I have been a fan of Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series for a long time now and I always look forward to every new release, especially when I know it's going to be a book about Elena and Raphael (although I'm desperate for Illium or Aodan to take the spotlight too!). The blurb for Archangel's Prophecy had me slightly nervous though, that mention of Elena's angelic powers regressing and her starting to loose the immortality she has been gaining was pretty worrying and there was definitely an underlying sense of fear throughout this story.

The weirdness caused by the Cascade is increasing, with more natural disasters occurring around the world, many angels attaining new powers and poor Elena who seems to be losing everything she gained when she became the first angel made. It's a worrying time for everyone and nobody is sure what is happening to Elena or why and she's the first of her kind so it's not like there is anyone to ask for advice either. I love seeing how far Elena and Raphael have come since the first book, they are such a strong couple now and it is clear that Raphael would risk everything to keep Elena safe but no matter how powerful he is as an archangel what's happening now seems to be completely beyond his control so it's really interesting to see him trying to deal with that.

Elena may be worried about her own failing health but when her brother-in-law is attacked she puts her own fears aside to protect her sister's family. If she is running out of time then the one thing she is going to do is make sure the people she loves are safe before she dies. I always enjoyed seeing Elena work with her allies to solve a case and that was no different here, especially given the ever increasing danger caused by the Cascade and a mysterious new watcher who appears to be stalking Elena's every move. We see plenty of all of our favourite characters and I found the scenes between Elena and her father particularly interesting, he's been such an awful father to her but then we get these tiny moments when he hints that he actually cares. It's hard to know what to make of him really.

The last few chapters of this book were devastating in a lot of different ways, there are some huge changes coming and things take a really shocking turn so I was left desperate for the next instalment. I can understand why some people aren't happy with that ending because we are left with a LOT of unanswered questions but at the same time I think we were given enough to ease some of our fears and no matter how much I want the next book I still loved every minute of this one. This series remains one of my all time favourites and I can't wait to see where Nalini is going to take us next because it's guaranteed to be one heck of a ride!

Archangel's Prophecy focuses on Raphael and Elena. There is a voice in Elena's head and it is warning of dire things to come. Including Elena's death. Elena starts dealing with a declining body and immortality as she fights to protect those she loves.

I felt frantic for Elena. With all the changes happening to her, having this mystery hanging over her family's head was like a nuisance to me. I wanted all the focus on Elena getting well. Elena is strong and fought through all the changes. She was determined to make sure her family was safe before something happened to her. Raphael was torn and frustrated at his inability to heal Elena. I felt that frustration every time he tried to intervene.

Archangel's Prophecy was an emotional read that had me hooked from the start. I was so attentive to all the changes in Elena. The side story of the murders ended with a pretty surprising and harrowing ending. I was sad for the group when the murderer was revealed. So many emotions this book brought forward. But nothing compares to the ending. I was full of fear and wrenching sadness. Then to be left with this cliffhanger. Did I mention I hate cliffhangers? Especially when it is so long until the next release. I don't know how I'm going to survive. That ending is going to be replaying in my mind the whole time as I try to process it.

Despite the cliffhanger, I don't want anyone to miss this. It is too hard hitting and well written to miss. Nalini Singh did an amazing job pulling out the emotions of the reader. Justine Eyre, as narrator, also did an amazing job bringing to life the urgency feelings in the book.

Ho-lee cow. This book takes the Guild Hunter series in a bold new direction. Everything up until this point has been about building up Elena, Raphael, and their band of allies. Building their relationships… their power. But in this book, Elena is no longer becoming stronger. She is growing weaker, and it’s threatening to upend everything she’s worked for. Every day, she is regressing further and further into her humanity and Raphael grows in danger of losing what little humanity he’s gained through her love.

The Cascade is showing no signs of abating. This is the same cosmic event that has gifted Raphael with angelfire and filled him with new power. The same event that brought forth the Legion. The one that is threatening to turn Bluebell into an archangel before his time. Now it seems to have awoken the consciousness of an ancient who has been long asleep. She becomes a harbinger of the death looming over Elena’s shoulder. And our favorite hunter-born angel wants nothing to do with her prophecies. The only thing she is interested in –is protecting her family.

You see, someone tried to kill her brother-in-law and now, the killer could be after her sister and niece. The more Elena digs, the more disturbing the information she uncovers about the killer, his other victims, and ultimately, the reason for it all.

The book was very good. To be fair, it took me a while to remember everything that led us to where we were in the story, but Nalini Singh did a good job peppering in reminders without any big info dumps. There is a fair about of action and forward moving plot, but where this series shines is in the amazing cast of characters and their relationships with one another. I love the friendship between Elena and Bluebell. And I’m still invested in her dysfunctional relationship with her dad.

Then there’s the romance. It’s not small thing to keep a romance alive and interesting after this many books, but Singh does it and she does it well. The dynamic between Raphael and Elena is so visceral and sharp. They’re sexy together, but it’s more than that. I believe they need each other to survive, which is why the re-emergence of Elena’s mortality is such a gut-punch. As strong as he is, Raphael cannot live without her. And he will burn the world to keep her at his side. (*fans self*)

Fans of the series will really enjoy this one. I couldn’t put it down and I am waiting with bated breath to find out what will happen from here, because this ends on a pretty awesome cliffhanger that could turn the series on its heel.

Rating: A/A-

One of the best books of the series, has a cliffhanger but only adds to the drama. Love Nalini Singh and know she will not let the reader down.

✦Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY by Nalini Singh https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-aVs
►Enter Giveaway (Paperback) ➢ http://bit.ly/2CS83Kl
Publication Date: October 30, 2018
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated 5 Stars

This book was epic! I couldn't put it down! ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY is the is the eleventh book in Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series. Each book in this paranormal romance series can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading them in order to fully enjoy the series storyline. Raphael and Elena’s story kept me glued to the pages and gave me all the feels. It has a cliffhanger but not the kind of cliffhanger that makes wants to throw my book against the wall. I just can’t wait to for the next book. Nalini Singh always creates stories with unique worlds I can get lost in for a while. I highly recommend this series for readers looking for an addicting paranormal romance series.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

Kindle http://amzn.to/2sghi3m

I’ve been a fan of this author for years, and I always really enjoy her books, this one not being an exception. This latest in the series (book 11, really?) is just a thrill-ride full of action, heartache, emotions...just everything. I do admit at first it took a little bit to get involved in the book, but once everything settled in place, I was enthralled. And, yes, everything came to a screeching halt with the cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next. The series isn’t going stale even after this long, and I appreciate the wonderful journey to his point. I received a complimentary copy of this, and I voluntarily left a review.

I’ve been a fan of the Guild Hunter series for years, but lately I enjoy the books about the Seven much more than the ones that focus on Raphael and Elena. I may have even implied that the couple is so happy that they’re boring. I should probably apologize to all the Raphael and Elena fans out there because I think Nalini Singh heard me and decided it was time to torture them.

It’s been a few years since Elena became an angel and she’s been steadily getting stronger, but now she’s starting to regress. Her wounds don’t heal like they should and her wings are starting to fail. Then she starts to hear the voice of a Sleeping archangel telling her that she’ll soon have to die so another can live. That very Potter-esque prophecy had me wondering more than once where Raphael was going to find a resurrection stone. (That’s not what actually happens. I wouldn’t spoil you like that.) Elena’s impending doom gives everything a sense of urgency that’s unexpected for these immortal characters.

Raphael, meanwhile, is trying to deal with bizarre geological events and some archangel politics despite being preoccupied by Elena’s mysterious condition. His Legion, which I really wasn’t sure about when they were first introduced, play a larger role in this book and I’m actually starting to like them. I especially liked seeing Elena trying to understand their cryptic nature. I’m excited to see how their characters grow in future books.

Elena is also working with the Guild to investigate a series of attacks on vampires, including her brother-in-law. I loved this return to her roots as a Guild Hunter, which is one of the things I’ve missed in the recent Elena books that focus so much on the aforementioned archangel politics. It also gives her a chance to check in with the other Hunters.

In fact, Elena does a lot of reminiscing over the course of the story, replaying events from previous books. Nearly everyone she encounters provokes a flashback, and it feels like everyone she’s ever met shows up at some point. On the one hand, I like revisiting moments from earlier in the series. On the other, it started to feel like too much recap after a while. It’s also ominous, like how a supporting character in a TV show finally gets to be the star of an episode and you just know they’re going to die at the end.

Archangel’s Prophecy reminded me of everything I loved about the series from the beginning. It also sets the stage for major changes going forward, though at this point I have a lot of unanswered questions. I mean, this is an Infinity War-level To Be Continued. (No, that’s not what happens either.) Just like with the film, I wish there was a “Part One” at the end of the title to let us know going in that it’s part of a larger story.

