Alpha Showdown 2017 Round 7: Kate Daniels vs. Raphael

Update: With 69% of the vote, Kate Daniels has defeated Raphael. She will advance in the Alpha Showdown 2017.

Both of today’s alphas have been in the Alpha Showdown more than once. Readers love them both. However, neither has managed to make it to the end and capture the title of Alpha Showdown champion. Will this be the year for one of them?

We have Kate Daniels from the series of the same name by Ilona Andrews, and Raphael from the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh ready to do battle.

As for who advances, that one is on you. Your votes determine the winner.

The competition is stiff this year (peek at the bracket), but the winner is all up to VBC readers. Each round is open for 48 hours. The winner advances.

KATE DANIELS

You know her from: the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
First appeared in: Magic Bites (VBC review | Amazon)
Supernatural Status: It’s complicated.

Championed by: Margaret from VBC

It’s about time a woman won Alpha Showdown. I know I said that last year, but I’m going to keep saying it every year until it happens. And there is no one more qualified to take the title than Kate Daniels. I mean she’s a half-witch demigod, even though she doesn’t see herself that way. She’s just beginning to admit how powerful she truly is.

Yes, that’s Kate’s picture next to the Wikipedia entry for “badass.” (No I don’t know which of the 27 different cover models they used.) Just look at all the adversaries she’s defeated. Vampires, rakshasa, ancient gods, a bone dragon, a djinn. Sure, she gets beat up a lot. But that’s okay because even Kate’s blood is a weapon. She can turn it into blades to attack an opponent or form it into armor for defense.

Kate’s earned the respect of everyone in the supernatural community first by defeating 22 shifters to secure her place at Curran’s side and then by cleaning up all of their magical messes. She’s claimed the city of Atlanta as her territory and has powerful allies to help her defend it. The Pack, the Guild, the Witches and Volvs, the People, and even a few gods fight by her side.

Kate’s a perennial Showdown favorite. She even made the championship round last year. Her hubby’s already won the title—he took the crown in 2012—but why should Curran get all the glory? Kate’s the one who brings all of those groups together. She’s the one they all look to lead them into battle. She’s the ultimate alpha and she deserves to be recognized for it.

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

Can 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

VOTE & WIN

Ready for some new urban fantasy? I have a copy of Eric Asher’s DAYS GONE BAD for one lucky VBC reader. It’s the first in the Vesik series. Hero is a necromancer who has to handle fighting against every supernatural type you love. Super fun. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. You must vote for an alpha to be entered, but after that you’ll have the option to get bonus entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway