THE FOLLOWING REVIEW WAS POSTED ON OCTOBER 26TH:

Illium—playful, loyal, kind, and powerful—has been a charismatic presence in the Guild Hunter series since the first book, Angels’ Blood. Aodhan hasn’t been quite as prominent a character but his light-refracting beauty, artistry, and remoteness give him an almost haunting quality. Their fast friendship was always intriguing and many readers have been waiting for years to see it blossom into romance. Archangel’s Light is that long-awaited novel.

Early in the book, Raphael tells Elena he is sending Illium to help out Suyin and Aodhan in China. Suyin has requested Raphael’s permission to ask Aodhan to remain her second. After all that Aodhan has survived, Raphael will never take his choices away from him, but he doesn’t want to lose him and that’s why he sends Illium.

Ever since the events of Archangel’s Heart, where Aodhan and Illium had a falling out, the two have not been communicating much. Now it’s been a year since the war in Archangel’s War, where Aodhan volunteered to serve as Suyin’s second. In that time their rift has worsened and Illium’s arrival in China raises tensions further since they are already on thin ice with each other.

Aodhan is angry; he feels that because he retreated from the world for so long, Illium no longer views him as someone who can stand on his own and that Illium’s overprotectiveness hobbles him. Illium feels rejected (he also assumes that Aodhan will take the position when Suyin offers it). As far as he’s concerned, he’s worn his heart on his sleeve for too long and if Aodhan doesn’t value his care anymore then fuck him.

So Illium pastes on a fake smile that Aodhan sees through in a heartbeat. Each decides to keep an emotional distance while having the other’s back when they team up–but of course, that’s easier said than done.

Survivors of the horrors that Lijuan unleashed on China during her reign straggle into Suyin’s home base and among the new arrivals is Kai, a descendent of Kaia, the mortal lover Illium once lost his feathers over. Kai bears an uncanny resemblance to her ancestor and at first glance Illium is smitten. Aodhan winces; he never thought Kaia was good for Bluebell but he’s also never said so and never will. Illium feels similarly about Suyin (she and Aodhan are rumored to be an item).

Aodhan wants to confront Illium about his fakeness and Illium is determined not to engage. There are also small misunderstandings and mishaps that wound them. For example, Aodhan retreats from a glancing touch as if burned.

Soon enough, though, Suyin takes her people on a journey to a new location where she plans to build a citadel that isn’t haunted by the memory of Lijuan. Before she leaves, she asks Aodhan and Illium to stay behind (along with a few kitchen staff, Kai among them) and investigate the disturbing disappearance of an entire village. Their hurts come out under danger and slowly (very slowly) they take small steps back toward each other.

These chapters alternate with others set during their childhood and youth. We see them meet as small angels (so cute; they call each other “Spark” and “Blue”). One is shy and the other gregarious, and that makes each the perfect person to grow up with for the other. Illium brings Aodhan out of his shell and Aodhan settles Illium. They practice flying together, discover their dreams together. And when each one is shattered by an emotional blow, his best friend is there for him.

The mystery subplot is one of the spookiest and creepiest in the series, so I don’t even know why I loved it. Possibly because it’s also one of the tautest and most suspenseful.

This book is relatively isolated from the world politics of the Guild Hunter series. The present-day story here takes place almost entirely in China and none of the other protagonists are present for that section. The flashback storyline about Illium and Aodhan’s childhood and youth is set centuries in the past, so while we see some familiar faces there, these sections have even less to do with the series’ political plot.

This serves the story really well, especially once Aodhan and Illium are alone together to investigate the disappearances. The absence of other distractions (except for the investigation, and that brings them together) puts a close focus on their relationship—a friendship that’s a little screwed up and a lot wonderful.

It also makes the book a good entry point for readers who haven’t read the earlier books in the series—Archangel’s Light mostly stands on its own. Of course, reading the earlier books would enhance the reading experience, but if you’re curious about Illium and Aodhan and haven’t read any of those, I think you can read it first and then backtrack to catch up on the overarching larger-world political plot and the other characters afterward–the flashbacks will fill you in on a lot of Aodhan and Illium’s backstory.

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Aodhan has spent the past year in China being Suyin’s Second, helping her with the monumental task of putting a devastated China back together. Remnants of Lijuan’s evil remain in the brutalized people, some amazingly still loyal to their “goddess,” as well as a deadly landscape leftover from the nightmarish fog that destroyed much and still lingers. Illium is sent to China to help Suyin build a new stronghold and assist Aodhan in the work he has been doing. Their centuries long relationship of best friends has suffered because of Aodhan’s desire to be his own man without a caretaker. He does not want to be appear as broken or damaged ever again, or in need of protection from the world.

