Angel Time (The Songs of the Seraphim, #1)

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Angel Time (The Songs of the Seraphim #1)

3.23 of 5 stars 3.23 · rating details · 4,460 ratings · 658 reviews

Anne Rice returns to the mesmerizing storytelling that has captivated readers for more than three decades in a tale of unceasing suspense set in time past—a metaphysical thriller about angels and assassins.

The novel opens in the present. At its center: Toby O’Dare—a contract killer of underground fame on assignment to kill once again. A soulless soul, a dead man walking, h...more

Hardcover, 340 pages

Published October 27th 2009 by Knopf (first published 2006)

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Jan 14, 2011 Nick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Being a long time Anne Rice Fan, I had looked forward to reading this book. Her religious journey, like mine, had been bumpy at best. So, I was very curious after the Christ the Lord series what she may do next...and I wasn't disappointed.

Angel Time is an exceptional novel dealing in the story of an assassin who is contacted by an angel and walked back through time through the err of his ways and how it was he became an assassin. Then, through Anne Rice's skilled writing, she takes the reader ba...more

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Jun 16, 2012 Eva rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: not-worth-it, 2010, reviewed

Edit As it has been two years and I have not been struck down by lightning yet, I feel safe enough to lower my rating to the 1 star I originally wanted to give.

The back cover of Angel Time sounded quite exciting, but once I started reading I was harshly reminded of the fact that "you shouldn't judge a book by its cover".
The main character wishes salvation (as he likes to remind you every fifteen seconds or so) and after a hit (as he is a hired assassin) he meets an angel who has been watching ov...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Vanessa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club

First off, I'm not an Anne Rice fan. I am reading this book because of my book club. I can't believe how repetitive she is. Her first chapter was about twenty pages stating that the main character was a hit man. I could have summed it up much quicker.

Plus the whole lute player angle, I just envision a LARPer as an assassin and laugh. I mean I just literally thought of someone dressed up as a renaissance festival nerd just did not seem plausible in my head.

Only at around page 100 did it start mo...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Cristina Boncea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: faves

În primul rând e povestea personajului principal, Toby O'Dare zis și Lucky Vulpoiul care este un ucigaș plătit.
S-a născut la New Orleans și-și dorea să devină preot dominican și cântăreț la lăută. Avea studii în ambele domenii. Tatăl lui fusese un polițist corupt care fusese ucis în închisoare iar mama lui o alcoolică. Toby mai avea un frate și o soră mai mici de care avea grijă. Își câștiga banii cântând la lăută pe stradă. Într-o zi și-a găsit întreaga familie moartă în casă, de mâna mamei aș...more În primul rând e povestea personajului principal, Toby O'Dare zis și Lucky Vulpoiul care este un ucigaș plătit.
S-a născut la New Orleans și-și dorea să devină preot dominican și cântăreț la lăută. Avea studii în ambele domenii. Tatăl lui fusese un polițist corupt care fusese ucis în închisoare iar mama lui o alcoolică. Toby mai avea un frate și o soră mai mici de care avea grijă. Își câștiga banii cântând la lăută pe stradă. Într-o zi și-a găsit întreaga familie moartă în casă, de mâna mamei așa că a fugit la New York.
Acolo a lucrat ca și chelner într-un restaurant. Cel ce deținea restaurantul era însă urmărit de niște ruși care vroiau să-i ia afacerile iar Toby i-a omorât pentru el. Toby a fost apoi vândut de câtre acesta Justițiarului și a lucrat 10 ani ca și ucigaș, luând diferite înfățișări și nume.
După ce a ucis un bancher la Mission Inn, Toby a întâlnit un înger pe nume Malchiah care i-a spus că Dumnezeu deja l-a iertat și că are o misiune pentru el. Toby este dus înapoi în timp în secolul XIII-lea unde visul lui devine realitate - este preot dominican și trebuie să-i ajute pe Fluria și Meir, care sunt evrei. Aceștia au fost acuzați că și-ar fi ucis fiica în vârstă de 14 ani, Lea.
Toby vorbește cu ei și află povestea Fluriei, cum ea era evreie și s-a îndrăgostit de un creștin pe nume Godwin. Cum cei doi nu puteau fi împreună din motive religioase și legale, și-au trimis scrisori. Fluria nu i-a spus că era gravidă și că născuse două fete gemene, Lea și Rosa. Godwin a aflat abia când Fluria l-a întâlnit pe Meir și acesta a cerut-o de nevastă. Godwin devenise între timp preot în Paris și i-a cerut Fluriei una dintre fete. Rosa a decis să meargă de bună voie cu el. Tatăl Fluriei nu fusese de acord niciodată nici cu relația fiicei sale împreună cu Godwin și n-a fost de acord nici când cei doi au împărțit copii, renegând-o pe Rosa (care bineînțeles urma să se convertească la creștinism).
Lea murise răpusă de o anumită febră. Fluria și Meir nu au spus nimănui și povestea acuzației lor se născuse tocmai pentru că erau evrei în Anglia și creștinii îi vroiau izgoniți.
Toby se duce la Paris și-l găsește pe Godwin, propunând ca Rosa să se dea drept Lea în Norwich.
Fratele lui Godwin, Nigel, avea multă putere și s-a alăturat cauzei lor. Toată lumea a pledat în favoarea faptului că Rosa e Lea și că ambele trăiesc. Chiar și Magistrul Eli, tatăl Fluriei.
Așa că misiunea lui Toby s-a încheiat și s-a întors în timpul lui, renunțând la jobul lui. Finalul cărții este extraordinar, când îngerul îl întreabă pe Toby dacă nu a învățat nimic din povestea Fluriei și a lui Godwin, spunându-i că are un fiu de 10 ani cu prietena lui pe care o lăsase la New Orleans.(less)

