New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to the electric world of Guild Hunters, where passion meets peril.Archangel Titus and Sharine, the Hummingbird, must work together to fight off the reborn and track down a target that could cause the end of the Archangels.
Archangel’s Sun
By nalinisingh
Archangel’s Sun by Nalini Singh is the 13th book in her fantastic Guild Hunter series. Once again Nalini Singh continues to amaze us with another fantastic addition to this series. The last book was so intense, exciting and mindboggling from start to finish, and I thought perhaps Archangel’s Sun would be at a slower pace; but even though this book was not as epic, it was an amazing wonderful story that also kept the flow continue to be seamless.
With all the world affected, the Archangels are all working overtime to fight the horrific situations throughout. Titus, our hero, has taken over as the Archangel of Africa, where the evil now deceased Lijuan, created the horrible reborn (rotting creatures/crazed vampires). Titus has his hands full, with all of his angels and warriors struggling and working night and day to kill the reborn; as well as trying to stop the other deceased Archangel Charisemnon’s (Archangel of Disease) creations that could be even worse. To his surprise, Raphael sends help in the form of the infamous Hummingbird (Sharine); which he isn’t too pleased about, since she is a well-loved woman with gifts, but not someone who is able to help in this battle. Of course, he will be in for a big surprise
Sharine, our heroine, (Illium’s mom, as well as Aodhan’s adopted mom) has been helping run Lumia, but accepts Raphael’s decision to go to Africa. Sharine has spent many years slowly putting herself back together (recovering from her tragic fractured mind, and from a deep slumber), to rise up become what she was meant to be. I absolutely loved Sharine, her confidence, toughness, and her learning the powers she had fully forgotten about. She was such a delight, and it was so much fun to watch her early on stand up to Titus, and his shock at her behavior, as she was supposed to be a quiet gifted and fragile woman who people adored, not someone constantly answering him back.
Titus is a well-respected and fierce 3000 year warrior, who found himself after a rough beginning falling for the wonderful Sharine. I loved watching them together, as she managed to bring him down a peg or two, especially when their feelings for each other became apparent. Together they worked to find clues as to what Charisemnon was hiding, and we also got to see Sharine learn to use her powers to help Titus and his team.
Archangel’s Sun was a wonderful, sweet, fun, romantic, as well as emotional story that made this into a fabulous addition to this series. Both Titus and Sharine were a fantastic couple that had us rooting for them from the start. As in just about every book I read from Nalini Singh, I could not put this book down. Though enough details are given through the book, I do suggest you read the previous book for cohesion. If you are new to the series, you should start where it all began. Bravo to Nalini for giving us a fantastic couple in Titus and Sharine. Nalini Singh is one of my top favorite authors, and if you are not reading her books, you need to start now.
Archangel’s Sun is the thirteenth book in Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series. This time Nalini Singh gives us the Hummingbird and Archangel Titus’s story. I’ve wanted to know more about the Hummingbird since she was introduced in the series. Here I thought she was only an artist; well, there’s more to the Hummingbird than readers thought initially.
Female Protagonist: Sharine, aka the Hummingbird, is known as the gentle, artistic Angel who has gone through a lot in her lifetime. She became lost to her grief after losing several important people in her life. A lot of her kind forget that’s she’s an Ancient and has seen a lot and used to be a fighter. If there is one thing I love about her character, she loves her son, Illium, and adores Aodhan. She’s what I would consider a mother to everyone. She may have been broken at one time, but there was another side of her in this book. I loved getting her back story and getting to see her grow in this book. Don’t underestimate the gentle Angel anymore.
Male Protagonist: Titus is the Archangel of Africa, and he’s known to being stubborn and loud. He’s a warrior and loves his people. He learned from the best underneath his mother, who was a General and Archangel Alexander. He’s known as a lady’s man, according to how Sharine describes him in the beginning. At first, I was wary about his character, but I did start to like him towards the middle and end. He is nothing like Raphael, but he does have some scary features to him.
