Customer Reviews

Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter, Book 2)

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Archangel's Kiss picks up about a year after Angels' Blood left off. After the fight with Uram, when vampire hunter Elena and Archangel Raphael almost died, Elena wakes up from a year long coma to find out that she's been turned immortal. But she's not a vampire; she's the first Angel to be made in recent history. Angels are usually born, not Made. It's extremely rare, and makes her a point of interest for the other Archangels in the powerful Cadre of Ten. In fact, it makes her a target for those who want to strike out at Raphael. In his love for her, she's become his weakness.

Raphael has taken her to the angel's Refuge, where she heals and trains to use her new body. She hasn't lost her hunter born abilities, so she hopes to eventually go back to her Guild Hunter duties. She keeps in touch with her best friend Sara, director of the Guild, and Deacon, Sara's weapons master hubby, who works on some new weapons to fit her new body with wings. Her training and snarky interactions with Raphael's Seven (his top lieutenants who help him to run his holdings) are humorous at times. With the exception of Illium, the blue winged angel we met in Angels Blood, the Seven do not approve of Elena. Although Raphael has ordered them to protect her, they view her as a weakness for their Master. It was also funny seeing Illium's flirtings with Elena, and Raphael's jealous "MINE" responses. I was intrigued to learn more about the Seven and hope to see more of them in future books. I'd love to see a books focused on Illium, Jason and Dmitri. They are my favs. Illium especially...I'd like him to find his HEA.

Elena as a character is very interesting. She's a strong woman who went through a traumatic experience as a child and who is estranged from her family as a result of that experience. No 'mary sue' character, she struggles as she grows in her new body and surroundings, and her struggles make her that much more interesting. She also is challenged with her relationship with Raphael, who is so much older and stronger. She will not become a pet, and seeks to find equal ground between them. One of the strongest beings on the planet and a member of the Cadre of Ten, Raphael is used to getting what he wants. He is not only powerful, he is cruel and vicious at times. With her human heart in an immortal body, Elena is adapting to being surrounded by predators. Elena makes Raphael more human in his love for her.

The plot primarily revolves around what's going on the Refuge--Elena's training as well as a series of kidnappings. The kidnapping and torture of the victims are suspected to be done by a powerful angel hoping to be able to join the Cadre of Ten. There are also suspicious actions that seem like someone is trying to turn Archangels against each other, and upset the inner workings of the Cadre. Elena is targeted as pawn in these actions, trying to pit Raphael against Michaela. Of course, Michaela can't stand Elena anyway and has already targeted her on her own. Elena is involved in the hunt for the perpetrators as they try to determine who is behind the attacks.

Meanwhile, the worries about Lijuan, the oldest and most powerful of the Archangels, continue. Jason, Raphael's spymaster, reports that she is growing her army of the reborn dead. When Lijuan invites Elena and Raphael, as well as the Cadre to her home for a ball, they must take the opportunity to face her even at the high risk to themselves. Lijuan has a nasty surprise for Elena, and the identity of the angel behind the attacks comes to light.

If you've read Singh's Psy Changeling books, her Guild Hunter series is darker...especially so with this book. If you like darker paranormal romance books like Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward, you'll enjoy this series. Raphael is the ultimate alpha and the dark plotlines, intriguing characters, and disturbing enemies will pull you in. Only area for improvement for me was the battle scene at the end. Seems there should have been a bit more to it. But that's really a minor thing. All in all, I love this series--couldn't put it down. Definite keepers!

Other books in the series:
Angels' Blood - book one, full length novel
Must Love Hellhounds - anthology focused on characters from book one
Angels' Pawn: A Companion Novella to Angels? Blood - novella

If you are on the hunt for more books like this, check out my list of paranormal romance and urban fantasy favorites...
http://www.amazon.com/Paranormal-action-romance-must-reads/lm/R214ESW3HL12HM/ref=tag_lag_rb_munk_lmfull
(copy and paste into your browser window)

It's rare that a long-awaited book meets my high expectations let alone exceeds it like this powerhouse second installment of Elena and Raphael's love story. One word sums it up = WOW! This book was everything and MORE I wanted to see for these two characters.

