"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.
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This second writing of Anne's, Angels of the Seraphim, series for me is much better than Angel Time.It is more simply written, which per Anne in one of her video blogs/interviews, is a harder thing to do and is a quality that she continually strives for in her writing.And if you think that because the element of simplicity is present in a work, quality and substance are sacrificed then think again, for only a master of the craft, like Anne, can give all these and leave us wanting more.And perhaps it is in this light, that we find this book a thinner one to read but one that is not bereft of plot, conflict and more questions for us the reader and for Toby who continues to struggle in his personal journey of redemption.The whole novel is tighter and takes us further on the path that Toby O Dare, assassin for hire, has begun in Angel Time. For this second outing, we find him on a mission for the Angel Malciah, in Renaissance Italy. Here Toby is assigned to a Jewish physician named Vitale who is tasked to find a cure for the ailing son of his sponsor, Signore Antonio.In this journey, Toby is forced to reconcile both people from his past, as hinted at the end of Angel Time while making room to accommodate new people and rectify what he has been led to believe at the start of the series.Written in true lavish Anne fashion and the proverbial cliffhanger, I can't wait what Toby O Dare undergoes in the next installment. :)Oh and did I mention that there was a "Dybbuk" (Jewish term for Ghost) in the tale? So what are you waiting for?Go get it and Enjoy. :)
Top reviews from other countries
Michael Vermeersch
What if you got given a second chance?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2013Amanda B
A great new series from Anne
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 29, 2013Ms. C. E. Steinborn-busse
Anne Rice always brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2013