Veena’s review of Shards of Hope (Psy-Changeling, Book 14) by Nalini Singh
Urban Fantasy published by Berkley 02 Jun 15

This series offers readers passionate romance set in the midst of intense political maneuvering  in a fantasy world that seems familiar and yet alien. When we first started the series, I never imagined that the love stories of Kaleb, Vasic or Aden would rank amongst my favorites, and yet Ms. Singh has outdone herself in the emotional richness of these love stories that thrive in a wasteland of emotions that refuse to die, despite the severity of the actions taken to eliminate them.  Zaira and Aden reflect the conflict that rages amongst the Psy with the fall of Silence. For some like Zaira, it’s been a safety blanket providing the control necessary to keep a lid on their power.  While she whole heartedly buys into Aden’s dream, will she ever develop the trust necessary to lower her shields and allow him inside the deepest, darkest part of her?

There are so many parts of this story that appeal to me that I have a hard time honing in on just a few to highlight here.  The one thing that touches me the most is Aden’s desire to be a true alpha to his people, tempering softness with discipline. The blossoming of the children and teenagers as they emerge into sunshine after a cold, dark silence adds an emotional richness to the story that will enthrall the reader.   Not only has silence fallen, but the walls between various ideologies have dissolved. Changeling children are intermingling with children destined to be Arrows and the first of the cross-bloods like Naya will set the tone for a new and different future.

To keep conflict alive and the story interesting, a new enemy has emerged who’s determined to bring down the fledgling alliances that are being forged and create a chaos that they can take advantage of. Aden proves himself equal to the task as he strengthen old alliances, forges new ones, and mobilizes an attack force to defeat this new enemy.

Aden emerges as a true leader of the Arrows with cool, new powers that are finally revealed to the reader.  It’s so cute how he seeks help from Judd and Vlasic and various texts in seeking to coax Zaira out of silence into the richness of touch and awaken emotions that she’s repressed out of fear.

All in all, I have a hard time deciding which ones are my favorites in the series, but I have no doubt that this one definitely makes the cut for me.  This is a not-to-be-missed story in the series, since it will definitely set the tone for future books.

Grade: A

Summary:

The “smoldering heat, epic romance, and awesome action”* of Nalini Singh’s New York Times bestselling series continues as two Arrows find themselves caught in a chilling conspiracy that spans all three races…

Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn’t welcome outsiders.

And they must survive. A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad, an enemy that cannot be permitted to succeed in its deadly campaign. Aden will cross any line to keep his people safe for this new future, where even an assassin might have hope of a life beyond blood and death and pain. Zaira has no such hope. She knows she’s too damaged to return from the abyss. Her driving goal is to protect Aden, protect the only person who has ever come back for her no matter what. This time, even Aden’s passionate determination may not be enough—because the emotionless chill of Silence existed for a reason. For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken…like Zaira.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: