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.

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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