C2’s review of Shards of Hope (Psy/Changeling, Book 14) by Nalini Singh
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 2 Jun 15

*slinks in and sticks a tentative toe in The Pond* Surprise, faithful reader! You thought I had dropped off the edge of the Earth, didn’t you? HA! Instead I only fell into a pit of despair horrible, terrible SLUMP. You know what it takes to snap a slump – temporarily, at least? An awesome book! Let’s do this… (Oh, HERE BE SPOILERS, if you aren’t up-to-date with the series.)

Shards of Hope picks up a few months after the end of Shield of Winter. Silence has fallen and the Psy are trying to find their way in a vastly different world than they are used to. Prominent, powerful Psy – like the former Council members – play an important part in keeping the PsyNet stable now that emotions are leaking through. Also important to that stability are the newly prominent E Psys and, by connection, the Arrow Squad. Besides protecting the Es, the Arrows are also tasked with tracking down serial killers and other violent Psy that Silence had managed to suppress slightly.

Aden Kai is the leader of the Arrows – and has been since they broke away from Ming the Merciless le Bon’s leadership. How Aden became the leader, when his Psy talents test out in the  mid-range, is a bit of a mystery. Still, he is the leader the Arrows are loyal to and Arrows don’t explain things to the masses.

Zaira Neve is also an Arrow. (A brief quibble – I wish somewhere early in the book that someone explained the pronunciation of Zaira’s name – my brain stalled out every time I saw it and after I thought I had it figured out, later I decided I was wrong.) She has known Aden since she was brought in for training as a child – after she killed both of her abusive parents. Zaira believes Silence is the only option for people like her – those with dangerously violent abilities and tendencies. Zaira thinks she’s a monster deep inside. But Aden disagrees.

Things certainly start off with a bang – Aden and Zaira wake up in a locked cell-like room after being kidnapped. Zaira has significant injuries and both she and Aden have had something done to them that blocks their connection to the PsyNet and their Psy powers. Still it takes more than physical injuries and lack of Psy powers to stop an Arrow and they manage to escape their captors and find their way to a (thankfully) hospitable Changeling pack in the Smokey Mountains (yay new pack!).

Having their Psy powers taken away is an interesting way to “force” Aden and Zaira to actually discuss issues out loud and struggle with things they have mostly taken for granted – instant access to information and assistance, for example – which might help people who have trouble connecting to Psy characters. I didn’t have any problems with that…Aden is all things heroic and not at all the cold, almost mechanical Psy – I know some people have trouble connecting to Psy characters. And for those who already love the Psy heroes (I don’t love the Psy heroes as much as some people do…except for Kaleb – him? I love!), you’re good to go here. It took a little longer for me to lock into Zaira’s character – both because we haven’t seen much of her before and because she is more Silent and closed off. As Aden says, though, there is a fire in her that is hard to miss.

Ah, faithful reader, if you follow the Psy/Changeling series, you know how hard it is to summarize all the things that go on in these books (and if you don’t follow the series STOP READING THIS REVIEW IMMEDIATELY AND GO BUY SLAVE TO SENSATION.)

Aden wants all of his Arrows to have the chance to live full, rich lives.  He realizes there are important lessons to be learned from Silence – especially for those with more dangerous gifts – but does not believe they must keep their emotions locked away. Aden has never been as Silent as many of the Arrows, although few people realized that. And seeing his second-in-command, Vasic, find his way to a life in the sun with his mate, Ivy, has made Aden believe there is a chance for him, as well. For a long time, Aden thought even if the other Arrows found their way, he would not because it would be such a burden for a potential partner to be with the leader of the Arrows. Now, though, Aden has hope. And he knows who he wants – Zaira.

As always, there are lots of things going on in Shards of Hope. The world Nalini has built is large, detailed and ever-expanding. Along with the new Changeling pack I mentioned earlier, we get a bigger glimpse of the water Changelings (I am fascinated by them and the birds, I must say). Plus some human groups are moving into the mix of things a bit more. The focus mainly stays with Aden and Zaira, though. Overall, there is a feel that a lot of disparate threads are moving into one big story. Things are building to something and I look forward to finding out what it is.

So, a few final thoughts – does this book stand alone – I gotta say NO. This is a series you need to read from the beginning and read in order (especially the last four or five books). I see you out there saying “You are not the boss of me, Cee!” but just listen to Auntie Cee and things will be fine. Whippersnappers. Is this a series you should be reading – YES. If you like paranormals and (slightly) futuristic AUs, this is your jam! If you are curious about paranormals, this is an excellent series to try. DO IT! You know you want to.

My grade: A+

 Summary:

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 the series: