Review: Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh

Archangel's Blade
Book 4 in the Guild Hunter series

Author: Nalini Singh
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9780425243916
Release date: September 6, 2011
Author's Website: Nalini Singh

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...

Archangel's Blade is the first book in the Guild Hunter series that doesn't focus entirely on the main characters of the series the Archangel of New York Raphael and his consort Elena Deveraux.  I love these two characters, but I was so happy when I learned that Nalini Singh was going to write about Dmitri.  His character has always been so mysterious and I couldn't wait to learn more about him! He takes charge in this book on a new case regarding vampires and the Guild sends it's best to consult with him regarding a tattoo to find out what it means.  Honor is the best and at first doesn't have the confidence for this case because she's still getting over a traumatic experience involving vampires.  She also has to work alongside Dmitri and that in itself is a challenge not only because he's a vampire, but because she wants him from the first moment she sees him. 

I really liked Honor's character in this book because the things she had to endure would have made most people lose the will to live. Not Honor because she is a survivor and Dmitri knows this and Nalini did an excellent job allowing the reader to understand why she is one.   Honor went through a horrific experience and for a good majority of the book she is scared of Dmitri.  He not only scares her because he is a vampire, but she's also scared because being around him is so intense.  Dmitri has always fascinated her and now that she gets to work alongside him, it's almost too much for her.  Ahhhhh Dmitri is just so sensual and it's almost as if you can feel him all around you as you are reading this book!  I can totally understand why Elena feels what she does when she's around him.  It's just a part of who he is and that's not even the real reason why I feel for him when reading this book.  We find out all about his past and the love that he has lost.  In fact, just thinking about it has me tearing up.  This quote really got to me:

I lost my humanity a long time ago, Bluebell.

There is a reason why Dmitri is the hard ass that he is and it all makes total sense once you learn why.  What's even better is how good Dmitri and Honor are together and that he doesn't change how he is once he begins to fall for her. He's still cold, dark, mysterious and an asshole!  I've read plenty of books where the male character gets all soft and sappy and his character changes from what or who he used to be.  Not Dmitri and I loved it!   Thank you for allowing him to stay dark Nalini for I love him the way that he is. 

I'm giving Archangel's Blade a rating of:

Archangel's Blade also included all of the awesome characters that we've grown to love.  Raphael, Elena, Venom, and Illium.  Oh Illium how I love you so and I cannot wait to read your book one day! (Get back on track girl)  It's obvious how much I love this series and characters.  I love immersing myself in this series and can't wait for the next one so I can jump in head first.  

Other books in the series:
Book 1:  Angel's Blood
Book 2:  Archangel's Kiss
Book 3:  Archangel's Consort