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Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter #2)

by Nalini Singh (Goodreads Author)

4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 · rating details · 17,163 ratings · 1,034 reviews

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her world of angelic rulers, vampiric servants, and the woman thrust into their darkly seductive world...

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find herself changed—an angel with wings the colors of midnight and dawn—but her fragile body needs time to heal before she can take flight. Her lover,...more

Mass Market Paperback, 323 pages

Published February 2nd 2010 by Berkley Sensation

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Jan 15, 2011 Catherine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: angels-guardians, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, romance, series, vampire, excellent, read-2010, read-2011, assassin-killer-bounty-hunter, necromancy, already-married

Ever since I read the previous novel, Angels' Blood, I have been waiting impatiently for this book to come out. I was nervous about reading it though. Sometimes I'll love the first book in a series and then feel disappointed in the following books. That is definitely not the case here. It was definitely worth the wait.

In this book we get to see the vulnerability of Elena in relation to all the other angels in her new world. She's used to being the strongest person and now has to deal with being...more Ever since I read the previous novel, Angels' Blood, I have been waiting impatiently for this book to come out. I was nervous about reading it though. Sometimes I'll love the first book in a series and then feel disappointed in the following books. That is definitely not the case here. It was definitely worth the wait.

In this book we get to see the vulnerability of Elena in relation to all the other angels in her new world. She's used to being the strongest person and now has to deal with being the weakest. I liked that though she tried to stand on her own she didn't fall into stupidity and refuse to listen to Raphael about her limitations as a new angel.

I loved watching Elena's interactions with the Seven and all the new angels she encounters in the refuge. I'm very interested in seeing more developments with the members of the Seven. I also liked how the author avoided making Michaela into a cardboard cutout villain. She's not wholly bad although she's not wholly good. She has vulnerabilities and weaknesses that throw her into an area of gray that Elena wishes she didn't have to see. It's much easier to hate someone when you don't feel bad for them.

The author did a good job of showing Elena emotionally vulnerable but still strong. It was her choice to allow herself to lean on Raphael and he recognizes and treasures it. I loved how he's learning that though he is powerful he can't force Elena to open to him. Trust is a fragile thing and he realizes that he has to toe the line or he'll break her. I liked watching him try to reconcile his own personality with the care the new relationship needs.

Speaking of breaking Elena, this book did a really good job with sexual tension. Because Elena is still so weak from the transition Raphael won't make love to her because he's afraid he'll break her. The tension was great and the payoff worth it. I also really loved the vulnerability we saw when Raphael couldn't leave Elena in silence. After her year in a coma and his inability to reach her mind he has some definite anxiety there. It was sweet to see.

I can't wait to see what will come with the next book. I'm so glad I found this series(less)

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Dec 24, 2010 Katie(babs) rated it 5 of 5 stars

In the mood for a dark, intense and smoldering sexy read that may have you gasping for breath? Nalini Singh delivers this in ways you can’t imagine with Archangel’s Kiss, the second book in her Guild Hunter Novel series. The first book, Angels Blood introduced vampire hunter Elena Deveraux, who lives in an alternate New York City universe where angels rule and are things of wonder to bow down to and be very afraid of. Elena was ordered to hunt down a supernatural serial killer than ended up bein...more In the mood for a dark, intense and smoldering sexy read that may have you gasping for breath? Nalini Singh delivers this in ways you can’t imagine with Archangel’s Kiss, the second book in her Guild Hunter Novel series. The first book, Angels Blood introduced vampire hunter Elena Deveraux, who lives in an alternate New York City universe where angels rule and are things of wonder to bow down to and be very afraid of. Elena was ordered to hunt down a supernatural serial killer than ended up being an archangel. The seductive and dangerous archangel that rules New York City, Raphael, is thousands of years old and has decided that Elena will be his new sexual pet. They engage in a battle of wits and an almost disturbing sexual dance as she hunted for this killer while Raphael hunted her at the same time.

Angels Blood ended with Elena and Raphael killing the serial killer. Elena died from the outcome, but Raphael was able to save her. Now Elena is the first human in a millennia to be changed into an angel. Archangel’s Kiss begins after a year, where Elena was in a coma, has now awakened and is recovering, hidden away for her safety at the Refuge, where angels are all around her. Human are unaware of this place and only the angel’s vampire servants are welcomed. Elena, being hunter born is now an anomaly. She is very much like a new born, who’s learning to walk, or rather learning to fly. Raphael is there to help her, but their relationship, which is very new and scary, could go either way. Elena has come to love Raphael, the superior archangel who owns her heart, but Raphael is so used to taking what he wants and to treat Elena as his equal and not as a pet or a possession makes things very unstable between the two. Plus, there’s a possibility that Raphael could still kill her.

