Showing posts with label urban fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label urban fantasy. Show all posts

Friday, August 21, 2015

Reviews: The Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh (Part 3)

The last part in my three-part Guild Hunter Series reviews!


Knives and Sheaths (Guild Hunter #5.5)

Free short story in Nalini Singh's Newsletter.

"The original version of this short story was meant to be a scene in ARCHANGEL’S STORM, but I deleted it in an earlier draft and the information shared here about Lijuan eventually became part of chapter 8 in the book.

However, I thought the scene offered a nice glimpse of Elena and Raphael’s relationship, so I decided to edit and extend it into a short story. I hope you enjoy!"

Find it on the author’s website here!

Review - 4 stars!

Super short, super sweet insight into Elena and Raphael’s relationship.  Nothing earth-shattering but a sweet read nonetheless.  Not much to it though, so not much to criticize.  I’ll just leave it at that!



Archangel’s Legion (Guild Hunter #6)

Nalini Singh, the New York Times bestselling “alpha author of paranormal romance” (Booklist) returns to an immortal world of violent passion and lethal power…on the brink of a deadly archangelic war.

Angels are falling from the sky in New York, struck down by a vicious, unknown force.

Vampires are dying impossibly of disease.

Guild hunter Elena Deveraux and the Archangel Raphael must discover the source of the wave of death before it engulfs their city and their people, leaving New York a ruin and Raphael’s Tower under siege by enemy archangels.

Yet even as they fight desperately to save the city, an even darker force is stirring, its chill eyes trained on New York…and on Raphael. Rivers of crimson and nightmares given flesh, the world will never again be the same…

Buy:  Amazon





Review - 5 stars!

Woo hoo!  Another book that brings us back to Raphael and Elena.  I was seriously stoked about this installment and I am pretty sure I devoured it in two sittings.  

The Good:

It’s about Raphael and Elena!  More emotional scenes about their devotion to each other as well as their people and more upon more about the world of the Cadre, angels, vampires and Guild Hunters.  

Every single book so far has enhanced this amazing world and it’s a testament to Nalini Singh’s talent that I keep craving more!

Of course, the very best part was the growth and flaws in the relationship with Raphael and Elena that make it much more real to the reader.

The Bad:

Honestly, I want more.  I want to know more about Raphael and Elena.  The fact that he is so old and powerful and the world is on the eve of destruction half the time leads one to want more, demand more, and I don’t know a single reader who wants to wait for the next book!

5 stars!

Zoe’s Workshop (Guild Hunter #6.5)

Short Story released by the author in the February Newsletter.

Find it on the author’s website here!

Review - 5 stars!

For such a short read, I fell in love with this one.  You see the beginning of Deacon and Sara’s relationship in Angels’ Judgment, and glimpses during the main series, but these scene had me making awwwww sounds aloud.  I got weird looks.  It’s even harder for me to find a short story worth 5 stars, let alone a free read the author flits together.  It is amazing and nicely done!

A Sip of Eternity (Guild Hunter #6.9)

This short story began life as a scene in an early draft of Archangel’s Shadows. It focuses on Dmitri & Honor, so there are no spoilers for the Archangel’s Shadows storyline (however, if you haven’t yet read Archangel’s Blade (Honor and Dmitri’s story), then save this to read later). I hope you enjoy!

Find it on the author’s website here!

Review - 4 stars!

So sweet you might get a toothache!  Also one of the rare times you glimpse Honor and Dmitri together after their novel.  I loved it!  So, so sweet our Dmitri is when he’s not being a butt to Elena.



Archangel’s Shadows (Guild Hunter #7)

Return to New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s sensual and painfully beautiful Guild Hunter world in her new novel of sacrifice, loyalty, and the choices of love that can shatter the heart.

In the wake of a brutal war, the archangel Raphael and his hunter consort, Elena, are dealing with the treacherously shifting tides of archangelic politics and the people of a battered but not broken city. The last thing their city needs is more death, especially a death that bears the eerie signature of an insane enemy archangel who cannot— should not—be walking the streets.

