Pandora

I've read all the books until The Vampire Armand, and I loved all of them. This book is uninspired, there is nothing novel in this story, although there is a minor addition to the the vampire mythology.

I think about 70% of the book is truly ordinary, just the story of a unremarkable aristocratic woman in Ancient Rome time. She explains how her father wanted her to be well educated, and as such she grew up to be not just a wife, but an independent and intelligent woman.

During her youth she got involved in a cult of Isis, and due to some events she is forced to flee to Antioch, where she eventually meets Marius.

The historic details were very faint, just a brief mention of what it was like living in that time, plus some of that period intrigues. Pandora is a flat character, and Marius short appearances didn't portray him nearly as magnific as the other books did.

The support characters, like her slaves, were “just there”. They almost were well developed enough to create a connection. The expanded mythology, that Akasha was actually Isis was a nice touch.

One of the things I like about immortal stories is the possibilities that the span of time of their lives bring about. This book had none of that. Most of it is about her mortal life, then a very brief mention of her opinions of how the world changed through the millennia. Even though Armand's book followed the same pattern, his story was much better.

This is my first Anne Rice read and I loved it! (I know, you gasped right?)

The mysterious beginning dovetailed into a very grandiose Classical tragedy. Spending time with Pandora and her family had me rooting for her after just a few pages. The language felt archaic in a good way and helped ground me in the story. Rice throws in just enough description to get a scene going, so scenes are sparse, but the sumptuous drama buffet kept me turning pages.

Pandora was such a strong character and wouldn't compromise her convictions for anyone. Her father's support of her rebellious, well-read nature as she waxed poetic over Ovid and debated Diogenes made me smile. The family moments raised the stakes when the signal fires of a falling Rome were finally lit. <spoiler>When she later stood toe-to-toe with Praetorian guards on the steps of a temple, and saved her life and Flavius' life with words alone—I believed every moment.</spoiler>

Yet, the last 50 pages threw me for a loop. <spoiler> What in the world with the bee-scarecrow creature? This escapee from The Wicker Man </spoiler> felt like magical realism, an incarnation of Pandora's fear of the unknown or change, but remained unexplained.

Also, Marius and Pandora's union was earned but anticlimactic. <spoiler> The truth? That whole scene was so very badly written—no sweetness, no care between two characters that have known each other for decades. I wasn't asking for erotica, just more than a few sentences to show Marius cared enough to show up for Pandora for goodness sake. </spoiler> A huge let-down in otherwise a thrilling read.

The exploration of Marius' stance on organized religion and cults through <spoiler> his rejection of Pandora's spirituality was fascinating. The brutalization of ancient icons and ideals, the maligning of old fables and morals all in favor of new religions and cults leading to more of the same—control, killing, and persecution. These pages felt like the author screaming into the void, "Why? Why all the emotional and physical violence? For what?"</spoiler> Loved it and I want more.

Pandora's impassioned final monologue actually made me tear up a bit. I had to read it aloud. She didn't want <spoiler>to lose herself in her relationship with Marius—she can stand strong and alone a part from anyone and he just couldn't understand, couldn't see this as anything other than a form of rejection.</spoiler>

Overall, what a great read.