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Archangel's Consort
Archangel's Consort
Archangel's Consort
Audiobook10 hours

Archangel's Consort

Written by Nalini Singh

Narrated by Justine Eyre

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil.

A vampire has attacked a girls' school-the assault one of sheer, vicious madness-and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as inexplicable storms darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders.

The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear.

An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMar 9, 2011
ISBN9781400187171
Archangel's Consort
Author

Nalini Singh

NALINI SINGHNew York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authorNalini Singh loves writing paranormal romances.Currently working on two ongoing series, she alsohas a passion for travel and has been to places as farafield as Tahiti, Japan, Ireland and Scotland. Shemakes her home in beautiful New Zealand. Tofind out more about Nalini’s books, please visit herwebsite, www.nalinisingh.com.

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Rating: 4.040509196296297 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Archangel's Consort is the third installment, in this series. This book continues with Raphael and Elena's story. It continues off shortly after the second book. Both Raphael and Elena are having to deal with quite a bit all at once. Raphael's mother, the oldest and one of the most dangerous of their kind is starting to wake up with dangerous consequences. Elena is still dealing with nightmares of her childhood and having to face her past, and still training and making an effort to gain as much strength and agility as she can before they face Raphael's mother, because they both realize she will wake up and when she does who knows what her plans will be for them. A lot of women have trouble with their mothers-in-law.” Raphael’s look was priceless. “My mother is an insane archangel.What was quite interesting about this one, was how we see more elements of this world come into play, a bit of focus on their relationship but not as strongly as the second book. We see both Raphael and Elena individually battle their own demons. What was most vital about this book was how at the end of the day, for Raphael and Elena all that mattered was that they stood together. This has been their moto ever since they fell in love with each other. They both know they with Elena still weak and considered a "babe" of their kind, their chances of survival isn't super high. But we learn some remarkable insights into their bond to each other, insights neither of them or the readers realize until the end when their relationship is tested in a very brutal way, but at the same time we see how powerful and healing their love can be for each other. “For the first time in forever, he was stunned to silence. Not by her words, but by the tenderness in her hands, the worry in her eyes. He was an archangel. He’d been wounded far, far worse and shrugged it off. But then, there had been no woman with sun kissed by the sunset and eyes of storm gray to tear into him for daring to get himself hurt.”Not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. What has been remarkable about this series, was seeing how Raphael and Elena have been dealing with conflicts and challenges both separately and collectively. Even as she spoke, silver blue flashed on her other side and then Illium was standing beside her, his wing touching Elena's in an intimacy that made Raphael raise an eyebrow. Illium's lips curved in a wicked smile that did little to hide the intensity of his emotions. I would not watch you die again, Sire. His veins stood out against his skin as he gripped the wrist of one hand with the other. Raphael met those eyes of gold that had stood beside him for centuries. If I had done so, I would have gone knowing you would keep my heart safe. Illium's gaze went to Elena. Always We see more of the supporting characters and a reunion of Elena and her best friend Sara with her husband and their little girl---it almost made me cry. Because even though they have been in contact, they haven't physically seen each other and you see how much Elena cares for this family when her own have practically abandoned her, but this family is the one that she created and built and you see how much it matters to her. Loved every moment and delicious detail of this book. I am curious to see where the series goes from here.

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  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Way to much sex. Needs better villain. To many .
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Book 3 in the Guild Hunter series by New Zealand author Nalini Singh. Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face a new evil. A vampire attack on a girls’ school that Elena’s little half-sister attends is just the beginning. Bloodlust suddenly takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood, then Raphael begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as otherworldly storms rampage and the earth itself shudders. These signs can only point to an ancient immortal rising. Is it Raphael’s mother, Caliane, who was suffering from insanity when he last saw her? Raphael and his Seven must search for her resting place, and with Elena face the battle to come.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This series hasn't particularly captured me by this point, but my library has the whole series on audiobook, and the narrator is Justine Eyre, who I especially like, and they're just kind of easy to listen to. And I still might get more into them as they go, so I plan to continue.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Archangel's Consort
    4.5 Stars

    Elena and Raphael return to New York only to discover that disaster looms on the horizon. A sleeping angel is on the verge of waking and causing untold chaos in the world. Moreover, some unknown and malevolent force is driving vampires to bloodlust and the human population is easy prey. Are these two occurrences connected and will Raphael and Elena survive the consequences?

