Review: Archangel’s Enigma

Review: Archangel’s EnigmaArchangel's Enigma (Guild Hunter, #8) by Nalini Singh
Published by Berkley Sensation on September 1st 2015
Genres: Paranormal
Pages: 357
Goodreads
five-stars

My Favorite of the Series. Sexy, Sensual, Fun, and Exciting — Just Like Naasir

“Seven months Naasir had been hunting. Seven months since he’d told Ashwini he was ready to find a mate. Seven months and still his mate hadn’t made herself known to him. Didn’t she know he was looking for her?”

FINAL DECISION: My favorite of the series. I loved the characters, their deep respect and mutual acceptance of one another. The tone of the book is sexy, sensual, playful and dangerous which fit Naasir’s character. As a character that fans have wanted to know more about since his first appearance, this book is deeply satisfying. He is given a mate who matches him well. Their journey is exciting and sweet and just plain sexy.

THE STORY: Naasir is one of the Seven to the Archangel Raphael. His origins are unknown but he has some feral qualities and some vampire qualities. When a plot to murder the former Archangel of Persia is discovered, Naasir is sent to awaken the Archangel to warn him. He is to accompany Andromeda, a young angel scholar who has done work to discover the Archangel’s sleeping place. Because they are racing against time to discover the sleeping Archangel before it is discovered by the one who wants to kill him, their journey is expected to be perilous. At the same time, Naasir is seaching for his mate. When he meets Andromeda, he thinks that she smells like she could be his mate, but her fragility and her vow of celibacy make him wonder how she could possibly be the one for him.

OPINION: A wonderful blend of sex, sweet romance, friendship, adventure and excitement, this book and its tone are perfect for the sensual, playful but deadly Naasir. A fan favorite since his introduction to the Guild Hunter series, Naasir has mysterious origins. Fans can rejoice that this book answers questions that have surrounded Naasir. No spoilers here, but I found Naasir’s story to be especially satisfying.

Naasir is playful, brilliant, sensual and brutal and all those traits are exhibited here. He is unique to the series and I loved how this book expressed all his qualities. Readers of Singh’s Psy-Changling series will recognize her deft hand with expressing animalistic qualities and she has raised it to a superlative level here. Naasir is incredibly complex and his different way of thinking is well depicted here.

Andromeda is seemingly an unlikely match for the wild Naasir. A scholar and a celibate, Andromeda first appears weak and defenseless to Naasir. As he begins to uncover her true nature, however, he learns that she is precisely the mate he needs.

“The idea his maybe-mate might have a secret side fascinated him.”

What I loved most about this book was the mutual acceptance that Naasir and Andomeda show to one another. Both had broken childhoods and come from monstrous origins and wage fights against their nature. In each other, they find acceptance and appreciation for the qualities that others have rejected in them.

“A woman who knows me, understands what I am, and who wants to have secret rules with me.”

A beautiful expression of love, their romance was allowed to develop slowly (contrasted by the swift events of the narrative). Naasir’s respect for Andromeda is evident throughout. Truthfully, the conflicts between these characters arise from external events and threats and that works perfectly for this couple. This is a story of love, acceptance, sensual exploration, deep respect along with a playful tone even in the face of serious danger and brutal battles.

I finished this book was a deep sigh of satisfaction and then immediately began reading passages of it again because it was that good. Instantly my favorite of the series and a definite “keeper”!

WORTH MENTIONING: A warning: “Something bad is coming. Worse than before.” But that is for future books.

CONNECTED BOOKS: ARCHANGEL’S ENIGMA is the eighth book in the Guild Hunters series about a world where angels and vampires and mortals live together. There is a strong connecting story between all the books as political maneuvers and battles take place between Archangels. This book, however, can be read as a standalone as all the information a reader needs to know can be garnered from the text of this book.

STAR RATING: I give this book an enthusiastic 5 stars!

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five-stars

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