Cover Image: Archangel's Prophecy

Archangel's Prophecy

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Member Reviews

I enjoyed this novel from cover to cover. The characters were engaging and the plot was quite captivating.

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Oh, wow, this book was absolutely amazing! I mean, so much happened, and of course, it's a Elena and Raphael-centric book, which you know means it's going to be awesome! It is a few years after Archangel's Heart, which was so great, that Elena and her family have gotten comfortable with their new, well, not so new now, grandparents!

This book had two frames, I'd guess I'd call it. The big, series changes events with the Cascade, which is really important, and adds urgency to the other, the smaller mystery that Elena is investigating. What with Elena loosing her wings, she's on a time crunch to find and stop the bad guy before she possibly can't. Because this has never happened before, and they don't know what's going to happen. It was a very tense book!

So one very important thing is revealed in this book. Well, there were a few things, but this one was a big game changer. Like, it was a piece of information that explained things so well. It was a piece of information that changed how we looked at this. That this is why things are why they are. And it explained so much!

The ending was just so very evil! Such a cliffhanger, and it's terrifying. It's not an action or life or death one, I'll let you know so you don't get too worked up, but it's an important "change our lives" moment, and I just want to know what's going to happen next!

I just absolutely loved this book, and I'm just so darned eager for the next one!

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Intense paranormal romance at its finest…

I couldn’t wait to get back to this extraordinary, passionate world Nalini Singh has created. The Guild Hunters are warriors, both men and women, with hearts softened by love. They are strong when they need to be and soften for their family, for their loves. This is fantasy, paranormal romance to satisfy every craving…

“He was deadly and he was beautiful. Most of all, he was hers.”

Elena and Raphael are back! I love this compelling duo that love and support each other so completely. Imagine having the fate of the world on your shoulders while trying to sustain a relationship at the same time. Oh and did I mention Elena’s immortality, her very life, is in jeopardy? You can feel Raphael’s worry and need to shelter Elena warring with her need to follow her heart. To protect. To be free to be who she is. A warrior, just like him…

Oh yes, this was a mesmerizing roller coaster of a ride as they, and their brethren, had no shortage of skirmishes in a battle for survival. The heat smoldered rather than burned, as the author’s light and magical touch built a complicated story I couldn’t get enough of. I wanted this story to never end and I got my wish, as this story is not done. So many unanswered questions and a wait for the next story I may not survive. Unless I start this series at the beginning as I stalk the shelves…

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As I LOVE Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling novels, I thought I'd give this series a chance even though I'm not a huge fan of angel romance novels. What makes Ms. Singh such a fabulous writer is that she is able to take some main-stream and sometimes overdone subject matter and create a world that is so interesting and memorable.

This novel in particular, I believe, takes readers back to a couple that has previously already had a novel (possibly two) about them. But a big change is coming their way and they needed another story to explain and confront how this will impact their lives as a couple.

As a new reader to this series, there was a LOT of content that I was not familiar with and a lot of couple brought in that I assumed was from previous novels in the series, but it was not so confusing that you couldn't follow and enjoy what was happening. I will definitely be going back to read more about this wonderful world where Archangel's have been Earths protectors for a long time.

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Nalini, it’s possible that you and I may need to break up. I’m still considering it. I just can’t do this anymore. How could you do this to me? It’s not okay. ::sigh::

This book was everything. It was too much. It gave me all the feels. Too many feels. It sounds really strange, I know, but I don’t like to read books that I think about for days after I finish them. I don’t like the angst I feel. I surely don’t like the angst I feel right now.

Before I jump into my review, I want to mention that I listened to this book on audio. The narrator is fucking amazing. Justine Eyre is the narrator of the entire Guild Hunter series. She is phenomenal. At first I was afraid to listen to it because Elena and Raphael are so incredibly important to me as characters that I didn’t want to hear their voices brought to me by someone that just couldn’t pull it off. I needn’t have worried.

Like I said above, this book gave me so many feels, I don’t know where to start. So I’ll just jump in and try to make some sort of sense. Archangel’s Prophecy picks up about two years after Archangel’s Heart ends. The Cadre has been dormant for that long and now it has awoken. Weird shit starts to happen and it begins and ends with Elena. All of a sudden she’s in a backslide. That’s right…instead of coming into her immortality, Elena is becoming mortal again. What’s even worse is that she’s becoming even weaker than she was when she was actually mortal.

