Archangel's Viper (A Guild Hunter Novel)

Mmm..Delicious. I've been looking forward to this book for months and it was great. I liked the way the relationship slowly grew between them. I loved the storyline and the sudden turn it took partway through. I liked how there was that moment at the end where Holly realized they should probably go back to the problem they'd started on before getting sidetracked, only to learn that Dimitri had finished that off for them -that's a great showing of how the Seven work together. I like the way the story brought to a close some story lines that have been hinted at for a bit now. Overall, I loved the whole thing.

Nalini does not disappoint. This book was certainly worth the wait. It is so well written, entertaining and a good bit of mystery. Holly has come through as a really strong character and will definitely be an asset to the team at the Tower. I was happy to see Holly holding on tight to her mortal family and they love her without question. This is definitely one of my favorite series. Maliki is talented and her writing style in this grouping of stories is very well done. Strong characters that are well defined and engaging plots in a world where vampires, angels and mortals co-exist.

Tenth in the Guild Hunter urban fantasy series based in an alternate history New York City and revolving around a world in which archangels rule the world and guild hunters pursue rogue vampires. The couple focus is on Holly “Sorrow” Chang and Venom.

Archangel’s Viper takes place concurrently with Archangel's Heart , 9.

My Take
I was disappointed with this installment. Oh, it was nice to get more of Venom’s background (and what he endured to become a vampire!) and find out more about Holly’s new “powers”, but, well, it was a good thing that Singh kept telling me how Holly and Venom were feeling. *eye roll* It would have been even better if Singh had made it more believable and made me feel their emotions. Using third-person point-of-view shouldn't have made this impossible, especially with the narrator getting into Holly’s and Venom’s heads. Ah well, can’t have it wonderful every time.

What I did appreciate was that sentiment at the start where Janvier provides that goad for Holly to go home to her family. So true. Another good bit was Venom exhorting Holly to use her impulses. Both of which play into the theme for Archangel’s Viper, that of acceptance.

What’s with “kitty” as a nickname? Yeah, Holly is tiny with tiny fangs, but it just doesn’t fit. IMO.

We finally find out about Michaela’s pregnancy!! Eeek! It’s that scene in the turret that Michaela makes an honest appraisal of herself. Whew.

There is soo much happening here, and that might be part of Singh’s problem. No time/space to devote to developing the actions.

The Story
It’s lucky for Holly that Venom is returning after a two-year absence. With the escalation in her powers, that nagging inner voice, the bounty placed on her, and finding Daisy, Holly will need all the help she can get to navigate her way through this maze of terrors.

The Characters
The colorful Chinese-American Holly “Sorrow” Chang, a.k.a., Hollyberry or kitty — part vampire, part human, and part angel — is under a death sentence after events in Angels' Blood , 1. Able to mesmerize her prey, inject venom, break bones with a look, and use glamour, she’s under a never-ending Contract to Dmitri. Dr. Mia Chang is her elder sister and best friend moving to Boston to a new job at Massachusetts General. Daphne and Allan Chang are her loving parents. (She runs a deli, and he has a dress shop.) Alvin and Wesley are Holly’s musical brothers.

The 350-year-old Venom is one of the Seven. A.k.a., Viper Face or Poison, his original name is Tushar. Now he’s back from a two-year absence. Venom had had six brothers, including Mohan, and three sisters. Aneera had been his betrothed when he was human. Mania was an innocent child in Venom’s village.

The Seven are…
…an elite private guard, those angels and vampires loyal to Raphael, the archangel who rules New York. Dmitri, a vampire, is Raphael’s second-in-command, his “Blade”, and a lifelong friend. Dmitri is married to Honor, another vampire ( Archangel's Blade , 4). Jason is the spymaster. Illium, a.k.a., Bluebell, is sulking over Aodhan, his best friend, a.k.a., Sparkle. Naasir is mated to Andi ( Archangel's Enigma , 8).

Janvier, a Cajun vampire, and his new wife, the precognitive guild hunter Ashwini “Ashblade”, are Holly’s official bosses ("Angel's Pawn", 0.6, and Archangel's Shadow , 7). Charlie is their new mutt. Amelie and Jöelle are Janvier’s now long-dead sisters.

Elena is the guild hunter-turned-archangel and Raphael’s consort. Monsieur LaFerge is the “renowned vampire nose” Elena hired. She has her own Guard these days, and it includes Janvier, Ashwini and Izak, who is the youngest Tower angel.

The poetry-loving Trace is keeping Andreja company at the airport. Vivek Kapur is a new-made vampire and a formerly paralyzed guild hunter who is a wizard with computers. Nisia and Lucius are some of the angel healers. Keir is the senior-most angelic healer.

The Legion is…
…a repository of earth power that woke during the battle in Archangel's Legion , 6. Powerful, with wings like bats, Raphael turned a skyscraper into a gigantic greenhouse as their home base. They are beginning to individualize.

Guild Hunters are…
…like bounty hunters. They’re sent after vampires who have run out on their Contract. Demarco is one of them and likes to go climbing.

The Cadre are…
…the archangels who rule the world. Raphael is one. Neha is the Queen of Snakes and Poisons who turned Venom. Charisemnon gained the ability to create disease ( Archangel's Legion ). Zhou Lijuan rules China but has been AWOL since Archangel's Legion . Caliane is Raphael’s mother and rules Amanat ( Archangel’s Consort , 3). Elijah had been a general under Caliane. Michaela, the former Queen of Constantinople and current Archangel of Budapest, is beyond gorgeous but vicious.

It’s been four years since Archangel Uram ( Angels' Blood ) went insane. The friends Holly lost include Shelley, Cara, Maxie, Rania, and Ping. Kimiya, Nataja, and Daisy Scaldini were other victims. Zeph and Arabella are down-on-their-luck vampires and friends with Holly. Brynn is the human Zeph and Arabella protect. Magnus owns a bar and is another friend. Big Irma is a human mother figure for certain vampires.

Mike is the leader of the inept gang. Walter Battersby is a vampire fixer, a broker who acquires what wealthy immortals want. Marlin Tucker is a low-level scumbag and one of Ash’s contacts. The 4,000-year-old Kenasha is an incompetent angel. David Shen had been Holly’s boyfriend after she was found.

Cascade is a type of supercharging event that increases an archangel's abilities or powers and can cause catastrophes throughout the world. Umber ( Archangel's Shadow ) is a designer drug that creates a vicious blood hunger.

The Cover and Title
The cover is a range of emerald greens of an out-of-focus busy, nightlit New York City street. Venom in his trademark sunglasses and all-black ensemble looks quite the gorgeous metrosexual, a lock of hair blown across his forehead, and hands in pockets. An information blurb is at the very top in white with the author’s name immediately below it in a gothic font. At the bottom is the title in the same font but yellow with the series information tucked under the “el’s” in white.

The title is that member of the Seven on whom the story focuses, Archangel’s Viper.

I like Venom I question why he does and say things and this answered a lot of that. That being said Holly and Venoms story felt long but just not enough to the point. Kind of drags out Holly and Venoms back story while for the first half of the book they still don't like each other. I feel kind befuddled on how they finally became attracted to each other because they bicker quite a bit. And the love story part just feels rushed I love this author I love this series so 4 stars for sure. Nalini writes such intricate plots and surprises. I guess I just miss some of the other charters. While Dimitri and Honor make appearances no updates on other characters leaves me a little bummed. Anyway I can't hate any her Hunters Guild books I Love this series. CAN"T wait for more.

While every other book in this series deserves a 5 star rating, Archangel's Viper is singularly lackluster. From all the superb, interesting characters that Ms. Singh could have pulled from and expanded her universe on, she had to choose the most boring, lackluster character of the lot....Sorrow/Holly...whatever the heck her name is. And the maudlin.....OH MY DOG!!...the maudlin! The only interesting part of this whole book was where Raphael and Michaela engaged with Uram's shade. I truly did read the entire book out of the respect I have for all the author's other work but it was a struggle to try and stay engaged. Where were Ilium and Aodhan? I wanted to hear more about those two. Where were Raphael and Elena? I hope future books contain more storyline about the archangels' evolution. I feel that every great author writes a really bad book due to maybe pressure to release a new book within a certain time frame or for whatever reason and this is Ms. Singh's "Really Bad Book". It has happened to Jim Butcher (the Dresden Files), Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels series), Kim Harrison (Rachel Morgan series) and Rachel Aaron (Eli Monpress series) but they have all sprung back with much more amazing books in those series. I hope the next book is a super engaging read that rises out of the ashes of this failure!

genre: fantasy adventure, romance
setting: alternate contemporary
format: sequel
POV: two viewpoints (him & her)

Over, I found this book a bit dull and entirely forgettable. We met the two main characters in previous books, and frankly I expected them to be more interesting. Holly spent most of her time complaining, which is understandable with her history but really annoying to read. The fun parts of this story are discovering what Holly (Sorrow) got from the insane archangel (book #1), and how Viper is different from other vampires.

What can I say.. another home run for Nalini Singh. I was a bit unsure how I was going to feel about this book. Venom has never been my favorite character in the Guild Hunter series. I honestly can't say that opinion has changed but this book was beautifully written and touching in its own way.

Like all the other books in this series it's starts shut a "who done it or what is causing this situation." Holly and Venom have a wonderful prickly banter that is entertaining. We get lots of return character interaction that we have been missing. Sadly this book takes place during Archangel's heart, so there is very little Elena, Raphael and Aodhan in this book. ? But we get a great Venom, Illium moment and the final answer to the great was she pregnant or not mystery...

And now I have book withdrawals.

As anything Ms. Singh writes, this was another great book. I fell into her world without problems, and with such strong characters it was easy to keep turning the pages. The Seven have always been more interesting to me than Raphael and Elena, although I can't refuse the force of the later heroes. Even if this novel didn't offer further progress in the greater story arc it was beautiful and well written. I enjoyed the Holly&Venom romance. Unfortunately there wasn't even a hint of a plot for the next book, however I will be looking forward to it.

I don't know about you guys, but of all the mysterious mystery men in Raphael's coterie, Venom probably held the least interest for me.

That's not to say he held no interest--this is Singh we're talking about--just that of all the intriguing men up for grabs, Venom might've wound up my last pick.

You: Y no Venom love?

Me: Umm . . . b/c probably a parselmouth.

You: Pfft. Lies.

Me: Also, he's POISONOUS.

And let's be realistic, just b/c I'm a proud, card-carrying member of House Slytherin, doesn't mean snakey Voldemort is my dream man.

And try I as I might, the only other man/snake amalgam I could come up with was Jafar, which isn't any better, and is also a Bad Guy.

B/c snakes are ALWAYS the Bad Guy.

*flinches b/c hears Nalini Singh laughing from undisclosed location*

So that's the first hurdle Singh had to jump. And she did. Remarkably well. Her efforts aided, in no small part, by Holly.

You: Holly who?

Me: Holly-the-lone-survivor-from-cannibal-archangel's-pile-'o-woman-flesh (from book 1).

You: O_____O

Me: YEP. Bet you forgot about her. I know I did.

BUT. As it turns out, she's kinda poisonous too.

I'm not going to waste time outlining this installment's furthering of the main plot: is that crazy bitch who hung out in China really dead? What new worrying signs of the Cascade appeared? All of that is typically secondary in the non-Elena and Raphael segments anyway.

ARCHANGEL'S VIPER is about Venom and Holly and how two individuals, abused by fate and man, can be forged into something new and profoundly unique, and in that shared abnormality become perfect for each other.

It's quite lovely.

SO. If you've yet to begin reading what is one of my favorite urban fantasy/paranormal romance combos, I encourage you to climb on up and get on this bandwagon. There is cake, and I will share it. Probably. If your hesitation stems from the number of installments you're behind, consider how you'll feel in five years when GUILD HUNTER is still going strong, as I predict it will be. *sing songs* Better late than neverrrrr. To the veterans, I say nothing. B/c you already know. *eats cake*

I've been waiting for Venom's story so I was really excited about this one. I wasn't surprised about the lack of Raphael and Elena since the last book Raphael mentioned that Venom was returning as they were heading out to Morocco so I knew how the time frame for this one would be happening while they were away. I was a bit disappointed with the lack of Illium and Dimitri. While there for a few moments, I would have expected more.

Which leads me to the real cause of this being a 4 instead of a 5. There wasn't 'as much' in this book. Not as much romance feel to it. Not as much overall action. Not as much of the side characters. Not even as much of the physical intimacy though I will admit that's not something I'm always looking to get a lot of in the stories. To me, it felt like Singh struggled with the mid way point of the relationship. Great work in the beginning with the taunts and arguments. Great work with the end result of them when they're finally together. Missing about 10 chapters on the mid way point lol. In fact, I'd say she could have used more in the beginning, middle, and end of the book itself. Maybe 15-20 chapters of story seemed to be missing. . Actually,I think this may be one the shortest she's written in the series or changeling series. I wonder how much writing three books more or less on top of each other impacted it. I would have like that to have been taken into consideration with the price as well though I would still recommend getting it now if you're into the series.

