Archangel's Assassin

by Barbara Elsborg

He wants to forget.

West is an archangel’s assassin delivering justice to supernatural creatures who break the law. Not a straightforward job because he also has to absorb the memories of those he kills. Even worse, West is breaking the law himself in an attempt to free his brother from hell. If he doesn’t succeed before his archangel boss finds out, West will be joining his sibling.

He wants to remember

A young guy wakes in a London park with his memories gone. He has no idea who he is, or where he comes from. A bracelet engraved with the single word Tao is the only clue to his identity. With no sign of his memory returning, he drifts into a life on the streets. Begging is his only way to survive.

Two worlds collide

When Tao returns West’s stolen wallet, West offers to buy him a coffee. Tao delights in the chance to sit down with a good-looking guy until his instincts tell him to run away. Fast. West is surprised when Tao flees, considering how much he’d been mentally urging him to stay. Is he losing his touch or is Tao more than a scruffy young man down on his luck?

Only one way to find out.

Genres: Paranormal, M M Romance, Fantasy, Romance, Angels, Contemporary, Magic

209 pages, ebook

First published November 28, 2017

About the author

Barbara Elsborg lives in Kent in the south of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her. Volcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide.

After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop.

Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are as much fun to read as they are to write.

Reviews

[Wendys Wycked Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one does Angels, Demons, Vampires and Faeries like Barbara Elsborg does. I am a huge fan of her PNR books and "Bloodline" and "Dirty Angel" are definitely two of my all time favorites. So of course I was jumping for joy, when I found out she was publising another PNR.



A couple of pages into this book, and I was no longer jumping for joy, but crying big fat tears....



I should have known, because even though this author has the ability to make me laugh my ass off....she also always makes me cry my eyes out !! One minute your laughing and thinking how much fun the characters are, and the next you are overwelmed with emotions !! I love how she does that, which is one of the reasons I am such a big fan ;)



This book is about West, who is an Archangel’s Assassin to non other than Raphael. I did a little fangirl dance when I got to that part, since I am a huge sucker for Archangels :P

West's job is to assassinate the supernaturals that break the law, but only when Raphael orders him to do so. This is where West is scewing up his job, because he has been playing executor without Raphaels consent. There is a reason for him doing so though...and that reason involves trying to safe his brother...



Tao, wakes up in a park one day, without any memory whatsoever. He doesn't know who he is is or where he came from. He has a bracelet with the name Tao, but that's all he has. So Tao does what he has to, to survive. He starts begging....



Tao still hopes his memory will come back to him, but the more days go by...the more he loses hope. That is until he saves West from being robbed.... For some reason Tao feels this extreme pull towards West, and he just knows that he needs to be with him....even when West is doing his "biggest asshole" impression.

West is very attracted to Tao, but he also knows, that them being together is not an option. For one...West isn't even alive !! Tao doesn't know West is an angel...and to make things worse, Tao doesn't even know who he is himself ! Some sexy-time is all he can offer Tao... And they sure have some very HOT sexytimes !!!

"Fuck me against the glass while I look at the stars". 



But after spending more and more time together, West can't just let Tao go... What is it about Tao, that makes West feel so good inside... One thing is becoming very clear though...it doesn't seem that Tao is quite human himself....



These two start falling deeper and deeper for each other, but some things......are just not meant to be....

I absolutely loved this one !! It was just as good as I expected it to be. I laughed, I cried...I fanned myself during the sexy times...and I closed the book with a huge smile on my face !! There is only one thing left for me to do, and that is BEG Barbara Elsborg to write another book with an Archangel as MC...or a fallen one, like Dante (I loved that guy !!)  :P

I highly recommend this one to everyone who loves PNR books, and I hope there will be many more to come !!

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5




I don't read that many PNR stories but Barbara Elsborg is one of my favourite Authors in this Genre.I love how she mixes it up with stories set in the present day combined with Mystical elements.


Tao (who I adored),wakes up in London with no memory of how he got there or who he is.The only indication of anything from his life is the bracelet he's wearing with 'Tao' written on it.

-he doesn't want to beg....but he has to in order to survive,

-he's confused and frightened but still has a sense of what's right and what's wrong,

-when he sees a man's wallet being stolen,he steps in......was the encounter just the right thing to do or fate?

Hints are given from the beginning that Tao might not be all he appears to be.


