Review & Giveaway: Archangel's Prophecy by Nalini Singh

Archangel's Prophecy (Guild Hunter #11) by Nalini Singh
Publication Date: October 30th 2018 by Berkley
Pages: 372
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple 

About the book:

Midnight and dawn, Elena’s wings are unique among angelkind…and now they’re failing. The first mortal to be turned into an immortal in angelic memory, she’s regressing. Becoming more and more human. Easier to hurt. Easier to kill.

Elena and Raphael must unearth the reason for the regression before it’s too late and Elena falls out of the sky. Yet even as they fight a furious battle for Elena’s very survival, violent forces are gathering in New York and across the world.

In China, the Archangel Favashi is showing the first signs of madness. In New York, a mysterious sinkhole filled with lava swallows a man whole. In Africa, torrential monsoon rains flood rolling deserts. And in Elena’s mind whispers a haunting voice that isn’t her own.

This time, survival may not be possible…not even for the consort of an archangel.

My Thoughts:

When Archangel’s Prophecy was offered to me for review, I grabbed it up thinking it would be fine to read as a stand-alone since I read Archangel’s Viper (the previous Guild Hunter book) without having read any previous book in the series and I enjoyed it.  However, I soon realized that would not work here with Archangel’s Prophecy being an Elena/Raphael book.

After reading a little about the history of Elena and Raphael, and the fact that Archangel’s Prophecy sounded like a game-changing installment I realized I needed to go back to the beginning to fully appreciate Archangel’s Prophecy.  I’m thrilled that I did! 

For the last three weeks I’ve been devouring the Guild Hunter series, the Elena/Raphael books, and it’s been an exciting ride! Nalini Singh has created a fascinating world where a Cadre of ten Archangel’s rule designated territories of the earth; lesser angels, vampires, and humans all under their authority. Power, political intrigue, immortals and mortals clashing, good vs. evil; all factors that make these books a riveting read, but it’s the personal relationships that make these stories come to life, IMO.

I’ve been alternately listening and reading through the series, gobbling it up as fast as I could.  For those who enjoy audio books, Justine Eyre is a phenomenal narrator! 

If you haven’t read the previous books there may some spoilery type of information below. Not anymore than you’d get than by reading the series book descriptions, but still, I thought I’d warn you before reading on.

It’s in this world where Elena, a mortal Guild Vampire Hunter, and Raphael, an enormously powerful Archangel, meet and fall in love, forever changing the path they thought their lives would take.

Elena and Raphael are characters I’ve come to love, each multi-faceted, imperfect, but with genuinely good hearts.  Their chemistry was like wildfire from the first meeting, dangerous and volatile, but it’s the love, loyalty and devotion that make me adore this couple!  They’re a united front facing all the challenges Nalini Singh throws their way!

There are six Elena/Raphael books, including Archangel’s Prophecy, each one having a source of conflict introduced that’s solved/wrapped up by the end.  That is, except for Archangel’s Prophecy! Ack! I was warned going in that there was a cliffhanger ending here, something I’m not a fan of, but I have to say this felt more like a “to be continued…” sort of situation.  Still, I had a sense of impending doom while reading, Elena weakening further and further as the story goes along.

The mystery behind Harrison’s (Elena’s vampire brother-in-law) brutal attack and the Cascade shenanigans distracted a little from Elena’s worsening condition, but I was worried throughout.  Vague and scary prophecies didn’t help.  However, there was hope with a shocking ending that left a lot of unanswered questions. Plus, (not that I’ve read every one of her books) I don’t think Nalini Singh has ever left her readers with anything but a HEA. 

Archangel’s Prophecy is probably my least favorite installment because of the cliffy and unanswered questions, but it’s not a book to be missed!  I was glued to the pages to find out what happens! I was happy seeing Laric again after the last book, and I’m loving Elena’s half-sister Eve! I even had a soft-spot for Jeffrey in a couple of scenes.

I skipped the Guild Hunter books centered on side-characters, except for Archangel’s Venom, but I plan on working my way through them while I wait for Elena and Raphael’s story to continue. 

My Rating:

3-3.5 Suns for Archangel's Prophecy

4-4.5 Suns for the overall series 

Excerpt from ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY

By Nalini Singh

Illium turned in a direction that would take them to the Catskills if they kept on going.

Sweeping closer to him, she said, “You just want to fly?”

Hair rippling in the quiet but cutting wind, he twisted down in a complicated fall before flying back up to her side. She laughed at his showing off. That was Illium. An angel of violent power who had a heart that might almost be mortal. And, these days, she could appreciate his tricks again. Not a single angel in the city had been ready to witness his acrobatics in the immediate aftermath of the day he’d crashed out of the sky.

Elena would never forget her screaming fear.

To his credit, Illium had flown with absolute discretion for months, letting the memory dull and fade.

When he returned to her side today, his face was flushed, the gold of his eyes rich. “Sky’s too beautiful to shut ourselves away in a club.”

“Just don’t forget I’m not as fast as you. Also, I’m currently lame.”

Illium lifted one cupped hand close to his shoulder, the other moving back and forth . . . and she realized he was playing a tiny violin in response to her morose tone.

“Crossbow, Bluebell.” Narrowed eyes. “Remember the crossbow.”

He dived, his wicked laughter floating up on the night air. Lips twitching, Elena continued to glide, letting the air currents sweep her along with cold but gentle hands. Illium, meanwhile, flew circles around her—but he never went far, always close enough to halt her descent should she tumble.

She landed a number of times to rest her wings, once in an isolated park whispering and dark. A luminescent insect appeared then disappeared from sight before she could truly see it, an earthbound star. The ghostly owl sitting on a tree branch watched her with eyes even more luminous.

A sigh deep in her mind, an old, old presence restless in Sleep.

The hairs rose on her arms.

Then Illium shot them both up into the sky again, and together, they flew far beyond the diamond-bright skyline of the city and over the sleeping homes of ordinary people who lived in a world of vampires and angels, blood and immortality.

Another rest stop for Elena.

Another throb of pain from the cut on her forearm.

Another watchful owl, this one landing on Illium’s shoulder without his knowledge. Ashwini had told her not to be afraid of the owls, so Elena ignored the goose bumps and said, Hello, with her mind. A good night to fly.

A vein began to throb at her temple.

The answer came a long time later, after they were in the air again, the glow of the sinkhole visible from the distance.

It has been an eon since I flew.

Posted by arrangement with Berkley, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © Nalini Singh, 2018.

The lovely people of Berkley have generously provided a Paperback Copy of Archangel's Prophecy to one lucky reader!  The giveaway is open to US Residents only.

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