Review: Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter #2) by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Kiss
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Guild Hunter #2

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find herself changed—an angel with wings the colors of midnight and dawn—but her fragile body needs time to heal before she can take flight. Her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel, Raphael, is used to being in control—especially when it comes to the woman he considers his own. But Elena has never done well with authority.
They've barely begun to understand each other when Raphael receives an invitation to a ball from the archangel, Lijuan. To refuse would be a sign of fatal weakness, so Raphael must ready Elena for the flight to Beijing—and to the nightmare that awaits them there. Ancient and without conscience, Lijuan holds a power that lies with the dead. And she has organized the most perfect and most vicious of welcomes for Elena.

“They didn't understand that she held his heart, held it so utterly that there was nothing he wouldn't do, no line he wouldn't cross to keep her safe.”

Archangel’s kiss is the second book in the Guild hunter series and it picks up exactly were the previous left off.

After almost dying Elena wakes up from a year long coma to find herself altered. Elena has become an angel. Raphael has made her the impossible. The first angel ever to be made.

But with Elena’s new powers she’s in more danger than ever. In order to keep her safe, Raphael takes her to the refuge (a place where all the baby angels are brought up) so that she can regain her powers. Strange things begin to occur to the refuge and so Elena and Raphael must find the one threatening the refuge’s peace.

Once again, I was surprised by Nalini’s angels. The eldest of the archangels, Lijuan, was so corrupted by her growing powers that she even started raising the dead. After finding out about Elena, the first angel to be made, she decides to throw a ball in her honor in Beijing. That actually is what urges Elena to learn to control her powers asap.

Raphael, who I didn’t quite like that much, was actually very supportive to Elena that even ordered his sever (a group of seven powerful and trusted warriors consisted of both angels and vampires) to train her. On the other hand, Elena was so stubborn. She overestimated her powers and put everyone in grave danger.

Besides that though, she was a strong character who was hunted by her past. I felt so bad for her. She had to endure horrible things and the only parent she had, treated her like a stranger. It was so painful reading her flashbacks but I think that her past made her the person she’s now. Deep down she was the vulnerable child that had just lost her mother and sisters. Raphael was the perfect match for her. Partly because he had the same horrible past as Elena and partly because he truly cared for her. They respected each other and acknowledged each other’s feelings.

One thing I really liked was the action. I loved the flying and fighting lessons, the history and political lessons by both Raphael and Jessamy. Were very helpful in understanding the archangels world.

Filled with romance, vampires, angels, hunters and two incredible main characters, archangel’s kiss will definitely capture your attention.