Title: Branded by Fire
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #7
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2009

It doesn’t matter how many times I read the Psy-Changeling series, Mercy and Riley’s story is always one of my favourites. To the point that when I wanted to get my sister into this series, I actually gave her Branded by Fire instead of Slave to Sensation, because this is a fun way to dive into this amazing world. Something about Mercy and Riley is just adorable and too damn beautiful for words. They are sweet, adorable and with just enough fire to be incredibly interesting.

In Branded by Fire, things are starting to seriously heat up with the triumvirate, with individuals from all three groups playing silly games. I love that Mercy and Riley are so obviously on the side of “good”, but they are also caught deeply in it all. It also gives a great secondary storyline to their romance – one that continues the common thread throughout the rest of the series. I love that one of the themes throughout this series, and one that is very much highlighted by the actions of the Human Alliance in this series is that Absolute Power corrupts Absolutely. It’s a reminder to be humble and kind.

As a strong and independent woman, I completely understand why and how it is so difficult for Mercy to “submit” to Riley. Ultimately, their relationship is about partnership and being equal. But in all relationships, there is a bit of giving to one another, or submitting in some small ways. It’s something that often causes conflict and makes things difficult in my own life, so reading about another strong-willed, independent woman struggling with fitting herself in with another person was kind of cathartic to read about.

Every time that I read Branded by Fire, I love that Riley is a prime example of just why our preconceived notions of who and what will make us happy can often be wrong. Sometimes what we think is going to be our “perfect mate” is just the easy option, and not the one that will make us happy. A certain level of being challenged is important in everyone’s lives, but sometimes that can make us uncomfortable as well. Sometimes it’s the people closest to us that pick up on what we need the most, and how those that make us a little uncomfortable can be the ones that also make us the best version of ourselves.

Branded by Fire is a story that’s all about healing from the past by moving into the future. Having the willingness to compromise and adjust in an attempt to find your happily ever after. Particularly for Riley who is stubborn as dirt, but willing to take the dive when it really matters. Still one of my favourite Psy-Changeling books, and one that I look forward to rereading each and every time.

Image source: Open Book Society

Title: Blaze of Memory
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #6
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2009

Whilst I enjoy Katya and Dev as a couple, and their story, they are definitely a couple that I struggle just a little bit more with compared to the others in the Psy-Changeling series. I’m not sure why, maybe because I’m particularly invested in the shifters in this world. And neither Katya nor Dev are shifters. Or this is the only story of the Forgotten, so I don’t have as many characters overlapping to be excited about. Or it could just be that I don’t identify so strongly with either of them. Whatever it is, whilst I enjoy Blaze of Memory, it’s not one of Singh’s books that I can’t put down. Which is maybe not such a bad thing… I actually manage to continue acting like a responsible adult when I read this book.

Although I’m not so excited about the Forgotten, it was still interesting to receive some insight into them and how they function. The different battles they’ve faced over the hundred odd years of silence. I particularly enjoyed the letters to Matthew placed throughout the book – it was nice to read about the thoughts and motivations of a mother as their lives fracture. Plus, it gives two different timelines and points of view. The past and the present of the Forgotten and how important feelings are to people and living their best lives.

One part of the Forgotten’s journey that I love, and that is emphasised in Blaze of Memory is the importance of genetic diversity in evolution. I have a background in biology, so I, admittedly fixated on the fact that the “purity” of the Psy causes some evolutionary dead ends. In contrast, the Forgotten are able to evolve alongside the world that they live in. And ultimately are a healthier population (not just mentally, but also physically and psychically adapting to the world around them). I probably didn’t really notice this on my first few read throughs. But I really liked fixating on that within this read through of the story.

Katya has appeared in past stories and is closely tied to Ashaya, but I like how her identity isn’t obvious from the very beginning. Whilst the books have been leading to a great story arc for the entire Psy-Changeling world, the arrival of Katya and the depths that Ming will go to to destroy his “enemies” is unleashed. It’s the next step of change and things are really starting to heat up in this war. Plus, Katya’s arrival ties another group of people more closely to DarkRiver, giving them all that much more power in the world around them.

The non-stop theme throughout this series is definitely that love can conquer all. And whilst I don’t blindly believe that, I love the hope that it gives. With each reading, I find a new positive and point of joy within. Love is a powerful force, and it’s great to be reminded of that in darker days. Something about Singh’s writing always reminds me of that.

