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scubacat's review
5.0
Love love love! Great short stories. And the Samaria story by Sharon Shinn was an amazing surprise! I suppose I should have guessed since the title of the book mentions angels, but I just wasn't thinking that she would write any more Samaria stories. I wish she would write more!!!
universalbookworm's review
3.0
I read a lot of Nalini Singh, and I think I've become accustomed to her writing patterns. There were very few surprises in her short story for me.
The Alphas: Origins story was fun, but was quite cliched in characters, gender roles, and slightly embarrassing in it's - captured damsel in distress story arch/
Samaria - this was a really interesting short. I will be reading more of this author.
The Alphas: Origins story was fun, but was quite cliched in characters, gender roles, and slightly embarrassing in it's - captured damsel in distress story arch/
Samaria - this was a really interesting short. I will be reading more of this author.
danicamidlil's review
Read the first story, Angel's Wolf that's part of the Guild Hunter series, but not ready to read the rest at this point. I'll come back to it I hope.
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review
4.0
3.5 stars
It is always difficult for me to review and rate books that have several short stories in them... I really liked some of the stories, but not so much other stories.
The first one was a Nalini Singh story, Angel's Wolfwith Noel and Nimra fighting their demons as well as a mysterious assasin. This would have easily gotten 5 stars from me if it was a stand-alone!
The second was by Ilona Andrews, Alphas: Origins I didn't like this so much, because the 'heroes' were very violent, and although they were there to save humanity, they didn't seem to really have any feelings for humans. They kidnapped a thirty-something woman, Karina, and her daughter Emily, and I think the fact that a child was included in all this violence is what really bothered me the most.
Nocturne by Sharon Shinn was quite good, about a school where children who were half-breeds half-angel, half-human - but wiht no angel powers. Mohria is running from both angels and humans, at the school, she figures out that a broken angel is hiding and healing in the head-mistresse's house. As she is very curious, she finds a way to got there, even if it is forbidden for all school staff and students to go to the great house. She finds Corban who is blind, and feeling sorry for himself. A friendship forms, and they both help each other. I wouldn't mind reading more about this world, and this short was well written, long enough to get to know the main characters. This would be a 4 star review if it was on it's own.
Finally, Ascension by Meljean Brook was very interesting - not really about angels, more about guardians, although it could be argued that the guardians really are angels. IT was a little difficult to get into the story, as this world is a little complicated. However, this, too is a world I'd like to learn more about. 3 stars if it had been in it's own book.
It is always difficult for me to review and rate books that have several short stories in them... I really liked some of the stories, but not so much other stories.
The first one was a Nalini Singh story, Angel's Wolfwith Noel and Nimra fighting their demons as well as a mysterious assasin. This would have easily gotten 5 stars from me if it was a stand-alone!
The second was by Ilona Andrews, Alphas: Origins I didn't like this so much, because the 'heroes' were very violent, and although they were there to save humanity, they didn't seem to really have any feelings for humans. They kidnapped a thirty-something woman, Karina, and her daughter Emily, and I think the fact that a child was included in all this violence is what really bothered me the most.
Nocturne by Sharon Shinn was quite good, about a school where children who were half-breeds half-angel, half-human - but wiht no angel powers. Mohria is running from both angels and humans, at the school, she figures out that a broken angel is hiding and healing in the head-mistresse's house. As she is very curious, she finds a way to got there, even if it is forbidden for all school staff and students to go to the great house. She finds Corban who is blind, and feeling sorry for himself. A friendship forms, and they both help each other. I wouldn't mind reading more about this world, and this short was well written, long enough to get to know the main characters. This would be a 4 star review if it was on it's own.
Finally, Ascension by Meljean Brook was very interesting - not really about angels, more about guardians, although it could be argued that the guardians really are angels. IT was a little difficult to get into the story, as this world is a little complicated. However, this, too is a world I'd like to learn more about. 3 stars if it had been in it's own book.
thriftygeek's review against another edition
4.0
Given this was a mix of short stories, I have mixed reviews. Some stories were good, and some were ok, but not really my cup of tea. But if you love stories with angels or angel type creatures it's a good read.
beauty_and_the_rose's review
DNF, i just wasn't feeling a want to continue. I may pick it up again at another time
mrhaveries's review
4.0
It was very good, I liked all the stories but I loved Nalini Singh s better.
elliefufu's review
4.0
Angels of Darkness by Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook and Sharon Shinn
Grade: B
“If you’ve never made love to an angel, I highly recommend the experience.”
Angels of darkness is an anthology of four short stories by four of the best paranormal romance and urban fantasy authors writing today. Together they take us on four separate but amazing journeys into the world of angels, vampires and supernatural creatures out to save humans. Each story is a fast paced ride of danger, adventure and most importantly love.