Raphael is close to amoral as you can get and has lived many centuries as both a ruler and treated like a god. He longs to engage in mind numbing sex with his new angel mate, but because she’s still weak and his wild and brutal appetite could break her while they are intimate, he holds back. Raphael is quite the giver to the point where Elena may break any way because she’s so frustrated because of the way his foreplay (Raphael uses his fingers and mouth to give Elena satisfaction). Raphael has an elite group of warriors, called his Seven, which is a tight-knit group of vampires and angels who protect Raphael against any threats and danger. And now their most important responsibility is to protect Elena from being killed by Raphael’s fellow archangels, including Michaela, a very deranged and unstable archangel who despises Elena with a passion.

As Elena goes through angel physical therapy, she keeps having nightmares about her mother’s and sisters’ brutal murders, as well as trying to understand why her father has turned his back on her. Also, one of the oldest archangel’s still living on Earth, Zhou Lijuan, has invited Elena to the Forbidden City. This invitation is a trap because Lijuan is creating a new race of undead, an army, where she can truly be a god in every sense of the word. Then angels and vampires are being brutally murdered, even angel children. And because of Elena’s special tracking powers, she’ll try to find this killer who may be in league with Lijuan. Elena must watch over her shoulder because she’s an easy target. And because Raphael’s feelings for Elena sometimes confuse him, he may lash out and become something he doesn’t want be. As long as Elena can love and accept him for who he is, they can be together for all eternity.

Archangel’s Kiss is an amazing, well written, awesome world building book that I couldn’t put down. You can see how far Nalini has come with her writing and character building. She excels in writing such interesting characters, from Raphael who’s an amoral hero who walks a fine line into villainy, to Elena who puts all other urban fantasy/paranormal heroines to shame. The secondary characters of, Illium, a happy go lucky loving angel, is one that needs his own story. Even the near psycho Michaela with her questionable actions keeps the reader on their toes.

There is so much going on with these pages. Intense is the perfect word when describing Archangel’s Kiss. The sensuality between Raphael and Elena is explosive and Nalini explains things she didn’t in Angels Blood. I really can’t find any faults except for the fact that the religious aspect is glazed over in regards to these angels. It may not be a big deal, but I would be interested in knowing more about these angel’s background, as in if there is a higher power ruling over these creatures and a Heaven and Hell, or they’re just a special society that always has been around.

I would recommend you read Angels Blood first before Archangel’s Kiss. It introduces the world and characters why they act the way they do. Sometimes, I question how a supernatural couple can sustain their love in a believable way for hundreds or thousands of years? Nalini has given us proof that this is possible with Elena and Raphael. I’m already anxious to read their next installment.
(less)

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Mar 18, 2010 Summer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: demons-angels, hot-and-steamy, paranormal, urban-fantasy, vampires

I was so exited for this book and so frustrated that the library didn't seem to be getting it in, that I finally caved and bought it.
And totally loved it. Nalini Singh's writing sucked me in from the first page. Raphael is sort of an uber-Alpha character which took some getting used to in the first book. There were parts of the first book where I honestly didn't want the pair getting together. But he grew on me and by the end of that first book I was hooked. There's still action in this book, b...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Tom rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite

Nov 19-21 2012
Did a buddy read/reread of this with Amy and Sarah. This book was so much better the second time around. the first time I was on a high from Angels Blood and its non stop action. This time around I wasn't expecting it and got to just pay attention to the different characters as they get developed. I felt non of the ire against Elena that I felt the first time. Not sure why, I just connected with her better I think this time around. It was fun reading along with 2 others as their st...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Merve Özcan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: immortal, romance, fantasy, more-than-one-narrrator, fav-women, favorite-books

19 mart 2012

İkinci kez bu serinin kitaplarında kendimi kaybolmuş buluyorum. Serinin büyüsüne düşüyorum. Kalbim yerinden çıkacak gibi, Rafael ve Elena'nın aşkını okuyorum. Bu seriyi neden bu kadar çok seviyorum bilmiyorum.

Bukitap yeni "yapılma melek" olan yeni bir Elena var,yeniden doğuyor. Ama bildiğim Elena hala o Rafhael, başmeleğimiz sırılsıklam aşık. Arasıra İçli dışları biraz aşırı geliyor ama o duyguyu bile seviyorum.

Kitap güzeldi ama sonunu pek sevemedim, biraz fazla gelişen bir meleğin...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Suzanne the Mighty ~Satin Seductress~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Jeaniene Frost fans

Shelves: urban-fantasy, author-goddess-nalini-singh, angels, va-va-voom-vampires, romance, girlies-i-would-take-for-a-tequila, lover-the-cover

This book more or less takes off from where “Angels Blood” left off. Now that Elena has awoken with her wings she is taken by Raphael, her Archangel lover, to the beautiful but dangerous home called The Refuge, where the angels keep their children safe and hidden from mortals. But it seems that Raphael and Elena have made many dangerous enemies amongst the cold blooded and ruthless angel race and Elena has come to the attention of the passionless gaze of the Cadre. With an unknown angel trying t...more This book more or less takes off from where “Angels Blood” left off. Now that Elena has awoken with her wings she is taken by Raphael, her Archangel lover, to the beautiful but dangerous home called The Refuge, where the angels keep their children safe and hidden from mortals. But it seems that Raphael and Elena have made many dangerous enemies amongst the cold blooded and ruthless angel race and Elena has come to the attention of the passionless gaze of the Cadre. With an unknown angel trying to become an Archangel by killing Elena and presenting her head to the Cadre and having Lijuan deadly fascination focused on her Elena has to fight to stay alive with her newly Made body, all with her old memories long suppressed giving her bloody nightmares.