    Another incredible installment.

    I'm always amazed anew at Singh's fantastic world building skills. No detail is too small or too insignificant and every element comes together to form a captivating backdrop to Elena and Raphael's breathtaking romance.

    Elena is still struggling with her angelic abilities and although new information is provided on the origins of her guild hunter skills, something tells me that there is still a long way to go before Singh gives us all of the particulars.

    Elena and Raphael’s relationship is exceedingly entertaining. Their love for one another is obvious in the little things they do for each other, but they are still working out the kinks of being a couple and have yet to become a truly complimentary pair.

    The mystery of the archangel’s rising and the vampire attacks is interesting although the twist is rather predictable (Lijuan’s attempts to set Calliane up where completely transparent). Nevertheless, the climax is exciting and there were moments that had me truly worried about the outcome.

    Dmitri’s book is next and I am looking forward to seeing things from his perspective.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Starts out a bit slow, she spends time developing the characters more. I really enjoyed the growth between Raphael and Elena. They give and take with each other many times in this book. She has a target on her back and wants to gain her freedom. He need to protect her, his heart. His mother may be waking and the world is going wacky from the power waves. Ilium, Dimitri and Venom really step into the story for an exciting twist.
    Fun, exciting and leading to new story line.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I love the characters in this book but I'm not sure there was as much story as Ms. Singh's other books. It seemed to me to be all character study and background; more like it was a link between Archangel's Kiss and, the to be published, Archangel's Blade than a stand alone story.

    That said I still enjoyed the relationship between Elena and Raphael and look forward to the next book in the Guild Hunter Series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Guild Hunter world is so easy to slip into. Love being back with my sexy, dangerous angels and vamps once more. Full review to come later.

    *****

    So I've had some time to think about this book. I want to give it four stars but I can't and it makes me so sad I want to cry. This world that Singh has built is amazing. I love the world she's built. Elena ranks near the top of my best of heroines list. She's an amazing warrior yet vulnerable and dedicated to her Archangel. Raphael remains at the top of the list as my all time dangerous heroes yet the way he allows Elena into his heart breaks me every time. To me they are one of the best couples in UF/PNR. I love the way their relationship has grown.

    So why only three stars?

    The Good
    Elena is one of my favorite heroines in this genre and I'm always happy to spend more time in her world. I really appreciate the continuing struggle she has as a hunter and a newly made angel. Unlike with other PNR heroines she hasn't abandoned her previous life to live happily ever after with her hot hero. I like that her previous traumas still haunt her and the relationship with her dad still causes her pain. It makes her more real. I also love the fact that she thinks about how her new immortality will affect her future. Her friends and family that she relies on now will not always be there. I find Elena's perception refreshing in a world where PNR heroines run off to be with the hero with never a thought to their previous life. For Elena, immortality has a price. Also, she struggles with the limitations of being a new angel. She can't automatically soar through the sky with ease like Raphael or Illium.

    Raphael is changing and it's a good thing. The way his love for Elena has grown over the past three books is believable and I love watching him realize that while she makes him mortal that may not be as bad as he originally thought. He's still on the fence as far as what his love for Elena is doing to him and I appreciate his emotions. Yes, he loves her and she is his heart but he still must struggle. Is what his love for Elena worth it? I think here we begin to see the signs that it is worth it and he believes that it is. Without his connection to Elena he wouldn't have survived the battle with Lijuan. I like the fact that he doesn't fall into stupid because he's in love. He's an Archangel. Thousands of years old. Elena is his love but he's not going to change overnight.

    Raphael's Seven intrigued me from the beginning and I want to know more about them more than ever. Illium continues to be my favorite and my heart breaks for him. Here we see so much more depth to him and it only left me wanting more. Give me my Bluebell!!! :) Dmitri has always been interesting and I can't wait to get into his book. Jason...so dark and seductive. Adohan...mysterious and sympathetic. Venom...so deadly and even though he a vampire he feels as dangerous to me as Raphael. I need more of him too.

