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Alpha Showdown 2016 Round 12: Raphael vs. Kate Daniels

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VBC: Home of Alpha ShowdownWe’ve made it to the semi-finals in the sixth annual Alpha Showdown. We’ve had some intense battles, and some big surprises already. Want to know the current wins/losses? Take a look at the bracket!

It’s about to get really vicious in here. Raphael managed to take out our favorite elemental assassin Gin Blanco, and Kate Daniels bested Naasir. Now Kate will take on another Guild Hunter. Can she overcome the power of the archangel? Will he flaunt his might again?

Your votes will decide!

We’ve lined up excellent bloggers to fill you in on why each alpha deserves to advance. Read the pitches, and then make the call.

RAPHAEL

You know him from: Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh
First appeared in:
Angels’ Blood (Amazon)
Supernatural status:
Archangel

Championed by: Jo from Wicked Lil Pixie | @kindlejo_jo

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh // VBCCan we just start by saying: ARCHANGEL <– Hello! Born of two powerful archangels, Raphael’s rise to power was the stuff of legends. He doesn’t just lead a small band of vampires or a group of shape shifters like you’d find in your run of the mill paranormal/urban fantasy.

Nope—Raphael creates vampires, commands angels, and rules over all of North America. He inspires such loyalty that the other archangels in the Cadre of Ten both covet and fear his “Seven,” warriors that willingly give their allegiance to Raphael and are bad ass enough that more than one of them have been in this same showdown. <- Let that sink in for just a minute, his subordinates are that bad ass, and they respect and follow HIM.

Raphael is physical perfection, so physically and mentally powerful that he has to temper himself when dealing with almost any other being on the planet, and wicked smart making him the total alpha package. *wink wink* Raphael is as alpha as they come. He is ruthless without being overtly cruel, he is intimidating but fair, and best of all he’s willing to have a little fun. He takes calculated risks but never unnecessary ones.

A true leader, Raphael allows those around him to do what they do best which means he and his territory come out for the better from each altercation. All that before he allowed Elena into his heart and made her an angel. MADE HER AN ANGEL. I mean, yeah—biting your lady love and changing her into a vampire or a shape shifter is cool and all, but it isn’t anything new. An angel though, with wings and everything? Yeah, that’s much higher on the Alpha scale than blood sucker or sometimes wolf.

All joking aside, as the Guild Hunter series progresses, so does our archangel. He has become somewhat tempered with Elena’s humanity without losing his edge or his calculating efficiency.

“But it is legend that ambrosia only rises when—”
She held her breath.
“—an archangel loves true.”
The world stopped. The air particles seemed to still above her, the molecules suspended as she stared at the magnificence of the man who held her in his arms. “Maybe I was just biologically compatible.” It came out a ragged whisper.
“Perhaps.” The possession of lips against her neck. “We have eternity to discover the truth. And in that eternity, you will be mine.”

~Raphael and Elena in Angels’ Blood

KATE DANIELS

You know her from: The Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
First appeared in: Magic Bites (VBC Review | Amazon)
Supernatural status: Your guess is as good as mine. Can we just say badass?

Championed by: Amy from VBC

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say most of you are already familiar with Kate Daniels. She’s been one of the staples of the annual Alpha Showdown since its inception in 2011.

Magic Breaks by Ilona AndrewsKate began the series trying to project herself as that of a lowly merc. Hiding does no good because it’s clear very early on that she’s packing some whopping power. With her predilection for finding trouble in all its forms, Kate has had plenty of opportunities over the course of the series to flex her muscles—both with her unmatched ability with her sword, and with her inherent knowledge of magic.

Kate has faced Gods, demi-gods, vampires, mages, legendary creatures, shifters gone loup, egotistical warlords, plus her own maniacal father—just to name a few. She’s come out on top each time not only because she’s a skilled fighter, but because she has the knowledge and understanding of so many religions and mythologies, and she uses that knowledge in cunning ways to thwart her enemies time and time and time again.

Putting all that aside, though, this is the year for the first ever female Alpha Showdown winner. No one deserves that title more than Kate Daniels.

Now for some facts*:

Kate Daniels has made it farther in the competition than any other female contestant.

Not only is she the most nominated female, she’s also one of the most nominated competitors in general for the competition (male or female).

