Gigi's Company discussion

Please post comments and discussion here for the August '09 Book of the Month:

Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter, Book 1) by Nalini Singh

Interesting first book in a series set in an obviously alternate Earth in which angels are a separate species of enormously power beings who hold sway over humans and vampires. Angels create the vampires who are virtually immortal, but not as powerful as the angels. In exchange for being made, the vampires owe the angels a 100 years of servitude. If the vamp reneges on his or her contract, a guild hunter is sent to track the wayward vamp. Elena Deveraux is a tracker with a reputation as being one of the very best. She is assigned the mission of tracking Uram, an archangel who has descended into insanity, by the sexy Archangel of New York, Raphael. Archangels, the most powerful angels, form the Cadre of Ten and rule the Earth.

Creative world building and a completely new take on angels. Found the beginning a little tedious until the hunt actually began. At times Elena is so determined to be her own person and not bend to another's will, she comes off a little obnoxious. The second half of the book was smoother than the beginning. I would give this book four stars.

I will try one more book in this series before deciding whether to continue with it. I love the world that Singh has created, but Elena needs to lighten up for me to continue reading Guild Hunters.

I loved this book. I don't know why it touched me the way it did - I truly can't explain it. It just clicked for me on some level. I will agree sometimes Elena is slightly obnoxious and Raphael is a little arrogant but they work together for me. I also loved the world building that Ms. Singh has done - I found it a different take on anything out there.

The author has stated that the next book is going to be about Elena and Raphael because she has more to tell of their story and maybe book 3 but she sees other characters getting stories after that.

I can't remember the name of the angel with blue wings, but his would be an interesting story.

That would be Illium, Kathleen, and one angel I would so love to ... uh ... meet. Ha! We did get a quick run-down of his history, but I'd love for him to fall for another human.

Jason, as well, intrigued me very much. The tattoo, the wings that blend/take in shadows... yes, I'd definitely want more on Jason (doesn't matter that he has the same name as my youngest brother - not at all. :D)

I couldn't help myself, but I laughed when I found out Ransom's girlfriend's name: Nyree. One of my friends has this exact name, only hers is used in the French language with an accent on the first 'e'. Supposedly, according to Nyree's dad, there was an French actress with that name, he loved it, and her parents agreed on it. Nyree, however, accepts it, even if she doesn't like it, LOL! Edit: this is the first time I've ever seen the name Nyree used in a book.

On, and let's not forget Dmitri. I would so love to see how well he and Elena get along now, LMAO! Venom as well.

I had a very hard time putting down this book. Singh created an alternate world where vampires mix with humans and it's just fact. But the twist is one I enjoyed very much. Angels rule over vampires, and archangels rule them all. The Quadre of Ten is made up of ten archangels, posted all over the world, and rule. Archangels are born, not made. Angels are one step up from vampires. Now, vampires aren't 'turned'. Humans petition archangels to be 'Made'. Their lives are scrutinized, background checks, etc... to see if they qualify. If they are, then the process begins. Some make it through the transition, some die. Regardless, those humans who are accepted are made to sign a contract: they owe 100 years to their maker in complete subjugation. Should a vampire feel that they've served enough, they leave, effectively going 'rogue'. And that's where the Guild Hunters come in.

Hunters are hired by angels to go after the vampires that have taken off before their 100 years of servitude. Hunters find the vampires, bring them back to the angels and receive payment for services rendered.

Elena Deveraux is a hunter, and one of the best. Born ready, she can use their scent to track them down, making her one of the best hunters there are. She can tract wayward vamps anywhere. But being the best has its drawbacks; Archangel Raphael wants and needs the best, and has hired Elena through the Guild.

One of the Quadre of Ten has gone rogue; Uram has succumbed to his bloodlust, and if the world doesn't want a repeat of the Dark Ages, Uram must be stopped - at all costs. Elena cannot scent archangels, but she can scent Uram - because he has gone rogue, he is emitting an acidic scent. But archangels and angels have an advantage: they have wings and can fly, making them harder to track.

Elena knows that failure is not an option, for failure means certain death. She may be scared to death of Raphael, of all archangels, but she cannot let a killing spree move forward.

But things become complicated, for Raphael finds Elena an enigma, and now he wants her for himself. And the more time they spend together, the harder it is to ignore what's happening between them.

The author created a fabulous world that comes across completely believable, as if this is the way the world is now. Her writing fluid, you get swept up into the story and find it very hard to put down. The characters seem very real; the banter between Elena and Raphael is something I enjoyed the most in this book. The plot is great, with the subtle twists that get thrown in (like archangels having different powers; some being able to become completely invisible, etc...), watching all the characters interact make for very entertaining and sometimes intense scenes.

I did find a few things that got to be annoying, but it wasn't overpowering enough to make me stop reading. Elena is a human-born tracker, and because she chose being a hunter as her profession, her father disowned her completely from the family, being told that she would have to crawl and beg to be able to return to the family. Elena refuses to back down or crawl for anyone, and constantly being reminded of it, including when she talks to Raphael about being no one's toy, it got to be a little obnoxious. And no matter how you put it all together, you get glimpses of something that happened in the past, but not enough to really get the picture, to really understand her past, and it's one that she refuses to talk about, no matter how many times Raphael asks. Those glimpses, without explanations, was getting rather annoying, and I hope we finally get the entire thing.

And still, even with the annoying parts, watching Elena and Raphael fall in love, the tracking of Uram, their final fight scene, what we believe to be Elena's death - the book is fantastic! I balled my head off when I believed Elena to be dead.

An excellent first novel to a new series, and I absolutely recommend it.

I also really liked this book. I fell in love with the idea of being an angel here on Earth. Just to have wings and fly. I spent many moments while reading this story just wondering what it would feel like to be in Raphael's arms flying over NYC. I finished this book on 9-11 so I thought it was kind of fitting that it took place in NYC.

The begining had me a little confused at first but then I really got into the story and could wait to what happened next.

Like Gina I was a little annoyed that the author never explained what happened to her mother and sisters, so I guess I will just have to buy the next book in the series.

I liked the world the Ms. Singh designed and imagine it would be a cool place to live in. I am giving this book 4 stars, the archangel angle really kept my attention.

This is my new favorite book! It just blew me out of the water and I am so glad I read it!

I wrote a pretty long review on the book so I will just post the link instead of repeating myself lol

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I enjoyed this book as well! I loved the whole Angels lording over the Vampires scenario, it was very original! I just love Nalini Singh as well!

I just got this from the library this week. I had booked in early July. Doh! Started it a few nights ago and not very far into it, but interesting world so far. Look forward to reading more of it.

I'll have to order this one as my local bookstore doesn't have it. However, that will have to be put on hold as well. The last couple of weeks, between dentist appointments and doctor appointments for the kids, and a migraine in between, cut into my hours at work and my paycheck is really slim. Plus, with my brother's wedding coming up in ... holy smokes, 9 days! ... my funds (what little of it there is), is tied up. The weather is getting colder than normal for this time of year, so I have a feeling I'll be dishing out money for snowsuits sooner than usual, plus with Halloween around the corner, the kids require costumes. Whew!

Oh Gina, if I had know I would have saved my copy for you instead of sending it out on paperback swap. I don't mind mailing books to you if you need any just let me know :)

LOL, thanks anyway, Colleen. However, for some strange reason, I posted this comment here and I don't know why. I have it, I've read it. Pardon my brain fart, LMAO! I must have been tired when I posted it, LOL! I can't even remember which book I actually meant to comment for, Ha!

If you remember let me know. If I have it at home I will send it. :)

Thanks, Colleen. I'm still trying to figure out why I posted that here. *shrug* I'm absolutely clueless!

Would like to thank Shannon for the heads up about the second book in the Guild Hunters series.

Archangels' Kiss (Guild Hunters, Book 2) is to be published in MMP February 2, 2010. This is the appropriate thread to use if anyone chooses to review it.

Eeeeeee! I can't wait!

Must Love Hellhounds, an anthology in trade paperback by Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, and Meljean Brook, contains the prequel to Angels' Blood. Singh's novella, Angels' Judgment tells the story of Sara Haziz, a hunter at that point considering accepting the position of Guild Director, and Deacon, weapons maker and the Guild Slayer, who hunts Guild Hunters gone bad.

And now this one's on my Must-order shelf. Thanks for the heads-up, Kathleen!

Kathleen wrote: "I will try one more book in this series before deciding whether to continue with it. I love the world that Singh has created, but Elena needs to lighten up for me to continue reading Guild Hunters..."


Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunters, Book 2) by Nalini Singh is absolutely awesome. Elena is maturing and this novel was just sensational. Set completely in the world of the angels -- you learn so much about how this universe works. Loved the characters, loved the plot, could not put the book down. I am breathlessly waiting for volume three after this thrill ride.

Five stars -- this one is a keeper.

I can't wait to read it, Kathleen! I've got my copy, but it may have to wait until May. :(

Just loved Angels' Pawn (Guild Hunter Prequel), the story of Ashwini and Janvier. Hope we see more of both of these characters.

Archangel's Consort (Book 3) is another exciting volume in the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh. This volume was definitely more paranormal romance than urban fantasy with many scenes of intimacy between Raphael and Elena. Elena is back in New York City attempting to resume her life as a guild hunter while assuming her new role of archangel's consort. Threats and conflicts with her family, an ancient that seems to be rising from a deep Sleep, and continuing friction with Dmitri, leader of Raphael's Seven were hallmarks of this story. I missed the world of the angels as depicted at the Refuge, but hopefully our heroes will return there in some future volume. The next book in this series, Archangel's Blade, Dmitri's story, is to be released in September 2011.