That’s not her only problem. The Archangel Cassandra who is a true Ancient has started to awaken from her Sleep to warn Elena about the prophecy. The one where Elena must die for the “Other” to live. Elena is just as kick-ass as she’s ever been and she’s not one to take a prophecy that shows her death lying down. She’s not about to leave Raphael either. Especially when she can see him becoming more “other” himself as she becomes weaker.

Raphael won’t accept that Elena will die. He simply won’t. He knows exactly what he will become should Elena die. Even with Elena telling him that he will be the only one able to stop Lijuan, he knows he can’t live without her. As the days go by and Elena’s feathers begin to fall, it becomes apparent that he may not have a choice.

If Elena is going to die, she’s going to die protecting her sister and her niece. Someone tried to kill her brother-in-law and are after Beth and Maggie. When Elena finally discovers who is after them, she can barely hold up her sword, let alone fight the man that is living for nothing but vengeance.

Throughout this series, Elena’s love for her wings is absolute. I don’t know if I can forgive Nalini for grounding her. There’s a scene at the end of the book that absolutely wrecked me. Elena without wings at this point isn’t Elena at all. Then Raphael and Elena realize what the prophecy actually is. They both don’t want to accept it, but do they have a choice with Elena taking what could literally be her last breath?

After the torture that was the ending of this book, I am highly doubtful that the next Guild Hunter book will even be about Raphael and Elena. I have a feeling that it is actually going to be about Aodhan. Leaving no answers about Raphael and Elena.

So yep, I’m bitter. Even with that bitterness, Nalini’s writing is still out of this world. So is this series (for the most part).

Rating: 4.25 out of 5.

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Elena and Raphael are back center-stage in this eleventh installment of Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series. I always love coming back to spend some time with our power couple that started it all. Elena is still the beloved mortal-turned-angel of New York, and consort to Raphael, our increasingly power archangel of the territory.

Unfortunately for Elena, it seems that things are going wonky with her angelic development. She is not healing correctly, is injuring herself more easily, and seems to be shedding feathers left and right. But because Elena is the only mortal-born angel that anyone living can remember, they don't exactly have a knowledge base to work from when it comes to her development, or lack thereof. Plus, the Cascade is rearing its head again, and no one knows what wonky things it will throw into the mix.

So when Elena's sister and family is seemingly targeted by a vampire serial killer, Elena starts racing the investigative clock to find the offender before her increasingly mortal body fails her. The suspense aspect of the secondary storyline was a good diversion and helped advance the plot when we weren't focused on Elena's health and the Cascade.

One of my favorite aspects of this series has become The Legion - I really like how they are changing (and reverting), and becoming individual personalities... but still work as a collective. I would love to see some books with Legion heroes in the future.

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Why does Nalini Singh hate me? Why?!? This was such an amazing book. I swear I got to the end and thought I was going to die. It’s possible I’m dead even now and writing this from hell, where Nalini Singh left me after she RIPPED MY HEART OUT. ::SOB::

Elena and Raphael have been waiting two years for something to happen with the Cascade. Since their return from Lumia, all has been quiet. It’s driving Elena crazy. When her brother-in-law is attacked in his home, Elena knows she needs to figure out who wants to harm him so she can ensure her sister and niece are safe. So of course things with the Cascade would escalate again. A sinkhole filled with lava opens, and Elena starts hearing an ancient voice inside her head. With war looming on the horizon, and ancients coming awake, Elena and Raphael need to be stronger than ever…. but she becomes more weak – more mortal – and her wings start dropping feathers. She must race to discover who wants to harm her family before she no longer has the strength…because this time she may not survive.

Archangel’s Prophecy is the 11th book in Singh’s Guild Hunter Series. As much as I love many of her Psy-Changeling books, the Guild Hunter series is my favorite. I love the gritty violence and dark undertones. This novel is grittier and darker than most. This is a hard novel to review, as there’s a lot going on and I don’t want to give any spoilers. Many threads from previous books in the series are tugged and start to come together here. We see some clarity in areas, while others remain vague and obscure. There were times this was difficult to read, but I can’t deny I was swept up in the tale, and anxious to see where it would end. As for the ending…there’s a cliffhanger. I have faith in Singh, but I admit I’m anxious for the next book. I wish we didn’t have to wait so long after that ending.

Even though it ended in a cliffhanger, this was such a fabulous book it ranks toward the top of the series for me. Seriously. Such a fantastic book, with such a horrible cliffhanger! Singh never fails to pull me in, and I was swept up in the intrigue of the plot just as much as Elena’s struggle to save her wings.

