Nalini Singh – Angels’ Flight

A book in the Guild Hunter series, published February 28, 2012. This is a collection of 4 short stories. And this cover is so gorgeous!



If you are not familiar with this series (hard to believe, but possible) I’ll give you a little bit of a background. Archangels run the world, but not in a biblical way. God has nothing to do with it. They can Make vampires, by turning human, but not everyone survives this. If everything goes well, the vampire owns the Archangel or Angel who Made him, a 100 years of slavery. And a vampire can survive a lot of damage and heal time and again. If a vampire goes bad, or tries to run away, the Guildhunters are called to hunt him or her down, and bring them back. Preferably alive, but not always. Over the years, vampires get prettier and more powerful, but again, not all of them.

Angels’ Pawn
A vampire hunter faces off against two rival factions and the angel manipulating them both, and a vampire whose help is not entirely selfless…

It is also a prequel about the Hunter Ashwini, and her nemesis, Janvier, a very charming Cajun vampire of over 200 years old. She has hunted him three times before, as he has a bad habit of pissing of the Angel who holds his contract. But now she needs his help, as the Angel of Atlanta, Nazarach, has asked for Ashwini’s help. Two vampire factions are quarrelling, one a very old vampire family, beholden to Nazarach for centuries now, and the other a newcomer vampire with a new Kiss of vampires, who wants to take their place. Ashwini is to rescue Monique, who has been kidnapped.
Nazarach is nothing remotely human anymore, and he likes pain. He also likes excuisite things, and he wants Ashwini. Janvier will come with her to try to protect her from Nazarach. Even though the Angels are above the law and can do whatever they want with a vampire.

This short story is the prequel to Nalini Singhs world of Archangels, and it was fun re-reading it. All the names have more meaning now that I know more about the other players. It was only published as an ebook, so I am happy to have it in paper like the rest of the series.

7 stars


Angels’ Judgment
A hunter must track one of her own gone bad, while surviving the deadly tests placed in her way by the archangels themselves. Unexpected backup comes from a stranger who might just be the most lethal threat of all…

This novella has been published before, as part of the anthology Must Love Hellhounds. I liked that one. And rereading was fun.
Main characters are Deacon, the Slayer, but not vampires, he is the Hunters’ bogeyman for when a hunter goes bad. And Sara, the next in line to become the new Guild Director for America. She still has to decide if she really wants the job and give up hunting. The Cadre, the 10 most powerful Archangels in the world, have been told about her. And she is about to be tested. Not all of them believe that a woman is right for this job.
But Deacon and Sara don’t meet by chance, Deacon is out hunting, and their paths cross. Some hunter has become rogue, killing vampires who have done nothing wrong. And as there are three hunters living in the vicinity, who could be the bad apple, they have to check them all out.

8 stars.

Angels’ Wolf
A vampire becomes fascinated with the seductive angel who rules Louisiana. But all is not what it appears to be in her court.

This novella has been published before, in the anthology Angels of Darkness, which I read a few months ago, so no use rereading it already. I am skipping this one.

Angels’ Dance
An angel trapped in the mountain stronghold of the Refuge finds herself under siege by a warrior angel from a martial court.

This is a brand new story, and the reason I wanted to buy the book. Apart from the awesome cover ofcourse. And this one takes place 400 years ago.

This is the story of Jessamy, the old historian of the Angels, and the only Angel who cannot fly. For over 2600 years she has been lonely, keeping everyone at arms length, longing for the sky, but never able to go there. The best doctors have tried to heal her wing time and again, to no avail, until she put an end to the endless torture. She thinks she has accepted her existence. She is respected after all, has the confidence of Archangels, and the love of her little students. She is the keeper of history, and a teacher.
And then one day, her quiet life is disrupted, when a new Angel joins Raphael. A warrior, a barbarian, but one look at Jessamy, and he knows he wants her. Galen has come to Raphael as his new weapons master, and to train his army of Angels and vampires.
When Jessamy is attacked by a vampire, Galen is just in time to safe her, and to kill the vampire. Who wants her dead? She is respected by all. What does she know? Galen’s courting of Jessamy is interrupted by the need to protect her, and to learn from her. But the attraction is mutual, and Jessamy is overjoyed when Galen takes her flying. He is so strong, she is totally no burden for him to carry through the sky. But what he doesn’t want is her gratitude. He sets her free, even if it kills him to see other men court her. Jessamy is starting to live, finally. She is becoming stronger, but all she wants is Galen. But as immortal Angels, they will have forever, so there is no need to hurry their relationship. They have all the time they need.


This last novella is such a sweet romance. That really was at the heart of it, even though there is intrigue and battle. Another bonus is a glimpse in my favourite Angel’s life, Illium. Named Bluebell by Galen, a nickname that sticks through the ages.
I loved both main characters so much, and wanted them to be happy together. Nalini Singh has such a captivating way with words, you can just feel them. She wraps me up in the story, oblivious to everything else. The pictures she pains of the surroundings, the mountains, everything.

A great story, I do recommend this anthology to all lovers of good paranormal romance.

10 stars.