I honestly don't know how to review this book without giving spoilers so I'm deliberately going to keep this quite vague. What I will say is that Archangel's War was everything I could possibly have wanted after that killer cliffhanger ending to Archangel's Prophecy! Elena and Raphael are both changing in ways they never could have imagined but they are still the power couple we know and love who are more than capable of kicking butt and taking names.

You can probably guess from the title that war is coming and all I'm going to say about that is when it arrives it is EPIC. Her creepiness from China has levelled up in all kinds of horrific ways and it's going to take the entire Cadre, along with a few new and surprising allies who have awoken from sleep, to put a stop to her madness.

Archangel's War is fast paced, full of action and an edge of the seat sense of foreboding. There were fantastically sweet moments between some of my favourite side characters but I also shed a few tears too. This is the book we've all been waiting for since the beginning of the series, we've been building up to this moment for such a long time and I just can't wait to see where Nalini Singh takes us next. I love this world as well as all of the characters and I'm so glad we don't have to say goodbye to it anytime soon!

Nalini Singh gives us the twelfth Guild Hunter novel with Archangel's War. Elena, a hunter turned angel, is consort to Raphael, the Archangel of New York. As the Cascade gives angels new powers, Elena and Raphael struggle to keep their humanity and protect their people. Lijuan, Archangel of China, has brought death and destruction to the world; ancient archangel's rise from sleep. Who will triumph? How man will die? Read and enjoy this fantastic fantasy.

This is the only War you are ever going to be excited about. It will be bloody and brutal and Nalini Singh will make sure you love every moment of it.

Elena emerges from her cocoon looking a little worse for wear, she is nothing but skin and bones and missing her beautiful new wings. But the most important thing to Raphael and Elena is that, with or without wings, Elena is still Elena. Raphael sent out enough power to stop the cascade’s attempt to make Elena nothing but a battery to store Raphael’s power for the upcoming battle, and maybe it was also enough to destroy the house, but hey, it’s hard to control your super-duper archangel powers sometimes.

Even reduced to skin and bones, Raphael’s hunter is not down and out, and Elena is determined to be ready to fight when Lijuan strikes, even if it means battling without her beautiful wings of midnight and dawn. But the cascade is determined to create chaos and there is no chaos if one individual is too powerful, so it has more tricks in store for Elena and Raphael before the battle even begins.

The biggest problem the Cadre will have — well after the bitter and devastating re-rising of Lijuan and the bloodbath that a war with her will create — is that fact that the cascade is causing too many sleeping ancient angels to awaken too early. Really, how many sleeping angels are there because the sleeping ones are usually a little cray-cray so waking them too early might give us another Lijuan. Anyway, the Cadre, and the world’s territories, can only sustain ten archangels. Any more, and they will be too close to each other and their powers battling and causing catastrophes. So now there are too many archangels around and if all survive the upcoming War, then Lijuan will be just the beginning of the problems to come.

As far as a conclusion to a story arc, Nalini Singh goes all out with this story giving us a devastating battle against evil on many, many fronts. Lijuan has always been, well, crazy yeah but also a brilliant and sneaky strategist and brutal, even to her own people. This war will be ugly and drawn out, like most wars are, it will also be bloody and devastating. Casualties will be high and no matter the winners and losers, it will take the world a long, long time to overcome the devastation and horror that will come. While Nalini drags our feelings out and stomps all over them with each battle, no war, even in fiction, should be clean and easy. And in Archangel’s War, she doesn’t spare our feelings or favorite characters the devastation and trauma since every character we have met so far is a strong individual and fighter, whether an archangel or a newly turned vamp, and most will be right on the front lines of this battle royal.

This was a phenomenal conclusion to the series arc, and as Nalini has proven with her Psy-Changeling series, the end of an arc is by no means the end of the series. I have no idea where the series will go from here, but I am certain that we will enjoy each and every story she brings us next.

Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

So much riding on this book and it did not disappoint!

The more I read of Raphael and Elena the more I love and admire these characters. Elena was a fierce warrior in this. Actually, she has been a fierce warrior in all the books. I love the way she has stayed true to herself and still evolved. She is one of my favorite heroines.