The story of the two angelic boys who grew up together is told in tandem with present. Quite a bit of time is spent on them as adolescents doing the things that young boys like to do be they angel or human. This story is not all sweetness and light though because Lijuan has left behind some hidden horrors just when it was thought she was truly obliterated from the world. Also added to the mix of Aodhan and Illiums’ relationship, which now seems high angsty angst, is the background of what exactly happened to Aodhan when he was abducted and tortured for two hundred years. Someone from Illium’s past surfaces to be reimagined as that seems to be a major theme in this book.

A big issue for me with this pairing is that all along Ms. Singh has insisted that they are only “brothers” and very close platonic friends with their stories have been written as such. Now, the new additions feel like revisionist history in an attempt to justify the pairing of Aodhan and Illilum. Do I feel this sea change for Illium and Aodhan works? Not really. Here is why: At thirteen very well-done books in, for Illium and Aohan to now become lovers verges too close for this reader in the uncomfortable territory of siblings intimately involved in a relationship. In truth, the new and unexpected direction between Illium and Aodhan feels forced; the main body of the book is about their friendship and shared history as brothers in all but blood. Readers have a dilemma and difficult choice to make if they don’t want to read this storyline as they will miss out on developments in the plot.

Love to watch two men make themselves miserable. Truly down for a tragic backstory, in all respects.

Singh loses momentum in the story of Now to the constant flashbacks to Then. Trust your readers to infer and your characters to convey their own histories, without having to resort to outside perspectives. Most especially since the extended sequences in the past seem generally unrelated to the present happenings, except as a convenient means to revisit trauma.

I am, however, still absolutely screaming with laughter over the reveal that Aodhan is basically Superman.

Final thought, though, and spoilers to come: for something I've been looking forward to and am on board with 100%, this was also, I must say, the least sexy book I have read by this author, bar none.

Case in point: nobody fucks in this. The first kiss is at page 355 of 390. Is it because it's two men at the end of a string of heterosexual romances? Who can say. I don't even want to give it the excuse that it's more focused on plot then physical relations. It's absurd either way.

I have such mixed feedback about this novel. I truly did not buy into the Illium/Aodhan pairing. I much preferred they be best friends than lovers. Nalini writes the seven so beautifully that the bonds of friendship are what I’m most fascinated by. She’s moved me to tears for years and years so while not my choice for HEA, it is still a masterpiece as far as the story telling goes.

I love Nalini Singh's books. She is one of my most favorite authors. It is heartbreaking for me to rate this book a 4 star, but......... While Illium and Aodhan have always been fascinating characters, their story was not the most compelling. I truly enjoyed reading about their history and being baby angels. It was a total joy to see Raphael and Nassir and Jason with them as young Angels. When we went back to current time the story seemed a bit flat.

There have been inklings that these two might become a couple throughout the other books and this one did start them in that direction. But it did not really fulfill it. Besides the previous history the rest of the story was Aodhan and Illium fighting and trying to find their way back to each other. For 2 people who have been best friends for 500 years one would think they could talk to each other. Yikes. And then when we do get to the romance it is at 93% of the book. (yes, I did check).

While it was great world building and interesting I really feel the two lovers were not given a complete story.

Received as an ARC from Netgally

4.5

For as long as many can remember it's always been Illium and Aodhan. Aodhan and Illium. Inseparable. That is until Aodhan is subjected to a trauma that affects his mind, body, and soul. After centuries of healing, Aodhan is finally able to move out of the dark, but in asserting his strength and stability, he's pushed Illium, and his over-protectiveness, away.

Now, they're both stations in China helping to rebuild what Archangel Lijuan destroyed in her descent into madness. It's the first time Aodhan and Illium have seen each other in a year. As they continue to uncover the dark secrets left behind in a desolated country, they'll have to figure out once and for all if it's time to give up on a lifetime of friendship or open themselves up for more.

I think it's safe to say that Illium and Aodhan's story has been one of the most anticipated in this series. From nearly the beginning, readers knew their bond went deeper than friendship. Within the story the word "mirror" is used to, I think, aptly describe what Illium and Aodhan are to each other.

This is something that's difficult to quantify for anyone who hasn't read the entirety of the Guild Hunter series.

Nalini Singh had a lot riding on her shoulders in trying to get this story out in the world. Part of me wonders if that's why it took until Book 14, but upon reading the book itself I can think of no better time. It was one of those kismet moments.

In Archangel's Light readers finally see and understand the depth of Illium and Aodhan's friendship, and we finally get to understand what happened to Aodhan which caused him to turn away from everyone he cares about and retreat into himself.

Archangel's Light is about trauma. It's about surviving trauma. It's about pulling yourself out of the dark and beginning to live again after trauma. I think that Nalini Singh takes such care with Aodhan's story. Building piece by piece - even giving readers glimpses of the past throughout - that when all is finally revealed to the reader, you too feel the heartbreak, but you can also feel what it was for Aodhan to fight to get to where he is in the present.