4.5 out of 5

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Singh's long-running series is a favorite among fans of paranormal or urban fantasy. The plotline of Archangel's Prophecy is an interesting addition and a new twist; unfortunately, however, there is an inordinate amount of imagery and detail that really drag the story down.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
Archangel's Prophecy is the 11th installment of the Guild Hunter series and cannot be read as a standalone. However, if the reader is well-versed in the series, it could be read if they missed a few installments.

Narrated primarily by Elena. The Hunter/Angel investigates an assault on her brother-in-law, Harrison, which took place in front of the little sister, Eve. This bridged the gap in the family, between the father and his three surviving daughters and granddaughter. A few scenes complete the family, with Elena's maternal grandparents making an appearance. The pain over the loss of her sisters and mother is revisited as she tries to move forward with her remaining family members.

While investigating Harrison's attack, drawing Elena down many paths, her fragile immortality slowly reverses to even less than the strength of her previous mortal hunter body.

While the investigation is in the forefront, Elena's struggles are the focus for the reader. To be honest, I was disinterested in the investigation taking so much page-time, only because I couldn't concentrate with the fate of our heroine at risk. It became annoying background noise that wouldn't shut up.

To be entirely honest, I don't believe I'm in the minority here. It took everything in me, after reading the beginning, not to completely skip the entire middle and just read the end. It was stressful, and as the Harrison investigation continued forward, turning more convoluted and confusing, even the why of it all seemed beyond irrational, I just wanted to get through it to the ending.

One of my major issues is how Elena is in failing health, yet continues to investigate, as if there weren't so many others who could do a competent job, better even, since she wasn't on the top of her game. I realize this all connected in a string of A to B to C to D and so on, but I felt this bizarre that with Harrison healing, her sister and niece safe, why did Elena have to go after his assailant? It felt as if Elena's issues were outweighed by nothing of importance, when her life was on the line. This felt out of character by everyone in her circle. Raphael was dealing with the Cascade, but to just ignore Elena's issues didn't compute with me.

Yes, I'm talking around the plot, simply because I refuse to spoil it for readers. The book ends on one heck of a cliffhanger. I do believe Archangel's Prophecy was pivotal in the series lineup and necessary for fans to read.

Hopefully the wait isn't long, as I'm more than curious to see what happens next for Elena and Raphael. I'm also confused, after reading every single word, so much of it went right over my head, none of it connecting, as if the author needed to go from A to P, but don't worry if the other stops along the way don't actually connect – just read over them. I'm not one who needs to be spoon-fed, but I found everything to be chaotic and disjointed, with many things made to seem important to have no importance, and things barely mentioned to be catastrophic.

Archangel's Prophecy was a buildup from page one, but we don't truly get to experience what it built toward, leaving me confused as to what the author's future plans are for the series, because it all just seems out of nowhere and left field.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
This series has been an auto-buy from the beginning and I’ve enjoyed the somewhat predictable pattern the books have settled into. Until this one. Book 11 brings readers back to Elena and Raphael, where Elena is slowly losing her immortality and her body weakens. After so many books where Elena gains power and grows into her role as Raphael’s Consort, this book packs an emotional punch from the beginning.

I love Elena in this book. It’s been a few books since she was the protagonist and I love the growth we see in her here. Her emotions are powerful and raw as she deals with the escalating changes to her body. Raphael’s emotions are closer to the surface than we’ve seen before and it is obvious that Elena has succeeded in making him more than a little bit mortal. I don’t want to spoil any of the plot but there is a scene at the end that might be one of the most romantic moments I’ve read in a very long time.

Running parallel to Elena’s personal struggles is her investigation into the murder of several vampires and a related attack on her brother-in-law. The investigation is exciting and the clues pull together well, but I didn’t get into the investigation as much as I have in previous books because I was more focused on Elena’s weakening body. Elena struggles to balance her roles as both consort and guild hunter. In this story she clings almost desperately to her identity as a hunter – even when her actions are ill advised, and she ends up putting herself and others at risk.

Every time I pick up a new Nalini Singh book I remember how much I love her writing. There are some exceptionally beautiful passages in this story and I had to stop a few times to savour the language. Readers probably won’t need to have read all of the previous ten books to appreciate this one, but they will need to have at least read the first three that are specifically about Elena and Raphael. However, this book marks a huge turning point in the series and finishes on a cliffhanger that left me in a bit of a state. Anyone wanting to continue the series will need to read this book.

