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Guild Hunter #10
Archangel's Viper
Enter New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh's breathtakingly passionate Guild Hunter world with the story of a woman who isn't a vampire or an angel...or human...
Once a broken girl known as Sorrow, Holly Chang now prowls the shadowy gray underground of the city for the angels. But it's not her winged allies who make her a wanted woman--it's the unknown power coursing through her veins. Brutalized by an insane archangel, she was left with the bloodlust of a vampire, the ability to mesmerize her prey, and a poisonous bite.
Now, someone has put a bounty on her head...
Venom is one of the Seven, Archangel Raphael's private guard, and he's as infuriating as he is seductive. A centuries-old vampire, his fangs dispense a poison deadlier than Holly's. But even if Venom can protect Holly from those hunting her, he might not be able to save himself--because the strange, violent power inside Holly is awakening...
No one is safe.
Once a broken girl known as Sorrow, Holly Chang now prowls the shadowy gray underground of the city for the angels. But it's not her winged allies who make her a wanted woman--it's the unknown power coursing through her veins. Brutalized by an insane archangel, she was left with the bloodlust of a vampire, the ability to mesmerize her prey, and a poisonous bite.
Now, someone has put a bounty on her head...
Venom is one of the Seven, Archangel Raphael's private guard, and he's as infuriating as he is seductive. A centuries-old vampire, his fangs dispense a poison deadlier than Holly's. But even if Venom can protect Holly from those hunting her, he might not be able to save himself--because the strange, violent power inside Holly is awakening...
No one is safe.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2017
620 people are currently reading
6482 people want to read
About the author
Nalini Singh
239 books26.6k followersI'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 to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,247 reviews
June 12, 2017
3 Stars
I'm going to keep this brief and vague so as to avoid any spoilers...
In short, I had really high hopes for Venom and Holly.
We met both of these characters very early on in the series and I just knew both of their individual books would be epic.
Needless to say, you can imagine my excitement when I saw that they were actually going to be a couple in this one...
Well.
I don't know if it's a result of too high expectations or - ahem - the fact that a lot of the story felt like an Alien/Body Snatchers horror hybrid mystery...
...but something was just lacking a bit here for me.
And I think that missing piece was the ROMANCE.
There was a lot of fun banter and interaction between Venom and Holly, but there was very little romance - and I don't just mean sex here, I mean just a general sense of romantic connection, sexual tension, just plain INTEREST in each other - for a vast majority of the book.
And when it did finally happen, it felt too late and sudden in the story for me, sadly.
Regardless, I enjoyed this book well enough as far as the overarching plot in relation to Uram, and Holly and I think fans of the series will enjoy it also...so long as they don't expect too much in the love connection department.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Want.
So.
Badly.
Despite the heinous cover, even.
I'm going to keep this brief and vague so as to avoid any spoilers...
In short, I had really high hopes for Venom and Holly.
We met both of these characters very early on in the series and I just knew both of their individual books would be epic.
Needless to say, you can imagine my excitement when I saw that they were actually going to be a couple in this one...
Well.
I don't know if it's a result of too high expectations or - ahem - the fact that a lot of the story felt like an Alien/Body Snatchers horror hybrid mystery...
...but something was just lacking a bit here for me.
And I think that missing piece was the ROMANCE.
There was a lot of fun banter and interaction between Venom and Holly, but there was very little romance - and I don't just mean sex here, I mean just a general sense of romantic connection, sexual tension, just plain INTEREST in each other - for a vast majority of the book.
And when it did finally happen, it felt too late and sudden in the story for me, sadly.
Regardless, I enjoyed this book well enough as far as the overarching plot in relation to Uram, and Holly and I think fans of the series will enjoy it also...so long as they don't expect too much in the love connection department.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Want.
So.
Badly.
Despite the heinous cover, even.
September 28, 2017
NOW AVAILABLE.
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
V E N O M.
I don't know about you guys, but of all the mysterious mystery men in Raphael's coterie, Venom probably held the least interest for me.
That's not to say he held no interest--this is Singh we're talking about--just that of all the intriguing men up for grabs, Venom might've wound up my last pick.
You: Y no Venom love?
Me: Umm . . . b/c probably a parselmouth.
You: Pfft. Lies.
Me: Also, he's POISONOUS.
And let's be realistic, just b/c I'm a proud, card-carrying member of House Slytherin, doesn't mean snakey Voldemort is my dream man.
And try I as I might, the only other man/snake amalgam I could come up with was Jafar, which isn't any better, and is also a Bad Guy.
B/c snakes are ALWAYS the Bad Guy.
*flinches b/c hears Nalini Singh laughing from undisclosed location*
So that's the first hurdle Singh had to jump. And she did. Remarkably well. Her efforts aided, in no small part, by Holly.
You: Holly who?
Me: Holly-the-lone-survivor-from-cannibal-archangel's-pile-'o-woman-flesh (from book 1).
You: O_____O
Me: YEP. Bet you forgot about her. I know I did.
BUT. As it turns out, she's kinda poisonous too.
I'm not going to waste time outlining this installment's furthering of the main plot: is that crazy bitch who hung out in China really dead? What new worrying signs of the Cascade appeared? All of that is typically secondary in the non-Elena and Raphael segments anyway.
ARCHANGEL'S VIPER is about Venom and Holly and how two individuals, abused by fate and man, can be forged into something new and profoundly unique, and in that shared abnormality become perfect for each other.
It's quite lovely.
SO. If you've yet to begin reading what is one of my favorite urban fantasy/paranormal romance combos, I encourage you to climb on up and get on this bandwagon. There is cake, and I will share it. Probably. If your hesitation stems from the number of installments you're behind, consider how you'll feel in five years when GUILD HUNTER is still going strong, as I predict it will be. *sing songs* Better late than neverrrrr. To the veterans, I say nothing. B/c you already know. *eats cake*
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
V E N O M.
I don't know about you guys, but of all the mysterious mystery men in Raphael's coterie, Venom probably held the least interest for me.
That's not to say he held no interest--this is Singh we're talking about--just that of all the intriguing men up for grabs, Venom might've wound up my last pick.
You: Y no Venom love?
Me: Umm . . . b/c probably a parselmouth.
You: Pfft. Lies.
Me: Also, he's POISONOUS.
And let's be realistic, just b/c I'm a proud, card-carrying member of House Slytherin, doesn't mean snakey Voldemort is my dream man.
And try I as I might, the only other man/snake amalgam I could come up with was Jafar, which isn't any better, and is also a Bad Guy.
B/c snakes are ALWAYS the Bad Guy.
*flinches b/c hears Nalini Singh laughing from undisclosed location*
So that's the first hurdle Singh had to jump. And she did. Remarkably well. Her efforts aided, in no small part, by Holly.
You: Holly who?
Me: Holly-the-lone-survivor-from-cannibal-archangel's-pile-'o-woman-flesh (from book 1).
You: O_____O
Me: YEP. Bet you forgot about her. I know I did.
BUT. As it turns out, she's kinda poisonous too.
I'm not going to waste time outlining this installment's furthering of the main plot: is that crazy bitch who hung out in China really dead? What new worrying signs of the Cascade appeared? All of that is typically secondary in the non-Elena and Raphael segments anyway.
ARCHANGEL'S VIPER is about Venom and Holly and how two individuals, abused by fate and man, can be forged into something new and profoundly unique, and in that shared abnormality become perfect for each other.
It's quite lovely.
SO. If you've yet to begin reading what is one of my favorite urban fantasy/paranormal romance combos, I encourage you to climb on up and get on this bandwagon. There is cake, and I will share it. Probably. If your hesitation stems from the number of installments you're behind, consider how you'll feel in five years when GUILD HUNTER is still going strong, as I predict it will be. *sing songs* Better late than neverrrrr. To the veterans, I say nothing. B/c you already know. *eats cake*
October 1, 2017
If anyone says "kitty", "kitties", or "kitten" to me within the next 24 hours, I may just go into a homicidal rage.
Venom calls Holly "Kitty" 89 times in this book. 89!!!!!!!!!
So, my husband calls me "baby" or "babe", right? But, he doesn't address me as such every single time he talks to me. It isn't normal. As a matter of fact, it is so abnormal that I would think he either had a stroke, developed Tourettes Syndrome, or was trying to start a fight with me.
Holly even asks Venom multiple times NOT to call her that. So, it is a major form of passive-aggressive behavior on his part. And, hey, I can even allow it for a little bit, at first, when they are verbally sparring a bit, BUT, he never stops! Even after they are all in lurv, he calls her kitty excessively even though she hates it. I am just not understanding this at all.
Because of this, and the fact that I hate snakes, and the fact that if Venom looks anything like the book cover I am NOT attracted to, I didn't like Venom enough to like this book much.
Seriously, is there a woman out there that finds snake-like features attractive and sexy?
KILL IT!!! Kill it now!
Eww... I feel a full body shudder coming on from simply finding that meme.
The only good part of this book was that we had some Illium. No Aodhan though. *sigh* But, at least Illium is brooding over Aodhan.
I am willing to forgive Nalini Singh if she gives me the Bluebell/Sparkle ship that I am desperate for.
Venom calls Holly "Kitty" 89 times in this book. 89!!!!!!!!!
So, my husband calls me "baby" or "babe", right? But, he doesn't address me as such every single time he talks to me. It isn't normal. As a matter of fact, it is so abnormal that I would think he either had a stroke, developed Tourettes Syndrome, or was trying to start a fight with me.
Holly even asks Venom multiple times NOT to call her that. So, it is a major form of passive-aggressive behavior on his part. And, hey, I can even allow it for a little bit, at first, when they are verbally sparring a bit, BUT, he never stops! Even after they are all in lurv, he calls her kitty excessively even though she hates it. I am just not understanding this at all.
Because of this, and the fact that I hate snakes, and the fact that if Venom looks anything like the book cover I am NOT attracted to, I didn't like Venom enough to like this book much.
Seriously, is there a woman out there that finds snake-like features attractive and sexy?
KILL IT!!! Kill it now!
Eww... I feel a full body shudder coming on from simply finding that meme.
The only good part of this book was that we had some Illium. No Aodhan though. *sigh* But, at least Illium is brooding over Aodhan.
I am willing to forgive Nalini Singh if she gives me the Bluebell/Sparkle ship that I am desperate for.
September 26, 2017
Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books
✮✮✮ 5 STARS ✮✮✮
When I started this series I was seriously impressed with all the so obviously different personalities Nalini Singh equipped her characters with. No one was just an accessory, they all had a purpose and they all displayed distinguishing features. After Illium I was the most intrigued by Venom, the sangfroid, snarky member of Raphael's Seven. Needless to say I was over the moon when I saw his book popping up and although it wasn't a surprise who the author paired him up with I was happy it was Holly.
Heads up right away: if you expect a mushy romance this is not what you get. This installment is very story driven and while there is great chemistry between Venom and Holly the romance aspect comes pretty late in the story. It didn't bother me though - it was a natural development for them. The snarky banter and quips from the beginning turned gradually into a good-natured ribbing.
Individually Venom and Holly couldn't be more different, at least at a distant glance. He has a coolness about him that keeps people at arm's length. The only real connection and friendship he has with his brothers-in-arms, Raphael's Seven. Venom knows that he is one of a kind but he has come to appreciate it and uses his otherness to his own advantage - not hard since it comes with a set of kickass abilities. He is aware of Holly struggling with her alterity.
What surprised me about him was his benign nature (in all his badass-ness) and an unexpected gentleness with Holly. He loves her wildness, her intelligence and sweetness and he never lies to her. He is standing with her, backing her up when it is Holly against the world. Venom has a playful side about him that I found utterly charming. I loved he nicknames "Kitty" and "Hollyberry" he gave her. But Venom, too, has a past that shaped him.
He understands Holly like no one else but it goes both ways - Holly recognizes Venom's otherness and realizing that she isn't the only freak helps her overcome her rage and feeling of loneliness. She is a complicated creature - we saw her in the beginning of the series as this broken doll, broken by Uram who Made her against her will but left her a being not quite vampire but not quite mortal or angel either. She felt a little bit emo back then so I loved to see that she took charge of her life. She has come a long way from "Sorrow" back to Holly.
