Archangel’s Ascension (Guild Hunter #17) by Nalini Singh

I carefully planned my December reading to ensure Archangel’s Ascension would be my first book of 2026. It was worth doing a very speedy reread of books 1 to 16 to end up with Illium and Aodhan on the 1st January!

I’m using this for a fated mates prompt in Romaceopoly 2026, and even though it doesn’t explicably say that Illium and Aodhan are fated mates, it’s strongly implied. In fact Keir pretty much comes right out and says it, and Keir is to be trusted in all things!!

“Our healer refers to him as my heart’s mirror, and I as his.”

So here is the thing, I 100% expected this book to make me cry, but I just didn’t expect it to do the number on me it did. I was an absolute mess, and not all of it had to do with Illium’s dreaded ascension.

We begin with said ascension 700 or so years from where we left off in Archangel’s Lineage, but then we hurtle back to Illium’s return to New York at the end of Archangel’s Light where we get to see Illium and Aodhan become a proper couple. Archangel’s Light was about them realising they were more than best friends. Archangel’s Ascension was showing us how that would look, and watching them build an unbreakable bond!

“You became this so I’d never be alone on the battlefield. Your body is an act of love, Adi. Don’t you ever forget that.”

One of the things I particularly enjoyed about this book though was the importance put on healing, and showing us that it’s not linear, and it’s not instant, in the case of the characters in this world it can take hundreds of years for them to fully heal. Aodhan is the perfect example of that, but so to was Illium. As was Laric, Lailah, and Vivek!

I enjoyed getting to see everyone so far into the future, of course that meant that some favourites are no longer with us, but there were a few surprise immortals that took the sting out of that particular pain though. Doesn’t mean I didn’t bawl!!

The next book, Archangel’s Eternity is slated to be the last book in this series. Even though I’m sad to see the end of some amazing characters, I do think it’s time to close this chapter. What I’m hoping though, is that like Psy-Changeling, Nalini Singh will give us a ‘second season’ with emphasis on newer characters. I think we are set up for such an off-shoot with this book and a new Archangel’s court, BUT we still have the last book to go which I believe is set around 300 years or so from the end of this one. I mean that’s still a new court in this world so it’s possible?!!

“I see a dazzling horizon for you, Illium, a life extraordinary. As long as you’re not stupid enough to be derailed by old anger.”

Whatever happens though, this series will always be one of my comfort rereads. I started this series about 15 years ago and have looked forward to each and every new release, Nalini Singh really is my PNR queen! 😀

Synopsis:

Aodhan and Illium. Adi and Blue. Sparkle and Bluebell. Friends become lovers, their future a wild unknown.

 Finally reunited in New York, they must now learn to navigate the monumental shift in their relationship. But for these two members of Archangel Raphael’s legendary Seven, there is no time to rest. As they investigate a case for the Tower that echoes the darkness from Aodhan’s past, they will be forced to confront not only the scars that mark them both, but the promise of a vast power that flickers in Illium.

 The threat of ascension has haunted and troubled Aodhan’s Blue for too long, the forces of change immutable and without mercy…and uncaring of Illium’s fierce wish to remain part of the Seven. Change is a constant in an immortal’s life, and this new horizon will bring with it both terrible heartbreak and a joy extraordinary enough to reverberate through time…