Rating: 
Summary: An interesting new world
Review: The author has created a world of colonists, where angels are mortal and communicate with God by singing in the upper atmosphere; oracles work with PCs; and a variety of groups exist within the social structure.The new Archangel, Gabriel, is destined to marry Rachel, whom he has waited too long to seek out. His predecessor, Raphael, an evil sort disinclined to give up power, has done his best to make things difficult. Rachel has some ideas of her own, and is not completely pleased with the arrangements. Gabriel must contend with both Rachel and Raphael as he prepares to meet a deadline for a religious ceremony. The story holds your attention as it moves towards an action filled conclusion.
Rating:
Summary: HEAVENLY
Review: Talk about opposites attracting! Rachel the Edori slave and Gabriel, the magnificent newly appointed Archangel, according to the oracle on Mount Sinai, are to be married, to both their disgust and horror! :) This book addresses many themes and elements: faith/belief, God, discovery, acceptance, truth, and of course true love. In the end, when you finish, the questions start to form. The what ifs..? and could really be..? pop up. I at first was unsure of how this book would go, but I was pleasantly surprised by its wit and often humorous dialogue. At times, you take pity on Gabriel, for Rachel is quite a handful. Her stubbornness and anger cause many, yet laughable, situations. They both strong and resolute, neither will back down. Yet, I can't help but not admire her, Rachel that is. She is strong, talented and she knows what she wants and does it. Mind you, this is a somewhat in the lines of science fiction but leans heavily on romance and fantasy. Still, the element of finding "the one" perfect person for you is very romantic.
Rating:
Summary: Layered like an onion
Review: Archangel is a well crafted onion of a book. Onion? Yes, because it has many layers. It is a romance novel nested in a fantasy novel, wrapped subtly in science fiction. The world of Samaria is a veritable Garden of Eden where angels and mortals interact. Angels sing and the skies stop raining. Or, if there's a drought, they bring rain. Once a year, the Archangel, his mortal wife, the angelica, and all the people of Samaria gather on a plain to sing a Gloria to their god, Jovah. If they do not sing the Gloria, or if not all the people of Samaria are represented, then their god will destroy their world. Although it seems with talk of angels, men, and gods like this is a Judeo-Christian book, it's not. It's a science fiction novel, but the science fiction setting is never explicit in this first novel. The people of Samaria are colonists who have lost their history. They know that they have only lived on their world for 300 years, but they do not know how they came to be there-- they were "carried in Jovah's hands" to Samaria. Jovah, their god, is actually a spaceship who monitors the planet, answers the angels "prayers" in the form of weather control, and tracks the people by way of an implant each child is given at birth. The people know that their ancestors came to Samaria to establish a world for their descendents which was free of war and bloodshed. To ensure that the people of Samaria continue to live in harmony, the spaceship Jehovah was programmed to listen every year for the voices of the planet raised to him in unity. The Archangel must lead the people of Samaria well. If none of this crops up in Archangel, then how do I know it? And why does it matter? It doesn't really matter, but it points out how well crafted Archangel is. You don't need to know it, but when it comes up in the next two books in the trilogy, it's clear just how much work Sharon Shinn put into Archangel. So, what's Archangel about? Why should you read it? The Archangel is replaced by Jovah every 20 years. This year, the Archangel Gabriel will replace the "businessman's" Archangel, Raphael. The story in Archangel unfolds from the perspective of the two main characters, Gabriel, the Archangel-elect, and Rachel, his unwitting angelica-to-be. In the first chapter, Gabriel is told by the oracle that the bride chosen for him by Jovah is named Rachel and she lives in a farming community. Little does he know what happened to Rachel as a child. When he arrives at her village he finds it burned to the ground. When he finds Rachel, she has lived as a slave for many years. How will she deal with her new found power as the angelica? How will she feel about being forced to marry Gabriel? Even if she is being freed from slavery, is this freedom? And, in the overall story of Samaria, will the transition from Raphael as Archangel to Gabriel go smoothly? What makes Archangel a powerful story is its characterization. Rachel and Gabriel are two very strong willed people who see things in different ways. Brought together by a higher power to save their world, can they see why they were brought to each other specifically? Some people are put off by the switch in perspectives from Gabriel to Rachel, and back again, but I found it effective. And, I found Archangel to be a rich and well crafted novel. Whether you like fantasy, science fiction, or just a good love story, read Archangel.
Rating: 
Summary: Too much mediocre romance and not enough sci-fi
Review: I loved the concept of the book, but I wasn't thrilled with ANY of the characters. I found them either annoying or profoundly unengaging. I found some of the theology in the book mildly interesting. I really enjoy reading science fiction and romance and do not even mind a blend of the two genres if it is well written. If you enjoy the "futuristic romance" genre, you will probably enjoy this book. Unfortunately, that genre has some of the worst writing of both sci fi AND romance. Archangel is one of the better novels in that genre, but, alas, that is not saying much.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely beautiful!
Review: This is a sci-fi/romance hybrid that actually works (wonder of wonders!). The characters are real, the world is problematic, but richly textured. Gabriel and Rachel are the best characters, but Nathan was good too. Most of all, the book brings up some philosophical issues that make you think, and think hard about the nature of God, and the nature of man.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible - Romance Novel In Disguise
Review: I don't understand how anyone could like this book. Most of the reviews here seem to say two things: 1) the world is so original and the concept is refreshing, and 2) the main character, Rachel, is a strong woman, worthy of admiration. 1) The concept is completely unoriginal. Nothing is mentioned here that you cannot find in a good philosophy or theological book. 2) Rachel is strong, but she's more like an annoying, self-absorbed, man-hating, spoiled little brat. The angels have done her wrong, yes, but they treat her in the best possible way afterwards. Gabriel hasn't done anything wrong to her, and nothing in his own volition either, but she treats him like dirt. If you like books that have man-hating, self-absorbed female characters, who are more like cartoon characters in their one dimensionality, this is for you. The characters as completely flat, uninteresting, and despicable. I really disliked all the characters and the entire book. This book is a romance in disguise, geared more toward women who liked the romance genre. Sci-fi fans, don't touch this book.
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful book
Review: _Archangel_ focuses on the story of the Edori slave Rachel and the angel Gabriel in a quasi-biblical, musical, fantastic world where angels exist as mediators between humans and the god Jovah. The characters are not cardboard cut-outs; they are three dimensional and believable. The romance between Rachel and Gabriel is lovely, and Rachel's headstrong defiance and contrariness makes her a memorable heroine.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Entertaining
Review: This is a great book. If you want less romance and more mythology, I also recommend The Darkangel Trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent fantasy disguised as Sci/Fi
Review: I enjoyed this book, and felt it moved along at a good pace throughout. Shinn does a fine job describing scenes and costumes, and developing complex, rich characters. The only character I had difficulty believing in or sympathizing with was the main character Rachel. She lives to be obstinate and shows no sign of anything truly approaching love, even though she supposedly loves Gabriel. So much for romance! Other than that, this book is excellent and well worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of romance, not enough science fiction
Review: On another planet, humans and "angels" try to live in harmony, under the eye of "Jehova". The plot is thin, and almost entirely turned towards romance (love story between an angel and a strong willed woman). Not much of science fiction in this book!
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