Storyline: If you read Archangel’s War, then you would’ve read that Lijuan was defeated. Unfortunately, the Cadre is still dealing with the legacy of what the Archangel of Death and Archangel of Disease left behind. Titus’s territory was impacted the most with the Reborn since he lived close to the Archangel of Disease. Raphael sends the Hummingbird to help Titus with the Reborn because the rest of the Cadre are still dealing with their war issues. Titus is hesitant about having the Hummingbird help him. She’s known as an artist and not a warrior, but he’s going to find out he’s wrong about her. They also will discover that the Archangel of Disease left them a bigger surprise behind what they need to deal with in this book.
My Thoughts: I was excited to read this book because I had caught up with the series in October of 2020. I was ready to dive into the next book, even though I knew I would now have to wait for the next book in the series. This book gives readers the aftermath of the war. This book brought up a big issue to the Cadre that they were not expecting, which I thought it couldn’t get worst, but Nalini proved me wrong. She managed to throw in a twist. I loved getting to know the back story of both Titus and Sharine (aka the Hummingbird) and wanted them to have happiness with each other. They both deserved it. Readers beware, though, because this is what I would consider a slow-burn. These two did not like each other initially but end up getting to know each other better when they work together. Readers who love Bluebell and Aodhan will get some of them in this book. I need more, though. I need to know who they will end up with, and I need it now!! I’m glad to know that Sharine and Titus found each other, but I need Bluebell and Aodhan’s books.
Steaminess: Some Steam. (It comes closer toward the end of the book.)
Standalone or Part of Series: Part of Series.
HEA: Somewhat of a HEA. Some readers may have an issue with the ending.
Trope: This book had somewhat of a Slow Burn to it and Opposite’s Attract.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. Overall, this book gets (four stars) from me, and I would recommend it to readers of the PNR/UF genres. If you have read the previous books in the series, then you will enjoy this book; if you have not started this series, then I would recommend reading in order. You will miss out on a lot of stuff if you read from this book. I’m ready for the next book in the series. Nalini, please give us Aodhan or Bluebell’s book next. Please! I <3 this series from Nalini Singh. If it weren’t for this series, I would never get out of my reading funk this year. I loved reading from the beginning to catch up on this series.
I absolutely LOVED Archangel’s Sun!
The Hummingbird is a treasure to the angelic race. Her artistry has no equal and her gentle kindness and motherly love has no ending. But her soul was shattered long ago and she lives inside her own world, wholly broken.
Archangel Titus is the archangel of southern Africa. He is a mighty warrior, loud and boisterous with sharp edges. An honorable angel with no time for the duplicitous and is fiercely protective of his people and his lands.
So you may be asking yourself, however would these two be a good match? Yes, yes indeed! Ms. Singh has brilliantly crafted this harrowing and exciting tale of mystery, intrigue and danger. I couldn’t put it down! There’s so much going on! So many surprises! So much action! Steamy chemistry! I loved it!
If you’re a super fan of the series like me or new to the books, you’ll be instantly whisked away on an adventure you’ll most certainly not forget! I don’t want to say anything else because I don’t want to spoil it, but it’s an exciting, engaging, enjoyable, beautiful and heart-wrenching read! And I whole-heartedly recommend Archangel’s Sun, the entire Guild Hunter series and any one of Ms. Singh’s books!
**I voluntarily read a Net Galley copy of the book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I reread Archangel’s War before reading Archangel’s Sun but I actually think this book could be read as a standalone if you don’t mind spoilers from the rest of the series. Archangel’s Sun picks up after the events in NYC during Archangel’s War. However, this story is focused in Africa and the aftermath of dealing with the reborn. Sharine, the heroine, is better known as The Hummingbird throughout the series. When we first meet her, Illium’s mom is clearly in her own world and not in touch of reality. At times, she thinks Illium was still a child and it was clear that the parent/child relationship was flipped between them. However, as the series progresses, Sharine comes out of that fog and is put in charge of healing Lumia (events in Archangel’s Heart). In Archangel’s Sun, we see her heal even more and step away from the moniker of The Hummingbird and truly be Sharine, or even better, Shari to Titus.