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Apr 18, 2010 Ben rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

This book was a fragmentary novel, composed seemingly in two parts. The first, where Toby O'Dare is a hitman residing at the moment in his haven, The Mission Inn, is classic Anne Rice. He is in an internal turbulence, characteristic of Rice's Vampires. This and the aesthetic conciousness given to the reader brings back fond memories of early Ricean novels. That is the praise I have.

The cons soon become obvious...when Toby comes to his spiritual revelation with Malchiah...more

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Mar 12, 2010 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-supernatural

Set in two very different worlds and written with a fluency that testifies to long hours of research on the part of the author, Angel Time is certainly not your average supernatural novel. The characters are unique, the plot engaging, and the words spun together flawlessly and effortlessly in typical Anne Rice style. The story is chopped up in two places where inserted are the background stories of Toby's life and that of the 13th-century Jewish woman he is attempting to help. In most books I wo...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Ilaria Tomasini rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Questo libro �� proprio brutto, ma �� deludente.
La prima parte mi �� sembrata noiosa e inutilmente prolissa, mentre la seconda, ambientata nel passato �� gi�� pi�� interessante.
Il protagonista, Toby, mi �� piaciuto per niente: da ragazzino pio e perfetto e abile musicista, si trasforma in killer spietato e senza sentimenti per poi tornare melensamente buono nel giro di mezzora. si pu�� dire che il libro sia scritto male, ma coinvolge, i personaggi mi sono sembrati piatti e la trama piuttosto ban...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Al added it · review of another edition

Anne Rice returns to the mesmerizing storytelling that has captivated readers for more than three decades with this new novel the first book in a new series called "Songs of the Seraphim." Angel Timeis a dark, suspenseful novel about angels, reluctant assassins and a journey of redemption. Toby O'Dare a.k.a. Lucky the Fox has fallen far from grace. He is a contract killer who carries out violence whenever and wherever he is told, a soulless soul who takes orders from someone he calls "The Right...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Shawn Spjut rated it 4 of 5 stars

’ve been a fan of Anne Rice since her break away 1976 novel “Interview with a Vampire“. For me she was the pioneer of romance – gothic fiction; combing the horror of the living dead with the romanticism of history. Reading one of her novels is like taking a guided stroll through time: from the antiquities of ancient Egypt, to the reasoning of Rome; up the dark towers of Middle Age Europe , down the sleepy bayous of the South and up the heights of Ashbury Park into good old fashion rock and roll....more ’ve been a fan of Anne Rice since her break away 1976 novel “Interview with a Vampire“. For me she was the pioneer of romance – gothic fiction; combing the horror of the living dead with the romanticism of history. Reading one of her novels is like taking a guided stroll through time: from the antiquities of ancient Egypt, to the reasoning of Rome; up the dark towers of Middle Age Europe , down the sleepy bayous of the South and up the heights of Ashbury Park into good old fashion rock and roll.

I won’t say I like everything she’s written, such as her Mayfair Witch series or those under her pseudonyms of Anne Rampling, or A. N. Roquelaure. The witch series (except for Merrick) gave me the quillies and her erotica…well it’s the prude thing (just can’t see mudding up my mind with images I’d rather not have). But regardless of the personal issues I have with some of her work, it’s always about content, not style or talent (though my disappointment with “The Wolf Gift” had more to do with her main character rather than either content or style)

Toby does have to accept that God can forgive any sin, and I think most people have trouble accepting or believing this, too, especially people fighting very bad habits of what they consider to be sin. It can be hard to believe one is worthy of God’s forgiveness. But all things are possible with God, and anyone and everyone who repents can be forgiven. – Anne Rice

Anne Rice has a cadence to her writing that is uniquely hers and shows up in everything I’ve read. I’m not sure if it’s because most of her work is written in the first

person (and therefore she’s able to capture the readers ear in a way other POV’s can’t) or that the verse and rhythm of her prose has given her characters the ability to bring to life a piece of art or the warmth of a sunset; the way light and shadow fall across the translucent flesh of the un-dead, or the passion of someone who will never see the sun rise again. Whatever it is, taking a journey with one of Rice’s characters is never boring or lacking in vibrant creativity.

