What do you think?
Rate this book
The Songs of the Seraphim #2
Of Love and Evil
The second book in nationally bestselling Songs of the Seraphim series is a gripping metaphysical thriller in which angels partner up with assassins, from the author of Interview with the Vampire.Barely recovered from his previous divine mission, former contract killer Toby O'Dare is once again summoned by the angel Malchiah to investigate the poisoning of a prominent nobleman and stop the haunting of a diabolical dybbuk. Together, they travel back to fifteenth-century Italy—the age of Michelangelo, the Holy Inquisition, and Pope Leo X—and this time Malchiah has Toby pose as a lute player sent to charm and calm this troublesome spirit. But Toby soon discovers that he is in the midst of plots and counterplots, surrounded on all sides by increasingly dangerous threats as the veil of ecclesiastical terror closes in around him.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2010
213 people are currently reading
6022 people want to read
About the author
Anne Rice
492 books27.5k followersAnne Rice (born Howard Allen Frances O'Brien) was a best-selling American author of gothic, supernatural, historical, erotica, and later religious themed books. Best known for The Vampire Chronicles, her prevailing thematic 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 nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history.
Anne Rice passed on December 11, 2021 due to complications from a stroke. She was eighty years old at the time of her death.
She uses the pseudonym Anne Rampling for adult-themed fiction (i.e., erotica) and A.N. Roquelaure for fiction featuring sexually explicit sado-masochism.
Anne Rice passed on December 11, 2021 due to complications from a stroke. She was eighty years old at the time of her death.
She uses the pseudonym Anne Rampling for adult-themed fiction (i.e., erotica) and A.N. Roquelaure for fiction featuring sexually explicit sado-masochism.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 469 reviews
December 17, 2018
Hay historias que atrapan sin importar el estilo, la trama ni nada, porque lo que cuentan de una manera que trasciende y eso es lo que La prueba del ángel es.
Los personajes son entrañables, definidos y con elementos poderosos que les dan fuerza, sensibilidad y una facilidad de transmitir emociones como pocos.
La forma en que se mezclan la fantasía con esta narrativa que raya algunas veces en lo religioso está tan bien llevada que no se nota, en el contexto de que no lo sientes tal cual como de ese estilo, es muy libre, porque no juzga y no trata de persuadirte a pensar o actuar de cierta manera, sino que nos brinda una historia que podría ser de cualquiera, para demostrar que incluso en los momentos más oscuros siempre tendremos la capacidad de salir adelante, y de que nunca estamos solos.
Los personajes son entrañables, definidos y con elementos poderosos que les dan fuerza, sensibilidad y una facilidad de transmitir emociones como pocos.
La forma en que se mezclan la fantasía con esta narrativa que raya algunas veces en lo religioso está tan bien llevada que no se nota, en el contexto de que no lo sientes tal cual como de ese estilo, es muy libre, porque no juzga y no trata de persuadirte a pensar o actuar de cierta manera, sino que nos brinda una historia que podría ser de cualquiera, para demostrar que incluso en los momentos más oscuros siempre tendremos la capacidad de salir adelante, y de que nunca estamos solos.
September 12, 2017
Todo en este libro ha sido curioso para mí: desde el hecho de escogerlo entre otras lecturas, cuando es lo primero que leo de esta autora (y encima una segunda parte), hasta la historia en sí. Exactamente no sé que esperaba encontrar, pero esta historia me ha sorprendido por su ¿pureza? De todas maneras, dejo en interrogante el seguir la trilogía o saga...
April 9, 2022
I’m a fan of Anne Rice books. For me her style of writing, and the way she tells a story are irresistible. I find myself completely enraptured in her novels. Like most of her fans, I do miss the novels of the Mayfair witches and the Vampire Lestat that she is so famous for. In my opinion, she will continue to be a talented and skilled author, and as long as she keeps writing I’m thrilled to keep reading her wonderful novels.
From reading the book jacket cover, I’m excited to find that Anne Rice will be taking me back to Rome. For Toby O’Dare he will find himself torn between the future he could have with his son and the woman he once loved, and the future of being one of the Children of the Angels. Malchiah’s charge and the occasional help from Toby’s guardian angel, Toby travels through Angel Time. He will not only need to solve a mystery in order to answer the desperate prayers of a Jewish man, but he will face evil and a part of himself that could have been.
As always Anne Rice does a fantastic job, keeping me up all night until I finish it. She concludes the second book of her series with a perfect cliffhanger that has me wanting more, and wanting it now. You will too.
From reading the book jacket cover, I’m excited to find that Anne Rice will be taking me back to Rome. For Toby O’Dare he will find himself torn between the future he could have with his son and the woman he once loved, and the future of being one of the Children of the Angels. Malchiah’s charge and the occasional help from Toby’s guardian angel, Toby travels through Angel Time. He will not only need to solve a mystery in order to answer the desperate prayers of a Jewish man, but he will face evil and a part of himself that could have been.
As always Anne Rice does a fantastic job, keeping me up all night until I finish it. She concludes the second book of her series with a perfect cliffhanger that has me wanting more, and wanting it now. You will too.
October 31, 2022
I was getting ready to settle in to a longer book series by Anne Rice, having never read her before. Learning I'd come to the end of this one after two books was a bummer because I did enjoy it.
My little gripe about both Songs of the Seraphim books was the brevity, but OF LOVE AND EVIL improved on its predecessor. The plot, the twists, and the antagonists were more satisfying. I liked the introduction of demons. It greatly increased the tension.
Too bad there will be no third installment.
My little gripe about both Songs of the Seraphim books was the brevity, but OF LOVE AND EVIL improved on its predecessor. The plot, the twists, and the antagonists were more satisfying. I liked the introduction of demons. It greatly increased the tension.
Too bad there will be no third installment.
May 26, 2011
I miss the snap and verve that Anne Rice had when she wrote about Vampires, Witches and Body Snatchers. This series (Angel Time, Of Love and Evil), doesn't have the moral tension and flamboyant malice that have characterized her writing in the past. Anne converted to Christianity in 1998 and has stated that she won't write anything that is not dedicated to Him. Hence, the current series, which deals with angels and their appointed human protagonist.
