Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter, Book 1) - Nalini Singh

368 pages
Rating: 4/5

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael. But this time, it’s not a wayward vamp she has to track. It’s an archangel gone bad.The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor’s edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn’t destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break


Since i usually swap books with my sister and we discuss them for hours on end, i tried telling her why Angels' Blood was a good read and why she should give it a go.

It went something like this:

This book has Vampires, Archangels and Vampire-Hunters.

The Vampires are created by Archangels and have to sign on for 100 years of servitude's to said Archangel before they can be free by themselves (The book had a very interesting explanation for how and why this happens too). Archangels who, btw, have divided the world into territories they control and 'rule over'.

So when the Vamps escape before year 100 is up, in come the vampire-hunters, who capture them and return them to their masters.

Elena is one such Vampire-Hunter. She was born for this job. Something about having a nose for smelling the vampies. The VHs, by the way, are completely organised - like government-agency organised types and are called Guild-Hunters. She gets called for breakfast and a chat by the Archangel of New York - Raphael. Yes, ladies and gentlemen - Archangel Raphael. (See, this is where Vanessa burst out laughing and gave me that incredulous 'you're reading stuff like this and recommending it to me, Have you lost your mind' look)

What followed was half an hour of Vanessa seriously doubting the quality of books i have left in my huge hoard, if I've taken to reading about the Archangel Raphael and his New York exploits and me explaining that it is a good book, outlandish as my explanation sounded.

Back to my explanation.

Obviously there are sparks between the Vampire Hunter and said Archangel. But wait, there's more. (Not sure if this warrants a drum-roll, but what the heck. Drum roll please...)

Raphael, the angel that he is, obviously wants something from his breakfast date.

He wants Elena to track someone for him.

Another Archangel.

An Archangel gone Rogue. !!!!

Yikes!!

I really did like the book, but i guess Vanessa found my description hilarious. She's sticking to Sookie Stackhouse for now, which i also convinced her to read after much similar story telling.

I liked Elena, she's good at her job and sure and confident as a character, if a bit confused on how she feels about the archangels. Raphael is one of the elite cadre of Archangels, and rules his 'domain' with an iron fist. The attraction between the two is sizzling. I mean C'mon. Where else are you going to read about Archangel sex?? I liked the other characters as well - Sara and Ransom - Elena's fellow Guild-Hunters. And Dmitri and Illium - 2 of the Seven who guard Raphael.

Go read this book. Despite my stupido explanations, it is a really good one.