West is an Archangel's Assassin-not by choice but he does take some joy in killing where it is justified,where the person or persons have committed a heinous crime....but he's jaded.Not only that but he's also desperately trying to free his brother from Hell,working for a demon.
He's moody and grumpy(and just a bit delicious),he's never really let anyone get too close....but are his defences about to be tested by a man living on the streets?


This one ticked a lot of boxes for me,


-I love Barbara Elsborg's writing.

-the banter between her characters is always a winner,

-it's set in London,which is always a plus for me,

-the sex scenes are just a little bit desperate and totally hot,

-the pnr element worked really well here,

-and,of course,my darling Tao....could he be more adorable?I loved the Mystery surrounding him and really West never really stood a chance....

A recommended read.




An Arc of Archangel's Assassin was kindly provided by the Author to DirtyBooksObsession,in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Barbara Elsborg, and I always think she is underrated as an author. Her stories are a consistent mix of good characterizations, witty banter, and angst, and while she can veer a little heavy for me at times, when she delivers I'm always impressed.

Archangel's Assassin was a very good paranormal romance right in Barbara Elsborg's wheelhouse. I really love her paranormal stuff, and this one was no different.

I have a soft spot for an amnesia story, and I thought it fit very well here. I enjoyed trying to figure out who Tao was and what his backstory could possibly be. There was a little bit of mystery and a little bit (okay, a fair amount) of angst, but it wasn't ever too much for me.

What always wins me over about Barbara Elsborg's characters is their dialogue. I think her dialogue is just so snappy and witty, and that's where she shines. I loved how the two MCs interacted, and when they were matching wits, I was very pleased!

I think there were some issues with the rushed-feeling ending and the pacing, and the sometimes hot/cold dynamic of the relationship between the two MCs, but I was really happy with Archangel's Assassin. I think fans of Bloodline and Dirty Angel will find this one to be right up their alley.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

[Tanu Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, I’ve reached the conclusion that no MM written by Barbara Elsborg can ever go unliked by me. Contrarily, I end up devouring them, marking and then forgetting about typos, getting extremely invested in the plot, laughing and crying along with the main characters, cheering them on to fight the villains, cursing the negative characters so they could be killed by my scorn alone, chuckling during all conversations (which probably makes me come across as an insane person), and then loving the sweet endings which brings together every scattered facet and wraps the story up nicely with a beautiful bow...

I love the author, I love all her characters, I love her imagination, I love her witty and snarky sense of humour, I love her stories, and I promise I will not stalk the author.

Love you, Tao and West! ❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍

[Nazanin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Told in dual POV, 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel and angsty. I liked Tao, mostly his dry sense of humor, and my liking of the book ends just there! This was my second read by this author and like the other one it wasn’t really enjoyable for me. Maybe it’s just me, maybe the author’s writing is not for me, maybe I should accept that Angel/Demon’s stories are not for me, maybe it was because the pacing was not right for me… I don’t know but I know that it was meh and after 70% I started skipping. Overall, it was an OK read and hope you enjoy it more than me!

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

~3.5~

I love Elsborg's paranormal books and highly recommend the following, which also deal with angels and demons:







I was SO excited to read Archangel's Assassin, but I have mixed feelings about the story. The first couple chapters dragged for me, particularly the sections from West's POV. There was a lot of exposition, although Elsborg did a good job not giving too much away. We're allowed to discover West's world, his job, his obligations.

Likewise, we are thrown headfirst into the mystery surrounding Tao's identity. Tao wakes up naked and alone in a London park with no memory of how he got there or who he is. When he stops West's wallet from being stolen (not that West actually needs help), Tao feels a strong connection toward the broody, sarcastic man who buys him a cup of coffee as a thank you.

Once West and Tao meet, the story moves along at a brisk pace, at least during the moments West and Tao stop fucking long enough to talk. Or eat.

West is kind of a bastard. He knows it. Tao knows it. But Tao also sees West's true face, not the one he projects to the world. Tao wants a connection. He wants kisses and cuddles. And West isn't immune to Tao's charms, even though he's also suspicious of Tao's motives and isn't convinced Tao is telling the truth about his memory loss.

Unfortunately, the story lost some of its oomph for me after Tao's identity was revealed. The entire atmosphere of the narrative shifted.

Initially, the story is violent and bloody. Various murders and torture scenes are described in gory detail. After all, West is an archangel's assassin (oxymoron much?). But once Tao and West escape (demons certainly can't be trusted, but angels have agendas too), it's all love and sacrifices and weirdly incongruous banter.

I wasn't sure what the book wanted to be: a tragedy or a comedy? There is some dark humor here and sex at the most inappropriate times.