While her conversion no longer allows her to explore themes not directly connected to her Savior, (No more Lestat de Lioncourt!) she hasn't become weak and sentimental, either. Consider her 2005 title, "Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt." A story told in Jesus' voice. The first-person narration is incredible and she has tension and drama in both scene and conversation on every page--proving you can write about total Goodness and still retain the tensions necessary to make fiction a page turning feast.
Unfortunately, this series is like Anne Rice Lite.
-ddv
While her conversion no longer allows her to explore themes not directly connected to her Savior, (No more Lestat de Lioncourt!) she hasn't become weak and sentimental, either. Consider her 2005 title, "Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt." A story told in Jesus' voice. The first-person narration is incredible and she has tension and drama in both scene and conversation on every page--proving you can write about total Goodness and still retain the tensions necessary to make fiction a page turning feast.
Unfortunately, this series is like Anne Rice Lite.
-ddv
October 2, 2011
Okay, This is the second in the series and comes in under 200 pages. For 24.95. Seems a bit too little already - why she broke this up into a series is a bit unclear but it seems a bit money driven to me. So, to retaliate, I borrowed it from the library instead. Nonetheless, I promised myself I would give Toby O'Dare a second chance, as the first book didn't have me quite sold. I am sorry to say this one didn't get me either. Toby, the main character, does not hold a candle to any of Rice's previous characters and is not making much of an impression on me with his whiney, insecure, and questioning inner journeys. The fact that he was a cold, brutal, self contained and hard hitting hired killer for ten years and now is a bumbling, unconfident and confused good doer for the angels of heaven as a form of repentance who cries easily and loves to hug angels just doesn't mesh for me. His small endeavors to change history for the good of God are seemingly silly and a bit pointless in the realm of things. Plus I feel like I am in church and am being preached to for 200 pages. That's the only time 200 pages feels too long. Don't get me wrong, Rice still writes beautifully - her descriptions of historical cities and her appreciation for the finer things is impressive as always, but that is where it stops for me. Plus, if the theology and religious aspect doesn't get more philosophical instead of simply trying to convert me, I may have to hang this series up for good. I'm sorry Anne, I love you, but Toby and his change to the good side is not doing it for me . . .
December 19, 2010
I've evolved a strategy for my new eReader: this is where I'll indulge my occasional guilty 'junk fiction' pleasure. The latest Anne Rice seemed like a perfect place to start. What can I say? She's always been a writer of purple prose, but is no one editing her any more? Even a competent copy editor could - and should - have caught the most egregious of her grammatical and usage errors, split long and ineffective sentences into two, and cleaned this one up a bit. But no. This was a horrific novel, and not in the good sense of horrific. Plot is usually Rice's strong suit, but even that strength seems to have deserted her. As for characterization - gone are the moral but tortured vampires of her vampire series, gone are the feisty women of the witches series. The book fails on the historical fiction front as well - there just isn't the detail one's come to expect in the Rome episodes here. Give this one a miss unless you're looking for a read that disappoints on every level.
April 2, 2011
Of Love and Evil by Anne Rice
Anne Rice’s latest novel is a pleasant departure from her previous novels which introduced the vampire Lestat into our national lexicon. This time Ms. Rice delves into the realm heavenly angels, fallen angels and assassins. Yes I did say assassins as the protagonist in the story Toby O’Dare was a type of government “Dexter” who is being allowed to atone for past sins by joining forces with Seraphim, angels whose mission it is to answer man’s prayers to God. Toby is assigned to one specific seraph Malchiah who dispatches Toby through time, space and dimensional universe as a human answer to fervent prayers.
The novel starts off with a beautifully written lyrical prose Toby’s vision of angels, love and being a part of something greater than you. It then slows a bit when we are introduced to love interest Liona and their love-child little Toby. Liona and little Toby will be big Toby’s inspiration impetus for change in this open ended novel. Throughout his journey back in time to Renaissance Italy to solve a murder mystery his lover and child are forever in Toby’s thoughts giving him that much needed link to earthly love which is the terrestrial companion to the Heavenly love that always surrounds us even when we fail to acknowledge it. Neither seraph Malchiah nor Toby’s Guardian angel Shmarya condemn his romantic love or physical desire for his beloved Liona.
The book also explores the role of fallen angels who because of the rebellious role they played with Lucifer are forever banned from re-entering the Celestial realm, but their hot displease and jealousy of man seek to deter humans from their God appointed mission by planting seeds of doubt. Depending on our cultures we know these malicious spirits as ghosts, poltergeists, apparitions, duppies, jumbie, djin/jinn, or in this story dybbuk. New Age theorists purport ideas of multiple dimensions, soul travel while atheists and agonists claim to reveal religion or faith as a social construct developed by ancient man to explain the unknown nature of the universe.
Ms. Rice through Toby’s journey successfully debunks these last two claims not by discounting science but showing us the realization of faith. Faith that transcends belief systems as Toby is Jewish and he just so happens to the answer to the spoken prayers Hebrew scholar Vitale and the unspoken prayers of his Christian patron Signore Antonio. I enjoyed the way Ms. Rice wove together how love, faith and prayers of the righteous no matter if they are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or any number of other beliefs practiced in our today’s world. God really does hear the cries of a broken desperate heart. Those prayers are answered, not necessarily in the manner we wish or want or even in our brief lifetimes nor has one particular religion or denomination cornered the market on God’s Love and Forgiveness.
As one who is not religious and rarely attends church this book made me rethink my position of approaching the world from only a critical, logical, scientific viewpoint. It kind of renewed the faith that lay dormant inside me and was crushed by life’s tragedies. I don’t know if this was Anne Rice’s intention when she wrote the book but much like Simon & Garfunkel’s famous song, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” it had an unforeseen spiritual impact that cannot be denied. Reading this brief novel, (it is only 171 pages) and my work in the museum is leading me on a research exploration of angels celestial and fallen, and the hidden or rejected books of the original or Catholic Bible known as the Apocrypha.
