Angel's Flight by Nalini Singh - A Review(-ish)

Can't get enough of Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series world? This book is just the antidote. Featuring four novellas (three of which have been previously published), the book gives Happily Ever Afters to three minor characters in the series and gives a tempting taste of another possible couple.

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…

We first meet Ashwini, a Guild Hunter, in Angel's Blood (the first full length Guild Hunter book). She is fearless, tenacious, and has been chasing the vampire Janvier all over the bayou. The two have a contentious relationship filled with sexual tension and zingy one liners. In Angel's Pawn, Janvier helps Ashwini get to the bottom of a disagreement between two vampire kisses who are fighting. Ashwini and Janvier must go to Nazarach (the angel's) home to broker the peace. The two continue to circle around each other, with the tension and attraction between the two growing. While the story does promise a possible connection between the two, it ends up being another chapter in their ongoing hunter/prey relationship. The question is, who is the hunted and who is the prey?

Final grade: C+/B-

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…

When we first meet Sara, the Guild Director in Angel's Blood, she's already married with a baby. In Angel's Judgement, we learn how she and Deacon, her husband, fell in love. Sara is about the be promoted to Guild Director, but first she must help the Guild's "Slayer", the enforcer who tracks down Guild Hunters gone bad, find one of their own who has been up to no good. Deacon designs weapons in "real life", but is also who the Guild calls upon when one of their own must be hunted.

I found the idea of a Slayer to be interesting, because of course, any group needs a regulator. I liked the interactions between he and Sara, although I felt that the romance was a bit ancillary to the story, and felt slightly rushed. But then, that's usually my objection with novellas. I rarely feel like I got enough time with the couple.

Final grade: B-

Angel’s Wolf:

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

We meet Noel in Archangel's Kiss, when a vampire is almost slaughtered in an attack. That vampire was Noel, who is inevitably changed from the attack. He is sent by Dmitri to Nimra to help her get to the bottom of who made the attempt to poison her. Nimra is an extremely powerful angel in her own right, holding Louisiana with a power so frightening other angels avoid her. Despite her great power, she is a gentle soul, one who keeps cats, despite their short lives, and who loves those in her court so much, she finds it difficult to believe any would try to harm her. The attraction between the two is immediate, which is convenient, since the court believe Noel is there as Nimra's lover. But as they close in on who might be trying to harm Nimra, Noel becomes an anchor Nimra never expected to have.

I'm so glad that Nalini gave Noel a Happily Ever After. He was absolutely mangled in the attack in Archangel's Kiss, and it does my heart good to see him happy. This book features a sweet, quiet romance between two likeable characters.

Final grade: B+

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 easily my very favorite of the stories. I've been intrigued by Jessamy since Archangel's Kiss. A teacher with a mangled wing, who is ancient and kind and unassuming. I love how Galen, one of Raphael's Seven (his closest advisers and enforcers of his rule), narrows in on Jessamy immediately, and pushes her beyond her comfort zone, and into love with him. Galen is blunt and hard and alpha, and Jessamy is a wonderful juxtaposition from him. She's soft and sweet, but not scared at all to stand up for herself. This story was wonderfully satisfying.

The story also allows us to get a tiny taste of others of the Seven, particularly Jason and Aodhan, both of whom NEED their HEAs! Jason will be getting his this year, then I'll be initiating my campaign for Aodhan (fair warning, Nalini!)

Final grade: A

If you are looking for a satisfying taste of the Guild Hunter world while you're waiting for Jason, this book is just the ticket! It's full of interesting characters and enjoyable (if slightly short) romances.

Overall grade: B

*Book blurbs borrowed from Fiction Vixen, who reviews Angel's Flight here. 

**An ARC of the book was provided by the author. Thank you, Nalini!