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5 stars

RE-READ in order for reading Archangel's Prophecy and Archangel's War. Like Angels' Blood, I read Archangel Kiss in like eons ago. Kidding, actually it was 7-8 years ago. I also did re-read back then, but don't remember the time XD. Also my original review is just so simple. Maybe because at that time, I too don't have any patience to read. Not like this time, though.

Reading Archangel's Kiss after directly finish Angels' Blood sure give me some new perspectives. Mostly about the dynamic between Elena and Raphael. In Blood, their relationship is full of unsure, although in the Blood's ending, Elena made as an angel therefore kinda make the relationship seems balanced. In Kiss, we will see that both MCs still try to make their dynamic work. What make me like Kiss more is...how its delight me to see Raphael changed from a cold, uncaring person, almost otherworldly, to a Raphael that care so much about Elena, make him seems humane. Don't get me wrong, he's still ruthless, can be too alpha sometimes and make Elena constantly challenged him. But he did change and in a really good way.

Archangel's Kiss major them mostly deals with past and nightmares. Singh already give a glimpse into Elena's torturous past, and her nightmares that haunted her at night is not easy to read. Sure Singh loved to write those scenes over and over, and for some readers it can be too repetitive. But I don't mind it tho. It show how the nightmares really affect Elena and how she can't escaped from it. And not just Elena, but reader will get a glimpse into Raphael's past as well. Like Elena, his childhood also troubled, and while Raphael is son of two archangels, didn't make him so special. Quite opposite perhaps. I really like reading how Singh develop both Elena and Raphael. Angels Blood didn't give them justice and it's like Singh still try to decide how to write about a relationship between human and angels alike. But with Elena and Raphael both are angels, even with Elena have wings, she still considered as weakling. So we will see how she work her weakness into her strength.

The world Singh created is still wonderful. If reader got a view of New York in Angels' Blood, now she bring us to the secret angelic world called The Refuge and Beijing. Sadly the later didn't have much chapter, although Singh did write exquisite details of the Forbidden City. The Refuge is another matter. Beautiful, yet cruel. Magnifying, yet full of malice. Singh show that even though angels are beautiful beings, with their wings and otherworldly appearance, deep inside they capable of cruelty. And on top of them are the Archangels. Beside Raphael, the other Cadres have their own agenda. Some of them also didn't hesitant to torture, threat or killed mercilessly. But, that is what I like from Singh's world building. The gore and violence part are plenty, compared to the previous, not for the fainted of the heart (or stomach, lol)

Archangel's Kiss for me is like a gourmet. I can't help myself to read it slowly, savor each words, each moments, bits by tasty bits. I found myself I don't want the book to end and I want to re-read this again, but then remember I do a series marathon, lol. Yes, this book can be so slow...so very slow, but that's why I can enjoy it thoroughly. The romantic moments feel so tender compared to the previous and always make me sigh. Maybe for some, it feels TOO romantics, so sweet it will give you diabetes. But I don't care. I want ROMANCE, and Singh did deliver :D

And now I will end this review with my all time favorite quote from Guild Hunter series...because...well, it's true

Love, as he held her in his arms, is an agony beyond compare