Of Love and Evil: The Songs of the Seraphim, Book Two (Songs of the Seraphim Series)

Anne Rice books never cease to entrap me in this dreamlike state that occurs while I'm reading the books or afterwords. Normally, the need to continue reading her books dawns on you like a spontaneous desire for rich coffee or scrumptious chocolate. Every page of her books weaves an intricate web of rich design that contains many substantive spiritual truths contained within. Her newest entry to the "Songs of the Seraphim," series does not deviate from the established, proven formula of her other novels. This is not a form of criticism. In actuality, her formula of enticing prose, first-person perspectives of a reclusive individual, and rich historical settings elevates her books to a very high level of quality. This year alone, I have read an estimated ten or twelve Anne Rice books, alongside a slew of college-required reads. Her books leave an imprint of great intrigue that cannot be divested. Instead, the reader only craves for the next installment in one of her many series or does research on some of the intriguing historical, spiritual, or philosophical questions raised in her books. Anne Rice's inquisitive self has always been the strength of her novels. Every novel of hers is mostly centered around some difficult spiritual question that she herself has been wrestling with. "Of Love and Evil," raises an interesting dilemna that is pivotal to our faith. Now, that we have equipped ourselves with this new Christian perspective, What determines something as a good or evil act? More importantly, could a loving act that we believe reflects the spirit of Christ be a definably evil act? Readers are transported to Renaissance Italy to become involved with a mystery that involves a Jewish physician wrongly being convicted for supposedly poisoning their trusted, Catholic patient. Anne Rice uses this perplexing mystery to immerse the reader into this picturesque world with ease. Using Toby O'Dare as the curious soul with a spiritual dilemna, the reader's full psyche becomes attached to this main perspective. Again, these troubled, reclusive souls of Anne Rice's books work wonderfully because they essentially reflect universal themes of spiritual struggle. All of us equally,with some variance,feel spiritually bankrupt at times in our life even when we have a solid relationship with God. Similarly with the Jesus novels, spiritual struggles are not exempted from the characters even when their faith appears to be perfected. Whether you are a Christian or not, this novel should appeal widely to any readers that thirsts for an exciting mystery story that contains human characters with realistic flaws. More importantly, the spiritual struggles of these characters are equally faced by all individuals of differing faith backgrounds. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, and agnostics alike ponder the question of our purpose for existence. Even when our beliefs appear externally solidified. We still disbelieve the beliefs we thought we had conceived. At the time of reading this novel, I struggled greatly with the question of: "What if my supposed belief in God is worthless after I become nonexistent when I die ? Meaning, after I die, the whole notion of having a conscious self will become a useless ideal. If there really is nothing after our deaths then "What really is the use of striving to morally perfect ourselves?" There would be no benefits or compensation for acting benevolently towards other humans. Because, in the short frame of our human lives, we'll only be partially experiencing the wonders of a morally-superb life filled with love. We'll only have glimpses of a perfected world where our pain and struggling truly works as a cause that will bring about an effect in the form of an afterlife which informs us that our endeavors are not completely useless. Toby O'Dare chooses to undertake the risk of facing the possibility of a meaningless existence because the other solution involves having a belief that our inclination to love is an accidental , purposeless desire. Having a God be our endpoint serves not as an escape from the pain of the reality of nothingness. It strengthens the truth that our love, our dreams, and our desires are not manufactured by a soulless machine. Internally, there exists a soul that powers this insatiable desire for transcendence. When we peer at art or are overwhelmed by the ineffable beauty of rich, symphonic music, we are having otherworldly experiences that inform our need for a God. Anne Rice books mimic that same effect. Every time, I read her books; I sense the poverty of my soul and realize the many abstract qualities or mysteries of our world that prove to us that this universe requires a God.

As always Anne Rice delivers a wonderful detailed story. I LOVED Angel Time and was thrilled to learn of its sequel. For me, the bar was set nearly impossibly high in the first book and this one, though good, did not measure up. I enjoyed the characters and was thrilled to have some loose ends tied up so that was wonderful. I would highly recommend reading this book.

