New York
Photo Credit: Blog: Todd Bouldin
★★★★½ For those of you who know me, you realize I’m a big sucker for amnesia storylines. As I am a nurse, I realize how implausible they are; nevertheless, I still love to roll my eyes and laugh over them. However, this one is a bit different because Ms. Singh has set it in the fantastic futuristic world of her Psy-changeling series.
The amnesia is no laughing matter; Ekaterina – or Katya – was presumed dead in the Nebraska lab explosion ordered by Ming LeBon. For over five months she has been starved, tortured, beaten, and psychically raped. Tossed on Dev’s New York doorstep, now she is left with only nightmares that mercifully disappear in the daylight. We have a bit of a psychologically thriller this time around, as Katya has a message – or compulsion – implanted into her brain to discover all she can about the Shine Foundation, its director Devraj Santos, and the Forgotten. In other words, she is a “sleeper-agent-assassin.” I didn’t think I’d like this book as much as I did, because I wasn’t looking forward to reliving the mind rape Katya experienced; but, Katya won me over. I love to see fragile women find an undiscovered reservoir of strength and self-sufficiency.
Dev is hard, loyal, protective and yummy! Some of his loved ones worry that he will become as cold as the metal and machines over which he controls. However, let me assure you: the 30th of August is Toasted Marshmallow Day and for a challenge I needed a hero who is a ‘closet marshmallow’ (hard on the outside, but with a soft gooey center!). Dev – with his fierce temper and predator’s heart– fits the bill perfectly; his only weakness is his need to protect the innocent.
And soft, gentle, innocent, Katya is the perfect woman to thaw – or toast – his icy, alpha-male control. Is Dev and Katya’s relationship a bit of Stockholm Syndrome? Hmm. Good question. If it is, Ms. Singh certainly turns it on its ear, flips it over backwards, and kicks it up several notches.
Did I miss the Changelings as one of the main characters in this love story? Not as much as I thought I would. Plus, I really wanted to learn more about the Forgotten, those descendants of Psy who, instead of eschewing emotions, dropped out of the PsyNet and intermingled with Humans and other species. With regards to ‘attention grabbing’ ability, does this fraction hold its own against the Changelings and the Psy? Definitely. Which is no small feat.
I’d love to see Ms. Singh’s outline for this series. Her story arc is detailed and well plotted. (I think my suspicions as to who the Ghost is are spot on; but, I’ll have to wait and see.)
Oh. Did I cry? Yup. Big surprise there. I didn’t think Nalini Singh could do that when my GoodReads friends warned me it would happen; I thought forewarned would make me immune. Ha!
Of course, what Katya did toward the end of the book had me sitting on the edge of my seat! Eep!
I read this one in paperback instead of indulging in the audio book (I’m being good, as I’m remodeling.) Nevertheless, I have it on my audible.com ‘wish-list’ since it is read by the wonderful Angela Dawe.
Audio book covers:
Slave to SensationVisions of HeatCaressed by IceMine to PossessHostage to Pleasure
Blaze of MemoryBonds of JusticePlay of Passion
Tangle of Need