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Nalini Singh continues her guild hunter series with her most ambitious tale yet, Archangel'd Prophecy.Elena, consort to Archangel Raphael of New York, discovers that her wings have started to fail and her body weaken. What is causing this? An ancient prophecy suggests that she will die to save her Archangel and through him the world. Elena fights back; at the same time she is tracking a vicious killer who has attacked her sister's vampire husband. Very interesting characters and imaginative storyline.

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We are now into Book 11 of the Guild Hunter Series and what I can say is that Elena Deveraux and her Archangel Raphael continue to hold every bit of my attention. There is so much going on in this book and honestly, I wasn't sure what part I should focus on the most.

I loved how Nalini Singh kept me on my toes, guessing between the different plots that in one way or another affected Elena. And just when I thought we've seen her grow into her full potential - she is becoming so much more! Again, the love and devotion between the two makes such things possible. Even death wouldn't keep these two apart.

Yes, I was frustrated at the end but if you are just like me who has been reading this authors work for years you know that in the end she won't fail to deliver a out of this world resolution. I can't wait!

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3-3.5 Stars

When Archangel’s Prophecy was offered to me for review, I grabbed it up thinking it would be fine to read as a stand-alone since I read Archangel’s Viper (the previous Guild Hunter book) without having read any previous book in the series and I enjoyed it. However, I soon realized that would not work here with Archangel’s Prophecy being an Elena/Raphael book.

After reading a little about the history of Elena and Raphael, and the fact that Archangel’s Prophecy sounded like a game-changing installment I realized I needed to go back to the beginning to fully appreciate Archangel’s Prophecy. I’m thrilled that I did!

For the last three weeks I’ve been devouring the Guild Hunter series, the Elena/Raphael books, and it’s been an exciting ride! Nalini Singh has created a fascinating world where a Cadre of ten Archangel’s rule designated territories of the earth; lesser angels, vampires, and humans all under their authority. Power, political intrigue, immortals and mortals clashing, good vs. evil; all factors that make these books a riveting read, but it’s the personal relationships that make these stories come to life, IMO.

I’ve been alternately listening and reading through the series, gobbling it up as fast as I could. For those who enjoy audio books, Justine Eyre is a phenomenal narrator!

If you haven’t read the previous books there may some spoilery type of information below. Not anymore than you’d get than by reading the series book descriptions, but still, I thought I’d warn you before reading on.

It’s in this world where Elena, a mortal Guild Vampire Hunter, and Raphael, an enormously powerful Archangel, meet and fall in love, forever changing the path they thought their lives would take.

Elena and Raphael are characters I’ve come to love, each multi-faceted, imperfect, but with genuinely good hearts. Their chemistry was like wildfire from the first meeting, dangerous and volatile, but it’s the love, loyalty and devotion that make me adore this couple! They’re a united front facing all the challenges Nalini Singh throws their way!

There are six Elena/Raphael books, including Archangel’s Prophecy , each one having a source of conflict introduced that’s solved/wrapped up by the end. That is, except for Archangel’s Prophecy! Ack! I was warned going in that there was a cliffhanger ending here, something I’m not a fan of, but I have to say this felt more like a “to be continued…” sort of situation. Still, I had a sense of impending doom while reading, Elena weakening further and further as the story goes along.

The mystery behind Harrison’s (Elena’s vampire brother-in-law) brutal attack and the Cascade shenanigans distracted a little from Elena’s worsening condition, but I was worried throughout. Vague and scary prophecies didn’t help. However, there was hope with a shocking ending that left a lot of unanswered questions. Plus, (not that I’ve read every one of her books) I don’t think Nalini Singh has ever left her readers with anything but a HEA.

Archangel’s Prophecy is probably my least favorite installment because of the cliffy and unanswered questions, but it’s not a book to be missed! I was glued to the pages to find out what happens! I was happy seeing Laric again after the last book, and I’m loving Elena’s half-sister Eve! I even had a soft-spot for Jeffrey in a couple of scenes.

I skipped the Guild Hunter books centered on side-characters, except for Archangel’s Venom , but I plan on working my way through them while I wait for Elena and Raphael’s story to continue.

A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.

