Four Stars
Let’s be honest, Nalini Singh can do no wrong. I love every book she has written, and ARCHANGEL’S LIGHT is no different. Well, maybe a little different because my expectations were sky-high! As advertised, this romance was 500 years in the making and 14 books for fans of the series: Illium and Aodhan, the iconic best friends who have been struggling to connect recently. After the war, Aodhan is in China helping the archangel rebuild, and Illium is supporting him from afar.
This book is really an exploration of Illium and Aodhan as friends and a bridge into the next series arc. I adored the ridiculously cute Sparkle and Bluebell as children stories. We got to see the Seven build bonds through the many flashbacks. With more than 500 years of life, both men have struggled, but Aodhan’s personal evolution took my breath away. His ability to rebuild his life and become a strong warrior after everything he went through? Absolutely beautiful to read.
I really enjoyed reading about Suyin’s court in China! The new characters were dynamic and I hope we get more information on their fledgling court in later books. The mystery component was interesting and, to be honest, a little creepy! Singh does complex, nuanced “evil” characters so well. Through all of it, Illium and Aodhan were dancing around each other, frustratingly on different wavelengths. I swear I held my breath every time they interacted! It was genius storytelling that kept me on the edge of my seat just waiting for these stuboorn angels to work through it.
While I really enjoyed this book, it was a little light on romance for me. It really feels like an extended prologue to Sparkle and Bluebell’s romance. I hope they are at the center of at least a few more books because there is so much more between them. The pacing was a little slow, but the last 10% of the book packed a big punch.
I am not sure where the series will go from here, but Nalini Singh left herself with a wide-open field. I’m sure it’s going to be a wild ride and I will be there as a loyal fan every step of the way!
**I received a free copy of this book in order to provide an honest review**
Romance Reader 