Example 1: A demon is getting stabbed with a gargoyle's amputated finger. Funny or horrifying?

Example 2: We're going to die, but let me suck your cock first. Hot or fucked up?

Oy vey! Je me sens déchiré. O co tu chodzi? (I'm so conflicted, I can't keep my languages straight.)

The ending is at once brutal and shockingly happy. I have to admit I got teary eyed when West had to do the unthinkable, and again when the lonely angel found his way back.

"I love you . . . Nothing else matters. Nothing can take that away. Whatever happens I want you to remember that I love you. You will always be loved."

[☆ Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading 4 other Elsborg contemporary stories, all being either 4 or 5 star reads, I was really excited to read one of her paranormal books.

I loved getting to know Tao, a mid-twenties homeless man who had woken up two months prior with no memories of his past. In spite of his dire circumstances, he was still an upbeat and hopeful character.

And upon meeting West and learning how he'd gone from being a sharp shooter in the military, then dying, only to become an assassin for the archangel Raphael, I was immediately hooked and invested in his story.

The two meet when Tao foils an attempt to steal West's wallet, earning Tao a spot on his Romanian squat mates shit list, leading to a brutal bout of retribution and subsequent rescue by West.

West initially only wanted to sleep with Tao, but as Tao tried to make himself useful around the flat, West couldn't quite seem to bring himself to toss Tao out, once West had gotten what he first wanted. (And yes, the sex was steamy and abundant, but I wanted to *kill* West after their first time.)

Then Tao, who was supposedly human, began doing small feats of magic, which led several of the book's characters to the main question of the story.

"What are you?"

The story was tight and extremely compelling; however, when the mystery of Tao's lineage and family history finally began to untangle, the book also began to unravel a bit for me.

Once Tao and West journeyed from the human plane to "the other place" (not saying where, because spoilers), it felt as if I was reading an entirely different book, so my enjoyment began to diminish substantially.

I wasn't the biggest fan of the fairly-predictable "Luke, I am your father" moment and liked the resulting task given to West even less. I did get the why behind it, but I still wasn't a fan.

Then once the separation was over, the events that followed were so sugary sweet and sappy that, again, it felt like and entirely different book. Again.

Of the reviews already out, I seem to be the only reader who's had an issue with any of this so far, so maybe I was in an odd mood while reading the story, but the shifts in the story simply didn't work for me.

I'd still rate this book at around 3.5 stars, because I did enjoy it, especially the parts with Carson, the ghost who wouldn't leave, but I did have a few problems with this one.

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My ARC copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.

See All My Latest Reads (Review Quick-Links)

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[Jewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Archangel's Assassin was almost perfect. I do love Barbara Elsborg's paranormal novels. I like her mix of fairies, demons, and angels and her storytelling is so engaging, I could hardly put this one down.

West is an assassin, working for the Archangel Raphael. West is kind of bitter, but does his job because he's good at killing and and it gives his anger an outlet. Besides, it's better than being in Hell, right? He was a Special Forces sniper, when he was alive and in the military, and he killed whom he was told and learned to live with it, or at least that's what he told himself. Personally, I have my doubts. I think he just didn't let himself think about it. West doesn't think he's a good guy. He feels like he let his mother down and he feels like he failed his brother. Which is why he's moonlighting for the demon that promised to release his brother from Hell, if only he delivers enough souls. Ah, West...

Tao doesn't know who he is. He remembers nothing past two months ago when he awakened on a park bench. His only clue as to what his name was was a bracelet with "Tao" engraved on it. It's close enough to a name, anyway, so he took it. Living rough is hard when your soul isn't tough. Tao just wants to live and be happy. Begging for money is soul-sucking and so he only does what he must. But there is more to Tao than what you see. He knows pretty much any flower by name (including the Latin), and he can occasionally make things appear.

After a bit of a rocky start to their relationship, I really loved their romance. In fact, my only real niggle with this story is that there was a while there when I didn't much like West. He ran hot and cold and the first time he had sex with Tao, it was cold. I did not like that, at all. Tao is so happy and sweet, he deserves more than that.

West was trying to protect his heart, though, and he felt like he didn't deserve to be happy, so it took time for Tao to chip away at the wall around West's heart. And when he did -- I loved West. Because, you see, he is a good guy who would sacrifice himself for those he loves, and Tao sees it.

I enjoyed watching the story unfold, too, and finding out who Tao really is and seeing West grow as a person. And though their separation gutted me just a little, I was glad that it never felt contrived. Plus, they do get their glorious happy ever after...after that separation ended.

Archangel's Assassin reminded me why I enjoy this author's work. She does paranormal just right.




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ARC of Archangel's Assassin was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.

[Christelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not usually a fan of PNR, but with Barbara Elsborg, it works. Yes, I'm a fan of this author.

West, a snipper in his former life, now works for Raphael as his archangel’s assassin, executing all the supernatural creatures who break the law. But his afterlife is dark : all these killings make him feel unlovable, he is desperate to find a way to free his brother from Hell and on top of that, he has a nagging feeling he’s being dragged into an evil conspiracy. In a nutshell, he’s cold and suspicious.
Until he starts acting uncharacteristically after meeting Tao.

Tao is so different from West. For the past two months, Tao has been struggling : no more memories of who he is, leaving him with no job and no home, ashamed to beg but not enough to do anything wrong to survive. But his hope for a bright and happy future is fading. Until he meets West, the only person who offers him a hand, even though he keeps his barriers very high.

A fateful encounter that brings out suspicions, questioning, hope, disappointment, lust, revelations, sacrifices, but leads to a sugary HEA, love and family.

What I enjoyed :
* The plot is entertaining and fast-paced, with a mix of angels, demons, faeries, gargoyles and vampires. That world, the different conspiracies, the quest for Tao’s identity, and what he is, gripped me.
* The setting is in London with references to many spots I love : Covent Garden, Fleet street, the British Museum, Greenwich, Hyde Park,…
* I loved Tao and West, so different, but so meant for each other, their banter, their steamy moments and how West surrendered, not without reluctance, to Tao and his “light”.

Not as good as Dirty Angel, but still, like Wendy said in her review : bring on a story about Dante, I’m ready !!

**THANK YOU, dear Sexy elf, aka Judith, for this brilliant and generous idea of gifting me this book <3**

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this author's writing, she has the knack of drawing me into the story from word one and she definitely did that here.

I loved Tao, despite everything he was up against he remained true to himself and others without even knowing he was doing it. Unfortunately I'm not a West fan, he was downright nasty to Tao at times which kind of took the shine off the book. 😞

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 Stars!!!



I was not expecting to feel how I felt reading this - by which I mean absolutely loving this book. I thought I would like it it a lot at best, because the one other book by this author I read I liked but didn't love - but DAMN did I love this!

I only gave off .25 of a star because of the slow beginning - it takes until around 30% - for me at least - for this to start to pick up. And it wasn't like the first 30% of the book was bad, it was just slow because of all the world building, because this is a world with supernatural creatures and our MC's aren't human, so there's that element to it, so things had to be explained and set up. So it took me awhile to just full steam ahead while reading this. That's my only real gripe, if you could call it that.

Otherwise I fucking loved this okay? This book managed to pull at my heartstrings - and I actually fucking cried at the end, okay! - but don't worry, there IS a happy ending, because this is a supernatural world and what would be the end by them dying is not really an end. West is already dead at the start of this, and shit happens and I was like "PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE THE END!" but thank fuck it works out and we do get our happy ending. Just expect possible tears - or at least sadness near the end because like! BITCH!.

But ohhhh god, the sad thing that happens at the end doesn't last and when West and Tao see each other again it is the most beautiful thing and so sweet and their love just made my heart pound and just made me melt.

I loved Tao - he is like so fucking pure and sweet and kind - but I also love how Elsborg didn't make him completely perfect haha - actually there were times where he was so human even though he isn't really a human. My god, what a sweetie pie, and how he was able to affect West...

West! I loved him too. He, imo, went through the biggest transformation in this book. He starts out fairly mean and grouchy, always with a dark cloud on this head - understandable, with what he is going through - but then he meets Tao and Tao changes him (not that he tries to change West at all, he just does, with his happy spirit, his kindness and his determination) and it made me so happy to where West was at the end of the book vs how he was at the beginning.

I loved how this was written - how I thought one thing and was wrong, but then when I figured out another thing, something else came up that I was so NOT expecting and then I was like "ohhhh I should have totally seen that!" It's my favorite thing when a book manages to surprise me at almost every turn and after the big reveals it seems obvious but when you're first reading it you just don't catch it.

So mannyyy things I was like "huh...I wonder what will happen - will this be what happens?" and then nope, it was something completely different.