Image source: The Nile

Title: Hostage to Pleasure ReRead
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2008

It might be my second read through, but I still absolutely adore the fact that Dorian gets his happily ever after. He’s such a broken boy throughout the first few books in this series. So it’s really nice that he gets a happily ever after moment. Not only within his romantic life, but also within his shapeshifting reality. Dorian’s painful past is kind of healed by the occurrences within Hostage to Pleasure. And it doesn’t matter how many times I read this, I’m head over heels and happy each and every time I reread this.

I really love the idea of a snipper and a scientist working together. They are both incredibly logical and analytical beings who are laser focused in their chosen fields. I really loved that although, on the surface, the two seem very different, they are, in fact, very similar in their approach to their goals. I honestly only picked up on how similar Ashaya and Dorian are on this read through. Before, I just enjoyed the adventure, but some of the relationship nuances became all that much clearer. Likewise, the nuances to Ashaya’s relationships with Kennan and her sister are a little more intriguing on my third read through. It’s all a little messed up and convoluted. I can’t wait to pick up more aspects of these relationships on my next read through (which will happen because I constantly read these books).

Hostage to Pleasure furthers the evil and the rebellion within the PsyNet. But, it also helps to heal Dorian from the tragedies of Slave to Sensation. I love all of the little threads of insanity that are being revealed. The reflection of Ashaya and her twin of the insanity that is poisoning the PsyNet is beautifully and fantastically symbolic. The fact that this book also closes out some of the predictions that Faith made in Visions of Heat. It also starts to highlight the strength of the growing relationship between DarkRiver and SnowDancer. Again, I felt like Hostage to Pleasure was all about the different relationships and how they are growing and changing, set alongside the evils of the PsyNet and the destruction that Silence has reaped upon it’s people.

This novel included not only a great copy at its helm, but also a lot of cameos of different characters throughout. I particularly loved that this is the first book that Mercy is seen and you get to know her that little bit more. There are a number of characters that I wanted to get to know more or get a little more insight into their happily ever afters. Hostage to Pleasure is the first of these to really start to delve into that trend which gets repeated throughout the series. Frequently showing the happily ever afters as they occur, rather than just riding off into the sunset. Something I seriously love about this romance series.

Image source: Pinterest

Title: Mine to Possess
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #4
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Slow, Medium, Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2007

I had honestly forgotten just how good Clay and Tally’s story actually is. I mean, it’s a really sweet second chance, childhood sweethearts story at its core. But, it also introduces the Forgotten, the battles that the Psy are playing more and more. And just, in general, is a stupidly enjoyable story. It’s got so much drama and passion, but also a level of sweetness and history that isn’t around in many of the other couples throughout the Psy-Changeling world.

There is so much trauma and angst throughout this story – I mean, Clay and Tally’s past gets more and more tragic as it unfolds. And, although both made stupid decisions, it’s really easy to see how they arrived at those decisions. It’s also incredibly enjoyable to journey with them as they both start to overcome the decisions of the past. I’m such a huge fan of the character growth that Singh imbues into her stories – and Clay and Tally are a particularly good example of this.

I’m well aware that I’ve been an incredibly lucky human in that I have a small family unit who is incredibly loving and supportive. But, I also have Found Family who help me complete my life and support me through everything. I love that for Clay and Tally, they are surrounded by Found Family. And that, even if they are a little bit quieter than some of the others, they are just completely accepted and loved for just who they are.

This is one of my favourite Psy-Changeling books to read, yet, its also a couple that I tend to forget about in hindsight. I think because there is something about Clay and Tally that is so much less dramatic and more comfortable than all of the other couples. Which, in this reread, makes them even more intense and powerful as a happily ever after.

Image source: Open Book Society

Title: Caressed by Ice
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2007

Caressed by Ice is a gorgeous story which follows Brenna as she tries to overcome the damage done to her in Slave to Sensation. I love that Judd and Brenna are able to help each other move past the horrors of the past, and find a way to be happy in the end. I love that it’s actually the horrors of the past that help to form them, and find a way to one another. In fact, if Brenna and Judd hadn’t been through such horrific abuse, they wouldn’t have ended up together…

I actually love Judd’s power – I mean, telekinesis has seemed like a seriously awesome power since I watched Matilda. The fact that he has this power at a cellular level? Amazing. It is so tragic that he’s been brainwashed to believe that he is only able to ever be a tool of evil. I always find that in a romance, I connect more strongly to one of the pair – and in this case, it’s Judd with his power and sad past. Plus, he’s protective without being an unreasonable, overbearing male.

There are so many foreshadowing hints about who the Ghost actually is. I love that, even though this is my third reread of this series, I’m able to pick up on so many of these quiet little hints. Plus, it just makes me like the Ghost all that much more, and look forward to rereading his book when I finally get to it… and all of the other books that I seriously love throughout this entire series.