"I dreamed a dream of angels. I saw them and heard them in a great and endless galactic night. I saw the light that these were angels, flying here and there, in streaks of irrisistible brilliance, and some as great as comets which seemed to draw so close the fire might devour me, and yet I felt no heat. I felt no danger. I felt no self." ~ This is the eloquent opening of Anne Rice's new novel, "Of Love and Evil." It is the second book in her "Songs of the Seraphim" series (the first being "Angel Time.") In this tale Rice's main protagonist, former hit man Toby O'Dare, is summoned once again by the angel Malchiah and transported back into the past to fifteenth century Rome, to the land and time of Michelangelo, of Raphael, of Pope Leo X, of the Medicis. To a time of high drama and strife in both public and personal lives. It is Toby's charge this time to investigate the case of the accused Vitale, a jewish man living in the house of the wealthy gentile Antonio. One of Antonio's sons, Niccolo, is mortally ill, dying a slow, miserable death, with Vitale suspected of being the culprit because of his jewishness. Also during this same period the house is undergoing a mighty metaphysical disturbance by an outraged dybbuk-a dislocated spirit, or "ghost," for want of a better term. It is up to Toby to unravel these duel (connected?) mysteries, the true cause of Niccolo's illness and to find the resolution of the rampaging dybbuk. It's difficult to proceed much further with this plot without giving away too much info, i.e. "spoilers," as others have already done. Among the many enthralling things you should know about this superb book is that Rice, in her shortest novel yet, manages to incorporate a riveting mystery thriller within a finely woven, dramatic tale which themes rich with action, philosophical question on life, love, spirituality, history and prejudice. The expert conciseness rendered with her second book on the early life of Jesus, "Road to Cana," is even more evident here. Anne Rice deftly weaves a tale which rings with an authentic tone that is appropriately "biblical." A chief feature in the plot is the relationship between Niccolo and his brother. Also, the method chose by the would be killer, poisoning, is a fascinating plot device. It takes a certain kind of killer-and says much about them-to choose poison as their means of murder. They don't extinguish their victim in an instant with a single, severe blow or with a knife to the throat, as they could. Instead they systematically administer exact dosages of poison over a period of time. This not only gives the appearance of the victim as dying of a lingering illness, but also allows the murderer the opportunity to stand in the shadows and and witness the deadly plot as it unfolds. Few acts could be more chilling... A huge factor in Rice's angel chronicles, and especially here, thematically in "Of Love and Evil," is the notion that evil, or sin-severe wrongs perpetrated against innocents, crimes, prejudicial acts, etc., make a lasting mark that never fades until there is some sort of resolution. No redemption can be achieved unless and until the evil act is directly addressed and dealt with, made right. Not until there is resolution and redemption the victim of the evil act lives on in relentless fury. The spirit-or dybbuk of this tale, is angry. Is it ever! And with reason. Redemption must be earned. It cannot be simply bestowed without resolution. Only then can there be a measure of peace, once justice has been achieved. For Toby O'Dare, who has spent ten years of his life as a relentless killing machine (see "Angel Time," the first book in the series), it is encumbant upon him to travel back into time on these redemptive missions to make right injustices of the past. There are many unknowns for him in his present and future. As a former hired assassin he could be arrested at any moment. Or he could himself be the victim of another assassin. Until his earthly fate is determined he will be sent on missions to undo and rectify evil acts perpetrated by man in the past. At first he might seem an odd choice for these missions, but who better? Who is more in need of redemption himself than someone like O'Dare? What killer of the past can fool Toby, he who has killed so many in the past? Personally, the most affecting parts of the book for me are the early chapters , passages that deal with the reunion of Toby with his old girlfriend, Liona, and the ten year old son, little Toby, that he had heretofore been unaware of. So much deep emotion is expressed in these moving pages with inner dialogue, with looks, with a select few eloquent words. The first time I read "Of Love and Evil" it occurred to me that Toby O'Dare is a dead man returning to life. For ten years, following personal tragedy and a decade as a ruthless hit man he has been dead emotionally and spiritually. He has been totally cut off from any personal life, from family and love. In this "Songs of the Seraphim" series, he is slowly coming to life again. His soul is being reborn and he is having to learn how to live and love again in an often cruel and difficult world. These early chapters with Liona and little Toby and the promise of love could easily have been developed into a fine, full novel all on their own by a less ambitious writer. That Anne Rice is able to present Toby's tale of personal redemption in the larger context of history is an amazing feat and the work of a brilliant writer at the peak of her powers.

