Nite Lite Book Reviews: angels

Showing posts with label angels. Show all posts

26 June 2013

Angels' Blood - Review

Angels' Blood (A Guild Hunter Novel)
by Nalini Singh

Publication date: 3 March 2009 by Berkley

Category: Adult Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Angels, Vampires, paranormal romance
Format: Paperback, mass market paperback, eBook, audiobook
Source: Purchased

Synopsis from GoodReads:

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she is the best- but she does not know if even she is good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, Elena knows failure is not an option—even if the task is impossible.

Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt does not destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just might. For when archangels play, mortals break.

Review:

Yes, I'm late to the party. Several people have repeatedly recommended Nalini Singh to me and for whatever reason I haven't read any of her books. Finally, I dove in with Angels' Blood, the first book in the Guild Hunter series. Singh has created a twist on the typical vampire story. Archangels are the ones who can create a vampire and in exchange the vampire must serve the angel for 100 years. Of course, there are some vampires who want to get away and then vampire hunters must track them down.

Elena Deveraux is a highly skilled vampire hunter working for the Guild. Raphael, the Archangel of New York City, arranges with the Guild to have Elena work on a special assignment. Readers learn quickly that Raphael is temperamental and easily angered. Elena recognizes that Raphael is likely to kill her in some manner at the end of her job or usefulness to him. However, even recognizing that Raphael can kill her, Elena repeatedly finds ways to irritate him.

Angels' Blood draws readers in from the beginning. In addition to finding Raphael and Elena interesting, there was excellent chemistry between the two. Both are flawed in many ways which was part of my attraction to them. There were numerous secondary characters that provided layers to the interactions and increased my interest in the story.

Overall, I really liked the book. However, despite how sexy and attractive Raphael was, he was never my favorite character. His arrogance and domineering behavior was often annoying, and I wasn't fond of how he treated Elena. I wanted to like Raphael more and even at the end, I still had mixed feelings about him. Elena is strong on many levels but she is often left in the dark regarding who she is to hunt and why it is critical. There are also several "skeletons" in her past that Singh refers to but never resolves in this book. I assume Singh deals with those issues further in future books.

One interesting thing about this book, I was pleased to see that it was more than your average Paranormal Romance. I would probably actually classify this one as Urban Fantasy. Please don't get me wrong, the romance in this book definitely has a "hot sexy" factor. However, the book wasn't just about the romance between Raphael and Elena. Singh creates a balance between the general plot line of the book and the relationship between Elena and Raphael.

Would I recommend this book? Most definitely. Who would I recommend this to? Anyone who is already a fan of Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance. Additionally, I would recommend it to those looking for a twist on the typical angel or vampire stories that are out there. I know I will continue with the series in order to see where it goes and how my questions might be answered in future books.

Visit the author online at www.nalinisingh.com, her blog, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter @nalinisignh

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. For more details, please see our full disclosure policy here.

14 March 2013

Wicked Nights - Review

Wicked Nights (Angels of the Dark #1)
by Gena Showalter

Publication date: 26 June 2012 by HQN

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, angels, demons
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: Bought

Synopsis:

Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too dangerous, too ruthless -- and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings. But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his missions at any cost…until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he's never known before.

Accused of a crime she did not commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the criminally insane. Demons track her every move, and their king will stop at nothing to have her. Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation -- or her ultimate damnation?

Review:

Wicked Nights is the first book from Angels of the Dark, a spin off series of the very popular Lords of the Underworld series. I am not very familiar with Showalter’s work, having only read the first book from Lords of the Underworld a couple of years ago. I recall enjoying that book but obviously, I was in no rush to read the rest of the series. However, I decided to give this book a go based on all of the positive reviews and that smoking hot cover.

I devoured the first half of the book very quickly. I was really intrigued by Zacharel and his army of misfit angels. They’re all big, bad alpha males with dark secrets and I wanted to know more about them. Annabelle, too, was a really compelling character. Witnessing her parents’ murder is traumatic enough, but being blamed for it and then thrown it a psych ward just adds insult to injury. I admired her determination and strength in the face of adversity. However, after the initial rush and fun of diving into a new world, the story started to fizzle.

