Review: Archangel’s Heart by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter #9)

Archangel’s Heart (Guild Hunter #9)
Nalini Singh
Published: Nov. 1, 2016 (Berkley)
Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon
Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by: Amy

Rating (out of 5): 5 stars

Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it will reference previous books. If you haven’t started this series yet, check out VBC’s review of book 1, Angels’ Blood.

After the events of nearly two years ago (I know I’m just as shocked as you that’s it’s been two years since the attack on New York and The Falling, crazy!), Lijuan’s possible disappearance, and then more recently Alexander’s awakening, have left the Cadre in quite the predicament. If Lijuan is not in Sleep, they have too many members of the Cadre and not enough land for each of them to control without getting in the way of another archangel. If Lijuan is in Sleep then her territory needs to be taken over before the area goes into complete chaos. That is, of course, unless Lijuan isn’t planning something much more sinister.

The Luminata is an ancient group of angels who have the authority to call the Cadre to meet whenever the need should prove necessary. And with control of Lijuan’s territory up in the air, the need is definitely necessary. As Elena and Raphael head to the Lumianta stronghold, Lumia, located in Morocco, Elena begins to feel some kind of tenuous connection to her past. Once they arrive in Lumia, it appears that Elena’s feelings are justified; she just doesn’t know how it all connects with the Luminata. But one thing is certain, not all is as it seems in Lumia, and it appears these angels are holding onto a deep, dark secret.

I’m always happy when Nalini Singh returns to Raphael and Elena in her Guild Hunter series. Not that I don’t enjoy the forays into stories of Raphael’s Seven, but you have to admit, it’s always nice being back with the couple that started it all.

Early on in Archangel’s Heart, when Raphael and Elena first arrive in Lumia, I really got the ‘haunted house’ kind of vibe, which I loved, seeing as how I was reading this around Halloween. I don’t know if it was a conscious decision on Nalini Singh’s part or if things just serendipitously came together that way, but I really liked the eerie feeling that everyone seems to have walking the halls of Lumia.

I mainly enjoyed, however, learning more about Elena’s past. I loved that Nalini was able to add even more depth to Elena’s character, that there were still more mysteries to unravel beyond the tragedy we know happened in Elena’s childhood. In that regard I also liked learning about another aspect to the angels, that up until now we haven’t known about, in the Luminata and how their long history with angelkind.

Of course, I continue to love Elena and Raphael, and it’s great to see their devotion and commitment to each other. I think, in going from previous books in the series where the characters are still trying to find their happily-ever-afters, it’s a nice contrast to come back to this main couple and see their unit, to see the strength of their relationship and how it continues to grow through each book. Their devotion to one another is the foundation of the series, and it’s especially strong in Archangel’s Heart.

Longtime readers of the series will be pleased that Aodhan is featured quite heavily in this book as he accompanies Elena and Raphael. I don’t know if it’s a preamble to his book being next or not, but we learn more about his past, and it definitely makes me wish his book were next.

Overall, Nalini Singh never disappoints and her Guild Hunter series stands out as one of the best.

Sexual content: sex