Holly has become a force to be reckoned with, inspires loyalty and benevolence in people.
Her struggles with what she has become are painful and I felt nothing but compassion and admiration for her courage. Add to that a sharp tongue, intelligence and kindness and she makes for a wonderfully strong heroine.
For those who have been wondering - yes, we get to see a little bit of Illium and Dimitri, whose interaction with Holly and his fatherly love for her made my heart soar.
The car race between Dimitri and Venom was an exhilarating moment in the book which we get a lot of btw. You will find a lot of heart-stopping action and exciting scenes.
It wouldn't be a Guild Hunter story if we didn't get to catch up a bit with Raphael - he doesn't steal Venom's and Holly's thunder which I appreciated.
Overall this was a very satisfying installment - I had one little niggle I wanted to mention that in the grand scheme of things didn't diminish my enjoyment of this story at all: the show-down is a little too long. Holly's inner "dialogue" was a little exhausting but as I said, it is really only a small complaint.
Ms. Singh's writing is excellent. She knows how to pull you right into the story and make you commiserate with the characters and fall in love with them. They are complex and multi-layers and always, always likable. That she mixes different cultures into her stories only adds to the fascination. This book in the series belongs to my favorites - while the romance isn't as prominent it still has a lot to love about it. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.
On that note, I notice a pattern in these books. The ones featuring Raphael and Elena drive the overarching plot forward, the ones featuring his Seven focus on the couple they are about. Yet, I wouldn't recommend reading them as standalones. They have a lot of names and little details and while Nalini Singh explains and elaborates on them very well they would still be way confusing.
Archangel's Viper is the ninth installment of the Guild Hunter series which must be read in order.
✮✮✮ 5 STARS ✮✮✮
When I started this series I was seriously impressed with all the so obviously different personalities Nalini Singh equipped her characters with. No one was just an accessory, they all had a purpose and they all displayed distinguishing features. After Illium I was the most intrigued by Venom, the sangfroid, snarky member of Raphael's Seven. Needless to say I was over the moon when I saw his book popping up and although it wasn't a surprise who the author paired him up with I was happy it was Holly.
Heads up right away: if you expect a mushy romance this is not what you get. This installment is very story driven and while there is great chemistry between Venom and Holly the romance aspect comes pretty late in the story. It didn't bother me though - it was a natural development for them. The snarky banter and quips from the beginning turned gradually into a good-natured ribbing.
Individually Venom and Holly couldn't be more different, at least at a distant glance. He has a coolness about him that keeps people at arm's length. The only real connection and friendship he has with his brothers-in-arms, Raphael's Seven. Venom knows that he is one of a kind but he has come to appreciate it and uses his otherness to his own advantage - not hard since it comes with a set of kickass abilities. He is aware of Holly struggling with her alterity.
To the world, Venom was a vampire. And there were millions of vampires. But he was the only one with the eyes of a viper and the deeper, less visible changes that shoved him far outside that well-defined box. Like Naasir, he was and had always been alone among millions. Until Holly./i>
What surprised me about him was his benign nature (in all his badass-ness) and an unexpected gentleness with Holly. He loves her wildness, her intelligence and sweetness and he never lies to her. He is standing with her, backing her up when it is Holly against the world. Venom has a playful side about him that I found utterly charming. I loved he nicknames "Kitty" and "Hollyberry" he gave her. But Venom, too, has a past that shaped him.
He felt his lips kick up. When she wasn’t awake and snapping at him, she was pretty cute. Though he had to admit he liked the snappy, snarky side of her.
He understands Holly like no one else but it goes both ways - Holly recognizes Venom's otherness and realizing that she isn't the only freak helps her overcome her rage and feeling of loneliness. She is a complicated creature - we saw her in the beginning of the series as this broken doll, broken by Uram who Made her against her will but left her a being not quite vampire but not quite mortal or angel either. She felt a little bit emo back then so I loved to see that she took charge of her life. She has come a long way from "Sorrow" back to Holly.
Venom laughed, delighted with her— though he’d never allow her to guess that. Holly had always challenged him in a way that ignited his instincts, and she did it with a cutting intelligence that spoke to his own.
Holly has become a force to be reckoned with, inspires loyalty and benevolence in people.
Her struggles with what she has become are painful and I felt nothing but compassion and admiration for her courage. Add to that a sharp tongue, intelligence and kindness and she makes for a wonderfully strong heroine.
For those who have been wondering - yes, we get to see a little bit of Illium and Dimitri, whose interaction with Holly and his fatherly love for her made my heart soar.
Cupping her face in his hands, Dmitri spoke in a voice midnight with age. “Hate me if you want, Holly, but remember this: you’re one of the Tower’s now. You’re one of mine now. That might mean chains, but it also means you have hundreds of vampires and angels at your back.”
“Let’s go, my little weirdling. I’m Ash and Janvier’s teacher for the next hour. You can watch.” - Dmitri
The car race between Dimitri and Venom was an exhilarating moment in the book which we get a lot of btw. You will find a lot of heart-stopping action and exciting scenes.
It wouldn't be a Guild Hunter story if we didn't get to catch up a bit with Raphael - he doesn't steal Venom's and Holly's thunder which I appreciated.
Overall this was a very satisfying installment - I had one little niggle I wanted to mention that in the grand scheme of things didn't diminish my enjoyment of this story at all: the show-down is a little too long. Holly's inner "dialogue" was a little exhausting but as I said, it is really only a small complaint.
Ms. Singh's writing is excellent. She knows how to pull you right into the story and make you commiserate with the characters and fall in love with them. They are complex and multi-layers and always, always likable. That she mixes different cultures into her stories only adds to the fascination. This book in the series belongs to my favorites - while the romance isn't as prominent it still has a lot to love about it. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.
On that note, I notice a pattern in these books. The ones featuring Raphael and Elena drive the overarching plot forward, the ones featuring his Seven focus on the couple they are about. Yet, I wouldn't recommend reading them as standalones. They have a lot of names and little details and while Nalini Singh explains and elaborates on them very well they would still be way confusing.
“I love you,” he said, his eyes locked with hers. “From the tips of my hair to the tips of my toes. From yesterday to tomorrow and every tomorrow we will ever see. From this moment to the mystery beyond death. Every part of you, slow or fast, small or big, strong or weak. I love you, Holly.”
Archangel's Viper is the ninth installment of the Guild Hunter series which must be read in order.
October 16, 2017
3.5-4 stars
Review now posted 16/10/17
If there's one thing I love, it's the "hate" to love trope. There's something about the animosity and snarkiness mixed with chemistry that just does it for me. You wait at the edge of your seat for the moment when the figurative bites become literal and their world ignites. Especially when it's done right. And Nalini Singh definitely gets it right here.
That said, I did feel like there was something missing. I think N.S. shot herself in the foot a bit by making Raphael and Elena so frigging fantastic that all the others pale in comparison. Venom and Holly miss that indefinable something that transcends in Raphael and Elenas relationship. And I'll add to that by saying I'm not a big fan of coitus interruptus especially when it turns out to be hotter than coitus completus. Being the pervert that I am, I wanted a bit more sexy times with these two and maybe a tad more descriptive ones wouldn't have hurt either.
To be honest this book created more questions than it answered, for me. I find that frustrating because after 10 books I still have more or less the same set of questions. Along with all of that I also want a Vivek book in the future in addition to Bluebell and Sparkle books.
Wohoo! Venom! Give it to me!
Things that I need to know/read more about in this and probably wont:
April 2017
Got a cover...
Review now posted 16/10/17
If there's one thing I love, it's the "hate" to love trope. There's something about the animosity and snarkiness mixed with chemistry that just does it for me. You wait at the edge of your seat for the moment when the figurative bites become literal and their world ignites. Especially when it's done right. And Nalini Singh definitely gets it right here.
That said, I did feel like there was something missing. I think N.S. shot herself in the foot a bit by making Raphael and Elena so frigging fantastic that all the others pale in comparison. Venom and Holly miss that indefinable something that transcends in Raphael and Elenas relationship. And I'll add to that by saying I'm not a big fan of coitus interruptus especially when it turns out to be hotter than coitus completus. Being the pervert that I am, I wanted a bit more sexy times with these two and maybe a tad more descriptive ones wouldn't have hurt either.
To be honest this book created more questions than it answered, for me. I find that frustrating because after 10 books I still have more or less the same set of questions. Along with all of that I also want a Vivek book in the future in addition to Bluebell and Sparkle books.
Wohoo! Venom! Give it to me!
Things that I need to know/read more about in this and probably wont:
April 2017
Got a cover...
Read
March 20, 201720/3/2017
Look at this awful cover! It's ugly!:'(
But I still can't wait for Viper and Sorrow's story!!
****************************
Venom's book is coming and I couldn't be happier unless it was the Aodhan-Ilium one that NS just needs to write! I only hope though that the heroine is Sorrow otherwise I won't be a happy camper!
Look at this awful cover! It's ugly!:'(
But I still can't wait for Viper and Sorrow's story!!
****************************
Venom's book is coming and I couldn't be happier unless it was the Aodhan-Ilium one that NS just needs to write! I only hope though that the heroine is Sorrow otherwise I won't be a happy camper!
May 26, 2020
This book was EVERYTHING and so much more!!
Venom has always been a favorite of mine. From the very beginning, his relationship with Elena has been a source for hilarity and fascination. He was something DIFFERENT. Dangerous, unique, intriguing, and so very mysterious.
And finally he got his own book and OMG - he got Holly too!!!!
Holly - I had so many questions about Holly. She was fascinating and intriguing and her entire existence was as unique and mysterious as Venom's. And even though both characters had been with this series since the very first book, they had me more curious than any other of the supporting cast. But especially Holly!! Uram had changed her - undeniably, unequivocally, irreversibly!
But just how much he changed her had been unanswered.
Until now!!!
We finally get answers. Maybe more than we've prepared for!!
For me, this book was addictive. From beginning to end Archangel's Viper captivated me and didn't let go until I reached THE END. The authors trademark writing style and whip-smart dialogues entranced and pulled me in. Her storytelling is in a class of its own. The way she waved past and present was uniquely Nalini Singh. Storylines that happened eons ago were picked up again, questions were answered, knots unraveled - nothing was left untended.
Nalini Singh is hands down one of the most skilled authors I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
I went blind into Archangel's Viper, all I knew was that Venom and Holly would be the main couple - and that's pretty much all I cared about.
And now, after finishing this book, I don't think there is a more perfect couple in this entire series - except of Elena and Raphael of course!!
The mysterious Venom, distanced by his unique looks, coldish and abrasive at times, absolutely devoted and loyal to Raphael and his Seven but otherwise alone - finally found his match in Holly. Holly, a former Uram victim, changed in such a way that no one really knew what she was or would still become. After years of struggles, she finally fought her way out of an abyss that tried to swallow her whole. Now, while finding out what was going on inside of her, she had a choice of trusting the man beside her or loosing the life she finally started claiming as her own.
The BIG unknown was as fascinating as thrilling in this book. Not having an inclination what was going on with Holly kept me turning pages at warp speed. The twists and turns came hurdling at me, all I could do was hold on and enjoy the ride.
And that's what I did wholeheartedly!!
This was hands down one of my favorite books about Raphael's SEVEN. Maybe because it was not only about Venom but Holly too. Two characters I've come to love and admire. I adored how the author kept their relationship progressing naturally and gradually. In the past Venom and Holly aggravated each other to no end, they were teacher and student at times, and respected each other because of their uniqueness. Neither fit the mold of vampire.
Holly and Venom's story was not about instantaneity. Their love story started slow and grew into a crescendo that was pure and overwhelmingly special.
When Holly and Venom started working together, they realized that they could be themselves with each other, allowing the otherness that usually was hidden away, out and play. They found in each other an antidote to their venomous bite. Someone that understood their respective uniqueness and accepted them for who and what they were.