This hunt must be undertaken with stealth and without alerting their people. It must be handled by those who can become shadows themselves…

Ash is a gifted tracker and a woman cursed with the ability to sense the secrets of anyone she touches. But there’s one man she knows all too well without a single instant of skin contact: Janvier, the dangerously sexy Cajun vampire who has fascinated and infuriated her for years. Now, as they track down a merciless killer, their cat-and-mouse game of flirtation and provocation has turned into a profound one of the heart. And this time, it is Ash’s secret, dark and terrible, that threatens to destroy them both.

Buy:  Amazon




Review - 4.5 Stars!

I didn’t know much about Ash or Janvier except that they were chasing each other.  A lot.  Which was humorous and the few scenes with either one of them were funny or made me like them as one set of my favorite secondary characters.

The Good:

The sweetness and the sadness!  The romance!!  Lastly, the mystery of what was going on!  Lots of story in this with romance of the two longest running courting couple in the series!  As always, well-written and entertaining!

The Bad:

The only downside was that this seemed more of an aside from the main storyline.  Though not too far as it was more like a break from war-mongering angels; after all, the main one needs to gather her strength again!  Or a bit of picking up the pieces after the major battle. Plus not as much Raphael and Elena as I want in the story.

What makes me really sad is no more main books to read and the next one, which is partly why I started this series finally, isn’t about Raphael and Elena either!  However, I’ve been dying to know about Naasir anyway….

So, 4.5 stars!
A Walk on the Cliffs (Guild Hunter #7.1)

This vignette stands alone, so you can read even if you’ve never read the Guild Hunter series.

For series readers, A Walk on the Cliffs fits into chapter 6 of Archangel’s Shadows. It shows a hidden moment between two characters who help run the household of the Archangel Raphael: Sivya, the angelic chef who runs the kitchen, and Montgomery, the vampire who is Raphael’s butler and who ensures the rest of the staff work together as a seamless unit.

Find it on the author’s website here!

Review - 4.5 stars!

Two minor characters and the servants of Raphael’s home get together and I couldn’t see it at first, to be honest.  I mean, mentioned in passing in book seven, sure.  But reading a snippet about it?  I was a little doubtful.  However, this was oddly perfect!  So composed and yet so sweet.  Wow!  Nice little scene!



Archangel’s Enigma (Guild Hunter #8)


New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her world of dark passion and immortal power - and to one of the most seductive and impenetrable heroes ever to stalk the Guild Hunter landscape...

"Oh, Naasir. So weird, so bloodthirsty, so unique and wonderful...I have fallen for him..." - Fiction Vixen

Naasir is the most feral of the powerful group of vampires and angels known as the Seven, his loyalty pledged to the Archangel Raphael. When rumors surface of a plot to murder the former Archangel of Persia, now lost in the Sleep of the Ancients, Naasir is dispatched to find him. For only he possesses the tracking skills required - those more common to predatory animals than to man.

Enlisted to accompany Naasir, Andromeda, a young angelic scholar with dangerous secrets is fascinated by his nature - at once playful and brilliant, sensual and brutal. As they race to find the Sleeping archangel before it's too late, Naasir will force her to question all she knows...and tempt her to walk into the magnificent, feral darkness of his world. But first they must survive an enemy vicious enough to shatter the greatest taboo of the angelic race and plunge the world into a screaming nightmare…

Coming September 1, 2015!!

Pre-order:  Amazon




About the Author (via website)

I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated frequently).

So far, I’ve worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer’s mill.

I’ve been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There’s no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.

Stalker Links:

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Reviews: The Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh (Part Two)

Continued from the previous Guild Hunter series reviews!




Weapons Training (Guild Hunter #2.5)


Free short story in Nalini Singh's Newsletter.


A short story about Jessamy and Galen.


For those of you unfamiliar with the Guild Hunter series, this story features Galen, Weaponsmaster to the Archangel Raphael, and Jessamy, Historian of the angelic race and teacher of their young.


For Guild Hunter fans, this story takes place during Archangel’s Kiss, after Galen has just completed a training session with Elena.


Find it on the author’s website here!


Review - 4 stars!


So short and so sweet, especially if anyone has read Angels’ Dance.  I loved it!  Although it was too short to really give any criticism, I was glad for the glimpse into Galen and Jessamy’s romance four hundred years after they get together.  Love it!



Archangel’s Consort (Guild Hunter #3)


Nalini Singh steps back into the shadows of her "heartbreakingly original"* world where angels rule, vampires serve, and the innocent can pay the greatest price of all...


Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil...


