I am writing this review as I cry. Apologies in advance.

This book is both the beautiful continuation of Archangel's Light and its own story. This book shows multiple timelines, the two main ones being what I called "modern day" and the "future", which is 700 years later. You see the establishment of the tenuous relationship Aodhan and Illium have made previously as well as how they handle the changes the future brings. The characters are well-crafted and stay true to their previous appearances while also growing before your eyes.

Now why did I knock down a star? Two reasons. One- the mystery aspect is one we have seen way too many times in this series. I just went- ah yes, another basic mystery that is somehow reflective on a painful past. Maybe if I hadn't reread a few earlier books in the series, this wouldn't be so annoying.

The second reason is something I can't say without giving spoilers. It has to deal with intimacy, and I wish I could have a conversation with Nalini Singh to ask some questions. Maybe an author's note will explain it, but the ARC didn't contain that section. I am not saying it was bad or worse, but it did leave me with questions. Maybe once I get a physical copy and see the note I can bump it up a star.

If I had to guess, this is the second-to-last book in the series. You can feel the finale nature in these last two books, and it feels like there is only a little more to wrap up. I love this series and this book is no different. This book just confirms why I suggest this series to everyone.

Utterly brilliant. Soft, sweet, heated, and a lovely tale of defiance, hope, and aching love. It felt like coming home while realizing you aren't really an outsider but part of this beautiful world. And I am SO FREAKING excited to see what's coming next with how the book set things up!!

This book had me in a chokehold from page one. I have loved this series from the beginning and this book really encapsulates all the characters we have grown to love over how many books, and gives some sneak peeks into their futures.

Of course, the main focus her is on our beloved Bluebell and Sparkle, Illium and Aodhan. The back and forth from future to past in this story had my heart clenching and also felt like being wrapped up in a blanket of love and given a mug of my favorite warm beverage. It was so ... indescribable that even now, days later, I am thinking about how they got together and their future. God, and that ending. I cannot explain the joy and pain in my heart. Just look at the title, realize what it means, and think of all that entails, and you will soon understand. I got goosebumps and my throat felt tight and my eyes hurt, and if I was a crier I would most certainly have shed some tears. But they would have been tears of both joy and pain.

This book felt like an end to the series, but the last page said there is more coming and I will hold that promise close to my heart. If it somehow had to end here, I would be all right, but I will eat each and every book up as long as they keep coming and appreciate the gift this series is.

Thank you, Nalini, for your spin on angels and vampires and humans.

Archangel’s Ascension by Nalini Singh is the 17th book in her fantastic Guild Hunter series. We have followed both Illium and Aodhan for awhile now, especially in Archangel’s Light; revealing that their friendship runs deeper. Bluebell and Sparkle now become lovers, in each other’s hearts. Illium and Aodhan are two valuable members of Archangel Raphael’s Seven; and Raphael knows that soon, Illium will finally Ascend.
Blue and Adi investigate a case for the Tower that close family and friends discovered two people who were murdered; which echoes darkness from Adi’s scars of the past. The first half of the book revolves around finding who was behind they murder; bringing them closer to an evil woman who was not liked by many. While they continue to investigate, their relationship continuous to grow, with the love between them escalating.

With Illium finally ascending in the second half of the book, as he is filled with intense and strong powers. It was emotional, when Illium faces Raphael, and tells him that he will always be part of their family, knowing he will always be his sire. Raphael knew he was losing two members of his Seven; as Aodhan will become Bluebell’s second. Though they knew this was coming over so many years, as Raphael and Elena understood, and would always be there for him. Illium was saying his goodbyes as he knew he could never be there the way he was before. Though he knew if anything was serious, he and Aodan would always be there to help.

It was a wonderful story, with so many wonderful characters from previous stories, as Raphael’s people were always considered family and friendship. So many memories, and they all loved Illium; happy for him now an Archangel, but they will sadly miss him (Raphael, Elena, Dimitri, Jessamy, Sharine, Titus, Honor, Keir, Galen, Nassir, Venom; just to name a few)

Archangels Ascension was a fantastic story finalizing Illium and Aodan story, as well as his new territory; with many people joining Illium in his new land. Not sure where Nalini will take us in between Raphael (and Elena) or Illium? Once again, Nalini Singh gives us a wonderful book, that was so very well written. I really enjoyed this book, and loved Bluebell and Adi.

