A trainwreck of blood, gay sex, drugs, and booze. A bit of a disappointment, yet I still couldn't put it down. How should I put it...it was unsatisfying in the right way? I had very mixed feelings, but overall they were positive.
The character Nothing was the book's biggest downfall for me, I simply couldn't stand him no matter how hard I tried. The other characters were fine, I guess, in their own ways. The vampires were disgusting and childish, which was a disappointment for me but that's probably because I was expecting something else. I don't think any one of them possessed a brain. It's not your typical vampire fare, and it was good in it's own unique way, I'll admit. Just don't go reading it expecting Anne Rice vampires. ^_~ The one thing that just did NOT work for me was the times when the author got carried away describing the goth scene. I mean, the stereotypes got WAY out of hand, it was utterly ridiculous and annoying to have to read. I wouldn't have minded it as much if she didn't give it a "holier than thou" kind of attitude, which made me roll my eyes more times than I can count.

It redeemed itself at the end, though. The two characters I liked best, Ghost and Steve, made it through alive and presumably hooked-up near the end. A very sweet way to end the book. I felt a lot of my bitterness towards the book melt away as those two characters grew on me dramatically. The writing was also very visual and engaging. Even though it's not exactly my cup of tea, it's definitely been haunting me. I've re-read it a few times now. And it's intrigued me enough so that I wouldn't mind picking up "Drawing Blood" someday. ( )

This book was so much fun that I read it in one day! ( )

I love Brites writing, but had this been the first book I picked up, I don't think I would have been so quick to read all the others, though maybe that is my predisposition to dislike vampire novels. Still, I would recommend reading Drawing Blood or Exquisite Corpse before this one, both have by far more compelling storylines. Even her short fiction is more memorable in my opinion. ( )

I never thought I'd read another author who disturbed me as much as Stephen King, but I was mistaken. In "Lost Souls" Ms. Brite pushes all comfort zones using everything from sex, drugs and rock & roll to incest, rape, graphic violence and a smidge of cannibalism (I say a smidge for reasons that would be spoilerish if I were to elaborate.) However, for being everything I usually can't stand there was something very compelling about the writing. Simply put, I couldn't put the book down and knew if I didn't finish it asap it would just prey on my mind more.

As we start off we are introduced to all the main players of the book and are made to like and understand them. From the melancholy Christian to the boisterous Zillah, Twig and Molochai we are presented with vampires you probably wouldn't mind getting to know better. That would be a huge mistake. Our other characters are the lost Nothing (whose name used in the context of the book often confused me), the guilt ridden and guilty Steve and beautiful, brave Ghost. As the story goes on we come to realize how horrifying most of these characters are and despite how we are initially made to empathize with them, it is soon obvious that this attraction was a ruse. Easily Ghost is my favorite character of the bunch, as I believe he is meant to be. How these characters are drawn together by destiny or some other force isn't really explained but from the nowhere place of Missing Mile to the wild Mardi Gras of New Orleans following them on their journey to the end quickly becomes imperative to the reader.

This book, well written for all its disturbing content, isn't one for the faint of heart. I know it will be a while before I can get it out of my head and will probably be surprised with some nightmares just when I think I have. Not to mention that it has left me feeling a little bit unclean for the images invoked, as Stephen King stories always had as well. However, it was an intriguing book as well and I can't say that I'll regret reading it despite any lost sleep that might result.

Of the lyrical writing my favorite line, "No," said a voice from the dark doorway. A weary voice, a voice for speaking long after midnight, a voice to be used when all paths are blocked, when castles have fallen to ruin, when morning will not come again." ( )

very dark vampire tale based in New Orleans for the most pat. Honestly tho' couldn't be less like Interview with the vampire. ( )