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Back in New York, and focusing again on Raphael and Elena, Archangel's Prophecy finds the titular Archangel and his consort again dealing with the ebb and flow of the Cascade. Although this time it comes in the form of a prophecy directed at Elena foretelling the death of one so another can live. While Elena would never go down without a fight, she's inexplicably finding herself regressing in her immortality. Losing strength, losing weight, losing feathers.

Meanwhile, Elena is pulled into a matter for the Guild after her brother-in-law is found nearly decapitated. While on the hunt for the perpetrator, Elena connects his attack to other various attacks around the city over the past weeks. Elena is racing against time as she tries to put the pieces together in order to keep her family safe and continues to deteriorate.

I always love when this series comes back to Raphael and Elena. Seeing as how the pair started out the series, I always feel a little more grounded when Nalini Singh decides to revisit "home base" as it were. It also always throws me when there's reference to events from previous Raphael and Elena centered books as being years ago. It's a correct assessment, but I am always jolted by how much time it's been. Time flies I guess.

I've always appreciated the way Nalini Singh has crafted this series and the number of times a character, or characters, have gone through a change or development. Archangel's Prophecy certainly fits that bill with the mystery of what's happening to Elena taking center stage throughout the entirety. Singh leaves things on a bit of a cliffhanger as by the end it's still not completely clear what changes we can expect to see from Ellie in the next book(s), but as in the past, I trust Nalini Singh to give these characters storylines that are true and fit with the narrative of the series as a whole, that make sense.

Besides always loving the interactions between Raphael and Elena, their bond is #goals for sure, I loved being back in New York. I loved seeing Ellie doing work for the Guild again. Back in familiar territory and with many familiar faces of family and friends, even dealing with the attack on her brother-in-law and what that attack could mean for her sister and niece, with the prophecy surrounding Elena, if the story had taken place anywhere else I think it would have been too jarring, too much unknown and unfamiliarity happening along with the personal happenings to Ellie. This story couldn't have worked so well had Raphael and Elena not been home in New York.

With the trend of Nalini Singh in the past few years has been to alternate between her main pair and that of Raphael's seven, I'm kinda hoping she picks up where Archangel's Prophecy left off since the ending seems to naturally lead readers into the "what happens next" phase. Regardless, there's a reason this series is a must read for me, and everyone (!), and it's because Nalini Singh has crafted such a fine series full of surprisingly wonderful characters and storylines that, too, can be surprising, but that she always pulls off with much aplomb. I simply cannot wait to find out where things go next!

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I had some trouble getting into the Archangel's Prophecy. I'm not sure if I wasn't in the mood to read it or if it was just a little slow for me. It's also totally my fault as I haven't read the other books in this series.

So I didn't dislike this book but I didn't love it either. As such, I will not be reviewing for the blog.

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ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY represents all the things I love about the Guild Hunter series and also all things that I do not. It highlights Nalini Singh’s incredible storytelling. This book showcases her vast imagination and complex world-building. I appreciate how this world is distinct from her other popular Psy-Changeling series. For me, this series feels a little darker. It is edgier and more violent.

We are dealing with beings with incredible powers, some of whom are hundreds and others who are thousands of years.

This book reaches deep into the heart of the series. Like several of the other books, the author brings us back to the original couple who start the series, Archangel Raphael and his human born consort-turned-angel, Elena. Raphael and Elena must deal with the Cascade, “a confluence of time and unknown critical events that …ignite[es] a power surge in the archangels that rule the world, with a side-helping of random cataclysmic occurrences….”, the potential rise of an evil archangel, Lujan, a threat to Elena’s human family, and finally a threat to Elena’s own life. Yes, there is a lot going on. The Cascade and the Lujan menace are part of an larger story arch that is coming to fruition and is expected, the prophecy that threatens Elena is not. It is a clever plot twist that adds an emotional threat to our beloved couple. Often Raphael is so powerful, it seems as though there is nothing he cannot do. This situation is way beyond his control and it adds an urgency to the story that keeps me turning the pages.

What I find a cumbersome is the language of the Ancients. Whether it by an archangel or by one of the Legion, they are constantly prophesying. Truthfully, it adds too much confusion and frustration to both the characters and the readers because we are left hanging for a long time for the prophecy to come true. It adds to the slow pacing, especially in the first half of the book. There is a lot of set up to the narrative and it bogs down the pace.

