How to Read Anne Rice's 'Mayfair Witches' Books In Order
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Dive into some magic while watching the AMC series.
Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches is the latest installment on AMC of the author's supernatural universe. Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches books are some of her fans' absolute favorites among her lore, though until recently they haven't been as publicly celebrated as The Vampire Chronicles. Whether or not you're a fan of the new AMC series or just want to dive into a magical new world while you cozy up with a cup of tea, here's how to read Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches books in order, including books with Mayfair Witches in The Vampire Chronicles—as well as where to buy them.
One note: Beware of potential Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches spoilers ahead, because obviously the series takes most of its cues from the novels!
Related: Get Ready for Magic! Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches Comes to AMC
Anne Rice's Lives of the Mayfair Witches Trilogy Books In Order
1. The Witching Hour (1990)
The first book in The Lives of the Mayfair Witches trilogy is The Witching Hour. The novel follows Rowan Mayfair as she struggles to come to terms with her own power and untangle the web of her past. The novel largely begins in the 1990s in New Orleans and transports the reader to San Francisco, Amsterdam, a French château in Louis XIV's reign and 17th century Scotland in its deconstruction of Rowan Mayfair's family tree—and its construction of a truly bewitching magical universe.
Buy The Witching Hour:
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2. Lasher (1993)
Book No. 2 in The Mayfair Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches is Lasher, named after the demon that Suzanne Mayfair summoned so long ago—and who's been tormenting her family ever since. Rowan Mayfair is at the center of Lasher, and it's a particularly heartbreaking story—but to avoid spoilers, we will say no more!
Buy Lasher:
Related: Your Guide to Anne Rice's Vampires
3. Taltos (1994)
The final official book in Lives of the Mayfair Witches is Taltos. To avoid too many spoilers for the series and prior books, we can't reveal much here, save to say this one is a juicy read, full of demons, familial entanglements, lust and more, and has twists and turns worthy of a true supernatural soap opera—in the absolute best way.
Buy Taltos:
Related: How to Watch Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire
Mayfair Witches In Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles
There are other Anne Rice books not directly in the Mayfair Witches timeline, but also feature witches tied into Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles series. You can read them in the following order to make the most of the stories:
4. Merrick (2000)
Merrick is about a powerful witch who is a descendant of the Mayfair Witches, though she's unaware of them in the book and it isn't directly in The Lives of the Mayfair Witches timeline. Her story is told through vampire David Talbot, integrating the witches with Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. Fans of Interview With the Vampire will devour this one.
Buy Merrick:
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5. Blackwood Farm (2002)
Blackwood Farm follows Tarquin "Quinn" Blackwood, who's been harassed by a demon for his entire life—and seeks out one Lestat de Lioncourt to help him piece together his ancestry ... which may or may not be linked to that of the Mayfair Witches.
Buy Blackwood Farm:
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6. Blood Canticle (2003)
Blood Canticle brings together Lestat de Lioncourt and Rowan Mayfair—and Rowan's young cousin Mona Mayfair and Tarquin "Quinn" Blackwood of Blackwood Farm, making it a must-read for Mayfair fans.
Buy The Blood Canticle:
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How many books are in The Witching Hour series?
There are three books in Anne Rice's The Lives of the Mayfair Witches, also known as The The Witching Hour series.
How do you read Mayfair Witches?
To read the Mayfair Witches books in order, read them as follows:
1. The Witching Hour
2. Lasher
3. Taltos
If you wish to read The Vampire Chronicles stories that tie in the Mayfair Witches, the following order is recommended:
4. Merrick
5. Blackwood Farm
6. Blood Canticle
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What book is the Mayfair Witches based on?
Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches will cover mostly the ground established in The Witching Hour. It remains to be seen if there will be more seasons of the series to cover more lore from the trilogy.
