I first read this years ago, and honestly I'd forgotten most of the details, but I think I preferred it then. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it well enough, but let's be honest... Hannibal the tv show has ruined me for all other Hannibals. Even the book versions, which coming from someone who always prefers the books is heresy I know, but I don't care. This Hannibal, in Hannibal Rising, is no longer scary to me. Part of it I think is giving him a tragic backstory - he's a lot more terrifying as a natural monster, like a shark, who just exists in human skin as a freak of nature. Here you mostly just feel sorry for him, and I don't particularly read Hannibal Lecter for pity. Yes he's clever here, yes he slaughters and there is a mildly satisfying bloodbath, and yes I liked it, but this is the pink bubblegum version of Hannibal Lecter, and it's hard to forget it.