OF LOVE AND EVIL by Anne Rice

Of Love and Evil is book 2 of Anne Rice's Songs of the Seraphim series. It's a quick, easy read—much like a novella. Set in Adobe Garamond, the typeface is easy on the eyes.

Curious about the title, and familiar with the author, I picked it up on the New Release shelf at our local library, unaware that it is a sequel to an earlier book, Angel Time which, admittedly, I’ve not read.

This is the story of former “hitman” Lucky the Fox, or Toby O’Dare, and his efforts to make up for his crimes. Early in the book he is introduced to his son, and temporarily reunited with the boy’s mother. He is made aware that he can now feel love for them, but must suffer by being separated from them.

With the help of an angel—a member of the Seraphim named Malchiah—Toby’s unhappy life was turned around and, with Malchiah’s direction, Toby attempts to answer other’s prayers in atonement for his sins. To do this, he travels back to ancient Rome, where he encounters a ghost and a demon.

Anne Rice doesn’t mention it, but the Hebrew and Aramaic word for God is El. Hence it’s not surprising that many names in the Bible end with “el” indicating they are “of God.” Examples: Samuel, Daniel, Nathaniel, Joel, Ezekiel, Israel, Gamaliel. Also, the four angels named in the Bible have names ending in “el”: Gabriel, Michael, Uriel, Raphael. Perhaps this didn’t occur to Ms. Rice when she chose her names.

From a religious vantage point, the book is hard to categorize. It doesn’t seem to be strongly Christian, but it isn’t a secular thriller either. The book is equally difficult to disparage or recommend. It’s a simple, middle of the road story that’s neither inspiring nor upsetting. If anything, it left me feeling rather bland. — Gail

Paperback: 172 pages
Publisher: Knopf; First Edition (November 30, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400043549
ISBN-13: 978-1400043545