Book Review: Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh (Psy/Changelings Series)

I haven't posted for a long time again, but I have been doing a lot of reading during this time. One of the series that I'm very much addicted to right now is called the Psy/Changelings Series by Nalini Singh. The first installment of the series, Slave to Sensation, is a wonderful page-turner written in a convincing original alternative universe (with very yummy male characters, of course).

Summary:

As the alpha of one of the most powerful leopard packs in the country, Lucas is committed to protecting his pack at all cost. When a brutal murder descended upon his pack, DarkRiver, he was determined to find and bring Changeling justice to the serial killer. But to do so, he must extract information from someone of a race devoid of all emotions.

Where the Changelings depends heavily on their emotions and the bond of pack, the Psy denies all emotions, considering it as a weakness. Sascha Duncan was the daughter of a Councilor of the Psy race and was taught to become the perfect Psy from a young age, but she was flawed. Fascinated and attracted to her new Changeling business partner, Lucas, she must hide her emotions to avoid the horror of a "rehabilitation", a fate worse than death, even as he temps her otherwise.

What I liked:

I must admit, I never really liked shape-shifters with the exception of the ones in Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark Series (see my reviews here), and those Lykae weren't even real shape-shifters. I like animals, but having a lover who'll go all furry on you wasn't exactly the sexist thing to imagine. I already have my cat, Kuhla, who snuggles up to me when he's in a good mood, thank you very much, lol. But, I must say, Nalini Singh managed to make her Changelings beyond sexy. What I really love about the Changelings is that their animal is very much a part of them even when they are in human form. This is not something I see all the time in other shape-shifter stories. Throughout the series, you see their human-side battling with their animal-side, which wants to act on instinct. This made their race very interesting and real, which brings me to my next point.

Another reason I was so hooked on this book and, subsequently, the series, is how well and convincing the world was developed. The story takes place in an alternative universe with three different races, Human, Changeling and Psy. Introducing new races and an original alternative universe is very difficult. What was great about the author's approach is how she took ideas we are familiar with and expanded on it to make it her own. We are familiar with the idea of shape-shifters, so she took that as a base and added her own elements to it to make the Changelings. We are familiar with the idea of psychic powers, she took that and added her own twist to make the Psy. What's even better is that we get to discover the ways of the unfamiliar Psy race along with the Changelings, as they are almost as equally clueless about this "emotionless" race as the readers are.

Of course, the hero of the story, Lucas, was super yummy and I can never resist a dominant male (not in a chauvinist pig way) who cherishes females. I loved how he is so protective of Sascha even as he still saw her as an enemy and wanted to extract information from her to get to the serial killer. I also liked Sascha's character development and her struggles to hold on to what is "right", as was taught to her from childhood, even though it goes against everything in her nature. Again, I think that is certainly very real. Most of us are afraid to be different because we know we will become an outcast, so often we do everything in our power to fit it. And that's exactly what Sascha was doing in the earlier parts of the story, until love conquers all, so to say. :)

What I didn't like:

There isn't really anything I didn't like about Slave to Sensation. But there were a few minor things that bothered me a little. For example, at one point in the story, it was said that one of Sascha's favorite memory exercises she does on the computers involved a list of different sex positions. It just seemed odd to me that as a race that views emotions as a weakness, promotes reproduction through the use of sperm banks instead of sex and a governing body that erased information they don't want their people to know would allow the use of sex positions as part of a memory exercise. However, as I said, the things I found odd are only minor things that did not really affect the rest of the story.

Some reader found it unrealistic that once Sascha decided to let go of Silence, the practice of getting rid of all emotions, she was able to transition right away and became like everyone else. Although, I would have liked to see her struggle just a little more on adjusting to her new life with emotions, I wasn't too bothered by it. How I see it, was that she was not able to be herself before, and now that she let go of Silence, she was just being herself - a normal person with emotions. But then I guess it all depends on how you see it.

Conclusion:

If you haven't seen Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh, then you're missing out. I highly recommend this book, and the series to shape-shifter-lovers and non-shape-shifter-lovers alike. The world created in this story is highly believable and intriguing that you'll find yourself immediately hooked. Right now, the Psy/Changeling series is almost at the end of the first arc, with Kiss of Snow coming out in June, so it's getting super exciting to see how things will turn out.

Let me know what you think of this book or series. Did you like it?

All reviews for the Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh

Book Review - Dark Gold by Christine Feehan (Carpathian/Dark Series)

Dark Gold is the third installment of the Carpathian/Dark series by Christine Feehan. It is an intriguing, sensuous read that I've very much enjoyed reading. However, due to certain flaws, which I will discuss later on in this post, I had to debate whether to give it a 3.5 or a 4 Pink Hearts rating. But I guess 4 Pink Hearts it is, because I enjoyed it very much despite that I did not like part of the story.

Summary:

Alexandria Houton loved her little brother and would do anything to protect him from harm. As a psychic, she could be safely turned into a Carpathian and become one of the few that could save the dying race, and now the Vampires hunted her, wanting to claim her as their own. Plunged into the mysterious, yet dangerous world of Carpathians and Vampires, her body turned into a Carpathian by the hands of the powerful Aidan. But, as much as her body embraced both her bond with the attractive stranger and her physical changes, she had yet to accept her fate mentally.