Sharine gets sent by the Cadre to assist at Titus’s court. The warlord and boisterous Titus isn’t happy but is taken aback when Sharine isn’t a delicate bird but a fierce woman coming into her own and determined to help. It was enjoyable to see Titus concerned about being too rough with Sharine and seeing Sharine hold her own against the loud Titus. This book, like some of ones in the series without Elena and Raphael in the center, show us different glimpses into the angelic world. Titus has three typical and annoying older sisters who completely ignore him being an archangel and continue to act as big sisters. The relationship between Titus and Sharine is a slow burn and it has to be. Initially, Titus is ashamed of the sexual thoughts he is having about angelkind’s beloved Hummingbird. But as she grows into Sharine over the course of the book, so does the relationship between the two grow. In between the slow burn is the hardships that Sharine and Titus must undertake as they try to destroy the reborn, heal Africa, and discover the truth about what the Archangel of Death and the Archangel of Disease created.
As much as I love the relationship between Titus and Sharine (and I especially love how it plays out in the end), this is really the story of Sharine healing, paralleled with the healing of Titus’s land. We learn of her trauma and what caused her to slip from reality, into the kaleidoscope. In this, I saw some parallels to Sahara in Heart of Obsidian. Both created mental ways to escape and cope with traumatic events. In Archangel’s Sun, Sharine is allowed a chance to confront and best one of those past traumas, in the form of her former romantic partner. Even more so, alpha Titus does not force his way in to protect her and Sharine gets to handle it on her own, showing her continued growth.
There was no doubt that I wouldn’t love this book, as I love all of Nalini Singh’s books and I did. Raphael and Elena have been the focus of two intense books lately and it was great to give them a break and a chance to heal while getting the story of two other beloved characters. Sharine and Titus don’t initially seem right for each other, being on the surface polar opposites, but beneath that beats strong hearts and ones who desperately love each other. Another beautiful story from the master of paranormal romance.
*Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
4.5 Stars
Archangel Sun is the thirteenth installment of the Guild Hunter series. Can it be read as a standalone or out of series order? No. While all the books are connected, the past few have been within the same arc, acting as a continuation. It would be difficult and confusing to read Archangel Sun without reading the books before it.
First things first, fingers crossed the mother is the leadup to the son’s novel. Aren’t we all anticipating Bluebell’s novel? The Hummingbird is Illium’s mother, Rafael’s mother figure, and Aodhin’s mentor. Sharine is the perfect viewpoint to show all three of their lives and what is happening around them, the angst of two stubborn males who will listen to their “mother”, allowing the reader to have a birds eye view as Sharine learns how to use technology.
Set to the backdrop of devastation, the Hummingbird and Titus band together to help their people, changing along with the landscape.
Adored by all, seen as an artifact meant to be put upon a shelf in a museum. After lifetimes of unimaginable loss and pain, Sharine finds the strength to cast off the Hummingbird label. No longer a wounded little bird, she is putting the facets of her personality back together. The most prevalent is the maternal instinct. The most painful is a fear of abandonment, after her first love and mentor died in their bed beside her, her parents went to Sleep when she was still a child herself, only to never wake again, and for the father of her son to go to Sleep within their bed beside her, sickly toying with her emotions while abandoning their child.
Titus is strong and imposing, a powerful archangel who is clearing out the scourge but not taking time to tend to the people of his land. As a fellow member of the cadre, Rafael suggests the Hummingbird fly to Africa as a symbol of hope, leaving Titus to think yet another person will drag him down in responsibility.
