Publication Date: 10/28/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Jove
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 384
ISBN-10: 0425251179
ISBN-13: 978-0425251171
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Jove)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound
Nalini Singh on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads
Books in the series:
Guild Hunter
1. Angel's Judgement
1. Angel's Blood
2. Archangel's Kiss
3. Archangel's Consort
3.5. Angel's Wolf (in Angels of Darkness)
4. Archangel's Blade
5. Archangel's Storm
6. Archangel's Legion
7. Archangel's Shadows
Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from, Archangel's Shadows, courtesy of the author's website.
Synopsis:
Return to New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s sensual and painfully beautiful Guild Hunter world in her new novel of sacrifice, loyalty, and the choices of love that can shatter the heart.
In the wake of a brutal war, the archangel Raphael and his hunter consort, Elena, are dealing with the treacherously shifting tides of archangelic politics and the people of a battered but not broken city. The last thing their city needs is more death, especially a death that bears the eerie signature of an insane enemy archangel who cannot—should not—be walking the streets.
This hunt must be undertaken with stealth and without alerting their people. It must be handled by those who can become shadows themselves…
Ash is a gifted tracker and a woman cursed with the ability to sense the secrets of anyone she touches. But there’s one man she knows all too well without a single instant of skin contact: Janvier, the dangerously sexy Cajun vampire who has fascinated and infuriated her for years. Now, as they track down a merciless killer, their cat-and-mouse game of flirtation and provocation has turned into a profound one of the heart. And this time, it is Ash’s secret, dark and terrible, that threatens to destroy them both.
Thoughts:
Nalini Singh brings readers the latest book in the Guild Hunter series, Archangel's Shadows. This is the seventh book in the series and fans of both paranormal romance and urban fantasy will have something to cheer about. This book is a good blending of the genres and readers get all sexual tension and the possibility of happy ever after found in most good PNR's, but they also get the modern setting and strong character development found in most good UF novels. Singh scores with Ash and Janvier's story in a big way!
What I liked:
If you've been reading the Guild Hunter series from the beginning you will already know that Ash and Janvier have a long history starting with the first book in the series. Throughout the series Ash has hunted Janvier several times and ended up not killing him for one reason or another. I have always loved the love-hate kind of relationship they have going on. Janvier considers it a form of courtship, while Ash thinks of it as an annoyance. Whatever Singh had in mind for this romance, it certainly works. The characters play very well off each other and when the reader finds out what's really been keeping them apart they will be shocked and satisfied with the resolution.
One of the things that I like about this series is the fact that there is an overall story arc that follows one couple, Elena and Raphael and then there are side stories like this one with Janvier and Ash. That is more a trait of good Urban Fantasy novel where the reader gets to see the ups and downs of the main couple throughout several books. But then you have the romance of the current book which is more of a paranormal romance trait. I love how Singh blends the two genres so well. I loved finding out what was going on with Elena and Raphael, but the focus was still on Ash and Janvier in this one and they carried the book with ease. There story was engaging, full of action and tender moments that brought it all together.
Nasir is one of those characters that has been hanging around on the sidelines of the series, but readers get to see a whole lot more of him in this book, which I hope means he will a book of his own soon. Regardless, he nearly steals the show here. Janvier does hold his own because of his wit and charm, but Nasir just about edges him out in this one. Not sure I thought that was a good thing, since essentially this should have been Janvier's show. He's a great character and I want more of him but I think his presence should not have been a prominent in this one.
Janvier and Ash made a great couple, with his swagger and charm and her strength and assertiveness. I wanted Ash to more proactive though. Yes, there was something keeping her from Janvier. It was a very legitimate something, but she didn't seem to want to fight for him and that's not what I expected from her. It was still an awesome book but I wanted her to be more in your face about making it work out instead of complacent and ready to throw in the towel.
Bottom Line:
Overall I thought this was a great addition to the series. We not only get the love story between Ash and Janvier but we get to check in with other characters from previous books and the added bonus of getting more of Nasir. Some things didn't go quite the way I expected but it was still an awesome book. If you're already a fan of the series, this one will be a big win. If not, it will probably make you want to try more from this amazing author.
Archangel's Shadows is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
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