As I stated in a previous paragraph this book is open ended in that though Toby is redeemed by God and the Catholic Church he is not absolved by his victim’s families. One such family member catches up to Toby in the final chapter which will not be the final installment in the Seraphim series.
Anne Rice’s latest novel is a pleasant departure from her previous novels which introduced the vampire Lestat into our national lexicon. This time Ms. Rice delves into the realm heavenly angels, fallen angels and assassins. Yes I did say assassins as the protagonist in the story Toby O’Dare was a type of government “Dexter” who is being allowed to atone for past sins by joining forces with Seraphim, angels whose mission it is to answer man’s prayers to God. Toby is assigned to one specific seraph Malchiah who dispatches Toby through time, space and dimensional universe as a human answer to fervent prayers.
The novel starts off with a beautifully written lyrical prose Toby’s vision of angels, love and being a part of something greater than you. It then slows a bit when we are introduced to love interest Liona and their love-child little Toby. Liona and little Toby will be big Toby’s inspiration impetus for change in this open ended novel. Throughout his journey back in time to Renaissance Italy to solve a murder mystery his lover and child are forever in Toby’s thoughts giving him that much needed link to earthly love which is the terrestrial companion to the Heavenly love that always surrounds us even when we fail to acknowledge it. Neither seraph Malchiah nor Toby’s Guardian angel Shmarya condemn his romantic love or physical desire for his beloved Liona.
The book also explores the role of fallen angels who because of the rebellious role they played with Lucifer are forever banned from re-entering the Celestial realm, but their hot displease and jealousy of man seek to deter humans from their God appointed mission by planting seeds of doubt. Depending on our cultures we know these malicious spirits as ghosts, poltergeists, apparitions, duppies, jumbie, djin/jinn, or in this story dybbuk. New Age theorists purport ideas of multiple dimensions, soul travel while atheists and agonists claim to reveal religion or faith as a social construct developed by ancient man to explain the unknown nature of the universe.
Ms. Rice through Toby’s journey successfully debunks these last two claims not by discounting science but showing us the realization of faith. Faith that transcends belief systems as Toby is Jewish and he just so happens to the answer to the spoken prayers Hebrew scholar Vitale and the unspoken prayers of his Christian patron Signore Antonio. I enjoyed the way Ms. Rice wove together how love, faith and prayers of the righteous no matter if they are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or any number of other beliefs practiced in our today’s world. God really does hear the cries of a broken desperate heart. Those prayers are answered, not necessarily in the manner we wish or want or even in our brief lifetimes nor has one particular religion or denomination cornered the market on God’s Love and Forgiveness.
As one who is not religious and rarely attends church this book made me rethink my position of approaching the world from only a critical, logical, scientific viewpoint. It kind of renewed the faith that lay dormant inside me and was crushed by life’s tragedies. I don’t know if this was Anne Rice’s intention when she wrote the book but much like Simon & Garfunkel’s famous song, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” it had an unforeseen spiritual impact that cannot be denied. Reading this brief novel, (it is only 171 pages) and my work in the museum is leading me on a research exploration of angels celestial and fallen, and the hidden or rejected books of the original or Catholic Bible known as the Apocrypha.
As I stated in a previous paragraph this book is open ended in that though Toby is redeemed by God and the Catholic Church he is not absolved by his victim’s families. One such family member catches up to Toby in the final chapter which will not be the final installment in the Seraphim series.
June 16, 2016
...personaje fără substanță, dialoguri forțate şi artificiale, construcție narativă lipsită de originalitate. Of.
April 10, 2011
I wasn’t thrilled with the subject matter of this book, and though Rice’s writing is very readable and the plot is well-planned, I had a hard time enjoying Of Love and Evil.
Plot:
The plot of this latest Songs of the Seraphim novel can be easily divided into four distinct parts: 1)Toby meets with Liona and their son. 2) Toby helps solve an attempted murder mystery in Angel Time. 3) Toby helps solve the mystery of the so-called possessed house in Angel Time. 4) Toby comes back to the present and starts making amends for his past. I thought this progression of the story worked very well and I thought that the story neither moved to fast or too slowly.
Continue reading this review here: http://parchmentgirl.com/2010/11/30/o...
Plot:
The plot of this latest Songs of the Seraphim novel can be easily divided into four distinct parts: 1)Toby meets with Liona and their son. 2) Toby helps solve an attempted murder mystery in Angel Time. 3) Toby helps solve the mystery of the so-called possessed house in Angel Time. 4) Toby comes back to the present and starts making amends for his past. I thought this progression of the story worked very well and I thought that the story neither moved to fast or too slowly.
Continue reading this review here: http://parchmentgirl.com/2010/11/30/o...
December 18, 2010
poorly written, random and confused, lacking in purpose and characterisation, no evidence of the story telling I used to love this author for. I am disappointed.
February 17, 2025
4 - 4.5 Stars
Of Love and Evil is the second book in Songs of the Seraphim series by Anne Rice.
Interview with the Vampire introduced me to Anne Rice many, many years ago now, and I have been a fan of her work ever since.
I think I have now read everything she has ever written, some several times over. Every so often I work my way through her books again and as a friend of mine who loves the TV series, but had never read any of Ms. Rice’s work asked me to ‘buddy read’ them with her, so I again took the opportunity to dive in. I love introducing people to her work, especially when they end up loving them as much as I do.
Buddy Reading was a fun way to read this great series, because I had someone to discuss each book with as we finished. We have decided not to stop at just this series, but to read everything she’s written, together.
I can’t believe I had never left a review for any of these books before, but sometimes I get so caught up in reading that I forget that I have yet to post a review. My reading challenge reviews were down about 150 or so last year because I would get so caught up in the books, that I would forget to leave a review, especially when reading a whole series back-to-back. So, this year I am determined to leave a review for every book I read.