Beautiful love story that took the series in a surprising, but not really surprising, direction. And it’s only surprising in that I wasn’t expecting the time jumps, but I love how the story was constructed going well into the future (or Today) while flashing back to fill in the gaps. Well done.

(Larger review will be posted on Goodreads closer to publication date)

I didn't think it was possible, but Nalini has outdone herself again! How does this series keep getting better and better and better? This is now my favorite book in the series and I can already say with conviction that this will be my favorite book of 2025.

After finishing the book, I was nothing but a puddle of melted candy floss and too many emotions to be contained in a single human body.

This has absolutely everything - great characters, great plot, wonderful worldbuilding, a beautiful lovestory, heart-melting and spicy romance, so many wonderful moments of friendship, family, found family.

This book has such an enormous scope both in terms of time that passes and in how much it changes the world we've come to love throughout the series. I think I have never felt as many different, intense emotions while reading a book.

Everything is just so freaking well done. A masterpiece! I couldn't be happier with it and now I wish the series never had to end. I re-read the book right after finishing it and I haven't been able to think about anything else ever since. I've been painting fanart like a maniac and yelling at anyone and everyone irl and online to just preorder this book already because it is EVERYTING!

Perfection. 10000 / 10, no notes, would read again a thousand times, need five hundered more books about these two and in this series.
Going to re-read it again.
A thousand stars.
A million stars.
All the stars, alive and dead, for this masterpiece.

Nalini Singh in Archangel's Ascension follow the path of angel Illium and his lover Aodhan first in the present as their love flowers and then in the future as Illium ascends to archangel and has' to set up his own archangelic court and territory along with who would come with him. Aodhan hos second in command means that Raphael, Archangel of New York looses two of his Seven angel and vampiric support team. Illium
and Aodhan find justice for Marco. a vampire who is stocked and deepen their relationship. An intriguing continuation of the Guild Hunter series which brings in new characters and moves the timeline forward.

Archangel’s Ascension is such a delightful addition to the Guild Hunter series! I really enjoyed watching Illium's and Aodhan's relationship grow from friendship to love—it felt so natural and genuine. Their affection for each other really shines brightly through on page. I do wish we had gotten to see Illium’s ascension a bit earlier in the book, though, as leaving it for the end significantly disrupted the pacing. Overall, I really loved this couple's journey and definitely recommend it to fellow fans of the series!

It’s hard to tell where Nalini Singh will go after Archangel’s Ascension. This book takes place in both the time we might think of as ‘current’—after the war as Aodhan is healing for Illium—and seven hundred years in the future as the forces that be have Illium ascend to the archangel status he avoided once before.

This is a fantastic story, and readers will get a better sense of how Aodhan and Illium work as a couple. However, I still think Bluebell and Sparkle’s relationship would be just as good had they remained close friends. It just doesn’t feel like it needs the heat. The other relationships were touching, though. Watching Illium’s goodbyes post-ascension was precious.

What is there to say about a book that had such high expectations and just nailed the landing on every single level? Can I give this book more than 5 stars? I sure would like to. I came to this series late, a full decade after the publication of the first book. And in my glomming of this series, I had been shipping Bluebell and Sparkle since the moment they stepped onto the page. Normally friends to lovers aren’t my favorite trope but I think we can all agree that this is not an ordinary series and the friendship of Blue and his Adi is no ordinary friendship. They are, as this book states so beautifully, each other’s hearts mirror.

It's been 4 literal years since Nalini gave us Archangel’s Light which ended with Illium and Aodhan finally (FINALLY!) taking the next step in their very complicated relationship and acknowledging that their feelings run much deeper than those of best friends. We have brief mention of them last year’s Archangel Lineage where they are in a committed relationship but it’s really this book that cements them as a pairing for the ages in the world of angels and vampires.

Alongside their will they or won’t they relationship, there’s also been the question of if or when Illium will ascend to become an Archangel, especially since the events of the Cascade (several books ago).

