Scan barcode
beatrice_apetrei's review against another edition
3.0
I am a great fan of Anne Rice’s writings. I loved her way of giving life to a character : she started from the origins and went on with the family tree, history and characters till present time when, normally, she continued the story line with the protagonists. All that history helps you understand better the characters and the plot.
And even more, her imagination made me enjoy her books even more ( I’m referring to Vampire Chronicles here, also about Mayfair witches) . There are not many writers willing to use strange things or unpopular subjects, unusual theories, myths and so on, in their books. I admire Anne because she was always interested in the ‘not-so-normal’ area and gave us a peek on everything she knew.
Of course everyone should be aware of the fact that it’s all fantasy and supernatural (which means that none of it is real!!!) but it’s still enjoyable; plus, sometimes we need to live in a whole different world for a few minutes.
Angel Time centers on Toby O’Dare, an assassin that once wished to become a priest (or a monk, whatever). As he goes in another mission to kill someone, he encounters an angel that gives him a chance to become a better person, by saving people back in the past.
Ok, I loved the idea (it’s actually brilliant) and I bought the book after reading some reviews (most of them not so heartening, but as I know Anne Rice, her writing style isn’t pleasant for everyone, so I believed that those who didn’t like it, weren’t fans of her earlier works either – I was wrong) and after a looooot of thinking ‘is it worth it or is it not?’. I found out that if you want an easy read or something new, it is worth it. But it’s nothing like her past works. It’s nothing like the old Anne Rice.
Have you ever thought how would it be if you, by mistake , or by purpose, would kill someone ? Would it be easy to get over it, would you regret it for the rest of your life? Would it destroy you, tear you apart until there's nothing left?
I think so, at last you'd end up in a loony bin, or in a church as a monk, but it would still be overwhelming.
During this read, I've never felt that Toby thought much about it. No nightmares ? No flashbacks? No nothing ? He accepted too easily, I believe, his past.
The things I didn't like are : the lack of her old, interesting dialogue; the abrupt change in the character (I mean, he was a serial killer, he couldn't have possibly changed so rapid) I would have loved paragraphs about the changes that occurred deep inside him, some thoughts, something ; the little-to-almost-not-at-all history.
WHERE ARE YOU ANNE? I couldn't sense much of her in this book.
I know she went through some changes in beliefs, but I never thought that it would change her writing style so much. Or maybe it’s just this book that it’s different. I intend to read some more of her new released books so I can have a clear idea of the new Rice.
I am a little disappointed. Fortunately, there are a lot of her past works that I haven’t read yet.
Firstly I gave it 4 or 5 stars, maybe because I liked the idea. But , seeing that I usually analyze a book after finishing it and after reading some more with the same, not necessarily plot, but ‘hidden’ ideas, I came to the conclusion that this deserves a 3 stars, or 3.5. But I’ll go with 3 rather than 4.
And even more, her imagination made me enjoy her books even more ( I’m referring to Vampire Chronicles here, also about Mayfair witches) . There are not many writers willing to use strange things or unpopular subjects, unusual theories, myths and so on, in their books. I admire Anne because she was always interested in the ‘not-so-normal’ area and gave us a peek on everything she knew.
Of course everyone should be aware of the fact that it’s all fantasy and supernatural (which means that none of it is real!!!) but it’s still enjoyable; plus, sometimes we need to live in a whole different world for a few minutes.
Angel Time centers on Toby O’Dare, an assassin that once wished to become a priest (or a monk, whatever). As he goes in another mission to kill someone, he encounters an angel that gives him a chance to become a better person, by saving people back in the past.
Ok, I loved the idea (it’s actually brilliant) and I bought the book after reading some reviews (most of them not so heartening, but as I know Anne Rice, her writing style isn’t pleasant for everyone, so I believed that those who didn’t like it, weren’t fans of her earlier works either – I was wrong) and after a looooot of thinking ‘is it worth it or is it not?’. I found out that if you want an easy read or something new, it is worth it. But it’s nothing like her past works. It’s nothing like the old Anne Rice.
