PER.FEC.TION

Okay, call me exaggerated, but well, the last Guild Hunter book I read was in 2022! For me, Guild Hunter is one of my favorite series that I still read when there's so many new books released. Elena and Raphael will always be one of my favorite power couple and reading Archangel's Lineage is akin to meet an old friend and ask them "hey, how do you do??". 

I know that Elena and Raphael can be so lovey dovey and their love declaration feels sappy, but heh, I need sappy. I need their romance! After the war with the Creepiness Lijuan in Archangel's War, three books that follow mostly feels like filler for me. More like dealing with the aftermath of the Cascade of Death. We got the pairing that "welp, I don't see that coming" in form of Titus and Sharine. We got the pairing that most fans want who are Illium and Aodhan, but for me their story can be delivered better rather than make them like kindergarten child and throwing a woman in the mix (did we need that???). We got that pairing that is so toxic from the get go, Alexander and Zanaya. I think, that's enough. I need my Elena and Raphael's fix. They are the bread and butter of this series, the core. And I'm glad that Nalini didn't disappoint with Archangel's Lineage

I know that in my initial response, I make a joke about this one with mention about Lijuan. But, don't fret, there's no trace of Lijuan other than only mentioning here and there. Nalini also show that Lijuan's crimes was so severe that vampires and angels alike tend to don't want to speak her name. At all. Kinda like Voldemort with his "you-know-who" moniker. Just like another Elena-Raphael's book, major events also happen in Archangel's Lineage. The war is ending and the time flash forward to 15 years later. But, The Refuge's protective shield is falling, Qin abandon his duty as archangel because he can't fathom to be apart from his beloved,Cassandra; The Cadre is now just 8 and they need another Archangel to hold Qin's territory, the mark of the Legion in Raphael's temple suddenly blazing and to make matter worse, Jeffrey just got heart attack and in the verge of death.

For me, Archangel's Lineage tied up some loose end strings. The continuous fight between Elena and Jeffrey finally come to an end, with maybe nearing death Jeffrey change his mind therefore giving chance for father and daughter to mend their relationship. Nalini also further mend Elena's relationship with both her stepmother, Gwendolyn, and her stepsiblings, Amy. I think this book is all about wound mended. Not all wound will heal fully, but at least Elena finally take step forward to let go of her grief and also her anger toward Marguerite's decision to suicide, therefore put a nail in the coffin that is broken relationship between Elena and Jeffrey. I know that the "drip, drip, drip" part might be annoying, but it also show that some nightmare was difficult to disappear. Elena know that and she must live with that for eternity. What I also like is how Nalini portray the price of the immortality and eternity. Lineage show that Elena is now in her 45-ish but her appearance is still the same when she first become angel in Archangel's Kiss. While her sister, Beth already in middle age and also her best friend, Sara. How Elena must face that in the future, her mortal family with long gone. It adding some melancholy feeling to this book, together with how finally Jeffrey and Elena become father and daughter again.

I'm glad there's no talk about baby, lel. The lineage itself come from Raphael and the new archangel that also have connection to the Legion. After 16 books, Nalini finally try to explain the origin of the angelkind although she still not revealed it fully. For certain, they are not alien from space, explained by Raphael's embarrassing moment when he and Uram try to fly to the moon and failed (and begged for Jessamy to not record his young stupidity). The mechanic behind the Refuge's shield also explain, BUT, the origin of angelkind some of it still shrouded in mystery. I don't know for certain if they are will be explained at all.

I have a guts that Archangel's Lineage may be the final arc of Elena and Raphael story, BUT, NOOOO, I WANT MORE OF THEM, sobs. I don't know who the next will be featured if Nalini write about Guild Hunter again. Maybe Vivek with his lady vampire, Katrina. Maybe Andreas with his lady vampire (see a pattern here?). I just hope if there's any future Guild Hunter books, Nalini will again feature my favorite couple!