Archangel's War (Guild Hunter Series #12)

by Nalini Singh

Overview

Return to New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s darkly passionate Guild Hunter world, where human-turned-angel Elena Deveraux, consort to Archangel Raphael, faces a new challenge that threatens the balance of the world.

Wings of silver. Wings of blue. Mortal heart. Broken dreams. Shatter. Shatter. Shatter. A sundering. A grave. I see the end. I see. . . .

The world is in chaos as the power surge of the Cascade rises to a devastating crescendo. In furiously resisting its attempts to turn Elena into a vessel for Raphael’s power, Elena and her archangel are irrevocably changed. . .far beyond the prophecy of a cursed Ancient.

At the same time, violent and eerie events around the world threaten to wipe out entire populations. And in the Archangel Lijuan’s former territory, an unnatural fog weaves through the land, leaving only a bone-chilling silence in its wake. Soon it becomes clear that even the archangels are not immune to this deadly evil. This time, even the combined power of the Cadre may not be enough. . . .

This war could end them all.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780451491664
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/24/2019
Series:	Guild Hunter Series , #12
Pages:	480
Sales rank:	262,763
Product dimensions:	4.25(w) x 6.81(h) x 1.06(d)

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh is passionate about writing. Though she’s traveled as far afield as the deserts of China, the Highlands of Scotland, and the frozen landscapes of Antarctica, it is the journey of the imagination that fascinates her most. She’s beyond delighted to be able to follow her dream as a writer. Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand. You can contact her directly through her website. While visiting the site, Nalini invites you to join her newsletter for up-to-date news about both the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series, as well as fun exclusive extras, including free short stories set in her worlds.

Read an Excerpt

ARCHANGEL’S WAR – Nalini Singh
 
“We watch,” the Primary said. “We protect.”

But things were altering in front of them, a faint glow emanating from where the aeclari had been before the filaments obscured both Raphael’s body and Elena’s chrysalis.

Beyond the balcony doors now partially covered with the snow silk of the filaments, the Bluebell turned. His eyes widened at seeing the ocean of filaments, the glow. But before he could open the closed doors, a familiar voice entered all their minds.

Leave now. It was an order from an archangel. Clear the skies above. Empty the land around. GO.
The Legion were moving even as the last word echoed in their minds. They were Raphael’s Legion, Elena’s Legion, and they had been given an order. The Bluebell wasn’t Legion. He was one of the Seven. Unique. With his own mind.

Torment wrenched his features, but he inclined his head, and the Primary saw him form the word “Sire.”

All of them moved.

The Bluebell dropped to the grass, then ran inside the house.

The Legion broke into four parts and swept the area. Winged beings were already flying toward the river at high speed, their faces stark and their jaws determined. The Legion dropped down in front of cars moving on the nearest road. The cars were not so close to the aeclari’s home, but the archangel hadn’t said how far to clear.

When the first two cars halted with a screech that caused a burning scent to rise to their nostrils, the Legion wrenched the doors open and hauled the startled vampires out. A group of the Legion rose into the air, two to a vampire. Another group found four humans in a third car, a vampire’s cattle heading home. The scared cattle whimpered at being taken by the Legion but didn’t struggle. Neither did the vampires after they saw the angels racing from the Enclave to the water.

Golden light poured from the windows of the aeclari’s home.

Many of the angels streaming over the water held vampires or humans in their arms, getting their households out of danger. The Bluebell was one of the last to fly out of the Enclave, and though the Legion did not speak to many outside of the aeclari, they spoke to him: Are the aeclari’s people safe? This was important. The Legion knew. The aeclari had bonds to those who lived in the house.

Yes, I got them out. The Bluebell, who could fly faster than the Primary and sometimes raced with the cars of the Blade and the Viper, fell off the cliff with his wings licked by a golden light so bright that it was difficult to face. In one hand, he held a large rectangular thing, in his other, items they recognized.

Several of the Legion flew to him, and took the things. They did not understand things, but these were linked to the aeclari in their mind.

Most of the angels kept on flying toward Manhattan, and those of the Legion that carried vampires or mortals kept going, too. But the Primary turned once he was over the center of the river, as did those of his brethren who flew only their own bodies.

The Bluebell halted in front of them, the silvery blue of his wings spread and his face awash in the scorching light that had turned the river to gold.

And the light, it grew, and grew, and grew.

Until at last, the light was so bright that it became fire and even the Primary couldn’t bear it and threw up his arm in front of his eyes. The last thing he saw was an intense white brilliance.

