Archangel’s Shadows Audiobook
By: Nalini Singh
Narrated by: Justine Eyre
Published by: Tantor Audio 10/28/2014
Archangel's Shadows
My Thoughts
Archangels’ Shadows starts pretty much where the previous book left off. This is a series that must be read in order or you will be lost at part of what is going on in the story. While you don’t have to have read the anthology of Guild Hunter shorts in Angel’s Flight, I highly recommend it. There is a story in it that covers our hero and heroine of this book, so I think it adds to the story. Plus there are a ton of great stories in Angel’s Flight anyway.
Where the last book, the focus was back on Raphael and Elena, this one focuses on Ashwini and Janvier. Ashwini is a member of the Hunter’s Guild and has abilities where she is able to feel most people’s emotion and thoughts through touch. Because of this, she has spent time in a mental hospital as a child because her family didn’t know how to handle her “gifts”. She also has a brother and sister who play a critical role in Ashiwini’s life.
Janvier is a vampire, young when you compare him to most of the other immortal or nearly immortal characters in this series. He’s under 300 years old. He’s a cajun who has taken a liking to Ashwini, who he calls Ashblade. Ash spends a lot of time tracking Janvier for the Guild only for him to make good right before she is ready to take him down.
Janvier and Ash are working together to track a killer. The weird thing is, the dead look like they’ve been mummified, but have only been dead for a short period of time. It is a case where they search one clue after another. Not real fast paced action that we saw in the previous book.
We also get to see a lot of Naasir. He is a vampire who is one of Raphael’s Seven. He isn’t a normal vampire. He has hints of an animal to him, the same way Venom has hints of a snake. Naasir is definitely a predator. He spends a lot of time helping Janvier and Ash. The three have a very close relationship, though there is nothing sexual between Naasir and the other two.
We also have the overall story arc. Elena’s mother-in-law makes a surprise visit. Elena is trying to manage reconstruction to a building for the legion. We get to see Honor and Dimitri, who are great together.
This is a series that has a humor, even if it isn’t a laugh out loud type of funny. You’ll find yourself chuckling frequently. There is action and suspense. There is romance and some pretty hot scenes. The characters and world are very well developed. Nalini Singh is a master at the worlds she creates with loveable characters. She is able to make you fall in love with characters that appear to be cold and emotionless.
Archangel's Shadows Audiobook Nararration
My review
I love Justine Eyre’s narration of this series. She fits the characters perfectly. She is really good at keeping the emotion blank for the angels, but showing the emotion when you have the mortals who actually have emotions.
There are also several different accents that she masters well. I love listening to her do Janvier’s cajun accent. It might not be perfect, but it really worked for him. She also really brought out the feralness of Naasir.
Author Nalini Singh
Nalini Singh born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated frequently).
So far, I’ve worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer’s mill.
Justine Eyre
Justine Eyre is a classically trained actress who has narrated over two hundred audiobooks. With a prestigious Audie Award and four AudioFile Earphones Awards under her belt, Justine is multilingual and is known for her great facility with accents. She has appeared on stage in leading roles in King Lear and The Crucible, and has starring roles in four films on the indie circuit. Her recent television credits include Two and a Half Men and Mad Men.
Audiobooks Tantor Audio Audible
I like to thank Tantor Audio for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
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39 Comments
I’m so late in this series, if I’m right I’ve only read book 1… yeah, really late but I have book 2 and maybe book 4… not sure. I’ll have to go back to it.
This is a great series that I hope you get a chance to pick back up. It starts out as UF, but certain secondary characters in the series do get there own PNR style book. That is what this one was. It’s a nice mix between both. I hope you enjoy.
This series is brilliant. I need to get back into it.
I hope you enjoy. I love the mix between UF and PNR. This book is more on the PNR side, since it follows Ashwini and Janvier. I love how Singh has a UF series with a hint of PNR in it.
Hmm, this is another series I need to listen too. I would have to get use to the audio. The narrator beginning voice feels weird to me, but I like the other voices she does in the clip.
She was a narrator that I was not a huge fan of the sample, but as I listened to the entire book, I loved it. I started off reading the series, but switched to audio several books in. Now I go straight to audio.
Ugh, I despise Justine’s voice. I know everyone loves her book it makes me cringe. Actually, I think she’s a horrible fit for YA books (she always sounds like she’s horny and sounds old for YA characters) but she is probably a better fit for adult books. 🙂
I’ve read YA, but I don’t think I’ve ever listened to any. Do the narrators make themselves sound like teenagers? Justine doesn’t sound like a teenager to me, so I could see where that is a bad fit. This is the only series that I’ve had her as the narrator. It seems to work, at least for me. I know how important it is for the narrator to work for you and, like authors, not every narrator is a fit for every listener. There are some narrators that my friends love, that I’m not in love with.
They just use their normal voices. So if the narrator sounds like she’s in her 30’s, then that’s what we get. It sucks when the character is supposed to be 16-18 years old. Older sounding narrators is one of my biggest pet peeves.
I saw this over on Rabid Reads, and I totally started girl crushing on the cover girl. lol. I definitely need to start this series.
This series has some great covers. I mean, how can you go wrong with the wings?? The stories are great too. 🙂 I just started Burn for Me on audio today. 🙂
I’m starting this tonight and I’m so freaking excited :D! It’s one of my ultimate favorite series. Glad you loved it!
I don’t think there is a bad story in this series, some are better than others, but not one is bad. Singh should have some more good ones to come, there are some great characters that need their story told. I know a bunch of people want Bluebell. I’m all for Naasir. He has a ton of page time in this book, and it only raises more questions than answers.