Two books I just finished were “Angel Time“(October 2009), and “Of Love and Evil“ (November 30, 2010): Anne’s newest “Songs of the Seraphim” series. Both stories are told around a disheartened assassin named Toby O’Dare, who has been enlisted by the seraphim Malchial to earn his redemption by traveling through angel time; using his skills as an investigative killer to save the lives of the faithful.

Now a story about angels and assassins, in and of themselves, probably wouldn't have floated my boat if it hadn’t been for Anne’s ability to use her talent for story telling as a way of exploring mankind’s need to know, and be known, by Someone beyond themselves. I particularly appreciate her sensitivity towards man’s passion to understand what it is that drives him toward Divinity; her capacity to go far beyond the obvious religious claptrap of so much of today’s landscape and see the Holy as both personal as well as vulnerable.

And of course there is always the pleasure one derives from reading a story in which every character, every theme, and every plot-line feels as though it’s been painted rather than written. To spend an evening reading an Anne Rice novel is to smell the musky scent of magnolias on a warm New Orleans night, fly through the heavens pressed against the chest of marble like flesh, or feel the splash of water against your pant leg as a taxi’s tires slap down onto pock marked asphalt.

On a scale of one to five, I’m giving “Songs of the Seraphim” a four.(less)

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Dec 01, 2012 Arye Tyler rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anne Rice fans. People with some time on their hands.

Shelves: read-spiritual

Every once in a long while, I find a book that becomes a reaffirmation of my faith and soothes me along the journey to becoming a true Christian. When I picked up Angel Time a few years ago, I wasn't expecing it to be that book, but it was and is.

Most people are familiar with Anne Rice's more famous works: those of Lestat and Louis and her many other delightful vampires. I originally purchased this book precisely because I was a fan of those books, but I think that I liked Angel Time more than I...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Oana Matei rated it 5 of 5 stars

Best known for her Vampire Chronicles series and The Lives of the Mayfair Witches trilogy, in 2009 American gothic writer Anne Rice surprised her fans by publishing the first volume, Angel Time, of a new fantasy trilogy – Songs of the Seraphim. Putting aside her charming vampires and modern witches, Rice chose as her main character an angel; to be more exact, a seraph. Now, place the divine creature, in all its beauty and perfection, next to a professional assassin and what you get is a powerful...more Best known for her Vampire Chronicles series and The Lives of the Mayfair Witches trilogy, in 2009 American gothic writer Anne Rice surprised her fans by publishing the first volume, Angel Time, of a new fantasy trilogy – Songs of the Seraphim. Putting aside her charming vampires and modern witches, Rice chose as her main character an angel; to be more exact, a seraph. Now, place the divine creature, in all its beauty and perfection, next to a professional assassin and what you get is a powerful, mind-blowing novel that approaches themes as faith and sin, anger and forgiveness, the futility of good and the necessity of evil, all mingling together in a chance, a single chance of giving up your past and begin a new life.

Lucky the Fox is a hired assassin who works for The Right Man, kills his victims by poisoning them and never asks questions, deep inside hoping that his targets are actually outlaws who deserve to die for the better good of society. Cold and calculated when he strikes, Lucky is lost and confused in his free time, when he goes to Serra Chapel and broods upon the non-existence of God. However, things change when his next mission forces him to kill in the only place where he could feel like home: Mission Inn. Tainting in death his last sacred place in this world, Lucky gains something he has always prayed for but never truly believed in: a savior.

Malchiah is a Seraph and everything about him amazes Lucky to the point when he could even cry at the sight of the angel: “He looked young and eager, and almost irresistibly affectionate as he stared at me, but there was nothing young about him, and the sunlight was spilling in on him beautifully, and everything about him was effortlessly attractive.” What astonishes Lucky even more is that Malchiah has chosen him, a killer and a sinner, to help him answer people’s prayers and bring life, hope and forgiveness instead of death. However, Lucky’s metamorphosis is not something easily attainable, so Malchiah first shows him his own life from an angel’s point of view, because Lucky needs to know himself first, understand his reasons for killing and then let go.

This is how we meet Toby O’Dare, a child who has to take care of his little brother and sister, while coping with a drunkard mother and continuing his studies. When the true force and injustice of reality crushes down on him and he’s left alone in the world, Toby will follow the one who gives him the slightest reason to live, The Right Man, even though this means he has to kill strangers for the rest of his life. And now, out of the blue, an angel has come to offer him a different job, which Toby gladly accepts.

Norwich, England, the year 1257, is the place where Toby’s first mission unfolds. Disguised as a Dominican monk, he has to save the lives of Fluria and Meir, two Jews who have been wrongfully accused of killing their own daughter. During this mission, Toby makes his first true friends and he is truly sad and disappointed when he has to go back in his time and leave them behind, in the past. His only hope is that Malchiah would offer him as many missions as possible, for he is willing to work for divinity and restore his long lost belief in God.

As expected, Angel Time has an open ending, for Toby’s adventures are not finished yet. The path to redemption is probably as long as Toby’s crimes made it be, which means that the Seraph will offer him many chances to help humanity and answer the most difficult prayers. All in all, Anne Rice has created a beautiful novel that will keep the reader completely engaged and eager to find out as many things as possible about this complex and tormented character named Toby O’Dare.
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Sep 25, 2012 Joseph Barnes rated it 2 of 5 stars

The novel opens in the present. At its center: Toby O’Dare—a contract killer of underground fame on assignment to kill once again. A soulless soul, a dead man walking, he lives under a series of aliases—just now: Lucky the Fox—and takes his orders from “The Right Man.”

Into O’Dare’s nightmarish world of lone and lethal missions comes a mysterious stranger, a seraph, who offers him a chance to save rather than destroy lives. O’Dare, who long ago dreamt of being a priest but instead came to embody...more

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Jun 17, 2012 CriCra CriCra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Angel. Songs of Seraphim n°1

"La gente riesce a defraudarsi della salvezza con incredibile regolarità."

Devo essere del tutto sincera, dato che sò benissimo che questa autrice è una delle donne più famose, nello scrivere libri di genere Fantasy sui Vampiri, di cui il famosissimo libro Intervista col Vampiro, da cui poi è stato tratto l'altrettanto conosciutissimo film cinematografico.

Ma fino ad oggi, anche a causa di mancanza di tempo, di questi suoi scritti, non ne ho letto molti e quindi espr...more

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May 09, 2012 Laura Navarre rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Anne Rice and angel fiction, literary readers

Shelves: literary-fiction, dark-fiction, suspense

For me, experiencing an Anne Rice novel is like visiting an eccentric but beloved old friend. I’ve been reading her work since my college days, which were long enough ago that anyone who read the adventures of the Vampire Lestat and his companions on the Devil’s Road was considered freaky and a bit outré. These days, of course, vampires are like breakfast cereal.

In any event, Angel Time is not a Vampire Chronicle, although the hero displays shades of Lestat and The Witching Hour’s proletarian cr...more For me, experiencing an Anne Rice novel is like visiting an eccentric but beloved old friend. I’ve been reading her work since my college days, which were long enough ago that anyone who read the adventures of the Vampire Lestat and his companions on the Devil’s Road was considered freaky and a bit outré. These days, of course, vampires are like breakfast cereal.

In any event, Angel Time is not a Vampire Chronicle, although the hero displays shades of Lestat and The Witching Hour’s proletarian crusader Michael Curry.) It’s the launch book for Songs of the Seraphim, a new series about reformed hit man Toby O’Dare, who’s transported by his guardian angel Malchiah from the scene of his latest hit to thirteenth century England, where the good Christians of Norwich are threatening to burn out the Jews in retaliation for a fabricated outrage. It’s up to Toby, disguised as a wandering Dominican friar, to answer the Jews’ prayers and deliver them from ruin. By saving an innocent and appealing young Jewish couple from destruction, Toby takes the first steps on the long road toward finding his own redemption.

Although I wouldn’t call this vintage Rice in the grand tradition of The Vampire Lestat and The Witching Hour, there’s plenty here for a fan to savor. As mentioned, Toby betrays hints of both working class Irishman-turned-billionaire Michael Curry and the spiritual, contemplative Lestat who emerges in Tale of the Body Thief and especially Memnoch the Devil. Rice explores similar spiritual themes in Angel Time, and her trademark style infuses the work—opulent and sensual, although in this case nearly innocent of sex itself (which could hardly be said of her previous work. The infamous Sleeping Beauty books she wrote long ago as A.N. Roquelaure spring to mind.)

If I felt any sense of unmet need as a reader, it was a hunger to plunge deeper into angelology and the angel mythos. But I imagine that’s still to come as the Songs of the Seraphim series continues!
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Nov 20, 2011 June Ahern rated it 3 of 5 stars

to begin with I'm not a fan of Anne Rice although she is a very good writer, her books are not my cup of tea. But! I ended up with this book and decided to give it a go since it wasn't about vampires.
I did struggled between three or two stars, but her fine writing pushed me up or perhaps it was God nudging me forward.