I especially adored Holly's journey. It was heart-achingly beautiful. She changed from a snarky and closed off victim to a self-assured and affectionate woman that was looking forward to the future. I loved her character so much!!!
Holly and Venom's love- story was as beautiful as it was restrained and pure. It was PERFECT in every possible way. I personally think that the author outdid herself with this novel. This couples was PERFECTION!!!!
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September 29, 2017
*** 4.44 ***
A buddy read with my GR family, the Wednesday UF group @ BB&B!!!
Do you guys remember when the Archangel Uram went completely nuts in one of the first books and the only person we met, who had survived his blood and destruction rampage, was the small Chinese-American woman, Holly Chang? I remember her vividly, because later on she chose to call herself Sorrow and the damage and devastation that was done to her psyche was horrendous. I remember her feeling the grief for her friends who did not make it through the ordeal, I remember her trying to kill herself, rather than turning into this new type of vamperic thing, made not the usual way and completely against her will. And I remember the small bits and pieces we have been getting of her development through the existence of the series and her affinity to Venom, the 500 years old vampire with the eyes of a Viper.
"..."Eyes slitted like a viper’s met hers, the color a bright astonishing green. I see you missed me, kitty, he mouthed.
Holly gave him a sickly sweet smile . . . followed by the finger."..."
Venom has been out of the country for couple of years and he returns to find the little baby vampire that is Holly, driving a bad-ass muscle car and smart-mouthing him back at any and every possible turn. Since most people and other lesser immortals are terrified by him, Venom finds this entertaining and decides he will be her guard as long as there is a bond of 5 mil. on her head. O, yeah, someone is trying to kidnap Holly, alive, and no one can figure who could that be and what could be the reason for such unexpected interest in her small and insignificant person. The two of them being stuck together results in some very entertaining banter and I loved that this particular book went with less sex and more spooky action than the usual PNR of this series. To me that was a big plus, but I realize that some might be disappointed that more skin-on-skin sexy times did not occur. And I see the criticism that there was not so much sexual tension as more of a friendship vibes, but I did not mind that in this case.
"..."“Venom didn't answer until they'd crossed the street, his body moving with liquid grace. Holly couldn't help it; she watched him. There was something deadly about Venom. Not just power, but him. She wondered if he'd been like this as a human, too, dangerous and beautiful.
She blinked, shook her head. Obviously, if she was starting to think Venom beautiful, it was time to break her self-imposed celibacy and go get laid.”..."
So yes, we get a non-Rafael-and -Elena book, but it was just as entertaining and engaging as most of the books in this series are. We also got to visit with couple of our favorite Angels, particularly my Bluebell, who at a point referred to himself as a "fluffy duckling", which once again grabbed my heart! This makes this book a must-read for all the fans of Nalini Singh and all who love the UF and PNR genres. I can't wait for more!
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you all find what you need in the pages of a Good Book!!!
A buddy read with my GR family, the Wednesday UF group @ BB&B!!!
Do you guys remember when the Archangel Uram went completely nuts in one of the first books and the only person we met, who had survived his blood and destruction rampage, was the small Chinese-American woman, Holly Chang? I remember her vividly, because later on she chose to call herself Sorrow and the damage and devastation that was done to her psyche was horrendous. I remember her feeling the grief for her friends who did not make it through the ordeal, I remember her trying to kill herself, rather than turning into this new type of vamperic thing, made not the usual way and completely against her will. And I remember the small bits and pieces we have been getting of her development through the existence of the series and her affinity to Venom, the 500 years old vampire with the eyes of a Viper.
"..."Eyes slitted like a viper’s met hers, the color a bright astonishing green. I see you missed me, kitty, he mouthed.
Holly gave him a sickly sweet smile . . . followed by the finger."..."
Venom has been out of the country for couple of years and he returns to find the little baby vampire that is Holly, driving a bad-ass muscle car and smart-mouthing him back at any and every possible turn. Since most people and other lesser immortals are terrified by him, Venom finds this entertaining and decides he will be her guard as long as there is a bond of 5 mil. on her head. O, yeah, someone is trying to kidnap Holly, alive, and no one can figure who could that be and what could be the reason for such unexpected interest in her small and insignificant person. The two of them being stuck together results in some very entertaining banter and I loved that this particular book went with less sex and more spooky action than the usual PNR of this series. To me that was a big plus, but I realize that some might be disappointed that more skin-on-skin sexy times did not occur. And I see the criticism that there was not so much sexual tension as more of a friendship vibes, but I did not mind that in this case.
"..."“Venom didn't answer until they'd crossed the street, his body moving with liquid grace. Holly couldn't help it; she watched him. There was something deadly about Venom. Not just power, but him. She wondered if he'd been like this as a human, too, dangerous and beautiful.
She blinked, shook her head. Obviously, if she was starting to think Venom beautiful, it was time to break her self-imposed celibacy and go get laid.”..."
So yes, we get a non-Rafael-and -Elena book, but it was just as entertaining and engaging as most of the books in this series are. We also got to visit with couple of our favorite Angels, particularly my Bluebell, who at a point referred to himself as a "fluffy duckling", which once again grabbed my heart! This makes this book a must-read for all the fans of Nalini Singh and all who love the UF and PNR genres. I can't wait for more!
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you all find what you need in the pages of a Good Book!!!
October 4, 2017
Read with my UF buds at Buddies Books and Bubbles
Nalini Singh has done the almost impossible and made a snakesy creature sexy. I’m not sure how she was able to pull it off but she totally did.
If you google ‘sexy snakes’ or ‘sexy snake creatures’ do you know what you get??? A bunch of naked or nearly naked women posing with snakes OR big breasted women with snake tails. There isn’t a dude in sight unless he has a tattoo of a snake on him somewhere. You also get that creepy American Horror Story Coven image
So snakesy creatures not super sexy, but she did it with Venom and Holly who isn’t really a snake but definitely has some weird stuff going on.
Holly, who used to go by Sorrow after she was abducted in book one and made into something other when the Angel Urim fed her his blood, has overcome part of that in the background during the last nine books and is now Holly again. I really wish we would have got a little more of that reclamation of her life on page but at least she is in a pretty good place mentally. She isn’t perfect, she went through hell and her body has a lot of changes to accept but I love that her family didn’t abandon her. Her mother is a trip.
Venom has always been a bit of an enigma but he and Nassir are the same in that they are completely unique and so I was a little excited to get to know more about how Venom became the only snakelike vampire. Let’s just say that some Angels are more like demons in their cruelty.
Holly and Vemon together is a fun experience because of all the banter. They’ve been opposing forces for so long and she is so quick with a jibe here and jab there that you know when the feisty banter turns to passion it is going to be hot. Viperface is just as quick with a quip and teasing words to get under her skin. It is a pretty fun game overall.
This was a fun addition to the Guild hunter series. I won’t go into much detail on the plot as it was basically about Holly dealing with what Urim left inside her.
There wasn’t much movement on the overall cascade plot arc but at least we find out about Mikala and the supposed pregnancy. The other area of a lot of interest for me was Vivek’s situation since becoming a vampire. We don’t get a lot of info but at least we get to see how he is doing since the change. There is also a little bit of Bluebell in here for all of you who are also longing for his book but not much. Sparckles gets a mention or two as well. I know there are a lot of people out there shipping those two…I’m not really one of them but I love the bromance between them. I’d really love to see Illium fall in love with a human again. But we will see how it all plays out.
And another Guild Hunter book was over all too quickly. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next.
Nalini Singh has done the almost impossible and made a snakesy creature sexy. I’m not sure how she was able to pull it off but she totally did.
If you google ‘sexy snakes’ or ‘sexy snake creatures’ do you know what you get??? A bunch of naked or nearly naked women posing with snakes OR big breasted women with snake tails. There isn’t a dude in sight unless he has a tattoo of a snake on him somewhere. You also get that creepy American Horror Story Coven image
So snakesy creatures not super sexy, but she did it with Venom and Holly who isn’t really a snake but definitely has some weird stuff going on.
Holly, who used to go by Sorrow after she was abducted in book one and made into something other when the Angel Urim fed her his blood, has overcome part of that in the background during the last nine books and is now Holly again. I really wish we would have got a little more of that reclamation of her life on page but at least she is in a pretty good place mentally. She isn’t perfect, she went through hell and her body has a lot of changes to accept but I love that her family didn’t abandon her. Her mother is a trip.
“You’ve made up with your family?”
Holly nodded. “My mother lays a guilt trip on me every so often, though.” She folded her arms and imitated Daphne Chang’s scowl. “‘ Do you know how we felt? Do you, Holly? We raised you to know you were loved, that you could come to us with anything. And what do you do the first time you have a small problem but turn your back on your family! For shame!’”
Venom’s shoulders shook. “A small problem?”
“Oh, shut up.” But she was laughing, too. “That’s how she always puts it. As if waking up needing to drink blood to survive is the same as being fired from a job or having a car battery die.” Laughter turned into a smile. “She’s going to be mad at me forever, but she’ll love me while she’s mad at me.”
Venom has always been a bit of an enigma but he and Nassir are the same in that they are completely unique and so I was a little excited to get to know more about how Venom became the only snakelike vampire. Let’s just say that some Angels are more like demons in their cruelty.
Holly and Vemon together is a fun experience because of all the banter. They’ve been opposing forces for so long and she is so quick with a jibe here and jab there that you know when the feisty banter turns to passion it is going to be hot. Viperface is just as quick with a quip and teasing words to get under her skin. It is a pretty fun game overall.
“You play mean, Hollyberry. Like poison.”
Coming from anyone else, the latter words would’ve been an ugly insult. From Venom . . . “Did you just compliment me?” she asked, her mouth falling open. “Take it back!” She couldn’t deal with Venom being nice to her in any way, shape, or form.
“Of course,” he said, “your poison is nowhere near as venomous as mine.”
This was a fun addition to the Guild hunter series. I won’t go into much detail on the plot as it was basically about Holly dealing with what Urim left inside her.
There wasn’t much movement on the overall cascade plot arc but at least we find out about Mikala and the supposed pregnancy. The other area of a lot of interest for me was Vivek’s situation since becoming a vampire. We don’t get a lot of info but at least we get to see how he is doing since the change. There is also a little bit of Bluebell in here for all of you who are also longing for his book but not much. Sparckles gets a mention or two as well. I know there are a lot of people out there shipping those two…I’m not really one of them but I love the bromance between them. I’d really love to see Illium fall in love with a human again. But we will see how it all plays out.
And another Guild Hunter book was over all too quickly. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next.
October 6, 2024
Exhilarating! Thrilling! Relentless!
Archangel’s Viper is book ten in the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh. It’s a non-stop action-packed adventure full of hurtles, twists, and a little romance.
Before we get started; you do want to read this series in order. We meet Holly and Venom at the beginning of the series and are treated to little teasers of them throughout, but we don’t dive into who they are or what they have become until now.
Venom was his sexy self. We learn so much about his past, what makes him who he is, his unique attributes, and more. Holly is fierce, strong, and a survivor. She didn’t ask for the horrors that happened to her, but even with the ruff go of things, she turns herself around, and thrives.
I enjoyed Holly and Venom together and I relished the banter between them. It was lots of fun. As for the romance it was nice, but I would have liked them to have had more time together. It wasn’t until close to the end when the romance/get together happens and so it felt sudden and a little rushed to me.
Besides Holly and Venom, there was a lot going on in the story. These two had many challenges and hurtles to face; which where invigorating and had my heart pumping. I was on the edge of my sit and couldn’t put the story down. I was also not expecting to uncover what I read. And then add in the twists; which where unmatched. It was a delightful treat to be surprised and so captivated. I’m excited and a bit worried for everyone in this world. What will happen next?
Rated: 4.5 Stars
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
Archangel’s Viper is book ten in the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh. It’s a non-stop action-packed adventure full of hurtles, twists, and a little romance.
