The Vampire Lestat is the second book in The Vampire Chronicles series. The Vampire Lestat was written by Anne Rice in 1985, nine years after she wrote An Interview with the Vampire in 1976.

In An Interview with the Vampire, Louis tells his life story as a vampire. While reliving his life as a vampire, he mentions Lestat as his maker and what they experienced together. In The Vampire Lestat, it’s Lestat’s turn to tell his side of the story.

In the beginning, Lestat is underground in New York City and is awoken by a goth rock band practicing in an apartment close by. After laying underground and reflecting on modern times, he remembers his past and how times were before he was a vampire.

Lestat grew up in France with a family that barely noticed him. He had a special relationship with his mother even though she was not loving and affectionate. He was sent to school and thought about becoming a priest. After being removed from the school against his will, he runs away with an acting troop. He is taken back home against his will by his father and brothers. On his return home, Lestat’s mother suggests that he befriend a local violin player named Nicholas. They spend many nights together getting drunk and talking about their childhood, their dreams, and philosophy.

They decide to travel to Paris to see if they can make it big in the theater. However, it was in Paris that Lestat becomes a vampire against his will. Lestat’s maker takes him to an old castle and gives him enough jewels and money to live off forever. Without teaching him anything about being a vampire, Lestat’s maker jumps into a fire and kills himself.

As he struggles with his immortality, Lestat travels to Europe to find the origins of vampires. On his travels, he meets two very old vampires named Armand and Marius. Through Marius, Lestat learns something about the origin of his immortal ancestors and how the very first vampires still live.

In the end, you learn of Lestat’s plan to become the lead singer of a rock band. His plan is to unite all of the vampires from around the world.

On Anne Rice’s website it says, “Breaking the vampire code of silence, Lestat reveals himself to the world in hope that the world’s immortals will rise and join together to solve the mystery of their, and his, existence.”

Unfortunately, someone from Lestat’s past doesn’t like this idea and sets out to destroy his plan and everything it stands for.

The New York Times Book Review says, “Brilliant…its undead characters are utterly alive.”

The Village Voice says, “Fiercely ambitious, nothing less than a complete unnatural history of vampires.”

In The Vampire Lestat, the reader learns the history behind Lestat and what he hopes to accomplish as a vampire. The reader also learns his thoughts and his emotions as he struggles with the concept of immortality. Be prepared though, The Vampire Lestat ends with a giant cliffhanger that makes the reader want to pick up the third book in the series, The Queen of the Damned, and continue with the story.

*The Vampire Lestat is the second in The Vampire Chronicle Series written by Anne Rice and will continued to be featured in a five book series by Elizabeth Watts in the coming weeks.