Readers will revel in Archangel’s Storm, a splendid return to the spellbinding world of the Guild Hunters series. This absorbing fifth full-length installment centers around Jason, spymaster for the Archangel Raphael. When the disgraced yet still beloved consort of the Archangel Neha is murdered, many fear for the woman’s sanity. Jason agrees to offer his services in ferreting out the killer, but his involvement comes with a price: Neha demands a blood vow between Jason and her niece, Mihaya, which would not interfere with Jason’s oath to Raphael.

Upon his arrival at Neha’s palace, Jason meets Mahiya, and though the two are both wary of the other, they do not feel any animosity and agree to work together to get to the bottom of the situation. Neha’s court differs greatly from Raphael’s, with other challenges besides the murder, primarily the fact that not only is Mahiya the daughter of Neha’s dead sister, but also of Neha’s dead consort. For her whole life Mahiya has been used as a pawn, and her own father treated her with disdain. When more deaths occur in the palace, other mysteries besides the identity of the killer present themselves, and Jason and Mahiya grow closer as they seek to uncover the secrets.

Interspersed with the main storyline, short chapters appear detailing the marriage and honeymoon of Dmitri and Honor, the vampire and hunter characters from the previous book. The chapters detailing this relationship weave seamlessly into the narrative.

Archangel’s Storm delivers on every level: intriguing, multi-layered characters, captivating world-building, and riveting suspense. The two likeable and intriguing leads, Jason and Mahiya, share the experience of harrowing, horrific events in their respective pasts, yet have chosen to approach life differently. The combination of similarity and divergence makes the two a believable and appealing couple. As always, Singh depicts her angelic beings as creations both beautiful and terrible: “Some mortals might seek to see divinity in the archangels, but Jason saw them for what they were–creatures of violent power who’d had millennia to hone their lethal edge” (148). In addition, the novel’s mystery and plot provide perfectly-paced suspense that will keep the reader guessing. This newest entry into the series receives this reviewer’s highest recommendation, and she eagerly awaits the next book, due September 2013.

Book Stats:

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (September 4, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425246582
• ISBN-13: 978-0425246580

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Books in the Guild Hunter series in the order they should be read:
Angels’ Blood
Archangel’s Kiss
Archangel’s Consort
Archangel’s Blade
Archangel’s Storm