I didn’t really understand why Zacharel and Annabelle fell for each other. I read a lot of romances so I am usually OK with characters falling in love pretty quickly. However, I just wasn’t sure why these two were drawn together. They had some good chemistry, especially in the beginning, but it did not seem like a relationship that would warrant waiting over a thousand years for, as Zacharel had. The whole matter of Zacharel’s essentia being on Annabelle was also never explained. I know it’s a marker that they’re meant to be together but I would have liked a more detailed explanation on what it was and meant and if it had ever happened to anyone else before. Maybe I am missing something since I am not familiar with the Lords of the Underworld mythology, but I would have liked a little more insight.

While I liked Annabelle in the beginning, she started to get on my nerves after a while. She went from sassy and independent to annoying love struck teenager really fast. Her inner monologue and teen vernacular, especially, started to grate on me and I cringed every time she called Zacharel “Zachie.” Zacharel is your typical sexy, alpha male. I didn’t have any problem with him but he wasn’t particularly memorable either. The love scenes between the two were also somewhat lackluster. They felt rushed and were not nearly as hot as I was hoping for.

While I think this world has a lot of potential, the book lacked some spark and Annabelle and Zacharel did not do it for me. I didn’t feel a deep connection between the two and wasn’t as invested in their relationship as I should have been. I started getting bored halfway through and I found myself struggling to finish it. There is a bit of a twist at the end that surprised me, but the final confrontation is anti-climactic. Fans of Gena Showalter and the Lords of the Underworld series will probably really like Wicked Nights. I don’t think Showalter’s writing is for me and I doubt I will be continuing on with the series, which is a shame since I love the covers.

Visit the author online at www.genashowalter.com and follow her on Twitter @genashowalter

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09 October 2012

Archangel's Storm - Review

Archangel's Storm (Guild Hunter #5)
by Nalini Singh

Publication date: 13 September 2012 by Berkley Sensation

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, angels, vampires, mystery
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: Purchased

Synopsis:

With wings of midnight and an affinity for shadows, Jason courts darkness. But now, with the Archangel Neha’s consort lying murdered in the jewel-studded palace that was his prison and her rage threatening cataclysmic devastation, Jason steps into the light, knowing he must unearth the murderer before it is too late.

Earning Neha’s trust comes at a price—Jason must tie himself to her bloodline through the Princess Mahiya, a woman with secrets so dangerous, she trusts no one. Least of all an enemy spymaster.

With only their relentless hunt for a violent, intelligent killer to unite them, Jason and Mahiya embark on a quest that leads to a centuries-old nightmare… and to the dark storm of an unexpected passion that threatens to drench them both in blood.

*Though I try to remain spoiler free, this review may contain spoilers for previous books in the series.*

Thuy's Review:

Nalini Singh is one of my favorite authors and I await each new book with baited breath. I was especially excited to read Jason’s story, as I have held a fascination for the angel ever since I first met him in the Guild Hunter series. I don’t know what it is, but there’s just something about the quiet, mysterious angel with wings of night that has always intrigued me. Singh has hinted as his dark past in previous books but, in Archangel’s Storm, we finally learn about the events that shaped him into the man he is today.

Jason’s love interest in the story is Mahiya, the illegitimate daughter of Neha’s consort Eris and her sister. Allowed to live as a tool to hurt Eris, Mahiya has never known love or much kindness. But she’s not mean or bitter, like most people might be. Despite her circumstances, she is still able to love and feel joy. While she isn’t a kick ass Hunter like Elena or some of Singh’s other heroines, she has an inner strength that makes her just as formidable.

Jason was all I expected and more. I can understand why Mahiya is drawn to his quiet and intense nature. Mahiya is right, Jason is a storm. Untameable and untameable, he is a force that Mahiya has no defense against. Singh has only hinted at his dark past before this and, in Archangel’s Storm, we finally learn about the tragic events that shaped him. There’s still a lot about Jason that is unknown though and I wish Singh had given us a little more about his past. I am really curious to know how he survived the events of his youth and how he became part of Raphael’s Seven. Also, Jason’s wings are my favorite out of all the angels.