I adore Ms. Rice’s work, she writes so passionately and has a rich, vividly descriptive and detailed style that really lends itself to her Gothic fantasies. The stories are woven so well, I am not merely reading them, but experiencing them in exquisite detail. The historical elements that are sprinkled through her books are so cleverly done, and given her own unique twist.
If you have never read any of her work before, I really recommend that you do, as Ms. Rice limitless imagination and spellbinding storytelling abilities ensure a spellbinding read.
Happy Reading...
Of Love and Evil is the second book in Songs of the Seraphim series by Anne Rice.
Interview with the Vampire introduced me to Anne Rice many, many years ago now, and I have been a fan of her work ever since.
I think I have now read everything she has ever written, some several times over. Every so often I work my way through her books again and as a friend of mine who loves the TV series, but had never read any of Ms. Rice’s work asked me to ‘buddy read’ them with her, so I again took the opportunity to dive in. I love introducing people to her work, especially when they end up loving them as much as I do.
Buddy Reading was a fun way to read this great series, because I had someone to discuss each book with as we finished. We have decided not to stop at just this series, but to read everything she’s written, together.
I can’t believe I had never left a review for any of these books before, but sometimes I get so caught up in reading that I forget that I have yet to post a review. My reading challenge reviews were down about 150 or so last year because I would get so caught up in the books, that I would forget to leave a review, especially when reading a whole series back-to-back. So, this year I am determined to leave a review for every book I read.
I adore Ms. Rice’s work, she writes so passionately and has a rich, vividly descriptive and detailed style that really lends itself to her Gothic fantasies. The stories are woven so well, I am not merely reading them, but experiencing them in exquisite detail. The historical elements that are sprinkled through her books are so cleverly done, and given her own unique twist.
If you have never read any of her work before, I really recommend that you do, as Ms. Rice limitless imagination and spellbinding storytelling abilities ensure a spellbinding read.
Happy Reading...
December 29, 2010
Angel Time established higher hopes for the second book in the serious. The action escalated too quickly and tapered off before much resolution could occur. I expected Toby to be more torn apart by Lodovico's last act, and although he does ponder it extensively, the book does not reach a sense of closure at this point. I understand closure for a character may not be an objective in such a series, but expectations were heightened after Angel Time that Of Love and Evil did not challenge or overcome.
This book brought back memories of Violin, which I enjoyed up to a point. I love Anne Rice in general as she has a high degree of eloquence in her writing, but I also understand through critical analysis that readers' expectations must be fulfilled. Writers must walk a tightrope between blatancy and ambiguity. Too much of either can be irritating and off putting.
I remember Violin well because I am drawn to her jumps in time, but by the end, I had so much interest invested in Stefan that I was left hanging in the end. Of Love and Evil, although suspenseful in its conclusion, transpired in a similar fashion.
This does not mean I will not invest in the next novel. I am too dedicated a groupie of Mrs. Rice to let a slightly less appealing novel get in the middle of our special, fictitious bond.
May 26, 2011
I've never read Anne Rice before, though, like many, I loved the Interview with the Vampire movie. Still, though, I'd never read anything.
So I plucked this book off the shelves and in two quick days, read this rather short tale.
And when I say 'short', I mean mercifully short.
What a lame story. The main character, let's call him Mr. Wimpy (though she called him Toby or Lucky or Fox or something else more tepid than anything else)... anyway, Mr. Wimpy is an ex-assassin.
Yeah, you're thinking all macho, right?
Well, no.
Mr. Wimpy apparently is an ex-assassin who in time time previous (told either in a prior book or the weak backstory in this book), realizes he is evil, repents, and Heaven's angels decide he would be the perfect person to travel through history remedying evilness everywhere.
Except Mr. Assassin is a wimp. He, in Rice's words, continuously 'weeps.' Barely a page goes by where either this tough dude isn't weeping, or the angels or weeping or a freaking demon is weeping. Once I counted three weeping sessions in two pages. He tries to fight a demon with a lute, for crying out loud. Er, I mean, weeping out loud.
What kind of assassin is this?
Frankly, if this is what Rice's books are like, I'll wait til the movie comes out.
As a fellow, albeit less known vampire writer, I'm ashamed for this book.
Norm
www.normcowie.com
So I plucked this book off the shelves and in two quick days, read this rather short tale.
And when I say 'short', I mean mercifully short.
What a lame story. The main character, let's call him Mr. Wimpy (though she called him Toby or Lucky or Fox or something else more tepid than anything else)... anyway, Mr. Wimpy is an ex-assassin.
Yeah, you're thinking all macho, right?
Well, no.
Mr. Wimpy apparently is an ex-assassin who in time time previous (told either in a prior book or the weak backstory in this book), realizes he is evil, repents, and Heaven's angels decide he would be the perfect person to travel through history remedying evilness everywhere.
Except Mr. Assassin is a wimp. He, in Rice's words, continuously 'weeps.' Barely a page goes by where either this tough dude isn't weeping, or the angels or weeping or a freaking demon is weeping. Once I counted three weeping sessions in two pages. He tries to fight a demon with a lute, for crying out loud. Er, I mean, weeping out loud.
What kind of assassin is this?
Frankly, if this is what Rice's books are like, I'll wait til the movie comes out.
As a fellow, albeit less known vampire writer, I'm ashamed for this book.
Norm
www.normcowie.com
October 5, 2013
Si "La hora del ángel" ya fue decepcionante, "La prueba del ángel" es aún peor. Se trata más de un panfleto religioso sobre la bondad de Dios, su plan divino en el que todo encaja, el perdón a través del reencuentro con la religión, que de una verdadera historia. De hecho, la aventura en sí es simplona y breve, digna de un autor de menor imaginación y valía que Anne Rice.
En este libro encontrarás páginas y páginas de discurso místico, de la eterna lucha del bien y el mal, de como las tentaciones nos ponen a prueba, de actos de contrición y arrepentimiento, de vuelta al camino divino, del plan maestro del creador, pero no encontrarás una verdadera historia que te atrape ni un personaje principal con un carácter remarcable. El protagonista sólo es un instrumento en manos de la autora para ejemplificar el discurso religioso que compone el núcleo principal de la novela.
