Archangel’s Sun (Guild Hunter #13)

A good read, though it felt a little emotionally flat to me. Admittedly, its hard to encompass a deep story in 360 pages. I liked Sharine’s growth and emerging independence. I appreciated that while being independent, she didn’t make stupid decisions. I also greatly appreciated that Titus wasn’t a controlling male and didn’t tell her what to do, how to feel, or who to be. All that said, it was hard to get into the romance; it just moved too quickly IMO. Maybe if the plot had felt less forced or more complex…? It felt like keeping the story moving was a struggle. Her journey to his territory felt endless and uninteresting, as did their journey back to a particular town. I felt beleaguered, weary, and bored, so it was hard to appreciate the budding romance. I think their story deserved a more complex arc and maybe two books.

Fans of the series will likely enjoy the book since it centers on a special character, but don’t expect the complexity or build up of plot we see in the Elena and Raphael books.

Lots of flying and little plot. I expect more from Nalini Singh and her Guild Hunter Series, than this book which actually bored me at times. Ive never been bored by a Singh book prior but this one did it. I really like Sharni and Titus, but the actual plot had none of the grit that I expect from a Singh book. I dont know why we as readers had to read letters from the past that gave no context to what was happening in the book. Could not have Sharni and Titus have talked about their past in relationship to the events in the letters. I understand that they were supposed to fill in Titus backstory, but that backstory did propel the plot at all. Finding out what had fractured the Hummingbirds psyche was a complete and utter let down.

The war to end all wars is finished with the deaths of the two most monstrous Archangels, Lijuan and Charisemnon, who filled the world with death and disease; however, the battles against their terrible legacy remain far from over. Titus, now the Archangel of all Africa, needs help fighting the abominations known as the Reborn which his enemies left behind as a grim reminder of their depravity. Bad enough they exist, these newer ones seem to have become even more horrific and have evolved newer strategies to survive. The Lady Sharine, known as The Hummingbird, revered and beloved by angelkind, has spent centuries locked in her own mind after a devastating event sending her into a mental tailspin. She has been emerging out of that long psychological fog while helping to heal others at Lumia: the angel repository of art and all things they hold sacred, beautiful, and unique.

Sharine may be considered an Ancient because of her great age; however, she has only recently begun to truly live life again doing so without the weight of millennia that normally affects very old angels. Formerly existing as if she has been in the angel state known as a Sleep and now, newly revived and awakened, Sharine is determined to live a full life again. When Sharine agrees to assist the big, bold, and brassy, Archangel Titus, she must prove to everyone in his Court and other angels that she is no longer a fragile, out of touch, delicate little bird who must be cossetted and protected. Titus is at first stunned that the Cadre would send him not only the most cherished of their race, but an angel who is the very opposite of the warrior he desperately needs.

Sharine quickly proves her determination to be an asset rather than an albatross for Titus and his people. Old skills she had long forgotten are awakening so that Sharines power comes quite importantly into play helping Titus root out and destroy the remaining deadly menaces. Charisemnon had been secretly experimenting which raised the bar on his malevolent hubris making Tituss job even harder. All the Archangels remaining have an exhausting and difficult task trying to put their planet back together after so much destruction and devastation with the territories still in turmoil. Sharine has a lot to deal with after coming back to herself realizing all she has missed including being a true parent to Illium, and the issues which caused her mental fracture in the first place. Readers of the series know Illums father, Agaegon, was a major contributor; however, much more is revealed about the level of his callousness and narcissism as well as the reasons behind Sharines total disconnect from the world.

After what she suffered, Sharine feels done with romantic relationships having no time or inclination for them. Titus was quite content in his role of a fearsome warrior who yet enjoyed being a ladies man. To their mutual surprise, Titus and Sharine find much joy, laughter, and even love is still to be had in these dark and difficult times; an Archangels life can still be full of jubilant surprises. Ms. Singh continues to give her readers a story with great heart, humor, and some very intense moments adding new layers of depth to the Guild Hunter world. Fans will be well pleased at this very fine addition to the series that shows no hint of slowing down with so much more to say about these beloved and compelling characters. (

I was hoping for more interaction between Sharine and Titus. Instead there was a lot of interaction with other people. The romance was forced and – considering there are only 2 or 3 love scenes spaced out over long spans of time – it was oddly rushed. I didn’t feel their attraction. I only felt that they appreciated each other. Also, the ending seemed abrupt. It read like this was really a vague idea the author had to tell the back story of some characters but she didn’t have the same passion for them as for Raphael and Elena. Also, there was such a focus on Sharine and her needs, that I found Titus boring and too accommodating. I usually enjoy this author and mature romances, but this was a miss for me. I recommend it for fans of this series, because it moves things along. But don’t expect a grand romance.

So… This wasn’t bad, but if I had to find a word to describe…. Milquetoast. it’s just completely bland, like a slice of toasted bread. Good, but… Not anything particularly exciting. I feel like the overall series plot is suffering from over extension and endless conflicts etc. I find myself caring very little about the plot anymore. The romance in here was also so, so bland. Not bad, but really on the level of a novella, not a full length novel.

I skipped/skimmed the last two books and the funny thing is that I’m not really lost. That says a lot about the plot.

I’m just waiting for Nalini to finish up the Illium/Aodhan plotlines so I can quit this series in peace. I will wait for reviews before ordering the next. Also I really don’t want to read about random characters next either, so hopefully it will come soon… Anyway, taking a pause on this series again.

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