Reviews

Archangel's Heart by Nalini Singh

megs_k's review

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3.0

It is good to have a weakness. ~ Nalini Singh

kate_and_books's review against another edition

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5.0

4.5 Stars

Amazing, brilliant, spectacular. Exactly what I love to read when it comes to PNR.

This is different to the other books and I always love coming back to Raphael and Elena as a couple. One of my favourite couples of all time. The pace is slower compared to the others and doesn’t make it any less exciting in my eyes but I was wondering the whole time when some dead victims were going to turn up. In comparison to the other books there is no real blood, gore, mayhem and the cruelty of angels one could even say that this book is demure.

But you know I don’t care…. I’m a diehard Guild Hunter fan and fingers crossed that will never ever frigging change. But saying that I always get antsy as I go into a panic and think what if I won’t like it? The beginning was hard as I was nervous but the more I read the more I loved.

The Cascade has been on hold for two years. Two years with no sighting of the Archangel of Death and everyone is waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The other shoe drops in form of an invite that the Cadre have no choice but to attend.
The Luminata have invited them to Morocco. And this is when I had a Dan Brown Flashback. Couldn’t you have used something else to have described this group?

All the Cadre and the two Ancients must attend if they are not to lose their land. Although I mentioned the lack of blood, gore and mayhem. Angel politics is just as amusing. Especially when it turns personally Elena & Raphael. Ms. Singh has done it again and this book I just love. The twist and turns and the backstory. Amazing.

I was desperate for it to be about Bluebell & Sparkle. D-E-S-P-E-R-A-T-E but we didn’t get it and you know that is okay as long as WE do get it then all is good. But Ms. Singh you are a teasing us. But I can also see what she did here what with laying more groundwork for the relationship dynamics of the lovely Bluebell & Sparkle. We get to see more of Sparkle and what I did see of him I absolutely love.

A lot of questions are still open but that just leaves more possibilities in the future. I’d love to see a book about Izak and Xander. They are baby angels compared to the others.
Thankfully Venom & Sorrow will be up next. Not long now.

coralivashkov's review

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5.0

I just love the wildfire couple, Elena & Raphael. The evolution of their relationship is amazing, more mature as they become more trustworthy to each other.
But I really want to know what’ll happen with Lijuan, I mean this book was supposed to be about her situation and the Cadre, but it ended up with the craziness of the Luminata. I’m more intrigued than ever!

claire_loves_books's review against another edition

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3.0

I enjoyed this but it was slow going in places, there was a lot of meetings, political manoeuvring and intrigue and it felt kind of repetitive by the end. The story didn't feel like it moved forward much, it felt like a bit of a tangent. I'd never heard of the Luminata before (that I remember- they may well have been mentioned but I don't think they played a bit part in any of the previous books) so it felt a bit like it came out of nowhere. The intrigue with the Luminata took up so much of the book, it's only right at the end that we get into the 'main plot' - Lijuan's disappearance.

I liked that Raphael and Elena's relationship is strengthening further and this book did seem to move a lot of the other personal relationships forward as well.

I'm not opposed to character lead novels and I liked that we got to see deeper into some characters and personal development for others, I just wish the plot would have moved forward as well, it felt like quite a slow moving book.

meaganpauli's review against another edition

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4.0

Elena's a toddler and Raphael is evolving? I enjoyed this and the family reunited, but let's get back to finding true love with the seven.

lailybibliography's review

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3.0

3.5/5 stars

Phew, this review was way longer than planned.

Enjoyed the more political and world-building focus. It’s been a while since I’ve been back to this series and this was a pretty good welcome back instalment. Raphael and Elena’s relationship was also far better written than in most previous books, which I really appreciated, but ultimately, I’m still much more interested in the Seven. Not to mention the vastness of the world outside of Raphael’s court. The Luminata and it’s cultist practices were an interesting choice that deviated from the overused “Lijuan is evil” plot, and weaving Elena’s maternal family backstory with its machinations was great.

However, and this is a *big* caveat, the series’ “I’m not like other girls” and casual misogyny continues to bother the hell out of me. Every female character that isn’t Elena or isn’t actively her family/friend is automatically villanized to no end. And that negative framing is always to do with power, beauty or sex. This series is weaker for it, as is Elena because it just makes her seem like a manic pixie dream girl (which admittedly, she kind of is). Because of this outdated and pathetic trope, every female archangel that isn’t Caliane is a villainous character, and Caliane’s the one who murdered thousands in rage before. Man, this series has its priorities set. Badly. It’s also highly irritating to see that literally every female character not related to Raphael wants to fuck him. I don’t care how special or hot he is. There is no man *that* irresistible. Also, FYI, Hannah is freaking amazing and deserves so much better than the snarky comments the narrative affords her. Calling women “delicate flowers” is never the answer; not in fiction, not in real life.

As for future expectations, I need my Bluebell and Sparkle novel. You know, for queer therapeutic purposes. I need more of my people in this world. And also just, more novels centring on the Seven and their partners. (Hint hint: I N E E D more Jason and Mahiya, my beautiful spying angels.) They’re the ones that truly make this series shine for me. Off to Venom’s book now!

angels_gp17's review

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5.0


Archangel’s Heart starts us off two years after Archangel's Enigma ended. It’s full of secrets and mysteries. The storyline focusing on Elena and Raphael, but their is no shortage of previous and new characters. Be prepared for surprises by certain Archangels and watch our favorite hunter do what she does best!

WOW. The storyline takes a turn that I was not expecting. We get to meet a new sect, the Luminata. See all the Cadre and go deeper with them. Discover about Elena’s heritage and also get to see and dig a little deeper into Aodhan aka Sparkle one of Raphael’s Seven. Aodhan doesn't like to be touched, but in this installment we see changes and growth, which made my heart sing.

This was Urban Fantasy at it’s finest. So much AWESOMENESS happens. I was sucked in and couldn't put the book down. I went through a menagerie of emotions and had tears at the end. That ending, just WOW. I’m not sure what is next, but I’m excited to see what will happen.

Rated: 4.5 Stars

angelsgp-seethisreview-blure

tessisreading2's review

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3.0

Claustrophobic monastery mystery starring angels. It's like a fantasy Poirot novel.

hinalovestoread's review

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4.0

I don't know where to start.

A 4.5 for this one that I loved!

claire_loves_books's review against another edition

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3.0

I enjoyed this but it was slow going in places, there was a lot of meetings, political manoeuvring and intrigue and it felt kind of repetitive by the end. The story didn't feel like it moved forward much, it felt like a bit of a tangent. I'd never heard of the Luminata before (that I remember- they may well have been mentioned but I don't think they played a bit part in any of the previous books) so it felt a bit like it came out of nowhere. The intrigue with the Luminata took up so much of the book, it's only right at the end that we get into the 'main plot' - Lijuan's disappearance.

I liked that Raphael and Elena's relationship is strengthening further and this book did seem to move a lot of the other personal relationships forward as well.

I'm not opposed to character lead novels and I liked that we got to see deeper into some characters and personal development for others, I just wish the plot would have moved forward as well, it felt like quite a slow moving book.