The way Raphael fights to stay a little bit human for Elena, even knowing that is considered a weakness to others, shows a man who loves his woman to the fullest. Out of all the Archangel's he seems to be one who is feared by many and yet he has such compassion for others. It's a deadly combination.

So many characters come out for this book, old and new. So much action took place that will make your head spin. So many nail biting moments. It was epic! There was not a cliffhanger but I also have no idea what to expect next. All I know is that I could read about these characters and never tire of them.

Angel’s Prophecy left me wanting and excitedly waiting for the release of Archangel’s War. To me, Angel’s Prophecy felt a lot like a transition novel. I enjoyed the book, but it did not carry the spark I felt with others in the series. The beginning of Archangel’s War takes off right where the previous novel left off. I really enjoyed Archangel’s War. Be warned, the action and plotline takes a while before it begins. The beginning of the book focusses primarily with Elena’s self-discovery and doubts as to the changes her body experiences as well as the ramifications that may have on her relationship with Raphael. For me, this portion of the book moved rather slowly. I found it interesting discovering the changes that have occurred to Elena and Raphael, but at times, the text became a bit repetitive.

I am thankful that I kept going and did not give up despite my mild irritation with the pacing. About a fourth of the way into the book, the pacing picks up, as does the storyline. True to the other books in the series, there is no lack of action or excitement. The war takes up a good portion of this book. The fighting is intense and we see some of our favorite characters take a hard beating. In all, I really loved this book once I got through the pacing at the beginning. I finished feeling completely satisfied with the amount of action and the romance bits as well. Let’ face it, Singh sure can write some good romance bits.

A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book and the opportunity to give my honest review!

This is the book the last few have been leading up to and it did not disappoint for me but as some have mentioned it does kind of drag you through the mud for many pages before an ultimate ending that made me check to be sure the series had not just ended.

The world is headed towards war and nothing can stop it, there are battles and horrors but the majority of the Cadre of archangels are trying to prepare to stop an unstoppable enemy and sadly there are going to be casualties.

The Guild hunter world has always intrigued me but this one gives you a bit of everything you have seen a more, I can't really say too much or ruin the plot which is worldwide in scope and is mind boggling but the ending is so complete I really thought she was ending the series and I missed the announcement (FYI: she has 3 more books at least contracted).

So with little to let you know all I can say is prepare for a small bit of romance and a ton of battles and war, I think I love the series so much I am biased since I have given all of them high marks even when many of my fellow reviewers did not but we all have our favorite series that just speak to us and this is one of mine. I love the violence, the romance, the loyalty and the family dynamics so enjoy this one because I have no clue where she is going after this.

10 Star Review!

Nalini Singh outdid herself in this one!

I must have said, "HOLY SH*T!!!" At least 20 times! There are so many surprises and jaw-dropping moments, I can’t really say anything without spoiling! I will say that the story is packed full of… stuff I can’t say because it will spoil it! Dang it! Alas my lips must remain sealed! I will say that I absolutely LOVED the book and I cannot WAIT to find out what Ms. Singh has in store for us next!

Some advice for readers: Do not skip any chapter, page or sentence. You may miss something vital to the story/series!

ARCHANGEL'S WAR is definitely worth the wait! Readers are going to ❤️ it!!!!!

Archangel Raphael and his consort Elena are back for a 12th installment of Nalini Singh’s guild hunter series. The fight between Archangel's Raphael and Lijuan has been steadily reaching for a crescendo for some time and the ultimate battle between the two is on full display in Archangel's War. In this installment, Nalini Singh takes readers on a wild ride full full of spine chilling action. She never disappoints. This is another awesome edition to the guild hunter world. 5 big stars up!

As a MAJOR fan of Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling novels, it took me quite a while to get into the Guild Hunter series. Mostly because past angel paranormal romance books that have gone off in weird, illogical directions had turned me off to the subject matter. It wasn't until around book ten that I got gave this series a try and ended up getting sucked in.

Archangel's War is definitely harder to read if you aren't familiar with previous books in this series, but as someone who read it that way, it's not impossible and still wonderful. Readers return to the couple from the original novel, Angel's Blood, with Elena and Raphael as they are further down their journey and being mysteriously affected by the Cascade. A forced adaptation of Elena and Raphael is meant to be a counter force for the death powers of Archangel Lijuan, when they circumnavigate the process so that Elena remains the person she is, they are unsure if they can match the attacking forces of Lijuan's territory.

But undiscovered talents, secret alliances and unexpected awakenings all work to balance each other out so that at the very least, the world will survive, even if the people don't. I can't wait to get caught up in this series and start from book one to meet these couples in the appropriate order!

Archangel’s War has thoroughly kicked my ass. I’m going to need a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, a nap, and about a week of recovery time. I spent most of the first half smiling and most of the second half in tears. I’m exhausted.

When we last saw Raphael and Elena at the end of Archangel’s Prophesy, they were in something like a coma. Elena had wasted away, lost her wings, and was enclosed in a cocoon. Months later, the cocoon has started to change and soon the Archangel and his consort are ready to rejoin the world. Though they have both been changed.

The first half of the book consists mostly of Elena adjusting to her new powers and reconnecting with her friends and family and of course, her Archangel. I’ve often been critical of the Raphael and Elena books in this series, put off by the lovey-dovey nature of their relationship. I didn’t feel any of that this time though. I loved getting to see so many characters from earlier in the series. Singh also does a surprising amount of world building for a twelfth book, revealing new details about Raphael’s father, Illium’s mother, and the Ancients. I noticed that there wasn’t much action up to that point, but I didn’t care because I was enjoying myself so much.

The second half however, is nothing but action, as the war everyone’s been waiting for finally arrives on their doorstep. The minutiae of battle gives Singh a chance to showcase even more of the supporting characters, which I enjoyed. The Archangel Lijuan is even more terrifying than before. (And the damage she causes is especially heartbreaking given the days in mid-September I was reading about it.) But it’s the other Archangels and the Legion that I found particularly fascinating.

I also think the pieces are finally in place for Illium’s book, the one we’ve all been waiting for. I’m intrigued by some of the newer characters that might play a part in his story. That said, I’m not convinced that his story is next. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing what is. As long as I get my nap first.

Archangel’s War is a continuation of the storyline from Archangel’s Prophesy, which ended in a cliffhanger. I reread the last chapter of Prophesy before starting War. I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to reread the whole book. I certainly wouldn’t recommend reading this one unless you’re caught up in the series.

Archangel’s War is the culmination of the entire eleven Guild Hunter books that preceded this one. Lines have been drawn and war is looming. From the climatic battles to the appearance of practically every character ever mentioned in the series, so much about it feels like the final book in the series, but rest assured, Ms. Singh has already announced there will me more. The book opens with so much uncertainty due to the Cascade and the “other” of Lijuan. And of course… readers were left unsure of what would become of Elena after the conclusion of Archangel’s Prophecy. Here is my *mostly* spoiler-free thoughts on this HUGE book. Of course, if you don’t want to know anything that happens, please do not proceed.

Here we go… Elena survives, but she is something other. Ms. Singh finds a way to fulfill Cassandra’s prophesy by changing Elena, but keeping the core of her intact. Much of the first third of the book is dedicated to detailing what is happening to Raphael and Elena; how they are changing; what happened while they were asleep. It is interesting and necessary, but loosely tied to the overall plot. Raphael and Elena’s relationship continues to evolve and grow; their love even stronger for all they’ve been through. One negative for me was the amount of repetition. Just little phrases, reminding readers... how much there is no life without the other, how he’s fighting the coldness of his new power. It all went on a bit too long for me, and I needed the story to move forward.

The middle third of the book focuses more on the coming threat, rising Ancients, and Cascade-driven problems around the world. There is a lot happening! I like that we check in with most of the players and discover what has been happening/what is going on. It’s definitely not a “the series is ending so let’s wrap stuff up” situation, but a solid way to let readers know how the Cascade is impacting all sorts of folks, from humans to vampires, angels, hunters, etc. I continue to be awed by Ms. Singh’s world building and ability to expand upon the amazing world she’s already created without expanding so much it gets out of hand.