ARCHANGEL'S PROPHECY devotes more page time to keeping new and casual readers up to speed than in driving the plot forward, making it a great point of entry to the series but a less than satisfying read for familiar readers. Series favorites Raphael and Elena take center stage, with some tantalizing hints of archangel's present and future, but the long term issues of the Cascade and Lijuan only worsen.

Probably my least favorite of the series, ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY suffers through too much recapping in the first half. Each page seems to contain a main character reflecting on events of past books. A little refresher is helpful, but I found myself getting impatient as each plot point was rehashed, along with character’s attitudes and relationships. Further annoying was the hunting plot that felt like a ninja McGuffin (appearing from no where and disappearing just as quickly), all the while dragging out another round of power surges and inexplicable Cascade events.

As someone who rereads parts of this series regularly, there is no way I would skip any new content. ARCHANGEL'S PROPHECY, however, is very unlikely to make it onto my reread pile. While I’m not in a huge hurry for the series to end, I will be happy when the Cascade resolves, and with it the Lijuan plot that quite literally refuses to stay dead.

Raphael and Elena are the main focus again in this book. While Elena is no longer completely mortal it's always been a question as to what exactly she is going to end up being. They haven't been able to find any records of any other made angels in history. While slowly she seemed to be progressing in becoming and growing into her angel body she suddenly finds herself regressing. This story is fast paced but it seems like it takes a long time to get answers. While Elena is trying to figure out why her body is failing her She's trying to figure out a mystery that involves her brother in law and a killer. Raphael is dealing with his own set of issues with the new Archangel of China. This is some edge of your seat reading. Nalini Singh is a master with words. It feels like you're on a fast speeding train toward the last page. I've got to admit there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of this book. It really didn't bother me because Raphael and Elena's story arc has never had a end feeling to it. There's always been a question as to what will happen with these two. I look forward to listening to this one in audio book form. Exciting from start to finish!



Find out more about Nalini Singh and this series here www.nalinisingh.com

There are no words in the English dictionary that can truthfully express the ride that author Nalini Singh sends her faithful readers on with ARCHANGEL'S PROPHECY. OMG, Wow, Holy... none of those will do at all.

ARCHANGEL'S PROPHECY will simply have your heart in your throat as every page turns. You will find a romance that is still strong between the Archangel and his consort, action, danger, intrigue and moments of humor that only lighten this intense tome a bit.

Annetta Sweetko reviewer for Fresh Fiction

My complete review may be found at: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=67121

The Guild Hunter books were the first series of books I read from Nalini Singh. I absolutely fell in love with Elena and Rafael from the moment I started the series. I devour each new book as soon as it hits my kindle. I usually finish reading a book from Nalini Singh and immediately start talking about it on social media and telling everyone to read it as soon as it comes out. I firmly believe once again readers should devour Archangel's Prophecy, but with one major warning...be prepared for the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. I seriously wanted to email Ms. Singh as soon as I finished reading to beg for the next book right now!

I absolutely adored getting another book with Rafael and Elena as the focus. There is just so much more we learn with each new installment in this world, but it seems like we get more and more changes in the world when the book focuses on Rafael and Elena. I love we get to see so many favorite characters from the series and especially got to spend time with Bluebell. The world has grown so much since the first book, yet Ms. Singh keeps the interactions with the different characters on point every single time. I loved the number of times I actually laughed out loud while reading this book; especially with how intense it was much of the time. Ms. Singh gave her readers a book that will keep them on the edge of their seats wondering what will happen next. So many times I kept thinking OMG could it get any more intense?!?! The ultimate answer being absolutely!!!

I won't lie, when I reached the end of the book, I kept hitting my kindle screen believing there had to be more to the story. I needed more to the story. I'm honestly not a huge fan of a cliffhanger usually, but have to say this one was done so well. I was completely surprised by so much in this book, yet once again it only made me want to be back in the Guild Hunter world soon. I highly recommend the Guild Hunter series to fans that love Paranormal Romances.


Rating: 4.5 Stars (A-)

This is a hard review to write as it hurts my heart to give one of my favorite authors such a low rating, but I figured out the mystery part of the book within the first few chapters. This mystery was not up to Singh’s normal standard. I think she has stretched herself too thin with the number of series she is writing. I know she branched out into contemporary romance, as readership is huge in that genre; but her established series seem to be suffering.

