Archangel's Shadows Nalini Singh

Archangel's Shadows
Nalini Singh
Publisher: Berkley - Jove Books
Date: 2014
Format:  Paperback
Pages: 361
Genre: Paranormal
Source: own book

In the wake of a brutal war, the archangel Raphael and his hunter consort, Elena, are dealing with the treacherously shifting tides of archangelic politics and the people of a battered but not broken city. The last thing their city needs is more death, especially a death that bears the eerie signature of an insane enemy archangel who cannot — should not —be walking the streets.

This hunt must be undertaken with stealth and without alerting their people. It must be handled by those who can become shadows themselves…

Ash is a gifted tracker and a woman cursed with the ability to sense the secrets of anyone she touches. But there’s one man she knows all too well without a single instant of skin contact: Janvier, the dangerously sexy Cajun vampire who has fascinated and infuriated her for years. Now, as they track down a merciless killer, their cat-and-mouse game of flirtation and provocation has turned into a profound one of the heart. And this time, it is Ash’s secret, dark and terrible, that threatens to destroy them both.

Archangel's Shadows is #7 in the Guild Hunters series.  This is mainly the story of Ash and Janvier. Ash is a guild hunter and Janvier is a vampire working for the Tower.  Evidently their story began back in a novella, however I hadn't read that but there were enough references to it to give me the drift. I might back track to it at some time.  This story is set in Manhattan as the city recovers from the huge battle that took place in the previous book.  Many are still severely wounded, yet something evil is at work in the city.

While this book involves Ash and Janvier tracking down some ghastly and sadistic criminals, it also gives us a look into Raphael and Elena and I never complain about that.  Elena is preparing to throw a block party and unexpectedly has a little encounter with Caliane - Raphael's mother.  

There is time for some of the other hunters and vampires and angels as well.  Naasir is a vampire, who works well with Janvier and Ashwini on operations.  He is somehow different, with some aspects of him like the changelings of the other series by Nalini Singh. I think it won't be long before we are reading his own story.

Ashwini has skill, compassion and tenacity in her work. She reminded me a little of Eve Dallas of the In Death series - determined to bring justice for those victims who no longer live because of evil. Ash has a secret that hangs over her, that could destroy her eventually.  The logical solution to her and Janvier's romance would be for Ash to be 'made' into a vampire - but she is against it.  Janvier is prepared to love her in the 'now', but he really would love to have that stretch on. So... what possibility lies open to them?

Another amazing read in this series.