends it for:
fans of romance and horror
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This was such an amazing conclusion to the series. Unlike the vampire chronicles she sews it up nice and tight. One of the best side notes to this book is the cross pollination of a very significant character from the vampire chronicles, brilliant, sexy and frightening. A good read to me.
Qui est donc l'étrange M. Ash. géant calme et d'une infinie douceur, collectionneur de poupées anciennes et philanthrope ?
A la tête d'un immense empire financier. est-il vraiment le seul survivant de l'espèce légendaire des Taltos ?
II a toute raison de le croire. Mais bientôt il apprend par un mystérieux informateur que l'on a signalé l'un des siens en Ecosse, sur les lieux mêmes où, des siècles plus tôt, avant l'arrivée des Romains, il dirigeait son clan.
S...more
A la tête d'un immense empire financier. est-il vraiment le seul survivant de l'espèce légendaire des Taltos ?
II a toute raison de le croire. Mais bientôt il apprend par un mystérieux informateur que l'on a signalé l'un des siens en Ecosse, sur les lieux mêmes où, des siècles plus tôt, avant l'arrivée des Romains, il dirigeait son clan.
S...more
The third book in the Mayfair Witches series, which tells the story of Ash, a centuries-old Taltos (Taltos grow to a height of seven feet, carry an extra set of chromosomes, and have a superior intelligence that enables them to digest dictionaries and encyclopedias in moments.). The book centers around a wicked scheme being pursued by the Talamasca, an order of scholars who study the supernatural and keep records of the Mayfair witches. When a particular scholar is murdered, Rowan Mayfair, the m...more
By this point, Anne Rice was writing Fan-Fic of her characters, and not quite as good as better fan-fic. She should have stopped with the trilogy and just walked away. Sadly, she wrote a lot more.
I'm not even sure what I think of this one, to be honest. I don't know whether I like it or not. I'll give it a 3 out of 5. There were some parts that were totally ridiculous, but for some reason, I kept reading.
It did make me smile when Anne wrote about Taltos history and how they developed Ogham, which is an ancient code/alphabet written in dirt, on trees, or on rocks in Britain, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, etc. My mom has her maiden name in Ogham on a plaque on the wall in the livi...more
It did make me smile when Anne wrote about Taltos history and how they developed Ogham, which is an ancient code/alphabet written in dirt, on trees, or on rocks in Britain, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, etc. My mom has her maiden name in Ogham on a plaque on the wall in the livi...more
If you've already been sucked into the Mayfair trilogy, you're going to have to read this book. I'm sorry. It's not good.
Really though, this series is worth finishing, even if you LOL your way through the last book because it's so freaking ridiculous. There is a good explanation for what Lasher is, and how he came to be involved with the Mayfairs, and what the Talamasca knows about it; you're going to want to know this stuff.
Unfortunately, the characters (particula...more
Really though, this series is worth finishing, even if you LOL your way through the last book because it's so freaking ridiculous. There is a good explanation for what Lasher is, and how he came to be involved with the Mayfairs, and what the Talamasca knows about it; you're going to want to know this stuff.
Unfortunately, the characters (particula...more
With this being the finale of such a great series, I guess I expected just a bit more. In the previous book, Lasher, Mona was a very interesting character and very likeable. However, once she got the legacy and became a 'woman', she became a thoroughly unlikeable character. I didn't enjoy the start of the book, I thought Tommy and Marklin were completely unneccessary. However the middle was quite good. Ash comes off as such a great character, we feel such empathy for him. The actual ending left ...more
Another failure from the Mayfair Witches series. Taltos was not as much of a struggle to get through as the other two books, likely because it was not as long (or at least did not seem as long), but it suffers from the same ridiculous and hackneyed techniques employed in the two books that preceded it, The Witching Hour, and Lasher.
The vast majority of the text in this book is delivered in the form of exposition, wherein one character goes on for chapters and chapters and chapters,...more
The vast majority of the text in this book is delivered in the form of exposition, wherein one character goes on for chapters and chapters and chapters,...more
Taltos is by far the worst of the Mayfair books. And after reading most of Rice's books this only ranks above her Beauty series in my eyes. The first two books were highly entertaining to read and Lasher was my favorite of the three. So to follow up Lasher with the needless Taltos tale was highly disappointing. I believe the entire book could have been condensed into the end of Lasher within a few chapters for series closure. Having said that, I'd still recommend reading it if you enjoyed t...more
This is the third and last book in the Mayfair witches series. I read it back in high school too.