Rachel became a little more humanized, still scary as hell, still extremely alpha male dominant and possessive, his MINE sends a shiver down my spine. He can be scary powerful but he more than proved in this book his absolute love for Elena with his tender care during her nightmares and his respect for her plea to have some privacy AND especially his opening up about his own troubled younger years. I fell MORE in love with him in second book. I really love how Singh penned this extremely strong archangel struggling not to smother his angel-made woman b/c he didn't want to change her or break her warrior woman spirit.

BRAVO to Singh for penning Elena as emotionally fragile yet at same time with such a core inner strength she slayed her darkest nightmare come to life. Bravo to Raphael for not doubting her strength and letting her serve the killing blow. Bravo to Elena for not being too stupid to live and respecting these powerful supreme beings and her own limitations. She wasn't that rashly foolish Elena as much as one a smart, warrior woman who knew when to fight and when to run.

Singh managed to build a real deep bond of utter trust between them, and they came out far more equal than I expected. Elena stared down Raphael's darkness and instead of flinching as he expected, she vowed to be his conscience, his inner light, to keep him anchored to humanity.

Finally, I've loved Singh's PsySeries but often when finished reading one of those books I feel the relationship development comes way too secondary plot to the world building. Such was the case in 1st book of Archangel Series and while I loved it, I was thirsty to read more focus on relationship and in THIS book the relationship is ALL... the plots, even the background of the characters are all woven brilliantly to develop and build and build upon the growing love AND trust between Elena and Raphael.

Elena made Raphael far more mortal and he made her stronger, more immortal. They met in the middle in a way I didn't expect this early in the series. How rare a true alpha male meets his alpha female partner, and that's how the book ends, in no doubt whatsoever these two are warrior soulmates and the sensuality between these is off the scales HOT!

WOW!

Nalini Singh proves what an amazing writer she is again in Archangel's Kiss, the next book in her Guild Hunter series.

It has been a year after the climactic events of Angels' Blood. Elena Deveraux has woken up from her year-long coma. She is no longer a mere mortal with hunter skills; instead, she is now an immortal angel, a very weak, immortal angel unfortunately. But with her lover, and powerful archangel, Raphael by her side, they will work through the kinks and make her stronger. Elena has to become stronger because right now, she is the archangels' plaything. They are gunning for her like mad, this weakness of Raphael's.

Danger is brewing. Lijuan is building her army in Beijing and she wants to show it off to Elena. Then there is the menace growing in the Refuge. Someone is hurting angels and purposely baiting Elena. Weak as she is, she will not be bested by a maniac.

There is quite a bit going on in this book, both action-wise, and emotionally with the characters. I liked this book even more than the first in the series because I felt like the author was given a chance to dig into her characters, rather than just setting up the romance and basic world building of the novels. Elena is perhaps at her weakest she has been in a long time so she has to rely on Raphael.

Equally, Raphael for all he purports to love Elena realizes he has to start opening up to her. Trust and equality is not a one-way street and Raphael needs to start letting her in. This is hard for him, hard for her, but they make it work. They want to make it work and that makes all the difference. Powerful, immortal beings or not, love is a gift neither expected and they don't want to lose it.

Nalini Singh played up many of the secondary characters again, making them more interesting than ever. I know I'm intrigued by Raphael's Seven more than I expected.

There are also touches of whimsy and delight in this book. The power of flying, the laughter of children, and the growing intimacy between Raphael and Elena all add up to combat and help negate the growing darkness.

I swear, everything Nalini Singh writes turns golden. I was completely absorbed in this world, these characters, and their struggles. I'm excited to read more about this world, about Elena and Raphael, and I have a feeling I'm not alone. Too bad it looks like the next book in the series won't be out until 2011.

This book is seriously amazing - the imagery and details are so beautiful and it's like you're really in the setting and the scene.

