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Of Love and Evil (Songs of the Seraphim, Book 2) (Hardcover) newly tagged "bestseller"

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69 of 76 people found the following review helpful: 2.0 out of 5 stars thin, October 29, 2010 This review is from: Of Love and Evil (Songs of the Seraphim, Book 2) (Hardcover) Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?) I am a fan of Anne Rice's darker novels - the vampire series, the Mayfair witches series, and others. I have read 12 or more of those books. In those books, a common device was to have stories within stories - often going back in time, sometimes very far back. Her books were characterized by dark passion, violence, horror, and an exploration of the thoughts and feelings of her characters.

Most fans are aware of the major change to her novels a few years ago, as she took on Christian themes instead. Actually, she had been moving that way for some time, for example when Lestat met Memnoch the Devil in the 5th book of the Vampire Chronicles. I found that book fascinating as she mixed in some religious themes.

Somehow I never was all that interested in her books after the big change, but I had an opportunity to read and review this one through the Vine program, so I gave it a try.

Some things have not changed. She still has stories within stories within stories, going back into the past. She still has supernatural creatures - but instead of preternatural creatures, we now have angels, and in this book, a ghost. She still gets into a lot of descriptive detail for the places we visit. And we still have plenty of insight into the thoughts and feelings of the lead character, but the book is from a human perspective (Toby's), and we don't really get to know the supernatural creatures. The angels, in particular, are vague and inscrutable.

The lead character has gone through a character transformation, from darkness to light. Toby McDare has given up his evil ways and dedicated himself in the service of God. His redemption has made him passionately happy - he frequently weeps with joy. Personally, I can't relate to the ecstasy thing, and a lot of pages are spent on this subject, which to me are tiresome at best.

Another major change is how short this book is. The Witching Hour had several books within it of the length of this one - it was a very long book. In my edition this book had less than 170 pages with plenty of white space. It seems very thin in terms of its story line compared to previous books. That's not to say that a book has to be long to be good - but this one seems a bit thin in terms of pages AND plot.

I think this book is the second in a series on "Angel Time". Enough of the context from the first book is at the beginning that it's easy to be involved in the story, and at the end a new character from Toby's past to form a bridge to the next book, but I won't be reading the sequel.

Bottom line: I would give this book 2 1/2 stars if I could. I wanted to like it, and I feel like I gave it a chance with an open mind. I gave it a couple of days to decide whether to give 2 or 3 stars overall, but in the end I feel disappointed: I know that Anne Rice is (or was) capable of delivering much better books than this, and I hoped for more here.

Still, if Anne Rice is happier now in her religious mode, I'm happy for her.

NOTE: I am an Amazon Vine reviewer. This book was provided to me free for my review, but I am not paid. My opinions are not influenced by getting a free book, nor am I asked to write positive reviews: I call them as I see them, and my reviews are not always positive.

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34 of 41 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A pleasantly easy read, an equally pleasant sequel, September 2, 2010 This review is from: Of Love and Evil (Songs of the Seraphim, Book 2) (Hardcover) Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?) This is the second book in the metaphysical thriller series "The Songs of the Seraphim". Anne Rice continues with the story of Toby O'Dare, who returns as the reformed contract killer set out to mend an injustice from the past. The book lays out the poetically tragic story of O'Dare's continuing journey of self-redemption, still in a constant battle of moral reflection and introspection. He hopes to escape his past by correcting the past. Through his eyes, we see a bit more of his history, and the realization that he cannot escape his past easily.

O'Dare travels back in time to Renaissance Rome, where he is given a mission of safeguarding Vitale, a distressed Jewish physician during a highly tumoltuous time, a time of anti-Semitism, rampant fears of demonic possessions, and the horrors of the Holy Inquisition. Vitale's house is possessed by a sirenic fallen angel called a "dybbuk" (an earthbound restless spirit, and maybe a new recurring character?). For a thin book, the story is riddled with twists and turns, plots and counterplots. The operatic plot is unraveled by O'Dare, as he sets forth on his mission to charm the troublesome spirit.

Poison and passion, forbidden love, crimes of the heart, and demonic possession... what else can you ask for?! Well, there's the next book, but let's be patient (an exercise of futility). This is an easy and enjoyable read. A pleasant surprise, because I enjoyed this book more than the first book (Angel Time). Highly recommended.

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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Anne Rice Fan, October 22, 2010 This review is from: Of Love and Evil (Songs of the Seraphim, Book 2) (Hardcover) Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?) Anne Rice's Of Love and Evil, Songs of the Seraphim continues, the second in the new series of angels and assassins set in dark and dangerous worlds that is told in our time and in centuries past. Toby O'Dare, former government assassin , he is summoned by the angel Malchiah to fifteenth-century Rome to solve a terrible crime of poisoning and to uncover the secrets of an earthbound restless spirit. His objective is to calm this restless spirit. As the story continues Toby is soon reconnected with his own past. Toby is a post-traumatic stress disorder survivor from his childhood where his mother slaughtered his brother. Due to his past makes him perfect for his mission, a vigilante who dispenses justice; he is a time traveler, and he is set to rid the world of horror. You must read the first in the series (Angel Time, 2009). It sets the stage for this sequel.

I have always been a big fan of Anne Rice and own every book she has ever written, her Vampire Chronicles, the Witches, she is an amazing storyteller. She combines her Catholicism, her fictional takes on the Gospel, and her passion for the dark side. This is a must for all Anne Rice fans, and if you have never read Anne Rice this is a great new series to get started with.
Highly recommended.

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