Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh: Review

Urban Fantasy

Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Guild Hunter, #2
Publisher: Berkley (Imprint of Penguin)
Published: February 2nd, 2010
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♡

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find that she has become an angel-and that her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel Raphael, likes having her under his control. But almost immediately, Raphael must ready Elena for a flight to Beijing, to attend a ball thrown by the archangel Lijuan. Ancient and without conscience, Lijuan’s power lies with the dead. And she has organized the most perfect and most vicious of welcomes for Elena…

My Review:

When we left off at the end of the last book, Elena had just gained a few things, wings being the most prominent. A rare sort of miracle happened when Raphael and Elena fell in love — he gained the ability to Make her. But not into a vampire — into an angel. Being practically unheard of, Elena just became a rarity. But her uniqueness doesn’t seem to be a plus in the angel world. As she heals in the Refuge (a place for angels and their vampires, no humans allowed), she realizes that even in a place named Refuge, there is no refuge for her. Her life is in danger, not only from the ancient archangel Lijuan, who seems to be losing her mind in a rare sort of way, but also from an unknown source. While mentally and physically preparing for the ball from hell, her and Raphael must find out who is behind the violence spreading throughout the Refuge.

This book is just full of things I love. From the cover to the romance to the action. Being that Elena is in constant danger (when isn’t she?), there is lots of action to keep you on your toes. But what really stood out and wowed me about this book was the romance between her and Raphael. Now I’m all for a hot hero to warm the pages of my book. But what stands out is the depth of feelings Raphael and Elena show towards each other. It’s almost like a classic “you jump I jump” kind of romance, or the kind of romance you’d find in an old movie. If you were one of the few who thought Raphael was cold in the last book, you will certainly appreciate his warmth towards Elena in this one. He’s still a ruthless archangel, but it is so very clear how much he loves his little hunter. Very beautiful.

Overall, another great book from the Guild Hunter series. What I love most about this series is the gradual growing of the characters and their relationships. Being that it’s an Urban Fantasy, we get to see the characters slowly and realistically overcome their pasts and learn how to love each other truly and wholly. It’s a really beautiful love story with lots of action mixed in.

More Reviews Goodreads | AmazonPurchase Links Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble