Countdown Review: Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh

On May 5, 2026, the Guild Hunter series will come to a close with ARCHANGEL’S ETERNITY. 

I’m counting down the days until the final story is told by sharing my reviews for each book in the series.

ARCHANGEL'S BLADE is Book #4 in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter Series.

The Guild Hunter series is set in a world where angels and vampires exist among mortals. Where supernatural beings are ruled by the Cadre of Ten.

ARCHANGEL’S BLADE stars Dimitri, the leader of Archangel Raphael’s Seven. 

The Seven are Raphael’s strongest and highest ranking warriors and are completely loyal to him and now, to his new consort, Elena.

While Dimitri and the Seven swore loyalty to Elena, they don’t think she’s good enough. She’s a weakness to their Archangel.

Let’s see how Dimitri fares in the spotlight!

About the Book

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh is back in the shadows of a deadly, beautiful world where angels rule, vampires serve, and one female hunter must crawl out of the darkness to survive.

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…

My Review

Oh my goodness this story is so amazing! There is so much going on. Dimitri is a far more complex and complicated vampire than we've seen. We get to peel back the layers and discover who he was before he became a vampire and the heartbreaking circumstances that followed.

Honor is a survivor. She battled through a painful and terrible captivity that almost broke her through sheer strength of will and determination. I so admire Honor. She and Dimitri pair beautifully together despite some serious speed bumps along the way.

Ms. Singh has several surprises in store for readers and I cannot wait for you to discover them!

I loved the story and the whole series! Highly recommend!

Purchase Links*

Nalini Singh Website | Penguin Random House

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh is passionate about writing. Though she’s traveled as far afield as the deserts of China, the temples of Japan, and the frozen landscapes of Antarctica, it is the journey of the imagination that fascinates her most. She’s beyond delighted to be able to follow her dream as a writer.

She is the author of the Psy-Changeling novels, including Atonement Sky, Primal Mirror, and Resonance Surge. She is also the author of the Guild Hunter series, including Archangel’s Ascension, Archangel’s Lineage, and Archangel’s Resurrection, and four stand-alone thrillers: A Madness of Sunshine, Quiet in Her Bones, There Should Have Been Eight, and Such a Perfect Family. Learn more at nalinisingh.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Review: Crown of War and Shadow by J.R. Ward

Crown of War and Shadow is a brand new, sweeping, slow-burn romantasy from #1 New York Times bestseller J. R., perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros, and Jennifer Armentrout!

Crown of War and Shadow is the first book in the Kingdoms of the Compass series.

Crown of War and Shadow has

*Forced proximity/Only one bed

*Chosen mates

*Dark mercenary

*Who did this to you?

*Touch her and die

*I'll die for you

*Hidden magic

About the Book

An outcast burdened with a curse. A mercenary out for himself. A kingdom that must be saved.

In the deep, dark, dead of night, passions rise, and empires fall…

The Fulcrum is failing, and demons are slipping into the mortal world.

No one is safe.

Especially not Sorrel. An orphan and an outcast within the walls of her small village because of her mystical abilities. She wants to survive…and find somewhere she can call her true home. But Fate has other plans.

Sorrel has been chosen. Cursed.

She must cross the Badlands to return the Queen's crown and convince the fearsome female to save their world from destruction.

Well aware she’s no brave hero, Sorrel makes a dangerous deal with Merc, a brooding, commanding mercenary known only by his unscrupulous profession.

The deal? A night in his bed that she will never forget, in exchange for her safe passage.

But Merc has secrets of his own, and even though desire runs hot between them, adventure, danger, and betrayal lurk around every corner.

My Review

J.R. Ward brings a fresh voice to the romantasy genre in this epic tale of intrigue and prophecy.

I had some trepidation before picking up the book. I am a huge J.R. Ward fan and I absolutely LOVE her Black Dagger Brotherhood series and many of her other books, but some of her forays into other genres have not been as enjoyable so I wasn’t sure what to expect. 

Will this be a new story we haven’t heard of with an amazing plot and creative world building, or will it be a bandwagon book based on the current popularity of romantasy? 

I am thrilled to report that Crown of War and Shadow is that of the former!

I was immediately swept into the story as I learned of Sorrel’s hardships as an outcast trying to survive the harsh life of a poor orphan. But Sorrel’s got secrets. Big secrets. Forbidden secrets. Juicy secrets. 

One day a mercenary comes into town and takes an unnerving interest in Sorrel. Could he be her savior or her executioner? 

An attack on a couple of village children ignites a chain of events that rock Sorrel’s foundation to the core. The villagers blame Sorrel for the attack and despite the miracles she’s worked through her magic helping many families in the village, everyone’s out for her blood. Everyone except a mercenary with secret machinations of his own. 

Sorrel is shoved into a destiny she doesn’t understand and a responsibility too heavy to shoulder. With the help of her ruggedly handsome mercenary, Sorrel sets off to find the answers she seeks. The road ahead is full of danger and countless adversaries. Sorrel must learn to stop doubting herself and trust her instincts. 

What Fate has planned for Sorrel is far more dastardly than ever imagined. Safety is an illusion. Trust is deceptive. Victory is fleeting. And love is the biggest ass kicker of them all.

The mystery and suspense of the storyline had me on the edge of my seat! I spent my nights reading early into the morning hours because I couldn’t put the book down. When a secret was revealed, the story would bend Inception-style and completely shatter my reading experience with jaw-dropping precision! 

Crown of War and Shadow is an exciting read with a tenacious heroine, vibrant landscapes, and a meticulously crafted storyline that’ll leave readers breathless! 

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

DELUXE EDITION―featuring gorgeous stenciled edges, a foil case stamp, a detailed map, and designed endpapers!

Purchase Links*

Hardcover | eBook | Audiobook

About the Author

J.R. Ward is the author of over thirty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, The Black Dagger Brotherhood. There are more than 15 million copies of Ward’s novels in print worldwide and they have been published in 25 different countries around the world. Learn more at jrward.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Countdown Review: Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh

On May 5, 2026, the Guild Hunter series will come to a close with ARCHANGEL’S ETERNITY. 

I’m counting down the days until the final story is told by sharing my reviews for each book in the series.

ARCHANGEL'S CONSORT is Book #3 in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter Series.

The Guild Hunter series is set in a world where angels and vampires exist among mortals. Where supernatural beings are ruled by the Cadre of Ten.

Guild Hunter Elena Deveraux’s life has been turned upside down in the last two books. 

Not only has she fallen in love, she’s gotten a new body, a new job, and a lot more haters.

So basically, it’s just another Tuesday 😉

Let’s find out what kind of immortal hijinks Elena gets into in ARCHANGEL’S CONSORT!

About the Book

Nalini Singh steps back into the shadows of her “heartbreakingly original” (Errant Dreams Reviews) world where angels rule, vampires serve, and the innocent can pay the greatest price of all.

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil.

A vampire has attacked a girls’ school—the assault one of sheer, vicious madness—and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as inexplicable storms darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders.

The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear.

An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed…

My Review

OMG! If you thought the first two books were exciting, Archangel’s Consort blows them both out of the water! There’s so much excitement, danger, intrigue, suspense, and so many mysteries to uncover!

I am so happy that we’re back in Elena’s home of New York. She’s still getting used to her wings. WINGS! Can you believe it? Elena is so happy she’s alive and with Raphael, The Archangel of New York, whose love gave her wings, literally and figuratively!

In this book, we get to see how Elena and Raphael navigate the power dynamics of their new relationship as well as Elena struggling to reconcile the person she’s become with the person she once was. Can she still be the badass guild hunter she’s always been AND Raphael’s partner in this dangerous world of immortal politics? Let’s find out!

I love watching Elena settle into her new life and experiencing all the new relationships she’s making. But some things are still the same: Elena is fiercely loyal to all those she calls her own, her wicked sense of humor is always welcome in any situation, her unflinching courage as she faces down opposition and adversity, and unfortunately, her estrangement with her father. That’s a wound that may never fully heal.

Archangel’s Consort is a storyline packed full of exciting, funny, scary, sexy, heartbreaking, and wonderful things! If you blink, you might miss something!

I highly recommend the series and cannot WAIT for the next book!