The last third of the book is dedicated to the War of Archangel’s War. There are many skirmishes and fights that lead up to the climatic battle. I have to be totally honest here - I lost interest in the story at this point. I feel bad just saying that, but the scenes just went on and on - at least a hundred pages or more, and frankly, nothing progressed. I think it was a bit too “realistic” in that way. I needed the story to progress much faster than it did. However, once the final battle began, I was captivated; it was what I’d been waiting for since the Cascade first began. There are casualties and triumphs, there are shifts in world power and politics. And in the end, there is change and dare I say, hope. I really, really loved the way the story played out and cannot wait to see what Ms. Singh tosses at Raphael and Elena in the future!

My Rating: B, Liked It

Link will be active starting 9/17 at 7:00 AM EDT.

In the previous book, ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY, the Ancient Archangel Cassandra’s millennia old prediction was altered considerably. This new path is thanks to Elena’s tenacity and Raphael’s refusal to let the fierce woman who is his heart be turned into nothing more than a supercharged battery vessel. The world changed while they underwent a metamorphosis of several months. Raphael and Elena give a whole new meaning to the phrase power couple including their love and passion that rockets up to Cascade levels. Elena 2.0 is a wonder and a sight to behold for all she can do. Raphael is no slouch either as his already supreme archangelic powers have been greatly increased by the most powerful Cascade known which continually rocks the whole world with chaos and catastrophe. Raphael and Elena are connected in a way never seen before startling and amazing everyone. Raphael literally gave Elena a piece of his heart while taking hers; what they are able to do because of his actions is astonishing. While she lost those beloved wings, Elena’s new superpower compensates in a remarkable way allowing her to continue as an angel-made, again without precedent.

A dark and deadly fog has descended on China and when it dissipates, new unimaginable terrors are revealed that rock the angelic and human realms. The seriously evil Goddess of Death, Lijuan, has no plans to go gentle into that good night. It will take all the might of Raphael, Elena, the Cadre, and some quite unexpected allies to overthrow the seemingly undefeatable horror that is Lijuan and her massive army. The playbook is being continuously rewritten between the previously never before seen changes in Raphael and Elena, the new level of earthly devastation, and Lijuan’s utter hubris and depravity.

Not surprisingly, since this Battle Royal has been building for some time with the previous major fights, it takes up a large section of the book. The Archangels have been preparing for war, but none could truly be equipped for what is coming at them. Cassandra and the Legion continue being an enigmatic factor; they play an important role in the increasingly violent world. The Seven do their part while Illium has to deal with an old sorrow and a new development in his personal life.

Readers should prepare to be wowed by this book in every way. As Elena would say, major weirdness is happening all around. Events that have long been hinted at in the previous books angelwise are occurring right now; they keep coming at a rapid pace giving this book a lot of high energy and breathtaking intensity. ARCHANGEL’S WAR is truly an epic tale imbuing an intense level of emotion for characters we have come to care deeply about while Cascade driven events keep ramping up, and most especially, the war to end all wars. Ms Singh delivers this much anticipated book in a way that will satisfy every reader’s desire including some they never imagined. It is not hyperbole to say that fans will be thrilled and beyond pleased with this very essential Guild Hunter’s book that is not be missed.

ARCHANGEL'S WAR IS ONE HECK OF A RIDE!!!!
The book begins a year after the events of Archangel's Prophecy. From there, the author slowly unravel the Cascade arc of this wonderful and epic series.
I won't lie, I sometimes had to take some small breaks because of the intensity of it all.
The cadence, I found near perfect. The writing and description make me feel like I was standing right next to Raphael and Elena. The story more than compelling and nail biting! I just finished it and my insides are still tingly! I can't wait to have the paperback version in my hand!
This book is definitely a must read from the Guild Hunter series.

