The Vampire Armand by Anne Rice is the second book in her much anticipated continuation of The Vampire Chronicles. It centers around Armand, who was first introduced in Interview With the Vampire and is told by Armand to David Talbot.

Armand's story begins in Constantinople during the 16th century. He's been captured as a slave and is sold by the Turks. Finally he finds himself in Venice Italy and is bought by a rich man named Marius. Once in Marius's care he is bathed in all the luxuries imaginable in the city.

Marius introduces the youth to the arts and learning and has the other boys in his care teach Armand all they know. He is a reluctant pupil but soon comes to love learning and being with the other boys just as he loves his master Marius. A love that is returned by his master and leads to his undoing.

He is loved so much by Marius that he feels he can do no wrong and begins to rebel. Armand disappears for days on end and must be retrieved from the brothels of Venice by the master who never punishes him. He becomes involved with dangerous men and puts his own life and those of his friends in danger.

Anything more and I'll give the entire book away. Armand is an enlightening peek into the mind and soul of one of the more mysterious of Rice's vampires. In this book we find out why Armand did what he did in the first books of the Vampire Chronicles. A truly rich book and well worth the reading.