Archangel’s Kiss (Guild Hunter #2) – Nalini Singh
Hachette Gollancz, 2010
326 pages
RRP: AU$22.99
ISBN: 978-057-509574-8

Reviewed by Liz Grzyb

A sequel to Angels’ Blood, Archangel’s Kiss continues the story of Elena Deveraux, a Guild Hunter who falls in love with Raphael, Archangel of New York City. Now that she has become involved in the affairs of the angels and archangels, she finds it difficult to entangle herself.

(Warning: the following review contains mild spoilers for the first novel)

After almost dying in her quest to help Raphael in Angels’ Blood, Elena’s life is saved by Raphael changing her somewhat. The first part of this novel is mainly concerned with how Elena learns to cope with her new abilities, away from the human world. After the non-stop action of the first novel, this leisurely opening is a bit of a surprise, however Singh uses this to increase the tension between the hero and heroine.

The action does eventually heat up as various vampires and angels are found hurt around the angels’ Refuge and Elena begins training. This, along with the impending Ball being held by the fearsome Lijuan, the oldest and most “evolved” archangel, helps to pick up the pace of the initially slow-moving plot. Lijuan might have a soft spot for Raphael, but she certainly doesn’t care about Elena beyond her curiosity. Old friends from the first novel are reintroduced, such as the viciously seductive Michaela, and Elena is forced to fight her own demons from her childhood.

Disappointingly, this book didn’t keep me up turning the pages to find out what happens next like the first one did. However, some will find it more fulfilling as the relationship between Elena and Raphael continues to sizzle at an even higher temperature than in Angels’ Blood!