Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter #1) by Nalini Singh

Warning 18+ Only

For Preface

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3819326-angels-blood

So this book was recommended to me by Goodreads and at first I was a bit unsure – whether to read it or not, considering that my view on vampires was shaped by Twilight Saga (Not that it was bad but too much drama at some points)

But as they say…don’t judge a book by its cover! I absolutely adored this book. Nalini Singh took the concept of angels & vampires and made it her own – painting an entirely new world where angels made vampires. And where vampire hunters like Elena don’t go about killing the vampires, instead they return them to the angels who monitor these vampires for the 1^st hundred years of their immortality.

Elena is one of the rare hunters who can detect vampires by smell. She is smart and feisty with a never ending curious nature. And I absolutely loved her sense of humour.  

"Explain why you flashed not only a knife but a gun? I hope to God you didn't actually use either of them without authorization because if the VPA gets ahold of it, we're screwed."

Elena rubbed the back of her neck. "Exigent circumstances. He was trying to make me his bed buddy. I declined. He gave chase."

…

Sara held up a hand. "How, exactly, did you 'decline' his offer?"

"By slitting his throat.”

And then there is the Archangel of New York, Raphael – one of the 10 in existence. Being so powerful and having lived for centuries, he has little regard for humans. He’s an arrogant being, sometimes turning cruel to perform his duty. Elena somehow manages to get under his skin and as the book progresses, we seen him open up emotionally. The chemistry between them is not only hot but also (intellectually) very fascinating – in terms of how different their courtship is!

“The bastard kissed her. She was so mad, she bit him hard enough to draw blood. Raphael pulled back, lip already beginning to swell.

 “We are no longer even, Elena. You’re now in debt.”

“You can deduct it from my slow and painful death.

The other characters in the book also made their presence known, having distinct personalities. It was interesting to see characters whose loyalty to their friends was so absolute. The members of the seven – Dmitri and Venom, for example, made it constantly known that Elena’s weakness as human was too big a chink in Raphael’s armour.

“How long have you been with Raphael?”

“You ask a lot of questions for a dead woman.”

“What can I say? I prefer to die well-informed.” -Venom and Elena

What I like the most was that the plot and the courtship between Elena and Raphael went hand in hand. They didn’t forget their values and reasons in the mist of the steamy romance. Another thing I admired about Nalini Singh was how she gave each character a background – their past playing a big influence on who they were in the present.

The twist in the end is very surprising and I am also curious to know what kind of demons are these characters hiding. It’s like getting to know a person, each piece adding to the whole puzzle until you finally discover who they truly are and you fall in love with them all over again. I, for one, will definitely be following this series wholeheartedly!