Review: Wolf Rain - Nalini Singh

The fate of millions of lives hangs in the balance in this new Psy-Changeling Trinity novel from New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh...

Kidnapped as a young girl, her psychic powers harnessed by a madman, Memory lives a caged and isolated existence . . . until she comes face-to-face with a wolf. Labelled an empath by her bad-tempered rescuer, Memory knows that her 'gift' is nothing so bright. It is a terrible darkness that means she will always be hunted.

But Memory is free now and she intends to live. A certain growly wolf can just deal with it.

Alexei prefers to keep his packmates at bay, the bleak history of his family a constant reminder that mating, love, hope is not for him. But Memory, this defiant and fearless woman who stands toe-to-toe with him awakens the most primal part of his nature - and soon, he must make a choice: risk everything or lose Memory to a murderous darkness that wants to annihilate her from existence . . .

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
As much as I've enjoyed meeting the bears and spending time underwater with Blacksea in the last couple of books (and I am really hoping we'll get to spend more time with ALL of them!) I was still really excited that Wolf Rain would take us back to where it all began with the SnowDancer pack. I can't help it, I've loved this series for such a long time that spending time with the wolves (and the cats of DarkRiver) just feels like coming home and it was so wonderful to catch up with all the familiar faces.

We've met Alexi before, he's one of Hawke's lieutenants and is a powerful member of the pack. Strong but caring and very protective of the ones he loves, he holds himself at a distance from the others due to some dangerous family history. He has good reason to fear the future but meeting Memory gives him a reason to fight for what he wants. Memory is a brand new character, she's a Psy who has been held captive for decades and although that would have sent many people completely insane she's a survivor who made it through. She isn't like a lot of the Psy we've met before, she never managed to achieve Silence so she's much warmer than I expected. I'm not going to say much about her abilities but she's always believed they are a curse and that she's evil but working alongside the empaths and the Arrows she starts to realise that she is capable of more than she ever imagined.

These two have a lot going against them, the least of which is that her captor is hunting her determined to get her back under his control, but they both know what they want and they're willing to fight for it. One of the things I love most about Nalini Singh's stories is that she never manufactures unnecessary dramas, instead she focuses on creating well rounded characters with believable motivations. It is always so easy to love her characters and even the side characters who have never been in the spotlight feel like old friends.

It goes without saying that her world building is phenomenal too, the Psy-Changeling world is so full of depth that it's hard to believe it isn't a real place. I love the way the balance has been changing between the changelings, humans and psy since the fall of silence and that the different groups are starting to realise how much they all need each other. Things was always much easier amongst the changelings and humans but the psy are now learning so much more about themselves and the others.

As well as being a fabulous romance Wolf Rain really moves the overarching plot forward too and I can't wait to see where the story takes us next. Nalini Singh's books just never disappoint!

Source: Received from the publisher exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback / Kindle:

Review: Ocean Light - Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh dives beneath the surface of her Psy-Changeling world into a story of passionate devotion and selfless love . . .

Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there's a ticking time bomb in his head: a chip implanted to block telepathic interference that could fail at any moment - taking his brain along with it. With no time to waste, he should be back on land helping the Human Alliance. Instead, he's at the bottom of the ocean, consumed with an enigmatic changeling . . .

Kaia Luna may have traded in science for being a chef, but she won't hide the facts of Bo's condition from him or herself. She's suffered too much loss in her life to fall prey to the dangerous charm of a human who is a dead man walking. And she carries a devastating secret that Bo could never imagine . . .

But when Kaia is taken by those who mean her deadly harm, all bets are off. Bo will do anything to get her back - even if it means striking a devil's bargain and giving up his mind to the enemy.

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
Nalini Singh is one of the few authors who has never let me down, I preorder her books the second they pop up on amazon, devour them the minute I can get hold of them and I always know that I'm in for heartwarming romance, fantastic characters and wonderful world building. Her Psy-Changeling series is one of the best paranormal romance series out there and this new second phase of the series is proving that she's still at the top of her game. As much as I love the SnowDancer and DarkRiver packs I'm really enjoying the expansion of this world first with the bears in Silver Silence and now getting to know the water changelings of BlackSea in Ocean Light.

Bowen has always been a character I've been curious about, as the human leader of the Alliance he has a lot of power in his hands but the ticking time bomb of the telepathic blocker implanted in his brain has him desperately looking for answers. Then there was the shocking attack in the last book which of course left me even more keen to get answers. He's such a sweet hero, I loved how open and honest he was with Kaia from the very beginning and how determined he was to make the most of the time he had left if they weren't able to fix his implant safely. I've always admired the way he wanted to put humans on the same playing field as the Changelings and Psy too, even though humans are physically weaker than the Changelings and defenceless against most Psy telepathic abilities they vastly outnumber those two groups and Bowen is fighting for equality amongst the races.