Nalini Singh has developed her characters so deeply that Raphael and Elena seem like real people that could be found in real life if angels and hunters did, in fact, exist. While they are not perfect, have a realistic love and their relationship is not automatic - each one has to work to not lose themself to the other and destroy that which makes them them. These extremely stubborn and headstrong couple learn how to comprise in their relationship and, although it is not always happily ever after, it is very real.

This book is also rife with danger, mystery, romance, humor, and snappy comebacks as well.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book if you're looking for a fun read (and no, it's not just because I have a major crush on Raphael - the guy is HOT, what can I say? ^-~) ... trust me, you WON'T regret it! :D

Also, I suggest that you read the first one as well! Angels' Blood

This is the second book in Nalini Singh's `Guild Hunter' paranormal series.

Be warned - there was a HUGE twist at the end of `Angels' Blood' and no way to write a spoiler around it in this review. . .

Elena Deveraux was a successful Guild Hunter. One year ago she was on the hunt for a maddened Archangel, and almost lost her life in a fight against him. Now, waking from a year-long coma Elena finds herself a made angel. Thanks to her lover and Archangel, Raphael, Elena's life was spared and made immortal. Now she has wicked black wings, longevity and the interest of every Archangel in the world.

Elena is the first angel to be made (not born) in recent memory. She is an anomaly and has drawn the interest of the oldest and most dangerous Archangel, Lijuan. Elena and her lover, Raphael, have only just found each other, and sacrificed a lot to stay together. Now, they must fight to keep their love safe.

I am in love with Nalini Singh's `Guild Hunter' series. One of my favourite things about the series is the romance between Raphael and Elena. If you like Jeaniene Frost's `Night Huntress' books, then `Guild Hunter' is for you. Elena and Raphael found each other in first book `Angels' Blood', and now the `will they or won't they' is over. As Raphael repeatedly states, he and Elena are going to be together forever. They are each other's soul mates, now found, never to be parted. Now, I love a good romantic tension as much as the next person (hello Kate and Curran!) but there's something equally satisfying about a series HEA couple getting their `ever after' from the get-go.

Now, a big focus of the series is how Raphael and Elena adapt to each other. Elena is still suffering the scars of a haunted childhood, and has never given love or intimacy easily. Raphael is a hundreds-year old Archangel who thought his heart hardened. . . Now, these two misfits have to figure out how they fit together. There's no doubt that they love each other, but it's a matter of figuring out the nuts and bolts of their relationship.

I love how Singh combines the sex and sensuality of Elena and Raphael's relationship with the harder side of being together. Yes, theirs is a `happily ever after', but Singh is illustrating how they have to work for the `happily'. It's especially heart-warming to read Raphael learning about trust and honesty with his once-human Elena.

The action and drama of this book is fantastic. Lijuan is a wicked villain. Not only is she a mightily powerful Archangel evolved beyond caring about petty things like humanity, Lijuan is also fascinated by death. Lijuan raises the dead, and it has been rumoured that she takes them to her bed too. Her scenes are chilling for their subtlety - Lijuan's double talk and the spymaster rumours that leak to Raphael about her goings on.

Singh's angel mythology keeps getting better and better, mostly because it's entirely Singh's own. Forget cherubs and the Bible - Singh is recreating angels. These winged characters are evil and sensual - conniving and political, and completely fascinating. I love that Singh is using the bare bones of the angel mythology to create a whole new breed of supernatural.

Nalini Singh's `Guild Hunter' series is phenomenal. Everything about it is utterly unique - from the firmly established coupling to the entirely new angel mythology. I am completely in love with this series.

Nalini Singh continues to impress me. Her writing is so powerful, and puts you right there in the scene with the characters. I did not want this story to end. I love the fire that Elena and Raphael generate. I cannot wait until the next segment in this series. Ms Singh has become my new #1.

I pre-ordered Archangel's Kiss after reading Angels' Blood earlier this year. Overall, the series is entertaining and amusing. If you're looking for a light read in this genre, you could do worse than the Guild Hunter Series, but the books are not without problems.

Singh does a much better job with characterization in Archangel's Kiss. She fleshes out the personalities of the two main characters, making them more interesting and more engaging, but at times, her character development seems repetitive. Instead of growing over the course of the book, the characters seem to repeat the same lines. This is a weakness that prevails in Singh's writing style--in addition to character development, the plot is, at times, very repetitive. The book would have benefited from having an editor that paid attention to making the story more cohesive as a whole.

That said, the series took several interesting turns in Archangel's Kiss. I was pleased to discover that Elena wasn't magically transformed into a perfect angel--that she struggled throughout her recovery to regain her strength and abilities. I also enjoyed reading scenes from Raphael's perspective. And Singh made great use of the supporting characters that weren't seen a lot in the first installment.

I will pre-order the third book when it becomes available, but I'm not completely hooked on the series yet. The verdict is still out.

"She is my heart. Protect her as you did once before."

Can I start off by saying how much I love Raphael? He's giving Barrons a run for his money. But Barrons is still my number one guy, for now. We all fell in love with the Archangel of New York in Angel's Blood and we fall more deeply in love with Raphael in book 2 of the Guild Hunter series - Archangel's Kiss. This book starts off with Raphel and Elena at the Refuge. They have been summonded by the Archangel Lijuan to attend a ball. Elena is still recovering from her injuries and as of yet, can not fly. Or have sex. At least have sex the way Raphael wants to have sex. We learn more about Elena's past and what happened to her mother and sisters at the hands of Slater Patalis. And what caused the now strained relationship between her and her father. There's still more to learn and thank goodness there's going to be a book 3.

Elena is still adjusting to her new life as an angel and her new lover. She's still having trust issues and she is not quick to forget that she is hunter-born. She plans on returning to the Guild and her work as a vampire hunter once they return to Manhattan. I love the dynamics of Raphael and Elena's relationship. He's an archangel and is not used to asking for permission. Like Nike, he just does it. Elena is independent, strong-willed and doesn't like that her body isn't completely healed. And she doesn't like being told what to do. Their verbal sparring is interesting and funny. At one point, she calls Raphael "snarly". He smiles and says, "Only you would ever dare to say that to me." Raphel is becoming more human. He is not as cold as he was in Angel's Blood. His Seven worries that Elena weakens him; that his enemies will use Elena against him. When approached by Venom with this declaration, Raphael's response is: "She's more important to me than all of you. Don't ever forget."

This was a great follow-up to Angel's Blood. I was not disappointed. We are introduced to more of Raphael's Seven and we have more of Illium (or Bluebell as Elena likes to call him). I hope there's more Illium in future books. He's a great character and I love his interactions with Elena.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves sexy Archangels who know how to love hard and fight hard and protect their own.

I do love Singh's angel books: a great twist on the new genre of angel novels and the tired trope of vampires. The setting is fabulous, and I am rooting for Raphael and Elena all the way! They really deserve a good relationship with one another.

One issue I had, though, was the contrast between sex and PTSD. It seemed that the mystery faded into the background while Elena either agonized about the psycho vampire who killed her family or rolled around on the bed with Raphael. I'm glad she got to kill the bastard at the end of the book, but it seemed just a bit anticlimactic.

Also, Elena's own trauma fades when EVERY character has a traumatic past. There's Raphael's issues with his mother, Michaela's implied grief over her child, and it's hinted that ALL the other characters have nightmarish histories. A bit of PTSD is good; it addes humanity and depth to the characters, and addes depth to the plot. But it only works in small doses: when EVERYONE has it, it becomes stale and boring. Why can't someone at least have grown up normally?

Also, there's the sex, sex, sex! I get it, it's a romance novel, but too much sex can really clog the plot. Not to mention that it seemed that Elena just distracted herself with Raphael's gorgeous bod instead whenever she felt the PTSD instead of working through her issues. (Though, really, that's probably realistic.)

First time reading a Singh book. I would have to say I am an avid reader and her book is very jumpy. Goes from one topic to another. The story line doesn't seem cohesive. Don't get me wrong the main plot is visible but I just could not get into her characters not enough development. It seemed like she didn't have a great editor.

I enjoyed the idea of the story just thought it could have been written better or again I will say edited better.