But Sharine is no longer just the Hummingbird, her gifts realized almost as strong as her mothering desire, but equally as important when it comes to both clearing the scourge and soothing the people.
My favorite part of the novel was the slow-burn romance between Sharine and Titus. Most importantly how they brought out the best parts of one another, sassed and challenged each other, but did so in a respectful manner of adults befitting their advanced ages and positions. Their growth was amazing to witness as a reader. Both warm and fuzzy yet inspiring as well.
I won’t touch on the mystery of the reborn and what Sharine and Titus discover, simply because it is both complex and a major part of the novel itself.
The women were an inspiration and focal point, strong and capable and admired for their abilities. Many shown were the mothers to major characters, some within Rafael’s Seven. I appreciated this, appreciated how everyone worked together instead of seeing one another as competition or shown as the villain. Appreciated how their varying strengths were showcased as being just as important as other strengths. They all revealed that femininity isn’t a weakness.
Where I struggled, which is why I couldn’t give Archangel Sun a perfect rating, the story meandered. I don’t mean mentions of the past, which I adored. A ton of name-dropping, with events listed from past novels, which is why I said it was important to be up to date with the series to avoid confusion. However, this slowed the pacing down, dragging what was a quick-paced novel into redundancy, where I had to fight myself with skimming large portions of a few chapters, where it seemed to either be the inane events from A to B or an info-dump that wasn’t necessary “right there”, which either made it confusing or slowed the pacing down.
All in all, Archangel Sun was an excellent addition to the series, giving the reader a new perspective via characters who hadn’t previously had a voice, from a new location set in the universe. I am highly anticipating the next and next and next installments. I absolutely recommend to fans of the series and the author, as I’m positive the novel will hit all the right notes for most returning readers.
4.25 stars–ARCHANGEL’S SUN is the thirteenth full-length instalment in Nalini Singh’s contemporary, adult GUILD HUNTER dystopian/ paranormal/ urban fantasy series focusing on Archangel’s, angels, vampires, shifters and hunters. This is the archangel of Africa Titus, and Angel Lady Sharine, aka the Hummingbird’s story line ARCHANGEL’S SUN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order. For followers and fans, the Hummingbird is Illium aka Bluebell’s mother.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Titus and Sharine) ARCHANGEL’S SUN picks up in the aftermath of the Cascade that destroyed many of the Archangel’s strongholds and cities throughout the world. At the request of New York’s Archangel Raphael, Lady Sharine has been tasked with helping archangel of Africa Titus in his struggle to rebuild but the war continues in Africa as Lijuan and Chrisemnon’s creations-the reborn- are terrorizing and destroying everything and everyone in their path but a more dangerous weapon and heinous creature is about to be revealed, and with it the possibility of the destruction of angelkind. What ensues is the continued battle with the reborn, and the building romance and relationship between our leading couple.
Lady Sharine is an artist among the angels, the mother to Illium, and a mother –like figure to Archangel Raphael but Sharine’s past is shrouded in heart break and despair, and our heroine has struggled with the knowledge that everyone she has loved has been taken from her or destroyed her faith in the world. Believed to have been wounded, insane and broken, Lady Sharine is a strong woman, and an even stronger ‘warrior’ with a hidden ability of which nobody is aware. Titus knows he comes off as obnoxious and loud, preferring to yell rather than coddle his warriors but with the arrival of Lady Sharine something softens within our story line hero, as they work together to rid his holdings of the zombie-like reborn, and in doing so, search for a possible link and antidote to the flesh eating virus.
The relationship between Titus and Shirane begins acrimoniously as Titus believes Shirane is too frail and sickly to help with the rebuild. Centuries of rumors and innuendo regarding Shirane’s mental and emotional health have weighed heavily amongst the angels and Archanges but Shirane is about to surprise Titus with her abilities and powers, not only as an artist, but an angel worthy of being a consort. The lone $ex scenes is passionate but mostly implied.
