I liked this book. It isn't at all what I expected. But that may be a good thing! It's not a romance. It's actually about a serial killer. I enjoyed Ms. Rice's deep characterization, especially with her darker characters. Though it isn't the normal type of book I would read, it kept my attention and always kept me wondering what was going to happen.
Here's a blurb about the story:
Toby O'Dare, a contract killer of underground fame on assignment to kill once again. A souless soul, a dead man walking, he lives under a seris of aliases. 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 13th century England, to dark realms where accusation of ritual murder have been made against Jews... In this primitive setting, O'Dare begins his perilous quest for salvation, a journe of danger and flight, loyalty and betrayal, selflessness and love.
In order to enter your name for the contest, you must leave a comment (email address included) and say something about angels. What you think of them. Have you ever met one? What do you think they do? Quote a verse from the Bible about them. Anything like that.
Have a great weekend!
This sounds like a good book. I just recently saw something about Anne Rice's conversion and was intrigued. I'd never read one of her books, but I know she's been a prolific author.
ReplyDeleteAs for angels, the typical picture of sweet cherubs flying around is so not how they are portrayed in the Bible. They are strong and not to be messed with. I love the "angels unaware" scripture.
mochawithlinda at gmail dot com
Hum, Anne Rice the vampire writer. I never knew she had become a Christian. I think I would be interested in reading her book just to get into her head a little.
ReplyDeleteI would say angels are about as far away from vampires as you could get. I don't believe there is any scriptural warrant for belief in actual vampires, although of course in fantasy literature (which I do appreciate from time to time) anything goes! Angels, on the other hand, ARE real according to the Bible and do play a part in this world in ministering to God's chosen. No, I've never seen one but I'm sure there are a great many things we'll be unaware of until we reach heaven!
csteward@gmsa.org
The Bible speaks of angels so I know they exist. I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
ReplyDeletewandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com
I didn't become a Christian until after I had my second child. I read Anne Rice's Vampire novels. When I heard she had become a believer, it was hard to accept at first, but hadn't I changed? Just as God had redeemed me, He can redeem anyone. Why should it be different because she was a famous author who wrote vampire books?
ReplyDeleteI didn't read her books though. I read mostly non-fiction at first and then I started with romances. I've only just started branching out into other genres.
As for angels, I've always believed in them. Once I read the Bible I saw they were not the images we see in paintings and most of the statues. They are messengers yes, but they are also fierce, strong and fighting a battle for God. I do not see them as fluffy women with harps floating by in gauzy outfits.
A lot of the time when angels appeared in the Bible the people had to be told not to be afraid. There had to be something intimidating about their appearance in order to warrant that statement. Sometimes they appear with swords - like in the story with Balaam.
Have I ever seen an angel? I don't know. Perhaps I did and I didn't know it. There are times when angels are described as looking like men. I do know they serve God.
I'd like to read the book. Please enter me. leesmithwriting{at}yahoo{dot}com
Angels are created beings and I think secular culture has it all wrong about them. We don't become angels when we go to Heaven. I do find them fascinating though.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Michelle V
m.vasquez[at]grandecom[dot]net
I didn't know that Ann Rice was a Christian either. I would definitely be interested in reading her book.
ReplyDeleteAngels, hmm...maybe we are entertaining angels unaware?
Why was Lot such a dummy in the book of Genesis when the angels were urging him out of the city of Sodom?
Does that work? :)
artsyrockerchick@aim.com
This sounds like a good book to me...I believe in angels...I also believe that we all have a 'guardian angel' that keeps a close eye on us.
ReplyDeletekarenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would love to read this book! I have angels all over my house and truly believe they are with us. I had an experience once with my Neice when she was 3, she called me and said there was a lady in the room, Of course I saw nothing BUT I was over come with a strong scent of roses! Sent goosebumps down my arms.
ReplyDeleteSara Coulas
Nathanielsmom@telus.net
Now you all go back and read the vampire novels.... Its really about the separation from God and the anguish caused by the separation, not the celebration of the vampire and its exploitations Read them from this perspective and you will see the same struggles in all of us as we fight the darkness that is within us all. Enjoy, she is a great author.
ReplyDeleteHey there!
ReplyDeleteSo I've never seen or felt an angel, but I don't doubt their existence. My Grandfather passed away four years ago around Easter. My step-grandma took it very hard for a long time, and lost some of her usually unwavering faith in God, which had never happened until then. One day she was fine. She told me that she had seen Pompy (my grandpa) and that he was an angel and was looking over us. My family chalked it up to just a dream, but I don't doubt that my grandpa came to my step-grandma, truly an angel, to soothe her pain.
Joanna
N01962509@newpaltz.edu
I believe that angels exist, but I too have never seen nor felt one. Instances of infants "falling" safely have happened in my family, however, and we have attributed these events to angels.
ReplyDeleteLike one time, when my older sister was an infant, my mother placed her securely on a tabletop counter and went off quickly to get something. As soon as she got back, my sister was happily laying on the floor, on her baby basket, all smiles. To this day, we thank her guardian angel.
When I was younger, I came across this Angel book which gave one's guardian angel name based on one's birth date. Back then I believed in it strongly, that to this day I could still recall my Angel-book-generated guardian angel's name: Leuviah.