Al final, este libro no es más que un panfleto religioso sin duda nacido de la vuelta a la iglesia que la propia autora ha experimentado.
En este libro encontrarás páginas y páginas de discurso místico, de la eterna lucha del bien y el mal, de como las tentaciones nos ponen a prueba, de actos de contrición y arrepentimiento, de vuelta al camino divino, del plan maestro del creador, pero no encontrarás una verdadera historia que te atrape ni un personaje principal con un carácter remarcable. El protagonista sólo es un instrumento en manos de la autora para ejemplificar el discurso religioso que compone el núcleo principal de la novela.
Al final, este libro no es más que un panfleto religioso sin duda nacido de la vuelta a la iglesia que la propia autora ha experimentado.
April 7, 2020
Cuando leí el primer libro, lo odie con todo mi corazón oscuro :/ pero igual le quería dar una oportunidad al segundo para ver como terminaba ( y porque lo tenia ), me encontré con una historia bastante entretenida pero cortita y me dije capaz que al primero no lo leí con el tiempo que necesitaba ya que lo iba leyendo en el colectivo. Así que más adelante le daré otra oportunidad y otra mejor lectura. Este segundo libro de por si fue corto que dejo un final para un tercero que no creo que haya, pero quedo bastante abierto :o y quería saber si Toby al ultimo armaba una linda familia o no >_< Igual fue una lectura ágil, a comparación del primer libro.
December 15, 2010
Oh Anne, what happened?
September 12, 2022
I listened to the audiobook recording of Of Love and Evil on a road trip without having ever read Angel Time, though Rice makes it easy enough to get up to speed. I had no trouble following the story, even if perhaps -- and I can't say either way -- I couldn't fully appreciate all of her narrative callbacks.
As a Songs of the Seraphim newbie, I'll say that there's an intriguing historical mystery here that gets buried under a portentous "Christian superhero" story, one that often seems more interested in protagonist Toby O'Dare's redemption arc, to say nothing of Rice's existential ruminations on spirituality.
As far as "fantasy superheroes" go, Toby's scenario is a compelling one: a former contract killer turned seraphic emissary, sent on metaphysical missions (across time, no less) for the angel Malchiah. But this was the second (and prematurely final) installment of what was clearly intended to be an ongoing series, so Toby's character arc, such as it is, is left in stasis.
Furthermore, Toby's -- and by extension Rice's -- philosophical musings on the nature of good and evil are provocative but underdeveloped, to say nothing of repetitive: Toby circles around to the same perfunctory points over and over and over again. (And this is existential ground Rice has covered before, in The Vampire Chronicles and elsewhere.) She raises thought-provoking issues yet only scratches the surface of them, like a superficial Sunday sermon -- something that sounds pretty but doesn't go particularly deep.
Rice's gift for conjuring a sense of Gothic atmosphere with sublimely lyrical prose is on full display here, but this is ultimately an unsatisfying story that short shrifts its central mystery in favor of a character arc it leaves incomplete. Toby is less of a fully realized character than a literary archetype. It's not a bad story (at least it's short), it just feels like the filler episode of an ongoing series, made to serve as this would-be saga's unintentional coda.
P.S. The narrator, Paul Michael, delivers an excellent performance, bringing each character to life with his or her own tone and cadence.
As a Songs of the Seraphim newbie, I'll say that there's an intriguing historical mystery here that gets buried under a portentous "Christian superhero" story, one that often seems more interested in protagonist Toby O'Dare's redemption arc, to say nothing of Rice's existential ruminations on spirituality.
As far as "fantasy superheroes" go, Toby's scenario is a compelling one: a former contract killer turned seraphic emissary, sent on metaphysical missions (across time, no less) for the angel Malchiah. But this was the second (and prematurely final) installment of what was clearly intended to be an ongoing series, so Toby's character arc, such as it is, is left in stasis.
Furthermore, Toby's -- and by extension Rice's -- philosophical musings on the nature of good and evil are provocative but underdeveloped, to say nothing of repetitive: Toby circles around to the same perfunctory points over and over and over again. (And this is existential ground Rice has covered before, in The Vampire Chronicles and elsewhere.) She raises thought-provoking issues yet only scratches the surface of them, like a superficial Sunday sermon -- something that sounds pretty but doesn't go particularly deep.
Rice's gift for conjuring a sense of Gothic atmosphere with sublimely lyrical prose is on full display here, but this is ultimately an unsatisfying story that short shrifts its central mystery in favor of a character arc it leaves incomplete. Toby is less of a fully realized character than a literary archetype. It's not a bad story (at least it's short), it just feels like the filler episode of an ongoing series, made to serve as this would-be saga's unintentional coda.
P.S. The narrator, Paul Michael, delivers an excellent performance, bringing each character to life with his or her own tone and cadence.
February 26, 2023
An interesting premise if you want to believe in time traveling angels. I found the idea a little more preaching in some ways than others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2010
I started Of Love and Evil with modest expectations. I’d been underwhelmed with the previous SONGS OF THE SERAPHIM novel, Angel Time. I’m also increasingly annoyed with the trend toward publishing extremely slender books in hardcover. As it turns out, I was pleasantly surprised by Of Love and Evil. (I still think it makes a pretty skinny hardcover, though, at 192 pages.)
When we last saw Toby O’Dare, he had just learned that, ten years previous, his girlfriend Liona had given birth to his son. As Of Love and Evil opens, Liona brings Toby junior to California. Toby gets to see his old love again and meet his son for the first time. He’d love to spend more time with this newfound family, but the angel Malchiah has another mission for him.
