Archangel's Shadows (Guild Hunter, #7) by Nalini Singh

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Genre:

Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Romance

Summary on Goodreads:

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.

RATING:

***REVIEW***

"She was his Achilles' heel, his personal, luminous madness."

I'm happy to say that Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh continue to amaze me and hold one of the top spots on my list of favorite urban fantasy series. This was one of my highly expected 2014 releases and once again it didn't disappoint, but end up being one of my favorite books of 2014 as always.

The story continues after the epic finale of the previous book. The city is still recovering from the shattering war against Lijuan and her army and in the midst of it all we are witnessing the slow-building romance between Ashwini, one of the Guild hunters, and Janvier, one of Raphael's vampires. I admit that Ashwini's and Janvier's story wasn't my first choice when deciding whose story I would like to read next after I had finished Archangel's Shadows (Guild Hunter, #6). I hoped more for Illium's, Venom's or even Nassir's story, but I don't have any regrets now, because Nalini Singh has managed yet again to deliver a captivating, thrilling, passionate and deeply emotional read.

Both of the MCs were the type of characters I love and prefer reading about. Ashwini was one of those smart, fierce and compassionate women with character and Janvier was a bad-ass, sensual, and provocative vampire, but also a true charmer who made me swoon a couple of times and that's big, because I really don't swoon easily, lol. While most of the story was focused on the slow building of their romance and the crime case they were handling, we also get a sneak-a-peek in the lives of other amazing characters (Elena, Raphael, Bluebell, Sparkle, Nassir, Dmitri etc.) There was also some introduction to the new characters we met for the first time in the previous book- The Legion. I loved how these angel soldiers are portrayed and can't wait to find out more about them and the role they'll play in the future installations. 

"A fetid breath on the back of the neck.

A chill of bones. A cold whisper in the darkness.

There are those things that should not exist, 

should not walk, should not breathe, should not be named.

There are those nightmares that, once given form, 

can never be put back into the dreamscape."

The in-depth world building of this fantasy world is only getting better and better and the writing style of this author is simply amazing. My fingers were hurting from so much highlighting. Reading Nalini Singh's book is like listening to a beautiful melody. The only thing which kept me from rating it with 5 stars is that "the issue" which kind of prevent Ashwini & Janvier from being together through the most of the book in the end solved in the most convenient way which made me wondering why it had been a issue at all . That part could have been handled in my opinion a bit differently. That's why 4.5 stars. Other than that the book was perfect. I highly recommend this series to every urban fantasy fan. What are you waiting for- this is a must read!

"She gave him her soul, took his, and it was as it had always been meant to be."

XOXO