Again, her writing skills are strong. Not so much in the beginning where they are good, but later in the shift of the plot, the more vivid and real details and passion for the subj...more

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Oct 27, 2011 Ismail Elshareef rated it 4 of 5 stars

Toby O'Dare is an assassin by choice. After suffering a harrowing ordeal in his birth city of New Orleans, he took off to New York where he got to learn about his insatiable appetite for ending lives. Such appetite drew attention from a man whom Toby grew to call, The Right Man, who fed Toby's hunger for murder and loved him all in the same measure.

Toby is twenty-eight years old and was in the process of becoming a Dominican priest back in New Orleans. Before his macabre career took off, he was...more Toby O'Dare is an assassin by choice. After suffering a harrowing ordeal in his birth city of New Orleans, he took off to New York where he got to learn about his insatiable appetite for ending lives. Such appetite drew attention from a man whom Toby grew to call, The Right Man, who fed Toby's hunger for murder and loved him all in the same measure.

Toby is twenty-eight years old and was in the process of becoming a Dominican priest back in New Orleans. Before his macabre career took off, he was an exemplary child to a drunkard of a mother, whom he took care of restlessly, and a caring older brother to his siblings, whom he loved endlessly. In his senior year at Jesuit High, Toby fell in love with Liona--a Jewish girl that attended a nearby prep school. They were deeply in love; a love that Toby managed to sabotage.

Everything changed when left to New York.

Though he has become an impressive and adroit murderer, Toby never really gave up praying. And one night, at a moment of great despair, he prayed for an Angel of God to help and guide him.

Low and behold, an angel called Malchiah (interestingly similar to the Arabic word for angels malaika) descends and offers Toby an opportunity to redeem himself even after all the deaths he's caused. Broken and eager for redemption, Toby agrees to do whatever Malchiah asks of him and so the Malchiah takes him back in time to 13th century England.

Toby's mission is to use his intelligence and skills to help the Jewry of Norwich, England, survive an impending catastrophe that is upon them. He was sent back in time as a Dominican priest or frair (from the French word frère meaning brother) to resolve a volatile situation in which the Christians of Norwich accuse a Jewish family of murdering their own daughter after her alleged conversion to Christianity. What follows is an eye-opening narrative of the state of the Jewry in Europe and religious relations in the Medieval times.

What I found fascinating about this book was Toby himself. His character was very well developed with all its complexity and conflicts. The other fascinating thing was the history of the Jewry in 13th century England and the societal dynamics of that time.

Although not her best, Angel Time is still a good historical read. It's a little preachy and contrived at times, but that didn't bother me that much. I was completely taken by the Christian and Jewish relations at that time and how much they were governed by rigid religious beliefs, myths and hate. Sounds familiar?

The historical narrative made the book for me and for that alone I recommend it.(less)

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Sep 05, 2011 TinasBookReviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: inspy

Angel Time opens with the dreary story of assassin Toby O’Dare, his thoughts are heartbreaking and numb. As we follow Toby through a murder he struggles with the inner demon always taunting him, the darkness that pushes him and always underneath this shell of man we see the wanting. We suffer with Toby and his despair to be loved and have purpose.The first half of the book focused on Toby’s past and what lead to his murdering ways. His life an echo of so many others caught in the world of bad pa...more Angel Time opens with the dreary story of assassin Toby O’Dare, his thoughts are heartbreaking and numb. As we follow Toby through a murder he struggles with the inner demon always taunting him, the darkness that pushes him and always underneath this shell of man we see the wanting. We suffer with Toby and his despair to be loved and have purpose.The first half of the book focused on Toby’s past and what lead to his murdering ways. His life an echo of so many others caught in the world of bad parents and growing up to fast, had a haunting tragic twist. He’s an undeniably fascinating character with tremendous flaws. Rice writes him in a way where we want to see him redeemed and almost understand why he's broken to the point of no return. Although cracks of his goodness seep out on the pages it isn’t until the second half of the book where Toby basically becomes a completely different character shown in an altered light. This is where I had some problems with the story itself. In part two, Toby seems to be more of a background character and one not recognizable from the first half. I understand the new found birth of religion here but as the story progressed I was never able to connect with any of the characters after Toby travels with Malchiah to the 13th-century. I felt there was this great story with rich detail but no real substance to draw me in emotionally.