The romance in this book was a little bit different that the other romances in the Guild Hunter books. Though I think Jason and Mahiya had an immediate attraction, their relationship is a slow burn rather than a big bang. Like the characters themselves, their romance is understated but still intense. As usual, Singh uses her skills to ratchet up the sexual tension until you’re just dying for them to get together.

I love the incredible worlds that Nalini Singh creates and it’s always so much fun to get back into them. It was great to see Guild Hunter faves Elena and Raphael as well as Venom, who has a substantial role in the story. I have never been a huge fan of Venom but, I have to say that he is growing on me. There are also quite a few scenes with Dimitri and Honor, which was nice to see, but did take me out of the story a bit. I know I am always waxing lyrical about Nalini Singh but I just love what she does. Now if she would only write a little faster. :)

Visit the author online at www.nalinisingh.com and follow her on Twitter @NaliniSingh

27 March 2012

Angels' Flight - Review

Angels' Flight by Nalini Singh

Publication date: 28 February 2012 by Berkley Sensation

ISBN 10/13: 0425246817 | 9780425246818
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Paranormal romance, angels, vampires, short stories
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook

Angels' Flight is a collection of four novellas by Nalini Singh set in the world of her Guild Hunter series. It looks like the first two stories have been published previously in other anthologies and the third says "first time in print" so it may have been available on her blog or somewhere else. The fourth story, "Angels' Dance" is the only completely new story in the collection. I'd read the first two stories previously but not the second two. I wasn't really bothered by the fact that most of these had been released before, though it is good to know so you know what you're getting. I didn't have any of these stories on their own so I like having them all in one place and I probably would have bought it for Angels's Dance alone since I am a Nalini Singh fangirl and love the Guild Hunter series.

Angels’ Pawn - 3.5 stars

In Angels' Pawn a vampire hunter faces off against two rival factions and the angel manipulating them both, and a vampire whose help is not entirely selfless...Angels’ Pawn is the story of Guild Hunter Ashwini (Ash) and the annoyingly charming vampire Janvier. Ash enlists Janvier’s assistance in finding a kidnapped vamp while playing vampire/angel politics.

I’d read this story before and enjoyed it. Ash is a character that pops up quite a bit in the Guild Hunter world but we don’t know a ton about her. In this one, we get a little glimpse into her past that makes me want to know more. Like more hunters, Ash is extremely tough and capable. She knows how to hold her own against vampire and angels alike. Janvier is somewhat of a mystery. I don’t know his story or where he comes from except that he loves to drive Ash crazy. Ash and Janvier have fantastic chemistry and this is the only story in which the two characters don’t end up together at the end. Even though the ending of this one left me a bit unfulfilled, I still really enjoyed it. There is definitely potential for more with these two and I hope that they get their happily ever after one day.

Angel’s Judgement - 4 stars

In Angels’ Judgment a hunter must track one of her own gone bad, while surviving the deadly tests placed in her way by the archangels themselves. Unexpected backup comes from a stranger who might just be the most lethal threat of all...

In Angel’s Judgement, hunter Sara Haziz must track down a vampire killer who may be one of her own while trying to survive . Along for the ride is Deacon, aka The Slayer, a dead sexy hunter that is tasked with keeping an eye on Sara and helping her track down this rogue hunter.

Angel’s Judgement is from the Must Love Hellhounds anthology and it’s another one that I’d previously read. I ended up reading it again when I received Angel’s Flight I liked it just as much as I did the first time. Sara is a strong, capable fighter who more than holds her own against the vamps and other creatures of the night. She’s tough but still feminine and vulnerable. Deacon isn’t intimidated by Sara’s position and their chemistry is blistering.I loved that their story played out in an unexpected way and was also surprisingly sweet. Another great read by Nalini Singh.

Angel’s Wolf - 4 stars

In Angel’s Wolf a vampire becomes fascinated with the seductive angel who rules Louisiana. But all is not what it appears to be in her court.

We first met Noel in Archangel’s Kiss, when a vampire is brutally attacked and left for dead. While his body has recovered, mentally, Noel is not the same. Dmitri sends him to the angel Nimra’s court, to pose as her lover and try to figure out who tried to poison her.