Caressed by Ice is a great reminder that nothing and no one is entirely evil, or entirely good. But, rather, there’s a little bit of both everywhere and in everyone. However, there are some who make decisions that go too far into evil to be forgiven, and Brenna and Judd discover what it means to realise that someone close to you is truly horrifying – and how heartbreaking that is. It honestly is seriously heartbreaking to read about the pain that they go through when they realise the betrayal comes from an unexpected source.

I love that although Brenna’s brothers are incredibly smothering and a little near-sighted with their love and loyalty, they are also kind of awesome. And, again, it’s a good reminder that they get their own very fun and enjoyable stories in the future. It’s also brilliant that Judd is able to show her brothers just how stifling their love is, and how to protect and adore without destroying all of Brenna’s confidence.

Image source: The Nile

Title: Visions of Heat
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Slow, Medium, Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2007

It doesn’t matter how many times I read this series, I still don’t necessarily like Vaughn and Faith as much as Lucas and Sascha. Don’t get me wrong, I love their story and all, but I just don’t get as excited about it. Maybe because I find the idea of having foresight to be one of the more terrifying powers. Most of the time when I read a paranormal anything story, I do spend a little time imagining having each power – but I really don’t like the idea of having foresight.

One of the things that I’ve always loved about Singh’s writing is that the world building is amazing. In Visions of Heat, I love all of the intricacies of the psy people and their many talents that is revealed. In particular, the moral dilemma of being an F-Psy and how to use that power. I mean, begin able to influence the future for good or bad is a whole lot of responsibility, but when do you share that knowledge, when do you hide from it? Although there are some somewhat obvious answers in this, there are a whole lot that fall into the grey area – and I love that this morality is not given any black and white answers.

I absolutely adore Faith’s father and how he is able to manipulate everything. Being that this is a reread, I now realise that these manipulations don’t just occur at the end of the story, but are pieces in play for an incredibly long time. But, I do love that he is able to do so. And how his manipulations indicate his love for his daughter, without ever having to outright state that this is where his actions come from. The love of parent to child and how that can supersede almost anything is a bit of a cornerstone in this series, and I love that Anthony and Faith are the first that you get hints of this love.

There were so many nuances I picked upon in this story that I didn’t notice in my first read through of this series. The interconnectedness of the different characters and the chess pieces that lead to the fall of Silence are all there from the very beginning. And I absolutely adored finding those missed pieces this time around. Then, you have the battle that Faith is fighting – she’s able to not only stop an evil murderer, but also answer a whole heap of her own moral dilemmas.

Whilst Faith and Vaughn may not be my favourite couple, I love that this story is more so about Faith finding who she is and how to operate in an emotional world with the threat of insanity hanging over her head. To me, it’s about Faith, and Vaughn is just along for the ride. Which is as it should be with a strong female at the helm.

Image source: Mighty Ape

Title: Slave to Sensation
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2006

Every time I do a reread of Slave to Sensation (or the entire Psy-Changeling series), I find something more to love. More subtle hints and easter eggs to love, more moments to absolutely adore. Which, of course, just makes me fall more and more in love with every reread. Which is why it’s a series that I’ve reread a number of times at this point – there’s something new and more loveable with every reiteration, and the story manages to enthral me from the very beginning each and every time.

Lucas and his past are really tragic, and every time I read about it, I find new scars and horrors that he has survived and healed from. What I love most about him having such a tragic past though is that it’s his love for Sascha that tempers him and brings some of his humanity back. A good relationship is about balancing and supporting one another, and Sascha is able to do this wonderfully for Lucas, pulling him back from a ledge that even he didn’t realise he was balancing on.

I am absolutely obsessed with Sascha’s role as an empath and her ability to grow into herself and her powers. I know that throughout this series, Sascha discovers more and more about being an Empath, but these first steps are phenomenal to read about. Plus, she has the strength of self to realise that she was treated abominably, and to rise above the way that they have treated her. With grace and dignity, probably why Sascha continues to be one of my favourite females in the Psy-Changeling series.

Although this story is all about Sascha and Lucas, Tammy is most definitely still a favourite. I love how welcoming she is, but also tough and unwilling to compromise on the safety of her people. Between her and Sascha, they both highlight the power of love and emotion, and how this can help those to overcome anything. I mean, there’s still a lot of hard work and intelligence going into these decisions. But at the very core of this story is how love and emotion are integral to who we are and functioning as decent beings.

Image source: Hachette