Helpful Score: 7
Ever since I read the previous novel, Angels' Blood, I have been waiting impatiently for this book to come out. I was nervous about reading it though. Sometimes I'll love the first book in a series and then feel disappointed in the following books. That is definitely not the case here. It was definitely worth the wait.
In this book we get to see the vulnerability of Elena in relation to all the other angels in her new world. She's used to being the strongest person and now has to deal with being the weakest. I liked that though she tried to stand on her own she didn't fall into stupidity and refuse to listen to Raphael about her limitations as a new angel.
I loved watching Elena's interactions with the Seven and all the new angels she encounters in the refuge. I'm very interested in seeing more developments with the members of the Seven. I also liked how the author avoided making Michaela into a cardboard cutout villain. She's not wholly bad although she's not wholly good. She has vulnerabilities and weaknesses that throw her into an area of gray that Elena wishes she didn't have to see. It's much easier to hate someone when you don't feel bad for them.
The author did a good job of showing Elena emotionally vulnerable but still strong. It was her choice to allow herself to lean on Raphael and he recognizes and treasures it. I loved how he's learning that though he is powerful he can't force Elena to open to him. Trust is a fragile thing and he realizes that he has to toe the line or he'll break her. I liked watching him try to reconcile his own personality with the care the new relationship needs.
Speaking of breaking Elena, this book did a really good job with sexual tension. Because Elena is still so weak from the transition Raphael won't make love to her because he's afraid he'll break her. The tension was great and the payoff worth it. I also really loved the vulnerability we saw when Raphael couldn't leave Elena in silence. After her year in a coma and his inability to reach her mind he has some definite anxiety there. It was sweet to see.
I can't wait to see what will come with the next book. I'm so glad I found this series!
In this book we get to see the vulnerability of Elena in relation to all the other angels in her new world. She's used to being the strongest person and now has to deal with being the weakest. I liked that though she tried to stand on her own she didn't fall into stupidity and refuse to listen to Raphael about her limitations as a new angel.
I loved watching Elena's interactions with the Seven and all the new angels she encounters in the refuge. I'm very interested in seeing more developments with the members of the Seven. I also liked how the author avoided making Michaela into a cardboard cutout villain. She's not wholly bad although she's not wholly good. She has vulnerabilities and weaknesses that throw her into an area of gray that Elena wishes she didn't have to see. It's much easier to hate someone when you don't feel bad for them.
The author did a good job of showing Elena emotionally vulnerable but still strong. It was her choice to allow herself to lean on Raphael and he recognizes and treasures it. I loved how he's learning that though he is powerful he can't force Elena to open to him. Trust is a fragile thing and he realizes that he has to toe the line or he'll break her. I liked watching him try to reconcile his own personality with the care the new relationship needs.
Speaking of breaking Elena, this book did a really good job with sexual tension. Because Elena is still so weak from the transition Raphael won't make love to her because he's afraid he'll break her. The tension was great and the payoff worth it. I also really loved the vulnerability we saw when Raphael couldn't leave Elena in silence. After her year in a coma and his inability to reach her mind he has some definite anxiety there. It was sweet to see.
I can't wait to see what will come with the next book. I'm so glad I found this series!
Helpful Score: 3
This is the second book in the series, and it's another hit. Elena is waking up to her new existence as a Made angel, and all the threats that come with it. Elena and Raphael start to learn each other, how to trust each other, how to love each other. But there are other angels who wish for more power and are willing to hurt Raphael to get it by killing his heart.... Elena. She has to learn quickly how to defend herself with her new body and her new wings. While Lijuan has evolved beyond what anyone can imagine, she has power over death. And her new army of the "reborn" is a threat, the Cadre, do not take lightly. At Lijuans ball, the surprises keep coming. Lijuan has a present for Elena ... one that has haunted Elena since her sisters were killed.
Can't wait for the next one!
www.texasreader-stacy.blogspot.com
Can't wait for the next one!
www.texasreader-stacy.blogspot.com
Helpful Score: 2
This is the second book in the Guild Hunter Series, picking up the day after the ending of the first book. In it we follow Elena as she learns how to be an angel, including tricky things like actually learning to use her wings. Her learning gets accelerated when Lijuan, another archangel decides to throw a ball, supposedly in Elena's honor.
I'll admit, the plot to the book is pretty thin - there's two major lines, one being an angel that for some reason is killing and intimidating with the idea that this will help them become an archangel to replace the one killed in book two. Everyone seems to know this, but it was never explained to me fully why they would think that was how one becomes an archangel. The second line was the looming confrontation with Lijuan over her making "reborn" (zombies). However, while there was some investigation into the first story line and lots of fretting over the second, there wasn't really any plot progression.