On the other side of that, you have Illium. He's supported and loved Aodhan for a lifetime obviously feeling pain himself at seeing his friend go through what he did. Only wanting to offer support, but now that Aodhan is surviving on his own and living again, he finds Illium's care a bit suffocating.

I think you can clearly see both sides of the story here. You see the fact that if they want their relationship to survive through this, they both need to fully understand where the other is coming from. In this regard I feel like Archangel's Light is the perfect companion to Archangel's Sun - which tells Illium's mother's story - as Sharin herself also suffered through trauma and pulled herself out. I thought that the chapters alternating to the past, or "yesterday" as their called, really brought home what Sharine suffered.

For me, Archangel's Light was not a simple romance. I don't know if some will be bothered by this fact. I do think that the story itself fits Illium and Aodhan perfectly in that it almost transcends romance, it moves into another realm completely. Because, I mean, Illium and Aodhan were always in another realm with their friendship. It was never as simple as only being friends or blood brothers. And it's not as simple as just being in love.

I almost feel like Archangel's Light closes a chapter in the series. Illium and Aodhan were the last of the seven to get their own story. I'm excited to see where Nalini Singh will take us next.

Bluebell and sparkles, two of my favorite characters in the series.  Snippets of their story has been told throughout the series. This book fills in the color and detail to provide a complete picture of who they were, what they were to each other and how much the recent distance between them has hurt them both.  I'm not sure that I could have imagined this chapter in their story but now that it's been told I can't imagine a more perfect beginning of the next chapter of their story. 
All through the series, the author has managed to surprise readers with grizzly stuff perpetuated by Lijuan the archangel of China who just won't stay dead. The author is able to surprise us once again with a curved ball that will catch readers by surprise. Given the build up of fear amongst the people, readers were expecting something just not what actually came to be. 
As Illium and Aodhan work through their issues and in many ways find themselves, the story plays out filling in the details of their childhood and friendship. During this telling we get to see more about all the seven as well as Raphael and how they interact with each other forging strong bonds of friendship that will never be broken. 
The end feels a bit rushed to me as it takes the telling of the entire tale before the relationship and even romance if you want to even call it that kicks in. I hope there will be an additional book to explore more about what comes next for them.

2.5 Stars

The story begins one year after the war. Illium is sent to China to assist Aodhan in restoring the war-torn region. Aodhan has been through so much pain and suffering. After Aodhan’s captivity, he is no longer the same. Illium recognizes that trying to get his best friend to return home may be a challenge but they have been through so much through the centuries. This healing journey is one that he is willing to go through with his brother.

I’m not really into M/M romance at all but I’m a fan of the series and want to continue with it. After the war, I wanted to know what would happen next for everyone. I dove right in without any hesitation but I’m slightly disappointed in how the story plays out.

The two male leads take forever to recognize their feelings for one another. I’m not sure if that helped me to believe they were supposed to be together. The author flashes between past and present reflecting on their friendship and brotherhood throughout the years. This is where I got confused. The story focuses so much on that that it felt like I missed the part where they fell in love.

This story is what I call slow burn that doesn’t help the transition of friendship to lovers that well. These books are long so I want the romance to kick in a bit earlier. It really doesn’t happen until ninety percent in. At this point, I’m not invested in them as lovers. I wanted the feels and it was just meh which hurts me to say about this about any book in this series.

There is a lot going on with this world and honestly, I’m looking forward to going back to Elena and Raphael to see how they are holding up. There are other characters that still need to get their story told so I’m sticking with this series.

~ Samantha

Yeah, wow, it was so fantastic to read this book! Illium and Aodhan were the last of Raphael's 7 to get happy endings, and it was so great that these two, who have been so close throughout the series, found their happiness with each other!

One thing that I loved for us readers, but hated for these characters, is that we found out what Aodhan went through. Well, first we had scenes of their first meeting, of them as kids, as they grew up. And then we saw what happened, and yeah, that was just terrible. But we did know that he did get through it, and wants to be treated normally now.

On the whole, this book is just them working towards a place where they can be in a relationship, though they never really say that, that's what happens. I just hurt for them, they've been through a lot, and had to learn how to be with the other again. And oh, that moment when they do? I'm so excited for their future!

There was the plot of what Lijuan left behind was smaller than their relationship's plot, but oh, was it dark and twisted! That was just so sad and hard to read, because the whole situation was just messed up. They did the best that they could with it, but that was pretty haunting!

I loved reading this book, it was so fantastic, and I can't wait to see what happens in this series next!