Editorial Reviews

10/21/2019

The winding 12th paranormal romance in Singh’s Guild Hunter series (after Archangel’s Prophecy), focuses on power struggles between immortal beings and does not disappoint. A magical force known as the Cascade has augmented the already formidable might of the existing Archangels, causing power surges that rouse the Ancients from their sleep, among them gods and mythical beasts. Navigating this new world order, Archangel Raphael runs the risk of being unable to control his powers and unwittingly turning his human lover, Elena, into his vessel. As the two fight through the chaos, the evil archangel Lijuan goes power-mad and sets out on an unhinged quest to reign as a goddess. To stop her, Raphael and Elena must combine their strength. Though the depiction of their devotion to each other occasionally grows overwrought and repetitive, their enhanced powers lead to epic magical fight scenes that will keep readers hooked. Singh’s twisting plot and satisfying conclusion will have paranormal romance fans tuning in for the next installment. Agent: Nephele Tempest, Knight Agency. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"Singh’s worldbuilding and imagination never disappoint...Another riveting entry in the Guild Hunter series."—Kirkus Reviews

"Singh’s twisting plot and satisfying conclusion will have paranormal romance fans tuning in for the next installment."—Publishers Weekly

"A strong, game-changing book and one many readers will love...one of my favorite paranormal romance series."—Dear Author

"Archangel’s War is epic in all the best ways and everything I needed it to be."—Smexy Books

"Absolutely epic and unbelievably suspenseful, Archangel’s War was a complete game changer in Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter universe and will surely leave fans reeling in the best of ways...Nalini Singh’s detailed, evocative writing was perfectly on point, with gripping action sequences and a thrilling conclusion that made Archangel’s War an unforgettable journey."—Harlequin Junkie

"Archangel’s War is a truly power packed story...Nalini Singh doesn’t disappoint and truly delivered a story of edgy suspense, all the feels that tugs at the heartstrings, and a story you won’t ever regret picking up!! This author works her delicious magic in every way and its magnificent!"—AddictedToRomance.org

"Surprising, riveting and just a little heartbreaking...This is one book that readers will want to read over and over and each time finds something they missed as if words were secretly hidden on the pages."—Fresh Fiction

"Guild Hunter fans, RUN do not walk to your nearest bookstore and grab this one as soon as you can. A penultimate read of epicness, Archangel's War was the best in the series yet. I can only imagine where things will go next. Bravo Ms Nalini, bravo!"—A Book Obsession

"Archangel’s War delivered a long, gritty battle with losses and victories as well as personal battles and a romance for the ages.  Guild Hunter fans will find this unputdownable."—Delighted Reader

"Ms. Singh knows how to give the fans what they want in her own way, and it’s glorious to read."—Romance-Reader.com

From the Publisher

2019-09-15
Still reeling from recent battles (Archangel's Prophecy, 2018, etc.), Raphael and Elena must rally their grudging allies to protect New York from an ancient evil, because if their city falls, the rest of the world will follow.

Once again the Archangel Raphael and his consort, Elena, have warded off an attack against them, but this one felt different. A powerful force known as the Cascade tried to force Elena into acting as a vessel for Raphael's power. While they were able to overcome the challenge, it feels like the experience was a precursor to the rise of something dark and powerful, which the Cascade was trying to prepare Raphael for. Even as Elena is learning to live without wings, she's discovering another set of inexplicable powers and growing closer to ancient, mysterious allies while Raphael is clearly stronger than ever. But a vanquished archangel has risen, bitter and power-hungry. She's out to control the world, and she'll stop at nothing to make it happen, even creating an army of zombielike creatures to help her succeed. Raphael may be one of the most powerful creatures on Earth, but even he can't confront Lijuan on his own. The question is, even if the Cadre—all the archangels on the planet—come together to fight her, will they be strong enough to stop her? Singh heightens the tension and the stakes of her Guild Hunter series even as she reintroduces a sprawling cast of friends and allies who are determined to keep each other safe and live their lives in peace. If only the world weren't such a dangerous place. Singh's worldbuilding and imagination never disappoint, and while the action is often brutal and harrowing, it is always tempered by Raphael and Elena's profound love and their affection and devotion toward their friends.

Another riveting entry in the Guild Hunter series.

Kirkus Reviews

Narrator Justine Eyre has the listener eager with anticipation as archangel Raphael and his consort, Elena Deveraux, emerge from a long sleep. In this continuation of the Guild Hunter series, Raphael and Elena have undergone a transformation to save the world from the insanity of the archangel Lijuan. Eyre provides distinctive voices for multiple characters—from Elena's young sister to the ancient vampire, Dmitri. Eyre gives Lijuan a voice that drips evil. Amid the tension of the situation, there are moments of humor when Eyre expresses Elena’s sarcasm. As the war between Lijuan’s and Raphael's forces escalates, the listener gets caught up in the battles that Eyre brings to life. S.B. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2019 - AudioFile