This one actually ended up surprising me. I didn’t know what to expect from Noel and Nimra and their story was not at all what I expected. Singh really has a way with bringing back tortured characters back to life. There’s no easy fix for Noel after what he’s gone through but being in Nimra’s court is helping him heal. And I loved that he was so protective of Nimra, a powerful and deadly angel. Nimra herself surprised me. Yes, at times she lived up to her reputation as being a cold and harsh ruler, but Singh also showed us her softer side. She isn’t cruel or unjust and had much more compassion than her reputation allowed. I liked that she was able to trust Noel with her weaknesses and he with hers, as well as their strengths.

Angels’ Dance - 5 stars

In Angels’ Dance an angel trapped in the mountain stronghold of the Refuge finds herself under siege by a warrior angel from a martial court.

Angels’ Dance was the story I was most looking forward to and it ended up being my favorite. There were hints of Jessamy and Galen’s relationship in previous books but no real details. We finally get their story in Angels’ Dance. Jessamy, an angel thousands of years old, has been trapped at the Refuge for her entire life. Due to a malformation of one of her wings, she has never been able to fly. Jessamy is very different from most of the angels we’ve met in the Guild Hunter world. She isn’t a fighter or a warrior. Though she is physically weaker than most, it’s her inner strength that sets her apart. She is the perfect counterpoint to the rough and unrefined Galen. I didn’t know much about Galen before reading this and I found myself falling for him. Under his gruff exterior was an extremely caring and kind man. He protectedand loved Jessamy but he never held her back. Oh - and we find out how Illium gets his nickname in this one. :)

Overall:

As a reader of this blog you may already know that I am a huge Nalini Singh fan. Even in short form, these stories are wonderfully well written and I felt like I got more than my money’s worth with this collection.This is a must read for any fan of the Guild Hunter series. Non-readers will still enjoy it but I think you need to read the series to fully appreciate it. If you haven’t read the series yet, do it and thank me later. :)

Visit the author online at www.nalinisingh.com and follow her on Twitter @NaliniSingh

06 October 2011

Archangel's Kiss - Review

Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter #2) by Nalini Singh

Publication date: 02 February 2010 by Berkley

ISBN 10/13: 110118499X | 9781101184998

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, angels, vampires
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook

Source: Purchased

From goodreads:

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...
Thuy's review:

I love the cover to this one! It’s probably my favorite out of all the Guild Hunter books so far. It’s beautifully composed and Elena looks strong and beautiful. That’s the Elena I see in my head when I read the books.

Archangel's Kiss picks up right after the events of Angel’s Blood. Elena has woken from a year long coma to find that she is now an angel. She has a lot to deal with including being physically weaker (with wings!), a very powerful and possessive lover, repressed memories of a violent past coming to the surface as well as a plot to kill her (again).

Singh has created a beautiful and dangerous world of angels and vampires and continues to build upon it in Archangel’s Kiss. I can feel Elena's wonder as she learns how to be an angel. Having been born human, Elena cannot see the world as the angels do and she must learn to reconcile her human heart with her new angel body. She also must learn to play at angel politics, as the other archangels try to take advantage of her current weakness. Elena is still one of my favorite heroines. I love her strength and determination and especially her compassion.

I really liked the training sessions Elena has to go through. Elena is always so strong - as hunter born she’s stronger than her human counterparts. But as an angel, she’s almost as weak as one of their children. It’s really interesting to watch how she copes with being physically weaker and to see the more vulnerable side of her. It’s also fun watching her fight with her trainers, members of Raphael’s Seven. Speaking of the Seven, we get to know more of them in Kiss. The quiet, untouchable Aodhan definitely intrigues me and I am hoping he gets his own book one day.

Elena and Raphael are a great couple. Their relationship continues to evolve as they learn more about each other. Neither of them is easy to be in a relationship with but they both make an effort to make it work. Elena learns to trust Raphael with the darkest parts of herself and starts to deal with the trauma of her mother and sisters’ deaths. Raphael also opens up to Elena about his parents and his violent past. Their chemistry is still off the charts and there are plenty of steamy love scenes.

Did I mention that there are also zombies in this book? What more could you ask for? This series just keeps getting better and better. I can’t wait to read the next one!

Visit the author online at www.nalinisingh.com, visit her blog at http://nalinisingh.blogspot.com and follow @NaliniSingh on Twitter

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