Angel Time

The Songs of the Seraphim, Book 1

By: Anne Rice

Narrated by: Paul Michael

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A divinely thrilling series about an assassin with the choice to turn from darkness to light—from the author of Interview with the Vampire

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

Into O’Dare’s nightmarish world of lone and lethal missions comes a mysterious stranger, a seraph, who offers him a chance to save rather than destroy lives. O’Dare, who long ago dreamt of being a priest but instead came to embody danger and violence, seizes his chance. Now he is carried back through the ages to thirteenth-century England, to dark realms where accusations of ritual murder have been made against Jews, where children suddenly die or disappear . . . In this primitive setting, O’Dare begins his perilous quest for salvation, a journey of danger and flight, loyalty and betrayal, selflessness and love.

©2009 Anne Rice (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

“Thrilling. . .divinely entertaining.”—PEOPLE magazine (3 ½ stars)

“Full of provocative moral reflections. . . Readers will revel in Rice’s colorful recreation of the historical past and in her moving depiction of characters struggling to reconcile matters of the heart with their personal sense of faith.”—Publishers Weekly

“Readers looking either for a convincing story of faith rediscovered or simply an exciting read will be pleased by Rice’s compelling tale, and many will hope for more books featuring her fascinating and utterly sympathetic new hero.”—Booklist, starred

Excellent Reading by Paul Michael! Bravo!

Anne Rice at her best! Great reading by Paul Micheal! Great voices, great accents. The story was so rich in description in Rice’s famous style. It was a bit slow in the beginning, but later the slow description is important to building the depth in the characters & the settings changing so much.

Bravo! Best Rice novel since her early Vampire & Mayfair Witch series.

Bravo!

Deeply human and captivating

It started out a little slow for me but Im so glad I gave it a chance. One if the best books Ive read this year!

Excellent

This book was a real pleasure to listen to from beginning to end. It is a tail spun by Anne Rice who grew to understand that our struggle is not with flesh and blood.

Good, but the resolution felt a bit anticlimactic

As usual, Anne Rice's writing voice is mesmerizing, and she makes you care for and get involved with her characters. In this book, though, the main character was built up so well at the beginning and had so much to overcome in order to be redeemed that the ultimate conclusion of his mission felt a bit anticlimactic. I guess I was looking for a bit more action than introspection, but I still enjoyed the book.

Mesmerizing voice and story

I could not stop listening. There are no boring descriptions of scenery, but instead a continuation of thoughts that have you inside the storytellers head. I greatly enjoyed this.

loved it. From beginning to end. Sad it was short.

Loved it. From beginning to end. Loved the characters and references of the old. Great

Amazing

Such a wonderful heart felt book. You can tell Anne Rice took her time with her research. Love the book.

Great story, too short, like a teaser

I liked the book. I've always liked Anne Rice, and was curious about this "new" Anne. I liked it, all in all. But I wanted more. I thought it would be one of many lessons, not just the one. I wasn't paying attention to how much time was left in the story. If I had been reading in a book, I guess I would have been more prepared. I was disappointed in the end, like I had missed the second part of the book. Perhaps there is another coming. It was too short. I really felt like I only got half the story.

Great Book

I’m just discovering the writing of Anne Rice. She is an excellent author. The writing has great flow, keeps you focused and entertained.

Wrorst Rice novel I've ever had

I thought it started out good, however after Lucky's time in NY the story trailed off somewhere that I found difficult to enjoy. Jews and Christians. Really Anne disappointed me this time. I wish it remained on my wish list indefinitely.