Purchase Links*

Nalini Singh Website | Penguin Random House

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh is passionate about writing. Though she’s traveled as far afield as the deserts of China, the temples of Japan, and the frozen landscapes of Antarctica, it is the journey of the imagination that fascinates her most. She’s beyond delighted to be able to follow her dream as a writer.

She is the author of the Psy-Changeling novels, including Atonement Sky, Primal Mirror, and Resonance Surge. She is also the author of the Guild Hunter series, including Archangel’s Ascension, Archangel’s Lineage, and Archangel’s Resurrection, and four stand-alone thrillers: A Madness of Sunshine, Quiet in Her Bones, There Should Have Been Eight, and Such a Perfect Family. Learn more at nalinisingh.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Countdown Review: Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh

On May 5, 2026, the Guild Hunter series will come to a close with ARCHANGEL’S ETERNITY. 

I’m counting down the days until the final story is told by sharing my reviews for each book in the series.

ARCHANGEL'S KISS is Book #2 in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter Series.

The Guild Hunter series is set in a world where angels and vampires exist among mortals. Where supernatural beings are ruled by the Cadre of Ten.

Elena goes through a tremendous transformation at the end of ANGELS’ BLOOD and in ARCHANGEL’S KISS. we pick up where Nalini left us stunned and breathless!

Having the love of an Archangel has put a bullseye on her back. Elena must be in tip-top shape to face what lies ahead.

If you love strong female leads, then I highly recommend the series! 

About the Book

In this Guild Hunter novel, New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her world of angelic rulers, vampiric servants, and the woman thrust into their darkly seductive world…

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find herself changed—an angel with wings of midnight and dawn—but her fragile body needs time to heal before she can take flight. Her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel Raphael, is used to being in control—especially when it comes to the woman he considers his own. But Elena has never done well with authority…

They’ve barely begun to learn each other when Raphael receives an invitation to a ball from the archangel Lijuan. To refuse would be a sign of fatal weakness, so Raphael must ready Elena for the flight to Beijing—and to the nightmare that awaits. For ancient and without conscience, Lijuan’s power lies with the dead. And she has organized the most perfect and most vicious of welcomes for Elena…

My Review

We pick up shortly where we left off in ANGEL’S BLOOD. Raphael gave his Elena immortality in order to save her life. Her transformation is nothing that has ever been seen in recorded existence. While Elena is considered a baby in immortal terms, Raphael’s enemies would like nothing more than to destroy his happiness by killing her. Not wanting to be a weakness to Raphael, Elena throws herself into training and getting used to her new body.

Thankfully, Elena’s hunter born tracking abilities stayed with her after the transformation. They are needed here. A series of unfortunate events have been staged in order to create dissention between the archangels. With a seat open in the Cadre of Ten, some nefarious, power hungry beings are playing a deadly game.

If that wasn’t enough, Lijuan—a batsh*t crazy archangel with some super scary abilities—is throwing a ball in Elena’s honor to welcome her into the immortal world. To decline such an invitation would be unwise. Everything comes to a head at the ball and you definitely don’t want to miss this explosive second installment to the series!

The brilliance of Nalini Singh always amazes me. Her stories are finely crafted with engaging plots and extraordinarily complex characters! I loved reading about Elena’s transformation and I admire the strength she possesses. Despite the past she still suffers from and her current status as a weak, baby immortal, Elena’s determination is off the charts. I want to be Elena!

I also love the shift of background in the book. The story is set at the Refuge, a safe, hidden land where younger immortals are protected. We also get page time with the rest of Raphael’s Seven, including Galen, Aodhan and Naasir.

There is nothing about the story that I didn’t like. I can’t recommend this series enough!

Purchase Links*

Nalini Singh Website | Penguin Random House

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh is passionate about writing. Though she’s traveled as far afield as the deserts of China, the temples of Japan, and the frozen landscapes of Antarctica, it is the journey of the imagination that fascinates her most. She’s beyond delighted to be able to follow her dream as a writer.

She is the author of the Psy-Changeling novels, including Atonement Sky, Primal Mirror, and Resonance Surge. She is also the author of the Guild Hunter series, including Archangel’s Ascension, Archangel’s Lineage, and Archangel’s Resurrection, and four stand-alone thrillers: A Madness of Sunshine, Quiet in Her Bones, There Should Have Been Eight, and Such a Perfect Family. Learn more at nalinisingh.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Countdown Review: Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh

On May 5, 2026, the Guild Hunter series will come to a close with ARCHANGEL’S ETERNITY. 

I’m counting down the days until the final story is told by sharing my reviews for each book in the series.

So let's go back to where it all began...

In March 2009, Nalini Singh published the first book in the Guild Hunter series, ANGELS' BLOOD. 

The Guild Hunter series is set in a world where angels and vampires exist among mortals. Where supernatural beings are ruled by the Cadre of Ten.

Ten archangels with unimaginable powers; their beauty unmatched and often looked up to as gods. Yet to encounter an archangel ensures an almost certain death, to cross one holds a fate far worse than death.

In ANGELS' BLOOD, we meet guild hunter Elena Deveraux. A hunter-born woman with an affinity for scenting vampires, which makes her one of the best and most lucrative guild hunters in the region. 

Pretty soon, Elena's reputation catches the interest of the most deadly being in the country, the Archangel of New York.

What does an Archangel want with a Guild Hunter? 

Do you want to find out?

Are you ready to tangle with an Archangel?

Me too! Let's go!

About the Book

FIRST IN THE GUILD HUNTER SERIES!

Nalini Singh introduces readers to a world of beauty and bloodlust, where angels hold sway over vampires.

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.

My Review

ANGELS’ BLOOD is the first installment in Nalini Singh’s exciting and dangerous Guild Hunter series. This is also a deadly world full of blood and violence that may not be suitable for younger readers. 

Elena is a guild hunter, a member of an age-old organization who tracks and returns vampires who’ve escaped their service contracts to their angels. Elena is also hunter born, a mortal with extrasensory skills that help trace vampires. It also leaves them vulnerable because vampires have an infinity for sensing and being drawn to the hunter born. Elena is one of the best guild hunters in the world and she is really wishing she wasn’t when finding out whom has contracted her skills for the next assignment: The Archangel of New York.

This book was unbelievable! The plot was engaging and entertaining. The characters are exquisitely crafted and each one vital to the storyline. I have devoured the book several times and after my umpteenth re-read, I figured I should put some words to page about how awesome the story is and how much I adore the author!

It was the characters that made the story for me. They were multi-faceted and easily relatable. I love how each one is a mystery just waiting to be discovered. Elena and Raphael were magic together. The pairing seemed unbalanced because Raphael is hundreds of years old and a cruel being full of immense power, and Elena a hunter born mortal who’s lived but a speck of time.

Elena is a honed blade, sharp and deadly with an inner strength, fierce loyalty and pure of heart. I honestly thought she was too good for Raphael.

This is an awesome beginning to the series and I HIGHLY recommend ANGELS’ BLOOD to anyone who likes their paranormal romance dark, dangerous and deadly.

Purchase Links*

Nalini Singh Website | Penguin Random House

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh is passionate about writing. Though she’s traveled as far afield as the deserts of China, the temples of Japan, and the frozen landscapes of Antarctica, it is the journey of the imagination that fascinates her most. She’s beyond delighted to be able to follow her dream as a writer.

She is the author of the Psy-Changeling novels, including Atonement Sky, Primal Mirror, and Resonance Surge. She is also the author of the Guild Hunter series, including Archangel’s Ascension, Archangel’s Lineage, and Archangel’s Resurrection, and four stand-alone thrillers: A Madness of Sunshine, Quiet in Her Bones, There Should Have Been Eight, and Such a Perfect Family. Learn more at nalinisingh.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Review: Dawn of the North by Demi Winters

Dawn of the North is an epic saga packed full of action, intrigue, danger, mystery, secrets, betrayals, old enemies, new enemies, gods, monsters, and SO much more!

About the Book

A new age begins in the Kingdom of Íseldur in this sizzling third installment of the Viking-inspired Ashen romantasy the series.

The lost Volsik heir has finally returned to the people of Íseldur, and even with the warrior who’s captured her heart standing by her side, Silla’s task is monumental. She must earn the loyalty of the northern jarls to drive Ivar Ironheart from the throne and restore peace in the kingdom. But the secret she vigilantly guards threatens to ruin all her plans: A shard of a god lives in her mind, twisting her thoughts and deeds to His will.