This episode in the Guild Hunter series was mostly a war story. It begins with Elena coming out of her chrysalis skin and bones and minus her wings but with her intelligence and personality intact...and with a few added extras. She and Raphael don't have a lot of time to get used to their new powers because Lijuan's plots and plans are coming to fruition.

The Cascade is causing all sorts of problem from ice in the desert to plagues of locusts and all sorts of other phenomena. Enough is happening that it is disturbing archangels who have been in Sleep and who want to stay there.

Between the battles and plans for battles, Raphael and Elena have some tender moments and some family moments. Illium's father is one of the Sleepers who awake which causes a lot of stress for him but reveals new strengths in his mother.

The story was filled with lots of action, love and betrayals, gains and losses. Fans of the series won't want to miss this one.

Please excuse the brevity, since I'm trying to avoid any spoilers. Singh's finale to the cascade saga is exciting and nerve wracking. I couldn't wait to read this book and it didn't let me down. It's a nail biter to the end. The only issue I had with the novel, and it's a small one, is that at one point there are too many characters introduced and I had trouble remembering who was who. Other than that, I absolutely loved this book and hope Singh continues to write more in this series.

DNF af rhis stage.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the writing or the story, it is all to do with me and the headspace I am in at the moment.

I will be purchasing and reading at a later date

Elena and her archangel Raphael finally break from the strange chrysalis. Their emergence comes with bizarre changes. However, war with Lijuan beckons. Will the Cascade win this time? Will Elena and Raphael’s new abilities be enough to combat Lijuan’s scourge?

I could NOT wait for this book, especially with the way ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY ended. I love how stronger Elena and Raphael’s bond continues to grow. They are a united unit, stronger together than apart. I adore how Elena continues to ground Raphael so the Cascade does not warp him as it did Lijuan.

Illium and Aodhan! Any scenes with these two are always a joy to me. If I was not already in love with these two, I would have fallen in love with them. Bluebell’s interaction with Elena always makes me smile.

I did NOT want this book to end.

Things come to a stunning conclusion. What befalls to the world? Will death reign? Or will life defeat death?

Nalini Singh never fails to amaze me. Just when I thought she has given the Guild Hunter Series her all, she delivers yet another story that surpasses the last. Seriously, if you are a paranormal/urban fantasy fanatic - you need, NEED, NEEEED to read this series!

NOTE:

EVENTUALLY THIS REVIEW WILL GO UP AT MY SITE WWW.FishWithSticks.com/archangels-war-nalini-singh BUT I'M CURRENTLY HAVING ISSUES WITH MY SITE, SO ALL FUTURE POSTS ARE ON HOLD. IN THE MEANTIME, HERE IS THE REVIEW...

Archangel’s War picks up the moment where Archangel’s Prophecy left off and I can’t write about the actual events of the book without revealing major spoilers, since everything after maybe page 4 is a spoiler. And with this book so tightly written, any details out of context wouldn’t make sense. Every larger piece of the story is built on dozens of smaller pieces that formed what I can only describe as a truly epic conclusion to a story arc that still has me in awe days later and may be the best book I’ve ever read.

Do I discuss how many times I had to put my ereader down and sit in silence absorbing a part I’d just read? Maybe the 2 a.m. ugly cry that happened? Archangel’s War is intense. It takes a world that I’ve grown to love, then throws all the rules out the window and puts every character I’m invested in in mortal peril.At 65% I realized I was accidentally engaged in a trust exercise with Singh, that I had to believe everything would work itself out while the events on page went past the worst-case scenario.

“Sometimes, you had to fight the monsters even if you knew you’d fail.”

Around 68% my nerve almost broke but I didn’t peek at the last pages no matter how tempted I was. And in the end, I’m glad I took that ride with no clue where it was going. I finished reading it 100% exhausted and 100% exhilarated. Nalini Singh is at her absolute best with Archangel’s War.

I can’t wait to see where this world goes next but until then, it’s time for a series reread.

A year has passed and the final battle is about to begin. Look for a lot of action as the archangels battle for their lives and the lives of their people. This has some interesting twists and some new characters. A seat of your pants journey with all of the favorite and familiar characters.