Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
It makes sense in a battle of ultimate alpha characters that we’d have the primo leaders of their respective worlds in this year’s Alpha Showdown. In Round 7 we have two of the biggest, baddest and most loved leaders. Raphael is an archangel—leading angels and vampires and watching over humans—from Nalini Singh’s excellent Guild Hunter series. Wrath is the vampire king in J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger... 
World After (Penryn and the End of Days #2) Susan Ee Published: Nov. 19, 2013 (Skyscape) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by Amanda Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars Note: While this review is spoiler-free, it does reference events in the previous book. If you haven’t started this series yet check out VBC’s review of book 1,... 
Desiring a Demon (Archangels #2) Missy Jane Published: April 28, 2015 (Entangled) Purchase: Amazon Review Source: Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for and honest review Reviewed by: Amy Rating (out of 5): 3 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it may reference events from the first book in the series. Raphael and his brother angels have been protecting humans and fighting against... 
Angelfall (Penryn and the End of Days #1) Susan Ee Published: Aug. 28, 2012 (Skyscape) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Amanda Rating (out of 5): 5 stars True story: A friend of mine raved about Angelfall for months before I broke down and bought it. It took me another two years to actually read the book (Amazon says I purchased it in March of 2013). I should not... 
Archangel’s Shadows (Guild Hunter #7) Nalini Singh Published: Oct. 28, 2014 (Berkley) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Chelsea Rating (out of 5): 4 stars When I think about Archangel’s Shadows, I can’t help but let out a happy sigh. Janvier and Ashwini’s story was just what I needed from these two. Insight into...
I don’t know anyone who has read Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series and not liked it. I recommend a lot of books, and this urban fantasy series with plenty of heat factor continually hits the mark. Singh’s writing is stellar and her characters are engaging. So, everyone at VBC is eager to read the next installment Archangel’s Shadows. As Archangel’s Shadows doesn’t release until Oct. 28, we needed a taste... 
The Beautiful Ashes (Broken Destiny #1) Jeaniene Frost Published: Aug. 26, 2014 (Harlequin) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Chelsea Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Ivy is having the worst week of her life as The Beautiful Ashes opens. Her parents have died in a suspicious car accident, and her sister Jasmine has... 
Azagoth (1001 Dark Nights novella) (Demonica/Lords of Deliverance #10.5) Larissa Ione Published: June 10, 2014 (Evil Eye Concepts, Inc.) Purchase at: Amazon Review Source: Purchased Reviewed by: Candace Rating (out of 5): 5 stars One of these days, Larissa Ione may (if we’re in an alternate universe) publish something that really sucks. But today isn’t that day, and judging by how I have devoured every... 
Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods #1) Melissa de la Cruz Published: Aug. 19, 2009 (Disney Hyperion) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Mary Rating (out of 5): 5 stars Schulyer Van Allen has many of the same insecurities that any normal fifteen-year-old girl would have. She doesn’t look like the popular girls, she isn’t blonde or rich, and she doesn’t have a jock boyfriend.... 
Burning Dawn (Angels of the Dark #3) Gena Showalter Published: April 29, 2014 (Harlequin) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: Copy purchased by reviewer Reviewed by: Candace Rating (out of 5): 5 stars He LIVED sex. Breathed sex. Ate sex. He was sex. Those are the first two sentences of Burning Dawn, thus giving me the feeling of dizzying giddiness that I felt when I found out Han,... 
