Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Retro-Review: Angel's Blood (Guild Hunter Series, Book 1) by Nalini Singh

I won an ARC of Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh at her website before the book first released in 2009. At that time, although I didn't have my blog, I wrote a reader's review and posted it on a message board.

I loved this first book and I can't believe I'm behind on this series, especially since I also read and loved the follow-up short story Angel's Pawn.  I decided to read this review to refresh my memory about the series and the book and decided to post an edited (shorter *snort*) version of my original review. I will definitely be catching up with this series!

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Nalini Singh, known for the tight world building in her paranormal romance Psy/Changeling Series, doesn't disappoint with Angel's Blood. In this, the beginning of her new UF/Romance series, expect to find the starting blocks to a new intriguing world full of possibilities. And what a start it is! Singh has already proven that world building is one of her many talents, and Angel's Blood is obviously just the beginning of another great series.

Singh uses an alternate earth where archangels, angels, vampires, vampire hunters and humans live in relative harmony and out in the open. Here's how they all interact with each other. Called the Cadre of 10, there are only ten archangels in existence, but they are powerful and rule the world by territory. Archangels and angels are the only ones who can make vampires. Vampires are then bound to the angel who “makes” them for a period of 100 years through a "contract." Vampire hunters work for the Guild of Hunters and their job is to hunt down those vampires who break contracts (or run away) with the angels before the 100 year deadline expires. Humans mix with vampires socially, marry them, and feed them if they so desire (or in some cases even if they don’t).

Raphael, the Archangel of New York, is our hero and he is ruthless, cold and feared. He is old, although not the oldest of his kind. He is also a beautiful, arrogant, sexy hawt and complex character; one that I loved from the first. Through Raphael, Ms. Singh gives the reader an understanding of what the immortals are, or could be. Although there are still mysteries about him at the end of the story and getting to know him is a slow process, Raphael's character is well developed.

Elena, our heroine, is a born vampire hunter – not trained -- and is considered the best at her job within the Guild of Hunters. She can smell, sense, track, and capture vampires, plus as a warrior is stronger than a regular human. Her past is both sad and terrifying and that gives her a vulnerability that makes her a more sympathetic character. There are some aspects to Elena’s character that I still don’t understand and hope to see explored in the future. It took me a while to appreciate Elena's character, however once I did, I fully embraced her as the heroine.

There's also a cast of gorgeous and dangerous secondary characters that I know we’ll be encountering in future installments. Some of these secondary characters were better developed than others, but all were fascinating. Other characters were kept in the periphery and not developed yet, although there's no doubt we'll see their full development in the future.

Raphael engages Elena for a dangerous mission. He wants her to hunt, not a vampire, but another Archangel. This is a suicide mission, since Archangels are immortal and this particular one is more dangerous than most. Both Elena and Raphael prove themselves to be worthy of being our protagonists when confronted with this challenge. Raphael’s commitment to what must be done is admirable, even when confronted with tough decisions, and Elena definitely lives up to her reputation of being the “best.” There are no moments where you wonder why she was chosen for the mission. She delivers the goods, and does it by whatever means necessary. This part of the story line develops slowly and, at times, too slowly for me. I found myself eager to get to the action. The last third of the book finally gave me what I was waiting for.

Ms. Singh labeled this series an Urban Fantasy/Romance. The first thing that I noticed about this book was that it is not written in the first person from the female’s point of view, as most UF books are presented. Refreshing, I’m sure, for most UF readers. Singh, however, keeps some of the elements that make UF the genre that attracts so many readers: the strong heroine, the urban setting, a conflict that will not be easily solved and therefore will need further installments in the series for it to be properly addressed.

She managed to do all of the above, while writing a romance worth reading as well. Yes, there IS romance in this book, one with a satisfying conclusion. The interactions between the Archangel Raphael and Elena are fraught with tension and heat from beginning to end. Raphael is powerful, ruthless, frightening and one sexy archangel. Elena's personality is complex and full of contradictions. She is strong talented and hardheaded, yet she's also vulnerable, frightened and sexy. Elena also tends to alienate almost everyone she encounters on her way. Together, Raphael and Elena make for an explosive combination.

Ms. Singh has done an excellent job of combining the best of both worlds, UF and Romance, with this installment. I am more than looking forward to the next installment.

Category: Urban Fantasy Romance
Series: Guild Hunter, Book 1
Release Date: March 3, 2009
Rating: A-

Original review posted on The Phade February 2, 2009

6 comments:

  1. Oh, Hils. I cannot tell you how awesome it was for me to see this post in my feeds. I was lucky to have had the chance to read this book just before it was released and was simply over the moon for it when I did. Nalini's world building is phenomenal and her characters so wonderfully developed. For some unexplicable reason... and I'm near embarrassed over this based on how much I LOVED Angels' Blood, I still have not read the second book! And now the third book is to be released in about two weeks, right?

    I, too, have GOT to remedy this and get up to speed with this series. I really want to re-read Angels' Blood, but not completely sure I want to invest the time when I have SO many books calling to me right now. Did you get more out of the story when you read it the second time?

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  2. Lovely review Hils. Am looking forward to reading the third book, which is due out later this month. I liked Elena more in the second book, but I think that's because I find it hard to relate to....competent, self confident heroines :) I like characters who are...searching out who they are more *grin*

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  3. Christine, I feel exactly the same way you do about this series and this book. I loved the world building and the characters she introduced in this book. Looking back I just don't remember why I'm behind on this series.

    Orannia, it took me a while to like or appreciate Elena's character, but I did like her by the end of the story. She was competent, but there was more to her... and I think that's what Singh does so well, those nuances in her characters. I'm reading the second one soon. Hope I like it as much as you did!

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  4. Thanks for jogging my memory on this one. I read it, enjoyed it then didn't read the next one. It's another series I need to catch up on. :)

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  5. Wonderful review! I loved this book as well and the books only get better! I just finished the 3rd book and want to now go back, especially after your review, and read book 1 all over again.

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  6. Leslie, I needed a refresher and I remember taking detailed notes on this book. This one and WVMP as two series I really enjoye and let fall by the wayside. I must remedy that. :)

    Tracy, that's so good to know! Especially about that 3rd upcoming book. ;P It's wonderful news! I'll probably do one of those marathon 2nd and 3rd book readings. :)

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