I’ll be starting this one next 🙂 As you know, I’m big fan too! I’m so excited this was good.
When it comes to narration I totally understand peeps reservations. Even after listening to so many books narrated by Justine it always takes me a while to get use to her tone (specially the females), I really like her male voices and how she conveys the emotions, but I always give my hearing a chapter or two to adjust…After that, it’s a smooth sealing 🙂
This is the only series I’ve listened that Justine narrates. She just is this series for me. I’ve listened to the last four or five books. There are so many accents that are not the typical French, Scottish or Russian that we normally hear in PNR books.
She could be an acquired taste like our friend Jim..LOL She does a lot Historicals too…Not your thing, I know. But she also does the Alien Huntress series by Gena Showalter.
Just finished listening to book 3 of this series, loving it!!
I hope you continue to enjoy. I encourage you to include the anthologies, Angels of Darkness and Angel’s Flight. There are some great short stories all in this world, too.
I need to research this series BUT since you’re here I’ll ask you instead:
Do I have to read the series in order? It sounds like this is a continuation of the next book but I was wondering if I can get away with jumping in the series midway if she’s doing recaps or what-not.
Does it feature a different couple all the time? You mentioned Elena and a series arc so are these the secondary characters getting some face time?
Sorry, I’m lazy LOL
No problem. I would read the series from the beginning. This series started off as UF and then certain characters required their stories to be told, so the author started a book for that character and their mate. Then she will go back to the main couple Raphael and Elena for a while.
I would call this series a Urban Fantasy with a side of Paranormal Romance. 🙂
Ah one day I will get to this series. I’m working on the Psy Changelings still. SO many books!
I know exactly what you mean. I’ve felt the same way about a few series that I’ve seen that I’m way far behind on or haven’t started. It’s a good problems for readers to have, too many good books. 🙂
I’m a few books behind with this series (what else is new!) but it’s one of my fave UF series. I loved Elena and Raphael’s story in the first few books and all of the supporting characters introduced. Glad the series is still going strong!
I love Elena and Raphael, but I love the spinoff into the other characters as well. It’s a nice mix of UF and PNR.
I`m tempted to start this series in audio every time one of the installments comes up for sale, but I`ve had a number of reviewers tell me to read it instead because Justine Eyre’s performance isn’t great. And, now here you are saying otherwise. WTH! Maybe I should start by listening to a sample, or that free short I downloaded (thanks for that BTW).
Try the free short and see what you think. I like her, but she could be one of those narrators that some like and other don’t. She fits this series for me. I don’t even read anymore, just listen.
I couldn’t stand ANY of Eyre’s accents. I didn’t think she nailed any of them. The only one I could stand was Aodhan. Janvier’s drawl sounded to me like a redneck Texan & definitely not New Orleans/Louisiana. I was okay with Eyre’s French phrases, but nothing else.
Melanie how many times have I said I need to read this author LOL
okay another one for my wish list I mean how can it not with a 5 flaming star review!!
BTW I’m actually listening to an audio now it’s The Rogue by Claire Delacroix, OMG it’s good. Medieval Romance and the smoothness of the narrator is amazing
I love this series and the Psy/Changeling series too. I don’t even know which one to tell you to try first. I guess, you could pick between Angels and Vampires or Shifters and Psychics.
I’ve never read or listened to anything by Claire Delacroix. I looked up the narrator. I’m not familiar with her either. I’ll have to give it a try.
I have to admit I didn’t actually read your review, Melanie, because I have this one on my kindle and I don’t want anything at all to spoil even the smallest thing for me. I’m very happy to see that you gave it five stars, though. Nalini Singh writes awesome stories, and The Guild Hunter series is one of my favorite PNR series.
Have a fantastic weekend and happy reading 🙂
I understand completely. For books that are highly anticipated for me, I’m the same way. I was lucky with this one to get it early, so I didn’t have to worry. Now, with Burn for Me, that was a different story. I was trying not to read any spoilers. I didn’t even read the blurb, I knew I wanted it on release day.
I really enjoyed the first books in the series about Raphael and Elena but lost some interest in the spinoff. Maybe I should try again since they featured again in other books.
Lovely review Melanie 🙂
Thanks. The books do go back to featuring Raphael and Elena. The previous book, they were the main characters. I think there were others, but I don’t remember which ones.
This sereis has been on my to-read list for too long. I do think I’ll try this one on audio instead. Great review!!
I love it on audio. I’ve found that this narrator is one that some people really enjoy and others dislike. I think she works really well for this series. I haven’t tried her with another one. I hope you enjoy.
I’m so glad you liked it…. Like almost everybody seems to do… I wanted to read this book so much I got it on release date. Sadly, I haven’t been able to finish it. I know it’s one of those “it’s me, not you” cases. Lately I’m not enjoying this kind of books. Maybe I just need to take a break from this genre, at least for a while.
That has happened to me before. I get like that with books that have too much romance and not enough action or suspense. I hope that maybe after a break, it might be more interesting to you. If not, that’s okay to. There are a bunch of books out there for a reason. We don’t have to like them all. Better luck with the next one. 🙂
Nalini Singh is one of those authors I’m still kicking myself for not reading yet. I’m still playing UF/PNR catch up and haven’t made it to her yet, but I’m glad this series is still delivering 🙂
Well, I wish I could help you pick which of her series to start with. I love them both. She is one of the great ones, that is for sure. I hope you are able to start at least one soon. 🙂