Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter Book 2)

Book 2 in the Guild Hunter series about Elena and Raphael, the Guild hunter turned immortal angel and her archangel lover, delivers another fantastic story. I love how author Nalini Singh weaves a believable story in her world of archangels, vampires and humans. A cast of interesting support characters and stories to match, though not always shared, make this more than just a love story or paranormal romance. The writing is rich and the reader is easily drawn in to cheer for our poor hunter who is trying to hold her own in the angel/vampire world while giving her heart and trust to her angel. And as ruthless as Raphael can be, his love for Elena is never doubted. Throw in the villains, child harming angel, godlike ancient angel, vampires with an attitude and the story just gets better and better. It’s so nice to read a romance that is not fluff but has real substance. Ready to keep reading the next book in the series.Warning:1. Sexually explicit language and situations.2. Abuse of a small child.3. No need to read first book to enjoy this one but it explains a great deal about the relationship between Elena and Raphael and Elena and others.

Archangels, angels, vampires and vampire hunters. Romance, epic villains, stalker and family drama. I have read every book in this series multiple times and it was so worth is! The strong female lead is constantly in danger from more powerful beings. Her guy has lots of power to spare and wants to protect her. She, however, proves resourceful, intelligent and strong in her own right and is no delicate flower to be coddled. Something new an unexpected happening all the time. The characters grow and learn that what they once believed or what they want is not necessarily what is actually right.If you enjoy paranormal romance and/or paranormal suspense, then this is a must have series. The author has come up with an unusual interpretation for her world. Angels are not religious beings and vampires are not made by other vampires. All of the beings share the world and the power structure puts humans on the bottom.I have read other books from this author and they are all very good, but this series is something special.

Archangel's Kiss picks up right where book one left off. Raphael has accomplished something incredibly rare by making Elena into an angel. She's vulnerable right now and anyone who wants to get to him will now try to go through her.I don't really get why the Archangel's can't trust each other. As a small group, you would think that they would protect each other. They do seem to stick together, but any sign of weakness and they strike against each other. They seem to be power hungry and very selfish.This whole book was basically Raphael protecting Elena from anyone who wish them both harm. Now that she is still pretty weak, the danger is hitting them fast and furious. We get to see a very protective Raphael in this book. He's still a bit cold but you do get his thoughts on Elena and he loves her very much. She's a lucky woman.Elena is still a very brave woman. Sometimes too brave. I like that she still has the ability to hunt and I can't wait to see her in action when she gets stronger. I hope that is soon. Right now she isn't well liked by his Seven since they all think she is Raphael's weakness.I really like these two and can't wait to see them grow as a couple. I'm sure there will be a lot more danger to come and some awesome action from Elena. On to book three.

Warning! This review contains spoilers for the first book in the Guild Hunter series, Angels' BloodI finally took the plunge with Nalini Singh's urban fantasy series earlier this summer and was super excited to dive back into this fascinating angel-fueled world. The last time readers saw Elena, she had just been turned into an angel by her lover, Raphael, which has now made them a target. Archangel's Kiss continues Elena and Raphael's story while diving deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Cadre of Ten. While it was not as engrossing as its prequel, I really enjoyed this book and am anticipating the next one.Elena continues to be an admirable heroine especially since this book forces her to readjust her entire being. Her journey in this particular story involves learning to be an angel as well as learning some of the finer points of angelic politics. I liked the training scenes since they allowed her spirit to shine through while also showing how she deals with adversity. Raphael is still a ruthless, overprotective, alpha, but he allowed Elena to learn some of his secrets including how vulnerable he is around her. I thought this book really helped make him a more sympathetic character though he is far from a cuddly, super-romantic.Elena and Raphael's romance was an important aspect of Archangel's Kiss though it did feel like it got shoved to the background at times. They have things they need to work through in order to be a strong couple, but their interactions show that they are moving towards a happy ending. My favorite scenes between them were the ones where they just sat around the Refuge and talked. They are getting more comfortable with one another outside of the bedroom which is always a good sign.I thought the biggest development in this book was the way that Nalini Singh amped up the world building. Readers already knew about the Cadre of Ten, but now Elena is interacting with them and seeing how they work as a governing body. Elijah and Hannah seem like they will be good allies while Michaela and Lijuan are just plain terrifying. I also loved getting to know more about Raphael's Seven especially Illium, Dimitri, Jason, and Venom. I can see a ton of great stories coming out of these characters and look forward to reading them.Archangel's Kiss is an important installment in the Guild Hunter series though it does suffer from "middle book syndrome". The character development and world building continue to be impressive while the romance develops nicely. I do wish the love story hadn't gotten lost in the greater plot, but it was still entertaining and has me begging for more.

Elena has a unique capability in that she can smell and follow angels. It has been useful to her in her previous existence as a guild hunter but now she is an angel herself and has emerged from a one year coma into the secret world of angels. Her problem is that she is in love with the archangel Raphael and both her talents and their relationship make her a target. You should have read the first book in this series before attempting this one to enable you to understand everything that is going on.This is a book about power. Angels and archangels have a lot of power in this world and many of them use it to wound and destroy others. They also enjoy political games. As they become older they become more inhuman/divorced from their feelings and indulge their own desires at the expense of others. Elena has to get used to this, fight against it and work out her own place in this world.The author has created a great alternative world and lots of original problems for Elena. Despite who she loves and her new status she is very much her own person and she tries to continue having the same values and ethics - it isn't going to be easy. In this story she becomes involved in helping Raphael to challenge those who use their power unwisely and she is very much his partner despite the disparity in their ages and status.I very much look forward to following Elena's story further in sequels to this book.