There is one cringe-y sex scene in this, but I don't think it detracted from the book because it all had to do with our MC's characterizations. Why did West treat their first time like it was so emotionless? We get to see why afterward, the shit that's going on his head, how broken he is and what he was trying to do. And how Tao didn't just give up on West after, he didn't just take West trying to push him away lying down.

After the sex gets sooo much better and passionate but yeah, just know the first time doesn't go the way we want it too. I would say it is slightly dub-con as well, because Tao pretty soon after it starts isn't enjoying it. That's what makes it uncomfortable and a little cringe worthy. I don't know how others will feel about it, but it bummed me out and made me uncomfortable. But it thankfully just gets better and better between them.

I loved all the twists and surprises in this novel, all the emotions it evoked, I definitely recommend this because after the slow start, it just sucks you right in and I just had to know what happened from one page to the next.

[Trio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Elsborg writes such interesting stories! Her paranormal world is fascinating - well developed, with so many unique and unexpected aspects. I'll never get tired of reading these wonderful books.

The characters are marvelous. Witty dialogue, tremendous chemistry, and scorching physical romance. Marvelous!

[Dimitri · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED IT

I fucking loved this and I stan Tao!! He was so loving and sweet and so freaking forceful!! Here is a man I can get behind. I am a firm believer that the one who can forgive and love with all their heart is the wisest one and the strongest one. Tao really does hold the proverbial "pants" in this realationship and I was LIVING FOR IT. Big strong West was wrapped around his finger. NO DOORMATS OVER HERE GUYS just a dude (Tao) who is ready to make his man (West) see the light (lol) and realize that he is his and the one for him. Favorite part of the book:

TAO: I always love these types of characters but RARELY can an author get them down. You know the sensitive one who is all about their man and working for it but not a doormat? Most people can not do it and just end up writing a freaking doormat. But Tao was anything but! He didn't take West's shit and just tried to convince West to let Tao love him. I like to think of this elusive character as the Beyonce character from 'Hold Up". In that song Beyonce tells her man upfront:

"HOLD UP THEY DON'T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOU.... CAN'T YOU SEE THERE IS NO OTHER MAN ABOVE YOU WHAT A WICKED WAY TO TREAT THE GIRL THAT LOVES YOU".

I love using Beyonce's song because it is a vulnerable but powerful song at the same time. She is admitting how much love she has for this man and how gone she is but HE BETTER FUCKING REALIZE IT AND GET HIS HEAD OUT OF HIS ASS!! Everybody take notes!!! You can write a sensitve and loving hero just make him know his WORTH and be a boss at it!

DEFINITELY RECOMMEND

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!

I liked this one okay, but it wasn't my favorite Barbara Elsborg.

I found this one to be a bit slow and boring. I was never really engaged or connected. And I found some of the dialogue on the cheesy side.

That aside, this one had some of BE's trademark banter along with some nice steam.

I just wasn't hooked like I normally am and found myself putting the book down to do other things. I even skimmed some towards the end.

[Sanaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars.

So I've seen quite a few of my Goodreads friends read this book and I was instantly intrigued. It was about an archangel assassin and about a man who's lost his memory. Also, this was my first book by Barbara so I was like sign me up.

I don't know what I was expecting but it was not that. Because it turned out to be surprisingly really good!

I'm not going to give you a summary of the book (you can read the blurb for that lol) but I will say that Barbara has the ability to make me feel so many emotions. I was laughing one second, angry the next, crying the other time.

And that ending. GAH!!!! I did not see that coming at all!!!! My heart broke for West and Tao. Especially West. Also the fact that I might have shed a tear or two. Maybe lol But their story does end in a HEA! So yay!

[Simona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Prepare yourself for an incredibile journey!

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

Disappointed in the author’s religious arrogance. Or perhaps ignorance?

“Heaven and hell are not part of our mythology,” Kailen said. “There is no Christ figure.”

Uh, what about the Babylonians? Or the Jews? Or the Muslims? The concept of heaven and hell did not originate with Christianity.

Oh anyway, when an author rattles the bars of her Christian cage...I just have to move along.

EDIT: The author and I had a brief online conversation in which I learned she is not a cage-rattling Christian. :::relief::: Quite a lovely lady. But I still maintain the quote from the book sends the wrong message and is, in fact, incorrect. I bumped my rating up to 3.25 stars because it was a really interesting story. Still too much sex. :) I recommend it to fans of angels/demons stories.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I've read any of this author's books before, but it's probably a good time to check them out, since I enjoyed this one so much. The writing is great and the banter is top notch, so I have a feeling I'll like her other books.

