Where to Start with Anne Rice
For most readers, there is only one place to start: the humid, gaslit streets of 18th-century New Orleans. Anne Rice's career was defined by her ability to turn monsters into sympathetic, soul-searching protagonists. To experience the depth of this world, you should begin with her debut masterpiece, Interview with the Vampire (1976). This book introduces Louis de Pointe du Lac and his charismatic yet cruel maker, Lestat de Lioncourt, establishing the lore, atmosphere, and existential questions that run through her entire catalog.
However, Rice’s universe is much larger than a single series. As her writing evolved, she created a massive interconnected world where vampires, witches, and ancient spirits cross paths. To avoid spoilers and fully appreciate these connections, following a blended publication order is highly recommended.
The Blended Vampire Chronicles and Mayfair Witches Reading Order
While you can read The Vampire Chronicles and the Lives of the Mayfair Witches as separate entities, they officially collide in the crossover novel Merrick. Reading them in publication order ensures you understand the magical rules, ancestral histories, and motivations of both groups before they meet.
Phase 1: The Core Vampire Chronicles
Start by reading the foundational texts of the vampire mythology. These books focus on the history of Lestat and the origin of all vampires:
- Interview with the Vampire (1976)
- The Vampire Lestat (1985)
- The Queen of the Damned (1988)
- The Tale of the Body Thief (1992)
Phase 2: The Mayfair Witches Trilogy
Before diving deeper into the vampire world, pause to read the complete story of the Mayfair family. This trilogy introduces a multigenerational family of witches in New Orleans and a mysterious entity named Lasher:
- The Witching Hour (1990)
- Lasher (1993)
- Taltos (1994)
Phase 3: The Crossovers and New Tales
With both histories established, you are ready for the novels where the two series intertwine. This phase also includes the New Tales of the Vampires spin-offs, which flesh out the history of minor characters:
- Memnoch the Devil (1995) — Vampire Chronicles Book 5
- Servant of the Bones (1996) — A standalone ghost story that fits the supernatural tone
- Pandora (1998) — New Tales of the Vampires Book 1
- The Vampire Armand (1998) — Vampire Chronicles Book 6
- Vittorio, The Vampire (1999) — New Tales of the Vampires Book 2 (can be read standalone)
- Merrick (2000) — Vampire Chronicles Book 7 (The first official Mayfair crossover)
- Blood and Gold (2001) — Vampire Chronicles Book 8
- Blackwood Farm (2002) — Vampire Chronicles Book 9 (Major Mayfair crossover)
- Blood Canticle (2003) — Vampire Chronicles Book 10 (Major Mayfair crossover)
Phase 4: The Modern Vampire Chronicles
After a decade-long break from vampires, Rice returned to Lestat to conclude his journey. These books expand the mythology to include lost civilizations and the final fate of the vampire court:
- Prince Lestat (2014)
- Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis (2016)
- Blood Communion: A Tale of Prince Lestat (2018)
Exploring Other Worlds: Anne Rice’s Subseries
Beyond her main gothic universe, Rice wrote extensively in other genres, from historical fiction to erotica and theology.
Ramses the Damned (The Mummy)
This series blends historical romance, archaeological mystery, and supernatural fantasy. The final two books were co-authored with her son, Christopher Rice:
- The Mummy or Ramses the Damned (1989)
- Ramses the Damned: The Passion of Cleopatra (2017)
- The Reign of Osiris (2022)
The Sleeping Beauty Quartet (As A.N. Roquelaure)
Writing under a pen name, Rice penned an explicit, BDSM-themed retelling of the classic fairy tale. These books are strictly for adult readers and should be read in order:
- The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty (1983)
- Beauty's Punishment (1984)
- Beauty's Release (1985)
- Beauty's Kingdom (2015)
The Wolf Gift Chronicles
In this duology, Rice put her signature lush, philosophical spin on the classic werewolf mythos:
- The Wolf Gift (2012)
- The Wolves of Midwinter (2012)
The Life of Christ and Seraphim Series
Following a return to her Catholic faith in the 2000s, Rice wrote biblical historical fiction and a thriller series about an assassin-turned-instrument of angels:
The Life of Christ:
- Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt (2005)
- Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana (2008)
The Songs of the Seraphim:
- Angel Time (2009)
- Of Love and Evil (2010)
Standalone Novels and Erotica
Rice also wrote several standalones, including historical dramas about the free people of color in New Orleans (The Feast of All Saints) and 18th-century castrati singers (Cry to Heaven), alongside contemporary erotica under the name Anne Rampling:
- The Feast of All Saints (1979)
- Cry to Heaven (1982)
- Exit to Eden (1985) — As Anne Rampling
- Belinda (1986) — As Anne Rampling
- Violin (1997)