Archangel's Light (The Guild Hunter, #14)

by Nalini Singh

[booksandcats]

I am absolutely delighted, I loved it so soo much! I was very nervous when I started reading for several reasons. I loved Illium and Aodhan both in previous books, but sometimes that doesn't translate well into being main characters. That was not the case here, I loved both their thoughts and feelings and learning more. While I, other than many fans, had absolutely no problem with the pairing (when thinking about it, I honestly couldn't imagine them with anyone else except each other), I am not used to m/m romances, so I was nervous about that and I was very very nervous to see how their friendship would turn into something more, hoping it to be done in a way that felt right and real and not aprupt and forced. It felt not forced at all. It felt absolutely perfect to me.

I think what I loved most is that for a large part of the story, it was just Illium and Aodhan repairing their friendship and relationship and going back to what they once were while also growing without noticing. I love that even during that period, when it didn't seem the least bit romantic for either of the, the seeds where there, with a slight tension sometimes, the way they both reacted to physical contact with each other and mostly with jealousy. I adored how they bickered and found a balance with their needs to help and protect each other. I love how they both thought the new weirdness was because of the problems they had and how confused they were when it didn't go away after they reconciled. I think what I love most is that it really did feel like a natural thing and how they are just in tune with each other, so it made sense for them to come to the realization that it could be more kind of at the same time. I think I would have really hated it if one of them was pining for the other for a long time, that would just have felt wrong.

I think what I loved most is how cute it was. Maybe some readers will miss the heat (even if it was there in the end a bit), but I love how, because it is so new and fresh, it was mostly cute and sweet and blushing and butterflies and stolen kisses. I can love that, because Nalini Singh has insinuated that their story is far from over and I'm going to interpret that as another book of theirs coming. That brings me to the overall plot. There wasn't really that much to be honest, there wasn't a bad guy they had to fight, or a big obstable or huge angst or anything. The focus of the book was really the relationship and I liked it. But even with that, there were things going on, some stuff happened and I liked it and I think it is setting up a future arch with Illium and Aodhan at the center.
So, we have Lijuan's son who has a lot of mental problems and can either turn good, semi-good or stay evil and become the new antagonist. We have the baby Sharine and Titus rescued. And we have Michaela's child. Three children who all seem to have big roles to play. Couple that with Sharine and Titus, who I kind of felt were unfinished and Illium and Aodhan, who will become Archangel and Second and possibly a new main couple now that Elena and Raphale's Arch is over. I sense a new storyline coming and I really hope that is true, because while I love Ms. Singhs writing and her couples, I wasn't the biggest fan of her plot lines the last two books.

The main thing missing from this book was the reaction of everyone when they discover that Illium and Aodhan are now a thing and I very very much need that urgently!!