NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHEDAN ALL-NEW GUILD HUNTER NOVEL 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 … 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.
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This has got to be one of my most favorite couples in the series. Janvier and Ashwini have always fought well side by side. Since the first time they laid eyes on one another, that instinct kicked in where they knew they were bound to be together, but Ashwini always fought against her attraction for she was bearing a secret that would keep her from living a long and fulfilled, happy life.
Although Janvier is known for his skill at fighting, the Cajun vampire holds an affection for his Ashblade that makes me gush from head to toe. Seriously, guys. This man made me swoon so much. I felt such a strong connection between these two and Nalini didn’t deny us that epic moment for too long. I mean, they’ve only been playing this game of tug-of-war for just a few years now. About time, one of them took the plunge to act on their feelings.
I’m having a hard time expressing my love for this story. Everything that Ashwini holds so dear to her heart brought about so many emotions. This woman leads her life with an iron fist and the mission she is assigned alongside Janvier proves how determined she is as a hunter to seek out the murderer of a victim that was found dead. She holds this case dear to her heart and works it as if it were her last.
Raphael and Elena make a few appearances and I was happy to see how much their relationship has grown. The compassion between them is electrifying as always. I just love this series more and more with each book that I read. I know that this review is focused on the relationship more so than the action, but don’t worry. That’s all still woven into the story as well.
I love the Guild Hunter series and can’t wait to be caught up with this series soon finally. I need to catch up since the next book comes out at the end of this year (2020). I’m enjoying this series, and I love how Nalini Singh has each book follow along in the story. Not every book has the same main characters, but the first three books in this series have Elena and Raphael as the main characters.
In the seventh book, though, readers will be ecstatic to find out its finally Janvier and Ashwini’s story. I have wanted their full story since I read their novella, Angel’s Pawn.
These two characters at first had a hate/love relationship, until this book. I fell hard for the sweet-talking tough Cajun Vampire, Janvier. First off, he cares for the kick-butt Guild Hunter, Ashwini, even if she doesn’t want him to care because of what may end up happening to her later on in life. Second off, he’s always there to help with her missions and vice-versa. They are inseparable, and everyone knows it. Finally, Janvier is one sexy Vampire, and he knows it.
Ashwini is one of my favorite Guild Hunters because she’s a gifted tracker and can sense secrets, once she touches someone. Unfortunately, she considers it a curse because of what happened to one of her family members that have that same ability. Readers will get to find out more about Ashwini’s past in this book, and it’s a heartbreaking one story. Be prepared to have tissues on hand. I felt for Ashwini in this book and loved getting to know her as a whole.
In this book, Ashwini is tasked to find a killer who is leaving bodies in the city that just got over a brutal battle. (You’ll need to read the previous book for that battle. It was an awful one.) Raphael’s beloved city is still trying to recover from it, but it’s up to Ashwini and Janvier to uncover who is behind the killings. This is when Ashwini and Janvier’s connection with each other is going to grow more in this book. Janvier’s unconditional love of Ashwini is all over in this book, and I wanted these two to be together. Ashwini kept pushing him away, though, but she has her reasons.
Nalini Singh does a fantastic job of writing this PNR with a good mixture of suspense, action, and fantasy elements. She has become a favorite author of mine since she has everything in her stories. Her books are addicting, and the characters are unforgettable. I wish this series would become a series on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or another similar streaming service.
I love how Nalini Singh has the other characters that have an appearance in this book, which include Elena, Raphael, Dimitri, Naasir, Bluebell, etc. are all in this story. This is one of many reasons why I love Nalini’s writing style because she has every one of her characters in the storyline. One character that I’m curious to find out more bout Naasir after getting more of him in this book. There is something about him, and I’m happy to know that the next book in the series is his book.
Overall, this book gets 4.5-stars, and I highly recommend it to readers that love PNR and Urban Fantasy books/series. I do recommend reading these books in order because Nalini has each book connect to the next one in the series. Each book leads up to something bigger to come, and I can’t wait to catch up.
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!
One of the best series ever. Have to read in order. This is more of a build up to the next book but still a wonderful installment to the series.
Technically this was Ashwini and Janvier’s story. Instead of solely focusing on them, this was more of an update of all the side characters. We also got more of our beloved couple, Raphael and Elena. As much as I love the side characters, this is what I seem to like more with this particular series.
I truly enjoyed each and every character in this book, but some really stood out for me. First of all, Ashwini and Janvier floored me with how devoted they were to each other by the end of this book. I really felt for Ashwini when we got more of her back story and what happened with her siblings. Janvier? The fact that he didn’t want to live when she was gone spoke volumes about his love.
Next up was the legion. How cool are they? I loved the parts of the book they made an appearance in. I also loved how Elena wanted to do more with them instead of just taking advantage of what they were, and why there were there. She really does bring more to the picture even though we all love Raphael so much.
The one I really want to talk about is Naasir. HOLY. COW. What an intriguing side character Naasir turned out to be. I loved him. Like really, really, loved him. I can’t even begin to describe why he was so awesome. You just need to experience all that is Naasir. I want his book. Like now.
When I looked ahead in the series, I was disappointed to see that I was going to have read through Ashwini and Janvier’s story, and then Naasir’s, before getting back to the primary and secondary characters. I felt that Ash and Janvier were tertiary characters to date, and we’d seen so little of Naasir even though he was on of Raphael’s Seven, and what we had, I didn’t like. I wasn’t looking forward to his story at all.
But I’ve been enjoying the series, especially since switching to the audio versions, and I wanted to continue to follow the overall arc. I wanted more of Illium and Aodhan in particular. So it was with some reluctance that I started on Archangel’s Shadows.
Firstly, as someone who lives in New Zealand and has never been to America, I’m glad I listened to the audio book. I could never have imagined Janvier’s accent correctly!
We knew already that Ash was pretty kickass, and a little crazy, and she didn’t disappoint in that regard. There was a big build up to finding out why Ash was holding Janvier at arm’s length, and why she refused to consider becoming an immortal. I was sceptical, I admit. I was afraid this was going to be one of those ‘if you’d only talked to me’ tropes, where she had misconceptions and it had kept them from being together for ages and once she ‘fessed up, Janvier would sort them and they would have wasted so much time. But I was pleasantly surprised. I should have known not to doubt Nalini Singh! I don’t want to give away any spoilers, because that would truly ruin the book for you, but it’s a good reason, and even Janvier has to agree that it’s a good reason.
The hunt that runs through the book helps keep the momentum going, and provides action, conflict and insights into both Ash and Janvier.
We see a lot more of Naasir in this book, and now I really want to read his book! I hadn’t expected that AT ALL. He is sweet, amusing and fascinating, and I really want to see how Nalini expands on that.
I was a tad disappointed at how neatly things were wrapped up at the end of the book, but unsurprised. And that was really the only part where things were too easy for the characters. Both Ash and Janvier stayed in character the whole book, which is good. I gave it four stars.
It is always a joy to read a Nalini Singh book. We are always treated to an exciting story full of strength and heart. I could dazzle you with a hundred adjectives and still not be able to explain how wonderful this author’s gift is.
The story begins with Ash and Janvier (pronounced – zhah(n)-v yay) during the battle that began in Archangel’s Legion. Then we catapult three weeks later to a grumpy Ashwini who’s been benched from all hunts after sustaining some pretty serious injuries during the battle. When Ash finally does get an assignment, it’s to go check on a deceased animal.
What Ash thinks is some bullsh*t assignment turns out to be the harbinger for something far worse than a trip to a veterinary clinic and more dangerous than anything the city of New York is prepared for. War is just beginning in the guild hunter world, so sit back and buckle your seatbelts because this ride might just get a bit deadly.
I absolutely LOVED this book! Nalini Singh threw just about everything in there. We are treated to several points of view from Ash and Janvier, Raphael and Elena, Dimitri and a little bit of Illium! We also get to see a lot more of Nassir. I LOVED Nassir! He is…he’s just…I cannot WAIT for his book! You’ll have to read to find out why I’m so speechless.