Elena Devereaux has spent the last year in a coma, her body healing after the fight that nearly took her life and transformed her into an angel. She awakens changed, but weakened and with much to learn. Elena is forced to learn quickly though as an invitation arrives to a ball at the ancient and deadly archangel Lijuan's home. But even as Elena and Raphael prepare, someone is determined to remove Raphael from power and strikes at the heart of the angelic sanctuary they are calling home.This is the second book in the Guild Hunter series (after  Angels' Blood ) and picks up a year after Elena's transformation. I would recommend that new readers start at the beginning, and also don't read further as this review is likely to contain spoilers for the first book.This book has a slightly slower pace than the last installment as a large amount of time is spent with Elena learning how to be an angel. She needs to learn the history of the angelic race and even simple things, like being able to walk with her wings folded, are a struggle. That said there is a layer of tension as someone is targeting Raphael and attacking people at the sanctuary, and there is the lingering threat of Lijuan's ball.Elena develops a lot in this book as she is trying to find a balance between her new existence as an angel and her old life as a hunter. Her hunter born skills haven't deserted her and if anything are beginning to develop into something more complex, meaning Elena is able to gain some independence from her relationship with Raphael. Slightly more of Elena's past with the rogue vampire Slater Patalis is revealed, alongside the revelation that Elena herself doesn't fully remember the incident. The story is not complete though so I'm assuming it will continue on in the next book.It isn't just Elena's past that is revealed though as Raphael begins to reveal more about his past and the nature of angels. Raphael is determined to protect Elena, and this means that Dmitri and Illium play key roles along with the newly introduced Jason and Galen. This book also reveals more about Raphael's Seven and their roles.Elena's relationship with Raphael develops more, although this is much to the disappointment of jealous Michaela and Dmitri who thinks Elena is a threat to Raphael's safety. The romance itself is well developed as Elena and Raphael gradually let down their guards and begin to reveal their pasts whilst learning to deal with the fact that Elena craves independence as Raphael needs her presence.All in all this was another great read and I'm looking forward to  Archangel's Consort .Plot: 9/10Characters: 9/10Ending: 10/10Enjoyment: 10/10Cover: 9/10Overall: 47/50 Angels' BloodArchangel's Consort

'Archangel's Kiss' is the second book in the 'Guild Hunter' series by Nalini Singh, and after absolutely loving the first book in the series, 'Angels' Blood', this one had a lot to live up to. I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint. I loved it. The prose is just as lush as the first book, Elena and Raphael are still fantastic characters and the world-building just as vivid.However, I did feel as though the balance between urban fantasy and paranormal romance was slightly out of kilter. The first half of the book definitely sits in with the latter genre as there is a lot of sex, verbal adoration, basically lots of lovin's! Don't get me wrong, I love the romance between Elena and Raphael but I felt for the first half of the book I was a bit saturated with it and it did get a bit repetitive. But the second half of the booked kicked into high gear with lots of action, suspense and Elena back in the role she fits so well, that of the kick-arse chick. I was worried she was turning into a love sick puppy but her fighting personality won out - yay! I do adore the relationship between Elena and Raphael, it is swoon-worthy and very intense, but I'm pleased it didn't dominate the entire book.The story picks up a short time after 'Angels' Blood' ended and Elena's friends are wondering if she's dead or alive, or more accurately one of the undead, as in vampire. But nobody is telling them anything and they are becoming increasingly frustrated. They decide to break into where they think Elena is being held, but once they set eyes on what she's become they can't believe their eyes...There's a big learning curve for Elena and she needs her friends and Raphael to help her through, especially when she is invited to a ball by the eldest of Archangels. Raphael is worried as this could be the perfect opportunity for others to kill Elena for real and so he instructs his most loyal and dangerous vampire to train Elena in the fighting skills she will need if an attempt is made on her life. Unfortunately for Elena she's still weak from the transformation, but Dmitri does not go easy on her.Apart from what's going on in Elena's personal life, she is asked to help when there's a new bout of fresh vampire kills, and one of the angel children is kidnapped and found brutally beaten to the point of death. Elena has to use her abilities to track the scent of the killer and it leads to an unexpected source.We get more of a glimpse in to Elena's painful and horrific past. She begins to lean on Raphael more and more to give her strength and support. Her memories of her past are throwing up all sorts of visions about her mother and father. The more that is revealed the more I want to know. Elena is a complex character and she is fast becoming one of my favourite heroines.VERDICT:There is a lot going on in 'Archangel's Kiss' and I lapped up every word. This is a wonderful series with gorgeous prose, fantastic characters and the world-building so vivid I could be living along side Elena. Elena and Raphael are becoming two of my favourite characters as well as one of my favourite couples. A great addition to the series!

I've just reread all three of Miss Singh 'Angel's series'.Am i glad I kept them. I found that now that I don't have to rush through the book to find out what happened next I am picking up more of the interaction not only between Elena and Raphael but also between other characters.As well as because of me savouring the story much slower I can much more imagine the make up of Raphael 'Seven's'.I am not a great fan of a series of books where the main hero or heroine is the same but in this Miss Singh have still deliver. How she does it I am not sure. I guess the way that Eleana is still learning about this new world keep us fasinated. We are discovering along with her about this new life.We journey with her when she learns how to fly.In my previous review of Miss Singh first book 'Angel's Blood' I'd mentiomed that the romance between Eleana and Raphael seem too rush now we are given the development of their relationship and it's lovely to see how it all work out.

It started off so well! The banter was great, the story promising - then it got boring. It seemed like a new character was introduced in every chapter, and that was almost the case, but it was more to do with the fact that the characters were so forgettable that I didn't remember who they were from three chapters ago.I thought the first one was okay, and I got this for £2 so I'm not mad, but this is a gentle reminder to myself not to read more of the series.