Aidan Savage was a hunter for the mysterious Carpathian race, and the only one that lived with a human family. After 800 years of life without a lifemate, his inner demons were strong, and was close to turning, but that was until he found Alexandria. To heal and cleanse his lifemate's tainted blood from the Vampire's attack, Aidan turned her into one of his kind without her consent. He was determined to give her time to cope, although he found his fight with his inner demon more of a challenge everyday, yet she continued to defy him, continued to deny her new existence and their unbreakable bond. And the latter, he would not allow.

What I liked:

Again, Christine Feehan was really the master of creating perfect men. I love how Aidan loved Alexandria so unconditionally that he was willing to risk himself to allow her time to adjust. I love how he accepted her little brother and gave him the best and everything he wanted just because he was someone Alexandria loved. And I loved it even more that, despite being 8 centuries old and without emotion for the most part of it, once he found his emotion back by meeting Alexandria, he was the most fun and loving person you'll ever meet.

In Dark Gold, I also really liked the fact that Alexandria did not accept the whole concept of Carpathians and Vampires immediately, and that she was in a denial state for quite a bit of time. This part of the plot was handled quite well by the author for most of it, as it was very real and very believable for a normal person to react the way she did when thrown into such a dangerous and foreign world.

What I didn't like:

Although Christine Feehan did handle the "denial-state" quiet well for the most part, it also caused me to dislike some parts of the story. First of all, Alexandria's denial-state dragged on for 3/4 of the story. First she wouldn't believe the existence of Carpathians and Vampires, then when she finally did, she wouldn't believe that she became a Carpathian, then when she finally did, she wouldn't believe the bond of lifemates in her new world. And the whole thing just dragged on and on as if she was just trying to find something to not believe in.

Now the second problem came when she finally was able to accept everything including her love with Aidan. One minute she was still denying that she was not human anymore and that she does not love him, and a minute later she turned around 180 degrees, accepted everything, and was willing to give him whatever he wants/needs...? I couldn't help but keep thinking from that point on towards the end of the story if I've missed part of the story. The transition was just not natural to me.

Conclusion:

Despite the problem with the heroine's personality of extremely repetitive denial and defiance (do we see a pattern here yet?) and a not-so-natural transition to the romance plot of the story, Dark Gold, the paranormal romance novel by Christine Feehan is a very good read that I would recommend to anyone who like the paranormal romance genre. As usual, I loved the hero in this story, and the plot definitely had me turning the pages. If it wasn't for the overdoing of the denial state and the unexpected (in a bad way) transition, I would have no doubt given this book a 5 Pink Hearts, and classified it as a must read.

Read my reviews of the other novels in the Carpathian/Dark series by Christine Feehan

Book Review - Dark Desire by Christine Feehan (Carpathian/Dark Series)

Dark Desire is the second installment of the Carpathian/Dark series written by Christine Feehan. This is a great sensual read, for those who likes intense fire-crackling emotion paranormal romance novels. And since I do, I'm giving it a 4 Pink Hearts rating.

Summary:

Jacques Dubrinsky was a once powerful Carpathian who was betrayed and handed over to the human butchers to be tortured and killed. After days of inhuman sadistic torturing, he had given up on life, and even welcomed death when they drove a stick into his chest and buried him in his cellar. During his seven years of imprisonment, the only thing that kept him alive was his mental connection with his lifemat across the ocean.

Shea O'Halloran was an American surgeon, who believed that she has a rare blood disease. For the past seven years, she heard summons of an unknown voice, felt the anguish of an unknown man across the sea. Drawn to the Carpathian Mountains, she found him, tortured, ravaged and mad, yet she felt compelled to save him.

Even though he believed that she was cruel enough to ignore his summon when he needed her the most, he recognized her as his lifemate, and he was determined to claim her as his own, but he was barely sane, and her courage and compassion was the only thing that could keep him from madness. She could see in his eyes his burning desire and unconditional love that she have so desired all her life, but she was afraid to have him become a part of her. And now, the betrayer, the vampire who handed Jacques over to the human butchers, was back, and he wanted Shea.

What I liked:

Dark Desire is very sensual and emotionally intense, and it kept me turning the pages. Although Jacques wasn't quiet sane towards the first half of the novel, he was, nevertheless, hot and yummy. And it was especially touching when Shea was under attack, and he tried to save her although he could barely move in his physical condition.

I also liked how Shea struggled mentally trying not to fall in love with her destined lifemate, because of her past. It made a lot of sense to me, and helped to intensify their relationship on the way. I couldn't help but smile from my heart when she finally accepted their love.

What I didn't like:

As with her previous Carpathian novel, Christine Feehan's heroine likes to defy the hero in whatever way she can regardless of the situation. Although Shea was not as annoying as Raven in Dark Prince, because she was less dumb, and a little more powerful, I was still annoyed by her. It would seem like Christine Feehan had a problem with distinguishing "independence" and pure "stupidity." Sometimes, it seemed that Shea defy and refuse Jacques' protection just for the sake of defying, nothing more. And that, I didn't appreciate.