This book was a trip down memory lane which I as a reader didn’t need. It takes place several years after Morocco, as Eve, Zoe and Maggie have aged up. Alot of this book’s content was already established in the previous books which I’ve read. Singh did the same thing with her Psy/Changeling series; which never has been as good since writing a trip down memory lane book. If the reminiscent content was cut from this book is would be a pretty short book, more novella length.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

There is also a life altering cliffhanger involved, which hopefully will not ruin the series. Along with the cliffhanger comes what I feel will be a time jump, as both Elena and Raphael are in stasis at the end of the book, with time passing around them.

Raphael and Elena are one of my favorite paranormal super couples, and if Singh alters them too much then she will loose me as a reader. I can take characters evolving, but it better be for a darn good reason not just to yank my chain.

I do wonder if this time jump isn’t so Singh can age up Eve to be Illium or Aodhan’s happily ever-after.

Three stars as new and original content was seriously lacking.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my review or opinion of the book.

It's been a long time since I stayed up all night to finish a book. I am at a place in my life now where I usually have enough self control to put down a book to get a decent night's sleep in order to not be a crabby grouch all weekend. However, I could not put this book down. I just HAD to know how it was going to end, hence the late night. And let me just warn you all now - it ends on a CLIFFHANGER! Yes. you heard me. I stayed up all night only to be left dangling at the end! I've read pretty much every Nalini Singh book written and I can't recall any other books that ended on a cliffhanger, so this was quite unexpected. Hopefully the next book in the series is coming soon (I haven't checked for a date yet). I just wanted to warn you all as a kindness. Was it still worth the late night? Definitely yes.

Wow I can't believe this is the 11th book in the Guild Hunter series. Raphael and Elena have come a very long way since their first adversarial meeting and the world in which they live has also changed greatly. There have been huge shifts in power with Lijuan going to Sleep and Raphael's mother, Caliane, waking. The Cascade has caused the Earth itself to shift and change, sometimes with catastrophic results. It has also caused changes in the angels and archangels, with Raphael trying to control an immense amount of power without losing his humanity. Fortunately he has Elena, an angel Made human, as his consort to help him navigate these changes and keep him a little mortal.

The book opens with a Cascade flare that causes a huge sinkhole filled with lava to suddenly appear. At the same time, Elena's brother-in-law is attacked and almost killed. Fearing for the safety of her sister and niece, Elena focuses her energy and finding the killer while Raphael deals with the sinkhole. However, fate has other things in mind for Elena. As the only angel Made human in angelic history, not much is known about the process and its effects on a human. So when Elena's wings begin to fail her and all signs point to her regressing back to human, it's a race to find what happening and how to stop it. Elena, in her usual manner, doesn't let this stop her. She also starts to hear the voice of an old, old power in her head, whose prophecy seems to reference her death. All of this adds to the urgent feel of the book as Elena races to find the killer before the prophecy is fulfilled.

This is a rollercoaster of a book. Elena's possible death hanging over her and Raphael, every moment between them is more intense and emotional than usual. While Elena is never one to give up, it's heartbreaking to see her body start to fail her.

This book is filled with all of the usual Guild Hunter awesomeness - great banter, an intriguing mystery, The Seven, and Elena and Raphael's relationship at the center of it all. There are a few fun appearances by characters we haven't seen in a bit like Galen and Jessamy. My favorite, Bluebell, has couple of great scenes with Elena. Unfortunately no Aodhan this time around but I am really hoping that he gets his own book one day soon.

I don't think that fans of the Guild Hunter series are going to be disappointed. This book really kept me on my toes the entire time I was reading it. And even though it ends on a cliffhanger, the book itself does provide a full story. It just kind of rips your heart out at the end and leaves it hanging. I'll forgive Nalini Singh though because her books are amazing and I have faith that we will all be rewarded when the next book comes out. If you haven't started this series yet then you have 11 books to go until the next one comes out. For die hard fans, hang on to your seats for an amazing ride!

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my review or opinion of the book.

ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY is the eleventh instalment in Nalini Singh’s adult GUILD HUNTER dystopian/ paranormal/ urban fantasy series focusing on Archangel’s, angels, vampires, shifters and hunters. ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY is the continuing story of New York’s Archangel Raphael, and his consort, human turned angel Elena Deveraux. ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY should not be read as a stand alone as the story line continues the series arc focusing on the Cascade, and the growing evil surrounding two of Cadre.