    The Not So Good
    There was way too much sex. Now breathe. Stand back. Hold up. Wait a minute. I love smutty stories, but I don't read this series for that and the over sexing of Raphael and Elena seemed forced. The only scene that brought a new level to their relationship was when they "danced". I wanted to see that but the actual scene left me sort of lacking. It's not like the love scenes brought out anything new with the couple. They just had some sex.

    I wish Caliene played more of a part in this book. We won't be spending time with Elena and Raphael any time soon so I wished for more action between Caliene and Raphael. There's a gold mine of emotion to delve into there. I spent two hundred pages thinking she's this Big Bad and in the end it was kind of disappointing. It shows a theme in this series that I have a love/hate relationship with. Singh has a habit of building up this huge threat and spends most of the book leading up to it only to have it defeated in the last fifty pages.

    I didn't love this book as much as I thought I would but am I giving up on the series? No fucking way. I love this world and am actually glad Singh is exploring the Seven. As much as I love Elena/Raphael I think their story is done and it's time to learn about the others who inhabit their world.


  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It is rare that I find the same delight in sequels to a book I loved. And yet this series has done it again. I still love the characters. And though their personalities are understandably static, the characters evolve and change. The plot is always similar, but it's always intriguing and has at least some major difference. This series is definitely a favorite of mine.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Again a fantastic book based on Raphael and Elena. These angels definately have a complicated relationship!
    Its the third book of the guild hunter series and its as enjoyable as the first 2. Singh gives you enough past info that I think you could pick up this book and have an overview of whats happened previously. Now to search for the next in series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Elena is dealing with being an angel and angel politics, as well as the fact that her mother-in-law might just be coming back to life after a long sleep and things are complicated. Vampires are going berserk and things have to be controled.It's an interesting series, I'm curious to see where things are going to go.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Another excellent entry in Singh's Guild Hunter series. I wonder if she plans to expand the series to include some of the other angels? I would love to read about Raphael's Seven.

    I love the evolution of Raphael and Elena's relationship. I think Raphael becomes just a shade more human with each book, which makes him easier to relate to. He's still the same cold being he was in the first book, but he's softened where Elena is concerned.

    If only NS wrote these faster. I hate having to wait so long between books.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Loved it! Finished it in less than 3 hours! This was a wonderful continuation of the series, but definitely not the best. I felt that the plotline was very rushed, and there was never any downtime, nor much in the way of emotional Raphael/Elena scenes that we have become accustomed to. However, I really enjoyed it, and devoured it in less than 3 hours, simply because I love the characters of Raphael and Elena. Definitely a must read for fans of the series.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Review to be posted soon:

    I thought this is the best installment yet. Loved the themes of parents and children. Both Raphael and Elena deal with their pasts concerning their parents.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Archangel's Consort is the third in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series, set around the Archangel Raphael and his human-turned-angel consort, Elena Devereux.

    The second book of the series revolved quite a lot around Elena's weaknesses as she was coming to grips with her new status (both as an angel and as consort to an Archangel), but this book takes us back to the Elena we all love to see - kicking ass, and not even bothering to take names.

    She's re-establishing herself as a Guild Hunter and trying to find the balance between her old life and her new one. Unfortunately, her old life also includes her father - and no matter how much she'd like to cut Jeffrey out of her life for good, she just can't seem to let him go.

    This book also finds Raphael learning new truths behind his abilities, which have evolved ever since he fell in love with a mortal. He's the first Archangel to take a mortal consort, and the repurcussions will no doubt be lasting.

    Throw in appearances from Raphael's Seven, and you've got yourself one heck of an anjoyable read. The only thing I'm left asking is:

    "Please, Ms. Singh - can I have some more?"
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    9/5/11 - Re-read after ARCHANGEL'S BLADE. Elena's still learning her way, but she and Raphael have a moment to enjoy being together (rather than focusing so much on Elena's new-angel status).

    5/12/11 - CONSORT held more of my attention than KISS this time around, reading about Elena coming back to the city. Knowing that Dmitri has already gotten his story, Ilium piqued my attention. Wonder if/when Bluebell gets his own book?