In Angel’s Wolf we are taken back into Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunters series and the amazing world of angles and vampires. Noel was mentioned in a previous GH book where he was tortured and broken both mentally and physically. He has been sent to New Orleans by Raphael to help the angel Nimra discover who among her court is a traitor. I love the GH series and this story fits in perfectly with the rest of the series. Both Noel and Nimra are great characters and it was very fun to watch them open up and heal some old wounds that they had and start really living again. The mystery of who the traitor in Nimra’s court was great and kept me guessing until the very end. Reading this story just reminded me how much I love this series and I can’t wait for the next installment to come out. Grade: B+
Ilona Andrews is another favorite author of mine and her Kate Daniels series is my favorite of 2011. Alphas: Origins is unlike anything I have ever read before and I mean that in the best way possible. Mrs. Andrews takes us into a world with beasts and creatures with special powers that are trying to help save human kind and the world. In this story a woman and her daughter are kidnapped and the woman, Karina, is forced to become a donor for Lucas, a man/beast who needs her blood to stay alive. This story is some urban fantasy and some science fiction all rolled together with a whole lot of darkness and I loved it. I have never really read anything like it and I found myself completely sucked into this new world and I never wanted to leave. For me this was my favorite story out of the four and I hope it turns into a full series. Grade: A
Nocturne by Sharon Shinn takes us to a boarding school for orphans where we meet Corban, an angel who is now blind and recovering from his injury in the main house on campus and Moriah, a girl with a past hiding out from a shady past and posing as the night cook in the cafeteria. As these two become friends, after so heavy pushing from Moriah, Corban starts to try to build back his life slowly with his new friend’s help. They more time they spend together the more they each want to help the other but some secrets are too big to tell and could destroy everything they each have worked so hard for. This was my least favorite story in this book and it’s mostly because I really disliked Moriah. maybe it was her approach to Corban but something about her rubbed me the wrong way and made it hard for me to read about their journey together. Grade: C
Meljean Brook writes one of my all time favorite series the Iron Seas Series, which is steampunk, so it was very fun for me to read a paranormal story from her. Ascension takes place in a small town in southern Illinois where a demon is taking over and a young vampire has been killed. Radha and Marc are both Guardians, immortals with special powers who protect humans from demons, and ex-friends and ex-lovers. Together they must solve the mystery of who this demon is and save the town from utter destruction. This was a super fun, sexy and suspenseful story and I loved it. Mrs. Brook does a great job of intertwining a fast paced crime adventure with a very heartfelt love story. The Guardians are very fascinating and I really hope that we get a full Guardian book in the future. Mrs. Brook has proved that she is a wonderful storyteller no matter what type of genre she chooses. Grade: B+
Angels of Darkness is one of the best anthologies that I have ever read. The authors in this book are amazing and so great at telling a really good tale in less then a hundred pages. Unlike most anthologies there wasn’t one story that was horrible and for the most part all were excellent. I highly recommend this book to all paranormal romance and urban fantasy readers.
Grade: B
“If you’ve never made love to an angel, I highly recommend the experience.”
Angels of darkness is an anthology of four short stories by four of the best paranormal romance and urban fantasy authors writing today. Together they take us on four separate but amazing journeys into the world of angels, vampires and supernatural creatures out to save humans. Each story is a fast paced ride of danger, adventure and most importantly love.
In Angel’s Wolf we are taken back into Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunters series and the amazing world of angles and vampires. Noel was mentioned in a previous GH book where he was tortured and broken both mentally and physically. He has been sent to New Orleans by Raphael to help the angel Nimra discover who among her court is a traitor. I love the GH series and this story fits in perfectly with the rest of the series. Both Noel and Nimra are great characters and it was very fun to watch them open up and heal some old wounds that they had and start really living again. The mystery of who the traitor in Nimra’s court was great and kept me guessing until the very end. Reading this story just reminded me how much I love this series and I can’t wait for the next installment to come out. Grade: B+
Ilona Andrews is another favorite author of mine and her Kate Daniels series is my favorite of 2011. Alphas: Origins is unlike anything I have ever read before and I mean that in the best way possible. Mrs. Andrews takes us into a world with beasts and creatures with special powers that are trying to help save human kind and the world. In this story a woman and her daughter are kidnapped and the woman, Karina, is forced to become a donor for Lucas, a man/beast who needs her blood to stay alive. This story is some urban fantasy and some science fiction all rolled together with a whole lot of darkness and I loved it. I have never really read anything like it and I found myself completely sucked into this new world and I never wanted to leave. For me this was my favorite story out of the four and I hope it turns into a full series. Grade: A
Nocturne by Sharon Shinn takes us to a boarding school for orphans where we meet Corban, an angel who is now blind and recovering from his injury in the main house on campus and Moriah, a girl with a past hiding out from a shady past and posing as the night cook in the cafeteria. As these two become friends, after so heavy pushing from Moriah, Corban starts to try to build back his life slowly with his new friend’s help. They more time they spend together the more they each want to help the other but some secrets are too big to tell and could destroy everything they each have worked so hard for. This was my least favorite story in this book and it’s mostly because I really disliked Moriah. maybe it was her approach to Corban but something about her rubbed me the wrong way and made it hard for me to read about their journey together. Grade: C
Meljean Brook writes one of my all time favorite series the Iron Seas Series, which is steampunk, so it was very fun for me to read a paranormal story from her. Ascension takes place in a small town in southern Illinois where a demon is taking over and a young vampire has been killed. Radha and Marc are both Guardians, immortals with special powers who protect humans from demons, and ex-friends and ex-lovers. Together they must solve the mystery of who this demon is and save the town from utter destruction. This was a super fun, sexy and suspenseful story and I loved it. Mrs. Brook does a great job of intertwining a fast paced crime adventure with a very heartfelt love story. The Guardians are very fascinating and I really hope that we get a full Guardian book in the future. Mrs. Brook has proved that she is a wonderful storyteller no matter what type of genre she chooses. Grade: B+
Angels of Darkness is one of the best anthologies that I have ever read. The authors in this book are amazing and so great at telling a really good tale in less then a hundred pages. Unlike most anthologies there wasn’t one story that was horrible and for the most part all were excellent. I highly recommend this book to all paranormal romance and urban fantasy readers.
emreadswhatshewants's review
5.0
Delightful insight to the Guardians' world. I loved Radha and Marc, wish there was more of them to read