Sandy M’s review of Shield of Winter (Psy/Changeling, Book 13) by Nalini Singh
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 3 Jun 14
I’m baffled why I don’t like the Psy stories in this series as much as I do the Changeling stories. As much as I harp about wanting emotion in my reads, with the Psy breaking silence and embracing emotion once again, you’d think I’d be in heaven reading about that. In a way I am. I love reading Nalini Singh, no matter what. But for some reason, the emotion in some of Psy books hasn’t pulled me in like I expected.
Maybe I’m not so baffled after all. I love my shifters. So those cats and wolves in this series are my faves. That’s where all the emotion is for me. I still remember in the first book when Dorian hits the floor when the grief of losing his sister engulfs him again, when we’re first introduced to skin privileges between the animals in these characters. Now, don’t get me wrong. I still devour every book. I love the entire series, period. It’s just that with this book I wasn’t that pulled in as much as others, it seems.
I have to say, however, Ms. Singh keeps everything interesting as the series goes along. With silence gone, all things are possible from here on out. So just when Vasic thinks all is lost for him, one pull in the wrong direction will be the end. Ironically it’s Ivy, one who’s been through Psy treatment to keep her mind in line, who falls into Vasic’s sphere, their goal to save their world.
Neither of them is looking for more than surviving, and the fight they have ahead of them is epic. The Psy Net is being infected, and the scenes where Ivy and Vasic, along with Kaleb and his incredible powers, fight to save both the population and the Net are action-packed and simply stupendous in scope. After all the fighting to keep their way of life, the twist with Vasic does come as a surprise, which Ms. Singh is very good at. And she’s very good at pulling amazing resolutions out of her hat. I think those scenes at the end of the book are actually my favorite, to lose everything again after fighting so hard.
Now, I don’t mean to mislead you that I didn’t feel anything while reading this book. I definitely wanted Vasic and Ivy to have their happily every after, and I knew they’d get it. But the way it came about is moving and heart-felt. I just also wanted the kind of emotion Ms. Singh pulled from me in Blaze of Memory. I sobbed while reading that book. Vasic is near his end, as we know from reading all the previous books, so I’m surprised I don’t feel more when the time comes. But I felt enough. Can’t help it when it’s Nalini Singh.
Grade: A-
Summary:
Assassin. Soldier. Arrow. That is who Vasic is, who he will always be. His soul drenched in blood, his conscience heavy with the weight of all he’s done, he exists in the shadows, far from the hope his people can almost touch—if only they do not first drown in the murderous insanity of a lethal contagion. To stop the wave of death, Vasic must complete the simplest and most difficult mission of his life.
For if the Psy race is to survive, the empaths must wake…
Having rebuilt her life after medical “treatment” that violated her mind and sought to suffocate her abilities, Ivy should have run from the black-clad Arrow with eyes of winter frost. But Ivy Jane has never done what she should. Now, she’ll fight for her people, and for this Arrow who stands as her living shield, yet believes he is beyond redemption. But as the world turns to screaming crimson, even Ivy’s fierce will may not be enough to save Vasic from the cold darkness…
Read an excerpt.
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