Gwen’s review of Mine to Possess (Psy-Changelings, Book 4) by Nalini Singh
Futuristic paranormal romance published 5 Feb 08 by Berkley

The most difficult thing I’ve done all week is not read the other reviews of this book.  I wanted my review to be unbiased and have, hopefully, original thoughts.

This was just an amazing read.  Singh’s world is complex and very rich in detail.  Her characterizations are varied and lifelike – very believable, regardless of the paranormal elements.  Her story arcs are logical, sometimes surprising, and satisfying.  The suspense was gripping.  The sensual scenes were lush and detailed without being puerile.

Okay – enough about the mechanics of what a terrific writer Singh is.  Now on to how I FELT about the book.

It was one of the best books I’ve ever read and dealt realistically with one of the more gut-wrenching topics a book can deal with.  In this book, Singh deals with something not very many romance authors dare to handle – a hero, Clay, and heroine, Talin, who both suffered from abuse as children.  Different kinds of abuse (his was neglect, hers was sexual and neglect), but still abuse. 

Singh brings to life the adult impact of child abuse.  You feel the blows to the character’s self-esteem and to how they deal with other people in their lives.  Clay and Tally have known each other since they were very young (he 8 years old, she 3), so their history is long and sometimes horrifying.  As a result of this long acquaintance, there’s a “short hand” they’ve developed, even if they don’t know it.  They’ve been mated for years and years and have tried to ignore the pull.  All of this – the self-image issues, the history, the mating – all piles up to create an emotionally explosive reunion.  The way Singh brings these two characters thru all of this and out the other side, better than they were before, is the epitome of why I read romance – it is significant, emotionally satisfying writing.

Don’t get me wrong – this isn’t some heavy tome inspecting the navel lint of abuse.  It is a fast-paced, suspenseful read that happens to have some very satisfying emotion to it.  And one very hot alpha hero. 

 This book would standalone, if you haven’t read the series.  You’ll get more out of the story if you read the other entries, but it could be read alone.

I canNOT wait for the next entry, HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE (Dorian’s book), coming in September 2008. 

Grade: A

From the back cover:

Clay Bennett is a powerful DarkRiver sentinel, but he grew up in the slums with his human mother, never knowing his changeling father. As a young boy without the bonds of Pack, he tried to stifle his animal nature. He failed…and committed the most extreme act of violence, killing a man and losing his best friend, Talin, in the bloody aftermath. Everything good in him died the day he was told that she, too, was dead.

Talin McKade barely survived a childhood drenched in bloodshed and terror. Now a new nightmare is stalking her life—the street children she works to protect are disappearing and turning up dead. Determined to keep them safe, she unlocks the darkest secret in her heart and returns to ask the help of the strongest man she knows…

Clay lost Talin once. He will not let her go again, his hunger to possess her, a clawing need born of the leopard within. As they race to save the innocent, Clay and Talin must face the violent truths of their past…or lose everything that ever mattered.

Read excerpt 1 and excerpt 2.

Read Alicia’s review and SandyM’s review of this book.

Other books in this series.