A vampire has attacked a girls' school--the assault one of sheer, vicious madness--and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as inexplicable storms darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders.


The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear.


An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed...


Buy:  Amazon



Review - 5 stars!


Is anyone sensing a theme here?  I have yet to rate an entire series as fives so let’s see how this one goes!


I was again thrilled beyond measure that the series continues with Raphael and Elena.  I won’t repeat the happiness I felt at it.


The Good:

As before the love and passion between Raphael and Elena keep me going in this book, but I’ve already gone on and on about that during book two’s review.  So I’m going to point out the fact that Nalini Singh also kept me guessing throughout this one as to whether or not it WAS Raphael’s mother rising or what was going on.  They hinted it, then they hinted it wasn’t, then again it was, and so on.  So by the time everything came together you had no idea what was going on.  Made finishing this novel a must!


The Bad:


As always, not much other than I really, really wanted more!


5 stars once again!

Angel’s Wolf (Guild Hunter #3.5)


Warrior angels, vampire hunters, and angels gone bad heat up this altogether sizzling paranormal alternate universe, from the bestselling author Nalini Singh.


Angels' Wolf is a tale of flirtation and danger set in the Guild Hunter world. Noel has been promoted, but in the Guild Hunter world that's not always as positive as it sounds. And now that he's working with the beautiful, dangerous, seductive Nimra there are a whole host of new risks he has to contend with... Nimra is drawn to the mysterious Noel, sent to her by an angel, defiant and intense and oh-so-intriguing. Is their an alliance to be forged between them, or is it a matter of time before one of them becomes the others prey ...


This is a compelling, sexy addition to the Guild Hunter universe.


Buy as part of the Angels’ Flight collection:  Amazon


OR


Buy as part of the Angels of Darkness anthology:  Amazon




Review - 4 stars!


For those who can’t remember, during one of the previous Guild Hunter novels one of the vampires was brutalized very badly.  This is his story.  I wasn’t all fired up to read this one because it was a minor character’s story, but I am on a mission here, so I delved right in!


The Good:


As always, there was an excellent story and excellent character building for such short installment of the Guild Hunter series.  You get a glimpse of angel’s territory under Raphael and her court and the healing of Noel after the brutality he suffered.


Plus, a female angel and a male vampire.  That is new to this series.  Most are mortal women in love with powerful vampires, angels or archangels.  Or even an angel woman in love with another angel.  But not a female angel hooking up with a vampire.  It was nice to see the norm change in this story.


The Bad:


The only things I wasn’t gung-ho about were the fact it was about an angel unheard of and a minor vampire from the previous books.  So it wasn’t any of the secondary characters you know and love.  However, it didn’t really detract from the story much.  This though is my personal preference though. I love immersing myself into my favorite characters in my favorite world so much I probably would overdose if I could!


4 stars!





Archangel’s Blade (Guild Hunter #4)


New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh is back in the shadows of a deadly, beautiful world where angels rule, vampires serve, and one female hunter must crawl out of the darkness to survive...


The severed head marked by a distinctive tattoo on its cheek should have been a Guild case, but dark instincts honed over hundreds of years of life compel the vampire Dmitri to take control. There is something twisted about this death, something that whispers of centuries long past - but Dmitri's need to discover the truth is nothing to the vicious strength of his response to the hunter assigned to decipher the tattoo.


Savaged in a brutal attack that almost killed her, Honor is nowhere near ready to come face to face with the seductive vampire who is an archangel's right hand, and who wears his cruelty as boldly as his lethal sensuality - the same vampire who has been her secret obsession since the day she was old enough to understand the inexplicable, violent emotions he aroused in her.


As desire turns into a dangerous compulsion that might destroy them both, it becomes clear the past will not stay buried. Something is hunting, and it will not stop until it brings a blood-soaked nightmare to life once more.


Buy:  Amazon




Review - 4.5 stars!


I kind of have a love/hate relationship with Dmitri here.  I really disliked him throughout most of the previous books because he disliked Elena so much and was so much in Raphael’s corner…  Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing as I adore Raphael to pieces.


However, I wasn’t looking forward to this book once I realized that Elena and Raphael were regulated to secondary characters in this one.  However, every moment of this novel I adored.  I actually found myself liking Dmitri during this novel and then rooting for Honor and Dmitri.