Conclusion:

Although I do have a slight problem with Shea's stupid moves in the book, it is still a very nice read. Christine Feehan, although, in my opinion, not so good with developing her female characters, is extremely good at making the heros of her paranormal romance novels the man of any women's dreams... well, unless they really dislike alpha males. Once again, if you don't mind a slightly stupid women trying to be independent, Dark Desire is novel I would recommend to all paranormal romance novel fans out there.

Read my reviews on other Carpathian/Dark series novels by Christine Feehan

Book Review - Dark Prince by Christine Feehan (Carpathian/Dark Series)

Dark Prince is the first installment of the popular Carpathians/Dark series, where Christine Feehan brings us to the sensual, dangerous, paranormal and mysterious world of the Capathians, a species so powerful, yet so lonely it will break your heart. However, despite all the raving reviews out there, I'm only giving this paranormal romance novel a 3.5 Pink Hearts.

Raven Whitney was a powerfully gifted psychic who works for the government to track down the most psychotic murderers in America. She journeyed to the beautiful Carpathian Mountains in Europe to rest her exhausted mind when she heard a cry full of anguish, despair and loneliness that she could not possibly ignore. Being a psychic who could read minds, Raven was no stranger to loneliness, she reached out to Mikhail.

Mikhail Dubrinsky was the prince, and one of the most ancient, of the mysterious and powerful Carpathians, who were often mistaken as vampires by the humans, as they survived on blood, had a much longer lifespan and could burn to death if they were out in the sun for too long. And now, they were on the brink of extinction, because, of some unknown reasons, for centuries, no female Carpathians were born, and many of the young Carpathian children couldn't live past infancy. To make matters worse, many of the Carpathian males were turning into vampires - ruthless killers that preyed on both human and Carpathians alike - because they couldn't find their lifemates, and were ripped of emotions and the ability of seeing colors because of it. Many of the ancients were forced to hunt their once-friends, while on the brink of turning themselves.

When Mikhail met Raven, he was about to end his life so that he wouldn't be consumed by loneliness and turn into a vampire. Her compassion and courage was like a ray of light in his bleak life, and at once he knew he found his lifemate. But his time was limited, for he must claim her at once to prevent himself from turning.

Dark Prince by Christine Feehan is a book that you're bound to fall in love with the hero, Mikhail, if you're into alpha males. Although he suffered much throughout his very long life and was desperate to claim Raven as his mate, he poured his heart out for her, and he took time to make her fall in love with him. Although, as a Carpathian male, he was extremely protective of his lifemate, he compromised much with Raven's modern "independent women" thinking, and tolerated many of her dangerous acts, while he was worried sick about her. Now, where do you get this kind of man in real life??

Christine Feehan also created such a believable world of the Carpathians that will make you rage when the stupid, psychotic and sadistic humans tried to hunt them, and make you root for the Carpathians when they fight. Obviously, it will also make you wish you could meet one of them and become their lifemate. :P

However, Dark Prince also had flaws that also made me want to either put the book down or pull my hair out. First of all, the edition I bought (I'm not sure if it's the same for other editions) needed some reformatting. It was printed in a way that the font were small, and lines were cramped together. It was difficult for the eyes, and didn't leave a good impression.

The book was also repetitive in a sense that the same adjectives where used over and over again. It almost seemed like Christine Feehan had ran out of words to describe Raven's hair or something. And that Mikhail is so unimaginative, that he could only use "little one" as an endearment, and nothing else... it would seem like he couldn't even alternate between that and her name. -_-

And then the thing that bugged me the most when reading this novel was the author's concept of a "strong, independent women." She tried to portray Raven as courageous and intelligent, but in fact, the outcome was that she was a plain retard - ok, I will give her courageous, but retardedly courageous that is. One of Raven's favorite lines in the novel was "I have a brain," but her actions had clearly stated that she didn't have one. She consistently whine about how over-protective and dominating Mikhail was, but never for one second did she understand the difference in strength and power between a human and a Carpathian. She kept complaining that Mikhail would not let her do anything he considered dangerous, and yet 2 seconds after she threw herself into a dangerous situation (which she was warned not to get herself into), she would be lying on the ground, half-dead, and helpless. Now how is that strong and intelligent? In my books, she's probably just 2mm away from TSTL (too stupid to live), and that's only because I've seen much worse in Japanese mangas (comics, if you like). But then, since her character was quite caring, she couldn't be exactly classified as a retarded bitch (thank gods).

So, in conclusion, I don't really recommend Dark Prince. If you're willing to overlook the heroine being retarded, then it's a book you might want to pick up when you have nothing else to read, and are waiting for your favorite authors' books to come out in a couple of months or so, which is exactly what I'm doing now. I am continuing with the series, just because of how yummy the male Carpathians are, but Christine Feehan have yet to change my opinion of her female characters.

I mean, really, it's not shameful to admit to your weakeness...

All reviews of the Carpathians/Dark series by Christine Feehan