The Details
Title: The Witching Hour
Author: Anne Rice
Series: Lives of the Mayfair Witches
Genre: Adult Fiction, Gothic, Supernatural, Horror, Fantasy
Publication Date: 1990
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Format Read: Paperback
Source: Borrowed
Reviewer: Allie
Score: 4.4/5 ⭐’s
Spoiler Level: None
Why I Picked Up This Book
As a young teen who loved to read, and had recently seen, then read, Interview With the Vampire, I was hooked on Anne Rice’s writing. I had never experienced writing with that level of detail and history before picking up her books. I read several of the books in The Vampire Chronicles, and when I found out she had a witch series…well, it was on like Donkey Kong.
Being a spooky kid, and having had my own paranormal experiences as a child (and beyond), I was smitten with ghosts, vampires, witches, and all that jazz. I remember approaching the school librarian in 6th grade and asking if there was a copy of Interview With the Vampire. She looked at me with pause, then said “That’s a big book for your age.”
It wasn’t until my freshman year of high school that my boyfriend’s (now my husband) English teacher let me borrow her classroom copy.
And the rest is history.
Now on to the book of the hour…
The Premise
For generations, the Mayfair family has been surrounded by whispers of witchcraft, tragedy, and an unseen force tied to their bloodline. When neurosurgeon Rowan Mayfair discovers her connection to this powerful family legacy, she must uncover centuries of secrets and confront the mysterious entity that has shaped the Mayfair witches for generations.
The Broad Breakdown
If you’ve ever read Anne Rice, you’ll know that she was one detail oriented broad. The Witching Hour was no slouch in this area.
The first section of the book introduces the cast of characters to you. We meet Michael Curry, a contractor who almost died and now has psychometry. Rowan Mayfair is a surgeon who is the most recent descendant of the Mayfair witch lineage. Rowan has the unique power of being able to psychically see into someone’s body. She can use this power to heal people or kill them. They meet and end up in New Orleans, where Rowan is introduced to her estranged family.
The second section introduces a secret organization called the Talamasca and one of its members, Aaron Lightner, who seeks out Michael. The rest of the section is a history and witch nerd’s wet dream. The reader gets a trip through the Mayfair matriarchal line, where we are introduced to the entity, Lasher, who has been with the Mayfair Witches for generations.
In section three, Rowan learns about her past and inherits an estate, a huge fortune, and of course, Lasher. What will Rowan, Michael, and Aaron of the Talamasca find out about the mysterious entity, and why he has bound himself to the Mayfair line?
What Worked
Again, I am a lover of paranormal and spooky things, and of deep dives into characters and their histories, so this book was right up my alley.
I love getting swept up in a world and living in it for a while. The rich descriptions of people, places, and things help with falling into the lives of the characters on the page.
What Didn’t Work
On the flip side of that very same coin, if you know Anne Rice’s descriptive writing, it can kind of take over at some points. I found myself occasionally thinking, “Okay, let’s move on with the plot please.”
But honestly, I don’t have much else to gripe about.
Character Corner
I wanted to be Aaron Lightner. A person steeped in mysteries, secrets, and access to a library that could rival Alexandria. I had also lost my grandfather a couple of years before I read this book, and his grandfatherly mentorship of Michael reminded me of him.
I can’t really get too detailed about other characters, but I loved Michael’s curiosity, strength, and loyalty to the cause. Rowan however… was frustrating, but the story needs her to be.
The journey with Lasher is a wild one that, again, I cannot deep dive into, but you are in for a surprise, that’s for sure.
Tropes & Themes
Tropes
🌙 Generational Witch Family
🌙 Haunted Family History
🌙 Dark Supernatural Mystery
Themes
🌙 Family Legacy
🌙 The Cost of Power
🌙 Love vs. Obsession
The Emotional Damage Report
The Witching Hour left me in a state of shock, and I instantly needed to read the next one to find out more about Lasher.
Favorite Moment
My favorite moment in this book is really the entire window into the history of the Mayfair witches. I loved living in each of their worlds, even if just for a little while.
Who Should Read This?
If you love witches, secret societies, paranormal things, and deep diving into worlds, this is definitely your book. If you need a fast-paced plot that gets straight to the point, Anne Rice may test your patience. But if you want to sink into a world and stay awhile, this is where she shines.
The Broad Honesty
I absolutely love this book and have plans to listen to the audiobook after I finish with the sixth Enola Holmes book. Well, and maybe after I finish the rest of ACOTAR. I might save it for the month of October, where I plan to listen to some of my favorite spooky and paranormal books, and maybe even some new ones!
Shelf Status
📕 Permanent Shelf
Loved it. Will reread. Needs a place of honor.
Final Scorecard
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Worldbuilding/Setting: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Emotional Impact: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reread Potential: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Final Verdict
I love this entire series along with its vampy cousin. If you’re like me and love all things witchy, paranormal, and so on as I’ve already described, I encourage you to give it a shot.
Thanks, and happy reading (or listening)!
Leave a Reply