Reviewed by Melanie on
If you’re not reading or familiar with this series, it features mostly angels, archangels and vampires. However, Naasir is something other. He does have traits of vampires. He drinks blood, but he also has an animalistic quality to him that makes you realize that he isn’t a normal vampire. He is a very powerful individual and part of Raphael’s Seven. Raphael, is the archangel of New York and he has his Seven which consists of vampires and angels that are very powerful and his most trusted advisors and inner circle.
In Archangel’s Shadows, we really get to know Naasir, but not really what he is. So finally getting to read his story, I was excited to finally learn that story. Surprisingly, I was able to get the audiobook, after release date, and listen to it and was never spoiled by the elusive information. I saw several tweets #WhatIsNaasir. I saw several people say they knew what he was, but never spoiled it for me. For that, I thank all the early reader.
Anyway, I should probably tell you about our heroine, because she was wonderful too. Andromeda is the only granddaughter Charisemnon, who is allied with Lijuan, a mortal enemy of Raphael, and truthfully, anyone with any sanity. Andromeda left her homeland when she was still very young in angel years to study at the Refuge. She is now a scholar. Naasir is tasked with taking her to find the sleeping place of an ancient archangel before Lijuan can kill him. This is when Naasir learns that Andi, as he calls her, is going to be his mate. She is not only a scholar, but she has learned to fight and has done so in secret. She is quite the warrior.
One large plot point in this story is that Andromeda has made a vow of chastity until a “stupid grimoire book” is found. This does up the sexual tension of the book. Andromeda is ready to break the vow, but Naasir won’t let her. He makes it a point that he is going to find this “stupid grimoire book” so that he can be with his mate.
Overall, I would say this book was everything that I hoped it would be, and I had high hopes. Naasir is just such a wonderful character in his uniqueness. I was very worried that this story couldn’t live up to my expectations, but I shouldn’t have been. Nalini Singh has always delivered. Andromeda is the perfect angel to mate with Naasir. She is intelligent and she sees Naasir for who he is. There are some great plot developments in the overall story plot.
Narration
Justine Eyre nails the narration of this series once again. Each character has their own unique voice and tone. I think she does a great job bringing out the wildness in Naasir’s voice. I love how she did the accent for Lijuan. I sorta cringe when she is talking, which totally fits that character.
I like to thank Tantor Media for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 9 September, 2015: Finished reading
- 9 September, 2015: Reviewed