Toby is sent to Renaissance Rome, where he is needed to unravel a mystery. The “case” Toby needed to solve in Angel Time was relatively simple, as was its solution. This one is more complex. There’s more than one thing going on here: a young man taken mysteriously ill, and a restless spirit haunting a house. The answers are not so cut-and-dried, and Toby faces the possibility of making a tragic mistake. His newfound faith is tested by someone eager to exploit his uncertainties and doubts. The more nuanced nature of the plot makes this a more satisfying read than Angel Time, as does the fact that it’s clearer in this book why Toby in particular was chosen for this assignment. Only someone who knew poisons and could play the lute would do.
Two scenes in particular stand out for their beautiful writing and emotional resonance. One takes place at an elegant party, where Toby is mesmerized by an array of earthly delights; the imagery is dreamlike and yet a sense of urgency looms in the background because we know Toby is in danger of making a huge mistake. The other is the pub scene just before Toby returns to our own time; it’s a gorgeous scene revolving around music and divine love. These passages show that Anne Rice is still a master of description, and they remind me why I was once such a devoted fan of hers in the first place.
She does still have the habit of latching on to a particular word or phrase and hammering it excessively, rather like she used to do with phrases like “Dark Trick.” The quotation “world enough and time” is one example of this — as is, oddly, the word “caviar” (it’s relevant to the plot, but it still feels overused). There are also a few sections that feel preachy, particularly Toby’s theological discussion with his guardian angel upon returning to the present.
I’m still not sure I “know” Toby as a character, but it’s starting to seem like that’s the point. He doesn’t know himself either, not yet. He has spent years shutting away his emotions and spiritual aspirations and now is trying to redefine himself. His diction may prove distracting to some readers — it’s hard to imagine a 28-year-old man of our time speaking this formally — but one gets used to it after a while. And besides, Rice is better at elevated speech than at trendy speech, so she’s playing to her strengths by characterizing Toby in this way.
Despite some flaws, Of Love and Evil is far more compelling than I expected. It ends with a terrific hook for the next book, and for the first time in some years I find myself eagerly awaiting an Anne Rice novel.
Fantasy Literature's Anne Rice page
When we last saw Toby O’Dare, he had just learned that, ten years previous, his girlfriend Liona had given birth to his son. As Of Love and Evil opens, Liona brings Toby junior to California. Toby gets to see his old love again and meet his son for the first time. He’d love to spend more time with this newfound family, but the angel Malchiah has another mission for him.
Toby is sent to Renaissance Rome, where he is needed to unravel a mystery. The “case” Toby needed to solve in Angel Time was relatively simple, as was its solution. This one is more complex. There’s more than one thing going on here: a young man taken mysteriously ill, and a restless spirit haunting a house. The answers are not so cut-and-dried, and Toby faces the possibility of making a tragic mistake. His newfound faith is tested by someone eager to exploit his uncertainties and doubts. The more nuanced nature of the plot makes this a more satisfying read than Angel Time, as does the fact that it’s clearer in this book why Toby in particular was chosen for this assignment. Only someone who knew poisons and could play the lute would do.
Two scenes in particular stand out for their beautiful writing and emotional resonance. One takes place at an elegant party, where Toby is mesmerized by an array of earthly delights; the imagery is dreamlike and yet a sense of urgency looms in the background because we know Toby is in danger of making a huge mistake. The other is the pub scene just before Toby returns to our own time; it’s a gorgeous scene revolving around music and divine love. These passages show that Anne Rice is still a master of description, and they remind me why I was once such a devoted fan of hers in the first place.
She does still have the habit of latching on to a particular word or phrase and hammering it excessively, rather like she used to do with phrases like “Dark Trick.” The quotation “world enough and time” is one example of this — as is, oddly, the word “caviar” (it’s relevant to the plot, but it still feels overused). There are also a few sections that feel preachy, particularly Toby’s theological discussion with his guardian angel upon returning to the present.
I’m still not sure I “know” Toby as a character, but it’s starting to seem like that’s the point. He doesn’t know himself either, not yet. He has spent years shutting away his emotions and spiritual aspirations and now is trying to redefine himself. His diction may prove distracting to some readers — it’s hard to imagine a 28-year-old man of our time speaking this formally — but one gets used to it after a while. And besides, Rice is better at elevated speech than at trendy speech, so she’s playing to her strengths by characterizing Toby in this way.
Despite some flaws, Of Love and Evil is far more compelling than I expected. It ends with a terrific hook for the next book, and for the first time in some years I find myself eagerly awaiting an Anne Rice novel.
Fantasy Literature's Anne Rice page
September 10, 2010
This is the second in the series that started with Angel Time. I enjoyed Angel Time for the most part, though I liked the first half of the book more than the story within a story in the second half.
This review contains *** SPOILERS *** for the 1st book Angel Time:
In Angel Time Toby, the professional assassin, meets with an Angel and starts out on the road of repentance and gives his life story. As part of his reparation he is helping an Angel to answer prayers and is taken back in time to help a Jewish family in time of persecution of Jews by Catholics.
In “Of Love and Evil” Toby continues on his journey in reparation and repairing the mistakes of his past. The first part of the book is quite good in relating his spiritual life as he realizes he can actually love and not be the walking dead emotionally he had been during his years as a assassin. Once again he goes on a journey in Angel Time to help answer the prayers of a Jewish man, this time during the reign of Pope Julius II. I frankly don’t get the point of this theme running through the series thus far in relating persecution of the Jewish people by Catholics. Maybe this theme will explain itself later — but so far it seems to me more like an ax-to-grind than a thematic element. Though she presents this era as being much friendlier to the Jewish people, at least in Rome — though details a horrid story plucked from history in another city in a previous decade. Plus of course the reality is that such persecution did exist historically.
Regardless I found much to like in this continuation of the story which showed spiritual growth, fighting temptation, development in love, and the kind of plot developments adding tension to the story where you want to see how it all pans out in the next book.
