Archangel's Ascension

Ahh, why does this read like the last book in the series? Maybe it is? It wouldn’t be surprising, given how long this series has gone on.

But of all the ways this series could end, ending it on what is essentially Part 2 of Illium and Aodhan’s romance is probably one of the best ways to do it. There was a tentative beginning to them in Archangel’s Light, but between all the things that were happening in that book, both to them as people and to the world at large, there really wasn’t a lot of time for them to REALLY get into the healing process, especially Aodhan.

Fortunately, this book expands on that, showing how the events of previous books have affected the two main characters, both as individuals and as a couple. The story delves into the growth of their relationship, and how it has affected not only themselves, but the people around them - and, of course, the future. Everyone gets the ending they deserve, but this novel has a certain kind of bittersweetness to it because it’s a reminder that all of Raphael’s Seven (and Raphael himself) have survived, and are all happily settled.

Readers who have followed this series know of the kind of trauma Aodhan has faced, as well as Illium’s own troubles, and will probably have wondered how those issues will rear their ugly heads, and how that will affect their relationship. Well, in this novel those issues DO come up, but more importantly, the trust and love that Illium and Aodhan have in each other ensures that said issues do NOT damage their relationship in any way. It’s not an EASY road to take, and most of the characters who appear in this novel all agree that it is NEVER going to be easy, but what matters is that Illium and Aodhan have each other’s backs, no matter what. Romantic love doesn’t fix everything, but it certainly goes a long way towards helping someone heal.

Overall, this was a lovely way to conclude Blue and Adi’s arc: a love story that was pretty long in the making of the series. And with the conclusion of their story concludes (to some degree) the story of Raphael and his Seven. While there have been books in the series that have explored the stories of other vampires, angels, and archangels outside of Raphael and his confidantes, this book can pretty much be considered an end to the series as a whole. If more books come out, then they will be a bonus; either way, this entire series was a wonderful ride, and it’ll definitely be one of those I reread when I feel the urge to revisit the characters and the world.