Fans of Rice will recognize her descriptive style and her ability to make you see and feel what she is writing. Her gothic trend is seen a bit in Angel Time however, many of the old Rice fans will not be impressed. Rice focuses deeply on her Catholic faith, I myself found it heartfelt and refreshing. Others looking for the old scary vampire Anne Rice will be disappointed. I’ve always enjoyed Anne Rice’s work; her new found writing devoted to her faith did not fail to please me. Lacking in some areas overall I did enjoy reading it. Rice’s writing is as always, flawless and beautifully woven together on the page. Dive deep into the historical past and depiction of broken characters struggling to reconcile matters of the heart and cultural divides of personal faith.

Org.Review Posted Jan 2010 at Blog**(less)

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Jun 27, 2011 Joel Margolese rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review is a little like High School where we all complained, "Why do I have to know about the author's background". But in this case it explains everything. Anne Rice was raise a Catholic, but became an atheist at 18. Despite this, her Catholicism was clearly present in her Vampire and Mayfair Witch books (which I loved reading). (She even had God as a character.) About 10 years ago, after a series of personal tragedies she rejoined the Catholic church and apparently became deeply religious...more This review is a little like High School where we all complained, "Why do I have to know about the author's background". But in this case it explains everything. Anne Rice was raise a Catholic, but became an atheist at 18. Despite this, her Catholicism was clearly present in her Vampire and Mayfair Witch books (which I loved reading). (She even had God as a character.) About 10 years ago, after a series of personal tragedies she rejoined the Catholic church and apparently became deeply religious. That ended last year year when she declared that though she still follows Christ, she has left organized religion because she couldn't reconcile her faith with all the 'anti-' issues of the Church. (Feminism, birth control, gay rights, being a Democrat etc.) But it was during her religious period that she wrote Angel Time which turns out to be a tract on Salvation through Faith.

The book is really written in two parts. The first half of the book is about Toby O'Dare's doubts. He has become, after a terrible tragedy a skillful assassin. Luckily for him, an Angel comes to offer him Salvation. (So, when exactly did Heaven become a Christian Bureaucracy? God is referred to as the God of Jews & Christians, but the Catholic Theology is clearly what He supports.) In any event, now the book starts moving and Toby is sent back in history to right a wrong. In a bizarre twist, the Christian God is sending Toby back to protect some Jews from fanatical Christians. (This raises just too many ironical questions for me to get into here.) And the plan to save them turns on a Jewish girl converting to Christianity because the "Christmas Pageant was so beautiful". I'm sure there are many reasons that motivate people to convert, but to ask the reader to believe that she'd give up her life for a pageant is pretty demeaning. (And of course implies that Jewish rituals have no beauty or appeal of their own.)

So I understand her purpose in writing and I should perhaps have investigated it more before reading the book. In the end I was more offended than disappointed. I strongly suspect that Ms. Rice did not intend such a reaction, its not consistent with the rest of her life and work. So I'll chalk this book up as aberration and wait for her post-religion books.

I would also note that the cliff-hanger ending is only a surprise to people who were not paying attention. It's telegraphed pretty early in the 2nd half.(less)

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Apr 08, 2011 Supernatural Book Club rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is the first Anne Rice book I have read, so I can't say how well it compares to her older books. I have heard the older books are WAY different due to Rice's recent conversion back to Christianity. Before I read "Angel Time" I had heard it was "preachy", and yeah, it is, but that's not really the issue.

Overall the book was sort of flat. I can tell that Rice is capable of telling a good story, I just don't think this is it. The story is about redemption of a professional assassin, an angel t...more

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Mar 13, 2011 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

It is good but I like the second book more. It is interesting to know Toby's past and how he worked as an assassin, how poor his family was, but how talented and patient he was to support the whole family only by playing flute on the street. It inspires me although I know I cannot do it because I dont have such talent. Toby was from the beginning an amazing and mature boy, I do not think anyone at that age can work so hard selflessly for others. Liona was a lucky girl to sleep with him and I und...more

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Dec 23, 2009 Trish rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have read every book Anne has published and have enjoyed them all, some a very great deal (Cry to Heaven, most of the Vampire Chronicles - esp. Memnoch, The Mummy, Feast of All Saints, Christ the Lord series) and some not as much (Mayfair Witches saga, Violin, the last Beauty book, East of Eden).

I know when her name is on the cover, I'm going to get vivid characters, evocative prose, solid scholarship, and an entertaining if not completely engrossing plot. She hit all the notes with this one...more

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Nov 21, 2009 Aaron rated it 3 of 5 stars

Anne Rice is starting off a new series entitled Songs of the Seraphim with her newest title. As you can probably guess, they will be focusing on angels. This first volume tells the table of a man called Lucky. It is not his true name, but it is the name that he goes by to protect himself since he is a hired assassin. He is visited by his guardian angel, who offers up the name Malchiah when Lucky wants to know his name. Like Lucky, angels are not supposed to share their true names, so this will j...more Anne Rice is starting off a new series entitled Songs of the Seraphim with her newest title. As you can probably guess, they will be focusing on angels. This first volume tells the table of a man called Lucky. It is not his true name, but it is the name that he goes by to protect himself since he is a hired assassin. He is visited by his guardian angel, who offers up the name Malchiah when Lucky wants to know his name. Like Lucky, angels are not supposed to share their true names, so this will just have to do.

