The Angel of Death has taken a young girl under his wings. Every night, he reads her bedtime stories. Some of these stories are fairytales, some are stories about the girl's family, and some are about his own history. When the girl grows up, she gets into big trouble, and the angel risks everything to help her.
The Angel of Death has taken a young girl under his wings. Every night, he reads her bedtime stories. Some of these stories are fairytales, some are stories about the girl's family, and some are about his own history. When the girl grows up, she gets into big trouble, and the angel risks everything to help her.
Michael poked his head through the door and grinned at Fanny.
“Ready?” he asked.
Fanny was five, a green-eyed girl with a mischievous smile and two dimples. Grandma had tucked her in securely, and now it was story time.
Michael, pronounced “Mee-kha-El,” was Fanny’s godfather. He was also the Angel of Death. He appeared as a dark young man with raven-black wings and ebony hair, but he had light-filled, blue eyes.
Fanny and Grandma Diana were his family – as much as an angel could have a family, that is. Michael grabbed the heavy tome of fairy tales from the table and plopped into the red, velvety armchair next to Fanny’s bed.
“You look like a little cherub,” Michael remarked.
“What’s a cherub?”
“A baby angel. You remind me of my brothers when they were little. Imagine a flock of two hundred young angels, all with blonde hair and fluffy white wings.”
Fanny’s eyes widened.
“Two hundred brothers?”
“They were Angels of Light. When they descended from the sky, the glow of their wings turned night into day. When they flew in formation, they made a deafening sound like a million hornets. When they sang, Earth herself stood still and listened.”
Michael hesitated, then he added, “They are all gone now. The snake ate them.”
The last of the setting sun disappeared below the horizon. A gust of cold air came through the open bedroom window.
Fanny’s lower lip quivered. “Did that happen a long, long time ago?”
“Yes, a very long time ago, when humankind was young. But I still miss them.”
“I wish I could hug you,” Fanny said.
“Me too,” Michael smiled at the girl. “But you know I can’t. My touch brings death, and you are supposed to stay alive for many more years.”
For the ten thousand years of his life, Michael had walked the Earth unseen and unheard, quietly collecting his souls. Then he met Hannah, who could see him.
Michael still felt guilty about Hannah, but he did not want to think about that right now. His thoughts drifted. What he longed for was a soul-to-soul connection, but he had no soul, so he could not connect, not really. Like all angels, he had been created without a soul. His little extravaganza with this human family was a luxury he allowed himself - for as long as it lasted.
Michael tore himself away from his musings and asked, “Which one do you want to hear tonight? The one with the wolf and the little girl in red clothes?”
“That’s Little Red Riding Hood,” said Fanny. “No, tell me one that’s not in the book, maybe one about someone who is lonely?”
“No problem,” said the Angel of Death. “I’ll tell you the story of the little dog who became a volcano.”
This book has something of The Arabian Nights, as readers become silent witnesses (listeners) of a character telling bedtime stories to his audience. Here, the storyteller is pretty original, Michael, the Angel of Death, and both he and Fanny, the girl he tells the stories to, are the protagonists of some of the stories. The novel is divided into five parts: the first one contains ten original and singular stories: some are novel versions of classic fairy tales, some have clear messages, and some are more open to interpretation, and all are unique and enchanting. The second part tells the narrator's story, full of wonder, sadness, and heartache. The third narrates the story of Fanny and her family, which is intrinsically linked to that of Michael. Part four shows readers what happens when Fanny grows up, and part 5, called Redemption, follows Fanny and Michael on a journey that will change them both.
The bedtime stories in this book cover a large number of topics: from loneliness, to marriage, family relationships, bullying, fear, loss, not fitting in, diversity, forgiveness, second chances, illness, ageing, and death … There is magic, mythological creatures (dragons, the Yeti, mermaids…), but also everyday situations seen from an alternative point of view, and the protagonists of the stories are always are flawed and fallible, like real human beings. There are twists, lessons to be learned, and plenty of surprises. But the book is more than the stories included in it. It is also a coming-of-age story; of Fanny, the little girl readers meet at the beginning, who grows older—not always wiser—throughout the narration, and of the Angel of Death, who tells his story, grows, and changes thanks to his relationship with Fanny and her family. There is a lot of telling, which suits the narrative style well, and the language is both simple and beautiful, with lovely descriptions and much wisdom imparted. Through the stories and the reactions they provoke, readers get to know the characters, who are not perfect and make mistakes, but learn from them, change, and develop.
This title will suit readers of all ages who love fairy tales with a difference, and its structure means that it does not need to be read in one sitting to follow the overall story. Readers with limited time can dip in and out as each fairy tale is a complete narrative in its own right, perfect to be read as a bedtime story. Some of the tales deal in subjects that might upset very young and sensitive children; parents are in the best position to decide if the stories are suitable for their kids. And, although some of the characters, ideas, and concepts will be familiar to readers of Christian fiction, this is not a religious book in an orthodox sense.