A Book Obsession..: Archangel's Blade

Archangel's Blade

, by Kt Clapsadl

Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh

Guild Hunter #4

The severed head marked by a distinctive tattoo on its cheek should have been a Guild case, but dark instincts honed over hundreds of years of life compel the vampire Dmitri to take control. There is something twisted about this death, something that whispers of centuries long past…but Dmitri’s need to discover the truth is nothing to the vicious strength of his response to the hunter assigned to decipher the tattoo.

Savaged in a brutal attack that almost killed her, Honor is nowhere near ready to come face to face with the seductive vampire who is an archangel’s right hand, and who wears his cruelty as boldly as his lethal sensuality…the same vampire who has been her secret obsession since the day she was old enough to understand the inexplicable, violent emotions he aroused in her.

As desire turns into a dangerous compulsion that might destroy them both, it becomes clear the past will not stay buried. Something is hunting…and it will not stop until it brings a blood-soaked nightmare to life once more…

As the Archangel Raphael's second, Dmitri is very good at managing issues and assigning the proper immortal to clean up the mess. However, when a head shows up with a tattoo that reminds him of a time long past, he has a feeling this is something he must handle personally. He seeks out a guild hunter who is skilled in ancient languages. However, he never could have predicted his reaction to her, as he feels an instant deep attraction to her, something completely unheard of for him. Problem is that she is very scarred herself, having just barely survived a horrific attack, proving to be one difficult target for his affections. But Dmitri is old and very patient hunter, who always wins in the end.

I'm always a little gun shy about reading books where the focus shifts in perspective from the previously established characters in the former books. I really love Elena and Raphael, and even though his arrogance does grate on my nerves at times, I think they are perfect for one another in the end. So it was with great reluctance that I started reading Archangel's Blade, especially since Dmitri definitely has not been painted in a fair light up until now. I just couldn't see how this cold creature could be possible of any type of compassion, yet alone love. I should have known better. Not only is there so much more to him that meets the eye, but a lot of his actions are a forced penance on himself. As the book went on, we got more and more glimpses into the man he was, and everything that he lost. Yes, he did harden himself to the point of almost cruelty, but most would have long crumbled under what he has suffered.

Honor is every bit as damaged as Dmitri, maybe even more so. At the start of Archangel's Blade, Honor was just starting to put the pieces back together as she seemed to be nothing more than a lifeless shell. She is deeply scarred, yet still held an iron will that refused to give in to defeat. Everything that had been done to her was meant to break her, and while it all came perilously close, she still was able to hold on to some shred of sanity. Now, of course her progression towards healing was not instantaneous, and I'm sure some of the "scars" will never completely go away, but what matters in the end was her perseverance through it all, making her truly worthy of admiration.

I had worried that things would move too fast between Honor and Dmitri to be realistic considering their pasts, but I was very pleased with the way things were handled. There is a twist in things that I felt really added to their relationship and made things so much more substantial. So, I have to say for any fans of the Guild Hunter series that are worried about the change in character focus, don't be, as you will fall just as hard for Honor and Dmitri as you ever did for Elena and Rapheal. A definite two thumbs up to Nalini Singh for such talent and making me truly care for a character that I had thought was beyond redemption. Bravo!

Rating: