an unabridged version, narrated by David Pittu. Critical reception Blood Canticle debuted at No. 5 on The New York Times Best Seller list, spending a total of five weeks on the list. Publishers Weekly wrote, "The vampirization of young Mona, a true child of our times, gives Rice a dynamic new vampire personality with whom to play. Writing as if her blood-inked quill were afire, Rice seems truly possessed by [Lestat] as she races through the story. She sometimes slights members of the vast supporting cast, both dead and alive, but neatly ties up all their loose ends." Alynda Wheat of Entertainment Weekly called Blood Canticle "overwrought and pulpy as only Rice knows how to be", adding that "while he occasionally displays the flashes of vanity, wit, and style that originally lured fans, Lestat is lately hampered with a desire to be (ick!) good. It's a moral U-turn that drives the Blood Hunter toward the ultimate literary sin: tedium." After Blood Canticle received many "virulently negative reviews" from readers on Amazon.com, Rice responded on the site with "a blistering 1,200-word defense" of the novel. Compelled to speak out because many of the postings included personal attacks on her writing ability, health and state of mind since her husband's 2002 death, Rice added that she had received many emails of support from fellow writers who had also felt "savaged and trashed" by Amazon.com reviews. References The Vampire Chronicles novels Novels by Anne Rice 2003 American novels Alfred A. Knopf books Novels set in New Orleans