This was a fantastic follow up to “Angels Blood” in fact I very much think that this book is better. Not for the faint of heart, as this is a very darkly violent book, with only a very thin line distinguishing the “good guys” from the “bad guys”. What I really like about this book is the world the Nalini Singh has created, where angels are not the messengers of God that common believe holds them to be, they are in fact cold and merciless beings with which cruelty seems to be an inevitable characteristic after so many years of life. This book expands on the world the Ms Singh has created, showing a different side of the angels, and more of their inner workings which were fascinating in some of the horrors that are allowed.

What I also liked about this book was the deepening of the relationship between Raphael and Elena, in the first book you saw the beginning of this, but in this book you saw that link become a soul deep bond. I think you also saw a softening in Raphael, although he was by no means cuddly and I definitely wouldn’t want to get on his bad side. Although Raphael isn’t my favourite romantic character and probably never will be, he is a great character to read about it. As for Elena, she is one of my favourite heroines, courageous and compassionate as well as intelligent, she adds some much needed warmth and humanity to these books. The secondary characters, especially the Seven are also well realized and I very much enjoy reading and finding out about them, she manages to give the various characters life when they have little page time.

The plot in this was also well paced with enough mystery to keep me intrigued and I have to say I didn’t guess the protagonists until I was told at the end. The tension mounted with Micheala aswell as you begin to doubt her sanity, and I look forward to that coming to a head. The only point that bothered me about this book was that throughout most the book it was in anticipation of visiting Lijuans court and to meet her undead creatures; however, very little time was spent there and in the end the actual confrontation was a bit anticlimactic.

But altogether, I thought this book was brilliant, I loved it, it is the kind of Urban Fantasy I like, it has a great action plot and also has a heavy romance element in it as well, much like the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. I am very much looking forward to the next book and this for me is a keeper.

August 2011 Reread Still love this book and I definitely prefer it to the first one, can't wait to read Archangel's Consort!(less)

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Mar 01, 2013 Aly (Mircea) Basarab rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, favorites, urban-fantasy, best-book-ever, action, 2013-group-challenge

February 2013 reread:
Buddy read with Maru and Sarah
Favorite quote(among favorite quotes):
"I'll never leave you, Elena." A glimpse of the archangel he was, used to power, to control. "And I'll never let you go."
Other women might've rebelled against such a claim, but Elena had never belonged to anyone. Now she did, and the knowledge began to fix something broken inside of her.
.......................
I like all Nalini Singhs books but I absolutely love her Guild Hunter series. Elena and Raphael ar...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Wicked ♥ (Wickedly Bookish Reviews) aka Bat-Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, angels, ebooks-i-own, favorites, mythology-inspired, paranormal-romance, smut, summer-reads, supernatural, urban-fantasy, vampires

Reviewed for Wickedly Bookish
http://wickedlybookish.blogspot.com/

Archangel's Kiss is a riveting sequel to the thrilling Angels' Blood. Elena, the first ever angel-Made is getting used to her new life with wings. While Elena enjoys the seemingly peaceful confines of the Refuge, a vampire is found mutilated with a knife bearing the Guild's seal, buried deep within his chest. Someone is not happy with Elena's new status as Raphael's consort and has some plans of their own. Meanwhile another, larger...more Reviewed for Wickedly Bookish
http://wickedlybookish.blogspot.com/

Archangel's Kiss is a riveting sequel to the thrilling Angels' Blood. Elena, the first ever angel-Made is getting used to her new life with wings. While Elena enjoys the seemingly peaceful confines of the Refuge, a vampire is found mutilated with a knife bearing the Guild's seal, buried deep within his chest. Someone is not happy with Elena's new status as Raphael's consort and has some plans of their own. Meanwhile another, larger threat gains power in the Forbidden City. Lijuan has some new pets; the Reborn; the walking dead.

This volume of the Guild Hunter series was a great read that evoked emotions from both sides of the spectrum. We get to see Elena become accustomed to the culture and life-style changes of angel society. I've never read about a main character with wings. I forgot they were there half the time and I feel like this made the reading experience more real for me. I was confused right along with Elena and felt her frustration at the unfamiliar appendages and her joy when she finally learned how to use them. One of the best parts of this book is Elena going to school with the child angels. The beautiful innocence of the young angles she interacts with brings a new depth to the angelic world that Singh has presented to us thus far. The adult angels have a hard, cold edge, but even the cruelest of angels is humbled and warmed by the young.

Another part I loved about this book was Elena's growing friendship with Illium. He is such a vivid character to me with his exotic coloring and wry humor that is absent in most of the angels we have met in the series. His obvious affection for Elena is blooming into something more as he shamelessly flirts with her making us fans worry for Bluebell. Hopefully he doesn't push Raphael too far, I would miss him!