I really enjoyed this story about the broody archangel's assassin, West, and his charming beloved, Tao. They are lovely characters. West, with his tragic past and difficult "job", and Tao, who doesn't remember anything from before he woke up two months ago.

But if you asked me who my favorite one is? Definitely Tao. I loved this delightful character to pieces, I just wanted to give him a big hug.



West and Tao were awesome together, their banter was a killer and their sexy times were delicious. I also loved the world building, with the angels, demons, werewolfs, ghosts...and even gargoyles. It was all well explained and believable (as much as PNR can be believable). The mystery around Tao's true identity was also very well done, it felt suspenseful and intriguing, I was dying to know who he was.

Actually, the entire story is almost perfect, but what didn't work for me and made me take down a star was the weird ending...



Now, I'm not saying that the story didn't end happily, because it did, it just that the way it was written was so different from the rest of the story. It was so overly sweet and sugary, I just don't understand what happened there. Especially after that gut-wrenching scene near the end, I really didn't expect all that sweetness, the tone shift caught me off guard.

However, I did enjoy the story and it's MCs and truly think that their HEA was well deserved. So I definitely recommend this book to PNR fans, or just for those who feel like reading PNR sometimes (like me), I believe you'll enjoy this a lot.

[Laxmama · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS, Another winner from Barbara Elsborg. I am soooo picky when it comes to reading a paranormal story - I find her books have just the right something for me, not too much over the top to make it believable yet enjoyable. And again in this one I loved both MC's, TAO was so special I could not help falling for him and West, figuring out their world and what was going on while they got to know each other made a great story. LOVE her books.

[M'rella · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Jenny - TotallybookedBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 fabulous stars!

“As an archangel’s assassin, you are on the side of right. Every life you end, should be by my command. You do not get to choose who lives and who dies.”
“I know.”
“That is my burden.”

Not only do we absolutely love Barbara Elsborg; her writing and her excellent dry sense of humour, but we are also huge fans of paranormal stories, specifically Angels and Fae. Archangel’s Assassin was brilliant. It was so well written, addictive, suspenseful, sweet and very sexy. We loved it and just couldn’t put it down. We were riveted! This author is so underrated as she never fails to deliver a fabulously engaging story.

‘Tao tried not to wallow in self-pity but sometimes it was hard not to. Having a friend to talk to would make a big difference, someone to help him try to find out who he was. Loneliness was his only friend. How clichéd was that?’

In typical Barbara Elsborg fashion we found one of her male characters –Tao- to be a sweet endearing, childlike, hopeful and wonderfully emotional and passionate character. Trademark Elsborg. Yet despite this, he shows real strength and compassion. Tao wakes up in Hyde Park remembering nothing from his past nor does he have any memory of who he is. He cuts a lonely and hard done by character until faced with an intense attraction and a growing confidence in who he is. This welcome change when he meets the mysterious West.

‘West was so awash with emotions, drowning in hateful memories, that it was crushing his spirit, breaking his heart. Tao had love to give and West needed love. They could help each other. Tao just had to make him see that.’

West is an enigmatic character who Tao just cannot stop thinking about. When he’s with him magical things happen which takes them both by surprise. Their paths meet under horrible circumstances, which broke our hearts. West is on a mission and no one gets in his way.

“Having no memory has forced me to live in the moment, take what I can get and make the best of it that I can. I want to enjoy life.”

This story was full of twists and turns, swoony romance, heat, angels and demons written in a humorous yet emotional style that we come to love and expect from Barbara Elsborg. We HIGHLY recommend Archangel’s Assassin to readers who love paranormal and mm. You will fall in book love!

ARCHANGEL'S ASSASSIN is available to purchase below
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[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect! This is one of the best paranormal romances I’ve ever read! The connection between West and Tao is tangible from the first moment they met. West has become hardened from the job he’s assigned to, and the author makes his misery jump off the page, but Tao changes everything.

Tao has no memory past two months previous when he woke up in a park with a bracelet and no other clues. When he helps West, he puts himself in danger. As the story moves along, which I couldn’t put down, Tao’s goodness starts to change everyone, including West.

The story developed in a way the was unpredictable but intriguing. The character arc of West is the best one I’ve read in a long while. He’s working for two bosses who are at the opposite end of the spectrum and on top of dealing with the loss of his brother. I don’t want to give anything away because the story is truly original, but this is worth the read!