There is a large ensemble cast of virtual secondary and supporting characters most of whom we have met in the previous instalments: Archangel Raphael, Sharine’s ex and Illium’s father Archangel Aegaeon, Raphael’s mother Archangel Caliane; Archangels Suyin, Neha and Alexander; vampire Trace; Titus’ spymaster Ozias; angels Tanae, Tzadiq, Orios; as well as Titus’ sisters Zuri, and Nala.
ARCHANGEL’S SUN is a story of betrayal and revenge; recovery and revelations; friendships, relationships and love. The premise is edgy and tragic ; the characters are energetic, colorful, captivating and strong; the slow building romance is sensitive. Another wonderful addition to Nalini Singh’s GUILD HUNTER series.
Whew!!!!! Every time I pick up a book by Nalini Singh I am amazed by her world building and word craft. There is a reason for her being my favorite author and this book is just one of them. While this story is not as frenetic as the previous 2 books in this series, it was nice to have a slower pace. Archangel’s Prophecy and War were fantastic, but there was never a moment to take a breath. This story, while still jam packed with action, gives you that well needed breath. The Cascade was wild. Dealing with the aftermath, while still intense seems more manageable.
Sharine and Titus – who would have placed them together? And, yet, they work. They are perfectly complementary to each other. It is wonderful seeing the Hummingbird come back to life, and Titus is so well suited to her. It is also so wonderful to see Ilium and Aodan in a different role – that of a child instead of the strong warriors we know them to be. This book is a beautiful love story about two strong-willed characters meeting their match and becoming better because of it.
Received as an ARC from Netgally and Berkley. Thank you so much.
Archangel’s Sun
A Guild Hunter Novel Series 13
Nalini Singh
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNaliniSingh Release date 11/24/2020
Publisher Berkley
A horrifying secret rises in the aftermath of an archangelic war in New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s deadly and beautiful Guild Hunter world. . . .
The Archangel of Death and the Archangel of Disease may be gone but their legacy of evil lives on—especially in Africa, where the shambling, rotting creatures called the reborn have gained a glimmer of vicious intelligence.
It is up to Titus, archangel of this vast continent, to stop the reborn from spreading across the world. Titus can’t do it alone, but of the surviving powerful angels and archangels, large numbers are wounded, while the rest are fighting a surge of murderous vampires.
There is no one left . . . but the Hummingbird. Old, powerful, her mind long a broken kaleidoscope. Now, she must stand at Titus’s side against a tide of death upon a discovery more chilling than any other. For the Archangel of Disease has left them one last terrible gift . . . .
How an world renowned artist could be an asset to an archangel battling a rampant plague…
Okay, now I’m up-to-date with the series. Two days to catch up with the last 3 years books, and it was quite a ride, I am still recovering from the dramatic read Archangel’s Prophecy was for me.
But now we are back to the usual Guild Hunter novel, outside when it is starring Elena and Raphael.
A couple total opposite, a mission, danger and sparks.
I confess at first I would have loved to read more about New York post apocalypse world. And if one thing was certain until the blurb was revealed sometime earlier this year, I never expected those characters to have their own story. In fact, except for Raphael, the cadre’s members appear all as unapproachable, too powerful or inhuman, too far away from us humble ants walking this earth for only a few seconds in archangelic term.
Why I was very surprised by Titus, he is in no way the haughty and supercilious being I expected him to be.
Of course he is everything the alpha word means, but without the cruelty often associated with the Archangels. He is honorable in every ways that count, respectful of his people and women. And while he sees humans as mostly fragile creatures, he does not abuse of his position as leader in his part of the world.
And once he has meet the one woman who awakens all his senses, he falls hard.
Ashani is not whom I expected her to be. She is the one struggled to like at first, not for default of kindness and care, but rather because she does not reconcile with the image of the Hummingbird I had of her.