On a darker note, Elena's childhood trauma is brought to the forefront through nightmares and flashbacks that are interfering with her daily life and at times distracting her to the point of danger. I'm not creepy and sadistic or anything, but I enjoy a darker tone to books like these. The chilling events add substance to a character and bring us as readers closer to them, having known their difficult pasts. Elena suffered witnessing the deaths of her sisters and the gruesome torture of her mother. The disturbing things she was forced to see and participate in at such a young age have scarred her psyche, but have shaped the deeply moral person that she is. The surfacing of these memories provide a gateway for Raphael and Elena to trust and open up to each other, making them a more relatable couple. Raphael remains the dark, stoic, sexiness that he is, but now we get to see a more human side of him that just makes him that much more endearing.

Finally, the intense creepiness of Lijuan's Reborn is just well...damn creepy! We are left not with a cliffhanger, but the promise that it is nowhere near over between the Archangel of New York and Lijuan. I will be continuing this series for sure. All you Raphael fan girls out there, you know I love you! As for me, I think I'm pretty much in love with Illium.(less)

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Jun 23, 2011 Shannon C. rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Night Huntress fans, Black Dagger Brotherhood fans, Kate Daniels fans, Fever fans

Recommended to Shannon by: find books by title / author / isbn

Shelves: vampires, favorites, magic-special-powers

*spoilers for book one: do not read until you've read Angel's Blood*

4.5 stars: Archangel's Kiss picks up about a year after Angels' Blood left off. After the fight with Uram, when vampire hunter Elena and Archangel Raphael almost died, Elena wakes up from a year long coma to find out that she's been turned immortal. But she's not a vampire; she's the first Angel to be made in recent history. Angels are usually born, not Made. It's extremely rare, and makes her a point of interest for the other A...more *spoilers for book one: do not read until you've read Angel's Blood*

4.5 stars: Archangel's Kiss picks up about a year after Angels' Blood left off. After the fight with Uram, when vampire hunter Elena and Archangel Raphael almost died, Elena wakes up from a year long coma to find out that she's been turned immortal. But she's not a vampire; she's the first Angel to be made in recent history. Angels are usually born, not Made. It's extremely rare, and makes her a point of interest for the other Archangels in the powerful Cadre of Ten. In fact, it makes her a target for those who want to strike out at Raphael. In his love for her, she's become his weakness.

Raphael has taken her to the angel's Refuge, where she heals and trains to use her new body. She hasn't lost her hunter born abilities, so she hopes to eventually go back to her Guild Hunter duties. She keeps in touch with her best friend Sara, director of the Guild, and Deacon, Sara's weapons master hubby, who works on some new weapons to fit her new body with wings. Her training and snarky interactions with Raphael's Seven (his top lieutenants who help him to run his holdings) are humorous at times. With the exception of Illium, the blue winged angel we met in Angels Blood, the Seven do not approve of Elena. Although Raphael has ordered them to protect her, they view her as a weakness for their Sire. It was also funny seeing Illium's flirtings with Elena, and Raphael's jealous "MINE" responses. I was intrigued to learn more about the Seven and hope to see more of them in future books. I'd love to see a books focused on Illium, Jason and Dmitri. They are my favs. Illium especially...I'd like him to find his HEA.

Elena as a character is very interesting. She's a strong woman who went through a traumatic experience as a child and who is estranged from her family as a result of that experience. No 'mary sue' character, she struggles as she grows in her new body and surroundings, and her struggles make her that much more interesting. She also is challenged with her relationship with Raphael, who is so much older and stronger. She will not become a pet, and seeks to find equal ground between them. One of the strongest beings on the planet and a member of the Cadre of Ten, Raphael is used to getting what he wants. He is not only powerful, he is cruel and vicious at times. With her human heart in an immortal body, Elena is adapting to being surrounded by predators. Elena makes Raphael more human in his love for her.

The plot primarily revolves around what's going on the Refuge--Elena's training as well as a series of kidnappings. The kidnapping and torture of the victims are suspected to be done by a powerful angel hoping to be able to join the Cadre of Ten. There are also suspicious actions that seem like someone is trying to turn Archangels against each other, and upset the inner workings of the Cadre. Elena is targeted as pawn in these actions, trying to pit Raphael against Michaela. Of course, Michaela can't stand Elena anyway and has already targeted her on her own. Elena is involved in the hunt for the perpetrators as they try to determine who is behind the attacks.

Meanwhile, the worries about Lijuan, the oldest and most powerful of the Archangels, continue. Jason, Raphael's spymaster, reports that she is growing her army of the reborn dead. When Lijuan invites Elena and Raphael, as well as the Cadre to her home for a ball, they must take the opportunity to face her even at the high risk to themselves. Lijuan has a nasty surprise for Elena, and the identity of the angel behind the attacks comes to light.