Told from several third person perspectives including Raphael and Elena ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY follows Elena as she tasks herself with uncovering the truth behind a series of attacks and dismemberment against vampires and humans including the near fatal attack against her sister’s mate. As Elena begins to dig deeper into everyone connected with Harrison’s past, strange phenomena and environmental disasters begin to wreak havoc in Raphael’s New York territory, phenomena that directly affects our story line heroine. Slowly reverting back to her mortal self, Elena sees apparitions and warnings of impending danger and doom, doom that the Archangel Raphael is powerless to prevent or defeat.

ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY is a love story wherein one of the most powerful beings is unable to prevent the fall-out of power, death, rebirth and the prophecy. Struggling to stay one step ahead of the approaching destruction of his heart and his soul Raphael learns that the ultimate sacrifice is only the beginning of a new awakening and his chance for a future.

Nalini Singh’s ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY is a captivating story of unimaginable conflict; of pain and loss, of heartache and grief. As our couple battle that which they cannot see, others must battle that which remains to be seen. ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY is a raw, real and powerful story; a startling and staggering look at devotion, love, sacrifice and the helplessness in the inability to stop the inevitable fall.

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4 Wine Glass #ARC #Review of Archangel's Prophecy by Nalini Singh

Nalini Singh has officially been initiated into the Evil-Author Society. 😈 Archangel's Prophecy was a stunning addition to the must-read Guild Hunter series that left me on the edge of my seat and begging for more.

Just when Elena and Raphael think that they have faced the worst together, Elena's body begins to fail her. And as the only known mortal turned angel in the world, no one knows how stop Elena's regression, or even why it is happening. But Elena refuses to let it hinder her in her job as guild hunter. Especially when it is her family that is in the cross-hairs of a killer. When a ancient voice begins whispering to Elena though, she knows that her time may be running out. Can Elena and Raphael fight back against the Cascade, or will it find another victim to it's magic?

I was ecstatic when I found out that Archangel's Prophecy would be another story centered around Elena and Raphael, I love these two and they are one of my all-time favorite book couples. Singh pens another brilliant and pulse-pounding tale in the unforgettable Guild Hunter series. Conflicts abound, creating a complex, raw, and engaging plot that simply left me breathless. With Singh's lyrical writing and unsurpassed creativity, I was enraptured from the first page, being tugged along on this roller-coaster of twists and turns, ups and downs, never wanting to get off but almost needing to so that I could feel the solid ground beneath my feet. This story will definitely pull you in every direction imaginable. And if you thought that after eleven plus book in a series, that the same ole' couple's struggles may be getting stale, then you would be horribly wrong. I don't think I ever understood the scope of Elena and Raphael's death-defying love until now.

“I will undo the universe for you.”

Archangel's Prophecy explores the depths of an all-consuming love, furthers the story-arc with the uncharted effects of the cascade, brings some of our favorite characters together, while leaving readers longing for a few others, and will take you by complete surprise. This series should definitely be read in order, and it will be time well-spent. With perfectly weaved unparalleled romance and white-knuckle suspense, Archangel's Prophecy is a story that you do not want to miss! I adore returning to this world year after year, and whole-heartily believe that the Guild Hunter series is a must-read for all paranormal romance fans out there. Bravo Ms. Singh, bravo....

In the midst of powerful natural and unnatural disaster world-wide, an evil that only sleeps, and a love that transcends all between an archangel and his angel-made consort, an ancient prophecy threatens to rip the world and the lovers apart. The rising action of this latest book threatened to undo me with all response and emotion it pulled forth.
Review

Archangel’s Prophecy is #11 in the Guild Hunter series that must be read in order.

Just when I thought this series might be waning and coasting into its finale, this book comes along and doesn’t just fan the flames, but pours an accelerate on it. This one offered up a game changer and I have no idea where it will lead other than the promise of a clash of titans between the evil that is Lijuan the Archangel of Death and Raphael and Elena.

Most of this one slowly built along two storylines set against the odd calamities of the Cascade. First, Elena is back in hunter action trying to track the person who tried to kill her brother in law and threatened her sister. The trail is dark and gritty as the bloody body count rises. Along side this suspense element is the inexplicable and nerve-wracking loss of her angel-hood and immortality. An ancient voice predicts her death so another can live, but Elena is a huntress and has no plans to cave to fate especially when Raphael’s warmth and love will die with her.