All of that being said, overall I enjoyed the book, particularly the 1st half and the ending. I think she did really well with the taunting/bickering element of the relationship and bringing the chemistry of the two as a pair. The transition of that into the creation of the 'final product' needed a bit more.Both plot threads in their story were interesting but I think the kidnapping one needing a little more work. I thought the mystery element with her powers was well done and while I expected the history with Urium to be part of it, I didn't fully expect what we got, which was good. I thought that was cleverly done. Hopefully there will be some short stories with this pair in the future. I'm excited to get the next one, hate that I'll have to wait until next year, sad that the series is feeling like it's winding down but get it. I think I may attempt to re-read this one again in few days and see if my initial impression still holds.

This book was… not the best. In order to review this 10th installment, I have to compare it to the others in the series. This book is set in the same time period as Archangel’s Heart, and therefore is the first Guild Hunter novel that doesn’t have Elena and Raphael featured in it at all. I mean Raphael has a cameo at the end, but his role was kind of superfluous, sort of like when an author makes a cameo in the film adaptation of their book, its nice but doesn’t really add anything.

But with that said the absence of Elena and Raphael should have allowed for a deeper level of character development for Holly and Venom, but that didn’t come across either. Venom’s past is barely explored. If all the mentions of Venom’s past were added together it would maybe account for two chapters of the 38 chapters in the book. It was just so lacking, especially when compared to the rich history and flashbacks and stories that we were given in Dmitri, Nassair, and Jason’s book. In this book there were vague mentions, but never a true description of Venom’s making. There wasn’t even any real information given about Venom’s time in Neha’s court, when he joined Raphael, or when he became part of the Seven. There’s so much that could have been explored but just wasn’t.

Holly and Venom’s relationship was another missed opportunity. There was no chemistry between the two characters. It goes from snarky comments to grudging affection and finally love at the end, but as a reader, you’re kind of just left wondering why. They have nothing in common; there was no friendship to build on. You’re just kind of left wondering why these two. From other books we know that Venom has been in the Refuge for the past two years. Apparently he was also training Holly weekly over the phone during this time. But nothing about these discussions was talked about in this book. We don’t know what they talked about, if they ever softened with each other during a conversation, nothing. Those weekly phone calls could have been used as a great vehicle for developing the chemistry between the two.

As for the plot in general, it was kind of muddled. The book jacket describes the bounty that’s been placed on Holly, and that’s explored for about a tenth of the book, before its dropped in favor of a new plot that lasted until the end of the book, then the last two or three pages are used to tie up the bounty story. If I were to rate this book as a stand alone, it’d only get two stars. As a part of a standing series, I gave it an additional star because it does answer some of the questions that were brought up in past installments. But this book it didn’t really add anything to the series as a whole and probably would have been better off as a novella, plus now there’s a whole additional year that I have to wait until the next book moves the story forward.

It’s Venom’s turn!  his series is amazing and takes place in a world of intrigue where angels, vampires and humans live together.  There is a clear hierarchy where angels essentially rule. Vampires are created by angels and in exchange for the “gift” of near immortality must serve their creator over a contracted period.  The world building is spectacular and characters very well developed.

I’ve always had a soft spot for this deadly yet charming vampire. With eyes like a viper, characteristics of a snake and a bone-dry sense of humor Venom truly is one of a kind.  A perfect fit as one of the deadly “Seven” making up Archangel Raphael’s guard.

The last time Venom saw our heroine Holly, she was a shattered victim of an archangel gone mad.  Turned against her will she becomes her own version of unique.  Neither full vampire nor human, she’s an oddity stuck in her own personal hell.  However, when Venom returns two years later he’s greeted with a Holly who’s slowly taking her life back but hasn’t lost her snarkiness and razor-sharp wit. But it’s clear there’s a fragile bond between they share some similar abilities making them alike yet not.

I loved how these two interacted.  Their snarky, sarcastic banter was constantly making me smile.

But what I really loved was Venom’s absolute faith in Holly and her abilities.  He sees her for the strong woman she is.  Venom’s constant support ultimately helps Holly accept her powers and in part come to terms with her “otherness”.

With that said, while I liked Venom and Holly together I wasn’t totally feeling the passion between them.  I felt a strong connection but not necessarily the hot and passionate kind described in the book.  Don’t get me wrong there was some definite heat near the end but the deep abiding love didn’t fully resonate with me. But it was minor and didn’t take away from the overall story.

One of this authors’ many talents is the ability to weave truly rich characters into a plot that snatches your attention from the first page to the last.  I don’t think I’ve read anything by Nalini Singh that didn’t have a great plot and some amazing characters!

This could be read as a stand alone.  However, I’d recommend starting the series from the beginning so you can get a good understanding of the world and connect with the characters that make this series so great.

I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Archangel's Viper (A Guild Hunter Novel)
By: Nalini Singh
This story is about Venom and Holly “Sorrow” Chang. We met Holly in “Angel’s Blood” when she was attacked and brutalized by Uram, the insane Archangel. At the conclusion of “Angel’s Blood” it is hinted something is wrong with Holly and she’s changing, but they don’t know into what, so she has to be monitored and watched constantly. Then in later books she’s starting to be trained to control her abilities, and Venom takes delight in messing with her and exchanging insulting ‘barbs’.
*****SPOILER ALERT*****
This book was meant to be the story of Venom and him finding his eternal mate just like the others in the Seven have done with Dimitri, Jason, and Nassir, but what we received appears to be a rushed storyline or different converging plots that don’t really mesh well together.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Ms. Singh’s books. The storylines between Raphael and Elena are the BEST; absolute best, but I kind of feel as if Holly and Venom’s story was just rushed, thrown together, and forced.
And I just felt Holly’s change just didn’t sound convincing. I don’t believe she should have been able to change back in her personality enough to want to reclaim her “Holly” name. I would have felt the story was more convincing if she’d remained Sorrow, instead.
And then the constant insults between her and Venom were good, but then WHAM, all of a sudden, she’s feeling love for him and he for her. It didn’t jive. After the trauma she experienced at the hands of Uram, she basically had PTSD or the new version, PTSS, and there is just no way in my mind she would have been as functional as she was in this story.
The ending, was just as rushed in my view. Overall, the story was good. I enjoyed the read and would still recommend the novel, but it was slow, a little boring, and not as convincing in the relationship as the others were.

Ok, so the first thing you need to know before going into this book... don't expect a fluffy romance... to be honest, don't expect much of a romance at all... another thing, this is book #10 in an on-going series and you definitely should read those books in order... especially since this particular installment takes place at the same time as the previous one :) we have so many stories and events that are connected, archs that takes place over the span of a few books, and you won't understand everything if you skip some of them and start in the middle... because of that, and because some of you reading this review might be completely new to this world, I will keep it spoiler free for all of you, so feel free to read it no matter how many books you are into this series :) ok, before I get into some specifics about this particular book, let me tell you a bit more about this series in general :)

Guild hunter is one of the series the lovely Nalini brings to us... not my favourite one, because that place is and forever will be occupied by her Psy-changeling novels ;) but this one is a mix of paranormal / urban fantasy vibes... we have an alternative version of our world, with supernatural beings... mainly angels / archangels and vampires... there are a few very interesting exceptions, but those two groups are the biggest :) the whole world is divided into archangelic territories, there are about ten of them at any given moment, and this series takes place mainly in New York, where it's the archangel Raphael who rules... *sighs* sorry, got distracted there for a minute :) all of the books in this series are very connected to one another... they are concentrated on a new couple or Raphael and his... Elena :) I almost slipped up and told you something that would blow your socks off if you haven't read the first book :) but I won't do it ;) they are definitely the "power couple" of this series and are the main focus of a few books :) don't get me wrong, I am NOT complaining, cause they are one of my all time favourite couples to read about :) the whole theme of this series is much darker and... well... sometimes just plain creepier than her other books and I can tell you that not all of you will love it... I definitely highly recommend you to give them a try, just keep an open mind :) ok, that is all when it comes to some overall informations, now let me tell you a bit more about our main couple in this story and my thoughts and feelings about them :)

Since this is a brand new addition to an on-going series, my review will be a bit shorter... it's really hard to do this thing without any spoilers whatsoever, so give me a break ;) so what did I think about this story... well, I definitely have some mixed feelings... no the one hand, and I'm not really sure why, I just couldn't connect as much with Venom and Holly like I wanted... he is a vampire, one of the Seven, which is a group of supernatural beings that work very closely with Raphael, he trusts them with his life... and more importantly, the life of Elena :) Venom is the youngest of them all, and a bit unique... he seems careless and flippant but that is of course not all there is to him :) I definitely loved him more towards the end of the book, when we got to see his more vulnerable side... when it comes to Holly... she has a very traumatic past, as a survivor of something truly horrific, that changed her on a celular level... she is also one of a kind, and people are still trying to figure out how all of the events she survived changed her... I know I'm being vague, but her story is very strongly connected to some surprising turns of events from the first book and I dont want to spoil them :) a few years later and she is still wild and mostly uncontrolled, with this "otherness" inside her that no one really knows what to do with... she and Venom are definitely one of those hate-to-love sort of couples... and it's not like I don't like this type of a story, but... I don't know... something was missing from it... I guess I just wanted to see more of a change from that first part, when they were sniping at each other, to the second part, when suddenly boom! they were together :) but like I mentioned at the beginning, this isn't really a romance... because much bigger part of this story is the mystery of what is exactly happening with Holly... and you guys... I did not expect it to be this... well... horror-ish... which is not really my thing, I think that's why I did not love it as much as other books in this series... I swear, there was one particular moment when I said "what the WHAT just happened?!?!?" but using some words I can't repeat here ;) I still very highly recommend this book, and this series in general for you guys to check out, if you haven't already :) Nalini has an amazing writing style, and all her books are wonderful :) it's only natural that all of us will have our personal favourites :) and she has such diverse series to pick from, we can all find something for ourselves :) Guild hunter series is definitely a darker, more action filled one... with some very creepy vibes as well... or maybe it was just this one story ;) if were being honest, I inhaled this book really quickly ;) so please, do not mistake me not loving this book as much as I adore her other stories as an indication it was a bad one... oh no... :) it is still a Nalini book after all ;) so even when I have troubles connecting to the main couple, or as in this case, it was just not exactly my cup of tea, you cannot argue with the fact that you always get quality writing style from her :) it's entertaining and engaging and keeps you glued to the pages :) I hope I convinced you guys to give it a try, because if you don't know the awesomeness of Nalini and her stories, you are seriously missing out ;) go try her books ;)

Forged in fire, Holly Chang (A.K.A. Sorrow) was first introduced in book one. The victim of the demented archangel, Uram, Holly was irrevocably changed by his blood and no one knows the full scope of those changes. But someone dearly wants to...and is willing to pay good money for the rare treasure they see her as...Finding out who is behind the price on her head, will take Holly to the gritty underworld of the Angel's and Vampires, a life far outside of the Tower. Good thing Holly knows all about the darkness within.

Venom, one of Raphael's illustrious Seven, has been charged with helping Holly uncover the one who hunts her, and protecting her from not only those anonymous players, but from the darkness she carries. A darkness that not only calls to him despite how hard he fights it, but one that he shares. An otherness that he can relate to.

Archangel's Viper spans the time that Elena and Raphael are in Morocco for the Cadre meeting during Archangel's Heart. Holly and Venom are uncovering who is hunting Holly while also discovering her burgeoning powers. The story takes readers on a smart and sexy thrill ride though the streets of New York. I loved all of the little intricacies woven into the plot. The breathtaking action and the irresistible characters, inside and outside of the Tower, kept me turning the pages.

Individual, I really liked Holly and Venom, they challenged each other nicely. Venom always seemed to be one of the more darker members of the group, so I was glad to see that Holly could bring out a lighter side in him despite her own internal demons. I enjoyed learning more about his character, his making, and the consequences of it. I would have liked to see more of the growth that Holly/Sorrow experienced in the background of the first nine books though, her acceptance of the person she is today. Holly's power and potential has been a mystery until now, and she truly is a bad-ass.

As a couple though, and I hate to say this considering Singh is usually such a master at balancing action, intrigue, and romance... However, I found Archangel's Viper to be lacking in the romantic department. Venom and Holly were a fun 'enemies turned lovers' couple. The snarky banter and lively dialogue between the two were potent, and I think they really complemented each other. Their relationship was slow burning though and I never felt that spark between them. Yes, there was an attraction, some minor tension, and definitely a few hot sexy times, but it was missing that true soul-deep connection. That, "I can't live without you" vibe, which kept me from falling head over flip-flops for them.

The plot took an unexpected twist that called Raphael and Michaella onto the pages as something is pulling Holly away, an entity that is so gruesome I found myself cringing while reading. It seemed crazy but totally understandable knowing the history between Uram and Michaella. I apologize if I am being a little vague in my review but I don't want to spoil anything. Just know that while unexpected, it totally isn't and fits into the over-all series arc well! lol

Bottom line; The Guild Hunter series from author Nalini Singh, is a series that I always eagerly anticipate the releases to. With dynamic world building, vivid characterizations, and compelling story-lines, I know that Singh will deliver a story that will stick with me for a long time to come and Archangel's Viper was no exception. I recommend that you read this series in order, and it will very-much be worth it. Pinky swear. Because while this book focuses on one main couple, there is so much going on in the background, and with other characters, you're going to miss some substantial story-line if you just jump in here. I encourage you to pick up this series today!