In the third chronicle of the Mayfair Witches, the Talamasca seek to preserve the nearly extinct Taltos race by bringing together a male and female. Their searching catches the attention of an ancient Taltos named Ashlar entwined with Lasher's identity. Ashlar reveals the taltos mythology and lineage and enlists the help of Michael and Rowan in his battle againsst evil. Ashlar longs ...more
In the third chronicle of the Mayfair Witches, the Talamasca seek to preserve the nearly extinct Taltos race by bringing together a male and female. Their searching catches the attention of an ancient Taltos named Ashlar entwined with Lasher's identity. Ashlar reveals the taltos mythology and lineage and enlists the help of Michael and Rowan in his battle againsst evil. Ashlar longs ...more
This is the last volume of the trilogy on the Myfair witches, that starts with "The Witching Hour". This book is not as good as the first volume, but it's nevertheless fascinating and you definitely won't be tempted to abandon this book in the middle.
The main character here is Mr. Ash, who is the last Taltos alve, or so it seems. This fascinating, misterious creature's life will become intertwinned with that of the current designee of the Mayfair family legacy in and odd way, and...more
The main character here is Mr. Ash, who is the last Taltos alve, or so it seems. This fascinating, misterious creature's life will become intertwinned with that of the current designee of the Mayfair family legacy in and odd way, and...more
I was really looking forward to reading this book. I had heard about the Taltos from blood quenticle (sp?) and immediately fell in love. Then I started reading the Witching hour and again loved every word of it. Lasher was ok. And then came Taltos ... and what a huge disappointment that was. I just can't finish it. I get stuck and lost whenever I try to read it. Its too boring and long winded, sorry.
Ms.Rice, you're great but if I were you I'd just disown this one.
Ms.Rice, you're great but if I were you I'd just disown this one.
I still don't really know what to think about this book. In most cases I find that the books of Anne Rice can be read independently, meaning that you don't have to know all the previous books in order to understand the plot in this book. To be honest, I found it hard to concentrate on this books. I thought a lot of the things were too complex for me to understand.
Perhaps I'm just stuck in the vampire world still, and I can't seem to move on to Rice's other works.
Perhaps I'm just stuck in the vampire world still, and I can't seem to move on to Rice's other works.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book. The last, not so much -- but that is probably my fault. I do not like Mona, at all, so I had a hard time feeling anything good about her. Morrigan totally creeped me out. I did love Ash, but the ending -- I don't know. It just didn't sit well with me.
Altogether, though, it was a great series!
Lori Anderson
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Altogether, though, it was a great series!
Lori Anderson
Lori Anderson:The Store
Lori Anderson:The Blog
Yet another read from long, long ago. It was good but I remember not caring for the story in a whole. Mona with her baby and sweet milky breast was creepy. Rowan and Michael powering through their problems didn't much matter either. The history of the immortal specie was loathsome at best. Only Blood Canticle and Blackwood Farms were more unnecessary stories. 3/5 stars because it was still an Anne Rice novel, even if it was pointless.
I felt so sad to finish this book as I really enjoyed the Mayfair witches series! I felt this book was nicely written and was an interesting end to the trilogy.
I was wondering if presenting Ash into the third book was going to work as it seemed too late to enter another main character and build them to the same standard as the others but I feel that it was accomplished.
An exceptional series!
I was wondering if presenting Ash into the third book was going to work as it seemed too late to enter another main character and build them to the same standard as the others but I feel that it was accomplished.
An exceptional series!
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This is my favorite Anne Rice book. It is complete and deep and filling. I am not always a huge Anne Rice Fan - while I have read almost everything she wrote (and have a secret love for Charming of Sleeping Beauty) I find some of her writing dry and long winded. Taltos... is another story. AND I found it a wonderful ending to the Witches.
I read the whole Anne Rice Mayfair Witches series years ago (thank you very much, Cady - NOT!) I am very impressionable and I had horrible nightmares the whole time I read them… But, I had to read the whole series hoping for some closure – which I never got so the nightmares continued…. Grrr, Cady – why did you make me read these??? (=
I loved this trilogy until the last 100 pages of this book. I feel completely let down by the non-ending ending. I went looking for book 4 thinking there just HAD to be more. I can't believe after the development of the main characters we're left not knowing what happens to them. Even worse is that she introduces new characters that she goes into such depth about and then drops them. It really left me cold.
This wrapped up beautifully. As with all good stories, I found myself so immersed that I wanted to know but what happened to this one and that one and what about him? That being said, it all ended right exactly where it should have.
I was so used to equating Anne Rice with vampires that this whole series was a wonderful surprise.
I was so used to equating Anne Rice with vampires that this whole series was a wonderful surprise.
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Anne Rice is a best-selling American author of gothic, supernatural, historical, erotica, and later religious themed books. Best known for her Vampire Chronicles, her prevailing thematical focus is on love, death, immortality, existentialism, and the human condition. She was married to poet Stan Rice for 41 years until his death in 2002. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her on...more
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