Archangel's Light is the book loyal readers of this series have been impatiently waiting for! Aodhan and Illium have captured the hearts of readers and those readers have long waited for their story. Now, this was the first M/M in this series, and I'm also sure there were readers of the series who weren't really psyched about it. So, Singh had to tread carefully, and since she is the queen, she does it well.

The story bounces back and forth between the past and the present. These two have a very LONG history. Both of them are sort of broken, and their story is a bit heartbreaking. But these two have such a wonderful and deep friendship that their love is truly believable. Their love story is a slow burn built on that friendship, so it is a different feel than other books in the series.

I enjoyed the book a great deal. I didn't love it as much as others in the series, but its a great book. I hope, even if you aren't sure about M/M, fans will give this a try! Aodan and Illium have a love that you find in fairy tales and that songs are written about. It is simply beautiful!

Also, I have listened to each book in this series. Justine Eyre is FANTASTIC! Seriously, she is a superstar narrator.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
ARCHANGEL'S LIGHT is the 14th installment in the Guild Hunter series. Since each book is a continuation of the previous, with threads connecting them all, I would highly suggest against reading as a standalone or skipping installments. Not only would the reader be confused, but the emotional connection built over the arc of the novels would be lessened.

Let's face it, either you were anticipating Bluebell and Aodhan's book or you were dreading it. There is a contingent that didn't feel it proper to have two male protagonists fall in love with one another, either out of squeamishness (to put it nicely) or wrongly felt as if Illium and Aodhan were brothers, even though that wasn't what was put on the angsty pages for 14 installments.

Obviously, I was in the anticipatory camp, giddily waiting to see how Nalini Singh would write this epic friends-to-lovers story.

Told in two time frames, the past and the present, Singh manages to pack an eon of relationship building into the novel, giving readers a good understanding of the foundation, the connection, and the angst that has kept Aodhan and Illium apart.

Most important info for both camps, anti or pro Bluebell and Aodhan:

Nalini Singh plays it safe to appease both camps. Very wise decision. Slow-burn. Chaste romance. Intimate touches, just the brush of wing or the side of the hand, while both angels angst inside their own heads. This should show those who were anti how Love is Love, how it bridges all gaps, how it stands the test of time. How friendship can turn to a romantic connection with a spark. How these angels are not human, their lives timeless over millennium, with no gender or orientation, as it is that spark of connection that fuses two beings of light.

With the romance an undercurrent, the angst the men feel a nonstop buzz that sometimes jolts the reader, the bulk majority of the novel is based in the devastation and destruction wrought across China as they rebuild, along with the transition from an evil Archangel to the benevolent acting Archangel.

Aodhan has been invited to join as the new Archangel's second, which would tear him from Raphael's Seven. Not only were Aodhan and Illium bonded as friends since they were littles, they joined Raphael in the tightest of bonds. It's a major consideration for Aodhan, not only a feeling of honor to be chosen but a sense of loss should he chose to join her, as he would have to cut his loyalties to Raphael and his fellow Seven.

Our Bluebell is beside himself, assuming Aodhan will take the second position and leave him forever, angsting nonstop. While Aodhan angsts nonstop. It's cute and delicious at first, but it gets old fast, like shake the sense into them old. Until their miscommunication and angsting makes them feel like middle schoolers, not centuries' old angels who have known each other for their entire lives, connected in a way that is unbreakable.

To be honest, I felt their relationship a let down, all the anticipation, the buildup over 14 novels, only to receive a similar voice built on the foundation of miscommunication, which I believe is a cop-out to real drama, and unnecessary angst that left both of them sounding immature. There was so much there between them, the miscommunication unnecessary, where a hurt-comfort friends-to-lovers slow-burn would have been best. Thankfully, it does seem to be headed in that direction.

I was delighted with the across time snapshots of their lives, the foundation building of their friendship and bond, along with the snippets from others to create a full picture of what both Illium and Aodhan had gone though over their lives, how they both suffered from the absence of one another. That was beautifully and flawlessly written, bittersweet and heartbreaking with an air of hope.

Aside from the immaturity and pining, there was a major issue I had with the novel, one that I found jarring, tugging me from the story time and time again. I will call this phenomenon "Hearsay" writing.

Singh adopted a new writing style that I do not remember from past installments. I can forgive the random info-dumps at the worst time possible, knowing this is her style of writing over the countless books of hers I've read. Where there will be paragraphs out of nowhere, running down things that were already shown or told within this book, after reading them in real time in the installments before. I forgive this "pace killer" as I'm used to skimming it. But this "Hearsay" writing style was jarring, especially combined with the back and forth of the present and the past from numerable major characters.