This series takes an investment. As a fan of a few long running series, I stick with them because of this kind of payoff. This book is NOT a standalone. The reader absolutely needs the context of the relationships and familiarity with the characters. The author brings many of our favorites back for this story. As much as I think this book is a gift, it is also a curse because there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end. All I can say is that this story is clearly bigger than what can be contained in one book. I believe that the next book will be out in 2019, so we will not have a long wait and something tells me we are in for something awesome.

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Buy this book now! Why did I wait so long to read this arc? I lost interest in this series a few books ago. This latest book will pull a reader back in. This could be read as a standalone. I recommend reading the first few books first to understand this world. For readers who have left this series, this is the perfect one to dive back into the series. I now want to go back and read all the books I missed in between.

Elena is the only human to angel ascension in any angel's memory. Or is she? Ms. Singh throws a curveball in this story. It made my ears perk up and my eyes widen. This is a meaty story with several subplots simultaneously stimulating the reader. Elena is determined to protect her niece and what she learns about her brother in law is surprising. It is debatable if this is good or bad. What it does show is that everyone makes mistakes. It is only the ones who grow up that learn from their mistakes. In this storyline, those who continued to make mistakes paid a heavy price. When I think about what happened to these abusive rapist, I cannot help but feel their price is justified. Since I tend to lean more towards the Hammurabi's Code, this suits my blood thirsty tastes.

Whilst a mystery abounds, Elena's angel status seems to be in danger. Specifically she is changing and no one can figure out why. There is one who is giving her hints but anyone who knows the history behind the name Cassandra knows this does not bode well for Elena. I really enjoy how Ms. Singh takes different mythos and blends it so well into this series. The world is multifaceted and appeals to readers who enjoy ancient history coming to life in a fresh interpretation. This familiar feel yet new experience draws readers back to Ms. Singh.

As a fan of Ms. Singh, I am impressed with her increasingly complex writing style. She stimulates the mind whilst still providing that emotional element to connect and engage a reader. Her romance is the sexy lubricate to slides all these elements together into a magical read. One note of caution, this book does end in a doozy of a cliffhanger. Even though this is a long book that I voraciously devoured, the end came too quick and left me in a shock. I may have railed a bit at ms. Singh. I can't wait for the next book.

This paranormal fantasy is highly recommended to romance readers who enjoy a complex world with a twist.

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A magnificent addition to the Guild Hunter series, that will leave you begging for more!

Book Title and Author: Archangel's Prophecy by Nalini Singh

Code Status:

Star rating DOA—EMS: Dead On Arrival: 0, Last Breath: 1, Grab the Paddles!: 2, Surgery Needed: 3, Stable: 4, Emergency Must See: 5

I really struggled with how to rate this one. Nalini Singh writes a gripping tale that has moments with so much heart that I just wanted to clutch the book to me and savor them but also heart wrenching moments that grip just as fiercely. She truly is an amazing author who captures her audience and takes us on one hell of a ride. If there wasn't a cliff hanger ending I'd be happy to give this 5 stars, but sadly there IS a cliff hanger and we have to wait until fall of 2019!!! So I leave it at 4 stars for how wonderfully written it is but I don't like to be left hanging like this.



Allergies/Sensitivities:

Content that some readers may find triggering or objectionable, not exhaustive

This book has m/f intercourse, violence, and references to torture (immortal punishments)



History:

Is this part of a series, a spin off, a debut, or a stand alone?

This is book 11 in the Guild Hunter series. The previous book being Archangel's Viper (Venom & Holly). We know for sure there will be at least one more book in the series, likely released next fall.

As always her book have enough that it's possible to pick up any book and not be lost, however, I don't recommend that. This series has an overarching plot and while each of the books may have a smaller plot that is typically resolved the overarching plot builds with each. Any of these books would be good on their own but together there is depth, texture, emotions, and detail that combine into a truly great creation.


Temperature:

Heat level- 1 to 5 thermometers noting the amount of explicit content

3 Does contain heterosexual intercourse with some explicit descriptions, it is not a defining characteristic by any means but simply a natural part of their story.



Pain Level:

How much angst, drama, or emotional pain is contained, 1-10?

7 There is a lot going on in this installment but the most difficult part is the cliffhanger. We get enough to not totally panic but it's definitely going to be a tough wait!





Heart Rate:

How much Action, Horror, Thriller, Mystery, and Excitement etc 0-5

3 There is plenty of tension and the suspense found in the story was certainly enough to keep me r reading well past my bedtime with a need to know what happened next!



Breathing:

How long is the novel and how was the pacing? 1-3

3 I liked the pacing. It went quickly, there was no wasted time but there were chances to catch my breath amidst the action.



