Limecello’s review of Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changelings, Book 5) by Nalini Singh
Paranormal romance released by Berkley on 2 Sep 08

I really like Nalini Singh’s books. A blanket statement that holds a lot – but I discovered her in February 2008 while reading the anthology An Enchanted Season. Absolutely loved her novella Beast of Temptation – and then read Slave to Sensation and nearly all of her backlist. (Yes, including the Harlequin Desires, which are quite good.) Ms. Singh’s Psy/Changeling series is quite popular, and I have to say that this is one of my favorites.

Ashaya Aleine makes for an excellent heroine. It’s also nice that she’s not your typical Psy. She’s smart, and I must add that I love she has a hard science degree. (Heroines can be brilliant and amazing too!) Ashaya is special for a number of reasons – not just because she’s an M-Psy (medical) with basically little to no other psychic powers. She’s “broken” – has a twin, a son, courage, and yet is selfish. She’s human which makes it better since Psy are supposed to be emotionless. I knew she’d be special once I read Mine to Possess – and I ended up liking Ashaya a lot more than expected.

Dorian Christensen is a hero I knew I’d love. He’s latent – so even though he’s a changeling, he’s never assumed leopard form. Add that to the tragedy he’s experienced, and you’ve got a wounded hero you’re conditioned to feel sympathy and admiration for. However, rather than letting that get him down, Dorian is fierce and you have to admire him for that. He’s almost more feral than a truly wild animal, which is part of his strange appeal. Dorian absolutely hates the Psy, so is completely conflicted when his inner self recognizes Ashaya as his mate. This makes for delicious tension and angst.

While the plot got a bit tangled at points, it was very nice to see characters that have becomes something like old friends. I do wish there had been more of a focus on some of the “older” characters. What was also enjoyable was reading about the developing relationship between Dorian and Ashaya. While “silence” didn’t work for her, in a way her emotions are even more repressed than a normal Psy’s. Then there’s the fact that people are out to get them, children involved, and the entire world crashing down around them. It’s quite suspenseful. (Although I admit to wanting it to be done so I know how it all ends!)

I’m wondering where this series is headed. I enjoy each book (some more than others) though the story line has become rather convoluted. It’s a bit difficult to keep characters and events straight if you haven’t read the books in a while. Still, Hostage to Pleasure was very enjoyable, and I’m so glad that I read it. I

f you’re a fan of Ms. Singh’s writing, or looking for a different type of paranormal read, I can definitely recommend this book. In fact, I’m eagerly awaiting her next books – Angel’s Blood and especially Branded by Fire.

Grade: A-

As the deadly Psy Council tightens its grip, a rebel Psy scientist finds herself at the mercy of a changeling who has sworn vengeance against her kind…

Separated from her son and forced to create a neural implant that will mean the effective enslavement of her psychically gifted race, Ashaya Aleine is the perfect Psy–cool, calm, emotionless…at least on the surface. Inside, she’s fighting a desperate battle to save her son and escape the vicious cold of the PsyNet. Yet when escape comes, it leads not to safety, but to the lethal danger of a sniper’s embrace.

DarkRiver sniper Dorian Christensen lost his sister to a Psy killer. Though he lacks the changeling ability to shift into animal form, his leopard lives within. And that leopard’s rage at the brutal loss is a clawing darkness that hungers for vengeance. Falling for a Psy has never been on Dorian’s agenda. But charged with protecting Ashaya and her son, he discovers that passion has a way of changing the rules…

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series: