Tag Archives: Psy Changeling

Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

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Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

Kiss of Snow is the 10th book in Nalini Singh’s wonderful Psy/Changeling series.  Kiss of Snow is also the long awaited story of Hawke and Sienna. 

We have known about the Laurens from the start of this series, as they are defected Psy’s, who came to Snow Dancer to save the lives of the children.  Hawke, the Alpha of Snow Dancer, allowed them all to live, and become part of their changeling world.  They have hidden from the outside world, as they were deemed to be dead, and only the Dark River Changelings knew of the Laurens. 

Sienna Lauren, who is now only 19, is expected to be the most powerful Psy.  She has spent her early years learning to control her powers, and to fight her attraction to Hawke. Their relationship has always been intense, as they constantly fought each other.  Hawke, at first frustrated with Sienna, struggles with his growing feelings for her.  It is important to note, that Sienna is not like most 19 year old girls.  Her experiences starting at 5 years old in the PsyNet, especially under the evil Ming, has made her mentally old in years.  Sienna can no longer handle her feelings for Hawke, nor that he refuses to look at her as a young woman, but as a child. She decides to take matters in her own hands. His jealousy changes things, when he realizes he must pursue her, or he will lose her to another male. 

What I loved about Hawke and Sienna’s romance, was how Singh handled it.  When Hawke finally started pursuing Sienna, he did it slowly.  Having a little fun playing games; just getting the feel of each other being close; talking freely and truly getting know one another.  He forced his wolf to go slow and not rush things, and when the time came to consummate the relationship, it was beautifully done. Despite his taking extra care not to hurt Sienna, and ensure her dangerous powers stayed under control, we still were able to feel the emotions, and scorching passion between them.  Well done Nalini.

Throughout the story, it was constantly stressed how powerful Sienna was, as possibly the only Cardinal X-Psy alive.  An X-Psy, with fire, was considered extremely dangerous, and uncontrollable, and most were eliminated years ago, as they were like a major nuclear weapon. Knowing full well about who and what she is, Sienna learned to control her powers, with the help of Judd, Sascha and Faith.  She lived in fear that she could be the cause of hurting all those she has come to love within the Snow Dancer and Dark River group.  But the danger remained, that if she reached a critical stage, there would be no way to maintain that control.

I have always loved Hawke, his sense of humor, especially with Lucas and Sascha; his strength, and loyalty to his pack.  Even though we have known Sienna for a long time, I totally loved her in this book.  Her strength against such odds, her confidence, her love for her family and friends, and her utmost love of Hawke, was wonderful to see.  Sienna showed that the power of love can shut down Silence, as she was willing to give up her life for all of them. 

I always enjoy the way Singh continues to keep all the other characters from the previous books in her storylines, and many of them played a big part in this story.  Walker Lauren finally has his own romance in this one with Lara, the Snow Dancer healer. I enjoyed seeing both of them, and it was great to see them together. Both Judd and Walker were instrumental in this story, as they are family to Sienna.  We got to see Sascha and Lucas again, and I love how both packs are now fully together.  

Back to Hawke and Sienna, I was so moved near the end, with Hawke pouring his heart out to Sienna.  It was very emotional, as Singh powerfully does with just words that blew us away.

Nalini Singh’s continues to do a wonderful job with keeping things evolving and changing in each book with this worldbuilding, as the war comes closer.  In Kiss of Snow, the war is escalated, and both Snow Dancer and Dark River must rise up to face some of the Psy council members, & the Pure Psy group, who are amassing a massive attack.  This was exciting from beginning to end, but the last third of the book was awesome.  Once again, bravo to Nalini Singh for keeping the Psy/Changeling series fresh, and exciting even now in the 10th book.  I for one hope she continues for a long while with this series.   

Reviewed by BARB

 

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Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh-a review

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Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

Slave to Sensation is the first book in Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series.  I have to say I was a late comer to this series.  I have read other books by Nalini, and I had this series on my huge TBR list.  After reading Slave to Sensation, which I will review shortly, I am totally hooked, and will place this on the top of my list.  What a start for a series.  Anyone who can hook me in immediately, as well as this being her first book in the series, belongs at the top of the list of authors I must read….*pencils in Nalini Singh to the top of the list* 

Slave to Sensation takes place in a future world, consisting of Psy’s, Changelings, and Humans.  Singh tells us early on that the Psy’s are the dominant species, as they have various mind control abilities, as well as being totally emotionless and arrogant.  They are an authoritarian race, that methodically governs Earth.  The Changelings, who are shape shifters, who have similar emotions as humans, and share a common bond of hating the Psy’s.  They all co exist together, though times are now changing. 

Lucas Hunter, who is the alpha leader of the DarkRiver Leopard Pack, is out to avenge the brutal murder of one of his pack members.  He sets about to offer a real estate business arrangement with one of the top and most dangerous  Psy’s, Nikita Duncan , who brings her daughter, Sascha into the meetings.  Lucas intends to try and in filter the PsyNet by using  Sascha to get information on finding the serial killer, before all Changelings will declare war on the Psy’s. 

Sascha Duncan isn’t like the other Psy’s.  She has lived all her life in fear, that she would be discovered as a broken Psy.  Though she is a Cardinal Psy, which is one of the strongest mentally, she was told early on that she had no special psychic ability, and has fought to hide that she has emotional reactions.   Sascha knows that if she is discovered to be flawed, she will be sent to rehabilitation, where they would reprogram her to become mindless.  But her mental shields that she has used to hide her flaws, has become more difficult to control. 

Lucas and Sascha work together on the business arrangement, and Lucas quickly begins to sense that Sascha is not the normal Psy.  Something about her is different.  His panther changeling senses it too.   Sascha finds herself feeling emotions she has never had, an attraction to Lucas.  She fights to control these feelings, and everynight when she goes home, she needs to build up her defenses again, to face her mother, as well as other Psy, who question her about the changelings.  Sascha starts having realistic dreams at night of Lucas, which turn very sexual, and what she doesn’t know is Lucas sees her in the same dream, and they both find themselves drawn to each other, despite the differences.  During the day, Sascha hides her dreams from Lucas, who unbeknownst to her, is totally aware of them. 

What I loved the most was watching Sascha change from a cold business woman, who has never experienced love, sex, sensations into a wonderful caring person.  Just watching the change in her was so well done.  I thoroughly enjoyed watching this, even had fun with Sascha playing with the young cubs.  Cute.    Lucas who hates Psy’s as do all Changelings, knows that she is different, and has fallen in love with her, knowing that she is his mate, despite everything.   His pack, at first finds it difficult to deal with Sascha, but when she unknowingly helps some of them with their own deep emotions, they too begin to see that she is different.  It is one of these encounters that open Sascha eyes as to why the Psy’s are so hated, and learns more about the serial killer, whom the changelings feel the Psy’s are hiding.  As her feelings continue to grow, and become more apparent to herself, and the changelings, Sascha agrees to help them find the killer.   DarkRiver makes an alliance with SnowDancer, a Wolf changeling pack to work with them to help Sascha trap the killer. 

It was a great exciting ending, with Sascha’s life at risk, possible war on the horizon, and surprises and twists along the way.  I loved this book, it reached out to me from the start, and never let go.  I could not put it down.  I enjoyed the characters that Singh introduces us to, especially the changelings from both packs.  I loved Lucas and Sascha together, as their romance sizzled, especially as she discovered all the sensations she missed all of her life.  I can’t wait to continue this series, and find out which characters will be in the forthcoming books.  Thank you, Nalini Singh, for this wonderful series.

Reviewed by Barb

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