If you've read Singh's Psy Changeling books, her Guild Hunter series is darker...especially so with this book. If you like darker paranormal romance books like Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward, you'll enjoy this series. Raphael is the ultimate alpha (reminds me in style to Barrons) and the dark plotlines, intriguing characters, and disturbing enemies will pull you in. Only area for improvement for me was the battle scene at the end. Seems there should have been a bit more to it. But that's really a minor thing. All in all, I love this series--couldn't put it down. Definite keepers!

Other books in the series:
Angels' Blood - book one, full length novel
Must Love Hellhounds - anthology focused on characters from book one
Angels' Pawn: A Companion Novella to Angels Blood
Archangel's Consort - book three, full length novel

**EDIT** I just reread this book and loved it even more the second time around. The characters and world have completely hooked me!.**(less)

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Mar 04, 2012 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of dark UF/PNR and angels

Shelves: favorite-or-autobuy-author, angels, yearly-reading-challenge, 2012-sky-s-the-limit-club, dangerous-hero-2012-general-reading, scary-sexy-cool-dangerous-hero, stalkerific-hero, tormented-heroine, very-dark-read, zombie, vampire, kickbutt-heroine, buddy-read-with-ezinwanyi, all-things-winter-challenge, hot-and-steamy-romance, good-secondary-characters, not-for-the-faint-of-heart, part-of-a-series

Ms. Singh has created an incredible, yet dark world here with the Guild Hunters. There is a mix of the sublimely beautiful and awe-inspiring and the deeply chilling and sometimes revolting. Although I prefer the traditional biblical angelic storylines, she has taken most of what I find alluring about angels and paired it with a storyline that features a race of angels who are sensual, primal, dark, and dangerous.

Archangel's Kiss is definitely urban fantasy romance on the dark edge. Singh doesn't...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Stacey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

**After a re-read, bumping up to 5 stars**

Absolutely loved Archangel's Kiss...and boy can that archangel kiss!! A solid four stars.

The continuing adventures of Elena and Raphael did not disappoint. Archangel's Kiss was chock full of drama, intrigue, mystery, nightmares, happiness, personal growth, love, sensuality, romance, trust and betrayal.

During Archangel's Kiss we met the remaining members of Raphael's "Seven". Jason, Galen and Aohban have harsh, troubled pasts. I hope going forward we le...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Anzu The Great Destroyer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of the genre, series, author, etc

Shelves: ball-busting-chicks, second-best, zomg-i-must-have-him, paranormal-fix, lots-of-kisses-and-mushy-stuff, the-fantasy-of-urbans, holy-winged-ones, fanged-and-deadly, dat-cover-goddammit, i-am-stalking-you, reviewed-2011

Of course this ended up being another perfect book. It’s Guild Hunter we’re talking about after all.

First of all I must comment about the cover. Wow! Great artwork, amazing colors and adaptation. Nalini Singh knows what she wants when choosing her cover artists. This is exactly how I imagined Elena to be. Wish we could get Raphael on the cover one day. Now that would be something awesome verging on epic!

Speaking of the angel-boy, I saw a picture of a dude who kind of reminded me of him. So I cou...more

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Jun 07, 2011 Preeti Joan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

WOOHOO WOOHOO WOOHOO! hahaha! i finished the book a couple of days ago but i wasn't able to make a review since i'm not home. and those days that i'm not able to make a review, i'm going nuts! i can't take this excited feeling out! but now i'm here and back, here we go!

Archangel's Kiss was SUPER better than the first book! maybe it was because Elena is now an angel. hmm. and she was the lover/pet of the Archangel of NY, Raphael. gorgeous, conceited and lustful Raphael. a lot of pages in the book...more WOOHOO WOOHOO WOOHOO! hahaha! i finished the book a couple of days ago but i wasn't able to make a review since i'm not home. and those days that i'm not able to make a review, i'm going nuts! i can't take this excited feeling out! but now i'm here and back, here we go!

Archangel's Kiss was SUPER better than the first book! maybe it was because Elena is now an angel. hmm. and she was the lover/pet of the Archangel of NY, Raphael. gorgeous, conceited and lustful Raphael. a lot of pages in the book are about teasing, pinching, and DOT DOT DOT! but they weren't able to do the deed (or should i say SEX) since Raphael thinks Elena is too frail to handle him. (WOAH!) so yeah, only teasing. it's not pure sex because they both love each other. it's like they were made for one another and no one can ever separate them. aaaw. :)

but there were times that Elena were having nightmares about her mom and sisters being killed by a vamp which made her very scared. it was sweet though, since Raphael can tell if Elena was having those nightmares and he would offer himself for her to calm down and forget about the nightmares. HOW SWEET! >.<

the main problem in this book was Lijuan, a chinese vamp, creating a zombie army. it was weird though since angels in this book create vamps, not zombies. so it was a real shocker! she was creepy in a way that she was one of the ancient vamps left and she was evolving into something dangerous and out-of-this-world.

and how could i forget Ilium, the blue-winged angel. haha! i love him! he was being a gentleman to Elena, which was nice. but Raphael got a little jealous because Ilium was sprinkling Elena his angel dust (it was an acceptable reason for him to be jealous). :)) also, a lot of angels were introduced in this book including the seven(?) angels included in Raphael's guards.