"OF LOVE AND EVIL"--A MYSTERY OF FAITH, BELIEFS,AND TRUTH! ANNE RICE TURNS 69 TODAY (OCTOBER 4, 2010) AND HAS WRITTEN 30 NOVELS DURING HER ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER BEGINNING WITH "INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE" IN 1976, USING PSEUDONYMS ANNE RAMPLING AND A. N. ROQUELAURE IN FIVE OF HER NOVELS AND NOW COMPLETING ''OF LOVE AND EVIL'' (AS NOVELS IN HER SONGS OF THE SERAPHM SERIES)WHICH WILL BE RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 30, 2010. NO WHERE ELSE HAS SHE BEEN AS CONCISE IN HER WRITING STYLE THAN PERHAPS IN HER NOVELS ''PANDORA" AND "VITTORIO THE VAMPIRE". ''OF LOVE AND EVIL" REMINDED ME OF HER QUESTIONS POSED IN ''MEMNOCH THE DEVIL". AT THE END OF ''ANGEL TIME" TOBY O'DARE IS TOLD BY ANGEL MALCHIAH THAT HE HAS A SON BACK IN NEW ORLEANS. ''OF LOVE AND EVIL'' PICKS UP WITH TOBY MEETING HIS SON TOBY AND HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND, LIONA. ALL SEEMS CIVIL BUT TOBY IS UNAWARE OF HOW LIONA WILL ACCEPT AND FORGIVE HIM FOR HIS ABANDONMENT TEN YEARS AGO. TOBY SETS LIONA AND TOBY UP WITH FUNDS THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THEM THE REST OF THEIR LIVES AND WILL ENABLE TOBY JR. TO GO TO THE BEST SCHOOLS. THE PLOT MOVES QUICKLY AND TOBY IS TRANSPORTED BACK TO 15TH CENTURY ITALY TO COME TO THE AID OF MASTER ANTONIO AND HIS SONS, NICCOLO AND LODOVICO. ONE OF THEM IS BEING POISIONED AND THE OTHER IN GRIEF COMMITS SUICIDE. BUT THEIR ITALIAN PHYSICIAN VITALE (WHO IS JEWISH) IS BEING ACCUSED OF HARBORING AN EVIL SPIRIT, A DYBBUK IN HIS HOUSE. TOBY SOON FIGURES OUT WHO IS POISIONING WHOM AND WHY. BUT THE NEXT LEVEL OF THE BOOK TESTS TOBY'S ACUMEN BY PRESENTING A VERY HUMAN LIKE DEVIL BY THE NAME OF ANKANOC. ANKANOC WILL ALMOST CONVINCINGLY UPROOT THE BELIEF SYSTEM OF TOBY AND WHAT IS EVIL AND WHAT IS LOVE. THESE QUESTIONS AND ARGUMENTS ARE QUITE CONVINCING EVEN TO TOBY WHO AFTER ASKING GOD FOR HELP AND HIS GUARDIAN ANGEL, SHMARYA, AND MALCHIAH TO RESCUE HIM FROM HIS TURMOIL. THAT SPELL IS BROKEN AND FINALLY UNDERSTOOD, THEN, TOBY REALIZES WHAT HE MUST DO TO HELP RELEASE THE GHOST IN VITALE'S HOUSE AND THE REMAINDER OF THE STORY TELLS US A STORY WITHIN A STORY OF HOW THAT GHOST GIOVANNI HAS COME TO BE... I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT ANNE'S WRITING STYLE HAS A PRECISE WAY OF EMOTING FEAR AND THE STRUGGLE OF LOVING ANOTHER IN HER CHARACTERS. SHE MUST BE PRECISE SO THAT THE READER COMES TO