Kaia is a character we've not met before but she was brilliant too, very intelligent but the best thing about her was her huge heart and the way she cared for everyone in her circle. Kaia is the kind of person that is always there to offer a shoulder to cry on or moral support but who never wants to burden anyone with her own problems so she always sees to her own needs last. Bowen saw that immediately and went to great effort to show her how important she was to him. They fitted together really well and balanced each other out in a lot of ways.

There is no denying that the first half of Ocean Light is a little slower paced and more character driven than most books in this series, the action doesn't really pick up until later on but I was having so much fun exploring BlackSea's underwater home and meeting so many different water changelings (whales, turtles, sharks and so many more - including ones with tentacles!) that I really enjoyed the change of pace. Later on as the danger increases and things get more complicated I was so fully invested in the characters that I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the story would end. This was another fantastic instalment in the series and I can't wait to find out who will be the stars of the next one!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback / Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Silver Silence - Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh introduces a bold new chapter in her extraordinary paranormal romance saga with the Psy-Changeling Trinity series. Wild passion will encounter the darkest of betrayal...

Control. Precision. Family. These are the principles that drive Silver Mercant. At a time when the fledgling Trinity Accord seeks to unite a divided world, with Silver playing a crucial role as director of a worldwide emergency response network, wildness and chaos are the last things she needs in her life. But that’s exactly what Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater Bears, brings with him.

Valentin has never met a more fascinating woman. Though Silver is ruled by Silence—her mind clear of all emotion—Valentin senses a whisper of fire around her. That’s what keeps him climbing apartment buildings to be near her. But when a shadow assassin almost succeeds in poisoning Silver, the stakes become deadly serious…and Silver finds herself in the heart of a powerful bear clan.

Her would-be assassin has no idea what their poison has unleashed...

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
Silver Silence is the first in the Psy-Changeling Trinity spin off series and Nalini Singh is about to take us in a whole new direction. I don't think I'd recommend starting here if you've not read the original series because you'd miss far too much but if you haven't discovered these books yet then I can't recommend Slave to Sensation highly enough. The first series gave us the fall of Silence and the beginnings of the Trinity Accord between the human, Psy and Changeling races but this series is going to focus more on finding a balance between the three groups and each of them learning to work together. Of course there are still those Psy who don't think Silence should have fallen and they aren't the only ones who are working against the Accord, humans have been used and abused by the Psy for far too long and it's going to be difficult to build any kind of trust between them and the Changelings have always remained fairly isolated in the past so all three races are in for a big learning experience if they're going to make Trinity a success.

Silver was Kaleb's trusted second in command so we've seen quite a lot of her throughout the original series but now she has taken control of the Em Net, the emergency network that is being built to allow all three races to pool their resources in the case of any kind of disaster situation. Em Net has coordinated relief efforts at natural disasters like earthquakes but also helps at any major disaster and Silver is in charge of making sure the right people are on hand for every situation. She works closely alongside the Arrow squad but also Changeling and human volunteers and they are slowly starting to gain the trust of the general population. Silver is fiercely efficient and on the surface she's completely Silent but she has a deep loyalty to her family and quite a loving relationship with her grandmother and brother. Because of her rare psychic abilities she knows it would be dangerous to her mental health to let her emotions run free but a certain teddy bear is very good at getting under her skin.

Valentin is alpha of the StoneWater bear clan and he knew Silver was the woman from him the moment he first met her. Of course Silver is currently living under Silence and she has no interest in a relationship with Valentin but bears are stubborn and he's got all the time in the world to convince her they are meant to be together. I loved the way Valentin decided to be "sneaky like a cat" and slowly woo his mate, he pushes Silver a little further every time they interact but he never goes too far or too fast because he respects her boundaries. They make such a ridiculously adorable couple and I was rooting for them from the very beginning. Valentin is an alpha with a heart of gold who absolutely adores his clan and will do anything for them and Silver may be Psy but she's equally strong willed and she will do whatever it takes to protect Valentin from the people who choose to spurn him.

