For Preface
This review has minor
spoilers – none that should hinder your reading
I had been looking forward to this book since forever! It’s
finally here!
Sorrow and Venom have appeared briefly at different points
throughout the series but we hardly know anything about them. (Not like Illium
and Aodhan…who we get small glimpses of as the series progresses)
Archangel’s Viper gives a deeper look into who Venom and
Holly/Sorrow really are. (As always Singh doesn’t disappoint)
The book starts off with Venom coming back to New York
around the same Raphael and Elena leave for Lumia to attend a Cardre meeting
(Archangle’s Heart). Honestly it wasn’t a surprise seeing Venom paired up with
Holly/Sorrow…I did notice some chemistry between all the banter they both
indulged in.
For me, Venom has been the most mysterious character after
Naasir. With his snake-like ways and prime suits…you literally have Tall, Dark
and Handsome! Oh and let’s not forget what a smartass he is.
“Do you have infrared vision?" Interest
glittered on his face.
Venom smiled, the curious reaction a far
preferable one to quivering fear or horror. "You'll have to court me with
roses and diamonds before asking such intimate questions."
Vivek snorted. "It's just like working
for the Guild--place is full of smartasses.”
Holly has also grown up into a woman, having settled in
with her family and is not having any more suicidal thoughts. However, as
always with Singh, deeper and more complex emotions are involved and all is not
well…Holly is hiding some surprising secrets. Okay so the part about Uram’
attack and what she has become is a little repetitive…but who can blame her, no
one likes to be caged. Well at least she gives as good as she gets!
“They let you drive now?" he said in a
wondering tone of voice calibrated to get under her skin. "I leave for a
couple of years and miss kitty's first steps. Did anyone take photos for the
baby album I sent you?"
"It's full of pretty pictures."
Holly bared her teeth at him in a caricature of a smile. "Honor is a
little concerned about how I keep drawing you with your head cut off," she
said in a deliberately thoughtful tone, "but an artist must follow her
instincts.”
“Oh, Hollyberry, I’m deeply touched that you
couldn’t get me out of your head”
The banter between Venom and his “Kitty” certainly keeps one on their toes and the whole mysterious
setting adds spice to the proceedings. My favorite part is when they compare
who’s poison is stronger…I mean seriously!
“It’s all true.” Venom’s hair lifted up in
the wind coming through his open window, his profile so astonishingly perfect
that her breath caught for a second. “I’m deadlier than the deadliest snake in
the world, with the ability to impact strong immortals. But you’re not too far
behind.”
“Try being used as a chew toy by an insane
archangel,” Holly said with a grim smile. “It does wonders for your poison, I
hear.”
I felt that Holly tried hard to deny her attraction to Venom but in the end they just give into the connection. It’s the same with Venom…seeing how ”annoying Holly was high on his favorite things to do.”
Venom’s life before becoming a vampire is also explored and his more human emotion come to light and that is what I like about all
Nalini Singh’s characters...all of them have been shaped by their past
experiences and that is what makes them real .
Honestly, after finishing this book, I’m now even more
curious about how Illium’s and Aodhan’s relationship will evolve. Honestly I am
not too keen on shipping them together because I think female intervention is
needed but I guess we will just have to wait for the next book and discover
what Singh has in store for us next!