UNDERSTAND THOSE CHARACTERS EMPHATICALLY SINCE WE ALL HAVE FELT THE PASSIONS OF FEAR, AND HATRED, AND VENGEANCE AND EVENTUALLY COME TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF HEALING AND LOVING THOSE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS, AND SOMETIMES PAST ACTIONS. THE FACT THAT ANNE PRESENTS JEWISH MEN AND WOMEN INTERACTING WITH GENTILES ARE TRUE. ALSO, THE BELIEF SYSTEM THAT THESE PEOPLE THOUGHT YOU COULD INVOKE EVIL IN YOUR HOUSE TO DESTROY AND DESTRUCT THOSE WHO ENTERED ALSO WAS TRUE. DEATH WAS A CONSEQUENCE IF FOUND (FALSELY) GUILTY. I SUPPOSE NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE THE 15TH CENTURY SINCE SO MANY RELIGIONS STILL CONDEMN OTHERS WHO DO NOT ACCEPT OR BELIEVE THEIR BELIEF SYSTEMS AND THEN THERE ARE THE ARGUMENTS OF DEMONIC POSSESION (WHEN IT IS SIMPLE A CASE OF MENTAL ILLNESS.) FEAR STILL RAMPAGES IN THIS DAY AND AGE. ANNE SUCCEEDS AT WRITING THE ANTITHESIS OF EVIL: ABSOLUTE LOVE. TOBY STRUGGLES WITH HIS CONSCIENCE IN HIS PAST LIFE AS KILLER/HIT-MAN AND ATTEMPTS TO ATONE HIS SINS BY CONFESSION AND SERVING GOD IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE AS A LOVING MAN TO LIONA AND TOBY JR. TOBY ALSO DOES NOT WANT HIS PAST TO MEET UP WITH HIS PRESENT WHICH COULD AFFECT HIS LIFE WITH LIONA AND TOBY JR. BUT AT THE VERY END TOBY MEETS UP WITH A NEW CHARACTER (IN NEW YORK CITY) WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHY LUCKY THE FOX (TOBY'S ALIAS) KILLED HIS FATHER AND WHO HIRED HIM..... I WAS TOTALLY CAUGHT UP IN THE PLOT AND FAST PACED NOVEL, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTOOD ANNE'S REASONS FOR NOT OVER DOING HER LUSH DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENT. SHE KEPT THESE WORDS AT A MINIMUM IN ORDER NOT TO DISTRACT FROM THE PLOT AND ESSENCE OF THE NOVEL. I BELIEVE THAT ANNE HAS WRITTEN HER BEST NOVEL (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ''MEMNOCH" THE DEVIL'' AND HER 'CHRIST THE LORD' SERIES.) NOW THAT ANNE HAS RENOUNCED CHRISTIANITY (BUT NOT CHRIST) WILL SHE LOSE THOSE STRONG OVERTONES IN HER NEXT BOOKS ON TOBY? I DOUBT IT SINCE I KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THESE NOVELS, ANNE'S STANCE ON LOVE AND FORGIVENESS AND ACCEPTANCE OF THOSE OUTSIDE FORCES WE CANNOT CONTROL WILL REMIND US THAT GOD IS REALLY INVESTED BY HIS NEVER CHANGING PRESENCE SURROUNDING OUR LIVES. KUDOS AND COMPLIMENTS FOR A JOB WELL DONE TO ANNE'S INGENIOUS IMAGINATION AND GENUINE LOVE OF HUMANS!