I don't think we've had much interaction with the bears in the past so I was really excited to meet a whole new clan of shifters and I love how different the bears are to either the wolves or cats. Nalini Singh always does a brilliant job when it comes to creating interesting characters and she hits the nail on the head with this whole new clan, not just Valentin but also his older sisters and his various lieutenants. The group were just so much fun to hang around with and I loved the way the young members of the clan are the centre of everyone's world - the tiny ninjas completely stole my heart! Don't worry we still get glimpses of some of our old favourite characters but I liked that we've had a large influx of new faces. It can be very easy for a series to start to get stale or repetitive when you're 16 books in but this change of direction is definitely a great way to keep things fresh. I thought Nalini balanced things really well, enough new to keep it exciting but enough of what we're familiar with to still make it feel familiar and like you're catching up with old friends.

We got to see a lot of Bowen and the Human Alliance so I'm really hoping that means his book is coming soon but I'm really excited about spending more time with the bears as the series continues. Silver Silence was the perfect blend of sweet and sexy romance with action and intrigue from various groups who are determined to destroy the Trinity Accord before it can properly begin. I have very high hopes for season two of the Psy-Changeling world and as always Nalini's books remain at the top of my "buy it immediately" list.

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback / Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Wild Embrace - Nalini Singh

The “alpha author of paranormal romance”* presents a stunningly sensual collection of four all-new Psy-Changeling novellas, in which taboos are broken, boundaries are crossed, and instincts prove irresistible...

Echo of Silence
In a deep-sea station, Tazia Nerif has found her life’s work as an engineer, keeping things running smoothly. But she wants nothing more than to break down the barrier of silence between her and her telekinetic Psy station commander...

Dorian
A changeling who can never shift lives a life of quiet frustration—until he learns how to let his leopard come out and play...

Partners in Persuasion
Still raw from being burned by a dominant female, wolf changeling Felix will never again risk being a plaything. But for dominant leopard Dezi, he’s the most fascinating man she’s ever met. She just has to convince this gun-shy wolf that he can trust the dangerous cat who wants to take a slow, sexy bite out of him…

Flirtation of Fate
Seven years ago, Kenji broke Garnet’s heart. Now the wolf packmates have to investigate the shocking murder of one of their own. And the more Kenji sees of the woman Garnet has become, the deeper he begins to fall once more. But even his primal instincts are no match for the dark secret he carries...

*Booklist, starred review

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
I love the way Nalini Singh gives fans a chance to see the romances that don't get to play out in the full length novels. The Psy-Changeling world is such a huge one that it would be impossible for everyone to get their own book so these additional novellas are a great way to revisit old favourites or just add extra depth and background. She is one of the few authors who never fails to make me connect with her characters, whether she's writing short stories, novellas or full length books she never lets me down and I always know I'm in for a treat when I pick up something with her name on it.

Wild Embrace contains four brand new novellas that have never been published anywhere else. These stories are set at different points throughout the Psy-Changeling series (I'll point out where they fit in as I talk about each individual novella) and although they aren't essential reading because you won't miss any major plot points if you skip them I'd still highly recommend picking up this anthology because they're all great.

Echo of Silence:
This novella is set just after Visions of Heat and gives us the chance to spend time on the deep-sea station Alaris with human engineer Tazia and telekinetic Psy Stefan. I can't be the only fan who has been desperate to get to know the Stefan, I mean he was the one who wrote the Psy guide to sex that all the other Psy guys have been adding to throughout the series, so of course I wanted to know more about him! Although it isn't a secret that Stefan's Silence is defective he still has to be incredibly careful not to show his emotions in case he ends up getting his mind wiped by the Psy Council. The only reason he's been left alone this long is because he has such a rare and useful ability but that won't save him if they find out just how "broken" he is. Just because he's good at hiding his emotions doesn't stop him feeling them though and I absolutely loved the slow build relationship that develops between him and Tazia.

Tazia was a great character and I loved seeing how strong she was to fight against her culture to follow her dreams of becoming an engineer. It wasn't easy for her to go against her family's wishes and it was for her to be estranged from the people she loved but it was nice to see how Stefan was so caring towards her when she needed him to be. They're also facing a bigger struggle than most of the other couples in the series because Stefan has to work so hard to hide their relationship on the Psy-net. They are taking a huge risk to be together but it more than pays off for them in the long run.

Dorian:
I loved Dorian's story, it's the shortest one in the anthology and unlike the others it's not a romance but it was great to get further insight into his character's background. This story takes place over a number of years and finishes just after events in Visions of Heat. As a leopard Changeling without the ability to actually change shape Dorian has never had it easy and this story is all about him learning to come to terms with his situation.