*I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Taking place at the same time as Archangel's Heart, Archangel's Viper follows the members of Raphael's Seven who stayed in New York to hold down the fort while Raphael and Elena are away. Specifically, it follows everyone's favorite venomous vampire as Venom, rather accidentally, finds true love. Long time readers of the Guild Hunters series may remember Holly Chang, once known as Sorrow, as the girl Elena and Raphael rescued from the insane Archangel Uram in Angel's Blood. Holly is beginning to accept her new life as a not-quite vampire but no-longer human. She works with Janvier, Dimitri and others to keep New York safe. She has reconnected with her family, and the nightmares of her torture by Uram aren't quite 24/7 anymore. But, like Vemon and Nassir (Archangel's Enigma) Holly is unique. And in this world of immortals and angels, unique is not always a safe thing.

Because of her fast reflexes and poisonous bite, Holly is assigned to Venom for training. Where others treat her gently, Venom treats her the same as any other new recruit. He pushes her, annoys her, and makes her test her limits. When a botched kidnapping attempt alerts them to a bounty on Holly's head, Venom is the natural partner to help her figure out who's behind it. But things become complicated and past becomes present as Uram's shadow continues to haunt Holly and it turns out that the past may not be quite as behind them as everyone thought.

As enjoyable as Elena is, the Guild Hunter books who follow the 'secondary' characters are just as good, if not better. Each of Raphael's elite Seven is unique in some way and we've been able to get to know the men behind the warriors in these books. Venom may be one of the ones we know the least about, so it's no surprise how eagerly anticipated Archangel's Viper is by fans! I think everyone will agree this story was worth their wait. Holly has grown into a strong woman who may still be working on her confidence, but is learning in leaps and bounds and carving a place for herself in the Tower. She and Venom have a nicely antagonistic relationship from the beginning that shows a great chemistry- even though neither believes it at first. Venom thinks she's too young for him, Holly thinks he's a jerk. But in the best Nalini Singh tradition, the more they work together, the more they discover about each other- and themselves. Emotions like love sneak up on both of them, which really worked here. Neither was looking for a relationship with anyone, especially each other, so it felt like a genuine journey of discovery on both sides. I also liked how, even though Venom thought Holly was too young for him as a woman, he treated her as an equal partner in their investigation from the beginning. She didn't have to prove herself to him, if anything he proved to her what she was capable of.

Much of the conflict in Viper comes from Holly's past trauma and what Uram did to her, but I don't think readers who haven't already read Angels' Blood will be lost. There's enough background given and Holly does enough flashbacks, that new readers will catch up quickly. Holly's story is one that she herself is still discovering, and the questions readers (new and old alike) have are questions Holly is looking for answers to: what did Uram do to her? What is she now? Why does she have the abilities she has, and what is the darkness inside of her? The answers we get by the end are both a surprise and not a surprise. Holly has to learn what Nassir and Venom, and plenty other Nalini Singh characters, have learned: you are unique, an individual, and it is your choices that make you what you are, not what others try to label you.

A great addition to a great series- Nalini Singh fans and paranormal romance fans will love Archangel's Viper!

The buildup for Viper and Holly (aka Sorrow) has been several books in the making, and I couldn't wait to experience these two finally coming together. My expectations were of the highest level and Singh did not disappointed. I was pleasantly surprised with the majority of the storyline and find this installment to be one of my favorites in the series.

If you're like me and tend to forget half of the series events in between books, have no fear. Singh does a fantastic job of recapping, without being tedious or repetitive. Even if you have skipped a few books in the series, this is an excellent place to restart.

Venom is the quintessential badboy we all relish in the PNR world. The questions I've had for 9 books are answered about the illusive vampire. I enjoyed getting to learn about his early life and the events that shaped his character. Holly's transformation is amazing, and I feel this series continues to deliver strong and dynamic heroines. It is a long and emotional process for Holly, but it feels true to everything she has endured. I was shocked by the tender relationship she shares with Dmitri. The depth of his character continues to awe me, despite being 10 books into the series.

Since this is Venom and Holly, there is endless banter and snarky comments. The sexual tension between these two is intense. Because of their relationship and Holly's past, this is definitely the slowest of burns. I wondered if they would ever come to realize their true feelings for each other. I am a sucker for a slow burn, and this one nearly tested my patience. However, I truly adored "Volly"!

Archangel's Viper isn't as action packed as some of its predecessors, but I appreciated the slower pace and less earth saving saga. The mystery aspect is intriguing and makes up for the lack of angel wars. There are appearances by beloved favorites and new potential storylines emerge. I cannot wait for the next installment and think most fans of the series will enjoy this one too.

I look forward to every new Guild Hunter story and gobble them up as soon as I can get my hands on them. I’ve been fiending for Venom’s story ever since Elena tried to take his eyes out during an early sparring session and he went ballistic. A one-of-A-kind vampire, Venom moves and reacts like no one else in Raphael’s Seven. And his Tower suite and personal belongings are just as unique as the man himself, from his viper-green Bugatti to the heated stone circle floor he loves to curl up on.

Venom and Holly are perfectly suited as a couple. The sheer magnitude of power she carries in her poisoned blood makes up for their near four-hundred year age gap, and both of them are the only one of their kinds. He understands her needs in ways she can’t even guess, and their sharp edges line up to cut each other just right. The greater GH story arc also makes some unexpected progress in Archangel’s Viper, tying up a few pieces of the storyline I’d glossed over (and sort of forgot about) in all the other recent excitement of the series.

As a reader, I can never predict what exciting adventures a Guild Hunter novel might bring, but I always treasure the experiences. I mean, how many stories pack ancient pyramids, stately mansions, thrilling free falls, and edgy street races into a single series? Not to mention the sheer, vivid imagination of the story world, with its ever-growing canvas of unique and memorable characters. The world is literally Nalini Singh’s playground.

Getting to know Venom (and Holly) was a highlight of the Guild Hunter series, and I cannot wait to see what’s coming next. I suspect both Bluebell’s and Aohdan’s stories will be well worth the wait, whenever they’re ready to be told.

Nalini Singh has so many books you would think it would be hard to pick a series but nope, not for me. She is my ultimate favorite author, tops my list of authors I’d kill to meet, and this series right here is my favorite of all of hers. The Guild Hunter series has a grittiness and urbanness to it that I wouldn’t normally say that I like but like with most things Nalini just does it so, so well that I fell in love with her characters and this world. The same goes for the Psy/Changeling world but the Guild Hunters are just the best for me!

This is Venom and Sorrow’s story – who now goes by her original name of Holly. We’d gotten glimpses of Holly in previous books so I was excited to see her full story finally. Since Uram made her no one knows what to expect with her power or abilities, least of all Holly herself. She’s terrified as slowly her powers are changing and she doesn’t want to become close to anyone as she doesn’t want to hurt them. Venom, who is part of Raphael’s Seven, is someone everyone avoids just like they avoid Holly because they don’t know what either of them are. Most people are intimidated by both of them, but together they create an interesting dynamic as neither one are daunted by the other.

Someone has a bounty out on Holly’s head and Venom is teamed up with her to discover what is going on. Throughout their investigation their relationship evolves into more than just taunting and barbs and to deeper feelings that neither one knew was there previously. However, at the same time Holly’s powers are growing quicker and expanding into something no one can predict.

“From the tips of my hair to the tips of my toes, from yesterday to tomorrow and every tomorrow we will ever see…”

Once again, Singh delivers with growing and expanding her Guild Hunter world with this book. We get so much about Venom’s past which lets us know him more intimately and his character. At the same time we also get to know Holly’s present and what is making her *her* right now. The combination of the two delivers a great romance while at the same time we gt a mystery trying to figure out who has a bounty on her head, what powers Holly has from Uram, an incredible paranormal world replete with angels, vampires, and much more.

The interactions between the Seven gives the lightness and humor that I need to balance out any heaviness. That banter always cracks me up. We also get glimpses of Ilium and I so want his story soon and I’m crossing my fingers that Nalini will deliver with an m/m romance!! 5 stars to another wonderful book in this series. I already can’t wait for the next.

Holly Chang aka "Sorrow" aka "Kitty" aka "Holly-Berry" just wants to be normal again. It's just soooooooo hard being a supernatural creature with nearly all the strengths of a vampire and archangel and having all the other vampires and angels fawn over her! Especially the super hot "Viper-face." The hardship of it all is unbearable; why can't she just be normal again? But when vampires start trying to kidnap her off the street and green wings start erupting from her chest, Holly must team up with Viper to follow whereever the insidious infection that Urium left inside her leads (even though that makes absolutely no sense).

I'm not sure what to say about this book. Holly's got a billion pet names (Viper thinks she's cute as a button and says so every other sentence) and drinking Uriam's blood in the first book has somehow created an alter ego and allowed him to take over her body. It has also given her random powers that become awfully convenient as the couple runs into various problems on their quest. Did Uriam have the powers of a snake? No, but somehow Holly has inherited them from him as well as invisibility and mind control.

And their quest? It's a weird one. Very bizarre and contrived. Holly's "infection" basically just tells her where to go to do who-knows-what (i found it odd that she and Viper immediately followed "it" without really wondering why). That whole thing with Mikayla being pregnant is finally coming to a head but IMO it felt like the author wasted her plot line.

By the time this book was finally limping to its conclusion i just wanted it to be over. Holly and Viper are a surprisingly boring couple and this whole thing with Mikayla and Uriam was just WAY too bizarre to take seriously. Like even for this series, it was too bizarre. Laughable even. I almost wish the author would go back to the pretense of these people having to solve crimes as "Guildhunters" or something. I wish she'd go back to Elena and the storylines with her d wad of a dad. Or hey maybe do something with those angels that came out of the ocean? I wouldn't mind seeing a war brewing between the angels and the humans seeing as the "cascade" seems to be developing at a s n a i l s pace.... I'd even take another Lijuan plot line over another boring couple like this one again.

Archangels Viper by Nalini Singh is book ten of the Guild Hunter series. These books work as stand-alone novels, but I suggest reading the entire series. Holly's introduction in the first book Angel's Blood starts the conflict that develops her character to the point we see her in Archangels Viper. However, all pertinent information is summarized when relevant, so it is not necessary to read the entire series to enjoy Archangels Viper.

Holly and Venom have interacted in several other books in the series, so their connection has unfolded over time. In Archangel's Viper, we get more of a look at Holly's capabilities caused by Uram`s attack in Angel's Blood. Holly is less angry and afraid and is able to live close to a normal life. When Viper returns from his latest mission for Raphael the two begin to realize their feelings go beyond Viper mentoring Holly to her new existence. There was hesitation in them both with seeing the other romantically, but not enough that I felt they were wasting time getting together. It was just enough to amplify the passion between the two. Holly and Viper were beautiful together and had fantastic chemistry.

Some of the Guild Hunter books are better for me than others. Although I thoroughly enjoy the Archangel Raphael, whom Viper is part of his loyal "Seven" warriors, most of the Archangels and their various plays for power in their Cadre doesn't necessarily hold my attention. I prefer those stories where that focus is less prominent. Archangel's Blade, Archangel's Shadows, and now Archangel's Viper are amongst my top favorites in the series, partly because of that shift.

One thing that appeals most to me in the Guild Hunter series is the strong bond the Seven have with Raphael, each other, and those connected through them. Demitri, Raphael's second and one of the most powerful vampires in Raphael's territory, rules through fear. At the same time, he fiercely protects those he loves. Demitiri does things like embrace Holly gently and kiss the top of her head, or act almost offended when Holly just assumes he would have her executed at the snap of a finger. The Seven would die for one another and Raphael without hesitation. Admiring the type of loyalty and love they feel for each other keeps me invested in their stories.

I eagerly anticipated the next installment in the Guild Hunter series. All opinions herein are my own and may not be identical to others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions.

voluntary review of arc
Holly has had a choice made for her that she never wanted. She has fought to regain a semblance of the life she once had. But the evil that made her isn’t done. Will she survive this latest attack?
Archangel’s Viper by Nalini Singh is the latest in her Guild Hunter series. I adored both Holly and Venom. They are different but alike in so many ways. The banter between them is funny and sarcastic. Even though Venom was so much older than Holly, Ms. Singh somehow manages to make them equal. I loved that Venom both understood and respected Holly. He didn’t see her as a victim and Holly blossomed under that knowledge. I thoroughly enjoyed the give and take within their relationship. They were friends, of a sort, who became something more, when they weren’t even looking. Venom didn’t even know that he was looking for something more permanent. He just knew that he could help Holly, not only handle how she lost her mortality but also the gifts she gained. I loved that he refused to allow her any more time for pity. He knew she was strong and helped her find her strength. I loved that Holly allowed herself to trust Venom. He wasn’t what she expected but when she looked beneath the surface he was what she needed.
I thoroughly enjoyed my return to this world. I love the loyalty and respect Ms. Singh has built within this world and its characters. I cannot wait to see what Ms. Singh will do next.