After their introduction to each other immediately following a hit, Malchiah tells how he has seen Lucky grow and develop into the person he is rather than living up to his one-time asperations of becoming a priest. Lucky, who was born Toby O'Dare, is offered an opportunity at redemption. It is an offer he takes up quickly.

As a result, Toby is brought back in time to the 13th century. He takes on the guise of a friar who will protect a Jewish couple being hunted down because the people in their English community believe they killed their daughter for converting to Christianity.

Rice became famous with her vampire novels largely because of interesting characters and rich descriptions of their environs, and she continues to try to do that now that she has given up the occult to focus on novels that better express her new-found faith. Her first two works in this new vein shared the tale of the early years of Jesus Christ.

While she continues to work with the same writing style, she seems to struggle a bit. Rather than just using the florid detail to place her readers in the setting, she seems to get bogged down in the detail, letting scenes (and chapters) drag on longer than they should. In fact, it takes almost the first half of the book for Toby to get Malchiah's offer.

With that said, Rice has created an interesting look at the way Jews were cheated in the Middle Ages. It is a part of history that not many may be familiar with, and the story of the Jewish family nicely parallels the journey Toby is making as he works his way back to his faith.(less)

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Nov 18, 2009 RNOCEAN rated it 5 of 5 stars

Full of provocative moral reflections, this kickoff to bestseller Rice's new Songs of the Seraphim religious romance series centers on hired assassin Toby O'Dare, a one-time aspirant to the priesthood until personal tragedy unmoored his life. Guardian angel Malchiah visits Toby, who's just consummated his latest kill, and offers him redemption for his sins. After accepting the offer, Toby is whisked away to 13th-century England, where, in the guise of a Dominican friar, he becomes the protector...more

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Mar 09, 2012 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was not life changing but it certainly was not a waste of time. This book portrays the story of a man who is given the opportunity to redeem himself and his troubled past. Does it sound typical? It certainly does, at first. But this novel will lead you along an unexpected path; and personally, before long, I found myself in the middle of a book with a rather incredible story full of unexpected twists.

I am not familiar with any of Anne Rice’s books, and this was m...more Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was not life changing but it certainly was not a waste of time. This book portrays the story of a man who is given the opportunity to redeem himself and his troubled past. Does it sound typical? It certainly does, at first. But this novel will lead you along an unexpected path; and personally, before long, I found myself in the middle of a book with a rather incredible story full of unexpected twists.

I am not familiar with any of Anne Rice’s books, and this was my first experience with one. I won’t lie, I am aware of the genres she writes in and I was a bit biased stepping into this book. But I was hardly disappointed. From the excellent descriptions of the many settings (the Mission Inn was my favorite), you feel immersed in these places. In my mind I created some amazing imagery and no matter where Toby was, I managed to create a very real and convincing setting in my mind. I realize now why Anne Rice is such a popular author- her writing style is marvelous.

And speaking of immersion, the characters are given so much detail it is hard to believe they are merely fictitious. Toby O’Dale’s past, present, and future are revealed in such a way that I became so concerned with his actions and his train of thought. So many different facets of his personality are revealed and it really goes to show that you cannot judge a person merely by what they do, or how they appear. Toby is revealed to be a much deeper and compassionate character than one could draw from his initial description. Malchiah is a character I won’t soon forget, though he is not as detailed, his character was still mystifying.

On a deeper note I found a great message in this book, and it is one of faith. This may or may not have been the author’s intention yet I found some sort of message; to have faith and know that everyone does have a purpose, and we are all looked after. If a book can leave you with a positive message and a lot to contemplate on- you know it was at least somewhat good.

I will admit that there are parts I skipped over. Some parts were, unfortunately, boring and I could not be bothered to sit through 30 pages of repetitive material. I really do not think that detracts from the overall book, though.
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Nov 15, 2010 Fabian Davy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first series from the 'Songs of the Seraphim', which as of this date (November 2010) has not been followed up by a sequel. Anne Rice might be cooking up a dish for the upcoming book, and I hope she'll do it as planned because the book looks promising enough to be a hit. Already on the bestsellers shelf of my local bookstores, so I know the it's doing great (this is Anne Rice we're talking about right?).

EDIT : The sequel, 'Of Love and Evil', will be released on November 30th.