The book flows along really well and when I reached the end, I was sad to be pulled from West and Tao’s world. Truly spectacular!!!

[.Lili. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read Paranormal too often, but when the mood strikes Barbara Elsborg is one of my go tos. Her writing is smooth and effortless, and her stories always keep me engaged. Archangel's Assasin is about a man trying to find out who he is and an angel who can't stop himself from falling for him.

Highlights:

-Banter. This author has some excellent dialogue. Her characters' interactions never seize to amuse me.

-Mystery. Mysteries can sometimes make my eyes gloss over with boredom, but in this case, it kept me intrigued.

-Push and pull. There was delicious sexual tension between our two main characters.

-Chemistry, you could feel it on every page.

-Amnesia. It's not a storyline I come across often but when I do I get sucked right in.

All in all, I think this was a fantastic PNR story Ms. Elsborg delivered. HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. 4 Stars.

[Ky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's start with a little tip. If you start reading this book and the story can't hold your attention please don't give up. It took a while for me to get into the story and to care about what happened to the characters but after the 40% mark I couldn't put the book down.

The world building is a bit slow and it takes a while to fully understand what's happening. The story takes place in a world like ours but with supernatural elements in it that most humans aren't aware of. The explanation of how this world worked took a while to develop fully and there were a lot of things that happened and at the time didn't make any sense. It was confusing at first trying to understand how this society worked but with time eveything fell into place. If you have the patience to give this story a chance you're going to be swept away in a world of magic. In a reality where there are angels, demons, vampires, shifters and gargoyles. There are portals that can transport you from one place to another. There are different realms and there are faeries. There is evil and there is good.

The characters traveled between realms though the majority of the book was spent on Earth and specifically in London. Magic plays an important part in this story and everything has something to do with it. There is a fair amount of mystery as Tao didn't know anything about himself for a big part of the book. We got clues about who or what he is and in part it was easy to guess at least some of the truth. Still, the surprises kept coming and I kept turning the pages to see what new thing would be revealed next.

The first half or so of the book is pretty slow but the rest is packed with fast-paced action that will keep your attention. The last chapter absolutely broke me and since this is a paranormal book I really couldn't guess what the author would come up with next to make everything all right again.

Tao was sweet and nice from the start. He was a likeable character and he stayed like that till the end. He had a big heart and saw the good in everyone. West transformed through the story. He started as a cold-hearted loner, he was harsh and distant from everyone. After he met Tao this facade started to crumble and he showed his true self. The banter between those two was amusing and they both had a unique sense of humor. It didn't always fit with the situations they found themselves in but they always managed to make the other laugh and lighten the mood.

After I finished the book my overall thought was that I liked the story a lot but at the same time the plot was a bit over the top at times. There were enemies everywhere and evil was surrounding our protagonists. They didn't know who was a friend and who was an enemy, what was real and what was a lie. Nothing was as it seemed and, even though that made for an interesting read with a lot of suspence, at the same time it was a bit tiring. I'm not making much sense, I know. What I mean is that while the story kept me glued to my screen, after I finished the book and thought about it the plot was kind of overwhelming.

Because of all that and because I liked the story and the author's imagination I'm rating with 3.5 stars.

My advice when you start this book is to have patience and keep reading even when not everything that happens makes sense right from the start.




This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews.

*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the author/publisher via The Novel Approach Reviews in exchange for an honest review. *

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED it. I ADORED it.
Barbara Elsborg is definitely my new go-to writer when it will come to PNR involving Angels, Demons and all the supernaturals...



Well... Duh!

So. We first meet Tao and let me tell you. Mrs Elsborg's books are always heavy but wow...
She went straight to the heart and squeezed all the feels with one hand...
My poor, poor Tao. So sweet, so innocent. So adorable. I loved him.
He woke up 2 months ago with absolutely no memories of who he is, where is from or if anyone is looking for him. He has nothing so he has to beg for a little money, though he despised it. He feel so lonely and humiliated to have to ask charity.
Until that day where he spotted the hottest guy being robbed his wallet so he decides to help him and... Then enter West.

West is NOT nice at first. He is angry and cold and he can't waste his time with a kind-hearted, funny guy, no matter how sexy and hot he is....
He is an Angel, an assassin for Rafael, no less. His job is to track down the supernatural that land on his list put there by Rafael after they broke the law.
But, see, West, is also assassinating souls (Bad, Bad souls) for a Demon to free his brother from Hell and that could put him in serious trouble if Rafael find out.
West Story is so heartbreaking and the way he struggles to understand Tao and what he makes him feel...
So, yeah, Tao really caught his eyes but poor West's plate is full of shit and he feels trap and he convinces himself he has no time for this.
Well, that was at first because West can't resist the inevitable... And the inevitable is HOOOOOT



The intensity between these 2...

