If you’re in the mood for a long book and like family histories with a supernatural twist, try The Witching Hour by Anne Rice. While the story is set in the same world as her vampire series, there are no vampires in this book. Instead, the tale of the Mayfair witches is told from their beginning several hundred years ago to the present.
Those familiar with the vampire stories will recognize the Talamasca, whose motto is “we watch and we are always here,” and who play a significant role in the Mayfair witches’ story. The Talamasca are an order of scholars who study the supernatural. They are watchers, who do not get directly involved unless they feel that those being watched could benefit from the Talamasca’s aid. How the Mayfair witches and the Talamasca become entwined is one of the book’s themes.
Another theme, or appeal, is the setting, which roams from Scotland to the Caribbean, to New Orleans, to San Francisco, and back to New Orleans. One could almost smell the flowers and picture the old houses and streets that are described in vivid detail. In short, it’s vintage Anne Rice.