In the sixth book of the Vampire Chronicles, we learn about the life of Armand. Armand began life as an icon painter in a monastery. He is snatched by slave traders and put to work in a brothel in Italy. Armand meets Marius and becomes and apprentice to him, as Marius loves his painting. He develops a more intimate relationship with Marius over the course of the internship, and Marius ultimately ends up turning him into a vampire. Armand's life just seems so tragic to me. I really like the character, and was pleased to be able to learn more about his earlier life and the reasons behind his personality. I love the books that go into the backstory of specific characters, especially ones other than Lestat, because he can be a little much sometimes.