Five Shooting Stars

I knew I'd love Venom's book but I never expected to love it THIS much!

This book hits all my kinks, tbh. I love the relationship between Venom and Holly. They have this antagonistic banter going on between them where it's usually Venom provoking Holly and Holly snapping at him, and I LOVE IT. Like, everyone's so scared of Venom and his unnaturalness and then there's little Holly taking a swipe at him at every turn. I LOVE IT. I love it everytime Venom calls Holly kitty.

And then there's Holly's relationship with Dmitri. Daddy!Dmitri is TOO MUCH for my poor heart to handle. We get to see Dmitri being parental with Naasir in Naasir's book, too, but it's more pronounced in this one. I sighed every time Holly came up to Dmitri and he gave her a hug and kissed her forehead I'M NOT EQUIPPED FOR THESE EMOTIONS.

I love how Venom and Holly's relationship developed from something antagonistic to mutual respect to feelings. It's kind of a slow burn in that aspect and I'm glad. Venom's backstory is sad (EVERYONE'S BACKSTORY IS SO TRAGIC @ NALINI SINGH WHY) it broke my heart.

I can't believe I have to wait until October for the next one!

I won a paperback ARC on Goodreads.

This was really closer to a 3.5 read but I really I bumped it up to 4 because of the chemistry between the two.

So it has been awhile since I visited this world, and I know I may have missed a few books between the last one I read and this story so I admit to being a little lost in the larger story-arc that has continued book to book. I also only have the vaguest memory of Holly/Sorrow/Kitty but I remembered Venom vividly. Who can forget the vampire with snake-eyes? The very very powerful vampire? Luckily the constant motion of the story and the varied plots going on kept me intrigued and the chemistry between Venom and his Kitty was excellent. I loved the fact she loved him exactly the way he was and she found what he loathed beautiful. He returned the favor. A couple of things I was disappointed about was the fact we never got to see Venom "meet the family", the sex was super tame (that is not how I remember her other books being)*but easy to skim over if that's not what you're interested in* and she never went back to talk to the Legion after all was said and done....I also think the plot line of who had put a bounty on her was was finished far too neatly in an almost *oh crap I forgot I needed to wrap this up and my deadline is NOW* sort of way. Definitely worth the read if you are a Venom fan!

Archangel’s Viper by Nalini Singh is the 10th book in her wonderful Guild Hunter series. I say this quite often; Nalini Singh is one of the best authors around, and the fact I love both her Psy/Changeling and Guild Hunter series proves how good she is. Nalini writes fantastic stories in different worlds that flow so seamlessly, and each book just grabs hold of you at the start and never lets go till the very end.

We met both Venom and Holly, our heroes in this book, early in this series when he saved her from sure death. Holly had been tortured by an insane Archangel, Uram; and she had witness the horrifying deaths of her friends. Though she is considered human, Holly was left with abilities she gained from Uram’s vampire blood coursing in her body. Her acid green eyes; ability to mesmerize others; has a poisonous bite (which Venom also has, but he is immune to Holly’s bite); and does require blood, which she minimizes as much as she can.

Venom, is one of Rapheal’s Seven, and very dangerous, but loyal to the Seven, as well as being different from the others. After being away for two years, he returns and Holly was sent to pick him up. Venom not only was the one who saved Holly, but he also is the one who tries to teach her to control the violent impulses she has. However, they have never gotten along, both always antagonizing each other. Venom enjoys pushing Holly’s buttons, and she just hates him. Holly has changed since she was first rescued, and Honor (Dimitri’s mate), has worked with her on her emotional stability, as well as Janvier and Ash training her how to fight as a warrior. She is tough, smart, and fights off an inner voice that wants to control her. When Venom and Holly drive to the tower, someone attacks them trying to kidnap Holly. It seems that someone has a bounty on her head. Dimitri and Venom begin to worry what is it about Holly’s blood that warrants a 5 million dollar bounty?

When Venom and Holly start working closely together to find out who is trying to kidnap her, they begin to see each other in a different light. They were the same in many ways, allowing them to be their normal self in front of each other, and in a short time their relationship will escalate in an unexpected romance. Venom sees that Holly is fighting something deep inside her, and she will tell him the truth about an otherness she feels. Besides the mystery of who is trying to kidnap her, the main focus of this story is finding out what/who is trying to control Holly.

What follows is an addictive and captivating story with Venom and Holly following the trail that is pulling her into the lands of another Archangel. Venom and Holly surprised me how much I fell in love with this fantastic couple, and they sizzled together. The last half of the book was such a thriller, with many twists and turns right to the very end. I can’t tell too much more, as I do not want to ruin this for you, but I loved Archangel’s Viper, as well as a couple that totally won me over.

Nalini Singh once again gives us a wonderful addition to this fantastic series. She is an author whose flawless skilled writing simply has me in awe. I have never failed to love every single one of her books in both series. If you have not read the Guild Hunter series, what are you waiting for?

Another mesmerizing adventure in the Guild Hunter world between a pair partnered to get some answers, but more of a match than they could ever imagine. At moments, intense, humorous, passionate, and always engaging, Archangel's Viper was all that I could want from the latest series installment.

As the Guild Hunter book ten, Archangel's Viper does not make a good place to jump in with the series particularly since it regularly references events from way back in the first book of the series.

This is a unique series in that some books continue Raphael, the archangel, and Elena, the Guild Hunter's story and some focus on the members of Raphael's Chose Seven all set against the rush of power and unique worldly phenomena known as the Cascade. Archangel's Viper tells the story of Venom one of the lesser known of the Seven and a unique heroine who is someone who is nothing like any others and is still trying to find herself.

Venom and Holly enjoy antagonizing each other. He does it to keep her out of her head and to make her feel a normal balance in her life, but as for Holly, she feels the need to keep the suave, sensual, and arrogant vampire at arm's length for reasons she doesn't want to look at closely.

I had to smile when I was reading this book because like many others from the author, just when I was on the verge of getting overly annoyed at the constant sniping, Holly got a clue and it tapered off. I loved how this was a great blend of action, suspense, and full of the unique elements from this world where angels and vampires exist with humans. There is so much going on to bring layers of internal and external conflict into play.

I was fascinated by learning more about them individually, particularly the mysterious Venom, even while seeing their relationship start from a wary friendship and build into more. While Holly feels unsettled by Venom in many ways, his oddities are not the reason which makes her one of the few to see the real him. Just as he unsettles her, Venom finds that Holly gets under his skin as well. He refuses to treat her like she's broken or fragile after what she's been through nor is he afraid of what is inside her.

I enjoyed how the book ramped up my curiosity and need to know what was really going on with Holly then had me tearing through pages near the end when things got crazy intense.

I devoured the book and now I must be patient for the next release from this fantastic series. I think paranormal romance lovers and urban fantasy fans will both be good targets for this exciting, passionate book/series.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Archangel’s Viper takes place at the same time as the previous installment, Archangel’s Heart. Raphael is in Morocco with Elena and the rest of the Cadre. So Dmitri is in charge when trouble arises.

Venom just got recalled to the tower after being away for a couple of years. However, his ride from their private airfield got stuck in traffic, so Holly got the call to go pick up the irritating (to her) vampire. But on their way back to the tower a trio of thugs attempts to abduct Holly, not expecting her to have the lethal vampire with her. They discover that someone has put a five million dollar bounty on Holly’s head. Now they must work together to find out who is behind the bounty and to eliminate the threat once and for all.

Meanwhile, the otherness inside of her is growing and Holly is scared what it means and knows that her days could very well be numbered.

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve discovered that I always like the books about the other members of Raphael’s Seven more than I do the ones that feature him and Elena anymore. I think because the Raphael and Elena books have lost their romance and spark over time and are more political now. I love Venom though and knew his book would be a hit for me, and I wasn’t disappointed! I was a bit disenchanted to hear that his love interest was going to be Holly/Sorrow though. I expected her to be weak and boring, but I was pleasantly surprised!

Venom was a big part of Holly’s training after she was rescued from Uram’s torture, but he hasn’t been as big of a part of her development as he would have liked since he’s been gone. However, he plans to make up for lost time. She is the closest creation to him in their world and feels he’s best equipped to help her grow into her power. He’s found the other trainers have used kid gloves around her, but not him. He knows she won’t break and pushes her in ways the others don’t.

This book kept my interest throughout and I enjoyed watching the romance slowly develop. Holly didn’t like Venom in the beginning. But as she spent time with him, she saw the beauty within him, even when she didn’t want to.

“Venom didn’t answer until they’d crossed the street, his body moving with liquid grace. Holly couldn’t help it; she watched him. There was something deadly about Venom. Not just power, but him. She wondered if he’d been like this as a human, too, dangerous and beautiful.

She blinked, shook her head. Obviously, if she was starting to think Venom beautiful, it was time to break her self-imposed celibacy and go get laid.”

I loved the way these two interacted, how they teased and needled each other. It was just a lot of fun.

“They let you drive now?” he said in a wondering tone of voice calibrated to get under her skin. “I leave for a couple of years and miss kitty’s first steps. Did anyone take photos for the baby album I sent you?”

“It’s full of pretty pictures.” Holly bared her teeth at him in a caricature of a smile. “Honor is a little concerned about how I keep drawing you with your head cut off,” she said in a deliberately thoughtful tone, “but an artist must follow her instincts.”

We also saw Holly develop in Venom’s eyes from the little girl they rescued to a beautiful and colorful young woman. Holly forced him to face his past and to feel things he never wanted to feel again, things that put his heart at risk. I loved watching how Venom took care of her, from feeding her, helping her develop her skills, to protecting her from potential threats, and then to tend to her when it all goes wrong.

I also enjoyed watching how the feared Dmitri was around Holly. He was a friend, a protector, and truly like a father to her. I liked how he threatened Venom if any harm came to her while they went on their mission for answers. And, I like knowing that Dmitri will always look out for her and keep Venom on his toes!

This was another fun and emotional story featuring one of the seven and I can’t wait to see the other members of that close knit group get their stories and loves as well. And, of course I hope we see more glimpses of Venom and Holly in the future!

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed being back in this world, I love everything about this series and diving into a new book is always like getting the chance to catch up with old friends who you haven't seen in months. I have to admit that I was a tiny bit disappointed that we didn't get to see what has been happening with Elena since the huge discoveries she made about her family in the last book (I don't recall her being in this book at all but I could be wrong!) but that's partly because the timeline of this story overlaps slightly with Archangel's Heart so at the start of the book Elena and Raphael are both away from New York at their meeting with the Luminata. Besides, this is Venom and Holly's story and it's only right they should take centre stage!

Holly has been through so much since she was attacked by Uram in the first book, she survived something horrific but it has changed her in ways that have never been seen before so nobody is able to tell her what to expect or help guide her through the process. She has started to come to terms with what has happened though and is working hard to rebuild her life, even if it's not the life she originally intended. It was so great to see how far Holly has come since the beginning, she still lives in fear that Uram's madness might have tainted her, especially since she is hiding some disturbing symptoms, but she is determined to make the best of things and she refuses to quit.

I've always been intrigued by Venom, he's quite a mystery man but I wanted to know how he came by his snake like eyes and his poisonous fangs! He's been out of the city for a couple of years but he's called back to help keep things under control while Raphael is out of the territory and he finds that the baby vampire who refused to answer to anything but Sorrow who he left behind is now all grown up and changing into the woman he always thought she could be. When someone puts a price on her head it's obvious she needs back up and Venom can't resist being the one to watch out for her.

Theirs was a quieter more slow burn romance than some of the others in the series, there has always been a low key level of respect between them that felt like it could become friendship but as they also have a lot in common that connects them in a unique way. They are both unusual, even for vampires, and their abilities are enough to scare others but their similarities mean they understand each other in a way nobody else manages to. I really enjoyed spending time with them both and seeing Holly grow into her own strength and them grow closer as a couple.

I don't want to talk about details from the plot but there are a lot of really interesting revelations in Archangel's Viper that kind of tie back into some of the things Elena and Raphael found out in the previous book. Things are definitely getting interesting and I can't wait to see how it plays out over the next few books. Add in that we get to spend time with the Legion, and with one of my favourite angels Bluebell and I enjoyed every minute of this book. Nalini Singh has created such a fabulous world here and I love spending time in it!

Archangel’s Viper is Book 10 of Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series. In this chapter the story revolves around Venom and Holly (AKA Sorrow). As followers of the series would be aware Holly was the lone survivor of the psychotic archangel Uram. During her time with him she was irrevocably changed into something other – not human, not vampire, not angel, but a mix of all three. In the initial stages she obviously had some PTSD to work through, in addition to discovering, accepting, and managing the physiological and physical changes caused by Uram’s assault. It was during this dark phase that she named herself Sorrow. After extensive work with all the gang, but particularly Venom, Ashwini, Janvier, and Elena, Sorrow has transitioned back to Holly and has healed to a degree, although she is still impacted by the trauma she experienced and trying to work out how she will survive into the future. This is the point where Archangel’s Viper begins.