The evolution of Bluebell and Sparkle in this particular book is so sweet, it almost feels like a love letter to all the fans who have been clamoring for this pining for years. It’s especially bittersweet to me because I came to this series at the urging of my very dear friend, Melinda Utendorf who absolutely loved this series and loved the pairing of Illium and Aodhan. She passed away in 2024 and as I was reading this book, I had this intense urge to message her about it, as I had done with so many of the books in this series. We read several of the later books in this series together and even co-wrote a review for Archangel’s Light and it’s heartbreaking that she will never get to see this pairing come to its fruition in this book.

There’s a lot in this book that I loved, but I especially loved that at its core, it has always been a story of found family. Raphael, his Seven, the relationships between them and then with their respective mates, Elena and her friends, the special connection she had with Bluebell, it all just really moved me especially because this book spans multiples hundreds of years and some of these friends are mortal beings and thus, there’s a lot of loss and grief attached to this story. There are parts of this story that really moved me but none more so than when Illium finally ascends and his first interaction afterwards with Raphael, his Rafa, his sire. I was literally weeping and then again, when he was saying his goodbyes because he could never again be there the way he was before. It’s a big change and it feels like what this series has been building to the whole time but especially since the big war with Lijuan and the Cascade.

I said this with the last book and I’ll repeat myself with this one, I do think Nalini is close to wrapping up the series. Parts of this book felt very final in a way to me, but the final chapter also felt like she is maybe gearing up for a spinoff series that might focus on Illium’s territory. But whatever she chooses to do with this series, I’ll definitely read it.

I absolutely loved reading this book! I love this series so much, and this was an interesting addition to the series, since we have already had a Illium and Aodhan book, but this time it's told much differently, which I had to read!

The way it's told, is it jumps between timelines, one, 400 years in the future, when Illium is ascending to archangel. The other is where the series was before this book, mainly, though once the mystery was solved, it did jump forward at a few points, to showcase some of their moments between the present and the future, which was really interesting.

Both timelines had something interesting going on, the present had the mystery into these deaths, and conversations about having relationships with mortals, which Illium is really good at. The future had him ascending, and all the changes that come of that, because of course Aodhan is going with him, but they're leaving the Seven, and it'll never be the same again, which hurt, but not as much as it hurt the characters.

Their first book dealt more with them moving from friends to also lovers, and this book, it's them being both, and there are some points where past trauma crops up, and I really enjoyed watching them deal with it together, making their relationship even stronger.

My question is what the future books are going to be. Are they going to continue on in the present, or are they going to jump to the future in this book, or somewhere inbetween? I don't know, and I can't wait to find out, because it does say that the Guild Hunter series will continue soon. I just don't know how.

Loved reading this book and I can't wait to see what the future holds for this series!

It isn’t every author who can keep reader’s happily running back for the next book in a long series but SIngh just creates great characters that readers want to see again. Illium is one of those wonderful characters and slowly but surely Aodhan has come back to life and become one too, so it’s a pleasure to come back to the second half of their story and Illium’s ascension.

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥 🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨✨


First Impressions
Archangel’s Ascension is the newest installment in the Guild Hunter series and this book continues off, timing was from the latest installment, however, this is where we see the next phase into Illium and Aodhan’s story. I know that there was some readers that struggled with their first book together, because it wasn’t as spicy as many of her other books. Their relationship is not like any of her other couples and I really admire that she has handled their story so much differently. And even though we really see them come together fully as not just friends….but true mates, don’t expect a spicy book but you can expect to find a beautifully, deeply intimate story that will capture your heart. We also see a well developed mystery that comes into play which I actually get why this one was handled in the way that it was. We also have some flashbacks which we see two timelines which is the present from what we have known the series…..and then 700 years in the future (YEP ) and Nalini Singh developed it just so well.
Summary
Aodhan and Illium…Sparkle and Bluebell have gone from centuries of being friends to something deeper. They are now reunited fully in New York, Bluebell has just returned from traveling to reunite with his sire and most important connect with his sparkle….his Aodhan. They are both members of Rafael’s Seven and have embraced their roles completely. But there is a mystery that has arisen when one of their own has been murdered, and they must find the culprit and it hits close to home as evidence has come out that it was a stalker situation that makes the past of Aodhan come to the surface in a very painful way. But as Adohan and Illium learn to come to the truth and embrace this new chapter in their relationship….there is also change happening in the future that will push the boundaries of their relationship and their lives ….forever.