Have you ever thought how would it be if you, by mistake , or by purpose, would kill someone ? Would it be easy to get over it, would you regret it for the rest of your life? Would it destroy you, tear you apart until there's nothing left?
I think so, at last you'd end up in a loony bin, or in a church as a monk, but it would still be overwhelming.
During this read, I've never felt that Toby thought much about it. No nightmares ? No flashbacks? No nothing ? He accepted too easily, I believe, his past.
The things I didn't like are : the lack of her old, interesting dialogue; the abrupt change in the character (I mean, he was a serial killer, he couldn't have possibly changed so rapid) I would have loved paragraphs about the changes that occurred deep inside him, some thoughts, something ; the little-to-almost-not-at-all history.
WHERE ARE YOU ANNE? I couldn't sense much of her in this book.
I know she went through some changes in beliefs, but I never thought that it would change her writing style so much. Or maybe it’s just this book that it’s different. I intend to read some more of her new released books so I can have a clear idea of the new Rice.
I am a little disappointed. Fortunately, there are a lot of her past works that I haven’t read yet.
Firstly I gave it 4 or 5 stars, maybe because I liked the idea. But , seeing that I usually analyze a book after finishing it and after reading some more with the same, not necessarily plot, but ‘hidden’ ideas, I came to the conclusion that this deserves a 3 stars, or 3.5. But I’ll go with 3 rather than 4.
m4riareads's review against another edition
3.0
La hora del Ángel nos habla de una parte de la historia de la cual sabía muy poco o nada y me ha gustado bastante aprender sobre ese tiempo pasado.
La verdad ni siquiera sabía mucho de qué iba el libro antes de comenzar a leerlo, ya que el mismo tenía 4 años en mi estantería esperando ser leído. Fue comprado en una época en que estaba enganchadísima con Las crónicas vampíricas y quería leer todo lo de la autora pero luego como toda lectora al fin, fuí dándole prioridad a otros y lo olvidé por completo. Hasta hace un par de días me dije que debía leerlo y pues me he llevado una grata sorpresa al hacerlo porque no sabía si me iba a gustar otra cosa de Rice que no fueran las historias de Lestat y sus iguales, pero su prosa es algo que me atrapa siempre y esta vez no fue la excepción.
El libro nos narra la historia de Toby O'Dare un asesino a sueldo que ha perdido la fe pero aún así continúa buscando respuesta de un Dios en el cual ya no cree y esto lleva a la aparición de un ángel llamado Malaquías, que está dispuesto a ayudarlo en su búsqueda de la redención, si éste acepta ayudar a una familia en el siglo XIII que sufre una acusación injusta muy común en esos tiempos solo por el hecho de ser judíos, y que necesitan ayuda divina para salir de esa situacion tan grave. Y aquí comienza una historia corta y bastante fácil de leer pero cargada de mucho sentimiento, y religión, sí.
Si han leído a Anne antes su estilo les va a gustar. Lo recomiendo para una lectura ligera de fin de semana, y si no tienes problemas con leer libros con contenido religioso, te va a entretener bastante.
La verdad ni siquiera sabía mucho de qué iba el libro antes de comenzar a leerlo, ya que el mismo tenía 4 años en mi estantería esperando ser leído. Fue comprado en una época en que estaba enganchadísima con Las crónicas vampíricas y quería leer todo lo de la autora pero luego como toda lectora al fin, fuí dándole prioridad a otros y lo olvidé por completo. Hasta hace un par de días me dije que debía leerlo y pues me he llevado una grata sorpresa al hacerlo porque no sabía si me iba a gustar otra cosa de Rice que no fueran las historias de Lestat y sus iguales, pero su prosa es algo que me atrapa siempre y esta vez no fue la excepción.
