Tag Archives: Wild Embrace

Dorian by Nalini Singh ReRead

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Dorian ReRead
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #5.1
In: Wild Embrace (Nalini Singh)
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, Novella
Year: 2016

Thoughts

This novella is filled with snapshots into the life and times of Dorian. I love that each chapter is a different point in his life and his journey to Aisha and his ability to shift. I love that the first few chapters are about Dorian learning to accept his latency. And, rather than choosing to let this be a weakness, he turns it into a superpower. His will and strength of self are seriously enviable, from a very young age too. And I hope that I am able to raise children with the same strength of self and resilience that Dorian has!

Where Hostage to Pleasure ends with Dorian’s first transformation, this novella takes place before and after this. Starting with the previously mentioned early years, and then surpassing his first shifts to when he lets the rest of his family know. The joy and the genuine love for one another come striking off of the pages with every word. I love that sense of belonging that each of the DarkRiver cats find, and how they have accepted Dorian as he is, but also rejoice in the positive changes in his life.

The fat that all of the sentinels give Dorian no quarter even though he’s only just learning how to be a cat made me smile. They accept him and make sure that he knows he is still expected to be as tough and independent as he’s always been. They treat him as the powerhouse that he is, and this recognition of his power made me smile. It’s nice to know that people don’t just assume that others are weaker because they have a handicap. It also lit up a fire in Dorian. Definitely a story that I needed to fill in all of the joyful gaps in Dorian’s story and journey to becoming the strong sentinel I fall in love with every time I read Hostage to Pleasure.

<- Hostage to Pleasure ReReadBranded by Fire ReRead ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

Echo of Silence by Nalini Singh ReRead

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Echo of Silence
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #2.5
In: Wild Embrace (Nalini Singh)
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, Novella
Year: 2016

Thoughts

Stefan and Tazia’s story is really cute, and a great way to give context to Judd’s battles in Caressed by Ice. Plus it hints at some of the loyalty that the Arrows have for one another. Loyalty that is surprising in a race that is supposedly unfeeling. Basically, everything about this novella is not only a fun adventure and diversion, but also a good way to inform some of the story line later in the series.

Reading this as part of a reread, I love that sea changelings and BlackWater are actually first mentioned in this novella. I absolutely adored meeting a few more of the characters in the Psy-Changeling Trinity, so it was kind of cool to see when they were first mentioned. It also just indicates how much thought Singh has put into building this world.

Even though this was a reread – I still found Tazia’s family history to be really sad and heartbreaking. Rather than there being a big separation due to assholism, it was all about cultural understandings, and practices. There is still a whole lot of love there, and mostly the rift is caused by pride. However, I love that it was actually really easy to resolve – a lot less angst than I had expected, and just beautiful in general.

My only complaint about this is that I wish there was more Tazia and Stefan in the series overall. From memory (although I will confirm with this glorious reread I’m doing) – they’re only really mentioned one or two other times as an aside. They are just adorable, and I want more of them!

<- Visions of Heat ReReadCaressed by Ice ReRead ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

Flirtation of Fate by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

wild-embrace

Title: Flirtation of Fate
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #12.1, Psy-Changeling Season One #12.1
In: Wild Embrace (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: It fed their souls, sootheed the animal that was part of their being.

Synopsis

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…

Thoughts

There were hints of Kenji and Garnet’s love throughout the last few books, Kiss of Snow especially highlighted their flirtations. But, since it was Singh telling the tale, the simplicity of flirting is the only easy thing about their courtship. It was thoroughly enjoyable to read about two people who seem to have been almost mated for years, but unable to make that final commitment. Slowly discovering just why that is will probably make you shed a tear – you’ve been forewarned.

Combining the entanglement of love and a complicated history with murder ensured that this slightly longer novella was an engaging read from start to finish. I couldn’t even put the story down to eat my dinner, much to my family’s frustration! Russ’ death, the ensuing investigation and the display of how badly love can be soured without acceptance of one another tended to take centre stage to Kenji and Jem’s dance. However, instead of taking away from their story, it only added to it, displaying both characters in a way that made you feel the depth of hurt between them and understand both of their actions. It is so simple to make one character the bad one in a relationship, whilst the other is inherently good, to display them both as loving, yet slightly insecure characters takes the talent that Singh has in bucket loads.

<- Heart of ObsidianSecrets at Midnight ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

Partners in Persuasion by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

wild-embrace

Title: Partners in Persuasion
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #11.5, Psy-Changeling Season One #11.5
In: Wild Embrace (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: And now she didn’t protest when he wrapped his own hand around her nape and held her tight as they kissed.

Synopsis

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…

Thoughts

The idea of a more dominant female that was so beautifully explored in Play of Passion comes to full fruition in this great short story. Not to mention the way in which the cross pack relationships that Riley and Mercy began seem to filter through and bloom within Partners in Persuasion. Not only does this short story have the same tantalising and spine-tingling romance that characterises the Psy-Changeling series, it also displays the filtering through of the expanded acceptance between the two bonded changeling groups.

As someone who ultimately had to make the first move, I really appreciated that Singh was able to write so wonderfully of Dezi’s playful stalking of Felix. Although I know that it is rare even in everyday life, not to mention a peculiarity in most stories, the idea of the female being the aggressor in the relationship and courtship was a welcome one. Felix’s ability to accept this and return her overtures of courtship was even more tantalising. Although the roles of courtship that we tend to traditionally assign to a gender within the relationship were reversed, both Dezi and Felix were able to acknowledge each other’s femininity and masculinity respectively.

<- Tangle of NeedHeart of Obsidian ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

Dorian by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

wild-embrace

Title: Dorian
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #5.1, Psy-Changeling Season One #5.1
In: Wild Embrace (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: “It needs to care for them… it’s never had the chance to exercise that instinct.”

Synopsis

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

Thoughts

Dorian is one of my favourite sentinels in the DarkRiver pack – his ability to overcome his lack of shifting, and be one of the most terrifying and successful protectors of the pack is impressive. So, discovering a bit more about his past as a non-shifting leopard, and the troubles of not quite belonging was a great new by-line to read about.

The jumping from one point in time to another until Dorian’s experience as a newly shifted leopard is told was a unique way to tell his tale. It was a short novella, but much of Dorian’s life as a changeling is imparted in such a small amount of words. His ties to his pack members and family are shown through their acceptance and pride in his new found freedom.

<- Hostage to PleasureBranded by Fire ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

Echo of Silence by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

wild-embrace

Title: Echo of Silence
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #2.5, Psy-Changeling Season One #2.5
In: Wild Embrace (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: “If you were like Avril, you would not be Tazi.”

Synopsis

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…

Thoughts

This was a nice little side story in the world of the Psy-Changeling novels – I really don’t see that it had anything to do with the main storyline, but it was a great story regardless. Tazi and Stefan’s love story fits beautifully into the themes of this series – overcoming the past and one’s upbringing to embrace another’s love.

Tazi was such a different lead female to the rest of the characters in this series – although most of the others were virgins, or had their own insecurities, Tazi was in a league of her own. She had incredibly strong ties to her family and culture – and although the scars left by her past are still an obstacle to get over, it is her love of family and cultural moxis that ultimately shape the way she acts and goes through life.

Stefan was a traditional Psy, in the beginning of the story, it was almost impossible to see how he could feel connected to Tazia on any level other than a professional one. The twists and turns that the characters went through to establish a relationship was fascinating and very surprising in some places.

<- Visions of HeatCaressed by Ice ->

Image source: Nalini Singh