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Archangel's Light
by
Nalini Singh
It is part of the Guild Hunter #14 series and is a paranormal romance in a Kindle edition that was published by Berkley on October 26, 2021 and has 397 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Must Love Hellhounds, Kiss of Snow, An Enchanted Season, Archangel's Blade, Angels of Darkness, Lord of the Abyss, Desert Warrior, Angels' Flight, Tangle of Need, Play of Passion, Archangel's Storm, Wild Invitation, Heart of Obsidian, Archangel's Legion, "Hide and Seek", "Making Dinner", Shield of Winter, "A Conversation", "Home", Angels' Pawn, "New Year's Kisses", Night Shift, "Weapons Training", "Zoë's Workshop", "Wild Night", Archangel's Shadows, Archangel’s Enigma, Shards of Hope, “Fairy Balloons”, “An Unexpected Guest”, Allegiance of Honor, "The Song of the Wolf", Silver Silence, Archangel’s Heart, Archangel’s Viper, Ocean Light, "Elena's School of Horror", Cherish Hard, "Ain’t No Party Like A Bear Party", Archangel's Prophecy, "One Night At The Refuge", "Secret Things", Rebel Hard, Rock Hard, Wolf Rain, "Clean and Dirty", "Wolf School", "Naya’s Most Important Visitors", "Grocery Shopping", "The Cannibal Princess", "A Gift for Kit", "Movie Night", "Kaleb and Sahara’s Meeting with Sascha and Lucas", "Housewarming at the Orchard", "Christmas in the Kitchen", "Stalking Hawke", "Romancing Drew", "Sunday Morning", "Rowan", "Baubles & Ben", Wild Embrace, Love Hard, Rock Addiction, "Music Awards", Rock Courtship, "Rock Courtship Memo"s, Rock Redemption, "Sunshine", Rock Wedding, "With This Memo", "That Lip Ring…", A Madness of Sunshine, "Beary Tiny Ghosts", Alpha Night, "A Wedding Breakfast", "Poker Night", "Knives and Sheaths", "Seedlings", "Star Kissed", "A Walk on the Cliffs", "Wild Cat Blues", Slave to Sensation, Caressed by Ice, Visions of Heat, Kiss Hard, Angels' Blood, Archangel's Kiss, Archangel's War, Archangel's Sun, Archangel's Resurrection, Last Guard, “A Perfect Moment”, "Music in the Rain", Storm Echo, Resonance Surge, "Mate", “New Year’s Eve”
Fourteenth in the Guild Hunter paranormal romance series set in an alternate history and revolving around the archangels who rule the world. It’s been a year since Archangel’s War, 12. The couple focus is on Illium and Aodhan. If you’re interested, there is a chronological listing of the Guild Hunter books on my website.
My Take
It begins with Illium’s childhood and his first meeting with Aodhan to remind us of the depth of their friendship, for the conflict in Archangel’s Light is of the battle between Illium and Aodhan about the tenor of their friendship.
Singh continues to flip back and forth to their childhood, their past, and their today throughout the story. I did enjoy Singh’s description of both angels and what they loved doing in their childhood. Although, it’s a sad commentary of Aegaeon and how he treats his young son. The role Raphael played in Illium’s past. Thankfully, Illium has better friends, better “family”. But it also explores the damage done to each angel.
Aodhan is evolving in his character arc as well, discovering his love for Manhattan and its busyness — it’s sweet that Aodhan has progressed so well in his character arc that he actually misses the bustle of New York AND his friends — horror movie night with Elena and popcorn. It’s a welcome change from the recovery he’s been undergoing for the past 200 years. However, he has been stiff with Illium, his best friend and an angel who has looked out for him, cared for him, ever since his disappearance and recovery. Now Illium has nothing. It does provide plenty of time for Illium to think about what friendship is, to remember Catalina’s definition of love. For Aodhan to contemplate how much Illium’s behavior toward him has changed and how it feels. Kaia, today’s Kai, is also a point of conflict between the two, and Illium evolves in his character arc. And we get more back history on Illium’s relationship and punishment as a result. Sharine has her own talks with Illium and her past issues — Sharine believes that Illium got his charm for his father.
Which tells us that Singh is using third person global subjective point-of-view, primarily from Aodhan’s and Illium’s perspectives but from other characters as well.
Ooh, “angry stew”, lol. It is tempting to try and make it.
We hear of Suyin’s efforts to reclaim the China she had known. We certainly learn more than we want to know about Lijuan’s China. Ick. Jason has heard rumors that do not bode well for Suyin.
Illium also ruminates on the differences between immortals and mortals in how they view, use, time.
I love that Elena has kept the Legion’s home going for them. All that hope. Singh also notes how Ellie has changed the mortals of New York City, their relationship with the angels. I also love Singh’s definition of Aodhan and Illium’s friendship and its forging. The strongest friendship.
FINALLY, we find out why Aodhan is as damaged as he is. And it is so awfully, incredibly appalling! How can these sick jerks think this is love!! On the bright side, we do find out where the “Sparkle” came from!
It’s mostly a character-driven story but with plenty of action that showcases character issues and reminds us of how awful Lijuan was.
It just goes to show, be nice to everyone.
The Story
There are mutterings amongst the older angels about Suyin’s “emergency” ascension to ruler of China, yet they still fear the death fog. And Raphael sends an angry Illium to Aodhan and China.
