Title: Angel Time
Author: Anne Rice
First published January 1, 2009
274 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781400043538 (ISBN10: 1400043530)
Rating: 3.31
Overview
Anne Rice’s Angel Time delves deep into the world of mystery and suspense as it revolves around a notorious contract killer, Toby O’Dare. Living a life of darkness and violence, O’Dare finds himself at a crossroads when a seraph appears before him, offering him a chance to change his ways.
As he embarks on this journey, O’Dare finds himself transported back to thirteenth-century England, where he must navigate through a world of accusations and disappearances. In this treacherous world, he begins his quest for redemption, facing danger, betrayal, and love.
Will he be able to overcome his past and find salvation in this perilous journey? Only time will tell.
About the Author
Anne Rice, originally named Howard Allen Frances O’Brien, was a highly successful American author whose works spanned various genres such as gothic, supernatural, historical, erotica, and religious themes. Her most renowned work is The Vampire Chronicles, which delves into themes of love, death, immortality, existentialism, and the human condition.
Anne Rice was married to Stan Rice, a poet, for 41 years until his passing in 2002. Her books have sold almost 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors of our time.
Sadly, Anne Rice passed away on December 11, 2021, due to complications resulting from a stroke. She was 80 years old at the time of her passing.
For her adult-themed fiction and works that feature sexually explicit sado-masochism, Anne Rice used a pseudonym.
Editoral Review
Angel Time by Anne Rice is a captivating historical fiction novel that takes readers on a compelling journey through time, exploring themes of redemption, faith, and free will. Known for her dark and gothic tales, Rice takes on a new direction in this book, blending elements of historical fiction, spirituality, and suspense to create a unique and thought-provoking story.
The novel follows the journey of Toby O’Dare, a former hitman who has lost all sense of purpose in life. After a brush with death, Toby is visited by an angel named Malchiah, who offers him a chance to redeem himself by going back in time to seventeenth-century England.
There, he is tasked with helping a young Jewish girl, Leah, escape persecution and begin a new life in America. Along the way, Toby discovers the power of faith and comes face-to-face with his own inner demons, leading to a dramatic and emotionally charged climax.
The world-building in this book is impeccable, with Rice transporting readers seamlessly between contemporary and historical settings. The descriptions of seventeenth-century England are vivid and evocative, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and smells of the time.
The characters are also well-developed, with Toby’s transformation from a hardened killer to a compassionate and selfless individual being particularly satisfying to witness. However, the book is not without its flaws.
The pacing can be slow at times, especially in the first half of the book, and some of the plot twists are predictable. Additionally, some readers may find the religious themes and imagery overwhelming or heavy-handed.
Overall, Angel Time is a well-crafted and engaging read that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, spirituality, and suspense. Rice’s writing is sharp and introspective, and the themes she explores are deeply relevant to current issues surrounding faith, redemption, and morality.
While not without its flaws, this book is a testament to Rice’s versatility as a writer and is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers. Rating: 8/10.
While the book has some shortcomings, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, and its messages are powerful and timely.