Meanwhile, held captive on the mysterious isle of Zagadka, Saga Volsik fights to return to her sister in Íseldur. But when King Ivar sets his sights on the Zagadkians, she’s forced to make an impossible choice: fight for the man who stole her—and is now hell-bent on marrying her—or let the innocent people of his kingdom die.

As a poisonous mist threatens the realm, the sisters will delve into the unknowns of their magic to battle against evil. Return to the land of ice and fire, where a god awakens, a queen finds her power, and sisters must unite against the darkness threatening their realm.

My Review

The story is massive and the stakes are monumental as each character finds themselves facing adversity, hardships, trials and tribulations.

Silla: Trying to embrace her destiny as Eisa Volisk but wishing she could just be herself while constantly fighting the god of chaos in her mind, falling in love with Rey, and desperately trying to find her sister Saga.

Saga: Glad she is no longer under King Ivar’s tender mercies but is currently in a foreign land kidnapped by the roguish and deadly Kassandr, making plans to get back to Íseldur to find her sister Silla, carefully evaluating the Zagadka people as friend or foe while waiting for a knife in her back and fighting a deeply personal battle with herself.

Hekla: Trying to complete the job the Bloodaxe Crew was tasked with to eliminate the mist while dodging two suitors and the misogyny of the pig-headed warrior band that joined their cause in Roots of Darkness. Men, ugh! She is one of the toughest and most resilient warriors in the series.

Rey: Torn between protecting Silla and watching her walk into a birthright that’ll most certainly put her in more danger than ever before while navigating the sharks at court and preparing to join the in the fight against the mist, separating him from Silla. One must wonder if a more nefarious plot is afoot to cleave him from her side. Ha! He’d like to see them try, and so would Silla. 

Kassandr: Has brought trouble to his people but he did it to protect Saga. He wants to claim her for himself but faces an uphill battle with his father (the king) and brother to keep her in Zagadka all while secretly preparing the kingdom for the inevitable war he knows is coming despite the arrogant naysayers.

Eyvind: Second heir to Jarl Hakon, striving to get back in his father’s good graces after several “failures” but has been completely enchanted by the lovely–and magnificent–Hekla. He’s a bit of a mystery. 

Queen Signe: Wife of King Ivar, in mourning for her daughter and hungers for vengeance against Saga. Currently making plans of her own despite her husband’s scorned pride and war plans for retribution. Totally evil, cunning, duplicitous, and gravely underestimated.

And the list goes on and on and on… 

I was on the edge of my seat as I read chapter after chapter, hungrily devouring page after page. I knocked this thing out in 2 days. It was SO hard to put the book down to eat, sleep or do anything else. 

There are so many brilliantly crafted characters, dynamic landscapes, climactic story arcs, intricate plots and subplots, dangerous political climates, duplicity in all shapes and sizes, and SO many surprises! 

Demi Winters is a masterful storyteller and Dawn of the North her shining opus!

I cannot recommend this book enough! The Ashen series is a juggernaut in the fantasy genre and Dawn of the North is the absolute highest standard of excellence across all genres of literature.

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links*

Penguin Random House | Demi Winters Website

About the Author

Lover of all things fairy tales, fantasy, and romance, Demi lives in British Columbia, Canada with her husband and two kids. When she’s not busy brainstorming fantastical worlds and morally gray love interests, Demi loves reading and cooking. Learn more at demiwinters.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Today

This blog is a safe place to champion authors and their books and share stories that help us escape when life gets a little too tough. Right now we need that more than ever. We are living in scary and uncertain times. Please know you are not alone in your worry, your heartbreak, your fear, your anxiety, your anger, your disgust, and your resolve to speak truth to power. You are not alone. 

Books fuel my soul and empower me to keep moving forward. So I will keep going. I will keep exercising my rights and my freedoms of free speech and expression. I will keep sharing the works of others and uplifting authors, book friends, and my community. I will not let these heinous actions disparage, censure. or defeat me. 

I will continue to let my light shine. Dark times may be ahead, but we are not without defense. We have words and voices. We have strength and courage. And we have each other. 

With love always,

Elizabeth