The book was riveting and I had to know the answers to both storylines. The love affair of Raphael and Elena was as endearing and strong as ever, time with Raphael’s Seven and their camaraderie is always good, friends and family time, tracking down a skilled killer, and Elena’s unbecoming were all blended into one fabulous story. It was steady and gave both exciting and introspective moments in turn though one of the plot threads did go from steady to rushed to get it finished by the end. I was totally in this one right up to the end.

The biggest plot thread is left dangling over a cliff. I saw the pages thinning as I neared the back of the book and had a bad feeling. After all the build up and now I must wait. So be prepared for that. Not that its a big deal this late in the series when it’s pretty much hardcore fans who will read the next book no matter what, but waiting… yeah.

All in all, another strong installment in the Guild Hunter series in this incredible world where powerful, militant angel’s rule, vampires and other magic users exist, and humans are definitely not at the top of the food chain. If you like action-packed paired with sensual and sparkling romantic pairings in a dangerous urban fantasy world, give these a try.

It’s that time again!

Time for the the next and eleventh installment of the Guild Hunter series!

Archangel’s Prophecy starts off with our favorite heroine, Elena Deveraux, on the hunt for a vampire who ran off from his contract. Its during this hunt that the Cascade once again begins to act up with Elena escaping a lava pit that opened up. However, its during this event that Elena notices something is wrong with her wings when they begin to drag. It is not only her wings the are beginning to fail but her healing as well. It’s as though Elena is turning back into a human. However, Elena doesn’t have time to worry about her state. Someone attempted to kill her brother-in-law and Elena is determined to stop the one responsible so he won’t be a threat to her sister or niece. The investigation soon reveals that the attacker is also responsible for multiple vampire murders. Now Elena will stop at nothing to catch the culprit even though as the investigation goes on, her condition gets worse and worse. In fact, Elena also begins to hear a female voice who gives her prophecies about not only the current events but also herself.

Overall, Archangel’s Prophecy has to be one of the intense installments that Nalini Singh has written so far of the Guild Hunter series. Elena and Raphael have come a long way since Angel’s Blood and Archangel’s Prophecy shows it. Elena is not afraid to ask Raphael for help when she needs it and boy there were times she did need him. As for Raphael, let’s just say we see a determined and protective side of him we don’t often get to see. Fans will definitely enjoy this installment because it was a long wild ride even up to the ending which sadly was a major cliffhanger. Seriously, I was not prepared for it and now we have to wait another year to find out what happened.

*I received Archangel’s Prophecy from Berkley Publishing Group via Netgalley in return for an honest review.*

I've loved Nalini Singh's books since I first picked up her Psy-Changeling series. I've absolutely loved her Guild Hunter series and I was so excited to get my hands on an ARC. But Oh, my giddy aunt! This book, you guys! This book is a ride! I just have one thing to say:

HOW DARE YOU?!?

You know what you did, Nalini.

This book was... I read this months ago and I still don't have the words yet to discuss the crazy roller coaster ride this was. It was just one thing after another. My heart feels like it's gone 12 rounds with Mike Tyson. And that ending?!? OMG! I NEED THE NEXT BOOK ASAP! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!

I have the feeling that there is a lot of change coming to the Guild Hunter and that ending left a lot open. The next big Cascade event is coming and nobody has an idea what change it will bring. Clearly some change is already coming because that ending! I guess we should be thankful that it took eleven books for Nalini Singh to leave us on a cliffhanger ending.

I can't find the words to describe this book without spoiling things in it. I always look forward to reading each new Guild Hunter book every year. This series is hands down one of my favorite urban fantasy series worlds. Nalini Singh is a true master storyteller. Her incredibly well plotted arcs and dynamic characters always suck me in and don't let me go until I've ran out of pages. Archangel’s Prophecy was no different. I loved it even though it emotionally comprised me. It's going to be a long wait for the next book. I guess I'm just going to have to reread the whole series while we wait for it to be next fall.