Dorian had to learn to find other ways to communicate with his other side and he had to learn other ways to play and work alongside the rest of his pack. It was obvious in his book (Hostage to Pleasure) that he was well respected by Lucas and his packmates but this is more about him dealing with his personal demons. This story does contain a few spoilers for his storyline so if you've not read his book yet I'd recommend holding off on this one. Having said that if you already know what happens to him later on you're going to absolutely love the last scene in this story. It totally melted my heart and I love Dorian more than ever now.

Partners in Persuasion:
This novella begins towards the end of Tangle of Need and features submissive wolf Felix and dominant leopard Dezi. Felix has been hurt before by a dominant wolf so he's afraid of getting burnt a second time but Dezi knows what she wants and she has the patience to win Felix around. It's not always easy to sell me on a dominant female / submissive male pairing, too often dominant is actually code for "arrogant and bitchy" when it comes to women while submissive men are just too easy for them to walk all over and that never sits well with me. I trust Nalini though and she didn't steer me wrong here.

Dezi is strong and she's definitely the dominant partner in this pairing but she's not pushy or arrogant and she's very careful not to push Felix beyond his boundaries. Felix may be submissive but that doesn't make him weak and he's willing to stand his ground when he needs to so I have no fears that Dezi could take advantage of him. I think they're actually both incredibly strong characters and I enjoyed seeing them work around the challenges that come as part of being not just a dominant/submissive pairing but also from being from both SnowDancer and DarkRiver packs. I love the way the two packs are becoming more and more entwined as the series progresses!

Flirtation of Fate:
I think a lot of fans have been waiting for Kenji and Garnet's story for a long time now, Flirtation of Fate takes place towards the end of Heart of Obsidian and gives Kenji a second chance to make things right with Garnet after he rejected her previously. I've loved the banter between these two for a long time now and I've been wondering if they were ever going to act on it but I didn't realise quite how much Kenji had hurt Garnet by walking away from her before. I was irritated with him when I found out his reasons, I thought their age was a pretty poor excuse for leaving when he knew exactly what she was to him but he's so lovable that I ended up forgiving him just like Garnet did.

This story takes place away from the SnowDancer den at the territory Kenji look after and there is a bit of mystery going on in the background after one of their packmates is murdered. I have to admit I'd figured out the killer fairly early on but that didn't stop me enjoying seeing Kenji and Garnet working together to try and put it all together. I would have loved this story to be a bit longer so we could have spent more time with them as a couple but I still really loved their flirtatious banter and think they're a fab couple.

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Blog Tour Review: Allegiance of Honour - Nalini Singh (+ UK Giveaway for a Hardback Copy!)

The 'unparalleled romantic adventure' of Nalini Singh's New York Times bestselling series continues as a new dawn begins for the Psy-Changeling world . . .

The Psy-Changeling world has undergone a staggering transformation and now stands at a crossroads. The Trinity Accord promises a new era of cooperation between disparate races and groups. It is a beacon of hope held together by many hands: old enemies. New allies. Wary loners.

But a century of distrust and suspicion can't be so easily forgotten and threatens to shatter Trinity from within at any moment. As rival members vie for dominance, chaos and evil gather in the shadows and a kidnapped woman's cry for help washes up in San Francisco, while the Consortium turns its murderous gaze toward a child who is the embodiment of change, of love, of piercing hope: a child who is both Psy . . . and changeling.

To find the lost, protect the vulnerable and save Trinity no one can stand alone. This is a time of loyalty across divisions, of bonds woven into the heart and the soul, of heroes known and unknown standing back to back and holding the line. But is an allegiance of honour even possible with traitors lurking in their midst?

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
There is a reason that Nalini Singh is my favourite author, she consistently writes amazing book after amazing book and she is the absolute queen of world building and creating fantastic characters. It's not often you get to book 15 in a series and find that the author has once again managed to give you something fresh and new but that is exactly what she has done with Allegiance of Honour. This book is a tribute to all the previous couples we've met and fallen in love with and all the side characters whose stories we're still desperately waiting for. It ties together a lot of little loose ends hanging around after the fall of Silence and at the same time it also kicks off the beginning of a brand new story arc.

If you've ever read Nalini's newsletter you'll know she loves to include little short stories and snippets giving us glimpses into some of her characters after they have their happily ever after. Well imagine a whole glorious book that gives you a chance to spend time with everyone again. This is an ensemble cast where no one couple takes centre stage for the whole story (although I think little Naya and the pupcubs steal more than their share the spotlight but more on them later!) but instead we get to see where they're all at in their lives right now. If it was any other author I might have been nervous about an ensemble cast but I have absolute faith in Nalini and she pulled it off more wonderfully than I ever could have imagined.