another problem was Michaela! honestly, i hate her too. haha! she was brushing her wings against Raphael's which was a BIG no-no! AAAARGH! but she got what she deserve from Elena. bwahahaha! >:D anyhow, she's not really my loathed person in the world.

all in all, the book was amazing! the series was one of my favorites and it was really different from the other angel books that i've read. i'm so looking forward in reading the 3rd book, Archangel's Consort. :D BYE! (less)

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Nov 04, 2010 Mandi Schreiner rated it 5 of 5 stars

GUEST REVIEWED BY KATI

If Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series is a multi-part symphony, her Guild Hunters series is rock opera. This is a dark, moody, operatic series, where the author is utterly unafraid to go “there”. You know where I mean? No? Let me explain.

Elena Devereaux is a born vampire hunter. One who fell in love with the archangel Raphael, the angel who oversees North America. Except that, she’s recently been turned into an angel, and awakened from a year-long coma. She’s in the Refug...more GUEST REVIEWED BY KATI

If Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series is a multi-part symphony, her Guild Hunters series is rock opera. This is a dark, moody, operatic series, where the author is utterly unafraid to go “there”. You know where I mean? No? Let me explain.

Elena Devereaux is a born vampire hunter. One who fell in love with the archangel Raphael, the angel who oversees North America. Except that, she’s recently been turned into an angel, and awakened from a year-long coma. She’s in the Refuge, an angel safe haven, and she’s struggling to learn how to deal with her new body, which includes midnight dark wings that she has absolutely no idea how to use. Apparently, she’ll also come into her strength, which will one day be superhuman.

In the mean time, concern for Elena is weakening Raphael, and his Seven, his personal guard, are concerned that this weakness will make Raphael lose stature and power within the cadre of archangels. Plus, Raphael and Elena have been invited to a ball, given in Elena’s honor by Lijuan, the oldest archangel and Elena must be at full strength to survive the experience. To top it off, young angels are being brutalized, kidnapped or even murdered within the Refuge. Elena will need all of her skills as a hunter to help Raphael get to the bottom who is committing these atrocities.

When I read the first Guild Hunters book, Angel’s Blood, I was blown away at the world that Nalini Singh had created. There is a ton going on in this story: court intrigue between the angels who rule over mankind; Elena’s struggle both to master not just her new body, but her role in Raphael’s world; Raphael’s struggle to hold himself back from hurting the much more fragile Elena, and to learn to deal with his overwhelming emotion for her; and the violence which is occurring against young angels within the one realm where they should be safe, the Refuge. The glue that holds the strands together is the growing love between Elena and Raphael. While other aspects of this compelling book are fascinating, it’s the love story that makes it a keeper. Elena is a fantastic foil for Raphael. She’s strong-willed, feisty and very smart. And she never fears that Raphael will hurt her, although he worries constantly about it. More squeamish readers should note that this book is violent. It does not shy away from violence that is never gratuitous and always serves to establish the difference between Elena’s former world: humankind, and her new world: angel-kind.

Intricate without being complicated, emotional and dark without being manipulative, Archangel’s Kiss is a brilliant, if violent installment in the Guild Hunters series and should not be missed by fans of darker paranormal romance.(less)

10 likes · like · see review

Dec 07, 2012 Sarah (Sare) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: buddyreads, favorites, paranormal, dominant-males, steamy-reads, vampires, angels-archangels

Archangel's Kiss was the second installment of the Guild Hunter Series and can I just say that it was HOT HOT HOT!!!!

"Love was an agony beyond compare!"

hot male angel Pictures, Images and Photos

I absolutely loved that the story continued exactly where it left off in Angel's Blood. It was an emotional read that stripped the feelings and emotions of Raphael and Elena and allowed us as the reader to folly grasp their relationship and who they are becoming now together.

The story focuses on Elena's struggles to leave her humanity and human...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Sarah rated it 1 of 5 stars

It's incredibly bad. I liked Archangel's blade, could tolerate the first but this is just endless flowery prose, a main heroine who constantly thinks about sex, how sexy everyone is around her, how sexy the world smells, the sex she craves all the time, how hot everyone is, and she does it with bizarre phrases like 'ebony dipped in sapphire'. (When talking about hair. )
It just keeps going on, and on like this, pages of this, and then some recap of the last book, and then we're suddenly talking...more It's incredibly bad. I liked Archangel's blade, could tolerate the first but this is just endless flowery prose, a main heroine who constantly thinks about sex, how sexy everyone is around her, how sexy the world smells, the sex she craves all the time, how hot everyone is, and she does it with bizarre phrases like 'ebony dipped in sapphire'. (When talking about hair. )
It just keeps going on, and on like this, pages of this, and then some recap of the last book, and then we're suddenly talking about intoxicating ...coffee. And then we're back to it.
'...left her with a kiss of diamonds and cream - a sensual taunt that trapped the air in her throat, made her thighs press together involuntary reaction..."
That was not about her lover.