    2/27/13 - I reread these books again and again for the character moments. For those little, intimate interactions between Elena and Raphael, Sara, her half-sisters, hell, even the butler. The ending of this book loses a little steam for me, and my rereads have not yet jumped to Dimitri's or Jason's stories (though I enjoyed them both the first time through). I can't wait for the next Elena's and Raphael's next story, so I can springboard straight from ARCHANGEL'S CONSORT to the next book in the series!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Awesome book
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The series is moving toward epic--not my favorite thing to read. I liked the first book the most; it had lots of character interaction and a great story. The second book was great development, but this third installment just move too far out away from the characters and their relationship. The world is still great, and the book was enjoyable, but I didn't like it quite as much as the others.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    3.5 stars I remember reading reviews shortly after the release of this book that indicated displeasure at the continued toing and froing between Raphael and Elena. As I said above, reading them back to back, it made more sense to me because they haven't actually been together that long and Raphael is an immortal being who's been around for over a thousand years. His values and mores are not Elenas and there's a lot of adjustment necessary. Where this book fell flat to me was in the conflict with the bad guys. It seems Caliane (Raphael's mother) is awakening and Lijuan is still causing problems. (*spoiler alert*) That both of them are alive and well at the end of the book was a source of frustration to me. I kind of felt that the author was stringing me a long a bit. I want the bad guys identified and dealt permanently rather than coming back again and again to cause trouble (even though I concede it is not entirely clear whether Caliane is actually a 'bad guy') - it feels like they just get away with things and that makes the story a lot less satisfying to me.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series is one that I truly wish I had not discovered until the entire thing was complete and there was no hope of more new books being added, ever! I WANT MORE, NOW!!! Archangel’s Consort is the third installment of this on-going series and after finishing it in record time, I have discovered that my natural lack of patience has become even more pronounced. The major plot line in Archangel’s Consort is Singh’s version of Mommy Dearest. Reports of foul weather and acts of extreme aggression among members of the Cadre lead Raphael and Elena to believe that an ancient is waking. Turns out, that ancient is Raphael’s ridiculously old and viciously cruel mother, Caliane. Major plot line number two: Raphael and Elena have returned to New York from the Refuge and are immediately bombarded with reports of vampires breaking their contracts and committing heinous crimes. As archangel of New York, Raphael must contain and control this situation before it gets out of hand. With the help of his consort and the usual cast of minor characters, Raphael begins to restore order to his territory. Generally speaking a reader keeps returning to a series because of the main characters. That is not the case with this book or this series. Raphael and Elena are certainly intriguing figures and Singh has continued to develop those characters but the real beauty of the book lies in the cast of minor characters. There is not a single minor and/or supporting character in Archangel’s Consort that I do not want to know more about, NOW!! Singh cleverly ensnares us (and ensures we will come back for more) by dumping chunks of information about these characters on us. Not tidbits, not small nuggets of information but huge honking chunks of information! However, and this is where Singh’s evil genius comes into play, she never tells us the whole story about any of the supporting cast. Now my lack of patience makes more sense, right? Here’s what I want to know: why is Illium (aka Bluebell) so nervous about the presence of his mother; will Elena’s half-sister really be allowed to develop her burgeoning hunter skills; what happened to Dmitri to make him so fiercely loyal to Raphael; why doesn’t Aodhan liked to be touched and why is his move to New York such a big deal; and finally, why is Venom so creepy yet disturbingly likeable? The way Singh presents information to the reader is remarkably clever and opens up so many possibilities for future novels. Archangel’s Consort clearly establishes one thing: Singh is in no way close to being done with these characters. She has developed so many characters and potential plot lines that the Guild Hunter series could realistically continue for years and years to come. Thank goodness for that because I am apparently going to continue to be sweetly addicted to this series and this author.Side note: According to the author’s home page, next up in the Guild Hunter series is Archangel’s Blade.