The Good:

The amazing writing one comes to expect from Nalini Singh is present during this book and as always more of the Guild Hunter world comes alive in new and expected ways.


The Bad:


The only bad - which made this book a 4.5 instead of 5 - is that I actually predicted what was going to happen regarding Honor and Dmitri and I found the concept… surprising and yet odd to add into this series.  Maybe in later books it comes together more in a way that it explains it a bit better than ‘spirituality’.  Because despite the fact this series is about angels there isn’t much on spirituality of any kind.  Which is fine for me, don’t get me wrong.  I could have loved the book with it too!  I am just saying the way Dmitri’s love story comes together adds some to it I felt didn’t fit with the rest of the series.  So far.

We’ll see.  I’m sorry I can’t explain more without spoilers!


So 4.5 stars!




Archangel’s Storm (Guild Hunter #5)


With wings of midnight and an affinity for shadows, Jason courts darkness. But now, with the Archangel Neha’s consort lying murdered in the jewel-studded palace that was his prison and her rage threatening cataclysmic devastation, Jason steps into the light, knowing he must unearth the murderer before it is too late.


Earning Neha’s trust comes at a price—Jason must tie himself to her bloodline through the Princess Mahiya, a woman with secrets so dangerous, she trusts no one. Least of all an enemy spymaster.


With only their relentless hunt for a violent, intelligent killer to unite them, Jason and Mahiya embark on a quest that leads to a centuries-old nightmare… and to the dark storm of an unexpected passion that threatens to drench them both in blood.


Buy:  Amazon









Review - 5 stars!

You know for the majority of the series I didn’t have any feelings one way or another about Jason except for curiousity.  So to my shock, instead of the blue-winged angel we all love so much, whose book I keep expecting, I found out this one is about Jason.  Awesome, but bummer for me!  


The Good:


Wow!


The back story to Jason that we do not even get glimpses of through the other books just pops out of nowhere and it is heartbreakingly amazing he falls in love at all!


Also, Mahiya is absolutely perfect for Jason and I loved their interaction.  I think these two are now my second favorite couple in the Guild Hunter books!


The Bad:

Was there bad?  Well, the bad was I wanted more Raphael and Elena of course!


5 stars!



Stay Tuned for Part Three of the Guild Hunter Reviews!

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Reviews: The Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh (Part One)




I am so incredibly slow sometimes.  I wanted a good romance about angels and I got a ton of recommendations for this one.  What's kind of funny about that is I kept meaning to read this series, but I kept forgetting about it and never got around to it.

Until now.

All reviews of the novels/novellas/short stories are in chronological reading order!  Keep in mind I write shorter than usual reviews when I do the entire series at once.

With just a few days to spare for the next book release on September 1st!


Angels’ Dance (Guild Hunter #0.4)

The gentle teacher of angelic young, and the keeper of her people's histories, Jessamy is respected and admired by everyone who knows her. Yet, born unable to soar into flight, she has spent thousands of years trapped in the mountain stronghold of the Refuge, her heart encased in painful loneliness...until the arrival of Galen, warrior angel from a martial court.

Rough-edged and blunt, Galen is a weapons-master at home with violence, a stranger to the sweet words it takes to woo a woman--but he is also a man determined to claim Jessamy for his own, to dance with her through the skies denied her for so very long...even if their exhilarating passion proves as dangerous as the landscape of war and unrest that lies before them.

Buy as part of the Angels' Flight collection:  Amazon












Review - 4.5 stars!

I really, really liked this one despite not usually being a gigantic fan of secondary couples.  However, Jessamy and Galen, both teachers at opposite ends of the spectrum, and both such awesome people separately, are absolutely mind-bogglingly awesome together!

The Good:

The writing and the story behind it were both an amazing addiction to the Guild Hunter series.  The heat between these two and the perfect flaws each exhibit…  I was enthralled with this story!

The Bad:

I only wonder what took Galen so long in the middle of the story!  Gah!  Pig-headed males!  But we love them!

4.5 stars!





Angels’ Judgement (Guild Hunter #0.6)

Warrior angels, vampire hunters, and angels gone bad heat up this altogether sizzling paranormal alternate universe, from the bestselling author Nalini Singh.