El libro nos narra la historia de Toby O'Dare un asesino a sueldo que ha perdido la fe pero aún así continúa buscando respuesta de un Dios en el cual ya no cree y esto lleva a la aparición de un ángel llamado Malaquías, que está dispuesto a ayudarlo en su búsqueda de la redención, si éste acepta ayudar a una familia en el siglo XIII que sufre una acusación injusta muy común en esos tiempos solo por el hecho de ser judíos, y que necesitan ayuda divina para salir de esa situacion tan grave. Y aquí comienza una historia corta y bastante fácil de leer pero cargada de mucho sentimiento, y religión, sí.
Si han leído a Anne antes su estilo les va a gustar. Lo recomiendo para una lectura ligera de fin de semana, y si no tienes problemas con leer libros con contenido religioso, te va a entretener bastante.
mdavies5325's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
chicokc's review against another edition
4.0
La historia sólo camina en dos tiempos, el presente dónde Toby O'Dare es un asesino a sueldo llamado Lucky el Zorro que trabaja para otro alguien llamado "El Hombre Justo"; y el pasado, dónde tiene que salvar a unos judíos habitantes de Norwich, Inglaterra y su nombre es "hermano Tobías", un monje domínico.
roserobin's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ericaroseeberhart's review against another edition
5.0
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I was interested, entertained, and at the same time expecting some of the more homoerotic and/or gruesome detail that her old books used to contain but this book had none of it.
The book is lovely and written perfectly. Anne Rice always has a tendency to over-describe different things and dive into memories for more time than needed but I feel she worked out exactly as much 'time' as needed in this story. Each memory was presented to the degree of information we needed and each description was perfectly executed.
Although Anne Rice might not be writing vampire literature anymore (and believe me, I wish I could get another story about Lestat and Louis one of these days!) I think that her strength in writing has returned. Her tales are interesting with an edge of education added to it. They might not be as dark as they once were, but there is still that edge of darkness, that eternal struggle for what is right from wrong.
The book is lovely and written perfectly. Anne Rice always has a tendency to over-describe different things and dive into memories for more time than needed but I feel she worked out exactly as much 'time' as needed in this story. Each memory was presented to the degree of information we needed and each description was perfectly executed.
Although Anne Rice might not be writing vampire literature anymore (and believe me, I wish I could get another story about Lestat and Louis one of these days!) I think that her strength in writing has returned. Her tales are interesting with an edge of education added to it. They might not be as dark as they once were, but there is still that edge of darkness, that eternal struggle for what is right from wrong.
et0fu's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
kb_the_gm's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know if I'll continue the duology, but this was a very good read. Might continue it within the future :)
carlylottsofbookz's review against another edition
3.0
I have trouble thinking what I want to say about this book.
On the one hand, it was very well written, the way that Anne Rice does well.
On the other hand, the story wasn't all that intriguing to me. It is essentially the tale of an assassins struggle over his soul and faith in God. I remember reading that Rice "found religion" and the controversy over what it would do to her writing. This book is the sum of those fears.
It is the start of a series, but not one I will continue.
I think that I might also be over the technique of having a 'bad' character as the protagonist whom we are to love and pity, who is writing his life story. It works for Vampire Chronicles, but to keep using it feels lazy and overdone.
Benefit of the doubt, 3 stars.
On the one hand, it was very well written, the way that Anne Rice does well.
On the other hand, the story wasn't all that intriguing to me. It is essentially the tale of an assassins struggle over his soul and faith in God. I remember reading that Rice "found religion" and the controversy over what it would do to her writing. This book is the sum of those fears.
It is the start of a series, but not one I will continue.
I think that I might also be over the technique of having a 'bad' character as the protagonist whom we are to love and pity, who is writing his life story. It works for Vampire Chronicles, but to keep using it feels lazy and overdone.
Benefit of the doubt, 3 stars.
alandd's review against another edition
2.0
Malísimo. Solo el hecho de que fue ubicado en un siglo que parecía bastante interesante es lo que le otorgó una segunda estrella. Un personaje bien construído pero poco creíble, un serafín que no me parece para nada convincente, además de su misma condición me imposibilita creer que deja de estar al lado del trono de su creador para ir a la tierra y salvar un alma más.