We are also treated to Dimitri sharing the scenes of the first time he met Nassir and Illium and a little about how the pair were as children. Aodhan got a little more page time also and the archangel Titus makes an appearance as well.
And then there is the super sexy bayou beau, and Ash’s adversary, Janvier. Janvier is GOR-GEOUS! With green eyes, dark brown hair and Cajun accent made for sin, Janvier held all my attention, as well as every other female and even some males. But Janvier only has eyes for one woman.
“She is my eternity, Louis.”
Totally swoon-worthy, Janvier was so romantic and tentative to Ash. You could tell how completely in love with her he is. Theirs is a beautifully fragile love story.
Ash is fighting some huge personal demons and is always keeping Janvier at arm’s length. She is afraid that if she tells him the truth, he won’t want to hang around anymore and that fact alone would shatter Ash.
In previous books, she is portrayed as a kick-ass guild hunter with fire in her veins. In this book, we get to the heart of Ash’s internal pain and how that pain has crippled her with fear. Fear that she compartmentalizes in order to function.
Janvier is tried and true and is beside Ash every step of the way. His love for her is unbreakable. Nothing, not even her mortality will keep him from his Ashwini.
The couple first met in the novella, Angels’ Pawn and I’ve been waiting for their story to come to pass. It was masterfully delivered and it’s just incredible. If you haven’t read Nalini Singh yet, I highly encourage you to do so.
Now, my question to the author is…Who will take center stage in the next book??????
***I’d like to give a HUGE thank you to the publisher for gifting me the ARC in exchange for an honest review written in 2014. All conclusions reached are my own***
Audiobook, borrowed through the Audible romance package.
While I’ve been enjoying this series, up until this book it was mostly just okay or four star reads. This has, by far, been my favorite book in the series to this point. I loved all of the characters and being able to follow along with Elena/Raphael and Ash/Janvier. It all worked very well together and the pacing was really good.
The hunt for the bad guy and learning more about Ash’s power kept me glued to my headphones. And then the somewhat comic relief of hearing about Elena and her Archangel mother-in-law and the block party she planned.
Loved Ash and Janvier.
I so totally loved Ash and Janvier’s book!
Ash is such a cool character, her gift is so interesting but i see where she thinks of it as a cruse ,if i was in her shoes i would feel the same , i loved when she finally stopped letting fear rule her and that she told Janvier the truth, it was such a heartbreaking scene between the 2 of them .
(Sigh)Janvier is so totally dreamy 🙂 i love that he is so full of life & it was great to see him and Ash together, they really bring out the best in each other ,loved learning more about both their pasts & seeing what they have been though !
I also loved Naasir in this book ,he’s so different from all the others in this series and i can not wait to see what’s in store for him 🙂
Loved Elena and Raphael in this book even though they didn’t have huge part in it .
Overall this book was awesome and i am so totally in love with this series ,Nalini Singh writes a world that is so incredibly interesting and filled with such awesome characters that you will never want it to end .
Archangel’s Shadows is book seven in the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh. We get our kickass Guild Hunter and our darling Cajun hottie while adding in an intriguing mystery that will pull you in and keep you engrossed.
Ash has this tough exterior which makes her easy to like. We are treated to some major revelations on of her past that are shocking. It’s sad, but also adds a great deal more depth to her character.
Janvier I feel in love with. He’s an easy character to love. You see from the first page that he loves Ash unconditionally and it only becomes more obvious as the story progresses.
The entire cast of characters is present and we get more on each. One we have not seen much of is Naasir, until now. There’s still so much more to discover about him and I’m excited to read his story and see who Singh focuses on next.
Archangel’s Shadows was the perfect blend of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. This story is full of mystery, suspense, and action. Ash and Janvier’s story was deliciously gripping and satisfying.
Rated: 4 Stars
Ash & Javier’s story was, of course, stellar. But what continues to get better with each book of this series is the way the author weaves together an impossibly large cast, new paranormal abilities and a complex shifting political scene as they recover from battle. There are so many layers to this book, and I loved them all!
I really do love reading this series. I really enjoyed reading this book as it gave us so much inside to what all of our favourite characters are up to.