Before we get started; you do want to read this series in order. We meet Holly and Venom at the beginning of the series and are treated to little teasers of them throughout, but we don’t dive into who they are or what they have become until now.
Venom was his sexy self. We learn so much about his past, what makes him who he is, his unique attributes, and more. Holly is fierce, strong, and a survivor. She didn’t ask for the horrors that happened to her, but even with the ruff go of things, she turns herself around, and thrives.
I enjoyed Holly and Venom together and I relished the banter between them. It was lots of fun. As for the romance it was nice, but I would have liked them to have had more time together. It wasn’t until close to the end when the romance/get together happens and so it felt sudden and a little rushed to me.
Besides Holly and Venom, there was a lot going on in the story. These two had many challenges and hurtles to face; which where invigorating and had my heart pumping. I was on the edge of my sit and couldn’t put the story down. I was also not expecting to uncover what I read. And then add in the twists; which where unmatched. It was a delightful treat to be surprised and so captivated. I’m excited and a bit worried for everyone in this world. What will happen next?
Rated: 4.5 Stars
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
August 21, 2017
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
3,5 STARS
I was over the moon when I saw this new story from Nalini Singh. She's one of my all time favourite authors and I love her writing. So imagine my surprise to get the book before release date, I was ecstatic! I know, we are all wondering and waiting for Bluebell and Sparkle's story but Venom's an interesting character, too. I always wanted to know how he got made and what lead him to what and who he is today. We don't see enough of him in the previous books to really get to know him, so this story was great for me, since I got my long awaited answers.
Regards to the plot, as per usual, we get lots of action and I enjoy that a lot but this time I wanted more romance. I didn't really connect with both main characters and I feel so bad for it. I wanted to grow with them in their relationship but since the story starts off with both of them knowing each other for years, I felt a little let down. When I start reading a story, I expect it to have a proper beginning and not start off with characters knowing each other for god knows how long. It just takes away the anticipation for me. I already said, the connection between these two simply got lost for me in between all the angst and action and figuring out what the heck Uram did to these poor people. Not to mention my surprise by what Michaella birthed. That's just so wrong and just no... Good riddance, I tell ya!
Anyway...
Both Holly and Venom are awesome characters that make a great team. They have this love-hate relationship that slowly turns into a great friendship. Of course there are ups and downs, how could there not be but the main point is that they make both of them that much stronger as individuals. Both find something they've been missing and I was so glad fate brought them together. And although I wanted my share of Raphael/Elena POV's, we sadly don't get any of them. I can only hope the next story is about them or about the two best friends ever!
All in all, would I say this is my new favourite book? No. But is a fantastic PNR story that will leave you craving for more!
3,5 STARS
I was over the moon when I saw this new story from Nalini Singh. She's one of my all time favourite authors and I love her writing. So imagine my surprise to get the book before release date, I was ecstatic! I know, we are all wondering and waiting for Bluebell and Sparkle's story but Venom's an interesting character, too. I always wanted to know how he got made and what lead him to what and who he is today. We don't see enough of him in the previous books to really get to know him, so this story was great for me, since I got my long awaited answers.
Regards to the plot, as per usual, we get lots of action and I enjoy that a lot but this time I wanted more romance. I didn't really connect with both main characters and I feel so bad for it. I wanted to grow with them in their relationship but since the story starts off with both of them knowing each other for years, I felt a little let down. When I start reading a story, I expect it to have a proper beginning and not start off with characters knowing each other for god knows how long. It just takes away the anticipation for me. I already said, the connection between these two simply got lost for me in between all the angst and action and figuring out what the heck Uram did to these poor people. Not to mention my surprise by what Michaella birthed. That's just so wrong and just no... Good riddance, I tell ya!
Anyway...
Both Holly and Venom are awesome characters that make a great team. They have this love-hate relationship that slowly turns into a great friendship. Of course there are ups and downs, how could there not be but the main point is that they make both of them that much stronger as individuals. Both find something they've been missing and I was so glad fate brought them together. And although I wanted my share of Raphael/Elena POV's, we sadly don't get any of them. I can only hope the next story is about them or about the two best friends ever!
All in all, would I say this is my new favourite book? No. But is a fantastic PNR story that will leave you craving for more!
August 8, 2017
Want a kick ass read with mystery, drama, action-adventure and a side of snark? Well, look no further my bookish friends.
The once broken girl known as Sorrow is taking her name back. She’s building herself up from within and proving to be on her way to inner peace and self-acceptance. What was once broken is now becoming whole again.
Venom has a soft spot for the girl he helped rescue, yet he shows it in infuriating and antagonizing ways. He’s doing all he can to support and facilitate Holly’s journey, all without judgment or sympathy. It’s a hard, cruel world they live in and each much be ready for what comes. Even if that means provoking the unknown powers swirling within an already volatile Holly.
Perfectly executed and tremendously fun, Archangel’s Viper is a must read for any fan of the Guild Hunter Series.
*ARC Read
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The once broken girl known as Sorrow is taking her name back. She’s building herself up from within and proving to be on her way to inner peace and self-acceptance. What was once broken is now becoming whole again.
Venom has a soft spot for the girl he helped rescue, yet he shows it in infuriating and antagonizing ways. He’s doing all he can to support and facilitate Holly’s journey, all without judgment or sympathy. It’s a hard, cruel world they live in and each much be ready for what comes. Even if that means provoking the unknown powers swirling within an already volatile Holly.
Perfectly executed and tremendously fun, Archangel’s Viper is a must read for any fan of the Guild Hunter Series.
*ARC Read
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August 29, 2017
Full review…
EDIT: About the cover...I know a lot of people don't like it; but it is spot on the way Venom is described in the book.
3.5 Stars. Venom and Holly (she no longer calls herself Sorrow) have basically been thrown together. There is a very expensive contract out for Holly’s capture, made by an entity who likes to collect the ‘unusual’. And Holly is that in spades after being turned against her will and abused by the archangel Uram. His blood has tainted her and made her other. No one at the Tower knows quite what to do with her, and her unusual and quickly growing powers.
After the first attempt to capture her, she has been paired with Venom; both for her protection and to root out the person who put out the contract in her. The investigation, although gory in places, was rather routine; and eventually petered out when the storyline went in another direction. There were a few fun bits spaced throughout, most notably the race between Venom, Dmitre, and Illium…and the private race afterwards.
Enjoyable read, but it just didn't wow me. The banter, friendship, and slow burn romance between Venom and Holly was very nice and fun to read. The story as a whole fell a tad short in the plotline area until the last third of the book, when the storyline burst to life with a vengeance. The ending was just all kinds of weird, though.
This one left me with a lot of mixed feelings about it...
EDIT: About the cover...I know a lot of people don't like it; but it is spot on the way Venom is described in the book.
3.5 Stars. Venom and Holly (she no longer calls herself Sorrow) have basically been thrown together. There is a very expensive contract out for Holly’s capture, made by an entity who likes to collect the ‘unusual’. And Holly is that in spades after being turned against her will and abused by the archangel Uram. His blood has tainted her and made her other. No one at the Tower knows quite what to do with her, and her unusual and quickly growing powers.
After the first attempt to capture her, she has been paired with Venom; both for her protection and to root out the person who put out the contract in her. The investigation, although gory in places, was rather routine; and eventually petered out when the storyline went in another direction. There were a few fun bits spaced throughout, most notably the race between Venom, Dmitre, and Illium…and the private race afterwards.
Enjoyable read, but it just didn't wow me. The banter, friendship, and slow burn romance between Venom and Holly was very nice and fun to read. The story as a whole fell a tad short in the plotline area until the last third of the book, when the storyline burst to life with a vengeance. The ending was just all kinds of weird, though.
This one left me with a lot of mixed feelings about it...
September 22, 2017
3,5
There is a certain comfort in cracking up new Nalini Singh book because she never diverges far from her formula which means I am going to like world-building and it will be my main pull, but romance if not groundbreaking it's, at least, going to be solid, fluffy.
Archangel's Viper was all that to a degree, but just like the cover art for this book, the campy and the safe comes with a bit of wtf as well, since the resolution of both Holly's powers and romance left me conflicted.
So, bare bones: Archangel's Viper covers what was happening in New York at the time Elena and Raphael were in Morocco for the Cadre meeting. There is a big reward offered for anyone who takes Holly away from the Tower and Dimitri sends Holly and Venom on a mission to find out who the contractor is. At the same time, Holly is dealing with her erratic and unpredictable powers which can may very well make her a liability to Archangel of New York.
**************
-I'll start with Holly. First couple of books we did get some information on what's going on with Holly. As we know, she was the sole survivor of Uram's bloodlust rampage who, forcing her to drink his blood, irrevocably changed her. As nobody really knows what he actually did to her, the Tower is keeping her close to train her, but also, in case she becomes dangerous, they can swiftly deal with it. Last time we saw her she was having a hard time, dealing with anger and declared she wants to be called Sorrow. Now I'll be completely honest with you, I took this name stuff as a completely done thing in her character development I actually forgot her real name was Holly. Clearly, Venom has the most ridiculous name of the Raphael's Seven and it seems only fit for him to end up with heroine whose name is just as ridiculous and I decided to ship these two right through angry fights, hissing and fictional future babies called Toxic and Taylor Swift. But, to my surprise, Nalini decided it was maybe not the right approach and Holly declared her emo phase and Sorrow name is no more in first 10pgs of the book or so and she is not addressed that way at all anymore. She is opting for more practical gear of someone who is training to be a fighter, but also has a bubbly personality and fashion sense of Instagram lifestyle blogger with rainbow hair and glitzy clothes. I admit I was pulled back a bit at first because continuity is kinda my thing, but thinking about it after, I actually saw it as a natural progression and modernizing the series. I think broken and angry, emo Sorrow who jokes the blood on her shirt is from kid down the street was definitely a heroine template we used to read a lot about several years ago. But I don't think she would appeal to readers these days. So, in a way Holly was for me like meeting a new character simply because that bridge, getting over that dark phase which was written to be incredibly deep emotional struggle* happened off the page. This did pulled me back a bit, but it didn't significantly affected my enjoyment overall. What did was...
-Romance. Ok, romance didn't bloom even into attraction for quite some time. Holly was just annoyed by Venom and he was amused by her like she was a white mouse to his snake. BUT. The weirdest thing I was put off was how he thought of her as a child at first. He is 300+ years old vampire which is a long time to be on earth, but he is still the youngest of vampires and true to his snakey nature he is just cold-blooded, chill dude, who I imagined as the guy who takes his eyewear, watch and suit-jacket off and folds it before he punches someone. Holly is dealing with her unpredictable powers, but she is still 23y(?) old girl who had a job before and a relationship and, apparently, very active nightlife. And yet, he keeps thinking of her as 5y-old child. He can't imagine himself in relationship with her because she is a baby, inexperienced young girl who will probably be irrevocably fucked up if he sleeps with her (because, you know that's soooo much worse than being tortured by crazy archangel and she will clearly never recover from Venom's romantic attention. /s). He calls her kitten which is cute because she has tiny fangs, but when in heath of fight and due to changes in her body she feels attraction to him and wants to do something about it, he literally says to her: "I don't fuck babies." And just to be clear, I know where your mind went reading this without context, but I am not talking about him confirming bare minimum of decency I want in hero in a book I read. It's just dismissing her outright because he spent centuries more having sex. It's a faulty argument especially since he is surrounded by vampires, archangels and angels finding love with previously human partners who spent significantly less time on earth than them. Sure, they are "babies" in terms of developing skills new powers gave them, but they were never treated as kids when it comes to romance. So, that was weird and I was frustrated by Venom a lot when he was this patronizing. Another thing that affected romance a bit was the fact that searching for who offered the reward for Holly and following the leads simply took quite a lot of page time. So, they hit it off amybe around 70% mark and it was conflict-less. Venom realized he was in the wrong, they are in love, but it all hangs upon events surrounding Holly. So, romance summed up in short: it will take some time to get there and Venom will probably annoy you along the way.
-And finally we come to the plot. I have to say I actually welcomed the fact we are leaving the sky and world-changing consequences of Cascade and Cadre wars and following Venom and Holly on a simple mission in more dangerous parts of New York. It reminded me of the first book a bit because it gave us insight into just what kind of world under angels is when you dive among less fortunate vampires and humans who don't have the power, the good master or the money like characters we met along the series. Life in the Tower is excellent, but many more live outside and angels and vampires are not all perfect and beautiful. This investigation was the main focus, while Holly's erratic powers was something she was dealing with on her own. But around the middle it shifted and what's happening to Holly and what Uram did to her became the main focus and the identity of the contractor was second in importance to this. I'll say that how Holly comes out of this was a bit too convenient leaving her with things that just make her a perfect match for Venom, wrapping up romance in a perfect happy end. But in terms of plot resolution and consequences these events will have further along the series I am still conflicted about.
This ending ties into an event from previous book, and it proved I was right to predict that Holly's story has to have some kind of connection with Michaela. I'll dwell on this in more details when book is released but I'll just say it's a weird explanation, gruesome and even a little sad.
-What I absolutely loved was the fact that Venom's backstory and his making was not some traumatic fuck up like it was the case with other from the Seven. Neha is not easy to pin down and characterize simply as good or bad. :)
Some additional observations:
-we know that Aodhan accompanied Elena and Raphael to Morroco, so in this book we get Illium's perspective on their infamous fight. Illium is still one of the most intriguing and endearing characters in series, but I will say that Nalini left no place for double entendre when it comes to his relationship with Aodhan, emphasizing never more clearly they are friends.
-We also get to see how Vivek Kapur is fairing! I have an inkling he will maybe have some kind of story.
-There is a scene with the Legion in full effect being all cryptic and helpful as always. :D
So, all in all, I got my Venom book and it was ok, just not as good as I hoped.
* This is the quote from Archangel's Blade: "Sorrow shunned the sun, not because it hurt her but because she thought she was a creature who belonged in the dark." Really dramatic, no?
There is a certain comfort in cracking up new Nalini Singh book because she never diverges far from her formula which means I am going to like world-building and it will be my main pull, but romance if not groundbreaking it's, at least, going to be solid, fluffy.
Archangel's Viper was all that to a degree, but just like the cover art for this book, the campy and the safe comes with a bit of wtf as well, since the resolution of both Holly's powers and romance left me conflicted.
So, bare bones: Archangel's Viper covers what was happening in New York at the time Elena and Raphael were in Morocco for the Cadre meeting. There is a big reward offered for anyone who takes Holly away from the Tower and Dimitri sends Holly and Venom on a mission to find out who the contractor is. At the same time, Holly is dealing with her erratic and unpredictable powers which can may very well make her a liability to Archangel of New York.
**************
-I'll start with Holly. First couple of books we did get some information on what's going on with Holly. As we know, she was the sole survivor of Uram's bloodlust rampage who, forcing her to drink his blood, irrevocably changed her. As nobody really knows what he actually did to her, the Tower is keeping her close to train her, but also, in case she becomes dangerous, they can swiftly deal with it. Last time we saw her she was having a hard time, dealing with anger and declared she wants to be called Sorrow. Now I'll be completely honest with you, I took this name stuff as a completely done thing in her character development I actually forgot her real name was Holly. Clearly, Venom has the most ridiculous name of the Raphael's Seven and it seems only fit for him to end up with heroine whose name is just as ridiculous and I decided to ship these two right through angry fights, hissing and fictional future babies called Toxic and Taylor Swift. But, to my surprise, Nalini decided it was maybe not the right approach and Holly declared her emo phase and Sorrow name is no more in first 10pgs of the book or so and she is not addressed that way at all anymore. She is opting for more practical gear of someone who is training to be a fighter, but also has a bubbly personality and fashion sense of Instagram lifestyle blogger with rainbow hair and glitzy clothes. I admit I was pulled back a bit at first because continuity is kinda my thing, but thinking about it after, I actually saw it as a natural progression and modernizing the series. I think broken and angry, emo Sorrow who jokes the blood on her shirt is from kid down the street was definitely a heroine template we used to read a lot about several years ago. But I don't think she would appeal to readers these days. So, in a way Holly was for me like meeting a new character simply because that bridge, getting over that dark phase which was written to be incredibly deep emotional struggle* happened off the page. This did pulled me back a bit, but it didn't significantly affected my enjoyment overall. What did was...
-Romance. Ok, romance didn't bloom even into attraction for quite some time. Holly was just annoyed by Venom and he was amused by her like she was a white mouse to his snake. BUT. The weirdest thing I was put off was how he thought of her as a child at first. He is 300+ years old vampire which is a long time to be on earth, but he is still the youngest of vampires and true to his snakey nature he is just cold-blooded, chill dude, who I imagined as the guy who takes his eyewear, watch and suit-jacket off and folds it before he punches someone. Holly is dealing with her unpredictable powers, but she is still 23y(?) old girl who had a job before and a relationship and, apparently, very active nightlife. And yet, he keeps thinking of her as 5y-old child. He can't imagine himself in relationship with her because she is a baby, inexperienced young girl who will probably be irrevocably fucked up if he sleeps with her (because, you know that's soooo much worse than being tortured by crazy archangel and she will clearly never recover from Venom's romantic attention. /s). He calls her kitten which is cute because she has tiny fangs, but when in heath of fight and due to changes in her body she feels attraction to him and wants to do something about it, he literally says to her: "I don't fuck babies." And just to be clear, I know where your mind went reading this without context, but I am not talking about him confirming bare minimum of decency I want in hero in a book I read. It's just dismissing her outright because he spent centuries more having sex. It's a faulty argument especially since he is surrounded by vampires, archangels and angels finding love with previously human partners who spent significantly less time on earth than them. Sure, they are "babies" in terms of developing skills new powers gave them, but they were never treated as kids when it comes to romance. So, that was weird and I was frustrated by Venom a lot when he was this patronizing. Another thing that affected romance a bit was the fact that searching for who offered the reward for Holly and following the leads simply took quite a lot of page time. So, they hit it off amybe around 70% mark and it was conflict-less. Venom realized he was in the wrong, they are in love, but it all hangs upon events surrounding Holly. So, romance summed up in short: it will take some time to get there and Venom will probably annoy you along the way.
-And finally we come to the plot. I have to say I actually welcomed the fact we are leaving the sky and world-changing consequences of Cascade and Cadre wars and following Venom and Holly on a simple mission in more dangerous parts of New York. It reminded me of the first book a bit because it gave us insight into just what kind of world under angels is when you dive among less fortunate vampires and humans who don't have the power, the good master or the money like characters we met along the series. Life in the Tower is excellent, but many more live outside and angels and vampires are not all perfect and beautiful. This investigation was the main focus, while Holly's erratic powers was something she was dealing with on her own. But around the middle it shifted and what's happening to Holly and what Uram did to her became the main focus and the identity of the contractor was second in importance to this. I'll say that how Holly comes out of this was a bit too convenient leaving her with things that just make her a perfect match for Venom, wrapping up romance in a perfect happy end. But in terms of plot resolution and consequences these events will have further along the series I am still conflicted about.
This ending ties into an event from previous book, and it proved I was right to predict that Holly's story has to have some kind of connection with Michaela. I'll dwell on this in more details when book is released but I'll just say it's a weird explanation, gruesome and even a little sad.
-What I absolutely loved was the fact that Venom's backstory and his making was not some traumatic fuck up like it was the case with other from the Seven. Neha is not easy to pin down and characterize simply as good or bad. :)
Some additional observations:
-we know that Aodhan accompanied Elena and Raphael to Morroco, so in this book we get Illium's perspective on their infamous fight. Illium is still one of the most intriguing and endearing characters in series, but I will say that Nalini left no place for double entendre when it comes to his relationship with Aodhan, emphasizing never more clearly they are friends.
-We also get to see how Vivek Kapur is fairing! I have an inkling he will maybe have some kind of story.
-There is a scene with the Legion in full effect being all cryptic and helpful as always. :D
So, all in all, I got my Venom book and it was ok, just not as good as I hoped.
* This is the quote from Archangel's Blade: "Sorrow shunned the sun, not because it hurt her but because she thought she was a creature who belonged in the dark." Really dramatic, no?
April 29, 2019
VENOM AND SORROW!!!!
I need this more than my next breath
I need this more than my next breath
March 9, 2024
Venom's story.
Interesting, intriguing, intelligent, incredible.
I really enjoyed this reread.
Interesting, intriguing, intelligent, incredible.
I really enjoyed this reread.
September 30, 2019
Buddy read with the awesome girls and boys over at BB&B for our weekly UF Wednesday read!
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
We’ve all been wondering what happened to Holly Chang, the human archangel Uram fed his monstrous blood to four years ago, getting little bits of info as the series has progressed, knowing no one knew what she would turn out to be, whether she would become a monster like him and finally we get our answers.
“Did you just compliment me?” she asked, her mouth falling open. “Take it back!” She couldn’t deal with Venom being nice to her in any way, shape, or form.
“Of course,” he said, “your poison is nowhere near as venomous as mine.”
I loved Holly, this broken woman who is strong enough to keep fighting what Uram did to her, refusing to let him win and turn her into a monster. I loved her sass, her strength but also her vulnerability and how she fought the right to live. And her powers were AWESOME!
So strange, was Holly. She made his heart hurt in ways that he’d have thought were impossible.
Now Venom I’ve been intrigued by since the beginning, this sexy vampire who was Made by archangel Neha, the Queen of Snakes, of Poisons. With his snake like eyes and movements that I found so interesting (which is weird because I HATE snakes) and my fascination has only gown with every instalment and finally we find out all about this charming and dangerous man who is also a bit broken. I just adored him in this book.
“I love you,” he said, his eyes locked with hers. “From the roots of my hair to the tips of my toes. From yesterday to tomorrow and every tomorrow we will ever see. From this moment to the mystery beyond death. Every part of you, slow or fast, small or big, strong or weak. I love you, Holly.”
I really loved the slow burn of their romance, how they’ve antagonised each other for years, clashing wills, annoying each other and secretly enjoying every traded barb. And I loved seeing them slowly realise their feelings have changed that both were finally ready to accept the pull that has always been there and the slow burn made that journey just that much sweeter. I loved how they accepted each other so fully, how the otherness that separated them from everyone else made them perfect for each other. I loved how Venom pushed Holly to accept who she was, understanding her in a way no one else ever could. Their romance was filled with sarcasm and hilarious banter and a slow burning desire that was scorching when it finally erupted and a love that was so sweet and romantic in the end. THEIR ROMANCE WAS PERFECTION AND I ADORED THEM.
As always the plot was gripping and there were quite some horror and wtf moments and some nail biting moments too and I enjoyed it all immensely. It was also so wonderful spending time with all these amazing characters again. Strangely enough Elena and Raphael was quite absent in this book but I really liked seeing most of his Seven and their partners/wives running New York in his stead. And I must say the Legion were really cute in this book ;-) They really are such a fascinating group and I would love to learn more about them.
I love this author, she’s my absolute favorite and once again she’s written another kickass addition to this fantastic UF series. I can’t recommend this series enough. Read it.
October 4, 2017
Holly’s backstory is touched on, and I was horrified by what she went through in her past, captured and tortured by Uram, an archangel who went insane. She witnessed the brutal murders of her friends and then was force fed his blood changing her into a vampire and more. The experience could’ve easily broken her, but she had the archangel Raphael and all his clan (not sure if that’s the right word) at her back. Not only that, she’s had the unconditional support of her family, not caring what she’s turned into, they still love her without reserve. Holly’s definitely a strong, admirable woman.
The more that she’s turning into is what worries Holly, because she’s plagued with crazy thoughts and powers she shouldn’t rightly have as just a vampire. She fears Uram left a bit of himself in her that might eventually consume and overtake her. Add to that, there’s a bounty put on her head. Someone has paid a high price to acquire Holly.