Not only does she give us a glimpse into couples from 14 other books (as well as several novellas and short stories) but she weaves in several new stories for them all to get involved in. One story in particular allows us to get to know certain members of BlackSea a little better and that helps build trust between all the different groups that are currently working together - DarkRiver, SnowDancer, Psy like Kaleb, Anthony & Nikita, the Arrows and the Empaths, the Human Alliance, the Forgotten, the Rats and Rainfire. I'm sure I've probably forgotten some but all of these groups have their own role to play in a desperate rescue attempt for one of the lost BlackSea changelings.

Naya is one of the stars of this book, she is the first child born to one Psy and one Changeling parent and nobody knows what kind of abilities she's going to have but she is definitely seen as a symbol of hope for all those who believe in the fall of Silence. Of course that makes her a major target for those who aren't happy about the recent changes. She's not an easy target to get at though and she has a huge family around to protect her. Naya is about 1 year old now and she is so utterly adorable in this book that she made my heart melt. There is also a lot of excitement around the impending arrival of Mercy and Riley's pupcubs. It was so much fun seeing all the adults talking about the pubcubs and placing bets on how many there would be along with the sexes and animal forms. I think Judd's guess amused me the most just because he'd put so much thought into it:

Judd had placed a two-and-two bet. Word was the pupcubs' changeling animal would be linked to the dominance of each respective parent, and Judd wasn’t about to bet against either Mercy or Riley. They were the most evenly matched dominant changeling pairing he’d ever seen.

I'm not going to tell you whether he was anywhere close to correct in his guess though, you won't get a word out of me! All I'll say is they're finally here and they're absolutely adorable!

Allegiance of Honour was everything I didn't know I wanted. If I had to put it into one word it could only be PERFECT. If you were worried that this series might be coming to an end let me assure you that we have so many exciting things still to come and I for one can't wait to get my hands on the next book. In the meantime I'm going to pick up my copy of Slave to Sensation and start reading the series again from the beginning because this book has reminded me just how much I adore all of the previous characters.

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

US Cover

Hardback / Paperback / Kindle:

Blog Tour Giveaway:

I'm thrilled to be taking part in the UK blog tour to celebrate the release of Allegiance of Honour and thanks to Gollancz I have a hardback copy to give away to one lucky UK winner!

Giveaway terms & conditions:

• This giveaway is open to UK residents only.
• The giveaway closes on the 11th of July at 23:59 GMT
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Review: Shards of Hope - Nalini Singh

Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn't welcome outsiders.

And they must survive. A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad, an enemy that cannot be permitted to succeed in its deadly campaign. Aden will cross any line to keep his people safe for this new future, where even an assassin might have hope of a life beyond blood and death and pain. Zaira has no such hope. She knows she's too damaged to return from the abyss. Her driving goal is to protect Aden, protect the only person who has ever come back for her no matter what.

This time, even Aden's passionate determination may not be enough - because the emotionless chill of Silence existed for a reason. For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken . . . like Zaira.

Rich, dark, sumptuous and evocative . . . bestselling author Nalini Singh is back with a stunning, dark and passionate new tale.

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
It's not often that you can reach book 14 in a series and still honestly say that you love everything about the world an author has created but that is exactly how I feel about Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series. I don't know how she manages to keep this series so fresh but every single book just gets better and better and with every new instalment I find myself with a new favourite in my hands. I had high expectations for Shards of Hope but it still completely blew me away, this was probably the book that took me on the biggest emotional journey of the whole series and I loved every minute of it.

With the fall of Silence we have already seen one major plot arc come to an end but there is obviously plenty more to come and we are now getting to see the full impact of these changes. The loss of Silence has had meant huge changes for the entire Psy race but the Arrow squad are finding it harder than anyone, they have such incredibly powerful gifts and Silence was their safety net so they're feeling lost and unsure without it. Aden has given his whole life to the squad, he was never fully Silent but he was able to keep that hidden and use his abilities to protect the others. Now he wants to see his team not only adapt but thrive in their new environment, he knows there has to be a better way for the Arrows and he is determined to find it for them. I don't want to say too much about what transpires but I will say that I absolutely loved the direction he is taking them in, we get to see some absolutely beautiful moments with the squad and I found that part of the story incredibly emotional and heart warming.