Angels' Judgement is the compelling story of passion, love and danger in the Guild Hunter world. Sara and Deacon are Guild Hunters, their life's work is catching and capturing - or killing - rogue angels. It's dangerous work and sometimes life or death decisions must be made in a moment. And when a judgement has to be made, should love be allowed to get in the way . . . ?

This is a compelling, sexy addition to the Guild Hunter universe.

Buy as part of the Angels' Flight collection:  Amazon

OR

Buy as part of the Must Love Hellhounds anthology:  Amazon







Review - 5 stars!

OMG!  I adored Deacon!  

That’s pretty much that needs to be said, honestly.  It’s not often I rate a short story or novella 5 stars but wow…

The Good:  

Deacon.  Sara is awesome too, but the good of this entire story was Deacon.  I just loved the gay bar scene.  There is some off-the-wall stuff in this story that details Deacon and Sara's meeting. A must-read for anyone who loves the Guild Hunter series!

The Bad:

Not enough Deacon!

5 stars!



Angels’ Pawn (Guild Hunter #0.7)

Angels’ Pawn is a stand-alone novella set in the Guild Hunter world. It features the guild hunter, Ashwini, and the vampire, Janvier.

Buy as part of the Angels' Flight collection:  Amazon

















Review - 4.5 stars!

I love the interaction between Ashwini and Janvier, although they aren’t my favorite couple, they are the most humorous.

The Good:

This was an excellent view into one of the early meetings between Ashwini and Janvier.  I loved the insight and I loved every word of this story.

The Bad:

I am simply not quite as gushy about this one as every other installment.  I love these two and I loved this story, which was the perfect length for this little gem.  Nothing overtly bad about it, just not as interested in this couple as some of the others.

4.5 stars!







Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter #1)

Nalini Singh introduces readers to a world of beauty and bloodlust, where angels hold sway over vampires.

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael. But this time, it’s not a wayward vamp she has to track. It’s an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor’s edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn’t destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break.

Buy:  Amazon











Review - 5 stars!!

Wow.

Wow.

Why the freaking hell haven’t I bothered to read Nalini Singh before now?  I had heard of her, I figured she was good, but it wasn’t until I wanted to read an angel romance and asked for recommendations from one of my groups and this one was mentioned that I actually got my rear in gear.

Super glad I did!

The Good:

This was an awesome story that compelled me to keep reading even when I meant to put it down.  Everything was awesome.  The read was effortless and engaging.  Most definitely an awesome story!

The Bad:

I wished for a tad more chemistry between the arrogant archangel and the stubborn, willful guild hunter.  I’m not sure if the story continues in book two or if we get another angel and couple, but I hope it continues….  I want it to continue because I feel the need to feel more emotion and tension and sexual awareness between Raphael and Elena.  So good….

5 stars!!  



Archangel’s Kiss (Guild Hunter #2)


New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her world of angelic rulers, vampiric servants, and the woman thrust into their darkly seductive world...

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find herself changed—an angel with wings the colors of midnight and dawn—but her fragile body needs time to heal before she can take flight. Her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel, Raphael, is used to being in control—especially when it comes to the woman he considers his own. But Elena has never done well with authority.

They've barely begun to understand each other when Raphael receives an invitation to a ball from the archangel, Lijuan. To refuse would be a sign of fatal weakness, so Raphael must ready Elena for the flight to Beijing—and to the nightmare that awaits them there. Ancient and without conscience, Lijuan holds a power that lies with the dead. And she has organized the most perfect and most vicious of welcomes for Elena.

Buy:  Amazon





Review - 5 stars!

I am soooooooo thrilled Nalini Singh decided to continue on with Raphael and Elena’s story.  Absolutely overjoyed.  I think I squeed aloud.  My new current favorite is Raphael.  I love him.  I want to roll around with him and his wings and angel dust.  Seriously.

The Good:

The world-building that Nalini Singh does is abso-freaking-lutely amazing.  I mean hands down one of my favorites now!

Plus the chemistry between Elena and Raphael makes one seriously hot.  It whets your appetite and leaves you hungry for more.  The love between these two, an archangel of imaginable power and a once-mortal newly born angel is one of the more beautiful I’ve read in my urban fantasy novels.

I am just in awe of these two and want so much more.

The Bad:

You want more!  Sooo, soo much more!

5 stars!  Or more!



Lastly: Part Two Coming Soon!