Enter Viper. They’ve apparently had an antagonistic relationship since meeting and he’s back at the Tower in Manhattan where she lives. Worse, the two of them are assigned to work together to find the person who wants to capture Holly. But as they work together they come to realize they have more in common than any of the other creatures at the Tower, and the attraction neither has wanted to acknowledge increases and electrifies!
Viper and Holly’s romance was a slow build, first a bit of sniping back and forth, and then mutual respect, trust forming a bond that made their attraction more than a fleeting feeling. Viper was a sought-after chef before he become a vampire, hundreds of years ago, so he cooks up the most delicious sounding meals for Holly to care for her, which seduces her even more. I love it when a man (my husband, lol) cooks for me and does it well!
I’ve read and loved books from Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series, but had never picked up anything in her Guild Hunter series, so I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy it as much as I did; coming in blind, unfamiliar with the world or creatures. I was immersed in the mysteries and worried for Holly as the story progressed. It was a thrilling nail-biter in places! I’m sure any fan of the series will love Viper’s Archangel just as much as I did or more!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley Books in exchange for an honest review.
The more that she’s turning into is what worries Holly, because she’s plagued with crazy thoughts and powers she shouldn’t rightly have as just a vampire. She fears Uram left a bit of himself in her that might eventually consume and overtake her. Add to that, there’s a bounty put on her head. Someone has paid a high price to acquire Holly.
Enter Viper. They’ve apparently had an antagonistic relationship since meeting and he’s back at the Tower in Manhattan where she lives. Worse, the two of them are assigned to work together to find the person who wants to capture Holly. But as they work together they come to realize they have more in common than any of the other creatures at the Tower, and the attraction neither has wanted to acknowledge increases and electrifies!
Viper and Holly’s romance was a slow build, first a bit of sniping back and forth, and then mutual respect, trust forming a bond that made their attraction more than a fleeting feeling. Viper was a sought-after chef before he become a vampire, hundreds of years ago, so he cooks up the most delicious sounding meals for Holly to care for her, which seduces her even more. I love it when a man (my husband, lol) cooks for me and does it well!
I’ve read and loved books from Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series, but had never picked up anything in her Guild Hunter series, so I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy it as much as I did; coming in blind, unfamiliar with the world or creatures. I was immersed in the mysteries and worried for Holly as the story progressed. It was a thrilling nail-biter in places! I’m sure any fan of the series will love Viper’s Archangel just as much as I did or more!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley Books in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2017
The Guild Hunter series is one of my favorites of all the dozens that I read but the problem is that I want every one of them to be exceptional, amazing and near perfect 5 Star novels, sadly that is not reality.
This novel is more cerebral in nature, it is a very complex relationship that careens throughout most of the novel. The nice thing is that when you have a writer with the amount of talent that Nalini Singh has even passages that would be dull in another authors hands are still interesting and hold my attention.
The relationship between Venom and Holly is filled with snark and a bit of dislike on her part of a goodly part of the book, obviously it becomes more of a romance later in the book but it took much longer than I would have expected and was almost to the point of being irritating.
The lack of almost any action other than Holly trying not to lose herself to the thing Uram made her into, made this a bit of an oddity in this action oriented series. If you are looking for bodies piling up in battles, this book will not fulfill those desires, it is possibly the most "quiet" book in the series but still the story held my interest and was satisfying at the end.
Bottom line: While this was another great book in the series it falls slightly under the bar I use for 5 Stars in this series and I admit a slight bias against any of the books that do not have a large dose of Raphael and Elena. This book is 90+% just Venom and Holly but the lack of action and the almost total absence of Raphael and Elena makes me give it a 4 Star rating this time around. Anyone who thinks this means this was not a great book needs a class on reading comprehension.
This novel is more cerebral in nature, it is a very complex relationship that careens throughout most of the novel. The nice thing is that when you have a writer with the amount of talent that Nalini Singh has even passages that would be dull in another authors hands are still interesting and hold my attention.
The relationship between Venom and Holly is filled with snark and a bit of dislike on her part of a goodly part of the book, obviously it becomes more of a romance later in the book but it took much longer than I would have expected and was almost to the point of being irritating.
The lack of almost any action other than Holly trying not to lose herself to the thing Uram made her into, made this a bit of an oddity in this action oriented series. If you are looking for bodies piling up in battles, this book will not fulfill those desires, it is possibly the most "quiet" book in the series but still the story held my interest and was satisfying at the end.
Bottom line: While this was another great book in the series it falls slightly under the bar I use for 5 Stars in this series and I admit a slight bias against any of the books that do not have a large dose of Raphael and Elena. This book is 90+% just Venom and Holly but the lack of action and the almost total absence of Raphael and Elena makes me give it a 4 Star rating this time around. Anyone who thinks this means this was not a great book needs a class on reading comprehension.
September 18, 2020
1st read - September 2017
2nd read - September 2020
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed being back in this world, I love everything about this series and diving into a new book is always like getting the chance to catch up with old friends who you haven't seen in months. I have to admit that I was a tiny bit disappointed that we didn't get to see what has been happening with Elena since the huge discoveries she made about her family in the last book (I don't recall her being in this book at all but I could be wrong!) but that's partly because the timeline of this story overlaps slightly with Archangel's Heart so at the start of the book Elena and Raphael are both away from New York at their meeting with the Luminata. Besides, this is Venom and Holly's story and it's only right they should take centre stage!
Holly has been through so much since she was attacked by Uram in the first book, she survived something horrific but it has changed her in ways that have never been seen before so nobody is able to tell her what to expect or help guide her through the process. She has started to come to terms with what has happened though and is working hard to rebuild her life, even if it's not the life she originally intended. It was so great to see how far Holly has come since the beginning, she still lives in fear that Uram's madness might have tainted her, especially since she is hiding some disturbing symptoms, but she is determined to make the best of things and she refuses to quit.
I've always been intrigued by Venom, he's quite a mystery man but I wanted to know how he came by his snake like eyes and his poisonous fangs! He's been out of the city for a couple of years but he's called back to help keep things under control while Raphael is out of the territory and he finds that the baby vampire who refused to answer to anything but Sorrow who he left behind is now all grown up and changing into the woman he always thought she could be. When someone puts a price on her head it's obvious she needs back up and Venom can't resist being the one to watch out for her.
Theirs was a quieter more slow burn romance than some of the others in the series, there has always been a low key level of respect between them that felt like it could become friendship but as they also have a lot in common that connects them in a unique way. They are both unusual, even for vampires, and their abilities are enough to scare others but their similarities mean they understand each other in a way nobody else manages to. I really enjoyed spending time with them both and seeing Holly grow into her own strength and them grow closer as a couple.
I don't want to talk about details from the plot but there are a lot of really interesting revelations in Archangel's Viper that kind of tie back into some of the things Elena and Raphael found out in the previous book. Things are definitely getting interesting and I can't wait to see how it plays out over the next few books. Add in that we get to spend time with the Legion, and with one of my favourite angels Bluebell and I enjoyed every minute of this book. Nalini Singh has created such a fabulous world here and I love spending time in it!
2nd read - September 2020
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed being back in this world, I love everything about this series and diving into a new book is always like getting the chance to catch up with old friends who you haven't seen in months. I have to admit that I was a tiny bit disappointed that we didn't get to see what has been happening with Elena since the huge discoveries she made about her family in the last book (I don't recall her being in this book at all but I could be wrong!) but that's partly because the timeline of this story overlaps slightly with Archangel's Heart so at the start of the book Elena and Raphael are both away from New York at their meeting with the Luminata. Besides, this is Venom and Holly's story and it's only right they should take centre stage!
Holly has been through so much since she was attacked by Uram in the first book, she survived something horrific but it has changed her in ways that have never been seen before so nobody is able to tell her what to expect or help guide her through the process. She has started to come to terms with what has happened though and is working hard to rebuild her life, even if it's not the life she originally intended. It was so great to see how far Holly has come since the beginning, she still lives in fear that Uram's madness might have tainted her, especially since she is hiding some disturbing symptoms, but she is determined to make the best of things and she refuses to quit.
I've always been intrigued by Venom, he's quite a mystery man but I wanted to know how he came by his snake like eyes and his poisonous fangs! He's been out of the city for a couple of years but he's called back to help keep things under control while Raphael is out of the territory and he finds that the baby vampire who refused to answer to anything but Sorrow who he left behind is now all grown up and changing into the woman he always thought she could be. When someone puts a price on her head it's obvious she needs back up and Venom can't resist being the one to watch out for her.
Theirs was a quieter more slow burn romance than some of the others in the series, there has always been a low key level of respect between them that felt like it could become friendship but as they also have a lot in common that connects them in a unique way. They are both unusual, even for vampires, and their abilities are enough to scare others but their similarities mean they understand each other in a way nobody else manages to. I really enjoyed spending time with them both and seeing Holly grow into her own strength and them grow closer as a couple.
I don't want to talk about details from the plot but there are a lot of really interesting revelations in Archangel's Viper that kind of tie back into some of the things Elena and Raphael found out in the previous book. Things are definitely getting interesting and I can't wait to see how it plays out over the next few books. Add in that we get to spend time with the Legion, and with one of my favourite angels Bluebell and I enjoyed every minute of this book. Nalini Singh has created such a fabulous world here and I love spending time in it!
September 19, 2017
This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
Archangel's Viper was a whirlwind of plot, action and feels! Fast paced, with a lot at stake, I was taken for a trip I won't soon forget.
Story:
Archangel's Viper is about Holly and Venom, and the attraction between them. It's also about the voice Holly hears in her mind, and how she's grown extremely strong and fast in a short time. She needs discipline, which Venom has in spades. But she needs more than being a fighter, too.
Venom and Holly go on a dangerous trip to figure out what is happening to her, and not one, but two Archangels are needed to deal with some of the things that come up on that trip.
I loved getting to know these characters better, they worked well together. They also had chemistry in spades, which hellped the strange case they were working on. Finding clues in unlikely places, they helped more than one broken person on their way.
The overall plot of the series moved forward while still being Holly and Venom's story.
Characters:
Holly had been mostly in the background in former Guild Hunter books, and I enjoyed seeing more of her in Archangel's Viper. Venom has always intrigued me. His eyes. The mystery behind what he is, exactly. And the strength of his loyalty towards Raphael and Elena, and the Seven.
Other characters from the series were present, even if they weren't among the main characters in this story.
Writing style :
Third person pas tense narration, with a lot of very humorous dialogues. The pace was fast in the action scene, and more sedate in other places.
Feels :
As always, all the feels! Singh knows how to bring it!
Holly squeezed the steering wheel and tried to think of the calming exercise Honor had taught her in an effort to foster mental and emotional discipline at a time when Holly had been tearing herself apart. She hadn't needed that exercises for a while, Venom hadn't been in the city for a while.
Venom prowled closer, causing Kenasha to scramble back until he was a hairsbreadth from the edge and a fall that shouldn't be deadly to an anger of his age - except that Kenasha had made himself so weak that it was highly probably he'd turn to red paste intermingled with rivers of fat when he hit the ground.
Archangel's Viper was a whirlwind of plot, action and feels! Fast paced, with a lot at stake, I was taken for a trip I won't soon forget.
Story:
Archangel's Viper is about Holly and Venom, and the attraction between them. It's also about the voice Holly hears in her mind, and how she's grown extremely strong and fast in a short time. She needs discipline, which Venom has in spades. But she needs more than being a fighter, too.
Venom and Holly go on a dangerous trip to figure out what is happening to her, and not one, but two Archangels are needed to deal with some of the things that come up on that trip.
I loved getting to know these characters better, they worked well together. They also had chemistry in spades, which hellped the strange case they were working on. Finding clues in unlikely places, they helped more than one broken person on their way.
The overall plot of the series moved forward while still being Holly and Venom's story.
Characters:
Holly had been mostly in the background in former Guild Hunter books, and I enjoyed seeing more of her in Archangel's Viper. Venom has always intrigued me. His eyes. The mystery behind what he is, exactly. And the strength of his loyalty towards Raphael and Elena, and the Seven.