Hearsay: in the middle of a scene, suddenly, with no modifier to distinguish it from the scene itself, ALL the narrators would suddenly be thinking of a past conversation with someone/anyone, with actual quotes, most of the time having absolutely NOTHING to do with the scene we were currently reading. No lead-in. No transition. I would have to backtrack, try to remember what was occurring, to not be confused once I was dumped back into the scene itself. There was never a time I wasn't confused when this occurred.

No matter the format, the continuity hit a brick wall. Not an enjoyable experience for the reader to suddenly SLAM into a wall of confusion.

Perhaps this was to skirt around the "Show not Tell" writing rule all writers are hit with from their editors. It's something nearly impossible to avoid. To avoid info-dumps of past conversations with anyone/everyone, where the narrator muses via inner monologue, suddenly the conversation is written out in quotes as a full flashback, not italicized from the main scene to denote the transition, no lead-in as if the conversation was sparked from something happening in the now.

This was a major issue, as in the past, the flashback was italicized. A flashback within a flashback within a flashback. A flashback within the present with more flashbacks within the present. Confused? Me too.

What made it the most challenging is ALL the narrators did it, making them sound similar in diction. I could understand one of the narrators, like a signature voice, but ALL, and I don't just mean Illium and Aodhan.

They would be flying, in the middle of a battle, conversing with someone, musing over another event entirely, and suddenly there would be a sentence or two or a page or two of some conversation between characters not in the scene about things that had nothing to do with the scene happening on the page. Like wait, where did Ellie come from and why did some cutesy convo between her and her Bluebell seem important during a battle? I found this hearsay writing style not only distracting and confusing but grounds to DNF. If I wasn't so invested in the characters and plot after 14 novels, I would have abandoned ship, as it was HUNDREDS of these odd conversations out of nowhere. PLEASE, Ms. Singh, DO NOT do this again. At least put these conversations in scenes where it makes sense.

Aside from the hearsay and the miscommunication immaturity, I did enjoy the major plot of China, which truly was the focal point of the entirety of the novel. The aftermath in China, where they scramble to pick up the pieces and make things right. The connections wrought between all the characters. The insight to the past and how it bonded the Seven. The slow-burn romance between our Bluebell and his Illium. I truly hope to see this as a continuing arc, where it moves on to more, as the series progresses, as we have seen Raphael and Elena evolve.

I'll be waiting with bated breath for more, anticipating the foreshadowing of an angel transitioning to an archangel before his time. More from the Seven. More from Raphael and Elena. Most assuredly more from Illium and Aodhan.

Highly recommend Nalini Singh to fantasy readers, especially urban fantasy (Guild Hunter) and paranormal romance (Psy-Changeling). Pet-peeves or not, ARCHANGEL'S LIGHT has found a spot at the top of my reread list.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
Spanning nearly 500 years, the intimate bond that ties Illium to his Adi and Aodhan to his Bluebell is both powerful and beautiful. Inseparable since childhood, deep cracks in their relationship are exposed when Aodhan leaves Illium and the rest of Raphael’s Seven to help Suyin rebuild China.

For me, this story was both wonderful and frustrating. The sexual tension between Aodhan and Illium has been a slow burn since the start of the series. The book alternates between telling the lifelong story of their relationship with their present day work in China. As always with Nalini Singh’s books, there are exquisite descriptive passages and beautifully charged moments in both the past and present. While much of Illium’s story has been told in other books, this is the first time Singh gives us Aodhan’s story – and it is definitely worth the wait.

What I found frustrating about this book is Singh’s reluctance to fully commit to the story as a gay romance. Unlike every other couple in all of the books I’ve read by Singh, the author doesn’t give Aodhan and Illium a single sex scene. We get heated moments and charged scenes but everything stays very PG13. It feels wrong to not allow these two the sexual intimacy they deserve after 500 years of buildup.

I finished the book still waiting for Illium and Aodhan’s happily ever after. The book ends suddenly without the sense of closure I expect from paranormal romance. This series has always straddled the line between urban fantasy and paranormal romance – but the couples in this series always get a satisfying happily ever after. It could be that this is building to a second book for Illium and Aodhan. I hope this is the case because I feel like they’ve been slightly short changed. It feels unfair for an author to make me love a couple this hard, only to leave their story so abruptly.

*4.5 stars*

Beautiful love…

This world enslaved me long ago, and each read has me saying ‘best characters ever’. And it’s true, each and every time. Aodhan and Illium. Warriors. Leaders. Survivors. Friends. And so much more… They lived to serve and protect. But they also deserved to be happy. Be content. Be loved… The bond they shared transcended all of the struggles they lived through, and (I hope) those to come…

This was a love story and yet it was more. It was about friendship and support. Loyalty and insecurity. The relationship that Aodhan and Ilium had was worth every minute of anguish and pain. Of unselfishness… But would it survive? Told with humour and grace, their fears became mine and I worried. A lot. About their future and it would be…

This read had no clean ending, no loose ends tightly tied up. Instead, it left me hopeful and yet melancholy, wondering on what was to be… This author makes me care too much – and oh what a gift that is!