An assassin who h...more The first series from the 'Songs of the Seraphim', which as of this date (November 2010) has not been followed up by a sequel. Anne Rice might be cooking up a dish for the upcoming book, and I hope she'll do it as planned because the book looks promising enough to be a hit. Already on the bestsellers shelf of my local bookstores, so I know the it's doing great (this is Anne Rice we're talking about right?).

EDIT : The sequel, 'Of Love and Evil', will be released on November 30th.

An assassin who has been given the chance of redemption by switching sides and work with the actual 'Right Man', guided by an Angel whom he had prayed to many years back before losing faith. Transported back into time, 13th Centure England as a Dominican friar - he was to assist a Jewish couple from the accusation of murdering their daughter.

Now, 1/3 of the book was spent in explaining the background of the central character. His past, his faith of God and the history of how he became an assassin. This is also the most tedious part of the whole book because it took about 100-pages in doing so. But I guess this is really necessary - especially within Book One of a series.

The rest 2/3 was about his first assignment, where things actually got interesting and in-depth. There was not a single part anywhere within this book that one can regard as suspenseful or action-packed because there was just... none. A story about an assassin might trigger us as assuming such scene exist - but not on this book. Toby O'Dare is a silent hitman that doesn't leave a big mess when he butchered somebody (if he ever butchered...).

The central theme is none other than faith. Which has been beautifully described for the character (even though at times I found it a bit... cheesy that he can lose faith and then regain it as fast from the angelic encounter). But I guess the best part of the story lies within the assignment: where a conflict of Jewish persecution of the Middle Ages, and reign of (corrupt) Christianity took place. The argument between the characters of the time was beautifully constructed and convincing. The sad tale of the accused couple really took you in in understanding how faith can either break you or mend you.

The ending is satisfactory enough for me without questioning more o "what if-s?". And of course, a hint of what's coming in Book Two.(less)

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Oct 30, 2009 Erica R Hopper rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, books-i-dont-own

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I was interested, entertained, and at the same time expecting some of the more homoerotic and/or gruesome detail that her old books used to contain but this book had none of it.

The book is lovely and written perfectly. Anne Rice always has a tendency to over-describe different things and dive into memories for more time than needed but I feel she worked out exactly as much 'time' as needed in this story. Each memory was presented to the degree of inform...more

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Sep 28, 2009 Samantha rated it 3 of 5 stars

I loved the old style Anne Rice. I was hoping that she was back and she is in some ways. Her descriptive style is back and her ability to make you see and feel what she is writing is back. However, her plot in this book leaves a lot to be desired. The description on Amazon, the title and the back of the book make a reader think that this book is about assassins and angels. It's not really. It's about a man who is finding himself. I was confused throughout the book about where it was going and wh...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Jeremy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: pop

Rice’s narrative flow is effortless and breath-y, as always, and she manages to compel the reader along, sometimes with a whip, sometimes with a carrot, but the energy of this story really flags. There are some gear-shifts structurally, but Rice has often used this kind of technique very powerfully. What is particularly lacking is the sense of ambiguity and menace emanating from central characters. Plenty of sanctimony and undying love – enough to make you choke at some points and almost find a...more

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Oct 02, 2010 Derek Oberg rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love Anne Rice. I have pretty much read every word that the woman has ever written, and "The Witching Hour" stands as one of my all-time favorite novels.

That being said... I really struggled to get through this one. She has famously taken a Christian turn in her writing (and I would recommend her "Christ the Lord" series to anyone, they're brilliant) but this one rubbed me the wrong way.

It starts out with no less than 20 pages describing a building. Not even joking. Some Jesuit Mission in Cal...more

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Nov 25, 2009 korey rated it 2 of 5 stars

I knew there was going to be trouble with this book as soon as I read the main character, an assassin, is a great lute player. Uh, yeah, right. Maybe it's just that I love the old style Anne Rice, but this book found me shaking my head and saying "oh, Anne, Anne, Anne". I think her recent return to the Church made her incredible writing talent go running out the vestibule door. So sad. There wasn't anything in this story that was really believable. Characters were just so trite and so out of tou...more

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About Anne Rice

Anne Rice (born Howard Allen Frances O'Brien) is a best-selling American author of gothic, supernatural, historical, erotica, and later religious themed books. Best known for The Vampire Chronicles, her prevailing thematical focus is on love, death, immortality, existentialism, and the human condition. She was married to poet Stan Rice for 41 years until his death in 2002. Her books have sold near...more

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Books by Anne Rice

Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1)

The Vampire Lestat (The Vampire Chronicles, #2)

The Queen of the Damned (The Vampire Chronicles, #3)

The Witching Hour (Lives of the Mayfair Witches, #1)

The Tale of the Body Thief (The Vampire Chronicles, #4)

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“People create these extravagant habitats because they have vision, love of beauty, hopes and dreams.” — 4 people liked it

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Angel Time (The Songs of the Seraphim #1)

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