Other characters from the series were present, even if they weren't among the main characters in this story.
Writing style :
Third person pas tense narration, with a lot of very humorous dialogues. The pace was fast in the action scene, and more sedate in other places.
Feels :
As always, all the feels! Singh knows how to bring it!
Holly squeezed the steering wheel and tried to think of the calming exercise Honor had taught her in an effort to foster mental and emotional discipline at a time when Holly had been tearing herself apart. She hadn't needed that exercises for a while, Venom hadn't been in the city for a while.
Venom prowled closer, causing Kenasha to scramble back until he was a hairsbreadth from the edge and a fall that shouldn't be deadly to an anger of his age - except that Kenasha had made himself so weak that it was highly probably he'd turn to red paste intermingled with rivers of fat when he hit the ground.
July 21, 2018
3.5 stars
I've been waiting for this book since the series started. Venom has always been my favorite. I went in to this with some trepidation though cuz I didn't care for Holly in prior books. She was such a drama queen. Now, yes, she had a serious reason to be such a mess but she was exhausting and I really wanted something better for Venom.
I was pleased to see this book had took place at the same time as the previous book (Raphael and Elena are in China during the majority of this) and Holly has grown up and worked through the majority of her issues. Venom has been on assignment and they haven't see each other in two years. I'm glad the author handled it this way, making them a bit more equals, than him trying to fix her.
The story revolves around two plots both of which are things Venom and Holly work together to solve. The majority of the story is those plotlines and I found them both really enjoyable. The romance was very late in the story (70% before even a kiss) and there's little development in this aspect. That was a bit of a let down for me. We get to know some of Venom's back ground but there wasn't the detailed emotional connection that was there in Jason and Nassir's books. I wanted a lot more in this part of the book and it was just meh for me. I liked them as a couple but they really felt like good friends. There was more of an emotional connection between Holly and Dmitri.
So.....not a bad book but not what I was hoping for in Venom's book.
**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
I've been waiting for this book since the series started. Venom has always been my favorite. I went in to this with some trepidation though cuz I didn't care for Holly in prior books. She was such a drama queen. Now, yes, she had a serious reason to be such a mess but she was exhausting and I really wanted something better for Venom.
I was pleased to see this book had took place at the same time as the previous book (Raphael and Elena are in China during the majority of this) and Holly has grown up and worked through the majority of her issues. Venom has been on assignment and they haven't see each other in two years. I'm glad the author handled it this way, making them a bit more equals, than him trying to fix her.
The story revolves around two plots both of which are things Venom and Holly work together to solve. The majority of the story is those plotlines and I found them both really enjoyable. The romance was very late in the story (70% before even a kiss) and there's little development in this aspect. That was a bit of a let down for me. We get to know some of Venom's back ground but there wasn't the detailed emotional connection that was there in Jason and Nassir's books. I wanted a lot more in this part of the book and it was just meh for me. I liked them as a couple but they really felt like good friends. There was more of an emotional connection between Holly and Dmitri.
So.....not a bad book but not what I was hoping for in Venom's book.
**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
October 3, 2017
Another very satisfying story in this series. Loved the strength of Holly and the development of the story with Venom. Full of adventure and snarky banter.
March 30, 2018
VENOM! MY BB!! MY PRECIOUS CINNAMON ROLL! I LOVE YOU YOU SNAKEY ASSHOLE YOU!
Six words: I. Called. In. "Sick". For. This.
I've already read it twice and I plan many more re-reads.
Okay, I will try and rein it in and write an articulate review that isn't just full of caps and hearts. To say I was excited for this book is an understatement. Seriously, the hours I spent fantasizing about what this book is a little embarrassing. I think I lost my mind a little bit. It might be a secret so I'm going to make it known: this is my all time favorite series. I have never read a paranormal with such a unique world, badass characters who develop throughout and a plot that never disappoints. Once again, I called in fake sick so I could have the whole day to read this completely undisturbed. And it was bliss. I've loved Venom from the moment he stepped onto the page in book one. He's a snarky, quick witted asshole and I'm a snarky, quick-witted (I like to think) asshole so he immediately had a space in my heart. I LURVE him. And Holly, I loved her because of her my little pony rainbow hair, quick temper and sassy as fuck attitude but after this I love her for so many more reasons. She's kind and sweet and so so compassionate. I loved seeing sides to both of these characters that I didn't expect.
It's safe to say that Holly and Venom are my favorite couple. Of any and all paranormal romances and most romances.
They are just so sweet, and complex and sweet, and my babies. Did I mention I love them?
A huge issue that I have in romances is that the MCs tend to get lost in each other - once they start a relationship they lose their individuality. Bless Nalini Singh because that is not the case in this book/series. What I love so much about this series is that each character is strong, vibrant and badass on their own, and that was no different when it came to Holly and Venom. I love them both individually and so much more together. She did an amazing job of not only developing Holly and Venom, but making the transition from enemies to friends to lovers so natural I almost didn't even see it happening. This gives me so many more feels than the BS insta-all-consuming-lust that seems to be all the rage, and it made it so much sweeter when they got together. Speaking of sweet, the moments you guys. The CUTE, TENDER, SWEET moments between two characters who don't quite fit in and have done everything they can to annoy the shit out of each are the best.
"I leave for a couple of years and I miss kitty's first steps. Did you take any photos for the baby book I sent you?"
"It's full of pretty pictures." Holly bared her teeth at him in the caricature of a smile. "Honor is a little concerned about how I keep drawing you with your head cut off," she said in a deliberately thoughtful tone, "but an artist must follow her instincts".
I did mention that I love them didn't I? *sighs*
Onto more serious matters, the overall plot was well written and complex. I had absolutely no idea where she was going with it and, as always, it was so fun having all the secondary characters so involved in the story. The only issues I had were that hideous cover, I mean seriously, and I feel like I didn't get enough of Holly and Venom together. Don't get me wrong, I am ALL about the slow burn but I felt a little too much like their story ended right at the best part.
Here's to hoping she'll revisit them! *she freaking better..*
I feel like I'm not doing this justice.. Just go read it!
Six words: I. Called. In. "Sick". For. This.
I've already read it twice and I plan many more re-reads.
Okay, I will try and rein it in and write an articulate review that isn't just full of caps and hearts. To say I was excited for this book is an understatement. Seriously, the hours I spent fantasizing about what this book is a little embarrassing. I think I lost my mind a little bit. It might be a secret so I'm going to make it known: this is my all time favorite series. I have never read a paranormal with such a unique world, badass characters who develop throughout and a plot that never disappoints. Once again, I called in fake sick so I could have the whole day to read this completely undisturbed. And it was bliss. I've loved Venom from the moment he stepped onto the page in book one. He's a snarky, quick witted asshole and I'm a snarky, quick-witted (I like to think) asshole so he immediately had a space in my heart. I LURVE him. And Holly, I loved her because of her my little pony rainbow hair, quick temper and sassy as fuck attitude but after this I love her for so many more reasons. She's kind and sweet and so so compassionate. I loved seeing sides to both of these characters that I didn't expect.
It's safe to say that Holly and Venom are my favorite couple. Of any and all paranormal romances and most romances.
They are just so sweet, and complex and sweet, and my babies. Did I mention I love them?
A huge issue that I have in romances is that the MCs tend to get lost in each other - once they start a relationship they lose their individuality. Bless Nalini Singh because that is not the case in this book/series. What I love so much about this series is that each character is strong, vibrant and badass on their own, and that was no different when it came to Holly and Venom. I love them both individually and so much more together. She did an amazing job of not only developing Holly and Venom, but making the transition from enemies to friends to lovers so natural I almost didn't even see it happening. This gives me so many more feels than the BS insta-all-consuming-lust that seems to be all the rage, and it made it so much sweeter when they got together. Speaking of sweet, the moments you guys. The CUTE, TENDER, SWEET moments between two characters who don't quite fit in and have done everything they can to annoy the shit out of each are the best.
"I leave for a couple of years and I miss kitty's first steps. Did you take any photos for the baby book I sent you?"
"It's full of pretty pictures." Holly bared her teeth at him in the caricature of a smile. "Honor is a little concerned about how I keep drawing you with your head cut off," she said in a deliberately thoughtful tone, "but an artist must follow her instincts".
I did mention that I love them didn't I? *sighs*
Onto more serious matters, the overall plot was well written and complex. I had absolutely no idea where she was going with it and, as always, it was so fun having all the secondary characters so involved in the story. The only issues I had were that hideous cover, I mean seriously, and I feel like I didn't get enough of Holly and Venom together. Don't get me wrong, I am ALL about the slow burn but I felt a little too much like their story ended right at the best part.
Here's to hoping she'll revisit them! *she freaking better..*
I feel like I'm not doing this justice.. Just go read it!
August 10, 2024
3.5 Stars
As much as I was looking forward to Venom's story, this one was probably my least favorite out of all the side characters.
It was still good and I enjoyed getting to know more about Venom and Holly, just compared to all the others, it lacked something.
I think it was more of what happened to Holly near the end. I can't speak about it do to being a spoiler but....it was weird. It felt more twilight zone than anything.
Worth the read to get more of all these characters, just not as exciting as the rest.
As much as I was looking forward to Venom's story, this one was probably my least favorite out of all the side characters.
It was still good and I enjoyed getting to know more about Venom and Holly, just compared to all the others, it lacked something.
I think it was more of what happened to Holly near the end. I can't speak about it do to being a spoiler but....it was weird. It felt more twilight zone than anything.
Worth the read to get more of all these characters, just not as exciting as the rest.
September 30, 2017
3 Kitty & Viper Face Stars.
This is a tough one to rate. I have mixed feelings on this. It wasn’t what I expected but there is no other way I think Ms. Singh would have been able to tell us their story. I adore the author’s writing style and I love the series that she has created. They are so unique.
Now the book didn’t rock my world or knock me off my socks. As we never got to see enough of both the characters in the previous books. They were on the side lines really. There is no build up to them getting their book.
Bluebell & Sparkles have had enough build up so write the book Ms. Singh, I want them to fall in love.
Back to my review
This takes place four years after the Uram incident. Holly is coming to terms with her new life and what she has become. I liked Holly as a heroine she is one cool chick but I felt as if I knew virtually nil about her and that didn’t really change throughout the book.
Viper one of Raphael’s seven is back in New York after two years. Viper is also one of those characters which is hard to read. I didn’t like him at the beginning but when he opened up I really liked him as a character and in the end more than Holly.
They have chemistry although it all developed fairly late in the book. If you read between the lines they have had foreplay for the past four years and the two years that they had telephone conversations. But it still somewhat fell flat.
I would still recommend this book as the series is fantastic and worth a read.
This is a tough one to rate. I have mixed feelings on this. It wasn’t what I expected but there is no other way I think Ms. Singh would have been able to tell us their story. I adore the author’s writing style and I love the series that she has created. They are so unique.
Now the book didn’t rock my world or knock me off my socks. As we never got to see enough of both the characters in the previous books. They were on the side lines really. There is no build up to them getting their book.
Bluebell & Sparkles have had enough build up so write the book Ms. Singh, I want them to fall in love.
Back to my review
This takes place four years after the Uram incident. Holly is coming to terms with her new life and what she has become. I liked Holly as a heroine she is one cool chick but I felt as if I knew virtually nil about her and that didn’t really change throughout the book.
Viper one of Raphael’s seven is back in New York after two years. Viper is also one of those characters which is hard to read. I didn’t like him at the beginning but when he opened up I really liked him as a character and in the end more than Holly.
They have chemistry although it all developed fairly late in the book. If you read between the lines they have had foreplay for the past four years and the two years that they had telephone conversations. But it still somewhat fell flat.
I would still recommend this book as the series is fantastic and worth a read.
June 18, 2017
I've read many books, novellas, and short stories by Nalini Singh, including Archangel's Viper, and all of them have been phenomenal, but this book stands apart from all of them. And I'll explain the reasons why in a little bit. I need to gush about Viper and Holly first.
