REVIEW: Archangel's Blade (Guild Hunters #4) by Nalini Singh

Author: Nalini Singh 

Pages: 310

Series: Guild Hunters

Publisher: Berkley Sensation

AMAZON: Archangel's Blade

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

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..

REVIEW: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Could contain possible spoilers..

Nalini Singh is a master story-teller and is an auto-buy for me these days, she never fails to deliver on a thrilling, action-packed and romantic novel that leaves me engrossed and wanting more.

Books one to three in the Guild-Hunters series follow the story of Archangel Raphael and his new consort Elena Deveraux. Archangels Blade is Dmitri’s story, Raphael’s second and an almost 1000 year old Vampire.

Dmitri is as lethal and dangerous as what he is sensual and sexy but he is also a tortured soul, in Archangels Blade we learn of his pre-vampire life and what made him into the vampire he now is, he is ruthless, cold, calculating and powerful and has set his sights on Guild-Hunter Honor.

Honor St. Nicholas is recovering from a savage attack by Vampires that nearly killed her, she is broken and damaged but has been given an assignment by the Guild to investigate vampires in New York City that are turning up dead and also working to find out who the vampires were behind her personal torture.

Honor is certainly one kick-butt heroine, she has been to hell and back but still stands strong and goes on with life, she seeks revenge on those who abused her and never loses her focus in the process, some of the punishments dished out by Dmitri certainly leaves your tummy churning but they were relentless in their pursuit to bring down those who captured her.

I loved Honor and Dmitri as a couple; I had my doubts initially on how Ms Singh would give hard-hearted Dmitri a HEA but it worked out well, the chemistry and attraction between them was undeniable, Honor was his perfect match in every way.

Archangels Blade is a dark and violent book – it delves into the horrific pasts of both Honor and Dmitri, they have both been brutalized in one form or another but they work together to get through it, it is emotional and at time heart-wrenching but it was also nice to see a ‘softer’ side to Dmitri.

The only thing I didn’t like (highlight to show) was the reincarnation aspect, I think it would have worked well without this added into the storyline. Other than this, I loved this book and I am very much looking forward to the next installment; I am intrigued by a number of the characters – especially Bluebell Illium, Jason and Venom, they are all vivid and well-developed and I am looking forward to reading more about each of them.

Ms Singh's writing is perfection, the plot is sold and engrossing - I was absolutely immersed in this emotional and gripping story. A must read Paranormal Romance.

Books in order:

1. Angel's Blood
2. Archangel's Kiss
3. Archangel's Consort
4. Archangel's Blade