This was everything I’d hoped it would be and more. Best cover, best blurb, best book. Sweet and tender, heartbreaking and poignant, dark and violent, it had everything this series is known for. Just absolute perfection.
Longer group review done on Smexybooks.com

4.25 star--ARCHANGEL’S LIGHT is the fourteenth full length instalment in Nalini Singh’s contemporary, adult GUILD HUNTER paranormal/fantasy romance series focusing on Archangel’s, angels, vampires, shifters and hunters. This is angels Illium aka Bluebell, and Aodhan aka Sparkles’ story line. ARCHANGEL’S LIGHT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order as Illium and Aodhan’s story line has been building throughout the series.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from several third person perspectives including Illium and Aodhan, using present day and memories from the past ARCHANGEL’S LIGHT follows the life long friendship to lovers relationship between angels Illium aka Bluebell, and Aodhan aka Sparkles. Illium and Aodhan’s friendship has been damaged by demons from the past. For close to two years, Illium struggled with his best friend’s disappearance, a disappearance that resulted in the torture and abuse of the friend/man/brother that he loved but with Aodhan’s rescue and return, the resulting pain left Aodhan a changed man-a broken Angel- and in this, Illium battled with their friendship going forward. Now that Aodhan was helping to rebuild LiJuan’s former stronghold in China, Illium has been tasked by Raphael to aid the reformation wherever he is needed but coming face to face with Aodhan pushed our couple to revisit the past, not only their childhood but the demons that broke the man that he loved. What ensues is the rebuilding friendship and relationship between Aodhan and Illium, and the potential fall out as LiJuan’s previous control and hold on China continues to reveal the extent of her destruction, and the resulting evil that cannot be ignored. As Illium and Aodhan continue to unearth the damage, a surprise discovery has everyone on edge, including the most powerful beings in the world.

Nalini Singh reveals the background and history between our story line couple: the years spent as childhood best friends-their pain at parental loss both physical and emotional, as well as their connection to Archangel Raphael, the Cadre, and the Seven but Nalini also pulls the reader into the dark, raw and ugly side of a world controlled by Archangels and Angels, as the reader bears witness to the tragic events, abuse and torture of an Angel so coveted for what he is, that the resulting harm has left a damaged and broken man.

The relationship between Aodhan and Illium is a best friends to lovers relationship wherein Aodhan struggles with his attraction to a man whom he believes continues to hold a torch for someone else. As Aodhan battles between head and heart, Illium must come to terms with the potential loss of both the friendship and love of the man he has protected all of his life. There are no $ex scenes.

ARCHANGEL’S LIGHT is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, abuse and torture, recovery and love. The premise is heart breaking, emotional, and raw; the characters are energetic, broken, struggling but recovering; the romance is impassioned but is damaged by perception and misunderstanding.



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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 stubborn 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**

Aodhan has spent the past year helping new archangel Suyin find her footing in China, the territory that keeps on giving- in the horror movie sense of the word. As extra help moving her people from one of Lijuan's area's to a new, "safe" part of China, Raphael sends Illium to assist. When patrols discover a suspiciously empty village of seemingly vanished people, Aodhan and Ilium stay behind to investigate.They'll have more than their own issues and ghosts to deal with, for Lijuan has left at least one last unspeakable monster behind to walk in her footsteps.

Archangel's Light tells the story Guild Hunter fans have been waiting for: Illium and Aodhan. Illium, the seemingly carefree angel, always playful, always curious, always kind to mortal or angel alike. Aodham, the angel made of sparkling light but trapped in mental darkness, a tortured artist slowly coming out of his protective shell. We know they've been friends their whole lives despite seemingly opposite personalities. We know something unspeakable happened to Aodhan that he's only now mentally healing from. We know their relationship has been rocky the past year or so as they struggle to find new footing as Aodhan finds his new self. And we are pretty sure we know what they haven't figured out- they belong together in every sense of the word.

Singh takes the phrase "slow burn" to a whole new level here, probably because most readers are going to be familiar with the backstory of her main characters. She isn't just telling us the 'today' story, she's giving us their past stories as well. How they first met, early triumphs, Illium's infamous first love, Aodhan's capture and torture at the hands of other angels. The highs and lows that shaped them into who they grew up to be both individually and together. It took a little while for me to get used to this style of back and forth, but I ended up liking it more than I expected too- possibly because it often came as a welcome break to some heavy hitting horrors in the 'today' portions of the story. Vague spoiler-ish warning: Singh does not pull any punches in her descriptions of the latest atrocities so have a strong stomach ready for when the guys go searching for danger.

