*This title will be released on October 4, 2011*

Title: Angels of Darkness Author: Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh,Meljean Brook, Sharon Shinn Series: Anthology – Alphas, Guild Hunter #4.5, The Guardians #7.5, Samaria Cover Art: N/A Genre: Paranormal Romance Excerpt: Yes Source: Publisher Reviewed by: Abigail Paperback: 416 pages Publisher: Berkley Trade (October 4, 2011) ISBN-10: 0425243125 ISBN-13: 978-0425243121 Sexual Content: See each story Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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The blogging community is small and the paranormal blogging community even smaller.  We all know each other to some degree.  One of the bloggers I know better than most is Angela from Dark Faerie Tales.  She and I launched our blogs within a month of each other in 2009 and she has been an invaluable resource, sounding board, co-host, and fast friend ever since.

Until now…

It pains me to have to call her out, but Angela is a Blogger Bully! 

We talk shop all the time and always recommend books to each other.  But recently, it’s gotten ugly.  See I haven’t read one of Angela’s favorite series, and she hasn’t read one of mine.  Naturally we started trash talking and threatening each other until…Blogger Bully was born. 

Once a month, Angela and I will each bully each other into reading a book we love that the other hasn’t read.  First up for me is Nalini Singh’s ARCHANGEL’S KISS while Angela will tackle Ilona Andrews’ MAGIC BITES today on her site…

 

Title: Angels’ Blood Author: Nalini Singh Series: Guild Hunter #1 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Paranormal Romance Excerpt: Yes Source: Bought Reviewed by: Abigail Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (March 3, 2009) ISBN-10: 0425226921 ISBN-13: 978-0425226926 Sexual Content: Two graphic sex scenes. Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & put this author on your watch list.

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Description

USA Today bestselling author Nalini Singh introduces a world of beauty and bloodlust, where angels hold sway over vampires…

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she's the best—but she doesn't know if she's good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, only one thing is clear—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 doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break…

Review

I always get a little uneasy reading books about angels because I never know how much religion is going to get pulled in and mucked around with.  I wish more authors would handle them the way Nalini Singh does: her angels have absolutely zero religious connotations.  They are simply unbelievably powerful beings with wings.  In her mythology, they are the creators and masters of vampires.  No halos or divine callings, they simply rule...everything.

Since this is paranormal romance, I have to start with the love story.  The romance is hot and very well paced.  Elena and Raphael circle each other like prey and predator, attacking and withdrawing, attacking and withdrawing in a dance that beautifully blurs the line between aggression and passion.   The two are perfectly matched.  Elena is pure feminine strength with enough life experience and street smarts to know how far she can push the scary/sexy Archangel Raphael.  He is barely controlled fury with iron like control.  It was fascinating to watch his estimation of Elena grow from useful to intriguing to captivating.  The transition was very believable considering the kind of character he is.  It wasn’t love at first sight for these two—far from it—they each had to win the other’s respect before they began to see each other in a romantic light.  Really well done in that respect.

And even though this was paranormal romance, the worldbuilding was extremely well developed.  The origin of vampires and their relationship with angels was a unique idea that offered a really fun playground for these characters.  Vampires are usually at the top of the food chain and I loved seeing them in a subservient role.  But vampires never willingly submit to anyone which necessitated the need for Hunters, humans who tag, bag and return them to their angel masters.

Overall, I’m so glad I got bullied into starting this series.  It’s already one of the better paranormal romances I’ve read with cool mythology, creepy villains, hot vampires and even hotter angels.  And the best thing about ANGEL’S BLOOD?  The ending is a complete shocker that fearlessly promises to deliver an even better follow up.  If Nalini Singh was willing to take this kind of risk in her series debut, I can’t wait to see what she does in ARCHANGEL’S KISS. 

 

Previous Books in Series	Also Reviewed By:
Angels' Pawn (Guild Hunter, #0.5 prequel)	Book Chick City Literary Escapism ParaNormalRomance