Made it to Chapter 7. If you haven't read all the previous Lestat novels, forget it. And if you don't like rehashing the past and 'court posturing', double forget it. I apparently wasn't in the 'mood' for this book as I got tired of it and wanted to get on with the story of the non-human humans. However, Rice was giving me more about the past and the new court and political background than I cared for. May pick it up when I feel I am in a more receptive mood.