Venom and Holly are both damaged souls, both feel that they are in some ways isolated from those around them. Their relationship is a complex one, having transitioned from student and teacher to partners. Some have commented that the level of romance in this book is much less than in previous titles. I would have to disagree, but it is, at least in the beginning, subtle requiring the reader to sometimes read between the lines. The romance is there in almost every page, but it is not always obvious. It’s in a look, a teasing comment, a touch. Given the personalities of this couple and their past experiences an overt romantic relationship between them (at least in the beginning) would be wrong and come across as false.

<i>“I love you,” he said, his eyes locked with hers. “From the roots of my hair to the tips of my toes. From yesterday to tomorrow and every tomorrow we will ever see. From this moment to the mystery beyond death. Every part of you, slow or fast, small or big, strong or weak. I love you, Holly.”</i>

This book is not as sexual as some previous books, but it is certainly there and the fewer blatant physical scenes actually add to the book rather than take anything away from it. Venom and especially Holly have more than a few mental and emotional issues to work through and their subtle, but still extremely romantic, interactions are the making of this book.

The Guild Hunter series is not one that you can pick up a book somewhere in the middle of the series and start from there. Each book is dependent upon its predecessors and all are intricately entwined. If you have not started this series yet, I can’t recommend strongly enough that you start with Book One Angel’s Blood.

I found Archangel’s Viper an amazing addition to this series. I couldn’t put it down and loved every moment of it.

4.5 stars--ARCHANGEL’S VIPER is the tenth full-length installment in Nalini Singh’s adult GUILD HUNTER dystopian/UF/paranormal series focusing on Archangel’s, angels, vampires, shifters and hunters. This is vampire Venom, one of the Seven, Raphael’s private guard, and newly Made ‘vampire’ Holly Chang. ARCHANGEL’S VIPER can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for background and cohesion as many events in the current time line are as of a direct result of previous happenings and premises.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Venom and Holly) ARCHANGEL’S VIPER focuses on the search for the person(s) responsible for placing a five million dollar bounty on our heroine’s head. With the Cascade-an event that causes massive power fluctuations and other changes among the members of the Cadre- in motion, the Archangel Uram’s bloodlust was out of control, and Holly Chang became one of his victims to survive. Although destroyed by the Archangel Raphael, the fallout of Uram’s mindless brutality has left our heroine lost; without direction; not knowing the who or what of her newly ‘made’ body, Enter Venom, one of Raphael’s private guards known as the Seven, and the man with whom Holly will fall in love. As Holly and Venom struggle to uncover the truth behind the five million dollar bounty, Holly is pulled in another direction-a pull she is unable to ignore.

The relationship between Venom and Holly is acrimonious; a love-hate relationship that pushes the boundaries of mentor and friend. Their back and forth snarky banter is sexually charged but Venom doesn’t do relationships believing himself too damaged to fall in love towards a happily ever after. Venom’s Maker gifted our hero with a lethal poison that few can survive and finding a kindred spirit in newly made Holly Chang gives our hero a potential prospect for the future-a future with an unknown expiry date due to inexplicable talents and powers of our story line heroine. Holly Chang’s Maker was killed by the Archangel Raphael but what remains behind has taken control of its’ victim, leading her on a journey to the other side of the world. With Raphael sequestered with the meeting of the Cadre of Archangels, Holly and Venom follow the pull of the darkness within.

Unlike many of the other story lines in the series ARCHANGEL’S VIPER is limited in the amount of action; there are no battles or fight scenes except the internal battle Holly wages with herself and the ‘other’.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including the leader of the group of Seven Dimitri, Jason, Janvier, Ashwini, Illium, Guild Hunter Vivek Kapur, Angel Kanasha, Archangel Michaela, several members of The Legion, and a number of lesser known vampires including Daisy, Holly’s acquaintances Magnus, Zeph and Arabella as well as Holly’s human sister Mia, and their parents Allan and Daphne Chang. Raphael makes a cameo appearance as Holly battles the other for control.

ARCHANGEL’S VIPER is a fantastic story of friendship, family, power and control. Holly Chang is a woman desperate to understand the who and what of her growing power-every day her abilities begin to mimic Archangelic abilities and the only explanation is no longer alive. The premise is spirited and energetic; the characters are passionate and inspiring; the romance is passionate but slow to build-the $ex scenes are limited and mostly implied. ARCHANGEL’S VIPER is a compelling and enticing story line where one of Raphael’s Seven finds his heart and his happily ever after.

When I started this series I was seriously impressed with all the so obviously different personalities Nalini Singh equipped her characters with. No one was just an accessory, they all had a purpose and they all displayed distinguishing features. After Illium I was the most intrigued by Venom, the sangfroid, snarky member of Raphael's Seven. Needless to say I was over the moon when I saw his book popping up and although it wasn't a surprise who the author paired him up with I was happy it was Holly.

Heads up right away: if you expect a mushy romance this is not what you get. This installment is very story driven and while there is great chemistry between Venom and Holly the romance aspect comes pretty late in the story. It didn't bother me though - it was a natural development for them. The snarky banter and quips from the beginning turned gradually into a good-natured ribbing.

Individually Venom and Holly couldn't be more different, at least at a distant glance. He has a coolness about him that keeps people at arm's length. The only real connection and friendship he has with his brothers-in-arms, Raphael's Seven. Venom knows that he is one of a kind but he has come to appreciate it and uses his otherness to his own advantage - not hard since it comes with a set of kickass abilities. He is aware of Holly struggling with her alterity.

What surprised me about him was his benign nature (in all his bada-ss-ness) and an unexpected gentleness with Holly. He loves her wildness, her intelligence and sweetness and he never lies to her. He is standing with her, backing her up when it is Holly against the world. Venom has a playful side about him that I found utterly charming. I loved he nicknames "Kitty" and "Hollyberry" he gave her. But Venom, too, has a past that shaped him.

He understands Holly like no one else but it goes both ways - Holly recognizes Venom's otherness and realizing that she isn't the only freak helps her overcome her rage and feeling of loneliness. She is a complicated creature - we saw her in the beginning of the series as this broken doll, broken by Uram who Made her against her will but left her a being not quite vampire but not quite mortal or angel either. She felt a little bit emo back then so I loved to see that she took charge of her life. She has come a long way from "Sorrow" back to Holly.

Holly has become a force to be reckoned with, inspires loyalty and benevolence in people.
Her struggles with what she has become are painful and I felt nothing but compassion and admiration for her courage. Add to that a sharp tongue, intelligence and kindness and she makes for a wonderfully strong heroine.

For those who have been wondering - yes, we get to see a little bit of Illium and Dimitri, whose interaction with Holly and his fatherly love for her made my heart soar.

The car race between Dimitri and Venom was an exhilarating moment in the book which we get a lot of btw. You will find a lot of heart-stopping action and exciting scenes.
It wouldn't be a Guild Hunter story if we didn't get to catch up a bit with Raphael - he doesn't steal Venom's and Holly's thunder which I appreciated.

verall this was a very satisfying installment - I had one little niggle I wanted to mention that in the grand scheme of things didn't diminish my enjoyment of this story at all: the show-down is a little too long. Holly's inner "dialogue" was a little exhausting but as I said, it is really only a small complaint.

Ms. Singh's writing is excellent. She knows how to pull you right into the story and make you commiserate with the characters and fall in love with them. They are complex and multi-layers and always, always likable. That she mixes different cultures into her stories only adds to the fascination. This book in the series belongs to my favorites - while the romance isn't as prominent it still has a lot to love about it. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.

On that note, I notice a pattern in these books. The ones featuring Raphael and Elena drive the overarching plot forward, the ones featuring his Seven focus on the couple they are about. Yet, I wouldn't recommend reading them as standalones. They have a lot of names and little details and while Nalini Singh explains and elaborates on them very well they would still be way confusing.

And once I finished, I ended up rereading Archangel’s Heart again. Both books take place at the same time and the events of Archangel’s Heart are why Raphael and Elena aren’t in most of the book. Honestly, I was okay with that since they’re my favorite couple and I probably would have spent most of Archangel’s Viper wanting scenes with them. With Raphael and Elena out of the city, it let Venom and Holly shine.
To be honest, I was a little hesitant for a relationship between Venom and Holly. Holly has been through and changed so much from when we meet in Archangel’s Blood but I was concerned that she wasn’t adult enough for Venom. So much of her character acts in response to the trauma she suffered and initially that didn’t seem like a good fit for mysterious Venom. However, over the course of the series, and especially with Ash and Janvier, Holly has learned to manage her abilities and translate it into an asset.
Although I’m usually not a fan of the slow-build romance, in the case of Venom and Holly, it totally made sense. Most of this book was taken up by plot over relationship building. Events in archangelic world as well as the remnants of Uram from the first book in the series form the main plot. Archangel’s Viper was similar to both Archangel’s Shadow and Archangel’s Enigma. The characters have a history and spend time chasing problems in New York City like Ash and Janvier did. They also end up on a trip where their unique skills are being utilized like Naasir and Andromeda. However, the relationship was uniquely Venom and Holly. While it did take most of the book for their relationship to move from sniping partners to lovers, it was authentic to both of their personalities.
While I won’t say this is my favorite book in the series, I’m still partial to Ash and Janvier as well as watch Elena and Raphael’s relationship progress, this was a solid book. It wasn’t an epic love story but rather a slow healing of two characters we both needed it. I know I’ll end up rereading this book, probably before the next one comes out. Join me in praying it’s Illium/Aodhan’s!

Archangel’s Viper is a total rush. Venom and Holly’s story was so engaging that I risked a sleepless night (and being a zombie at work) because I didn’t want to put the book down.

Four years ago, Holly Chang was kidnapped and tortured by an insane archangel. In the time since her rescue, Holly has worked and fought to make a new life for herself, knowing she can never go back to who she once was. I loved Holly’s spirit, her unwillingness to give in or take the easy road. She can stand toe-to-toe with far more powerful immortals and not be dwarfed by their presence. And Holly does all this without ever seeming too perfect a heroine. Her strength shines because we can see how vulnerable she is as well. There’s an otherness inside her, a deadly presence the archangel Uram left within her, and it’s growing in power. Holly is a great character to begin with, but she comes into her own over the course of Archangel’s Viper as the power within her strengthens and she must fight to stay herself. Added to that, someone has put a bounty on her head and to find out who that is, she must work with the one vampire who drives her completely mad.

Venom is one of the most powerful vampires on the planet. He’s also unique because of the way he was Made and he’s sometimes isolated, except from the few people he trusts enough to be close to. I’d been intrigued by Venom for some time and I really enjoyed learning about the man behind the viper eyes. Venom was as deadly and seductive as I’d expected, but he’s also quietly caring and has a hidden vulnerability that broke my heart. I absolutely loved Venom and Holly together. He has never treated her as broken, and his teasing brings the liveliness out of her when the darkness threatens. The two of them are unique and it’s their uniqueness which draws them together in the first place. The romance between Holly and Venom is slow to burn, and though it took a backseat to the main storyline, I honestly didn’t mind. Venom and Holly’s love story felt organic, and I loved seeing how their relationship changed and developed over the course of the story. I was rooting for these two and I liked that I didn’t always know how they’d make it out alive, never mind get their happily ever after.

Archangel’s Viper is the tenth book in Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series and I highly recommend reading the series in order. Much of the action in Archangel’s Viper takes place at the same time as the events of the previous book, Archangel’s Heart, and seeing what’s happening with the cast in New York while the rest of the principal characters are in Morocco helps give the world a more complete feel. With the Cascade in effect, there’s no pausing in action anywhere in the world of the angels and vampires we love. I finished Archangel’s Viper a well-satisfied reader and I cannot wait to see where Ms. Singh takes readers in the next Guild Hunter book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Holly’s backstory is touched on, and I was horrified by what she went through in her past, captured and tortured by Uram, an archangel who went insane. She witnessed the brutal murders of her friends and then was force fed his blood changing her into a vampire and more. The experience could’ve easily broken her, but she had the archangel Raphael and all his clan (not sure if that’s the right word) at her back. Not only that, she’s had the unconditional support of her family, not caring what she’s turned into, they still love her without reserve. Holly’s definitely a strong, admirable woman.

The more that she’s turning into is what worries Holly, because she’s plagued with crazy thoughts and powers she shouldn’t rightly have as just a vampire. She fears Uram left a bit of himself in her that might eventually consume and overtake her. Add to that, there’s a bounty put on her head. Someone has paid a high price to acquire Holly.

Enter Viper. They’ve apparently had an antagonistic relationship since meeting and he’s back at the Tower in Manhattan where she lives. Worse, the two of them are assigned to work together to find the person who wants to capture Holly. But as they work together they come to realize they have more in common than any of the other creatures at the Tower, and the attraction neither has wanted to acknowledge increases and electrifies!

Viper and Holly’s romance was a slow build, first a bit of sniping back and forth, and then mutual respect, trust forming a bond that made their attraction more than a fleeting feeling. Viper was a sought-after chef before he become a vampire, hundreds of years ago, so he cooks up the most delicious sounding meals for Holly to care for her, which seduces her even more. I love it when a man (my husband, lol) cooks for me and does it well!

I’ve read and loved books from Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series, but had never picked up anything in her Guild Hunter series, so I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy it as much as I did; coming in blind, unfamiliar with the world or creatures. I was immersed in the mysteries and worried for Holly as the story progressed. It was a thrilling nail-biter in places! I’m sure any fan of the series will love Viper’s Archangel just as much as I did or more!

Archangel’s Viper.

I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads

5 Stars

Venom & Holly’s (Sorrow) story has been much anticipated for many, many books… and it was well worth the wait.

Venom is one of the Archangel Rafael’s Seven, but he’s also one-of-a-kind. The vampire has attributes more closely related to a viper than the rest of his brethren. Quick as a snake, with sinuous movements, and a venomous bite, Venom has always emotionally kept himself apart from others.

Years ago, Holly was just a college student, dreaming of growing up to become a clothing designer while hanging out with her girlfriends. During Uram’s rampage, Holly and her friends were snatched from the street and tortured, leaving something behind with Holly. Life freezing before her last growth spurt, suffering for years to come to terms with the ‘monster’ she feels Uram created, Holly was Sorrow.

In Archangel’s Viper, Sorrow is in a better place, reclaiming not only her name, but her heritage and family. Holly is more even-keeled, living and working for the Tower, trying to carve out a semblance of a life while she deals with being ‘not’ truly human, but not truly a vampire, while also holding angelic DNA.

For books (years), Holly and Venom have had a mentor/student, antagonizers relationship. Readers anticipated their story, watching the interplay during previous books. Baiting. Push/pull. Silly nicknames. Sparring. Bloodshed. This is only ramped up during Archangel’s Viper.

Venom hasn’t been stationed at the Tower for a long time, engaging in only weekly calls with Holly. At the start of the novel, Venom comes home and the attraction & antagonism ratchets up many degrees.

There’s a price on Holly’s head, and she and Venom work together to not only figure out who is trying to kidnap her, but also for Holly to embrace who she truly is.

For the two venomous, one-of-a-kind creatures, the sexual tension is heavy, emotions run high, but the story still takes the forefront. Who is trying to kidnap Holly and why? What is Holly? Will Dimitri have to put Holly down like a rabid dog?

Archangel’s Viper was a page-turner, where I read it in a single sitting, refusing to be torn from the story. Singh did an amazing job delivering on a story readers have been much anticipating, all the while seeding for future books.

Show of hands, who else is ravenous for Illium & Aodhan’s story? Please, please, please, please, Ms. Singh, give us the BFFs story next. Please?! Please go there. Bluebell deserves to be with his best friend. Please?!

I highly recommend for Urban Fantasy fans (make sure to start at the beginning of the series with Angels’ Blood)

4 stars

This was a very good story. I liked holly and Venom and found their story to be interesting. I didn't like Venom much in previous stories but surprisingly, I like him much more now.

Holly is a mutant in her world....a unique creation of a maddened Archangel, Holly is vampire-like but also has some powers that are more angel-like. And whatever power the archangel put in her is still growing and worries Holly. Holly has parents and a sister (as well as friends) that she cares about so she tries to control the changes in her and stay as human as possible considering.

Venom is a vampire that was made by an Archangel with a connection to poisons/snakes. Venom has snake-like eyes and can produce extremely dangerous venom from his teeth and is considered "unique". Venom is one of Raphael's seven and they're his family as his true (blood) family couldn't accept him after his transition.

It's been years since Holly was changed by the archangel and she was pretty messed up at first, calling herself "Sorrow" and cutting herself off from her family. She realized that she wasn't going down a good path and has managed to get to a pretty good emotional place. Venom has been gone the past couple years and is just getting back to New York when this story begins. Holly has always had an issue with Venom, their interactions tend to piss her off more than anything, so she's not thrilled when she gets sent to pick Venom up at the airport. Unfortunately, on the way into town someone tries to run them off the road and it ends up being a kidnapping attempt with Holly as the target.

They soon find out that Holly has a $5 million bounty on her head and it's likely many more people will be trying to cash in. Venom is chosen to watch over Holly and she can't really object considering her situation. While they attempt to investigate the bounty on Holly's head, Venom and Holly snipe at each other as they attempt to ignore their mutual attraction. Venom has many woman that want in his bed but he's always been too much "other" to have a true connection with a woman. Holly is very unique as well but she and Venom are very close in their "unique otherness" which helps them to understand and accept each other. As they work on their mission, the power inside Holly grows stronger and they have much more on their plate than expected. Thankfully, things do work out so that Holly and Venom end the story together and heading towards a HEA.

This was a very enjoyable story. I liked Holly and was impressed by how she'd managed to come back from hell and make something of her life. It couldn't have been easy considering everything she had to deal with. Venom was a good hero, especially once he let Holly "in". Overall, I liked the characters and the story and would recommend this story/series. :)

* note - I listened to the audio version of this story and the narrator did a very good job.

Archangel's Viper is book 10 in the Guild Hunters series and its the story I didn't know I needed! You meet Holly in book 1 when she is the victim of a deranged archangel. I never imagined her getting her own story years later. Venom has been around since book 1 as well. One of Raphael's 7, he is the deadliest vampire on the planet and loves toying with his 'kitty', Holly.

Venom has always been a bit of a villain who seems barely under control. Yet, as a reader, you are still so intrigued by him! Add to his natural air of mystery the continuing discovery of Holly and her talents and the book really keeps you on your toes. Who would want to kidnap Holly and why? Do they know something they shouldn't or do they know something even Holly doesn't know?

Archangel's Viper weaves the story of Holly and what she is or might be with the burgeoning romance between Venom and Holly. While they are different at first blush, they have far more in common than anyone imagined. Venom gets Holly in a way no one else can and allows her to be 'herself' (whoever that might end up being). In return, Venom becomes lighter and freer in Holly's presence. There is a scene where Venom, Dimitri, and Illium are racing and they all seem so carefree and young! Its a side to the 3 very stoic men you don't get to see often. And through all that, you have the danger of what Holly might become, who might want to possess her, and where it might lead them all. Singh blends the levity with the danger, the lust with the adventure, and all your favorite characters from the guild hunter world. Singh is the only author I have ever read who can accomplish combining so many emotions and events into a story with so many characters and never let the reader feel that they are drowning in it all.

I feel like its been a long time since I have been in the guild hunter world and found I had to look up a few things/people to refresh my memories. Nothing major, but certainly evidence that this isn't a stand alone!

Justine Eyre has one of my favorite voices. She is flawless!! While this series can be a difficult one to listen to because there are so many people to keep up with, Eyre's voice keeps you engaged. She really is performing the story.

I absolutely loved the plot and storyline of ARCHANGEL'S VIPER. I really enjoyed seeing how the Uram issue played out as we've had those threads dangling for many books now. I have to admit the outcome was a bit of a surprise, not a bad one, but interesting all the same. And Holly? I really love her character, mini claws, vulnerability, and sheer will of determination combined. Uram sure did a number on her and as you can guess the outcome with him fully involved Holly, and I really enjoyed this progression. So plot-wise, this one was stellar.

Now onto the romance. Unfortunately this area was not one of the book's strong suits due to an undeveloped feel in the romance aspects. There's plenty of wit, banter, and overall antagonism between the two that left me laughing more often than not at their antics. And yet, they never really had a sexual tension feel. Venom and Holly could have just as easily been best friends rather than lovers by the end. I just feel like things were written tamer taking Holly's past into consideration, but it just went too tame in my opinion. I just needed something more of a build up to be invested in their romance at the end and unfortunately I just didn't get it.

Romance aside and getting back to the characters, as I said I loved seeing Holly's progression in this book. But the show stealer was Venom, much to my surprise. I have to admit he's never been my favorite of the seven, more of an antagonist to Elena. But we get to see a whole new side of him in this book, and I really loved the added depth to his character. There are reasons he is the way that he is, and it was enjoyable to see his layers get peeled back.

All in all, romance woes aside, ARCHANGEL'S VIPER was a very enjoyable installment in the fabulous Guild Hunter series!

I’m a big fan of Nalini Singh’s work whether that be her contemporary stories or paranormal. Paranormal is my go to sub-genre so of course I’ve loved every Guild Hunter book since I first started the series. I’ve been waiting a while for Venom to get his book and I’m so excited it’s finally here.
If you’ve read any of the Guild Hunter books, you’ll of course know Venom as one of the Archangel Raphael’s “Seven” and Holly Chang (a.k.a. Sorrow) was the sole survivor from the insane Archangel Uram’s attack in the first book (Angel’s Blood). Venom is an ancient vampire that has the pretty unique ability of secreting venom from his fangs. While Holly is also poisonous but of a different kind. She also can’t be classified as any certain species which makes her feel alienated. These two usually bicker and pick at each other constantly but Venom’s now protecting her since the bounty was put out on Holly. Someone wants her unknown and still developing abilities and they’re hunting her down. Throughout the book they get to know so much about each other and grow to care for each other. This is definitely a slow burn kind of romance and I think that nothing else would have worked for these two. I’m so happy these two unique individuals came together. Talk about a power couple!
Nalini Singh always does a fantastic job with setting and this was no exception. I felt like I was right there with Venom and Holly. She also did an awesome job with character development throughout the story. Both of the character had to grow, change, and learn to trust each other. She was very gradual with this which is authentic to these characters. The progression of person and also couple was very well thought out and executed extremely well.
I easily blew through this story in an afternoon. Now that release day is upon us, I’ll definitely be adding the hardcover and audio formats to my library. Yeah, I’m THAT obsesses with her books. This was another fantastic read from a fabulous author and I’m counting down the days until I can get my hands on another one of her books. 5 out of 5 stars!

Nalini Singh has never disappointed me, and Archangel's Viper is no exception. I love the diversity and uniqueness of her characters, and I like the continuing story arcs so that we see prior characters and couples in abundance. Every time I read a new book in this series, it makes me want to go back and read the others all over again!

So our heroine in this story is Holly "Sorrow" Chang, who you may remember from the very early books as being one of the survivor's of the insane archangel, Uram. Holly suffered unbearably at Uram's hands and it has taken her some time to start coping with the effects of his magic and torture left on her mind and body. Luckily, Holly has a loving and supportive family, and she has been taken into the fold at the Tower. I really enjoyed the special bond that formed between Dmitri and Holly, and it made me want to go back and read the stories that highlighted Dmitri's relationship with Nassir.

I have been curious about Venom and his viper eyes since very early in this series. I suspected that he would have a tragic backstory with his maker being Neha, but he seems to still hold her in high regard. Venom helped to humanize Neha and soften her visage as the deadly poisonous Archangel that has come to be an enemy of Raphael. I do wish that we would've gotten more Venom's backstory, info about his upbringing and making, but that is because I was greedy for information about him. I had a soft spot for his broody side, the one that

The relationship between Venom and Holly was playfully contentious. There was a lot of fun teasing and snark between the two, while the chemistry built as the story progressed. I liked that Venom didn't treat Holly like a broken flower, and instead helped her to manage her abilities and not be afraid of them. I think it will mean a stronger relationship for them in the long run. I didn't feel like there was a major focus on the relationship in this installment, instead we were trying to uncover a plot to kidnap Holly and learn more about her emerging powers. But I have a feeling that we will see Venom and Holly continue growing together in future books.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley.

Exhilarating! Thrilling! Relentless!

Archangel’s Viper is book ten in the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh. It’s a non-stop action-packed adventure full of hurtles, twists, and a little romance.

Before we get started; you do want to read this series in order. We meet Holly and Venom at the beginning of the series and are treated to little teasers of them throughout, but we don’t dive into who they are or what they have become until now.

Venom was his sexy self. We learn so much about his past, what makes him who he is, his unique attributes, and more. Holly is fierce, strong, and a survivor. She didn’t ask for the horrors that happened to her, but even with the ruff go of things, she turns herself around, and thrives.

I enjoyed Holly and Venom together and I relished the banter between them. It was lots of fun. As for the romance it was nice, but I would have liked them to have had more time together. It wasn’t until close to the end when the romance/get together happens and so it felt sudden and a little rushed to me.

Besides Holly and Venom, there was a lot going on in the story. These two had many challenges and hurtles to face; which where invigorating and had my heart pumping. I was on the edge of my sit and couldn’t put the story down. I was also not expecting to uncover what I read. And then add in the twists; which where unmatched. It was a delightful treat to be surprised and so captivated. I’m excited and a bit worried for everyone in this world. What will happen next?

Rated: 4.5 Stars

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

Review first posted at Girl Who Reads. A free copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Holly Chang had been turned into a vampire against her will, and has been struggling to control her impulses. Outside of the usual structure for vampire creation, she is able to talk with those the elites would never even notice. There's a bounty on her head, however, and the powers she has aren't like those of an ordinary vampire. Viper is one of the Tower's most trustworthy vampires and something like an assassin in his own right. As much as they class, he is one of the few capable of keeping her safe.

This is part of the Guild Hunter series, and I was at a disadvantage for not having read the prior novels. But there was enough detail given in character conversations and the hint of backstory that I could go along with it; it probably also helps that there isn't a vampire trope yet that I haven't been able to understand.

Apparently, there are angels and archangels here as well as vampires, and other creatures with abilities of their own. I found that part fascinating enough that I might try to find earlier books in the series. (Thinking of my to be read piles, however...)

It's a common trope that Holly and Viper can't stand each other at first, yet they're most comfortable around the other. Of course, there's danger and mystery, and the two not only have a connection, it's enough to overcome the fears they have about relationships.

The romance part of this paranormal romance novel is pretty par for the course, and I didn't find that as exciting as the powers and machinations between angels and vampires. It's definitely worth exploring more of this universe and the characters in it.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with Archangel’s Viper, I have been intrigued by Venom but a little uncertain about him. Especially with Sorrow aka Holly, the young woman that Elena rescues from book 1. I never got a romantic vibe between them. I was half right, I don’t think the romance itself was as strong as other books in the Guild Hunter series, however, it did work.

Holly was a great character and it’s a shame we didn’t see more of her growth through the series, I almost feel like we had a snap shot of her “before” when she was a mess after first being rescued. In this book we get the “after” once she has had time to come to terms with her new and unusual circumstances and abilities. We haven’t really seen how she got there within the previous 9 books in this series.

I’ve already briefly mentioned by initial scepticism regarding the romance, and although I didn’t think their chemistry was as good as other couples within the series, Singh still wrote a great romance. But, this series isn’t just about the romance, Singh also treats us to some action packed scenes that keep the book exciting. I also loved that we got another glimpse into the Legion. The group of kind-of angels that came to Raphael’s aid previously. I really hope we get to see more of the Legion as this series progresses.

Although this book isn’t one of my favourite books in the Guild Hunter series it was a good installment and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Once again Singh shows why she is one of the best Urban Fantasy/PNR writers out there.

I am going to be honest here and say that this book felt a little like a filler... Now don't get me wrong it's still a good book and I really like Venom and Holly, but I felt like there was a less spark between them in this book then there was in "Archangel's Blade". Something just seemed lost to me; I don't feel like we had enough of Sorrow growing back into Holly, and Venom's backstory seemed a little rushed too... So here is the thing, I hate righting this review and not saying that I just loved this book because I really love this series and this isn't a bad book it just lacked 'something'. One of the reasons I love this series is because it's all in one universe but different people who are all interconnected and you see them all living loving growing together in each book no matter who is the main focus of the book, and this one didn't give much of that either, I didn't feel like a learn anything new about any of my old favorites, I didn't feel like they were much a part of this story, just sort of a reference here and there because they cant not excist at all. So basically I think I'm saying that this book needs to be like 50k longer with more of the universe that Nalini has created entwined in it, not just so much Viper and Holly in a bubble. Again It's still a good book but It's simply not my personal favorite.

“For a woman with unicorn hair, you’re very bloodthirsty. I approve.”

It doesn’t matter how many times I read a book by Nalini Singh; I am forever amazed and awed by the intricacy with which she builds her fictional worlds.

So delicate and detailed that, in fact, they don’t feel fictional at all.

Never mind the fact that they’re riddled with psychic beings and changelings or, in the case of Archangel’s Viper and the Guild Hunter series, with angels and vampires—these books are rife with such raw emotion as to level a reader.

Needless to say, Venom and Holly’s story leveled me. That, and more. This story has been building since book one, Angels’ Blood (Archangel’s Viper is number ten), and every moment, every nugget of information, every glimpse of these two damaged souls over the course of nine subsequent book was paid off. In triplicate. With an intensity that Blew. My. Mind.

And damn near ruptured my heart. I cried—big, fat, achy tears—and, even now, I can’t decide if I want to smile or sob over some of the more tense, weighted moments.

Smile. I’ll go with smile. Because only Nalini Singh can give me a series that hides information in the smallest, unlikeliest of places… and then use that to add ever more texture and detail to a world that never fails to surprise, amaze and awe me.

'Always in his arms, she’d be home.
As he would be in hers.'

~ FIVE Kitty STARS ~

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 5
Holly and Venom’s story is one of heartbreak and healing! I loved every minute of it. It was great to get to know Venom better and learn more about his history. It was heartbreaking to learn more about all the Holly had to survive from her attack. But these two together were great!! The banter between Holly & Venom had me cracking up. While Archangel’s Viper really focused on Holly’s journey to health. Her journey would not have gone smoothly without a certain viper by her side.

As always I let the amazingly talented Justine Eyre read this story to me. Ms. Eyre so talented with her ability to have so many voices she can lend to this series. I love being able to listen to an audiobook and just know who is talking even without the author telling me. I always look forward to listening to Ms. Eyre.

You know what the worst thing about a Nalini Singh book is? The end!! Where there are no more pages in my book for me to read!! **insert wailing sob** The end of every book breaks my heart because my current journey in this world is over, but then excitement bubbles up because I know that the next book is on the horizon! I can not wait to see who is next in the Guild Hunter Series (fingers crossed for Illium &/or Aodhan)

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Tantor Media, Netgalley & in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

One of the many things I love about Nalini Singh is that she is able to weave together such compelling stories with truly diverse characters that always pull on your heartstrings. She managers to create a truly unique story time and time again regardless of how long a series may be getting. I will never tire of her books and I will never tire of the Guild Hunter novels.

We’ve slowly been working our way through Raphael’s seven and Archangel’s Viper brings us the story of Venom and Holly Chang. Both outsiders in their own way and both marked by something that makes them other.

Holly is one of the only surviving victims of a brutal assault from another archangel and Uram left his mark. Venom has been marked by his creation and change with snake like reflexes and reptilian eyes. Holly and Venom drive one another crazy and seem to take every opportunity to goad the other into a response but seeing these two come together was like watching magic unfold. This is one of those love stories you go back and reread, knowing that it will give you all the feels again and again.

It is always so easy to lose myself in Nalini Singh’s world of archangels, guild hunters and other-worldly beings. The characters are intense, their situations, more often than not, deadly yet there is a lighthearted thread that makes me smile even through the squeemy bits.

Small but mighty, Holly is fierce as she comes to terms with the life-altering changes she’s had to endure. I ached as she mourned her losses while embracing the love and acceptance from her old, and new families. Her challenges weren’t over and living may be harder than dying as the battles continue. With Venom at her side, though, she is going to have a fighting chance…

Holly and Venom are delicious together as they battle against an unknown enemy. They trade barbs and insults like old friends but there is such warmth between them that the arguments only made me smile. Bitingly sarcastic yet the emotions, the feelings, underneath them hit my heart dead on. Viper is handsome inside and out as he slowly unveils what makes him so protective and loving…

“You never wanted to be a vampire.”
“Yes, but that was before you… I don’t mind sucking your blood for millennia.”

I LOVED this heart-wrenching and soul-warming story and can’t wait for more!

**Reviewed for 1-Click Addict Support Group/Give Me Books
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.

With each new Guild Hunter book, there is as much progress and attention paid to the way this world changes as an individual relationship. So while ARCHANGEL'S VIPER focuses on the relationship of Viper and Holly, their romance takes place in the context of the sweeping power shifts of the Cascade.

And while I'm heavily invested in Elena and Raphael's world, when beginning ARCHANGEL'S VIPER I would have said Venom is my least favorite of the Seven. Holly Chang, however, has been a haunting character from her first introduction in ANGELS' BLOOD. Cast these characters in a rough and tumble frenemies to lovers story, and I was soon on bard. Venom has always been one of Elena's chief antagonists, and it is just those same sharp edges and inhuman impulses that ultimately allow Holly to feel safe and loved.

Reading ARCHANGEL'S VIPER makes it clear that regardless of who this series focuses on, there is always a well written story guaranteed to carry readers away. While installments that focus on Raphael and Elena are still my favorite (and impatiently await Illium's story), catching up with Holly was a welcome treat.

Sexual Content: Sex scenes, implied rape.

This book was just okay for me. I looked forward to learning more about Venom since we have not known much about him from previous books. It usually seems like he is so mysterious we barely knew anything about him. I thought this story would open more about him. It did not, but I still felt like we could have known more, it was not enough.
There was very little to no romance which I was hoping to see. Perhaps also more action, such as dealing with the bounty on Holly's head, which was how the story started off. That did not happen in the story, It was just a telling of it after it was taken care of by Dimitri.
I admire Holly's will-power, her strength and determination to overcome adversities. She had a strong character. Also, I like Venom. I don't know what I was looking for in Venom's story I'm just left feeling like I did not get it. My mind kept going back to Nalini's other stories like her Psy-Changeling novels which I have listened to time and time again and I ask myself, "Would I do the same with Venom's story?' and sadly, at this point It does not rate on my 'Listen/Read Again" books.

I never start a series at book number ten but I’m glad I made an exception for Archangel’s Viper. I took to for review because I’d seen Singh’s name numerous times and I was looking for a new paranormal to read. I definitely wish I had read the entire series because there was much I wanted to know more about but the book was thoroughly enjoyable even without knowing the back story. I especially would have liked to have known Holly’s story since her making as a vampire and/or archangel is obviously highly unusual with very abnormal results. Because Viper’s own origins were unusual he’s the perfect partner for Holly. Her lack of fear of his snake eyes and amusement with him when most are terrified is a welcome change to Viper.

Singh creates a very detailed and interesting alternate world with fascinating paranormal situations and forces, both good and evil. The detail in this book was beyond sufficient to bring the reader up to speed. Viper is sexy and strong and his treatment of Holly is endearing. Holly is complex with a lot of mixed emotions and so much to deal with. The angels and archangels are an interesting twist and added stressors and depth to the vampire story. The story is face-paced with lots of action and complex, interesting characters. I definitely will read more from Singh especially others in this series given the chance.

As always, i loved everything about this book. It surprised me in the best of ways. I thought this book was going to be about an angsty "Sorrow" being all depressed and moody. I was so so so happy when i started and saw that she'd passed that phase in her life and was becoming Holly again. I should've known because Nalini Singh writes such strong and amazing characters. I loved how how strong Holly is and how perfectly she matched Venom. He's one of the seven I knew the least about and i'm so glad he got a story. His past was sad and the rejection he faced shaped him into the man he is today. I loved when he opened up to Holly and they really got to know each other. I really felt their connection throughout the book. I really enjoyed the mystery throughout the book and the connection between Holly, Uram and Michaela. And the little seen with Illium was great! Loved that this book takes place during the same time frame as Archangel's Heart. I liked the part where Illium is upset he let Adohan leave without saying goodbye. Can't wait for the next book!

First off, I love anything that Nalini Singh puts out. She seems to catch my attention from the first page and holds it until the end (and I really hate when a story ends).
Second, I love the guy on the cover. He's exactly what I pictured Viper to look like, so damned sexy.

Now, the review: I haven't always been a fan of Viper, I thought he was a bit creepy and the way he is always hassling Elena, just pissed me off but I knew he had to have a story and I absolutely LOVED his story. It may seem silly, as this is only a work of fiction, but I really felt for him when he gave up everything to save his family and then they turned their backs on him. Too sad. And those snakes he endured...wow. I don't mind snakes at all but what he went through? No way!!

I don't remember too much about Holly/Sorrow but when he became her bodyguard? I knew, just knew that they would end up together. I think Holly was trying a bit too hard to not like him. Loved his teasing her. And after she collapsed and hearing Viper crying for her and then on the plane? Tears flowed.

Great book as always and I can not wait for the next book this author brings out!

Can you ever be whole again? Holly knows that the monster is trying to take over she is fighting every day just to stay sane. The horror of what happened to her & her friends still haunt her and she fears that she will become like the monster that killed them all. Venom knows that his kitty has grown up and he fears that his attraction to her will put her in harm's way but he doesn't have to worry about that as someone else will pay anything to get Holly for themselves. Can Holly be around Venom without giving in to her dreams, can he protect her from what she is about to become? He will do anything to protect her but this time he might just lose her for good. Can Uram the monster still be alive even after Raphael destroyed his very essence as Holly knows that he is still alive inside her and that he is about to take the last bit of her soul. The twists just keep on coming in their story it was never going to be easy. It was good to see the other characters and how far they have all come. Definitely sucks you in. I received a copy via netgalley & the publishing in exchange for my own honest bloodsucking review.

This book was often boring and made no sense. How did Holly get to be like Venom? It made ZERO sense. Uram was NOT snake-like. All of the sudden, after FOUR years, Uram’s echo, or ghost, starts super manifesting and jerking Holly around? Thought it was on the stupid side, sorry.
And Holly and Venom made ZERO sense. There was NO relationship building. NONE. It was just suddenly there. And why? Venom was gone for two years and what time did they spend together before then? Holly was still very much traumatized. There was nothing mich even on that, like Holly hadn’t been through the most horrific thing ever.
And why was it that children were being thought of as pups? Venom thought it three different times in this book, attributing Aodhan as speaking of having a pup, Venom saying something about when someone was a pup, and it was said again a third time. Uh, isn’t that the other series? There are no shifters in this one.
There was so much repetitive crap written it was annoying. Got real sick hearing how tiny Holly is.

