The Next Archangel Speculation

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe this has been mentioned since the first book that there was one angel on the verge of archangel status. We know that this person is a 'he' and that's about it.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say I don't believe it's any of the seven. I know age is relative in terms of which angels gain power. Favashi is the youngest archangel I think at barely over a thousand. From what we know, none of the angels in the seven are over a thousand. So for that reason I'd cross off Nazarach too but what about Dahariel? He's Astaad's second which alone would make us think that's he's strong.

Four full length novels later we still don't know who this person is. Here's hoping for a revelation in Jason's book.

On another note, hasn't New York city become so much more interesting after reading these books? I live in Connecticut which is only about two hours drive from New York city, so I've been there many times. I have to admit that next time I go visit my sister I'm going to walk through the city streets and imagine one of those skyscrapers is Archangel Tower.

It's funny, a co-worker was commenting to me the other day about putting two projects together and she mentioned the Spice Girl song 2 Become 1. I looked up the video on youtube yesterday and had forgotten that the setting was NY city before 9/11 and it was simply breathtaking. Check it out here if you've never seen it before. Right at the beginning, it's almost like you can imagine the vantage point of an angel (maybe Raphael) as he swoops over the ocean until the city skyline comes into view. Simply awesome!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M9cSez-mY4

I just reread the books, but I can't recall them saying that there was another angel. I know that in Jessamy and Galen's novella it was a topic, because Michaela was on the verge of becoming one, but afterwards? Then again, after I didn't pay much attention to Elena and Raphael when I read their books last year, I tried to focus on them much more than I focussed on the rest of the story. (Not completely through book 3, though, so maybe I'll find what you were talking about there?)

Nina would definitely have the quote somewhere. Damn, Nina. Where are you? ;(

Need to check the video out later. Because it's.. OH FUCK. It's 4.10 am right now. What.. How. Holy Cow.

Patricia wrote:I just reread the books, but I can't recall them saying that there was another angel.

In Archangel's kiss according to my kindle on page 35 of 332 we see Raphael having a discussion with Dmitri concerning Noel's attack in the Refuge.

Here's a snippet from the very next page.

"...there aren't many who'd dare taunt you," Dmitri said putting the dagger back into his pocket. "Even fewer who'd think they could get away with it."

"Nazarach is in the Refuge," he said, knowing the other angel was more than old enough to be dangerous. "Find out who else might consider themselves a contender."

"There's only one on the verge of becoming an archangel."

The Cadre alone was supposed to be privy to that truth, but Raphael trusted Dmitri far more than he trusted his fellow archangels. "He also has no need to play these kinds of games." To be an archangel was to be Cadre. It was as simple -- and as inevitable -- as that.

In those two bolded sentences Raphael told us a few facts about this unknown male angel who is near archangel status. It was mentioned elsewhere perhaps at a cadre meeting as well but I need to do some more digging to unearth that one. I'm sort of hoping it's someone we haven't been introduced to yet but I get the feeling he could be someone that had been mentioned at least once in passing.

*facepalm* Riight!! Argh, I can't believe I already forgot that conversation.

I think it might be Illium. I read somewhere in one of the books that he's already stronger than most angels 10x his age, and that he is still growing in strength. When I have more time I'll find the exact scene(s) for peoples reference.

Roxsan, I think you are referring to his healing from the loss of his wings in Angel's Blood.

I thought it was mentioned somewhere that Illium had the power to become an archangel

See, I had initially crossed off any member of the Seven being the one because the way it was just blatantly omitted seemed a bit obvious. That scene was not the only time this angel had been mentioned but in each of those it was never hinted at even once that this person was from Raphael's territory.

Personally, I rather doubt that the Seven keep secrets from each other. If one of the four angels in the Seven was on the verge of becoming the next archangel, then Dmitri would have already known about it. If there is anybody Raphael trusts the most it would be Dmitri

From the quote posted above, it seems that both already know about one possible archangel (presumably Illium) and that Raphael is asking Dmitri to see if there's anyone else.

tabitha wrote:From the quote posted above, it seems that both already know about one possible archangel (presumably Illium) and that Raphael is asking Dmitri to see if there's anyone else.

Read it again, Dmitri is the one asking Raphael to find out who else considers themselves a contender. I copied it exactly as it is in the book, and the way Nalini writes sometimes you won't have a 'Raphael said or Dmitri said' right after the sentence. I'm not saying that it's possible Dmitri doesn't know who this potential archangel is. It could be one of the Seven and Dmitri would automatically know that he wasn't the one playing the games in the Refuge. I just thought the way it was presented to us was so that we would think otherwise.


EDIT: Just another random question if anyone has any idea, who's jurisdiction would Florence, Italy fall under? I think it might have been Uram's before so maybe now it's Michaela's? For my fan fiction I'm trying to figure out who's territory Italy belongs to.

I still wonder where you read that Dmitri doesn't know how the next potential Archangel is, though. He doesn't say he doesn't know in the quote, does he? O.O

The name is simply not mentioned so us readers will drive themselves crazy over it, but that's basically it.. Or I didn't read attentively enough, which happens a lot lately. Thanks insomnia!

Patricia wrote:I still wonder where you read that Dmitri doesn't know how the next potential Archangel is, though. He doesn't say he doesn't know in the quote, does he? O.O

The name is simply not mentioned so us readers will drive themselves crazy over it, but that's basically it.. Or I didn't read attentively enough, which happens a lot lately. Thanks insomnia!

Did you mean to post this in the "Next Archangel Speculation Thread?" What time is it over there?

You're right, Dmitri never actually said he didn't know who it was. But in the conversation I pointed out, this person came up and Raphael mentioned that this guy didn't need to play games with them. We really have no more information other than that. Feel free to move my post to that section so that we don't derail this one anymore. Hehe.

*facepalm* Sorry! I planned to write this here and then apparently confused threads and bla. >_< *split and merged*

Yes, we really need to know more about that angel! Mheeee!!

I know I'm bumping a dead thread and I'm not even sure how many people follow these forums anymore, but the answer to the question of this topic was revealed in N.S.'s facebook Q&A. I won't quote her exact words but in essence, the angel on the verge of becoming an Archangel is a male and he's someone who has not been introduced in the books as yet. Other people assumed it was Illium as well, but N.S. pointed out that Raphael was somewhat of a prodigy when he became an Archangel at the young age of around one thousand. Illium is not even 600 yet so he's definitely way out of the archangel league at this time.

Yeah, it's become real quiet here, didn't it? And yep, read it, too. I'm actually really glad that it's not Illium now that I thought about it..

ah, how interesting, always wondered who it would be...
somebody new..how exciting

I have been rereading the books lately and I think that it is Illium too. But even in the latest "Archangel's Legion" they haven't been discussing it really. When I get back to that one I'll post again.