She was for me this lovely but broken living outside this world artist, the ethereal creature many angels, and even archangels protect from the reality of the realm. So I labored to see her as a woman, one with needs and lovers. Her awakening was difficult to understand, why now, why after so much time. Plus many aspects of her past are left in the dark, like where her powers come from and how she could have so easily forgotten about them.
She might have been someone else, it would have been easier for me to connect with her.
After, the romance is lovely, a bit hastened by the end, as I would have maybe liked a bit of wooing on Titus’ side.
But for me the romance was a bit secondary to the quest of purging their land of the pestilence left by the archangel of diseases.
4 stars for this intriguing read with a much unexpected couple paired with a mystery to solve while trying to salvage what was left to stand up after the dire events from Archangel’s war.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Berkley, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/750628405526333/?d=n
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies
Titus is the Archangel of Africa. He is dealing with the mess the Archangel of Death and the Archangel of Disease left behind. Titus cannot hide his displeasure when The Cadre sends him The Hummingbird for help against the reborn. However, Sharine is not the fragile angel he remembers but a sharp-tongued woman who enjoys needling him. Can Titus resist his attraction to Sharine? Will he risk angelkind’s censor to be with her? Can they find a weapon against the reborn?
Sharine is a renowned artist known as The Hummingbird. She oversees Lumia, an important repository of angelic art and treasures. The Cadre asks Sharine to assist Titus with the reborn threat. However, the charismatic archangel manages to get beneath her skin. They stumble upon the late Archangel of Disease’s secret gift. Can Sharine convince the world she is no longer the delicate angel they know? Will she be beneficial in finding a solution against the reborn?
It took me a while to warm up to Titus. I just never paid him much notice until this story. I like Titus’s relationship with his mother and older sisters. They are responsible for his healthy respect for women. I love how Titus empathizes with Sharine. After learning about her past, he commiserates with her, especially the ill treatment of a certain archangel. What I like the most about Titus is his treatment of the people in his domain. He does not expect to be venerated. Titus willingly rewards those who work hard.
Sharine is such an extraordinary angel with a huge heart. She not only cares for her son, but she also treats two other angels as surrogate sons. I admire Sharine’s courage and determination to reclaim her life. She no longer wants to hide inside her fractured mind. Instead, she wishes to explore the angel she was meant to be. What I like the most about Sharine is her ability to stand her ground against Titus. She refuses to be swayed or charmed by his charisma and pretty words. Sharine wound rather challenge him with her sharp tongue.
ARCHANGEL’S SUN is book thirteen in Nalini Singh’s popular paranormal romance series, GUILD HUNTER. It is necessary to read the prior books, especially book twelve, to understand the current situation in the storyline. My only complaint is that there were not enough scenes involving Illium or Aodhan. I adore those two angels.
ARCHANGEL’S SUN is a beautiful and touching tale of a woman’s determination to reclaim her life only to find love again. I wondered how Nalini Singh would give us another book in this series, and she did not disappoint. I am secretly hoping either Aodhan or Illium is next.
Nalini Singh continues to prove herself a master storyteller with Archangel’s Sun. Her Guild Hunter series has long been a favorite of mine—hello, book No. 13—and I especially love the novels that feature new couples. Here we get Archangel Titus and The Hummingbird/Sharine (aka Bluebell’s mom), their journey is one of badass adults being badass adults. So, low angst in the romance arc, but high conflict as the plot centers on dealing with the fallout from the big bad of the previous arc.
See how I’m avoiding spoilers? Well, I’m doing that because a) I hate spoilers and b) Nalini set this one up to work as yet another entry point to the series. There’s enough info about what happened in the Cascade to follow what’s happening without having read the previous books, but it’d also leave you wanting to dive into the earlier novels to know more—which is great in this weird time where having a series of 10+ books to binge is a godsend.
TL;DR: Gorgeous character arcs (as always with Nalini) alongside great fight scenes and a really excellent plot twist.