Aden has always put the squad first, it's something that shows what a great leader he is and how worthy he is of their trust but he does have a tendency to put his own needs last and he really needs someone to look out for him occasionally. I love everything about Aden, he's honourable, sweet, protective, caring and funny too, he cares so deeply about the whole squad but Zaira has had a special place in his heart since they were teenagers and now he's determined to act on it. Zaira survived a hellish childhood but it left her damaged, she has a rage deep inside that terrifies her and she's always been afraid to let anyone close because she knows she has the potential to destroy anything she loves. She thinks of herself as broken but she doesn't realise just how strong she is until Aden shows her. They are probably one of my favourite pairings of the series, on the surface they are so different but they need each other and the connection between them is palpable. I love how slow build their romance is, it's obvious from very early on how they feel about each other but Zaira is very wary and skittish and it takes a long time for her to completely let Aden in. Watching the connection build between them was brilliant and they completely made my heart melt.

One of the things I always love most about Nalini Singh's books is the way she is able to include so many other characters without taking away from the couple who are currently in the spotlight. We get a chance to catch up with most of our favourites from both the DarkRiver and SnowDancer packs as well as meet the new RainFire leopards who I'm hoping we'll spend a lot more time with in the future. I loved the RainFire alpha Remi and really enjoyed the interaction between him and Aden, Remi is able to give Aden a lot of advice that is going to have a massive impact in the future and it was great to see a strong bond starting to form between the three Changeling packs and the Arrow squad. I think we're really building towards a point where each of the three races are going to be able to live in harmony and I can't wait to see more interaction between the various groups.

Of course not everyone is happy that Silence has fallen and there are definitely people out there who are determined to stop the alliances that are starting to build. This new threat is certainly going to leave a mark and I'm looking forward to seeing how things progress as the series continues. I love this world, I love these characters and it's going to be a long, long time before I'm ready to say goodbye to any of them. It goes without saying that Nalini Singh is one of my favourite authors and I can't recommend all of her books highly enough.

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Night Shift - Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Lisa Shearin & Milla Vane

Four masters of urban fantasy and paranormal romance plunge readers into the dangerous, captivating world unearthed beyond the dark . . .

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh delivers a smoldering story with Secrets at Midnight, as the scent of Bastien Smith's elusive lover ignites a possessiveness in him that's as feral as it is ecstatic. And now that he's foundhis mate, he'll do anything to keep her.

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews's novella, Magic Steals, when a woman goes missing, shapeshifting tigress Dali Harimau and jaguar shifter Jim Shrapshire must uncover the truth about the mysterious creatures responsible.

It's seer Makenna Frazier's first day on the job at Supernatural Protection and Investigations, and her first bodyguarding assignment is more than she bargained for when a leprechaun prince's bachelor party goes every which way but right in national bestselling author Lisa Shearin's Lucky Charms.

From Milla Vane - a warrior princess must tame The Beast of Blackmoor to earn a place among her people. Soon she discovers that the beast isn't a monster, but a barbarian warrior who intends to do some taming himself.

For more information about any of these authors you can visit their websites by clicking the links below:
Nalini Singh
Ilona Andrews
Lisa Shearin
Milla Vane

Review:
I'll admit that the main reason I wanted to read this anthology was for the stories by Nalini Singh and Ilona Andrews, I'm a huge fan of both the Psy-Changeling and Kate Daniels series so of course I was eager to be able to dive back into both of those worlds. It was a great opportunity to try a couple of new series though and I have to say that I definitely want to read more from Lisa Shearin and Milla Vane in the future. I'm going to talk about each of these stories individually but I would just like to say that if, like me, you picked up the anthology for one or two authors it's definitely worth giving the other stories a chance too. All four novellas are great and I'd be happy to recommend any of them.

Secrets at Midnight by Nalini Singh

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

I have loved Bastien ever since we first met him so I just knew that his story would be fantastic. He's such a great guy, fun loving and sweet but also incredibly protective of the women in his life as we've seen from his interactions with his sister Mercy. Bastien is currently infuriated though, he has finally caught the scent of his mate only to lose it again almost immediately. As a cat he should be able to hunt his prey wherever they go but the one person he needs to find almost desperately is managing to stay hidden from him. He isn't one to give up though and when he finally manages to track Kirby down there is no way he's letting her out of his sight again.

I don't want to say too much more about the story because there was a fabulous twist when it came to Kirby and I really enjoyed watching Nalini Singh reveal it. What I will say is that I absolutely adored this couple and I hope we get to see more of them in the future. This novella takes place over a very short space of time but it's a testament to Nalini's writing that it never felt rushed, I always find her stories completely believable no matter how short the timeline is. Kirby is one lucky girl to end up with a guy like Bastien and I'm definitely looking forward to reading his brothers Sage and Grey's stories.