Blood Pressure:

Did something get my blood pressure up? Something infuriating or upsetting?

I was pretty emotional at the cliffhanger (I've mentioned that a few times huh 😉) and this book certainly has highs and lows and drags you along with the characters.



Diversity:

How much and what kind of diversity is found among the characters? Any glaring issues noticed by the reviewer?

Nalini Singh has a defense hand with creating a world that's realistic, including people from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.



Examination:

Overall review; may contain minor spoilers

The Cascade is once again in motion and Raphael and Elena are lightning rods. Something is wrong with Elena and it's getting worse but she needs to find the threat to her family before she's grounded. She's regressing in her immortal development. She's also being followed by ghostly white owls and hearing voices. As if that's not enough, someone tried to kill her brother in law and she needs to put a stop to it.

I really love the slices of "normal" life and concerns we see in between dramatic plot points. It's also always lovely to get updates on members of the Seven from previous books. I found this book to be very well written. I caught myself smiling or grinning at some points, sighing at how much Elena and Raphael love each other, and choking back tears. Even my strong reaction to the suspenseful ending speaks to strength of Nalini Singh's writing. I am deeply emotionally invested in the world she's built and the characters she's created. My life would be poorer were I not to have found these books. I have faith that things will eventually work out but it's going to be a rough journey it seems.



Prescription/Rx:

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She was so easy to break, his consort, so easy to damage.
And she kissed him like the warrior that she was.

I’ve just finished Archangel’s Prophecy and, while I’m not quite at a complete loss for words, it’s honestly a near thing. I’m pretty sure I’ve repeated some variation on the words “Oh, my God” and “Wait, when’s the next book coming out?” every few minutes since I hit that final page. Which was six hours ago.

Let’s start with the basics: as always, Nalini Singh has managed to build on an ever-expanding world, and do it with a deft hand. I loved returning to NYC with Elena and Raphael, and the action in the beginning was both soothing in its familiarity—seeing the Archangel and his Hunter together, catching up with Raphael’s Seven, experiencing Elena at her badass best—and an exciting set-up for the wild ride to come.

And wild it was. Though it slowed at little through the middle—out of necessity as the story grew—Ms. Singh’s writing was vivid and exciting, and every page was dotted with clues and mysteries and hints, all leading up to . . .

WHAT?! Obviously I can’t tell you, but I can assure you of this—you will close Archangel’s Prophecy with your heart pounding furiously, and your eyes widened and mouth hanging open as the depth and breadth of this story sinks in.

And then, you—like me—will most likely spend the next several hours (days, weeks, months, the entire span of time between books??) wondering what the future holds—and how you’re ever going to survive long enough to find out.

“We are who we are. What is the use of surviving if we become monsters?”

Edited to add: It’s been a couple of weeks since I wrote this and not only am I still thinking about this book obsessively, I’ve also started to re-read the entire series. Again.

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I love Nalini Singh. Her characters are vibrant and her stories are engrossing.
Archangel’s Prophecy held me captive and then left me pulling the blankets over my head and crying…not the pretty, movie weeping, but that ugly, red-faced sobbing.

Warning: Spoiler-ish. You have been warned.

I received a copy of Archangel’s Prophecy back in July and immediately jumped on it, and I have tried not to think about it since but as the release date is tomorrow, I am forced to relive this torment in print. In fact, just trying to make myself sit down write this and I have gotten up to start the laundry, see if anyone needs lunch, and look through some of the paperwork piling on my desk. I really don’t want to talk about this story.

What is the most important thing you need to know about this story; the fact that you don’t know what happens. Nalini Singh brings you the most important twist in this series and she leaves you hanging. It’s brilliant and it is evil!!!

The story of Elena trying to track down whoever has been killing vampires is more than enough of a story to hold your interest. We could have gone with that and happily paid our $7.99. What makes this story so painful is that we see Elena deteriorating over the course of the story. She loses more feathers than is normal for an angel and then more and more as her wings start to droop. There is a lot more to her symptoms but let us say that the angels healers have no idea what is wrong with her. They are also kicking up the investigation of old lore about other humans who were made by an angel by ambrosia to see why this is happening to Elena. Is there something wrong with her specifically? Is it because she was a hunter? Or is the transformation to angel temporary? But even their best scholars are finding no written record of a prior transformation. What is worse than not finding any records is the possibility that there were no prior human to angel transformation and it is all folklore.