Instead the book was filled with Elena in weapons training, Elena leaning angelic culture, Elena learning to fly, Elena having flashbacks to her childhood and Elena coaxing Raphael to start sleeping with her again. Raphael was rather annoying at the beginning of the book - filled with manly, "I can't sleep with you until your stronger because what I was will hurt you". Bleh. He was also rather off putting with his initial refusal to accept that Elena would have to be an equal in their relationship. However, this at least fit in with angels as they are portrayed in the series, and Elena wears him down over the course of the book, so that by the end he's much more reasonable. Basically, she's helping him become more human over the course of the book.
The flashback to Elena's childhood got annoying as well, as they happened some much. However, each time we got a bit further into the memories, so in the end it was alright. I wish we could have gotten more in each flashback and thus fewer flashbacks though.
The ending was a disappointment - both plot lines get tied up very neatly and very quickly with not nearly as much drama as the fretting and planning of the rest of the book warranted.
However, I didn't really realize most of this until after I finished reading the book and started thinking over what I had read. At the time I read the book I enjoyed most of what I was reading, which is why it gets two and a half stars - in spite of the flaws, I enjoyed reading it.
I'll admit, the plot to the book is pretty thin - there's two major lines, one being an angel that for some reason is killing and intimidating with the idea that this will help them become an archangel to replace the one killed in book two. Everyone seems to know this, but it was never explained to me fully why they would think that was how one becomes an archangel. The second line was the looming confrontation with Lijuan over her making "reborn" (zombies). However, while there was some investigation into the first story line and lots of fretting over the second, there wasn't really any plot progression.
Instead the book was filled with Elena in weapons training, Elena leaning angelic culture, Elena learning to fly, Elena having flashbacks to her childhood and Elena coaxing Raphael to start sleeping with her again. Raphael was rather annoying at the beginning of the book - filled with manly, "I can't sleep with you until your stronger because what I was will hurt you". Bleh. He was also rather off putting with his initial refusal to accept that Elena would have to be an equal in their relationship. However, this at least fit in with angels as they are portrayed in the series, and Elena wears him down over the course of the book, so that by the end he's much more reasonable. Basically, she's helping him become more human over the course of the book.
The flashback to Elena's childhood got annoying as well, as they happened some much. However, each time we got a bit further into the memories, so in the end it was alright. I wish we could have gotten more in each flashback and thus fewer flashbacks though.
The ending was a disappointment - both plot lines get tied up very neatly and very quickly with not nearly as much drama as the fretting and planning of the rest of the book warranted.
However, I didn't really realize most of this until after I finished reading the book and started thinking over what I had read. At the time I read the book I enjoyed most of what I was reading, which is why it gets two and a half stars - in spite of the flaws, I enjoyed reading it.
Nina S. (morebooks2read) -
Helpful Score: 1
I've always love Nalini Singh's books especially this guild hunter series. It's different from the other angel stories since its associated with violence but was done with perfection.
Archangel Raphael with so much arrogance but can still show how much he loves Elena whose trying to learn how to live as an angel after her 1 year sleep coma. Both learning to compromised with each other to make this commitment works. Definitely 5 stars... Highly recommended.
Archangel Raphael with so much arrogance but can still show how much he loves Elena whose trying to learn how to live as an angel after her 1 year sleep coma. Both learning to compromised with each other to make this commitment works. Definitely 5 stars... Highly recommended.
Helpful Score: 1
Newly-made Angel Elena, is vulnerable to everyone. Even the Cadre want her dead. Raphael has his hands full protecting her since she is a fighter and wants to fight her own battles. Elena went from being the strongest hunter to being the weakest angel. It's a hell of an adjustment for her and for Raphael.
I liked the progression of Elena's growth as an angel and guild hunter. Her weapons training and fighting technique took up a good portion of the book and was tedious at times. A lot of this could have been left out and not affected the storyline. The romance between Raphael and Elena was intense and overtly sexual though they didn't really have sex until the end of the book. Apparantly she wasn't strong enough for his brand of love making. (wow)
I was disappointed in this book maybe because I was expecting too much of it since Angels' Blood was so spectacular. Raphael is domineering, controlling and at times (too many to count) an asshole. Sure he loves Elena but his behavior sucks. I like my heroes strong but Raphael goes over the line. They may be in love but they know almost nothing about each other. Most of the time the learning curve was fun and entertaining.
I liked the progression of Elena's growth as an angel and guild hunter. Her weapons training and fighting technique took up a good portion of the book and was tedious at times. A lot of this could have been left out and not affected the storyline. The romance between Raphael and Elena was intense and overtly sexual though they didn't really have sex until the end of the book. Apparantly she wasn't strong enough for his brand of love making. (wow)
I was disappointed in this book maybe because I was expecting too much of it since Angels' Blood was so spectacular. Raphael is domineering, controlling and at times (too many to count) an asshole. Sure he loves Elena but his behavior sucks. I like my heroes strong but Raphael goes over the line. They may be in love but they know almost nothing about each other. Most of the time the learning curve was fun and entertaining.