What I Loved
Archangel’s Ascension is one of the most brilliant installments of the series and not only that is one of the best books that this author has ever crafted. I can’t express how wonderful this story was and how thrilled I was to finally get the conclusion for Aodhan and Illium. While I adored Archange’s Light ….Archangel’s Ascension is where we really see their story truly come together in such a epic finale that captures the soul. There are many elements that are brought to the surface within this story.

Illium has returned to New York after some traveling, he and Aodhan and learning to be together as more than just centuries long childhood friends. This is where they learn to let go and embrace their next chapter. The intimacy between them is beyond beautiful. You see their closeness, the sensuality and the affection that is so deeply entrenched in their hearts. And while our couple is learning what it means to be together in this new way, they are tasked to solve a riddle….a murder mystery that involved a newer vampire and his fiancée who were murdered by his stalker. We see how this pushes the recovery that Aodhan has worked so hard to rebuilt from his time as being stalked and kidnapped and abused in some of the worst ways. We see as they work slowly to solve the mystery, that we see their connection working through and being built into something just as deep but a different path than what they have walked in the past. There is such beauty and light that is brought into their relationship and I was so deeply touched in their quiet moments together and seeing their intimate bond grow into such a crescendo that was brilliantly penned that was transformative and stunning in its emotional detail.

The next phase is where we see the flashbacks into the future which I rarely see to be honest. But I found it refreshing. Although these flashbacks don’t truly start until the last 1/3 of the story. Where we see what we all have been anticipating for many books….to see our darling Bluebell….our Illium face his destiny and ascend into an archangel and become one of the most powerful beings on earth. We see how his destiny comes for him and the results of that. How his destiny and his life will change forever….how he will never be able to serve his sire again, and be with Elena, or to visit his mother, but will need to embrace who he was meant to be and change what is to be expected. And how his journey into this bright new chapter will deliver changes for him and might push some challenges between him and Aodhan but also between himself and everyone he has ever known. The moments between him and all of our favorite characters struck deep and was so heart-wrenching. But we also see how well he embraces his future, see how their relationship becomes so much more vibrant in the face of this new change. And it leaves off with a Happy For Now feeling and I hope we get another book with them together, to see how Bluebell will maneuver his way into his new position and his territory.

What I Struggled With
Nothing ….this book was pure perfection in every way!!!

Overall View
Archangel’s Ascension is a book that will carry its reader to new heights of light filled connection, embracing new chapters of beginnings and the brilliance of love that fills the soul in every facet with such shining intricate vibrancy…..A GEM OF DAZZLING LOVE THAT HITS DEEP ON THE SOUL!

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Character Types: Alpha Hero, Angels, Tortured Hero, Warrior/Soldier
Themes: Tear Jerker, Heart/Emotionally Touching, Holy Grail Mystery
Tropes: Epic Love

Book Perspective
3rd POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Plot Conflict

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Christine Feehan
Patricia Briggs
Gena Showalter

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

A chef's kiss!!! Nalini Singh has taken us back to visit with all of our favorite characters. The focus of course, is "Bluebell" & "Sparkle" and their relationship. This is beautifully done, drawing a
On all the books leading up to Archangel's Ascension. She takes us back to their childhood, we learn what happened to Aodohan, & *spoiler alert* that Illium does indeed ascend. The book takes place years later than the last book so we get a glimpse if the future while the past gets wrapped up. This felt like a farewell to me, but there is room to return. This might be my favorite in the series!

I didn't know I needed this book. I mean, I know that's what the author said when she announced it in a blurb from her newsletter, but still... I was glad when they got their love story ("Archangel's Light") - Illium and Aodhan are such great characters and it was so wonderful they were able to come together after all they have meant to each other, and that it was the first gay main couple in the series was awesome! I was so happy she had stepped out of what I perceived as her comfort zone to tell a story that can be (unfortunately) so controversial. But I also remember thinking their story felt a little cheated when compared to the other couples. It wasn't as flushed out in terms of the growth towards each other and then the Happily Ever After ending. And yeah, the sex scenes were noticeably mild, but I actually tend to gloss over the spicy times anyway, so it wasn't a big deal - I chalked it up to a great first attempt! This book, though, fixes all of that and helps me adjust my opinion of their first book. In my mind now, the first is a bridge for the overarching storyline and a first half for their story - because coming out from their back stories, they needed more time. This book gave me the "more", and I have to say, as a person with my own history, I sincerely appreciate how Nalini Singh dealt with it. Going back and forth, bridging AND addressing things without getting mired in something that could be triggering, was so well done. This book was a wonderful addition to the series.