We understand pretty quickly that Tao is no ordinary human. Something's up, but WHAT?
I love the mystery of Tao. How the author slowly planted some clues here and there until the end.

I cried like a freaking baby at the final.... Yeah. Completely broke down. That was so powerful and beautiful.
So. 5 amazing stars for this beautiful story.

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had liked this more than I did. I feel I was kind of bored with it. It had everything that should have worked for me but somehow it just didn't.

Not horrible but not my favorite from the author.

[Aeren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estoy un poco en conflicto con esta novela, la primera parte es fantasía urbana, ligeramente oscura, con tintes algo sangrientos y la segunda es como meterte de lleno en otro libro que casi parece un cuento de hadas, sin duda me quedo con la primera parte, aunque en general es una buena lectura si te va la fantasía, sea de la clase que sea. 3.5

[Steph ☀️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow....💜

Be warned, you may shed some tears 😢. This was a wonderful story filled with many ups and downs; hope holding all of it together. Really good read! I only had two complaints with this story.

One being the ending. I just assumed with how emotional the story got it was heading in a certain direction, however that wasn’t the case and IMO it felt out of place.

The other being when all the people involved were revealed. I guess I expected a bit more detail/storyline here. So, what would’ve been a five star read for me, is more like a 4.25 stars. Regardless, this book has a really good storyline and great world building.

[NeRdyWYRM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted Mythos

Religion. Myths. Tom-ay-to, to-mah-to. I won't get into that argument here. What I will say is that this book twisted a lot of mainstream assumptions about the mythology that goes along with religion—i.e., angels and demons—and mish-mashed them up with common supernatural phenomenon and fae and gargoyles and all kinds of other fun stuff. And that's what this was: a dark but fun ride. Dark with a capital 'D' for sure.

These MCs, and Raphael's assassin in particular, were just so ... broken. Even the archangel wasn't immune to ennui and apathy in his virtual but necessary imprisonment. The individual plotlines for the MCs intertwined and enmeshed and spun out and spiraled up and down and all around until I wondered if either one of them would ever catch a freaking break!



In all reality, they never do catch a break ... at least not when you want them to or when you think they deserve it. Frankly, there are lots of little bits of horror interspersed with some moments that are truly beautiful.

I'm sure there are things I could have picked apart with the amalgamation of all of my favorite things paranormal/religious/pseudo-religioius, etc. all smooshed into one book, but honestly, I wasn't interested in trying. What I was raptly fascinated with was the journey the MCs were swept away in.



I absolutely loved this book. Yes, I even loved it when it made me want to scream. Repeatedly. I will be watching this author like a hawk for any M/M new releases from now on.

Take a chance on this one. It's dark, it's angsty, and it's soul-destroying here and there, but it's also fascinating, enthralling, interesting and beautiful. All of that wrapped up in one package ... why resist?

Highly recommended. 4.25 hearts (4 GR stars).


Review cross-posted at:


More reviews by NeRdyWYRM can be found on Goodreads here.
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An ARC copy of this title was provided for an honest review.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

Archangel’s Assassin by Barbara Elsborg is an electrifying paranormal story that is rife with intrigue, mystery, and passion. This story is a stunning, action packed novel that thrusts the reader into it’s frantic pace and grips one by the throat. With danger at every turn, West rides a razor’s edge serving both light and dark forces and trying to carry the burden of guilt over his brother’s death. When he meets Tao, his first reaction is to push the man away—for Tao is so pure, so sweet, and so innocent. However, Tao is much more than he seems and as his memory finally begins to return in small dribs and drabs, West discovers just what Tao is and realizes the danger the man is in, especially being tied to West, himself.

I love a good sex scene as much as the next person, but I often feel that there is a bit too much sex and not enough story in most novels these days. Elsborg strikes just the right balance and does so with emotionally moving and sensual accuracy. The intimate moments between West and Tao are breathtaking and both passionate and playful—much like Tao himself. It’s a real delight to watch West morph from this embittered, closed off killer into a compassionate and caring man—a man who’s in love but terrified to admit it. Their relationship is just pure magic to watch unfold. I loved these two men together and the action sequences that surrounded their love story made the pages of this book just fly by.

Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.