Two of my favorite authors have recent new releases and I've read one of them. Pure joy!
Nalini Singh's Archangel's Blade absolutely blew me away.
I'm impressed as hell by the world she's set up in these books. The angels are eerily beautiful, completely inhuman (most of them), and over the top powerful. Juxtapositioned against our normal, mundane world, it makes for quite a contrast. New York City is still New York City, but with the addition of a cadre of angels, led by the Archangel Raphael and his Seven. Dmitri, the hero of this book, is his Second, and a cold blooded, amoral vampire.
I cannot tell you how much this book impressed me. By allowing the reader access to Dmitri's thoughts and memories, he becomes more understandable. One can empathize with him. I remember thinking, it could have happened no other way.
The heroine, Honor, began the book as a victim. It was fascinating to watch her overcome her fears and regain her power and purpose, just as it was to watch Dmitri change as he slowly falls in love with her.
The ending has been criticized, but I think it could have ended no other way. They were truly bonded and it wasn't a question of 'my way or the highway'; I think it was more along the lines of 'I want to be with you no matter which way is chosen'. Sorry, can't say more without spoilers
This is a powerful book. I don't mind blood and guts, although Singh has made me go 'yuck' a few times. But it all fits into her world and there's enough love to counteract the violence and the love usually wins.
This book can be put in the win column.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The other book released is Meljean Brook's Demon Marked, the new entry in her Guardian series.
Now, I totally love her Iron Seas series - all one novel and two novellas I've read. I'm on pins and needles for the next book, Heart of Steel.
But I've never been able to get into her Guardian series, although this new release tempts me mightily to try again, hoping it can be read as a stand alone. Reviews I've read have been good.
I just hate I haven't been able to dive into this world, because I love her online persona, her sense of humor and the Iron Seas books. So, I guess I'll have to get this book and try again. *grin*
I've heard of Meljean and as you know I wasn't a fan of the book you passed along, but although I've never heard of Nalini, just your brief discription of the book has peaked my interest.
ReplyDeleteNot overly fussed on vampires (still rather be a Weasley than a Cullen lol), the idea of Angels and such is still an exciting premise.
I've just read the first 2 books in Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series, and started a 3rd last night and although they are good, I'm finding that 20 pages in, it's teh same story with a different name for the hero.
I'm so totally fascinated with all things Roman/Greek God, mythology, etc and am a little disappointed that there is perhaps not as much of this in the stories as there could be.
It seems to me to be more about the innocent waif like human girl and the wronged in his pre-dark hunter days demi-god (with a body worth dying for) who take one look at each other on page two and from there until the end can never get past how much they want to boink each other silly.
Is there a particular book of Nalini's that I should start with Carolyn? I'll go to the library and see if they have any but I don't want to start in the middle of a series or anything.
By the way, thanks for these mini 'reviews'. They're helping me to expand my reading reportoire and explore writers I might never have heard of before. Once I never read anything but stephen King and now, well, I'll read just about anything lol.
:)
Nalini is in your part of the world, Lea. She lives in New Zealand, so hopefully her books won't be hard to find.
ReplyDeleteShe has two series going at the moment.
1. The Psy/Changeling Series.
Her first series. Great premise - people with psy powers isolated themselves in the past and now supposedly have no emotions. They exist in what is called the Silence and are the ultimate capitalists. They consider the changelings animals but are sometimes constrained to do business with them.
The first book in this series is Slave to Sensation. It features a changeling hero, Lucas, and a psy heroine, Sasha. They meet over a business deal. This book sets up the world and begins the general story arch that encompasses all the books. Each book is a self-contained romance story, but advances the overall plot of the struggle between the Psy and Changelings.
The books are (in order of reading):
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Caressed by Ice
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Kiss of Snow
2. The Guild Hunter Series.
Angels' Blood
Archangel's Kiss
Archangel's Consort
Archangel's Blade
These books can be dark and gritty with lots of violence. Her angels are not heavenly beings but another race; some have been worshipped as gods. Their immortality has leached away any human-type emotion they might have possessed.
In the first book, Angel's Blood, the Hunter Elena becomes involved with the Archangel of New York, Raphael, as they try to solve a series of murders, and Raphael discovers he does have emotions after all. This book also introduces Raphael's Seven, a combination of angels and vampires, all of them deadly, all with some hangup dating from their distant past. I'm hoping each of them gets their own book.
I think that's what I like about Nalini's stories: seemingly invincible creatures discovering themselves and changing emotionally, maybe just a bit, but the changes are ongoing.
Another author I love, love, love, is Ilona Andrews. Her Kate Daniels series takes place in Atlanta, which is being destroyed by a series of magic waves. During these waves, technology is useless.
All sorts of critters come out during the magic times, including gods of all sorts, lol. I love the heroine and the relationship with the shifter alpha Curran. Kate is a strong heroine with her own brand of magic and can be snarky but never cruel with it. First book in this series is Magic Bites
I haz a sad that you didn't like The Iron Duke, but since I'm having trouble getting into her Guardian series myself, I won't be judgmental. Har. We like what we like and thank the lord there are so many authors and stories to choose from.
Something for everyone! :-)
OOh thanks for all the info Carolyn :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, New Zealand is just across the pond so not too far away. A bit far for a coffee and a chat but still close enough we're bound to have her books here.
I've jotted down names and stuff and will get to the library during the week. I just have to remember where it is lol. I love to read but I like to own the book too - there's just something not quite right about perhaps falling in love with a book and having to send it back...
And I'm sorry about the Iron Duke too. Maybe it's because I'm not cluey enough to understand it and I missed something.
But as you say, we like what we like and that's a good thing. If we all liked the same stuff, there would be no reason for blogs like this to share our thoughts and feelings on different stuff and we'd never branch out.
Branching out is good :D
OMG, have I ever branched out since I started reading blogs! I would never have discovered some authors, who are now my favorites, without reading blog reviews.
ReplyDeleteNot so good on the pocketbook (because I like to own my books too), but I don't regret a thing.
Think I'll do a reread on Kate. The next book in that series isn't out until 2013, I think.
I hope I last that long!
BTW, Lea, Ilona Andrews' blog is linked to the left. Check it out, they have snippets from all their books up;
ReplyDeleteThe Andrews are a husband/wife writing team and are extremely reader friendly. Their site is fun to explore. She even photoshops!! (Yea for you, lol) There's also a section with advice for beginning writers.
I can think of at least two more series I'm invested in, but I won't load you down, lol.
I'm starting Nalini Singh tonight.
ReplyDeleteSo there.
Thanks Carolyn, I'll give the blogs a read over :)
ReplyDeleteAnd photoshoppin' huh? I miss it, I haven't had a need to do it in a while. I do need a new wallpaper though... Maybe my fave pirate and a couple of shady Divos? LOL
And Lori... Enjoy :D