This is the most eagerly awaited sequel to the first Guilder Hunter novel, Angel's Blood and Singh has fulfilled most of my admittedly high expectations. The relationship between Elena and Raphael was explored further and we see how truly complex a relationship between an immortal and "human" should be, unlike many paranormal romances where relationship problems are smoothed over and trivialised. The portrayal of their relationship rings true and is a huge part of the story. It would be extremely difficult for an immortal who has lived for millenniums and a mortal to have a somewhat equitable relationship but Singh manages to pull it off very well. Individually, Elena and Raphael are also intriguing as their characters are further developed and revealed.

We learn more about Elena and her past as memories began to surface after being blocked out. Singh uses this skilfully as a way to set out future stories as well as draw the two protagonists closer together. We also have a glimpse into Raphael's past and as they learn more of each other, their relationship firms up and gets on solid ground.

The only problem I had with this story was that it had a lot less action than what was foreshadowed. The plot in this story was less compelling than its predecessor for me and it was at times rather disjointed and lacked the tension and substance of Angel's Blood. However, I really like the direction the story is going, and cannot wait for the next instalment.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Auriel
February 18, 2010