Finally the story of Venom and Holly! It was great. I loved the banter and the suspense and finally the mystery behind what happened to Holly is revealed. I have read every single one of these books in the series and I am so happy that these two, which we could all tell should have been together from the start, finally have their HEA. I do feel that at the end when they finally realize what they mean to each other, it felt rushed. There was so much build up and suspense as to the "other" within Holly and then there was a contract hit out on her that they were trying to figure out who was behind it, that at the end, was neatly tied together by execution from my favorite person in this series by far, Dmitri, who sees Holly as his little weirdling and has no compulsion over beheading someone who he considers his and under his fatherly protection. Cue the sweetness! Another great story and we find out she has 2 more books to go in this series. Yay! i am eagerly anticipating Bluebell and Sparkles books next, though I wouldn't mind a book on my beloved Archangel Titus (hint, hint) 4 stars.

Archangel's Viper finally completes a story thread started in Angels' Blood. Both books share the urban fantasy-style mystery, which I loved in the first installment of the Guild Hunter series. Holly Chang and Venom are partnered up to figure out who is behind Holly's attempted kidnapping. Venom is also does the double-duty of monitoring Holly as she continues to alter from events from book one.

There's evidence of attraction between the two one-of-a-kind Made beings, with Holly being more of a mystery herself. Their attraction makes sense but an essential step is missing for them to move from interest to - what looked like -an overdramatic, all-consuming love. By the end of the book, I was emotionally distant (no tears) from the protagonists. Now it makes sense others have complained about the romance moving too fast because there wasn't really any romance. Like I said it's slow-growing attraction then BOOM! An all-consuming love.

The mystery was so good at the beginning. The potential for something greater is now a lost opportunity.

Public Library e-loan

Review: ARCHANGEL’S VIPER (A Guild Hunter Novel) by Nalini Singh
Publication Date: September 26, 2017
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 5 Stars

I absolutely loved ARCHANGEL’S VIPER! It is the tenth book in Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series. Each book in this paranormal romance series can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading them in order to fully enjoy the series storyline. It was an action packed ride from start to finish. I loved Venom and Holly together. They had a friends to lovers romance and they didn’t actually come together until the last part of the book. They had a strong emotional connection, their banter was fun and the romance was hot when they got together. It was such a great story and one of my favorites this year. I always get swept up in the worlds Nalini Singh creates. I highly recommend this series for readers looking for paranormal romance series that is truly unique.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

I love this series and did enjoy this book but not as much as some of the others. I liked the fact that we find out what happens with Holly and Venom but I didn’t feel that there was enough of the other characters involved. I also didn’t like that it takes place four years later. In other novels in the series the author always included Raphael and Elena more and she didn’t this time. The last novel had such a big build up to it that this novel seemed to fall a little flat for me. That’s just my personal opinion though. If you’re a big fan of Venom then you may enjoy it more. I personally enjoy the angels and Guild Hunters stories more and the other novels definitely have more intrigue and build up. This book is still a good read if you’re a fan of the series but I don’t think it’s one of her best.

I have been wanting to read ever since the teasers in the newsletters came out. I have found that Archangels viper is a little of a disappointment. I loved seeing Holly as a new person finally growing into her own even after the horror she experienced and it was nice to see Venom. But the interaction with them seemed more like friends rather than lovers and when they did become an item I felt that it was late in the book for it to happen. If there was more time for that to have developed throughout the book it would have been great. Another thing, I think that there is a little confusion with the time line? in one part they said it was about 4 years after she was made but I think the overall story line is 7 years after Angels Blood. I dk if this is correct or not but this was one of the things that bothered me a little.

Even with the other guild hunter books there always seems to be a strong support of supporting characters which I didn't get much of this time around it almost felt that when they were mentioned it was awkward. I didn't mind not seeing Elena and Raphael in this book but wish I could have seen more of the other characters. I loved seeing the finale concussions and twist that came with the Uram mystery and with Michaela that was great.

Overall I do feel that it was an ok book but could be a little better with the relationship and supporting character development. Cant wait for the next one

Archangel's Viper (A Guild Hunter Novel)

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Once again Nalini Singh has written a story that you just don't want to end.
It is so engrossing you just can't take time out to make notes. You live the story. You are completely and totally immersed.
I don't know how she makes every new story in this and the psy-changeling series so amazing, but I pray they never end.

READING PROGRESS
June 14, 2017 – Shelved
June 14, 2017 – Shelved as: to-read
June 14, 2017 – Shelved as: nalini-singh
September 29, 2017 – Started Reading
October 1, 2017 – Shelved as: 1-ntr-share
October 1, 2017 – Finished Reading

Review copy obtained via Netgalley.

I'm kind of torn on this book. I just want to say that I don't think that Nalini Singh can write a bad book. Her worlds are always places I like to visit and the Guild Hunter's series has so many unanswered questions that I eagerly pick up every title. And I have absolutely been waiting for Venom and Holly's story since the beginning. But once I finished it, I felt a little disappointed. Not in the usual way when a good book is over but in a "Is that it?" kind of way.

Holly is a long running character in the Guild Hunters series. In the first book, Angel's Blood, she is viscously attacked and ultimately physiologically changed and you see her metamorphosis throughout the series. You also see her interactions with Venom, one the main Seven, an elite group of warriors that work for Raphael, the main Angel of New York. Those interactions are funny, a little spiteful but they always come across as people who both dislike and understand each other. As the book begins, Holly is picking up Venom after not having seen him for several years as he was away from New York where she is stationed. The first interactions are very much like previous one's, the only difference is the level of maturity that Holly demonstrates and the subsequent visible partnership that develops between the two of them.

That partnership starts to turn romantic but Holly, who is still suffering the physical aftereffects of her attack begins to physically change into something else. I won't spoil the "something else" except to say that Singh is really good a tying up lose threads throughout a long running series.

The book is a slow burn and while I am admittedly not a "slow burn" kind of person, this particular slow burn left me really dissatisfied. It just left the story feeling a little insubstantial and while I liked the book, it won't go into my re-read pile.

I liked this couple a lot, even if I forgot who was Holly in the beginning I have to admit! Viper has never been one of mv favorite between the seven, but I appreciate him more after this book. No more information about the Cadre in this novel, so the overplot remains stucked this time, maybe the next book is coming out in less than one year (one can always hope)...

Questa coppia era ben assortita, anche se io non ricordavo affatto chi fosse Holly all'inizio, devo ammetterlo! Viper non é mai stato uno dei miei preferiti tra i Sette, ma dopo questo libro mi piace un po' di piú. Per il resto la trama globale non é andata avanti e quindi nessuna notizia dal Cadre, ma magari significa che il prossimo libro arriva prima del solito anno, voglio dire, si puó sempre sperare no?

Years of reading and loving Nalini Singh has left me with certain expectations from one of her books. This is probably one of my least favorite in the Guild Hunter series.

Don’t get me wrong, this is still a great book (see all those stars), but, for me, I just struggled to really feel or get any chemistry from this pair. I liked them both, but this didn’t quite grip me emotionally like pretty much every single other Nalini Singh book out there. What I did get, and it was there, seemed to come way late and with not quite enough going on between the two to make the fast turn around work as well as it could have.

I guess this was just missing that bit more spark I’m used to.

I had such high hopes for this – NS is one of my fav authors and I almost love everything she writes – but this was just…blah. I didn’t really connect with Holly and Venom as a couple. Separate I quite liked them but I had a hard time seeing them together – there just wasn’t a connection for me. I felt like the other parts of the story took over and it left their relationship rushed and flat. I could see them as friends but it was like one second they were sort-of friends and then bam – instaLove. Not a favorite of mine. This was what I call a FILLER Book.

**On a side note: I REALLY, REALLY hope NS does not make Illium’s story into a MM romance. They are not my cup of tea and I want 2 separate stories instead of just one! I would like Sparkles to have a book too! (I’m greedy like that)

***On another side note: I hope NS branches out to the other Archangels. I would like to see Alexander find love! As much as I love the 7 I think it would be nice to see new characters.

I was so excited to get my hands on this book but now I find myself slightly depressed because its now over. What will I do while I wait to see what else will happen with Raphael, his seven, and their mates? I loved the dynamic that Holly and Venom have. I like that they show that just because you are different doesn't mean you are wrong. Good "people" come in all forms. Holly showed the ultimate strength of character by being willing to die if it meant she would keep people safe. Refusing to give in to her "possession". She overcame obstacles that some more experienced people would never have been able to do. Loved it! Patiently waiting, well, not so patiently (lol) for the next installment.

I have read every book in this series and would recommend each one to anyone who loves paranormal romance. I love that this one let us get to know Viper better and allowed him to find the woman he truly loves. Now, whether he can keep her or not, you'll have to read the book to figure that out. Nalini Singh doesn't disappoint. Every book in this series builds on the last creating a beautiful, dangerous, fabulous universe with angels, vampires and humans living side by side. I strongly recommend this series for anyone who loves paranormal reads.

i was excited about this story because it is two characters that we know. first, when she was rescued. then her dealings with Dimitri and Honor. Holly has been a background character since book 1. Venom has always been mysterious and sleek. this was a good way to see more of the two of them. as i finish this, i wonder which of the seven will we get to know next? and when can we find out more about the legion? either way, waiting for the next book.

A lack of romantic interest both for the h/h but I think the story was less about the h/h and more about pushing further the world for more books rather than focusing on any intimate purpose for them to be in the book.

It did have lots of Singh's talented action and crazy great plot but it lacked in the character building I typically enjoy in her work. Still a decent read but it felt like a juncture to continue or possibly create a new jump off series connected to this one.

Like all the rest of the series I read in one sitting. Nalini always makes a page turner you can't put down. I 've read everything shes written.. love her work. This,was a great book maybe not my favorite but as,always,worth reading. I'm still breathlessly waiting for the next installment. She always leaves her readers wanting more. I'm waiting for Blue bell or Sparkles books. I don't want an m/m for them. But I can't wait to see the women she has for them..i want their stories as only she can write them.

Venom and Holly were great and uram was put to rest finally I hope. The story was fast paced sexy without being overdone. The author doesn't ever just give a redone sex scene for way to many pages like many do...its a good book if you like her work it,won't disappoint.

I LOVE this series. Starting to read - it slowly unfolds to well loved characters - like visiting an old friend. Venom has never been a favorite - but I came to rethink my assessment. There was some wondering about his origins - that he never before revealed. I like that it took place while Raphael & Elena were in Morocco. I wish there was an epilogue where Venom takes "Kitty" to dinner at R & E's house. Wonderful installment to a AWESOME series.

This is my favorite Nalini Singh series. I love this series with a passion you would not believe. In fact, it is one of my all-time favorite series EVER. This series has one of my all-time favorite couples ever, Raphael and Elena. That said, I don't think I can ever be disappointed by a new Guild Hunter novel. And I wasn't! Viper and Holly were seriously fun together despite the serious plot, which I think suited Viper perfectly. Amazing read!

I loved this installment of the series. There was a lot to get into here. A very good plot. There's uniqueness to the story & characters. I really appreciate that the amount of sex in the book is not overdone as to make up for the lack or depth of story. Some paranormal books come out more as porn than romance as though to say we readers lack imagination. Action, adventure, mystery, romance & supernatural fun! What's not to like?

What a great series! It just keeps getting more complex and addictive and entertaining. The way Nalini weaves these worlds, they completely pull you in. It is as if you are part of the story. Every character brings something new and I absolutely love each one. I am always excited to read more from Nalini Singh.

Nalini Singh has the ability to create completely unique characters that are out of the realm of normal and make them completely believable. Hot romance as always and characters with depth interact in this book as well as her others.

I checked Archangel's Viper, book 10 of the Guild Hunter series, out from my local library. I love this series, and it was great to read Venom's story-- Holly was a good foil to his dark intensity. Great plot line, and a fast-paced, action-packed addition to a fantastic series.

If you like action books with minimal romance, then this is a 5 star read. Since I like lots of romance plus a good story, then this is an okay read. It was 80 percent action, 10 percent love, then 10 percent closure. Not up to this author's usual standards.

I have absolutely loved this series since I discovered the first book and this is definitely one of the best. It involves two people that don't fit in anywhere and how they are able to find fulfillment with each other. It's just a fun and beautiful story!

World-building: A
Mythology: A-
Suspense: A
Plot-Twists: A-
Girl Power: A
Guy Hero: A
Love Interests: A+
Feels: A++

For you clean-readers: this one DOES have mature content. Some scene-skipping/self-editing will be needed to read this one.

I wasn't sure I would like this book as much as previous ones since Elena and Raphael were mostly absent and Venom and Holly were not my favorite characters. I should not have doubted Nalini Singhs wonderful character building and world building skills. I loved this book and she really brought Venom to life for me. Holly not quite so much. Without Elena and Raphael in the picture she was able to really flesh out the bonds and relationships between the Seven.This series just continues to get better.

Loved this book so much. I cried and I laughed - won't tell you when. You will have to find out for yourselves. But I am so happy that Finally there is a story for viper and "sorrow". Beware that: This book takes you on an intense journey like no other in the series.

Audible narration is not available. MAKE YOUR AUDIBLE Available FOR NARRATION. ????? So I had to return the audible and you lost money. Is that weird? Immersion readi g is wonderful for with brain disorders. If you have the audible than why is it not available for immersion.?

Why is an eBook more expensive than a paperback?! Not cool. This was one thing I really loved about my Kindle, I could always get my eBooks at a bit better price. I will be borrowing Singh's book from the library from now on.