4.5 STARS | Warrior by Kristina Douglas

Title: Warrior
Series: The Fallen #3
Author: Kristina Douglas
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Elements: Angels, Deities, Wraiths
Publisher: Pocket Books
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-1451655919
Published: April 24th, 2012
Source: Library
Events: High Summer Read-A-Thon
Rating: 4.5/5 STARS
Purchase: Kindle | Paperback

A born warrior, archangel Michael is dedicated to the Fallen’s survival. But only one woman understands the seductive hunger that he cannot forsake.

Every little girl imagines, now and then, that she’s a princess held captive in a tower. But Victoria Bellona is almost twenty-five. And that whole fairy-tale scenario? That’s her real life. The drop-dead gorgeous man who rescues her is no Prince Charming. He’s the gruff archangel Michael, and he insists that Tory is the Fallen’s only hope for ending Uriel’s vicious rule. She insists he’s crazy.

According to the prophecy, Michael must marry this frustrating, fascinating creature, bed her, and drink her blood. But their fate is a double-edged sword. If they give in to their urgently growing desires, Tory will die in battle. If they refuse, she will die anyway, and with her, all of mankind. Michael is determined to find another solution when a traitorous kidnapper forces him into a deadly confrontation. Even if he can save Tory from Uriel’s ruthless clutches, will they ever really be together? Or is her fatal destiny—and the world’s—written in stone?

Warrior begins with a prophecy stating that Michael must mate with the reincarnation of the Roman goddess of War, Victoria Bellona, if they are to prevail in the upcoming battle with Uriel and his armies of angels. Having been secluded and basically held prisoner her whole life, Victoria jumps at the chance to leave and finally experience life when Michael comes for her.

Neither Michael or Victoria wants this marriage--Michael is a warrior to the core and needs to train and lead the others in battle, and Victoria just wants to experience the life that was denied her growing up. But when another prophecy arises predicting Victoria's death in battle, Michael will do anything to prevent it.

Like in the previous books in The Fallen series, the featured member of the Fallen always fights against the attraction to his chosen mate. That is no different in Warrior. In fact, I would say that the fight is even stronger in this book with both sides being natural fighters. But, just like in the previous books, the attraction wins. Even the great Archangel Michael and the Roman goddess of War can't fight the inevitable. But Victoria's impending death brings a fragile and heartbreaking note to their relationship. The night they have together before the big battle was truly magical and Kristina Douglas does an amazing job bringing it alive in my mind with her words.

In Raziel, we were introduced to the setting to Sheol. In Demon, we were taken to the Dark City. Now in Warrior, Kristina Douglas expands the world and setting of The Fallen by showing us the many worlds within the Darkness. One such world, called the Candy Land, was reminiscent of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, but with a much more sinister twist. Within the Candy Land, a person feels a constant sense of euphoria, but it's a false sense. The Fallen world is becoming more expansive and complex, I can't wait to see where we're taken next.

Martha's vision predicting the arrival of the black angel coming to Sheol and the mystery surrounding Cain, transition the story perfectly to the next book, Rebel. It's too bad that we have to wait until 2013, but I can't wait for the next story in this series.

Website | Goodreads

Kristina Douglas is the pseudonym for a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with over sixty published novels. She lives with her husband in the dark woods of northern Vermont.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.