Archangels Shadow mostly follows Ash and Janvier‘s story as they hunt down what has caused a dog and young girl to turn to a mummified corpse. To finally be able to witness Ash and Janviers feelings for each other to finally take over has been one wonderful ride.
This book has so many of our favourite characters like Raphael, Elena, Dmitri, Honor, Naasir and Illium…
I can’t wait to see what happens in Archangel’s Enigma.
3 stars – I liked it
Ashwini and Janvier are working a case involving tracking down a killer. Along the way Ash finally admits her feelings for Janvier but their relationship still might not survive her secret.
I have liked Ash and Janvier from the very beginning and I was so glad to see they had a whole book. I knew when these two characters were flirting in Angel’s Pawn that their relationship was going to be an emotional one. Ash has kept everyone at a distance because of her ability but with Janvier she can let go, which is a struggle for her. We finally get her backstory in this book and it really helps you understand why she has kept him at a distance. It was very emotional and heartbreaking for Ash and her family.
Janvier was flirtatious as ever but we also got to see his more serious side. He really loves Ash and it shows in his actions and words. I loved that he is protective of her but never gets in her way, or prevents her from doing her job. Once he learns about Ash’s past he takes it seriously and is determined to enjoy every moment he can with her. These two just make a great couple and a great hunter team.
I also enjoyed the scenes with Elena, Raphael, and Nassir. Nassir is now my favorite vampire and I can’t wait to learn more about him. Elena and Raphael are growing into a strong couple and I love seeing them change the angel world. Overall, I enjoyed this story a lot and can’t wait to read the next one.
Trigger Warnings: Discussions of forced institutionalization and mental illness. Also the case involves rape and abuse.
This was the seventh instalment in the Guild Hunter world it takes place in the aftermath of the battle for the city.
Not only do we again get to catch her up with Raphael and Elena but we also get to shine the spotlight on Ashwini and Janvier who I’ve been dying to learn more about.
Ash is a Hunter for the guild and Janvier a smooth-talking charming Cajun vampire.
These two have been playing the long game indulging in a unique courtship that involves plenty of flirting knives and innuendos.
Janvier wants his Ashblade badly and makes no secret of the fact that he considers her his Hunter, but as much as Ash also longs for his affections she is also keeping secrets ones she thinks will impact his feelings for her, The distance she keeps is a form of protection for him as well as her.
But with strange occurrences happening in the vampire quarter the two are yet again pushed together as they are called to investigate.
This proximity will finally be make or break for them as Ash finally finds the courage to open up to her Cajun vamp.
I also loved that we got to learn more about Naasir he is so intriguing and what we learned about him here has only further stoked my interest.
I adore that he is totally an original and it will take a special mate to truly understand and appreciate him.
I also loved his take on relationships whilst he was conversing with Ash about wanting a mate of his own.
This was a diverse episode that I really enjoyed this is a fabulous series that keeps on giving and I’m looking forward to the next instalment.
Before I sign off got to say the ending here was so poignant and Janvier and his Cher make such a lovely pair.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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I loved it. Definitely recommend it. There are so many bits and pieces about Ash and Janvier in the other books I was excited to read this one. I wasn’t disappointed.
This has got to be one of my most favorite couples in the series. Janvier and Ashwini have always fought well side by side. Since the first time they laid eyes on one another, that instinct kicked in where they knew they were bound to be together, but Ashwini always fought against her attraction for she was bearing a secret that would keep her from living a long and fulfilled, happy life.
Although Janvier is known for his skill at fighting, the Cajun vampire holds an affection for his Ashblade that makes me gush from head to toe. Seriously, guys. This man made me swoon so much. I felt such a strong connection between these two and Nalini didn’t deny us that epic moment for too long. I mean, they’ve only been playing this game of tug-of-war for just a few years now. About time, one of them took the plunge to act on their feelings.
I’m having a hard time expressing my love for this story. Everything that Ashwini holds so dear to her heart brought about so many emotions. This woman leads her life with an iron fist and the mission she is assigned alongside Janvier proves how determined she is as a hunter to seek out the murderer of a victim that was found dead. She holds this case dear to her heart and works it as if it were her last.