Pam
[darvit at darvit dot net]
My father told me that when I was a little boy I use to say an angel lived in my closet.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I believe in angels. I remember one night, lying in bed and then looking up and seeing my wardrobe half-way open and seeing a man standing there. He stared at me calmly, and I distinctly recall him glowing a faint blue color, like moonlight. I remember he was holding a saucer with a candle on it which also shone that same moonbeam color. I remember thinking it was an angel and not being able to move.
To this day I can't go to sleep, I can't turn of the light, unless I've first checked the closet. I don't know if it was just my childish imagination. Today I have very different ideas about life and God to the ones I had growing up.
Morné Volschenk
mjvolschenk@yahoo.com
Angels?
ReplyDeleteI'm an angel...
a falling down angel...dark
so sad...
Angels?
ReplyDeleteI'm an angel...
a falling down angel...dark
so sad...
Dear MaryLu,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your contest.
As for what we have bywhat of the Bible and depictions in literature (e.g., Milton's Paradise Lost), angels are:
1) created beings that may well have been created when the Heavens were created;
2) are sons of God that rejoiced when God laid the foundations of the Earth;
3) do not have bodies but can appear with a body in order to serve as as messengers or to carry out God's missions-being messengers is one of thir main roes, and relates to the origin of the name, "angel"
4) there are many classes of angels, including cherubim, seraphim and archangel.
5) Satan, or Lucifer (Lightbringer, Morning Star), was one of the most powerful angels ad was the first angel to have sinned
6) humans do ot become angels when they die
7) angels are not cute, babylike creatures bt are awe-inspiring and magnificent creations, often inspiring both fear and dread; they appear simlar to adult humans, usually adult men, in how they manifest themselves
...there's a lot more, but that's some...( :
James
jamesgormley(at)optonline(dot)net
jamesgormley@optonline.net
By the way, sorry about all the weird typos----something strange happens when I fill out online forms.....
ReplyDelete(:
James
I have always believed we are surrounded by angels. They are the messengers and I feel like I have gotten several clear commands by G-D to complete certain tasks through them. I also love that they protect us from harm and sometimes even death! I know in my heart they have done this for me and my family!
ReplyDeleteWow, I just love all your comments and stories! Thank you James, for taking the time to type out what the Bible has to say about angels. It's such a fascinating topic. I like to picture a massive burly angel hovering over my kids, protecting them. Someday I hope God will show me all the times angels protected and helped me and I didn't even know it. I have a few stories I can share too.. of what I think were encounters. But the main thing to remember is God sent these angels to us. We are to keep our focus on Him, not on them. God bless you all!
ReplyDeleteI've always viewed angels as strong, warrior-type creatures, but up until a few months ago, I thought of them as more or less man-like. Then, I was listening to a sermon on my computer by a former pastor of mine (http://www.rondaniel.com/library/rondaniel.html - this was in the "History and Future of the World" series), and he was talking about Genesis 6:1-4.
ReplyDeleteBecause he knew a lot of Hebrew, he pointed out that here when it says "sons of God," it is benih elohim, a term only used in the OT in reference to angels. So after he explains all the terminology and meanings of the words and everything, it comes out that the Nephraim were the descendants of unions between angels and human women.
These Nephraim were the ancestors of the Philistines and other groups of giants.
So, in other words, angels are BIG guys, or at least the bodies they manifested themselves in at the time were.
It's no wonder they are warriors that God sends to protect us!
I also find it interesting to remember that demons are fallen angels (not the tiny, pitchfork-weilding devils that sit on shoulders in cartoons), and they constantly try to attack and harm us Christians. So even though we rarely see creatures from the eternal realm, spiritual warfare takes on quite a new meaning when you imagine battling giants all around you.
Thanks for holding this drawing, MaryLu!
-Sapphire
sapphirethepirate(at)bresnan(dot)net
Did not know about Anne Rice, either. I have never read any of her books due to the content - vampires. I am not interested in reading about them. Angels are another story, of course! I feel as though I have seen an angel the weekend I came to the Lord as a Christian. The testimony is too long to go into here; however, this angel kept his watch on me the entire weekend during my conversion. I even spoke to him momentarily. What a joy to know that our Lord is so real and His ambassadors, angels, minister and protect us as well as engaging in spiritual battle for us on a continual basis. I am also aware that we "entertain angels unawares." The spiritual realm is so far beyond what we can imagine! Glory to our most Omnipotent and Omniscient God/Lord!!!
ReplyDeleteMary, your books (Redemption, Reliance and Restitution) are absolutely wonderful and inspirational. Love the intrigue and love story. Hope and restoration come to mind, also. I can hardly wait to read ALL your books. I look forward to coming home, sitting in my favorite soft chair, a satisfying snack, warm cup of tea and one of your books. What a treat!
I am impressed with your testimony and what God can do with our lives!!!!
I just added a comment but forgot to add my name for the drawing. How fun to have a chance to win!! :-)
ReplyDeleteAlice
alicemae50@comcast.net
I love your blog! It's beautiful! I read Angel Time and had to chuckle when we found ourselves back in the Middle Ages. So Anne Rice! I loved the character of Toby (except the hit man part which of course one understands). I just started a new blog with a literary theme and my first post was about this book contrasted with the books of Dan Rice. Now I'm reading The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova. If you get a chance, I wd really appreciate your looking at my blog and giving me your thoughts. Thanks! Margaret @ www.whattheowltoldme.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteGood to hear of her conversion...have never read her books, but would love to read this one. Please enter me. I believe angels watch over us and claim that every day for my loved ones!
ReplyDeleteThanks!!!
jackie.smith(at)dishmail(dot)net