The Guild Hunter series is set in an alternate version of our world, where vampires and humans are ruled by angels, the most powerful being the Cadre comprised of Archangels. “Beautiful. Deadly. Sometimes cruel. Always unpredictable.” It’s a bit action, a bit political/court intrigue, and always romance. Each book tends to focus on a different couple, although most characters reappear as regulars.

Archangel’s Ascension was disappointing to me. I enjoy this series for what it is – fast paced, fun, a little sexy, never taking itself too seriously. But this one just didn’t hit the mark for me, and while irrelevant to the quality of the story, I REALLY don’t like this cover.

As the title gives away, it’s finally Illium’s time to shine, and he and Aodhan have to navigate the changes. We shift back and forth in time, between the current “present” the rest of the series has been set in, and a much farther future. There was a bit of a murder mystery in the first half, but the first three quarters of the book focused heavily on Illium and Aodhan’s new secret romance, and it felt repetitive, like I was being hit over the head with a 2x4 to make sure I understood how ASTONISHING his eyes were and how TORTURED and BROKEN they felt, and how they would DIE for each other and etc etc.

It wasn’t until the last quarter that I got really interested, and I realized that the real draw of these books has never been the romance, but the world building and the court politics of the Cadre. I love the scheming, the spying, the tug of war of power that the angels partake in. A new Archangel has to set up his court, figure out how to establish himself as a power among the Cadre, and navigate the political waters? Yes! THIS is what I read these books for.

All in all it was perfectly fine, but not my favorite in the series and I hope we get a little more focus on the political side of the game in the next book.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

This one was so painfully bittersweet. I’m not ready for this series to end AT ALL. Not mentally stable enough. I love these characters and this world so much.

Illium and Aodhan! Blue and Adi, Bluebell and Sparkle, their friendship is legendary even if they had a few small hiccups along the way. Their love story is inevitable at least in hindsight and they've been working their way towards a permanent bond. It was a bit disappointing when they acknowledged their love without a lot of buildup or fanfare. I am happy that Ms. Singh gave us the love story. Aodhan's conversation with Raphael, the amber revel, dancing in India and most importantly glimpses at the mischievous Aodhan who has been hinted at but never glimpsed until he knocks Illium off his perch.

As inevitable as their love story is Illium's ascension to archangel and what an ascension and heartbreak as the two leave the seven after centuries of being together and leave New York which has been their home in a long time. I have been surprised at some of the twists and turns in this series, but this is the first time I am not even sure what to speculate over how the series will continue. I definitely look forward to the next book in the series.

The only thing I found disconcerting is the advance of the timeline especially given the sense of whip lash as we went back and forth in time concluding with a lot of surprises of the folks that are now in the current time. It was nice to catch up with all the characters but glaringly missing were Elena's grandparents and her sister's vampire husband. Perhaps not important enough particularly in Illium and Aodhan's life.

I'm glad there was a second book for Illium and Aodhan, because the first book had a little too much going on for me. This one is better, but there definitely could have been more couple and less everything else around them - I know what Singh was trying to do, but it fell just a little flat for me. It also was a little jarring with the time jumps, but again I also see what Singh was trying to do with it. Not sure if this is it for the series, or not, but I enjoyed it enough to be glad it was part of the series.

Wow. Just. Wow. Archangels Ascension gave me SO much of what I've always adored about the Guild Hunter series. The bonds of found family, loyalty and friendship were ALWAYS thee most beautiful part of this series. Nalini depicts this as no other. I've been waiting years for THAT scene with Raphael and Illium and it did not disappoint. Tears! Just tears! The whole novel felt like a love letter to the GH series. I was enveloped in its arms from start to finish. The Cadre (loved them!!!!) the way everyone came together for Illium's new journey. Ugh. Love just love. While the central plot was a heart stopper, I immensely enjoyed having all the characters threaded throughout the story. lol Especially Nassir. I’d somehow forgotten how deeply he felt and how mysteriously delicious he was.

The story is buttoned up in a great place. The next chapter for Guild Hunter is up to this wonderful author’s wildest imagination and I can’t wait to find out what she does next.