Book Review - Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter Series)

I am going to be starting off my book reviews by talking about my favourite authors and series and their books. The first author is Nalini Singh and her Guild Hunter series. The first book in that series is called Angels' Blood, the authors blurb from the back of the book is as follows:

"Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she is the best- but she does not know if even she is good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, Elena knows failure is not an option—even if the task is impossible. Because 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 does not destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just might. For when archangels play, mortals break." 

Elena: I have to say that of all the books that I have read Elena is hands down on of my favourite female lead characters that I have ever read. She is strong, speaks her mind, and doesn't take shit from anyone, however through out the book we start to see another side of her, the scared, vulnerable part that went to a traumatic past and what has made her who she is. I can't tell you how many times I have read some type of romance novel and at one point or another wished I could slap the main female and tell her to have some self respect and grow some balls, so it was a refreshing and welcome change to actually be able to sit back and enjoy a book with a strong female lead that can kick ass, take care of herself and doesn't need or want a man to be her saviour.

Raphael: The first thing that comes to mind when I think about Raphael is OMG I want him, I am in love. Ms. Singh is one of the very few authors I have read that has managed to create a total alpha male that does not come across and act like a chauvinistic ass whole. He is one of 10 Archangels that can control over the world and his territory is North America, which of course means he is arrogant, powerful beyond belief, and answers to no one. I love the fact that he trust no others expect those in his Seven. The Seven is made up of seven angels and vampires that have sworn their loyalty and their lives to Raphael, but by far the best thing about the Seven and Raphael is that you are able to tell throughout the book that they have forged deep bonds with each other and are very much like a family. The small changes that you see in Raphael throughout the book as he and Elena interact more and get to know each other are wonderful. He is still very much the arrogant Archangel but you can tell that Elena is having an effect on him and opening him up to something he has no experience with.

Secondary characters: Secondary characters are very important in this series and one of the reason I love it so much. As readers we don't just get to know about the main characters and their lives and issues but we also start to learn about the people that are important to them and have an impact on their lives. The more we meet the members of Raphael's Seven the more we want to know, about their own stories and how they all met Raphael and came to be among his most trusted in a world where nothing can be taken at face value and the quest for power is never ending. In this first of the series we are taught about the rules that govern the world of the Angels and we also get to meet the other Archalgels that rule the other parts of the world and how they interact with each other. 

My overall impressions: As soon as I finished this book I wanted more, I was and completely in love with the characters and the world that Ms. Singh had managed to create and the fact that she managed to make it seem so real. Ms. Singh has managed to  create a world similar to ours but one where Archangels and Angels are at the top of the food chain followed by vampires and then humans, a world where these being are out in the open and their power well known. Ms. Singh and her world will suck you in and not let you go even after you have finished the book, the more you read is the more you want to know, not just about the main characters Elena and Raphael but about the many secondary characters we are introduced to throughout the book. 

This is one of those books/series where, because it is so well written you find yourself becoming attached and emotionally invested to the characters, and their lives and feelings because they are not just characters in a book anymore, they are people with issues and emotions that many can probably relate to in some way or another. The way that Ms. Singh has written this book/series you are about to believe that this world really exists and not just a work of fiction, which to me is a sign of a truly talented author. This is one of the very few books that I have read where I don't have to keep pausing due to issues I have with the editing, characters, or the overall plot. Once I started to read it was able to just keep on reading and get lost in the world that Ms. Singh has so carefully built for us. One of my favourite things about this book is that you can actually believe and feel that there is a connection between Raphael and Elena, it is not something that the author has forced but rather seems real and natural. 

She manages to make the building romance between the main couple seem very real rather than rushed, they have their personal issues that they have to deal with individually as well as together and it does not just happen over night. Their romance is an on going journey that we get to see in not just this book but also in the other throughout the series. Which brings be to one of my other favourite things about this book/series. The next book in the series is also about Raphael and Elena rather than one of the other characters we meet in the first book, which is something I have never seen an author do before. 

Overall I would recommend this book to anyone that likes fantasy/paranormal romance that deals with angels and vampires. Its a very refreshing read that will take you to another world and leave you wanting more when it is over. As a side note I should also mention that this book contains fairly graphic sex scenes incase readers have strong feeling with regards to sexual content, it is tastefully written with out crude language.

Next review: My next post is going to be about Archangels' Kiss, the second book in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series.  Until then I hope you guys will give this book a chance and enjoy!!