Sophia Rose is here sharing her thoughts on the sixteenth Guild Hunter novel, Archangel’s Lineage. Grab an iced mocha and see why this series remains a constant page-turner for her.
by Nalini Singh
Series: Guild Hunter #16
Genres: Urban Fantasy
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New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s dangerous and beautiful world of archangels, vampires, and mortals has never faced a threat this cataclysmic…
Raphael and Elena are experiencing their first ever year of true peace. No war. No horrors of archangelic power. No nightmares given flesh. Until…the earth beneath the Refuge begins to tremble, endangering not only angelkind’s precious and fragile young, but the very place that has held their most innocent safe for eons.
Amid the chaos, Elena’s father suffers a violent heart attack that threatens to extinguish their last chance to heal the bonds between them and make sense of the ruins of their agonizing shared history.
Even as Elena battles grief, Raphael is torn from her side by the sudden disappearance of an archangel. But worse yet is to come. An Ancestor, an angel unlike any other, stirs from his Sleep to warn the Cadre of a darkness so terrible that it causes empires to fall and civilizations to vanish.
This time, even the Cadre itself may not be able to stop a ticking clock that is counting down at frightening speed…
Sophia Rose’s Review
Peace, at last- or so they think until the earth rumbles beneath their feet and natural disasters begin plaguing the world. The Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh remains a consistent page-turner wonder, including this latest series’ installment.
Archangel’s Lineage is the sixteenth book in a series that feels like urban fantasy, but occasionally has crossed into the realm of paranormal romance to fit in an expanding cast of characters finding their happily ever after against the setting of global intrigue, world battles, and powerful immortal beings.
Archangel’s Lineage follows a large cast of recurring characters from the series led by Rafael and Elena and a few new players. Elena and Rafael are a couple who have a deep and abiding love and partnership, but this latest situation has them mostly tested by being forced to work apart when Elena’s father from whom she’s estranged has a near fatal heart attack and his life is hanging in the balance.
This is perhaps Elena’s final chance to make peace within her family. She helps lead in Rafael’s absence, caring for their beloved New York even while sitting at her father’s hospital bedside. Meanwhile, Rafael and the other archangel’s attempt to mitigate the damage in their regions and hunt down answers for what seems intent on bringing down the world and the Refuge.
There is a sense of impending disaster and the tension mounts as the clock ticks on. Nalini Singh does such action-suspense with character and world background development all blended so well. The ‘villain’ was no person to fight, but the story was as riveting as ever, as survival for all was the goal. The most powerful beings, archangels, are made to feel their own helplessness and struggle to survive like the weak human mortals and immortal angels and vampires who looked to them for a miracle. A miracle comes from the ancient past to guide them, and I can’t wait to see how this new development will affect the ongoing series.
A former minor Guild character who is a newly turned vamp and top hacker for Rafael’s crew and an enigmatic vampire gets an emerging and intriguing secondary story that is ongoing. Oh look, the babies are entering adulthood years and Elena is facing her Guild Hunter friends and family growing old on her. There is a look in on how things are going for ‘Sparkle and Bluebell’ and some of the other couples like my favorite Titus and Lady Sharine. I was struck as Elena learned further how people, including Ilyium’s annoying narcissistic father, are not only black and white, but have surprising depths. And, oh, that brief mention of a creepy archangel of disease makes me curious for what will come in the future.
Another abso-fab entry in the series that fans will devour. I can’t wait for the next installment and heartily recommend this series to both paranormal romance and urban fantasy fans who enjoy angel and vampire warrior and romance action.
About Nalini Singh
Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives in New Zealand but travels as much as possible (the travel bug bit hard from when she escaped working as a lawyer to run away and teach English in Japan). Nalini loves to write, loves to read, and thinks chocolate is a food group.
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About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
I enjoyed this newest installment, as well! I was curious about that brief mention of the creepy angel disease, too! I wanted to go back and read it to see if it was just one of the interludes, a scene from the past or if it was currently happening.
Sophia Rose
I read it again, but it really doesn’t give context so its got me nervous. They never did find this archangel’s body so there is room to speculate. Eek!
Sophie
I should totally resume my read of that series but knowing there are now sixteen books is daunting!
Sophia Rose
Yeah, it would take a bit to catch up, but so worth it. 🙂
Anne - Books of My Heart
I love Nalini Singh but I’ve held off this series now because I don’t always enjoy angels and the religious connotations. I might get here. Robin reviewed the audio of this one.
Sophia Rose
Well, if that’s all that’s holding you back, this angel series is nothing like that. These angels have a different source than heaven like when urban fantasies have fae or shifters or vampires all living on earth with humans. I think you’d like these as much as her Psy Changeling series and the audio narrator for this series is good. 🙂
Nadene
I am glad this was a hit. I have plans to start this series someday.
Sophia Rose
Oh, you are in for a fabulous treat, Nadene. 🙂
Debi O'Neille
I’m so happy I happened by your blog, because I’ve never heard of this series before – and I might enjoy it – and I love reading reviews to aid me in finding my next favorite author. I’ll definitely be subscribing to your blog. I do have a question. I read your review on this specific book, and I’m just wondering if vampires are real active in this particular book, or in this series? Or is it more about archangels? I enjoy reading about the latter, but I don’t/can’t do vampire stories. 🙁 (I have a daughter who loves them though, so either way I can refer her to your site of reviews.)
Sophia Rose
Glad you found us, Debi! The series focus is the angels and archangels, but vampires are very prevalent and get the limelight a few times. Maybe more for your daughter then. 🙂