Angels are supposed to be seen as perfect to the humans which is why angels with deformities, like Jess with her twisted wing, are kept secluded in the santuary. Elena is a well-known angel in the New York area and hiding away will cause speculation so Elena needs to be careful to stay alert and keep her wings up when she is investigating the vampire killer. Raphael assigns her another angel to look out for her in case she has another episode and cannot fly. It is easy to disguise her escort as a bodyguard, but if she collapses and needs to be carried away, people will start to talk and her transformation will once again become a problem for angelkind.

There is no question that Nalini Singh knows how to do her job. No matter how painful it was to see Elena falter and deteriorate, and no matter how many scenes there were between Elena and Raphael silently staring and thinking that each moment could be their last, I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know what happened to her (because of course she would be fine!) until I got to the end and then the screaming began.

In the Guild Hunter series, we have watched Elena make a miraculous transformation from a human/Hunter to an angel, growing actual wings and learning to fly. Over the next nine books, we see Elena growing in strength and her flying ability. She is becoming a capable angelic warrior. So I am blaming what is happening now on all those fans who keep clamoring for an archangel baby.

In story after story, Nalini has written lines and made statements that not only are births a rarity to the long-lived angels but as a baby angel herself Elena is not strong enough to carry Raphael’s baby. It could take centuries for her to be on his level. But no, fans want a baby NOW! In Archangel’s Prophecy, Nalini goes as far as to indicate that Elena and Raphael are so different that they might as well be two separate species. (Now I am not talking about lions and tigers making ligers. I am talking about mating a lion to an ostrich different.) So now we have a prophecy that Elena needs to transform so she can become a vassal. Oh, we are confused, says every character in the story, a vassal for what? Duh! Angel baby, of course. One that will be cute and adorable and have to go live at the sanctuary for years and then we will have to worry about him/her being used as a pawn and will Lijuan try to possess Raphael’s powerful baby! But people, here is the next rule: if Elena transforms and becomes a “vassal” everything Elena disappears!! She becomes a walking womb. That is her transformation.

As I said before, we end this torture with no answer so make sure you have an industrial size box of tissues next to you before you start and a pillow to scream into; and yes, I will be knocking people out of my way to get to the bookstore on release day to get to Book 12. I might even call in sick to work because I have to know what, in a world of humans, vampires and angels, what could Elena possibly become that better be cooler than being an angel?

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Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

*Beware of spoilers*

Elena has started noticing strange things, the sparrows acting weird, and seeing ghost-like white owls that nobody else sees. Then, her body starts to regress, she’s losing strength, having unexplained episodes of pain, she is always hungry, and then loses the ability to communicate mind-to-mind with Raphael. She starts hearing an ancient voice in her head that foretells her death. One must die so the other can live. Nobody can remember any other Angel-Made to compare what’s happening to Elena to now. She and Raphael assume what’s happening is more cascade weirdness, but if they can’t find a solution, Raphael could lose his consort and his sanity. He knows without Elena he will turn into a powerful monster.

Meanwhile, someone has tried to kill Elena’s brother-in-law, Harrison. Now he fears for his wife and daughter’s lives. Harrison is in a coma and can’t help Elena figure out who hurt him or why so she must find out on her own. She may be dying, but she’ll be sure to find a way to protect her family before she goes!

Also, strange things are happening in China. The Cadre fears that Favashi could be showing the first signs of madness. It appears she is preparing to strike at another territory and the other archangels must band to together to protect what is theirs.

This book started out well enough. I actually thought this might be an Elena and Raphael story that I would like (it’s been awhile since I read one of those). It had all the makings of what I believed was going to be an emotional story. Sadly, it really wasn’t. The book focused more on Elena’s physical decline and her mission to find out who is killing vampires and therefore was a threat to Beth and Maggie. I found the mystery interesting, especially once the killer was discovered. I just wanted more emotion though! We saw Elena’s hopelessness and determination and Raphael’s rage, but all in small doses. I wanted the gut-wrenching emotion I crave, but it wasn’t to be.

The ending of this book had much to be desired. I’m not one to get upset when books end on a cliffhanger, but I wouldn’t even consider this a cliffy (although I’m sure some others would). I felt it was more of a non-ending. Raphael and Elena wake up from their sleep, for lack of a better term. We must wait for the next book to find out what has changed and what they are now. I absolutely hate that, but we have no choice but to wait. *Sigh*

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

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