Besides Kate, only Kate’s honey-bunny, Ethan Sullivan, and Bones have been nominated as many times. And out of these Kate has bested both Curran and Bones in past years (Kate has yet to be put up against Darth Sullivan, but I’m confident that if that comes to pass she’ll wipe the floor with him too).

You, dear fans, have made the effort to vote Kate Daniels into the competition year after year and now is your chance to crown her the 2016 Alpha Showdown Champion!

When the time comes click Vote: Kate Daniels.

*All research was done by yours truly, any errors are my fault.

VOTE!

Who are you putting your money on: Raphael or Kate?

At the request of Alpha Showdown voters, we’re leveraging traditional polls for the voting, but also keeping reading for your chance to win awesome books. Your to-be-read pile could always use more. Trust us. Each poll will be open for 48 hours.

WIN!

Participating in the Alpha Showdown is all about fun, and free books equal fun, right? We hope you’ll find lots of great new reads during this year’s Alpha Showdown, and to help that along, we’re giving away some stellar reads.

For Round 12, we’re going to make sure you have discovered the Devil’s Isle series by Chloe Neill. One lucky reader will win a copy of The Veil (VBC review).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

76 Responses to “Alpha Showdown 2016 Round 12: Raphael vs. Kate Daniels”

  1. Kimi says:

    He’s a bloody archangel people!

  2. Raine says:

    As much as I like Raphael…there is no one quite like Kate! “Here Kitty, Kitty”! To the Beast Lord???? All those challenges while Curran was down? Yeah, Raphael is an archangel but Kate? Kate is an alpha female who cares!

  3. Vanessa N. says:

    All for Kate.

  4. Katie says:

    Don’t know either!

    • Kate says:

      You are missing out them. Both series are great. Kate Daniels is a very intense female alpha who gets better each book into the series.

      The Archangel series is very good. If you haven’t read Nalini Singh’s work and you enjoy vampires and angels then it is the series for you. While you are at it, give the psy changelings series a go. For me it is one of my favorite series.

    • Try both the Guild Hunter – that’s Raphael – and Kate Daniels series. They are wonderful! Must reads if you enjoy paranormal and urban fantasy novels. Once you start them I think you’ll be binge reading them this Summer!

  5. Joani S says:

    Kate for the win!!!

  6. Angie says:

    Go Kate

  7. Mary Preston says:

    KATE for the win.

  8. Dea says:

    I’ve honestly no idea who would win.
    I’m thinking these two might be of equal power, but since Raphael’s now got the Legion I’m guessing he’d win in a fight, so the vote goes for Raphael

    P.S. I’m rather surprised that (so far) Kate wins by half, would’ve thought it’d be a closer match

  9. Kimberly Curington says:

    Kate! I love them both, but Kate was my first true love…

  10. Heather BELL says:

    I can’t wait to read the veil,it looks very interesting and Amazing

  11. Dawn says:

    Go Kate!!

  12. Betul E says:

    Kate!!

  13. I love Kate, I really do. She is a unique and badass woman and, I agree, a worthy Alpha female.

    But come on guys, Raphael is an ARCHANGEL. He makes my pulse race. Raphael is THE Alpha among other Alphas in the Guild Hunter series and IMO one of Nalini Singh’s greatest creations.

    So, it’s Raphael for this reader. Now, excuse me while I swoon over Jo’s quote above.

  14. Ellen says:

    I love them both. It is so hard.

  15. Nesbi Hernandez says:

    Kate!
    A quick question, being Roland (Kate’s dad) a God… wouldn’t it make her a demi-god?

  16. christine gervais says:

    Kate, for sure…

  17. Karla C says:

    Gotta go with my girl Kate on this one. She’s a total badass.

  18. Faye says:

    Kate!

  19. Mel says:

    Love, love, love Raphael, I do. But there is non other like Kate. Kate gets my vote for sure here and in every fight.

  20. AnnMarie says:

    gotta go with Kate on this one

  21. Lingeorge says:

    Go Kate GO!

  22. Janie McGaugh says:

    I love Kate, but I’m going with Raphael on this one.

  23. Edna says:

    Kate! no, Raphael! No Kate! Ugh…. love them both!

  24. Hilary says:

    Kate! Hands down!!

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