In my mind this book is a work of art, but modern art, not a neat depiction but broad strokes painted with feeling, surrounding the story of an interrupted murder plot and a Jewish ghost of an earlier century, with an unexpected interjection of the Devil. Toby, of Angel Time, continues his work for the angels of answering special prayers, as penance for his previous life as a serial killer and CIA assassin. He first is reunited with the love of his life, with whom he had a child out of wedlock. Then, guided by his boss angel, goes back to Renaissance times, foils a plot by one brother to poison the other over a love affair (ending in the suicide of the poisoner), solves the mystery of a poltergeist, meets an agent of Satan, resists him, plays a gig in the tavern, and transports back home though the unexplainable timeless space inhabited by angels, and God. Only a writer like Anne Rice could have all this make sense. As I understand it, she has been making sense of vampires for years so the realm of Angels and Demons seems a possible extension. At the end she leaves us hanging; just as Toby has gone to confession and had a touching reunion with God and his Catholicism, a connection to his CIA days suddenly appears as a young stranger asking questions - the end! This is the most obvious lead-in to a sequel I have ever seen, but effective - I'll buy it. Anne Rice is a great story teller - to be continued.

Anne Rice's latest hero, Toby O'Dare, is on his second assignment working for the angel Malchiah, in her current Songs of the Seraphim series production, Of Love and Evil. I was excited about the continuing story of O'Dare, but after reading the book, I don't think I was completely satisfied with the finished product. I expected more depth and more emotional involvement as a reader, but the book did not engage me as I had hoped. O'Dare travels to Rome during time of the loss of power of the Medici in Florence (Savonarola) and during Jewish persecution in Rome. He is sent to discover what is causing a dybbuk (spirit) to continue to haunt a house and a particular family. I think I am dissatisfied with this particular novel set in this particular time period because I am comparing it to the works of Sarah Dunant, especially The Birth of Venus, and there is just no comparison. Of course, Ms. Rice did research on the time period and even a particular event in Rome, but the scholarly results are just not woven as magically and as deeply as with Ms. Dunant's efforts. Not that much time seems to have passed between the first book in the angel series, Angel Time, and this one, and perhaps not enough time was given for the next deadline, but I am a little disappointed in this effort. I still have not read any of Ms. Rice's vampire books, just her angel-themed ones and her Christ-themed ones after her return to Catholicism a few years ago. A little before Of Love and Evil was published, Ms. Rice's subsequent leaving of Christianity and organized religion was in the news. If you follow her on Facebook, you know how interactive she is with her followers and how she posts current events and asks provocative questions about a number of issues. I really enjoy the discourse she encourages. Her postings are usually either informative or controversial and I appreciate her accessibility to the "people of the page." This regular discourse and dialect might be another reason I am somewhat disappointed in Of Love and Evil. I just did not care about the characters in Rome that she introduced. The threads of this tale just were not interwoven to the extent to get me emotionally involved. I did enjoy the continued story of Toby and his personal redemption from assassin to angel assistant, but his story is only one aspect of this short novel. Ms. Rice does create another dilemma in O'Dare's continuing drama, and I will read the next one. I will recommend this book as a quick and easy read, but did not enjoy this effort as much as I had hoped or as much as the four previous books of Ms. Rice's that I have read.

I obviously felt like reading this second book of the series because I liked the first, but this series is not Great. I do like it. It peaked my interest in the middle when the characters had more philosophical thoughts and conversations. That is when I think Anne's writing is the best and it is what has made her my favorite. Unfortunately this was a small part of the book and the rest was a little weak. I will read more in the series as I read all of her books. But to be honest, I only like her writing about half the time. Sometimes it takes getting to the middle of the story for me to decide if I am enjoying it. Yet, that other 50% of her writing is so strong that I love her as the best author. Give it a read. It does not compare to her Vampire Chronicles in tone or voice, but it does at least refrain from being overly preachy.

The second book in the series, and I think I enjoyed it more than the first. Though some people have moaned about its size, I think it's perfect for the story told. Any longer, and it would have been too diluted with fluff and puff to withstand. This is most definitely a "Christian novel" written within a history lesson (or the other way around?), and I think it nearly answers some difficult questions. I've read most of Rice's books and the storytelling in this book is much more to the point than in her other books. No bloated or complicated plots here. And for that I'm grateful. Not because I don't enjoy her lengthier novels, but because I've had a MOST difficult semester and have finally had the chance to sit down and read a book cover-to-cover for the first time in months. It's certainly nice to start the winter break off with a wonderful Anne Rice story.

Pensavo di leggere questo romanzo ma aspettando ho capito che ha perso la magia su di me

トビーは昔の恋人と息子に会う。今度は15世紀のローマで、友人を毒殺しようとしている疑いをかけられたユダヤ人の医者のもとへ行く。セラフィムは嘘を言っているという存在もあらわれる。トビーは自分の過去におかした罪について悩む。 罪は赦されるのか？

Quality Product at a bargain price and a must read for all Anne Rice fans. Looking foreward to the next in the series.

Having read Angel Time and enjoyed it, purchasing Of Love and Evil was the obvious next step. Another short and sweet chapter in Toby's life, we see his relationship with his ex rekindle and that with his son begin to bloom. His second mission is as short and simple as the first but never-the-less a good read. I would say that again this is Anne Rice simmered down a bit but still very enjoyable,

Anne Rice gently moves the reader from her usually supernatural prose into the domain of Questions about Life. She does this in the most fascinating and enthralling way. It keeps you hooked until the very end, while at the same time, should the reader make that choice shows you that there is a second chance for all of us out there. Excellent blend of fascinating fiction with a message.