Despite Anne Rice’s wonderful way of story telling, how she practically can fluidly place you in the interview room and then take you straight into the history that Louis lived, I found that there was so much downright pedo moment towards the end of Part 1 that I decided I wasn’t going to finish the book. I read through part one just to satisfy my needs to at least TRY to finish a book.

Now, I’ve come across some people mentioning that Louis and Claudia’s relationship was passing, that it was “allowed” because Claudia is a vampire now. I get that, but Claudia was a CHILD when she was first turned. He had a lust for her blood before the relationship grew over the years, which in turn became romantic. Some of the ways Louis described how much he loved Claudia made me very uncomfortable. Had that been the only issues I had, I’m sure I could have finished the book.

That was until Lestat outright molested a young boy, a child, while drinking his blood. This was the scene as Lestat was being poisoned. Rice wrote that Lestat rubbed the boys nipple. My face when I read those pages was enough for my mom to ask how things were going. She’d apparently read this book in high school and she’d forgotten what happens in the book. I’m sure that was for good reason. I would not want to be reminded of that scene.

I should have put the book down right then and there, but I wanted to push through. Not much else happens after Lestat dies but what could you make of that? At least Claudia and Louis didn’t have anymore romantic talk because I would have just thrown the book away.

I’ve heard of what happens throughout The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty. I should’ve have taken that as a massive red flag and avoided her works entirely.

Don’t read this book if you’re sensitive to pedophilic matters.