I've been anticipating Viper and Holly's story from the moment the two first appeared on the page together. There was just something about the way they needled each other that foreshadowed there was more than a desire to one up the other, which it did eventually. I really do feel Viper and Holly's relationship developed in the best way possible, from being frenemies, to friends, to lovers. They really took it slow. Nothing really happened between the two until close to 75% of the book. If you've ever read Nalini before, you know she's fantastically adept at stoking the fire between characters, and in this book they just built and built.
I absolutely loved getting to know Venom better. It was the looks into his past, but more so who he was with the people who loved and cared for him and vice versa. Seeing how he started looking at Holly with new eyes and taking care of her when he knew she might be dangerous to him and everyone he loved was both uplifting and heartbreaking. He really let Holly lead when she needed to, but was always there supporting her.
And Holly was absolutely brilliant and strong. I mean this woman had gone through hell and come back changed, but she was stronger for it. She may not have been the same girl who loved fashion the way she did before, but she allowed herself to be loved by her family again. And she'd adapted to her new set of circumstances in the best way she could. She learned how to fight and she took care of others who were helpless and weak.
Besides Venom and Holly, there was a whole lot going on. I can't even begin to comment on the challenges the two face and why. My heart was palpitating for most of this book. I was on edge and I may have even been sweating at times, but I was enthralled and could not put the book down. All I can say is, I was absolutely not expecting what I read. However the story was amazing and blew my mind. Elements that I did not think were possible in the Guild Hunter World were explored. And the twists in this book are unprecedented. They both excite and worry me about what is in store for not only Raphael, Elena, the Seven and those they love, but for everyone who lives in that world.
I mentioned earlier one thing that made this book stand out from the rest. While the chemistry and sexual build up between Holly and Venom is immense, this has to be the first Guild Hunter book where the sex wasn't fully open door. Don't get me wrong, Holly and Venom have sex, but it wasn't as detailed as other books have been in the past. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it really did help put Venom and Holly's emotional relationship front and center. And while it seems like a big deal since I've written a paragraph about it, I feel like for this couple it was what was right for them.
When it comes to my favorite characters, Raphael made an appearance and I was delighted to see Illium, even if he was in a funk for most of the appearances he made. Of the Seven, only he and Aodhan remain single. While I would love for the two to find love, I absolutely would not mind if the two found it together. I'm not saying anything of the sort was even slightly hinted at in the book, but that's just my personal opinion.
All of the above being said, Nalini Singh has delivered another masterpiece. She manages to weave together multiple plots and story arcs in a way that lead to a fabulous single tale. I am already eager and excited to read the next book in this series, I love them so.
I've been anticipating Viper and Holly's story from the moment the two first appeared on the page together. There was just something about the way they needled each other that foreshadowed there was more than a desire to one up the other, which it did eventually. I really do feel Viper and Holly's relationship developed in the best way possible, from being frenemies, to friends, to lovers. They really took it slow. Nothing really happened between the two until close to 75% of the book. If you've ever read Nalini before, you know she's fantastically adept at stoking the fire between characters, and in this book they just built and built.
I absolutely loved getting to know Venom better. It was the looks into his past, but more so who he was with the people who loved and cared for him and vice versa. Seeing how he started looking at Holly with new eyes and taking care of her when he knew she might be dangerous to him and everyone he loved was both uplifting and heartbreaking. He really let Holly lead when she needed to, but was always there supporting her.
And Holly was absolutely brilliant and strong. I mean this woman had gone through hell and come back changed, but she was stronger for it. She may not have been the same girl who loved fashion the way she did before, but she allowed herself to be loved by her family again. And she'd adapted to her new set of circumstances in the best way she could. She learned how to fight and she took care of others who were helpless and weak.
Besides Venom and Holly, there was a whole lot going on. I can't even begin to comment on the challenges the two face and why. My heart was palpitating for most of this book. I was on edge and I may have even been sweating at times, but I was enthralled and could not put the book down. All I can say is, I was absolutely not expecting what I read. However the story was amazing and blew my mind. Elements that I did not think were possible in the Guild Hunter World were explored. And the twists in this book are unprecedented. They both excite and worry me about what is in store for not only Raphael, Elena, the Seven and those they love, but for everyone who lives in that world.
I mentioned earlier one thing that made this book stand out from the rest. While the chemistry and sexual build up between Holly and Venom is immense, this has to be the first Guild Hunter book where the sex wasn't fully open door. Don't get me wrong, Holly and Venom have sex, but it wasn't as detailed as other books have been in the past. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it really did help put Venom and Holly's emotional relationship front and center. And while it seems like a big deal since I've written a paragraph about it, I feel like for this couple it was what was right for them.
When it comes to my favorite characters, Raphael made an appearance and I was delighted to see Illium, even if he was in a funk for most of the appearances he made. Of the Seven, only he and Aodhan remain single. While I would love for the two to find love, I absolutely would not mind if the two found it together. I'm not saying anything of the sort was even slightly hinted at in the book, but that's just my personal opinion.
All of the above being said, Nalini Singh has delivered another masterpiece. She manages to weave together multiple plots and story arcs in a way that lead to a fabulous single tale. I am already eager and excited to read the next book in this series, I love them so.
December 30, 2017
Despite my "little" <3 Bluebell + Sparkle 4ever&ever <3 obsession I'm still excited for Venom's book. Bring it on!
AFTER READING:3.5 stars
Review posted on Way Too Hot Books.
If you ever read one of my reviews of this series you are more than aware that this is one of my favorite uf/pnr series out there and that since book #5 I've becomean obssessed fan-girl a hardcore fan of the potential next couple Aodhan & Illium. I might even say that I started that theory or was one of the first fans that saw the potential, so of course that after every next book I'm religiously praying that Nalini Singh will finally succumb to my dirty mind and that the next installment will be theirs, but the 10th book is actually Venom's book, so tough luck poor Purple, maybe next time. :'( xD
But, despite slight disappointment I was still fairly excited for this book, because Venom, a centuries-old vampire with his seductive viper's eyes has definitely been one of the most intriguing GH characters. I got even more excited after I read that he'll find his partner in Holly, Uram's mysterious creation. Unforutunately, when the book was finally published I was still in the phase "I've lost my reading mojo", so it took me some time to give it a chance, but when I did - I could not stop.
Without spoiling anything, my impression of this is installment is that the story was good, uber action-packed and suspenseful, but I'll have to agree with other fans who also described it as a bit lacking, especially in the romance department. The parts I've enjoyed the most were their witty and snarky dialogues that never failed to entertain me. That's why 3.5/ 5 stars.
In the meantime, my never-ending prayer for Aodhan's & Illium's book as in mm couple book continues...
AFTER READING:3.5 stars
Review posted on Way Too Hot Books.
If you ever read one of my reviews of this series you are more than aware that this is one of my favorite uf/pnr series out there and that since book #5 I've become
But, despite slight disappointment I was still fairly excited for this book, because Venom, a centuries-old vampire with his seductive viper's eyes has definitely been one of the most intriguing GH characters. I got even more excited after I read that he'll find his partner in Holly, Uram's mysterious creation. Unforutunately, when the book was finally published I was still in the phase "I've lost my reading mojo", so it took me some time to give it a chance, but when I did - I could not stop.
Without spoiling anything, my impression of this is installment is that the story was good, uber action-packed and suspenseful, but I'll have to agree with other fans who also described it as a bit lacking, especially in the romance department. The parts I've enjoyed the most were their witty and snarky dialogues that never failed to entertain me. That's why 3.5/ 5 stars.
In the meantime, my never-ending prayer for Aodhan's & Illium's book as in mm couple book continues...
September 23, 2017
This book was all of the things! I was amazing! I've actually already read it twice.. After the first read it spurred a re-read of the series which of course I had to re-read Viper once I got through the series. I had a feeling these two would end up together when they first started interacting in Dmitri's book and I am so glad that came to fruition.
Its several years after Holly/Sorrows attack and she is finally building a new life for herself. She has respect and for the most part the watch dogs are off of her. She's been able to fake it well enough that Dmitri isn't as cautious. She still has to meet with her arch nemesis Viper because of their similar abilities but at least he's in the refuge.. Until he's not any more.
Viper has seen a lot of things, he's done a lot of things, he has a good life, friends, respect, but always he's alone. He's so very other, no one else is like him. Except now Holly. While not the same, she is similar enough that he feels a kinship. When her life is in danger he now feels more than a kinship.. maybe an attraction?
Singh takes you through an action packed, emotional ride in another installment of the Guild Hunters. This series is one of my all time favorites and it never fails to disappoint. Look forward to a thrilling ride.
Review copy provided through netgalley for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.
Its several years after Holly/Sorrows attack and she is finally building a new life for herself. She has respect and for the most part the watch dogs are off of her. She's been able to fake it well enough that Dmitri isn't as cautious. She still has to meet with her arch nemesis Viper because of their similar abilities but at least he's in the refuge.. Until he's not any more.
Viper has seen a lot of things, he's done a lot of things, he has a good life, friends, respect, but always he's alone. He's so very other, no one else is like him. Except now Holly. While not the same, she is similar enough that he feels a kinship. When her life is in danger he now feels more than a kinship.. maybe an attraction?
Singh takes you through an action packed, emotional ride in another installment of the Guild Hunters. This series is one of my all time favorites and it never fails to disappoint. Look forward to a thrilling ride.
Review copy provided through netgalley for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.
October 4, 2017
Buddy read with the Wednesday UF Group of BB&B.
I'd forgotten how exasperating the males of the Seven can be! The first few chapters I wanted to bash Venom's head in and I remember feeling the same with Raphael in the beginning. But just like with Raphael, Venom managed to grow on me and to his credit it took him far less time. And something tells me that if I had read this immediately after Archangel's Heart I wouldn't have minded all that much since by that time I had grown immune to the Seven being assholes.
Holly aka Sorrow proved to be a great lead and I loved seeing her as a strong and mostly whole person though I would have liked to see how she got to this point. She was still so broken the last time we saw her that it was a bit difficult to adjust to seeing her the way she was at the beginning of the book.
The story itself was intriguing and the direction it ultimately took was a surprise since it seemed that it was heading elsewhere. Doesn't mean I didn't like it, it just left me wanting to learn more about the other direction it had the potential to take. Maybe it can be explored in a short story someday?
One of the things you can always count on in the GH series is great banter between the main characters. Archangel's Viper was no exception. There were so many good dialogues! And this humour was just what I needed after these past few miserable weeks. Because I was listening to the audio I forgot to check if our favourite phrase and running joke of our little buddy reading group for this series was included so if anyone notice whether "sheath" was used as an euphemism for vagina please let me know in the comments.
Now I wish you all happy reading and if you ever look for something with great humour and don't mind asshole male leads you should give this series a try.
I'd forgotten how exasperating the males of the Seven can be! The first few chapters I wanted to bash Venom's head in and I remember feeling the same with Raphael in the beginning. But just like with Raphael, Venom managed to grow on me and to his credit it took him far less time. And something tells me that if I had read this immediately after Archangel's Heart I wouldn't have minded all that much since by that time I had grown immune to the Seven being assholes.
Holly aka Sorrow proved to be a great lead and I loved seeing her as a strong and mostly whole person though I would have liked to see how she got to this point. She was still so broken the last time we saw her that it was a bit difficult to adjust to seeing her the way she was at the beginning of the book.
The story itself was intriguing and the direction it ultimately took was a surprise since it seemed that it was heading elsewhere. Doesn't mean I didn't like it, it just left me wanting to learn more about the other direction it had the potential to take. Maybe it can be explored in a short story someday?
One of the things you can always count on in the GH series is great banter between the main characters. Archangel's Viper was no exception. There were so many good dialogues! And this humour was just what I needed after these past few miserable weeks. Because I was listening to the audio I forgot to check if our favourite phrase and running joke of our little buddy reading group for this series was included so if anyone notice whether "sheath" was used as an euphemism for vagina please let me know in the comments.
Now I wish you all happy reading and if you ever look for something with great humour and don't mind asshole male leads you should give this series a try.
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