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Redonk Nutshell: A powerful and threatening ancient Archangel is awakening, casting chaos and disarray across the world and testing the balance between an Archangel and his consortBook three in the Guild Hunters series picks up after the destruction of another Archangel's home in book two. Newly made angel, Elena, and her lover, Archangel Raphael, come back to Manhattan and begin to settle into their home. Elena is more adjusted to her physical form, and she and Raphael have begun to shift into more emotional territory. Like moving in together. And meeting each other's parents. Which brings us to the main conflict - Raphael's mother. The ancient and unfathomably powerful Archangel is showing signs of waking from her Sleep. The Cadre of Ten is nervous - Caliane was a NUTJOB before she disappeared, wrecking havoc amongst her people, including her son. Raphael is torn between his initial urge to welcome his mother and his more rational and detached duty to put her down before she becomes an unstoppable problem. Then, of course, there's Elena, whom most of Raphael's fellows view as a weakness. And Elena, in typical Elena-style, works her hardest to prove them otherwise. When vampires and angels across the globe being behaving erratically, The Guild calls in their hunter-turned-angel to figure out what's going on, and before long Elena and Raphael realize the bizarre occurrences happening around them are linked to his mother's likely revival. Book Three is probably one of the strongest in the series. We get a stronger Elena, a softer yet still terrifying Raphael, and, most importantly MORE ILLIUM. HA! I've tendered a soft spot for Blue Bell, the blue winged angel who views Elena's "mortal heart," as not a weakness but a strength. He's witty yet broody, and he and Elena hit it off well. We get to see another side of Raphael as well. If I'm being honest, Raphael is the kind of hero that initially didn't catch my interest but gradually grew on me. I'd say probably about halfway into book two it struck me how incredibly AWESOME he is, and not just in the slang type of way, but Biblical as well. It was almost like an epiphany - oh, damn, he's scary, really scary, yet sexy as hell. I get it now! Elena grew on me more as well. And the relationship between Elena and Raphael really blooms here in Archangel's Consort. The Guild Hunter series has become a favorite of mine. Great characters, both main and supporting, and a really intriguing world structure. Nalini Singh has proved herself to be a talented writer, able to carry a broad story line amid a complex and dark world. Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh, 324 pgs, 2/10/11Rating: BRomance: 4/5 Raunch: 3.5/5
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    3.5Archangel's Consort is the eagerly anticipated third book of The Guild Hunter Series. Raphael and Elena are back in New York after defeating Archangel Lijuan and her legion of reborn (zombies). Elena is realizing that her life has changed. She hasn't had a chance to settle down into her new life when she is called to her half-sister's school to investigate a murder committed by a possible bloodlust vampire. And to make things even more chaotic, there have been rumblings, literally, around the world that hints that Raphael's mother, Caliane, is waking from her Sleep. In previous books, Elena was dealing with her daddy issues. This time the shoe is on the foot and Raphael is dealing with the atrocities of his mother. Raphael and Elena's relationship has faced adversity from the beginning. When they're not dealing with outside forces that are against them, they are trying to make their relationship work. Raphael is an Archangel and is used to being obeyed. Elena is fiercely independent and strong in her own right and doesn't take kindly to Raphael ordering her around like she's one of his Seven. Elena is getting stronger physically and is exerting her independence more. Besides the external happenings around them, the main conflict in Archangel's Consort is Elena's freedom versus Raphael's protection. The Archangel is not used to anyone defying him but realizes that he may push Elena away by trying to change her. She is a warrior. He made a warrior his consort. As they continually butt heads, they slowly concede and compromise. This leads to very hot and very steamy sex. Archangel's Consort is the steamiest of the Guild Hunter Series. Archangel's Consort is a great addition to the series. I love the progression of Raphael and Elena's relationship. Two fiercely powerful and independent people are trying to find equal footing in their relationship. Some light is shed more on Elena's family, especially her father. Elena's relationship with Illium (Bluebell) makes me smile. Illium is a great character and I hope he gets his own book. I'd love to know his story regarding his mother, Hummingbird, and his haunting past. When I started reading Consort, it took me a long time to get into it. I felt the pace was slow until the middle of the book when it started to pick up more. Singh's writing is descriptive beyond belief and it draws you in. She touches every detail with her words. Archangel's Consort may not be my favorite of the series, but I still enjoyed reading it. I'm looking forward to reading Dmitri's book in September. I'd love to see how much of a role Raphael and Elena play in the plot.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I really liked this trilogy! I'm calling it a trilogy because, even though the series is going to continue, it will feature different MCs from this point on. So, as far as wrapping up Elana and Raphael's story goes...I enjoyed the book.Just like I said in my review of the first two books, the story focuses much more on the romance than the action/paranormal side of the plot. I don't say that in a critical way - I still enjoyed the plot. I just don't think it would satisfy on its own without the large dose of romance. Luckily, I'm a sucker for the romance!However, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first two. There was quite a bit of build-up through the first parts of the book...then when it came time for the pay-off, everything seemed to just fizzle. Kinda disappointing.Bottom line: if you enjoyed the first two books of the series, you definitely need to pick up a copy of this as soon as you get a chance! It'll give you a little more resolution as far as the relationship story arc goes. I'm looking forward to the next book of the series now, which I believe is going to feature Dimitri.