Archangel's Light

The 14th novel in the Guild Hunter series This book revolves around Illium and Aodhan and their evolving friendship/romance. I have 3 issues with this book.1 most of the book, almost half is spent in flashback. While this does add context to the story/answers many lingering questions about Aodhan's past, these chapters are often only used to show things the reader already knew/assumed, and could have been used to give them a more fleshed out romance. 2 Without the many filler chapters their story is actually rather shallow with only one issue, being over protective, to act as a foil for the characters to argue about, thus realizing they love each other. also very little happens in the world around them that really matters to the overall arc of the world. 3 there are no s$x scenes in this book, something the author has never done before in this series, it almost feels like a let down to wait 14 books, she teased this pairing very early on, and feel like you are only getting half a story

4.25 star--ARCHANGEL’S LIGHT is the fourteenth full length instalment in Nalini Singh’s contemporary, adult GUILD HUNTER paranormal/fantasy romance series focusing on Archangel’s, angels, vampires, shifters and hunters. This is angels Illium aka Bluebell, and Aodhan aka Sparkles’ story line. ARCHANGEL’S LIGHT 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 as Illium and Aodhan’s story line has been building throughout the series. WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers. Told from several third person perspectives including Illium and Aodhan, using present day and memories from the past ARCHANGEL’S LIGHT follows the life long friendship to lovers relationship between angels Illium aka Bluebell, and Aodhan aka Sparkles. Illium and Aodhan’s friendship has been damaged by demons from the past. For close to two years, Illium struggled with his best friend’s disappearance, a disappearance that resulted in the torture and abuse of the friend/man/brother that he loved but with Aodhan’s rescue and return, the resulting pain left Aodhan a changed man-a broken Angel- and in this, Illium battled with their friendship going forward. Now that Aodhan was helping to rebuild LiJuan’s former stronghold in China, Illium has been tasked by Raphael to aid the reformation wherever he is needed but coming face to face with Aodhan pushed our couple to revisit the past, not only their childhood but the demons that broke the man that he loved. What ensues is the rebuilding friendship and relationship between Aodhan and Illium, and the potential fall out as LiJuan’s previous control and hold on China continues to reveal the extent of her destruction, and the resulting evil that cannot be ignored. As Illium and Aodhan continue to unearth the damage, a surprise discovery has everyone on edge, including the most powerful beings in the world. Nalini Singh reveals the background and history between our story line couple: the years spent as childhood best friends-their pain at parental loss both physical and emotional, as well as their connection to Archangel Raphael, the Cadre, and the Seven but Nalini also pulls the reader into the dark, raw and ugly side of a world controlled by Archangels and Angels, as the reader bears witness to the tragic events, abuse and torture of an Angel so coveted for what he is, that the resulting harm has left a damaged and broken man. The relationship between Aodhan and Illium is a best friends to lovers relationship wherein Aodhan struggles with his attraction to a man whom he believes continues to hold a torch for someone else. As Aodhan battles between head and heart, Illium must come to terms with the potential loss of both the friendship and love of the man he has protected all of his life. There are no $ex scenes. ARCHANGEL’S LIGHT is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, abuse and torture, recovery and love. The premise is heart breaking, emotional, and raw; the characters are energetic, broken, struggling but recovering; the romance is impassioned but is damaged by perception and misunderstanding.

Sparkle & Blue have been a united force since the first book in the series. Really satisfying to see such growth, individually and together. The flashbacks into their past days and the insights the writer gives into each of their thought processes made this an excellent read that expands and enriches the world she's been building all these years.