Raphael and Elena make a few appearances and I was happy to see how much their relationship has grown. The compassion between them is electrifying as always. I just love this series more and more with each book that I read. I know that this review is focused on the relationship more so than the action, but don’t worry. That’s all still woven into the story as well.
I love the Guild Hunter series and can’t wait to be caught up with this series soon finally. I need to catch up since the next book comes out at the end of this year (2020). I’m enjoying this series, and I love how Nalini Singh has each book follow along in the story. Not every book has the same main characters, but the first three books in this series have Elena and Raphael as the main characters.
In the seventh book, though, readers will be ecstatic to find out its finally Janvier and Ashwini’s story. I have wanted their full story since I read their novella, Angel’s Pawn.
These two characters at first had a hate/love relationship, until this book. I fell hard for the sweet-talking tough Cajun Vampire, Janvier. First off, he cares for the kick-butt Guild Hunter, Ashwini, even if she doesn’t want him to care because of what may end up happening to her later on in life. Second off, he’s always there to help with her missions and vice-versa. They are inseparable, and everyone knows it. Finally, Janvier is one sexy Vampire, and he knows it.
Ashwini is one of my favorite Guild Hunters because she’s a gifted tracker and can sense secrets, once she touches someone. Unfortunately, she considers it a curse because of what happened to one of her family members that have that same ability. Readers will get to find out more about Ashwini’s past in this book, and it’s a heartbreaking one story. Be prepared to have tissues on hand. I felt for Ashwini in this book and loved getting to know her as a whole.
In this book, Ashwini is tasked to find a killer who is leaving bodies in the city that just got over a brutal battle. (You’ll need to read the previous book for that battle. It was an awful one.) Raphael’s beloved city is still trying to recover from it, but it’s up to Ashwini and Janvier to uncover who is behind the killings. This is when Ashwini and Janvier’s connection with each other is going to grow more in this book. Janvier’s unconditional love of Ashwini is all over in this book, and I wanted these two to be together. Ashwini kept pushing him away, though, but she has her reasons.
Nalini Singh does a fantastic job of writing this PNR with a good mixture of suspense, action, and fantasy elements. She has become a favorite author of mine since she has everything in her stories. Her books are addicting, and the characters are unforgettable. I wish this series would become a series on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or another similar streaming service.
I love how Nalini Singh has the other characters that have an appearance in this book, which include Elena, Raphael, Dimitri, Naasir, Bluebell, etc. are all in this story. This is one of many reasons why I love Nalini’s writing style because she has every one of her characters in the storyline. One character that I’m curious to find out more bout Naasir after getting more of him in this book. There is something about him, and I’m happy to know that the next book in the series is his book.
Overall, this book gets 4.5-stars, and I highly recommend it to readers that love PNR and Urban Fantasy books/series. I do recommend reading these books in order because Nalini has each book connect to the next one in the series. Each book leads up to something bigger to come, and I can’t wait to catch up.
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!
One of the best series ever. Have to read in order. This is more of a build up to the next book but still a wonderful installment to the series.
Technically this was Ashwini and Janvier’s story. Instead of solely focusing on them, this was more of an update of all the side characters. We also got more of our beloved couple, Raphael and Elena. As much as I love the side characters, this is what I seem to like more with this particular series.
I truly enjoyed each and every character in this book, but some really stood out for me. First of all, Ashwini and Janvier floored me with how devoted they were to each other by the end of this book. I really felt for Ashwini when we got more of her back story and what happened with her siblings. Janvier? The fact that he didn’t want to live when she was gone spoke volumes about his love.
Next up was the legion. How cool are they? I loved the parts of the book they made an appearance in. I also loved how Elena wanted to do more with them instead of just taking advantage of what they were, and why there were there. She really does bring more to the picture even though we all love Raphael so much.
The one I really want to talk about is Naasir. HOLY. COW. What an intriguing side character Naasir turned out to be. I loved him. Like really, really, loved him. I can’t even begin to describe why he was so awesome. You just need to experience all that is Naasir. I want his book. Like now.