Archangel’s Light (Guild Hunter 14) by Nalini Singh-dual review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 26, 2021

Illium and Aodhan. Aodhan and Illium. For centuries they’ve been inseparable: the best of friends, closer than brothers, companions of the heart. But that was before—before darkness befell Aodhan and shattered him, body, mind, and soul. Now, at long last, Aodhan is healing, but his new-found strength and independence may come at a devastating cost—his relationship with Illium.

As they serve side by side in China, a territory yet marked by the evil of its former archangel, the secret it holds nightmarish beyond imagining, things come to an explosive decision point. Illium and Aodhan must either walk away from the relationship that has defined them—or step forward into a future that promises a bond infinitely precious in the life of an immortal…but that demands a terrifying vulnerability from two badly bruised hearts.

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SANDY’S REVIEW

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.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Angel’s Blood
Archangel’s Kiss
Archangel’s Consort
Archangel’s Blake
Angel’s Flight anthology
Archangel’s Storm
Archangel’s Legion
Archangel’s Shadows
Archangel’s Enigma
Archangel’s Heart
Archangel’s Viper
Archangel’s Prophecy
Archangel’s War
Archangel’s Sun

BARB’S REVIEW:
Archangel’s Light by Nalini Singh is the 14^th book in her fantastic Guild Hunter series.  We have been waiting a long time for Illium (Bluebell) and Aodhan’s (Sparkle) story, and once again, Nalini Singh continues to amaze us with another fantastic addition to this series.  Archangel’s Light was a wonderful story dedicated to two of our favorites.

Illium and Aodhan have been friends since childhood (over 500 years), with both growing up to be extremely close, but also very powerful.  The story picks up with Aodhan in China, as Archangel Suyin’s temporary second to help recover the horrific mess created by the deceased and evil LiJuan.  With so much to be done, and a year has passed, Raphael decides to send Illium to China to help Suyin and Aodhan.

The story goes back and forth between two timelines, Today and Yesterday. Yesterday gives us glimpses how their friendship and bond developed over the years, as toddlers, teenagers and how Sharine’s love for both boys were instrumental to how great they became.  Today follows Aodhan, Illuim, Suyin in there aim to move to a new area to be the home front, and destroy any horror left by LiJuan.   With both working together, there will be some discoveries that were horrific, proving what a nightmare LiJuan was.  I loved seeing how Raphael, Dmitri, other members of the Seven interacted with Illium and Aodhan as they grew up; as well as Elena’s fun relationship with them.  

With a year having passed, both Aodhan and Illuim had issues that needed to be resolved, especially with Aodhan now healed from his two year torturous captivity.  We have loved both Illium and Aodhan for a long time and in Archangel’s Light, their inseparable relationship borders on falling apart with each going their separate ways, or to repair their bruised hearts to become the true soulmates they were meant to be.   

Archangel’s Light was a tense, emotional and fantastic story, revolving around the disaster from the deceased archangel, and the impaired relationship of two people we have always loved.  To say too much more would be wrong, as you need to fully read Illuim and Aodhan’s story.  As in just about every book I read from Nalini Singh, I could not put this book down.    If you are new to the series, you should start where it all began. Nalini Singh is one of my top favorite authors, and if you are not reading her books, you need to start now.

Copy supplied for review