I think there's a plot mixed in there somewhere, something about a beaten up vampire, an ancient angel that's not really of the world anymore, but there's so much sex, blood, scent... and ridiculous bloody descriptions of things like showers- a soft warm rain.

Her relationship with the archangel is what I find most disturbing though. He's an asshole and she's a simpering wimp. She constantly tells herself that she's not worthy, that he's so high, and could literally be kissing the dust under his feet, while the man... sorry... archangel... is continually reminding her that she's not his lover, she's not his girlfriend, not his equal, she's a distraction. An amusement. A pet. Maybe the man does love the main character, maybe, but it's emotional abuse to constantly put her down, accuse her, blame his reaction on her, and downplay the relationship as 'nothing'.

I would recommend that the author stops and does some research into Mary Sues. Because this character went from a character with some potential to something that's just a Mary Sue novel, with all the men lusting after her, all the women jealous of her, a dark past, and a lover that she's 'not worthy' to be with.

It's good for a laugh but don't ever buy this book. Or any books from her. You'll loose your mind. (less)

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May 20, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, favorites

When Elena wakes up after a year long coma she is like a different person, her new abilities will only make her stronger in the long run but for now she is even more vulnerable than she was before. Raphael has taken her to the Refuge so she can continue her recovery but his enemies see her as his weak point and seek to destroy her. When mysterious murders start to occur it is Elena who has the ability to track down the killer but can Raphael keep her safe?

I loved the first book in this series (A...more When Elena wakes up after a year long coma she is like a different person, her new abilities will only make her stronger in the long run but for now she is even more vulnerable than she was before. Raphael has taken her to the Refuge so she can continue her recovery but his enemies see her as his weak point and seek to destroy her. When mysterious murders start to occur it is Elena who has the ability to track down the killer but can Raphael keep her safe?

I loved the first book in this series (Angel's Blood) and was glad I already had a copy of Archangel's Kiss so I could continue Elena & Raphael's journey immediately. I had high expectations for this book and Nalini Singh didn't disappoint me, if the rest of her books are as good as these 2 then she will be added to my list of must buy authors. This series continues to straddle the lines between paranormal romance and urban fantasy, the beginning of Archangel's Kiss was definitely more focused on the romance and then the action kicked into gear for the second half and left me breathless with anticipation. If you're a fan of either genre then I'm sure the series will have enough to keep you happy, my only recommendation would be to make sure you read the books in order but you should definitely read them!

I love reading about Elena and Raphael and their relationship develops really nicely throughout the book. Raphael can come across as possessive and jealous but Elena also brings out his more caring and sensitive side and he is starting to learn that he can't force Elena into things, she has to choose to do them. Elena isn't used to having anyone to rely on, we saw in the first book how her father had rejected her after the deaths of her mother and sisters so know that she has had to stand on her own two feet. Although she is physically weaker than those around her she still shows great strength of character and refuses to show her fear. I was glad to find out more about her past and the events that lead her to become a Guild Hunter and I loved seeing her slowly learn to trust Raphael and start to open up to him.

The world Nalini Singh has created is rich in detail and easy to picture, although her angels are hardly the benevolent creatures they are usually portrayed as they are fascinating to read about and we learn a lot more about their hierarchy in this book. Archangel's Kiss is a romantic, fast paced read that will have you hooked from the first page and leave you desperate for the next installment. A highly recommended series but make sure you start with Angel's Blood!(less)

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Aug 19, 2011 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: angels, vampires

As I said in my review of the first book, this is the second time that I’m reading the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh. The second book in this series, “Archangel’s Kiss” is even better than the first!

The story takes us a year after the last events and Elena Deveraux, vampire hunter and an angel, wakes up from the come. The problems now are many. Another archangel is more dangerous than ever and the relationship between Elena and Raphael is not an easy thing.

Elena as always is great. She’s t...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Book Chick City rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, romance-paranormal, angels, book-list-2011, favorites

'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...more '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!(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Nov 18, 2010 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 144-books-in-2010, january-2010, read-in-2010, re-read-in-2010, november-2010, 200-books-in-2013, fantasy, march-2013, paranormal, re-read-in-2013

Re-read 11/17/10: I had a harder time getting into it this time around. The first time I read it the first 3-or-so chapters lagged for me, but this time I was almost halfway through the book before I was pulled in. The battle between Raphael and Elena over her independence was necessary to both characters, but really dragged the story down, IMO. Once it settled and the focus shifted it was much easier to read.

Still a great read, but I didn't love it as much as I did the first time around.

First...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Brittany B. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook, great-series, rom_pnr

I think this book deserves 4.8 stars. It's not perfect, but for more creative and imaginative readers, it is close to it. I am not the most creative and I have trouble visualizing what these creatures look like in dresses, suits, taking a shower, talking/arguing in the air. Are their wings separate from their arms?? None of it comes to me despite how hard the author works to describe the world her angels live in.

Great book. Better than the first. Highly recommended.

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Jul 06, 2011 Cloe rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

El olor a viento, a mar, a fresco, se reafirma como la esencia misma del pecado más terrenal, sensual e irresistible. Un pecado con nombre propio, Rafael.
Nalini Singh lo ha vuelto a hacer. Una vez más me ha cautivado por completo con sus ángeles y vampiros. De nuevo me ha enganchado a su prosa llena de acción, fuego, sensualidad, susurros eróticos capaces de ponerte los vellos de punta y por supuesto amor, mucho amor. Si Rafael ya me enamoró en 'El ángel caído', primera entrega de la saga 'El g...more

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May 01, 2011 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book

click here for more book reviews.

*****

i won’t apologize, Elena. It would be a lie – i couldn’t let you leave me.

first off, the cover is just stunning. Elena appeared sexy and dangerous. plus the indigo-almost black angel wings. wow.

i started reading the moment i finished book 1. why? i was hungry for more!

i finally got over the vampires-slaved-by-vicious-angels/archangels thing and enjoyed reading.

mostly the book explained more of the angelic world. Elena’s brutal past, and Raphael’s. and Michae...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 31, 2012 Azzurra rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, urban-fantasy-adults, angels

CONTIENE SPOILER SUL PRIMO VOLUME!

Manca ormai un giorno e poco più all'uscita del secondo capitolo della serie Guild Hunter di Nalini Singh, iniziata nel 2011 con Il profumo del sangue che proseguirà questo 2 febbraio con La carezza del buio. Come già sapete si tratta di un romanzo urban fantasy diretto ad un pubblico adulto, con protagonisti angeli molto particolari.
Sono si creature immortali dotate di ali, ma sono altresì decisamente poco divine e molto crudeli e indifferenti al genere umano (...more

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Feb 12, 2010 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, read-in-2010, re-read

Wow did I love this book. I won't go into plot, but these are my favorite parts:
1. Elena's development. Elena went from being the best hunter to the weakest angel. She needs to do a lot of adjusting in a compressed period of time, and I loved watching her grow and change.

2. Raphael. I think this is the very first depiction I've seen of immortal characters that rings absolutely true for me. After thousands of years, how could anyone relate to humans with only a few year's worth of experience? Con...more

8 likes · like · see review

Feb 14, 2013 Aure `Reading With The Dark` rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE!

Recommended to Aure `Reading With The Dark` by: Aly (Lothaire) Daciano

Shelves: favorites

5+++++ Stars!!!

“They didn't understand that she held his heart, held it so utterly that there was nothing he wouldn't do, no line he wouldn't cross to keep her safe.”

>>>>>>>>> RAPHAEL <<<<<<<<<<

Seriously! He's gorgeous or what???

Am I right? Right?

I loved this book, loved the story. How they started to grew on each others skin! And yet it's still interesting to read about them... Cause you have that feeling that's not over yet, no...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 29, 2011 Erika rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-of-heroes, ladies-of-quality, paranormal, romance, favorites

“Even if you fail,” he said, “I have every confidence that you’ll find a way to end my life before I stain the world with evil.”
Rebellion in those eyes. “We die,” she said, “we die together. That’s the deal.”
He thought about his final thoughts as he’d fallen with her in New York, her body broken in his arms, her voice less than a whisper in his mind. He hadn’t considered holding onto his eternity for a second, had chosen to die with her, with his hunter. That she would choose to do the same...

...more

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Dec 15, 2010 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal

4.5 stars.

In the previous book I didn't like Elena very much because she was always confronting Raphael and she was extremely despondent. In this book she's more likable, but I can't help feeling that I like her because Raphael likes her. It's as if she's basking in the Archangel's spotlight, but she is not strong enough to stand on her own as a character.

I think Raphael is one of my favorite Alpha heroes. He is passionate with a dangerous streak, he feels deeply but he has a cold mind. It's onl...more

4 likes · like · see review

Sep 28, 2011 ~♡♥Ang ♥♡~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: re-reading

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 08, 2010 LethalLovely~I'll Be Your River rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, 5-and-4-star-ratings, rrrc-monthly-reads, reviews, favorite-reads-of-2010

My Thoughts:

This novel was way better than the first if that's possible, as Angels' Blood was amazing. Euphoric even. This series is a breath of fresh air in the monotony that is the PNR genre. This new addition doesn't disappoint either. I loved the raw chemistry between Elena & Raphael. I love how their relationship evolved. Evolved is a word used alot in this novel & describes it perfectly. Almost everyone evolved in some way, revealing parts of themselves the reader never knew &...more

9 likes · like · see review

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Gabriel's Inferno...: Archangel's Kiss	145	33	Nov 21, 2012 06:28pm
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About Nalini Singh

I've been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There's no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted t...more

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“They didn't understand that she held his heart, held it so utterly that there was nothing he wouldn't do, no line he wouldn't cross to keep her safe.” — 244 people liked it

“He wanted to give me a blade? What's wrong with that?”

“Blades,” he whispered, “and sheaths go together. And your sheath will only ever hold my blade.” — 164 people liked it

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