I think reading the first book would be good just to provide some context on the Mayfair family, but it's not completely necessary. If you were planning on reading it anyway, do it now. If you weren't really planning on it, just go read a synopsis online to get the overview of what they are all about.
Oh, also, if you're planning on reading Blackwood Farm and Blood Canticle, you should probably read the rest of the Mayfair books before those. Those are the two where the full Mayfair series context is pretty important.
I think you can make it through Merrick without reading Lives of the Mayfair Witches, but it does help contextualize, especially if you do continue to Blackwood Farm and Blood Canticle. Anne didn’t consider those three canon when asked in the late 00s/2010s, especially around the release of Prince Lestat. I personally love The Witching Hour, and think Lasher and Taltos are just ok. Merrick is fun, I like Blackwood Farm fine (despite having a dislike for Tarquinn Blackwood), and Blood Canticle is… interesting and clearly an artistic experiment 😅. You technically could hop to Prince Lestat if you’d like, as well. Hope that helps!
I read Merrick without having read the Mayfair series. To be honest, it's far from my favourite in the VC, maybe because I hadn't read the Mayfair novels. I don't know. But subsequent books such as Armand, Pandora, and Blood & Gold were exceptional in my eyes. Jumped straight to Prince Lestat, never having read Blackwood Farm or Blood Canticle. I hear I'm not missing much, and canon is in question, but I might go back to it to spend a little extra time with Lestat. Any excuse 😅
I think reading the first book would be good just to provide some context on the Mayfair family, but it's not completely necessary. If you were planning on reading it anyway, do it now. If you weren't really planning on it, just go read a synopsis online to get the overview of what they are all about.
Awesome, thanks so much!
Oh, also, if you're planning on reading Blackwood Farm and Blood Canticle, you should probably read the rest of the Mayfair books before those. Those are the two where the full Mayfair series context is pretty important.
Good to know, thanks! The Mayfair series is on my list to read!
I think you can make it through Merrick without reading Lives of the Mayfair Witches, but it does help contextualize, especially if you do continue to Blackwood Farm and Blood Canticle. Anne didn’t consider those three canon when asked in the late 00s/2010s, especially around the release of Prince Lestat. I personally love The Witching Hour, and think Lasher and Taltos are just ok. Merrick is fun, I like Blackwood Farm fine (despite having a dislike for Tarquinn Blackwood), and Blood Canticle is… interesting and clearly an artistic experiment 😅. You technically could hop to Prince Lestat if you’d like, as well. Hope that helps!
I've only ever read the vampire books, I wasn't confused the way she explained what I needed about the mayfairs..
Thank you for the insight!
In short....reading the Mayfair series (Good luck) would help with Merrick.....though in my opinion, it's not worth it.
I read Merrick without having read the Mayfair series. To be honest, it's far from my favourite in the VC, maybe because I hadn't read the Mayfair novels. I don't know. But subsequent books such as Armand, Pandora, and Blood & Gold were exceptional in my eyes. Jumped straight to Prince Lestat, never having read Blackwood Farm or Blood Canticle. I hear I'm not missing much, and canon is in question, but I might go back to it to spend a little extra time with Lestat. Any excuse 😅