Magic Steals by Ilona Andrews

The Kate Daniels Series:
A Questionable Client (Short Story included in the Magic Graves anthology)
Magic Bites
Magic Burns
Magic Strikes
Magic Mourns (Novella included in the Must Love Hellhounds anthology or available separately as an ebook)
Magic Bleeds
Magic Dreams (Novella included in the Hexed anthology or available separately as an ebook)
Magic Slays
Magic Tests (Short Story included in the An Apple for the Creature anthology)
Magic Gifts (Novella available for a limited time as a free ebook from the authors and included in the print version of Gunmetal Magic)
Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniel's World book 1)
Retribution Clause (Short Story included in the Hex Appeal anthology)
Small Magics (Anthology containing previously published stories including A Questionable Client, Magic Tests and Retribution Clause as well as 2 other stories not set in the Kate Daniels world)
Magic Rises
Magic Steals (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Magic Breaks
Magic Shifts
Magic Stars (Novella, Grey Wolf book 1)
Magic Binds
Iron and Magic (The Iron Covenant book 1)
Magic Triumphs

As a fan of the Kate Daniels series I have been rooting for Dali and Jim ever since I read their first novella Magic Dreams so I was excited to see more of them as a couple. This story fits into the timeline during events in Magic Rises while Kate and Curran are off in Europe leaving Jim in charge of the Pack while they're gone.

Dali is such a brilliant character, not only is she an incredibly rare white tiger shifter who has an unusual magical ability but she's also the only vegetarian tiger you're ever likely to meet, her eye sight is terrible and she faints at the sight of blood. Basically Dali is the complete opposite of Jim who is the Alpha of the cat clan and Curran's right hand man. I think one of the reasons I love this couple so much is because of their differences though, they compliment each other's characters so well and it's nice to see a lighter, more relaxed side to Jim because of the way he is comfortable enough to let his guard down around Dali.

Dali has a lot of insecurities about herself, she doesn't feel like she fits in around the other shapeshifters but Jim is brilliant at boosting her confidence. He is so incredibly sweet towards her and I love the way he doesn't let her keep hiding their relationship. As with the first novella there are some hilarious scenes with Dali and her mother but Jim makes the whole situation even more amusing. This novella has plenty of action, it introduces us to some more of the Indonesian mythology from Dali's ancestry and it has an incredibly sweet romance. I still hope we get to spend more time with this couple in the future but I'm very glad we got a second novella about them.

Lucky Charms by Lisa Shearin

SPI Files:
Lucky Charms (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
The Grendel Affair
The Dragon Conspiracy
The Brimstone Deception
The Ghoul Vendetta

The first book in Lisa Shearin's SPI Files series (The Grendel Affair) has already been published but I've not read it yet and Lucky Charms is a prequel to the series so you're fine to start here. This story introduces us to Makenna, the new Seer who has just joined the SPI (Supernatural Protections and Investigations). Makenna's first job is to track down a missing leprechaun prince and the rest of his bachelor party after they escaped from their previous bodyguards. The leprechaun's have no intention of coming home quietly though - not when there is a whole city of trouble waiting for them to find it.

This story was very light hearted and a lot of fun to read, the world Lisa Shearin has created is full of a wide range of magical creatures (Makenna's boss is a vampire and the CEO is a dragon!) and it's one I'm looking forward to exploring further. There was plenty of humour and I loved the banter between Makenna and the rest of the team she was working with. I'm very curious about her partner Ian and definitely planning on reading the rest of this series - in fact I've already ordered my copy of The Grendel Affair and can't wait to start reading it.

The Beast of Blackmoor by Milla Vane

A Gathering of Dragons Series:
(Chronological reading order as per the author's website)
The Beast of Blackmoor (Novella in the Night Shift anthology)
Silent Night (Free short story on the author's website)
A Heart of Blood and Ashes
A Touch of Stone and Snow (July 2020)

Mala is a warrior on a quest from her Goddess to tame the Beast of Blackmoor, she will do whatever it takes to achieve her goal because her people are depending upon her to protect them and she needs the Goddess's gifts to help them survive. What she doesn't realise is that the Beast is in fact a man and Kavik will do anything to avoid being enslaved again. Kavik angered Mala's Goddess so it's not too surprising that she has forsaken him but Mala believes that they can both earn redemption for themselves and their people if they only listen to the Goddess and follow her will.