A lot of Archangel's Light seemed to be about the downsides of being immortal. How easy it becomes to lose your core goodness and light (if you had it to begin with) to petty cruelties that become larger cruelties because of boredom or madness. Lijuan is always the main example, but thanks to Illium and Aodhan's comparative youth they see it in many of the others around them as well- even in Raphael and Dimitri before those men found the women they now love. They constantly question what people missed about Lijuan's descent into madness while acknowledging some things are acceptable in the angelic world that the human world wouldn't accept. Most characters see Illium as the rare example of an angel who might never let immortality harden them, although Aodhan and even Suyin are also mentioned as possibly being the same way. Each of these people has suffered and now tries to find a balance in their life, a light to the darkness they know exists in the world. As much darkness as we find in this book, the light of hope is continually held out for those who can see it, and those brave enough to reach for it and work to keep it lit. Something we can take great inspiration from in these days.

Weaving past and present together, Archangel's Light is a complex tapestry of friendship and love and loyalty that reaches soul deep. It asks strong people to bare emotional weaknesses that could leave them destroyed or fly higher than ever before, and in a triumph of world building and character creation, takes readers soaring on an incredible ride along the way.

Finally! The book I think a lot of fans have been waiting for. Since the beginning of the series, Singh has been building a relationship between Illium and Aodhan. Like most readers, I wanted more and was a bit disappointed it wasn't more, I think the author very tactfully approached the relationship from not only a romantic, but a friendship angle. This might be due to an effort to not alienate readers who are new to a M/M relationship. Like her other books, Singh's writing is solid. The world building is interesting and engaging. The story does move between alternating chapters of today and yesterday. I tend to not be a fan of books that jump all over time lines, but I had no issue following. The yesterday chapters give readers a glimpse into the beginnings of their friendship. Overall, a good solid read and addition to the series..

I read Archangel’s Light back in July (I highlighted the heck out of my eARC, by the way) and I’ve reread it twice since then, but even now, I still don’t completely know how to properly express how important and meaningful this book is (for so many reasons). Right off the bat, I’d like to clarify that this isn’t the typical Guild Hunter novel with its plot-heavy moments and scorching hot love scenes, no, Nalini Singh approached Illium and Aodhan’s story with a careful hand that stays true to who the two are, and how organically their relationship develops. So no, there aren’t any explicitly hot moments between Illium and Aodhan in this book (does heavy petting count?) but knowing Nalini, I’m sure she has something more planned for us.

To say that this is the angstiest Guild Hunter book would be an understatement.. but beyond the angst and all the baggage that Illium and Aodhan both carry, is a determination on both their ends to heal those broken pieces, no matter the cost. We see a battle of wills between the two main characters: Illium pulling away and trying to understand what Aodhan needs and whether he is a part of those needs/relevant to A’s healing process; and Aodhan, hellbent on showing that while his road to healing is long—a road he must travel alone—he still needs Illium in his life, in whatever way he can get the other. They’re both stubborn as heck, and while it was frustrating seeing that aspect of them directed at each other, it also helped break the ice (so to speak) between the two of them.

I didn’t think it was possible but I fell even more in love with Illium, Aodhan, Raphael and the rest of the Seven in this book. It was incredibly clever of Nalini to split the book into “Yesterday” and “Today” chapters; she gives us a glimpse of Illium and Aodhan (or Blue and Adi) from their childhood to them growing up. We see how Raphael and the members of the Seven have acted as older brothers and caregivers to the two when they were younger, how they contributed in raising the boys and instilling lessons and attributes into them. Seeing those moments literally had my heart melting at every scene and I had to stop myself from going “awwww” whenever they’d come up (my heart was mush by the end of the book, in a good way).

Because of the way Archangel’s Light was divided into parts, Nalini was able to maximize letting us understand who Illium and Aodhan were. We get to know them in their formative years and how those years affected them as they grew up, we’re given the chance to truly get to know them and see beyond their beautiful wings and figures. And it’s honestly impossible to not fall in love with them as you learn more about the two of them. I’ve always been an Illium fan (he’s my favorite Seven member) so seeing a depth to him that we hadn’t seen before was such an eye-opening experience. And though Illium is my favorite, I have to say that unraveling the mystery that is Aodhan was a completely new and painful and surprising discovery. He’s always been so mysterious, so untouchable (literally) and we’ve only gotten peeks at his true self but we get to see beyond the tortured artist and into his psyche—it’s an experience people will not be completely ready for.