The Guild Hunter series is one of my favorites, especially when the storyline focuses on primary characters Elena and Raphael, and Archangel’s Prophecy places the angelic couple back on center stage. It’s been about two and a half years since the trip to Morocco and Elena’s discovery that her maternal grandparents are alive. She’s back in Manhattan and doing her job as a Hunter. While the Cascade has been fairly quiet for these couple of years, new events begin to unfold, and Elena herself appears to be a victim of the Cascade.

So… where do I begin with my review of this series-changing story? It’s hard to write a spoiler-free review because of how I felt about some of the events during the action-filled climatic fight scene and the last several chapters of the book. I will let you know up front that the ending of the book is sort of cliffhangery. There are some huge Cascade-driven events happening to the world which directly impact Raphael and Elena, and we don’t know the extent of these changes by the conclusion of Archangel’s Prophecy.

Overall, the story is masterfully crafted, both mentally and emotionally satisfying. Elena’s vampiric brother-in-law is brutally attacked and with the threat of danger to her sister and niece, Elena personally takes on the case. She works with her companions and the Guild to piece together a puzzle that no one even knew existed. Meanwhile, the Cascade has brought another ancient out of Sleep, haunting Elena, sharing a dooming prophecy. And if that isn’t enough, Elena’s wings begin to fail and it appears as if her transformation to immortality is regressing. As difficult as these changes are for Elena to adjust to, the end results have the potential to break her Archangel lover. The entire situation lends itself to powerfully emotional scenes - I’ll admit I shed some tears. More importantly, they give space for the author to continue to write one of the most powerful love stories ever. It’s hard to imagine, but Raphael and Elena grow even closer, cementing their already unbreakable union.

While I loved over 90% of the book, I did have a couple issues with the last bits. First, I was disappointed with the use of the Cascade in the climatic fight scene. No spoilers - but it felt too easy to blame certain aspects of the action on the Cascade. Second, the last several chapters felt out of place with the book. While they give readers a small amount of closure for the existing storylines, I felt they did more to set up the next book, which indicates to me maybe they shouldn’t have been included in Archangel’s Prophecy. They sort of prolonged the ending rather than give closure.

In the end, Archangel’s Prophecy is another wonderful chapter in Ms. Singh’s Guild Hunter series. The combination of amazing world-building, creative storylines, fulfilling character development, and sublime romance makes this book and series one of my all-time favorites. While I may be a bit afraid of what will happen next, I completely trust in Ms. Singh’s vision and storytelling.

My Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot

Hot damn. HOT. DAMN.

Who do I have to sleep with to get the next book in this series, because the cliffhanger in this one? It just may kill me.



But seriously. I started reading Archangel's Prophecy with the firm belief that everything will be OK in the end, I'd get to spend time with one of my favorite couples and I ended up being on an emotional roller coaster that at times had my heart fly out of my chest.

Nothing is right in Elena and Raphael's world. Elena reversing from immortal to mortal is giving both of them (and everyone else around them) serious grief. The prophecy doesn't predict sweet things for Elena and the Cascade is back in full effect. At the same time while she is fighting weird symptoms that weaken her our beloved Guild Hunter is trying to solve a case that involves her brother in law being assaulted and in a coma. No rest for the wicked. Or so.

“I will undo the universe for you.”

In all of this, however, we see the deep love the mortal-turned-angel and her archangel have for one another. It is something Nalini Singh excels at - she doesn't just tell us what her characters feel, she shows us and makes us feel along with them with every beautiful word she writes. You feel Raphael's despair and fury about his helplessness in the face of Elena's decline, his endless love for her that can only be described in superlatives. The way he loves her is just breathtakingly sweet and beautiful, they are made for one another.

"Eternity, Elena, that is what you promised me. His mental voice was ragged, his body possessive and primal in her, around her. I will never release you from that promise."

Elena's determination and love for life, her smart mouth, her keen intelligence and her hope even when things are hopeless, those are the things I adore so much about her. It's all there.

He was fighting fear, too. She felt an ache deep inside her heart; she was the reason he understood fear, and she wished that weren’t true.

ARCHANGEL PROPHECY is one of my top favorites in this series. It kept me on the edge of my seat with its twists and turns, had me holding my breath and shattered my heart and shredded it in the best way possible. And that CLIFFHANGER. Why? How can Nalini Singh leave us hanging like that?

Now the wait begins for the next book and I hope that Ms Singh writes like the wind.

So. If anyone can point me to the person who I need to bribe for the next book...I pay well.

Just kidding. I don't have money. My offer from the beginning of my review still stands.