Suyin’s people can’t settle, their grief and fear too strong. It’s a realization for Suyin that she must make China in her own image, and they must leave, making their way through the sudden eruptions of black fog.
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.
The Characters
The laughing Illium, a.k.a. Bluebell, a prankster, is one of Raphael’s Seven. The Lady Sharine, a.k.a. the Hummingbird and Eh-ma (by Aodhan), is Illium’s mother, finally coming back into her own with Titus, who calls her his small but fierce sun (Archangel’s Sun, 13). Aegaeon, an Ancient Archangel, is Illium’s major jerk of a father. Raan had been Sharine’s first great love.
Aodhan, a.k.a. “Sparkle”, another of Raphael’s Seven, has been acting as Suyin’s second-in-command since she ascended and became the Archangel of China. Menerva and Rukiel were Aodhan’s parents. Imalia is Aodhan’s much older sister.
China
The honorable Suyin, an architect and the now-free niece of the evil Lijuan, is recently ascended and is now an archangel ruling in China. Aodhan has been working as her second. General Arzaleya “Arza” has switched to Suyin’s court from Lady Caliane’s and is now Suyin’s third-in-command. Vetra is Suyin’s spymaster. Xan is a 2,000-year-old vampire who has refused to tie himself to any archangel until now. Yindi, the hopeful Anaya, and the huge Maximus are angels. Jae is a vampire. Mila is the ecology scholar.
Rii is the spokesman for the mortals. Lili is Rii’s wife. Fei is the terrified woman from the hamlet. Smoke is the kitten Illium finds there. Fana is the senior healer. Li Wei, a vampire, is the chief cook. Kaia, Kai, the reincarnation of the human woman who first destroyed Illium, is part of the staff. Zhou Jinhai had been held prisoner. Quon is Jinhai’s partner. An older Jinhai had been Lijuan’s father.
Naasir and Andromeda had rescued Suyin in Archangel’s Enigma, 8.
New York City
Raphael “Rafa” is the Archangel of New York, and he’s mated to Elena, a human turned angel (Angels’ Blood, 1). Ellie is also the CEO of a thriving blood-café business (Archangel’s Legion, 6). The insane Nadiel and Caliane, both Ancient Archangels (Archangel’s Consort, 3), had been his parents.
There are the Seven, the beings Raphael trusts at his back and include Jason, his spymaster who is married to Mahiya (Archangel’s Storm, 5); Dmitri, an ancient vampire who is married to Honor (Archangel’s Blade, 4), is Raphael’s second-in-command; Venom who is partnered with Holly (Archangel’s Viper, 10); Galen; the chimera Naasir is mated to Andromeda “Andi”, an angel (Archangel’s Enigma, 8); and, Aodhan.
Trace is another valued vampire. Priya Anjalika is critical to the Tower. Greta, a vampire, is Dmitri’s right hand with admin stuff. Nimra owes fealty to Raphael and is the Angel of New Orleans. Gadriel is another amazing angel artist.
Elijah, Archangel of South America, has healed enough. Sachieri, an angel in Elijah’s territory, is a dealer of rare antiquities for immortals. Her lover and partner is Bathar.
Neha, Archangel of India, had always been one of the most stable until she lost her daughter. Michaela, the Archangel of Budapest; Favashi, the Archangel of Persia; and, Astaad, the Archangel of the Pacific Isles, are still lost in healing. Qin, a recently awakened Ancient Archangel, mourns his love and only half inhabits the world.
The Refuge is . . .
. . . homebase for all angels. A safe place to raise and educate their angelic children. Jessamy is a crippled angel who teaches the children and is their Historian. She’s mated to Galen (Angels’ Flight: “Angels’ Dance”, 0.4). Keir is their best angelic healer. Sameon is one of the little angels and friends with Ellie (Archangel’s Kiss, 2).
Adaeze is the angel who sat with Illium after his father destroyed Illium and Sharine. Brutus would be proud to have Illium for a son. Lady Ariha. Mirza is a scribe. Ylir had been the capricious angel with whom Aodhan had been infatuated. Remus had been Keir’s assistant healer (Archangel’s Heart, 9).
The Cadre consists of never more than ten archangels who rule the world. The Legion (Archangel’s Legion, 6) were those who sacrificed their lives in Archangel’s War.
Lijuan had been the evil Archangel of Death and China. Meri is a friend of Aegaeon’s. The Cascade is a rare event that strengthens and destroys . . . everything, anything. Cassandra is an Ancient Archangel who Sleeps yet sees the future (Archangel’s Prophecy, 11). Lijuan had conjured a death fog over all of China and not all angels feel safe about being there. Uram was an archangel who had gone nuts in Angels’ Blood.
The Guild in New York
Demarco is one of the hunters Aodhan likes. Gams is Demarco’s grandmother.
Catalina, a widow, is a baker in New York City. Lorenzo had been her husband. Adriana is her granddaughter.
The Cover and Title
The cover is blue and cream — the blue of Illium’s wings at the bottom as he stretches his hand out to the creamy angel warrior, Aodhan, that forms the background. At the top is an info blurb in a deep purple. The author’s name is below this in the embossed blue of Illium’s wings. In the middle, where their hands are, is the title in an embossed old gold. Below this and slightly right is the series info in cream with a darkening around it.
The title is Aodhan and Illium, the Archangel’s Light that finally goes on.