Considering Anne Rice’s Facebook fit where she “quite Christianity” it is hard to match what she said since then with what she writes in this book. This book no doubt was written prior to this happening. It is especially ironic considering the last chapters in this book that are really quite solid from a Catholic point of view especially in regards to being in communion with the Church and wanting to receive the Holy Eucharist. The spiritual dimension of the book is far from being wonky and offer much in the way of the spiritual dimension of the Church, the reality of evil, and the necessity to resist evil. New-agey spiritual blather is rightly mocked in this book and there was much in it I found highly ironic considering the authors breakup with the Catholic Church. She could take some advice from some of the things said in the book. Though it did once again remind me that she is much sharper and wiser than the Facebook post she wrote and to continue to pray for her to be able to separate the secular dogmas from what was delivered to us in the Gospels and Sacred Tradition.
I am hoping for a continuation in the series that hopefully is not poisoned by the straw man view of Christianity she railed against.
This review contains *** SPOILERS *** for the 1st book Angel Time:
In Angel Time Toby, the professional assassin, meets with an Angel and starts out on the road of repentance and gives his life story. As part of his reparation he is helping an Angel to answer prayers and is taken back in time to help a Jewish family in time of persecution of Jews by Catholics.
In “Of Love and Evil” Toby continues on his journey in reparation and repairing the mistakes of his past. The first part of the book is quite good in relating his spiritual life as he realizes he can actually love and not be the walking dead emotionally he had been during his years as a assassin. Once again he goes on a journey in Angel Time to help answer the prayers of a Jewish man, this time during the reign of Pope Julius II. I frankly don’t get the point of this theme running through the series thus far in relating persecution of the Jewish people by Catholics. Maybe this theme will explain itself later — but so far it seems to me more like an ax-to-grind than a thematic element. Though she presents this era as being much friendlier to the Jewish people, at least in Rome — though details a horrid story plucked from history in another city in a previous decade. Plus of course the reality is that such persecution did exist historically.
Regardless I found much to like in this continuation of the story which showed spiritual growth, fighting temptation, development in love, and the kind of plot developments adding tension to the story where you want to see how it all pans out in the next book.
Considering Anne Rice’s Facebook fit where she “quite Christianity” it is hard to match what she said since then with what she writes in this book. This book no doubt was written prior to this happening. It is especially ironic considering the last chapters in this book that are really quite solid from a Catholic point of view especially in regards to being in communion with the Church and wanting to receive the Holy Eucharist. The spiritual dimension of the book is far from being wonky and offer much in the way of the spiritual dimension of the Church, the reality of evil, and the necessity to resist evil. New-agey spiritual blather is rightly mocked in this book and there was much in it I found highly ironic considering the authors breakup with the Catholic Church. She could take some advice from some of the things said in the book. Though it did once again remind me that she is much sharper and wiser than the Facebook post she wrote and to continue to pray for her to be able to separate the secular dogmas from what was delivered to us in the Gospels and Sacred Tradition.
I am hoping for a continuation in the series that hopefully is not poisoned by the straw man view of Christianity she railed against.
June 10, 2011
Just a quick few thoughts on Of Love and Evil....It wasn't as good as the first book in the series, but it wasn't as bad as many of the reviews I have read about the book. I've read many reviews belittle this book because of what they call excessive weeping, but I didn't see this as an issue. For me, Toby is very Louis like (Interview with a Vampire), with that being said, at times I could almost hear Lestat complain about the whining...so enters a reincarnation, wine drinking, demon in angel's guise. Christian? Maybe, but I could see or maybe I just really wanted to see the Anne Rice I know and love. I could see a lot of the battle of the writers battle with her own demons in this book. Yeah, it got preachy, but it also seemed to put up a good argument against organized religion (which we know happened to Anne as of late). I would love to see different angels and more of our new demon friend in the next novel. I would also like to see something other than Jews and Catholics in the next novel or novels to come---a good witch trial would be a great place for Toby to visit ;-) I like the way the book ended and can't wait to see how that plays out. As for this book, no, it wasn't a 5 star read, but a worthy 4 stars---it's Anne Rice for God's sake! For those who have only read the Jesus books and the angel books, you are really missing out and need to explore and understand the heavy influence Catholicism has always played in Ms. Rice's books. Her writing has always been deeply historical, deeply spiritual, deeply questioning, and dark in a classically beautiful way. Personally I think she could make a cereal box into a dark and engaging read---and I would read it and make all my friends read it too!
March 12, 2016
Aquello para lo que nos estaba preparando el primer libro debió haber sido la base para este segundo libro, que ya con solo verlo parece innecesario, parte de una obra más grande y que, al abrirlo, notamos que su contenido es igualmente innecesario. Siento que Toby no aprendió nada en este nuevo viaje que no hubiera aprendido en el anterior.
Todo el libro parece apresurado, le hace falta ritmo, los personajes se vuelven increíbles, imposibles. Y no tengo que decir que el único personaje que aparece y quiere dar vuelta la historia, darle algo de picante y realidad, es de inmediato eliminado y llamado demonio, también creo que es la única vez que la autora demoniza a un modo de pensar y me parece bastante asqueroso de su parte.
En general la calidad del libro es muy inferior al anterior, hay mucha repetición y demasiada propaganda para una religión (o conjunto de ellas) que no necesita presentación ni defensa. Casi parece como si la autora necesitara defenderse personalmente y hubiera creado esta serie para ello. Lo cual es una lástima, porque el primer libro dejaba espacio para explorar muchas cosas, muchísimo más interesantes que las que presenta en este mediolibro (porque francamente creo que debió haber sido parte de otro, o sencillamente no existir).
Si me ha decepcionado es porque esperaba más de la autora, es porque sabía que podía haber más, encontrar un libro moralizante en lugar de la historia que te prometía el primero ha sido muy triste.
Quizás esté bien para aquellos que necesiten reafirmar su fe. Pero creo que incluso ellos encontrarán varias partes del libro muy poco realistas e increíbles.
En fin, decepcionante, pero no lo digo como crítica, sino como alguien entristecido por la posibilidad de lo que pudo haber sido este libro.