Archangel’s Light is, in essence, a love story. Nalini explores so many different meanings of love, whether it be familial love, or a love borne out of kinship and camaraderie. Or a parental-like love that develops as one cares for children and watch them grow into independent young men. Or, as we see between Illium and Aodhan, a love that evolves from friendship to a passionate, romantic one. Their love is the ultimate manifestation of the friends to lovers trope, and Nalini depicts that development between the two of them with such grace. She doesn’t rush their story just to give them their own HEA, instead, Nalini slowly cultivates the seeds she planted in the previous books, hints about the change in their relationship, and gives it the right amount of water, love and care, helping that change bloom and blossom into the romance they have now. The burn is so, so slow but the end result is so worth the ache.

It may sound selfish given that we already got a whole novel about Illium and Aodhan but damn, I could read about the two of them forever; there’s just so much to learn and witness with them. This book was, in my opinion, the perfect start to a new chapter of their story, one that solidifies their relationship—a relationship that was hard-earned and enduring. This was by no means an easy book, there were so many moments that had my heartbreaking, but Nalini found ways to soothe the pains we endured along the way. (And can I just say, I truly appreciate that we’re finally seeing queer main characters in Nalini’s books. Her novels have always been so racially and culturally diverse and it’s so refreshing that we’re finally getting more LGBTQ+ representation in them.)

Archangel’s Light spoke to my heart and my soul; it made me see these characters I’ve known for years in a new light, and fall further in love with them. This book solidified my respect and admiration for Nalini Singh and her otherworldly writing, her crafting this new installment opens so many new doors for not just the Guild Hunter world, but her writing as a whole. I cannot wait to see where she’ll take us next.

This was such a beautiful story. I was all in from the first chapter. This story is part if a series and this book features two characters Aodhan & Illium. They have been friends forever and are numbers of Raphael, the Archangel of New Yorks seven.
This book travels between the present to the beginning of Bluebell(Illium) and Sparkles (Aodhan). Nalini Singh beautifully weaves their relationship over the centuries until they both realize that they cannot live without the other.
The rebuilding storyline moves forward and Aodhan earns the respect of the new Archangel of China but there is a lot of work to do and she has left a surprise behind.

As Raphael’s Seven got their stories one by one, readers grew more and more excited. It was no surprise that the last two remaining sans love interests were Aodhan and Illium. Readers have seen this deep friendship hold steady through the darkest of times and recently noted sparks that were not the result of our ‘Sparkle’ catching the sun. It was never a certainty it would all culminate in this fashion for such a favorite powerhouse pair, but the die was cast and I waited with other fans for the chance to read this angelic friends to lovers tale.

Archangel’s Light is the fourteenth of the longstanding tightly connected Guild Hunters series that straddles the line between urban fantasy and paranormal romance. It’s definitely not a standalone and follows a series plot thread that has been woven through the whole series.

In truth, I was nervous about this one. I have adored this pair of angels as the best friends and bromance that would grace the Top Five if I were ever to make a list for such things. I felt the tingles of sexual attraction in some of the latter books, but it could still have slid either way and I don’t think I’d have been devastated if the author had gone a different route. Though, all that meandering to say, once I saw the blurb and cover, I bought in wholeheartedly and started really hoping the romance would be epic. It does no good trying to tamp down expectation to be realistic.

Fortunately, I was not disappointed. The author drew on a wealth of history between this pair and showed through alternating past and present how they came to meet, befriend, and become something even more over the centuries. But, in the present, they are not on the same page and are out of sync so that estrangement and distance has formed. Rafael sends Illium to help support the new archangel of China, Suyin, and Aodhan’s efforts to clean up and establish the new archangel. They are all prickles and awkwardness when Illium gets there. They both have their idea about why that is and make assumptions. I was ready to bonk the pair of them to stop assuming and actually talk it out which they start to do in the close contact situation they are in. I think being friends of the deepest sort for centuries like that confused them into never considering that their all-encompassing love like friends and brothers could be more so they never considered what was at the bottom of their recent irritations. This was not a quick resolve and took matters right until the very end so that anyone out for some hot male on male angel steaminess and lots of sexual encounters needs to prepare for quite a different sort of romance tale.

All the dark evil residue of Lijuan’s legacy is still being cleaned up in China and I give her niece and the others props for taking that on. I had the heebie jeebies just reading about all that Lijuan had put in place and that it is still going on even without her. Calling her crazy is understating it by a vast deal. I think they would do better to clear out the people, animals, and samples of plants then do a scorched earth thing to all that land and start over from primordial ooze. The more the new regime works to clean up the more past horror they expose.

I enjoyed the journey to the present outcome. Finally getting the full story of what happened to Aodhan was incredible and I loved seeing the pair as children and Raphael as a new archangel at the time. It is even interesting seeing how Suyin is getting together her own court in the present. Just so much to pull in the series long reader and leave a need for more Guild Hunter world and particularly more of Sparkle and Bluebell’s story.