I believe that The Beast of Blackkmoor is the first in a new series from Milla Vane (who you may already know under her other name Meljean Brook). This was very different to anything else I've read from this author and in a way it seemed like a bit of a strange fit for this anthology. The first three stories are UF and PNR where this is a straight fantasy and it's much, much darker than the others. I still enjoyed the story and would definitely read more if this does turn into a series but it just wasn't at all what I expected and I can see why some people haven't liked it as much. Milla Vane has created a dark world, one where you will see characters raped, beaten and tortured so its probably best to be prepared for that going in, but I really liked the main characters and enjoyed seeing them fight for their freedom and the lives of their people. This won't be the story for everyone but I'd recommend giving it a try because it might just surprise you.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Shield of Winter - Nalini Singh

Assassin. Soldier. Arrow. That is who Vasic is, who he will always be. His soul drenched in blood, his conscience heavy with the weight of all he's done, he exists in the shadows, far from the hope his people can almost touch - if only they do not first drown in the murderous insanity of a lethal contagion. To stop the wave of death, Vasic must complete the simplest and most difficult mission of his life:

If the Psy race is to survive, the empaths must wake . . .

Having rebuilt her life after medical 'treatment' that violated her mind and sought to stifle her abilities, Ivy should have run from the black-clad Arrow with eyes of winter frost. But Ivy Jane has never done what she should. Now, she'll fight for her people, and for this Arrow who stands as her living shield, yet believes he is beyond redemption.

But as the world turns to screaming crimson, even Ivy's fierce will may not be enough to save Vasic from the cold darkness . . .

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
Nalini Singh has done it again and Shield of Winter is a FANTASTIC instalment to the Psy-Changeling series. Every time I think it can't possibly get better she works her magic and blows my mind with her amazing characters! I have been dying to read Vasic's book for ages now and I loved every minute of it.

It's been painful watching Vasic's deterioration over the last few books, he has come closer and closer to the edge and you could feel how tired he was of living with the things he'd been forced to do since childhood. Although we've seen for ourselves how much Vasic has to offer he never sees the good in himself, all he can think about is the lives he has taken in his role as an Arrow and how much he regrets his past. The fact that he feels so much guilt shows us that his conditioning isn't quite what it should be, even at the height of Silence he was obviously showing signs of fracture and the symptoms are only getting worse.

Aden is like a brother to Vasic, they have been friends since childhood and always did their best to protect each other but being raised by a man like Ming was never going to be easy and we all know how rough the Arrow's have had it. I absolutely love the bond between these characters though, Aden is determined to do whatever it takes to stop Vasic from self destructing and he is making sure to send him on jobs that aren't going to make him suffer even more. I think this is a really interesting time for the Arrows, we're getting to see them making their own minds up about a lot of things, Silence included, and they're starting to see that there are other options open to them.

To give Vasic something positive to focus on Aden puts him in charge of protecting a group of E designation Psy, these empaths may just hold the cure for the rot that is spreading across the Psy-Net and it is vital that they succeed or it could be the end for the entire Psy race. Vasic has always had strong protective instincts but Ivy is like no one else he's ever met before and spending time with her changes him in ways he could never have imagined. Their relationship is one of the sweetest Psy/Psy relationships we've seen and I loved every minute of it. Ivy is a fantastic character, as an empath she was never able to successfully hold onto Silence so she is used to feeling deeply and isn't as cold as some of the previous characters were in the beginning. It was wonderful to see how Ivy instantly warmed not just to Vasic and Aden but also to all of the other Arrows, she is a real beacon of hope for them and I think she's going to be the one who shows them all what it is like to have a proper family. I don't want to give spoilers so I'll just say that things get extremely interesting (and very, very funny) when the passion starts to build between Vasic and Ivy. There was a particular conversation when Vasic askes Judd for advice that was absolutely priceless. You've got to give these Psy guys credit - they like to do their research and it more than pays off for the lucky ladies in their lives.

Shield of Winter was an emotional roller coaster, one minute I'd be laughing out loud and the next I would be heartbroken and crying for everything that both Vasic and Ivy have been through. This was a really heart wrenching read so it needed the humour to lighten it up but Nalini Singh got the balance just right. I loved seeing how things are progressing in the world since the major changes in the last book, a lot of things are happening and it's sure to be a bumpy ride but I'm pleased with the direction things are taking. My only worry is that I've now got to somehow survive the wait for Shards of Hope next summer, write faster Nalini please, please, please write faster!!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

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