Todo el libro parece apresurado, le hace falta ritmo, los personajes se vuelven increíbles, imposibles. Y no tengo que decir que el único personaje que aparece y quiere dar vuelta la historia, darle algo de picante y realidad, es de inmediato eliminado y llamado demonio, también creo que es la única vez que la autora demoniza a un modo de pensar y me parece bastante asqueroso de su parte.
En general la calidad del libro es muy inferior al anterior, hay mucha repetición y demasiada propaganda para una religión (o conjunto de ellas) que no necesita presentación ni defensa. Casi parece como si la autora necesitara defenderse personalmente y hubiera creado esta serie para ello. Lo cual es una lástima, porque el primer libro dejaba espacio para explorar muchas cosas, muchísimo más interesantes que las que presenta en este mediolibro (porque francamente creo que debió haber sido parte de otro, o sencillamente no existir).
Si me ha decepcionado es porque esperaba más de la autora, es porque sabía que podía haber más, encontrar un libro moralizante en lugar de la historia que te prometía el primero ha sido muy triste.
Quizás esté bien para aquellos que necesiten reafirmar su fe. Pero creo que incluso ellos encontrarán varias partes del libro muy poco realistas e increíbles.
En fin, decepcionante, pero no lo digo como crítica, sino como alguien entristecido por la posibilidad de lo que pudo haber sido este libro.
December 29, 2010
Angel Time and Of Love and Evil are far too short to pull off what Anne Rice is trying to pull off. At under 200 pages, Of Love and Evil reads more like a novella. It seemed like every supporting character had one big interaction scene with the protag, Toby, and that scene usually took the form of some sort of exposition dump. There was absolutely no believability that these people who just met Toby would suddenly open themselves up to him.
I can see this book working beautifully if Anne had given it the time and complexity that she gave her earlier works like Feast of All Saints and Cry to Heaven. At the end of Of Love and Evil, Toby reflects back on how difficult the mission was. Really? It wasn't difficult at all. He solved it with hardly any thought. Supposedly he was picked by the angels for these missions because of his unique skills, but if that's the case we haven't seen it yet. In this story, his unique skills were his ability to play the lute and make poisons. So what does he do? He gains access to a family by playing the lute and then identifies a poison. Yawn.
I still gave it 4 stars because I love Anne's writing style, and her characters come to life for me. I just wish she'd give them more to do. (I note some other reviews call her out on poor grammar, but this book is a first person narrative, and Toby writes like he speaks. I found it enjoyable.)
Hopefully the next book in this series has a little more meat to it.
I can see this book working beautifully if Anne had given it the time and complexity that she gave her earlier works like Feast of All Saints and Cry to Heaven. At the end of Of Love and Evil, Toby reflects back on how difficult the mission was. Really? It wasn't difficult at all. He solved it with hardly any thought. Supposedly he was picked by the angels for these missions because of his unique skills, but if that's the case we haven't seen it yet. In this story, his unique skills were his ability to play the lute and make poisons. So what does he do? He gains access to a family by playing the lute and then identifies a poison. Yawn.
I still gave it 4 stars because I love Anne's writing style, and her characters come to life for me. I just wish she'd give them more to do. (I note some other reviews call her out on poor grammar, but this book is a first person narrative, and Toby writes like he speaks. I found it enjoyable.)
Hopefully the next book in this series has a little more meat to it.
March 14, 2011
This book was not what I expected. I expected - truthfully- a better story, better character development and a better defined reason. In short, everything that Anne Rice has given in her novels in the past. It just didn't deliver it for me and seemed more like a sermon than a story.... you can be redeemed but you can't escape your fate, or some other such thing.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a story of redemption. Everyone should be able to change their minds and ways and not be judged for their past. That's all okay and I get it. I guess I just expected a better story from Anne Rice. Her writing has lost her questioning mind somehow and it's made her writing go soft. She's sermonizing instead of questioning and it kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. Well that, and the fact that the ending sucked. I was like - What? That's it? Did I miss something? Oh - I get it now!! We're supposed to be left questioning! Right? It's a trick novel!
No. Not a trick novel. Just a novel that's lacking.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a story of redemption. Everyone should be able to change their minds and ways and not be judged for their past. That's all okay and I get it. I guess I just expected a better story from Anne Rice. Her writing has lost her questioning mind somehow and it's made her writing go soft. She's sermonizing instead of questioning and it kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. Well that, and the fact that the ending sucked. I was like - What? That's it? Did I miss something? Oh - I get it now!! We're supposed to be left questioning! Right? It's a trick novel!
No. Not a trick novel. Just a novel that's lacking.
June 14, 2017
There are parts of this book that really had me and I had to know what was next. There were parts of this book that were such a mess. The ending is terrible. The story ended a few chapters before the book did and then it just dragged on with confession and... The characters are wracked by guilt that doesn't seem appropriate for them. I am being gracious giving this book 3 stars. Anne is a gifted writer, no doubt, and this book does not showcase her best, in my opinion.
March 13, 2016
It was okay. Here's my detailed review.
First time reader of Anne Rice but was expecting so much more!
2 mistakes I did was:
-Not reading in one sitting
- Starting with the second book in the series.
First time reader of Anne Rice but was expecting so much more!
2 mistakes I did was:
-Not reading in one sitting
- Starting with the second book in the series.
October 2, 2023
I'm getting really good at grabbing books and not realizing it's part of a series, I will have to read the first book now.
But my God this was a good book, it kept me hooked and I finished it in a few hours.
As always another good writing by Anne Rice.
But my God this was a good book, it kept me hooked and I finished it in a few hours.
As always another good writing by Anne Rice.
February 22, 2013
3.5 stars, short story & there better be a #3 in the series!!!!
January 30, 2020
Oh man, this book was my 3rd attempt to read Anne Rice's books....
I did not like it at all, it's way to preachy, too many prayers to the "One God", to much religious crap in my opinion. Could be a good read for religious people though...
I did not like it at all, it's way to preachy, too many prayers to the "One God", to much religious crap in my opinion. Could be a good read for religious people though...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 469 reviews