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Book 3 in the Guild Hunter series by New Zealand author Nalini Singh. Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face a new evil. A vampire attack on a girls’ school that Elena’s little half-sister attends is just the beginning. Bloodlust suddenly takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood, then Raphael begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as otherworldly storms rampage and the earth itself shudders. These signs can only point to an ancient immortal rising. Is it Raphael’s mother, Caliane, who was suffering from insanity when he last saw her? Raphael and his Seven must search for her resting place, and with Elena face the battle to come.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have fallen in love with Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter Series, so of course when the third book to the series came out I made sure to grab a copy. I had already heard some not so good reviews and also some excellent reviews.I figured people with the not so good reviews must be crazy how can you not give it a five my exact thoughts before reading it. At last I had the book in my hands and started reading it. For someone who can finish a book in a day it took me a week and half to finish. I was slightly disappointed with Archangel's Consort. The book picks up right where the last one left off.Lot's of blood spill,mystery,past demons and romance. The story continues with Elena and Raphael returning back to New York and Elena finally being able to see all her guild family and real family for the first time after being made into an angel. Book three definitely explores more of her relationship with her father and opens up some more dark family secrets. Elena still remains the weakest of all the angels and now also the target for many. Instead of gaining status in the immortal world she has now become a target, there is quite a few who would wish her dead.In Archangels Consort she is still learning the ways of the angels, learning the history and formalities while still trying to develop her flying and fighting skills. She has discovered fighting with wings is much harder than when she was just human. Meanwhile Elena has also gone back to the guild and is dealing with an attack at a school and the bloodlust that is occurring amongst the vampires. And all this while being a consort to an Archangel who likes to have everything and everyone in his control.Plain and simple Elena is badass! We also discover that an ancient is awakening. Raphael's mother Caliane. And there is chaos all over the world,earthquakes,tsunamis, archangels going into rages, and vampires in blood lust killing thousands. While Nalini Singh did do a good job of keeping the mystery and keep me guessing and wondering if Raphael's mother Caliane was going to be sane or insane, will she be malovelent and kill or will she be sane again when she awakens.Singh had me waiting too long. The build up was very slow but from my experience I've seen some slow build ups make it worth the readers time in the end due to the outcome, this one not so much. Caliane didn't awaken until more than half way through the book. I was really hoping there would be more of her awake but it seems everything that happened before happened while she was asleep. I'm still very much a fan of the relationship between Elena and Raphael. It's very interesting how Singh has created two dominant characters coming together, growing and learning how to compromise while dealing with their own demons.Yet I feel there was way more sex scenes than usual. There was actually one chapter dedicated to just sex.It's not like the scenes are not steamy or incredibly hot because they are thanks to Singh's knack for words and not to mention her writing style is just amazing, but I did find myself skimming through most of them. I felt like they were just fillers and I wanted to get to the meat of the plot. Another small thing that really irked me was "guild hunter" and "archangel". I got so fed up with Elena and Raphael referring to each other with just that. I understand that was supposed to be their cute nicknames for each other but it was less cute and more annoying. What I did love was she still brought around the seven quite a a lot. I can write a whole essay on why I am in love with Illium. He is the scene stealer, I just can't get enough of him.I feel he has more of stronger presence than Raphael maybe because I am infatuated with him and love his personality. There was also more of Dimitri, Venom, Jason and the surprise was Aodhan. Definitely got to learn alot more about him. We also got introduced to Illium's mother Hummingbird. Singh left a lot of mystery around her that I am eager to find out about not to mention with the discovery Raphael made at the end about Elena I know I will be picking up book four when it comes out.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Lots of sex, lots of repetitive flashbacks, very little plot, the pacing was erratic/sluggish and the wonderful emotional tension I expect in a Singh book was just lacking. I still love the characters and there are a few good scenes, but overall I was disappointed.