Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

Series: Psy-Changelling - Book One

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 334

Copyright: 2006

Rating:

Slave to Sensation embodies all that makes a Romance novel so utterly, gratuitously satisfying. It's intelligent, high-concept fiction coloured by the deep understanding of the emotions that make us all human and I can't sing its praises enough. Having said that, this is a paranormal romance and since we all have preferences, I'll gladly let you know why I loved it.

I was extraordinarily impressed with the Psy-net concept. It's fascinating, well-developed and creates more than enough guts to power the plot along at high speed. Even if you removed the romance element from this book, you would still have a concept interesting enough to create a science-fiction novel.

But after a few pages of the hero, you wouldn't want to remove the romance element of the story. Lucas really is quite divine. But then again, I always was a sucker for the alpha hero. And as the Alpha of a pack of changelings, Lucas is as possessive, sexual, dominant and masculine as they get.

Lucky Sasha gives as good as she gets. She is a heroine you find yourself slipping into the mind of easily. There were so many things about her that I loved but I don't want to give away any secrets. She is a character you gladly observe developing throughout the course of the novel.

The other thing that Romances novels tend to do really well is develop interesting minor characters. I will gladly read about any of the cast of the changeling-psy world...actually I don't think I'll be able to stop myself.

We asked author Anna which Royal person from history she'd like to be and why. Here's her response:

Rather than being a royal figure, I think I'd like to be the power behind the throne in a time when empires were rising and worlds were being explored. Ooh, the things I could get done *rubs hands*

About Nalini Singh

Nalini Singh was born in Fiji but raised in New Zealand. She was first published in 2002 by Silhouette Desire and has gone on to become a New York Times Bestselling Author of the Psy-Changelling Series. The ever-popular Psy-Changelling books are currently up to #9 and Nalini has just begun working on a new series, the Gulid Hunter novels (first book is Angels' Blood).

Nalini has an active blog which we encourage you to drop into here and a great website (including extra stories and deleted scenes!).

Book 9 in the Psy-Changelling Series is Blaze of Memory. You can preorder it here through Amazon or here through Book Depository (free postage worldwide). Book 2 in the Guild Hunter novels will be called Archangel's Kiss and will be released in Februrary 2010.

Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh

Published: 2007
Pages: 346

I found Visions of Heat, the 2nd book in the Psy-Changeling series less intense than Slave to Sensation, like the contrast between a roller coaster ride and a spin on the ferris wheel.

Faith Nightstar, an F-Psy is a powerful, carefully protected & constantly monitored foreseer. She has been isolated from the age of 3, predicting with such uncanny accuracy that her forecasts are worth millions. Jaguar changeling Vaughn D'Angelo is a sentinel in the DarkRiver leopard pack & offsider to pack Alpha Lucas Duncan. Vaughn is a solitary character and his animal is very close to the surface.

When Faith starts having visions of darkness, blood and murder she seeks out Sascha, mate to Lucas and an E-Psy who defected from the PsyNet. Faith's relationship with Vaughn and her progress as she breaks conditioning is the main focus in this story, the attempt to identify the murderer is more of a background sub-plot.

While Faith & Vaughn's coupling did sizzle, I was a little disappointed I didn't feel the same connection to these characters, I didn't become immersed in their story as I did with Lucas & Sascha.

Sascha's quick bond with Lucas seemed far more plausible, being an E-Psy who dealt with hiding her emotions for a long time, where as Faith has been completely isolated for the majority of her life and manages to proceed from seizures to an intimate response at Vaughn's touch within days.

I loved the introduction & descriptions of NetMind, the NetMind 'feels' giving a sense of hope to the Psy who have defected. Faith communicates with NetMind in images and I found this a beautiful concept, sunshine, bouquets of flowers, rain. I thoroughly enjoyed Singh's continued building of the Psy-Changeling world and the direction she is taking with the series. Obviously we are going to see some changes with the protocol 'Silence' & the corrupt Psy Council & PsyNet.

Overall enjoyable but not as captivating as Slave to Sensation.

Royal Rating:

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

This book seriously blew me away - a paranormal suspense/romance with a kick-butt edge to it (and if you could possibly want more, a serial killer) - my recipe for a perfect book.

Nalini Singh has come up with an innovative plot, creative & complex without being complicated. I loved getting to know the fascinating psy/changeling world. The Psy population have supposedly been conditioned to feel no emotion, through the use of a program called 'Silence', however this does not prove to be true for all Psy. With powers including telepathy, telekinesis & foresight the Psy consider themselves far superior to Changelings. The PsyNet is the network that connects all Psy, provides Psy feedback and ensures their survival. The changelings are both animal & human with traits of both and in 'Slave to Sensation' leopard packs & wolf packs are the predominant changelings.

The characters are marvellously developed, Sascha Duncan is a powerful Psy cardinal and Lucas Hunter is panther Changeling, the Alpha of the DarkRiver leopard pack. The relationship between these two develops around the hunt for a serial killer; a Psy murderer who is slaying Changeling women. Sascha is drawn to the warmth & affection of the pack and truly believes that not only is she flawed but because she is 'feeling' her slide into insanity is escalating. The chemistry between Sascha and Lucas is sizzling and this reader certainly appreciated the HOT scenes and the HOT male characters.

I want my very own panther with 'skin privileges' but I guess I'll just have to settle for reading the next in Nalini Singh's series 'Visions of Heat'

Royal Rating:

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

I don't know how to write this review without seriously gushing all over the page. This may be the best book I've ever read and that is a 'big' statement. If you love Science Fiction, Suspense, Romance and Paranormal then this book is for you! It's got a hot and steamy love story, a serial killer and a Psychic network that I couldn't dream up but loved. If you are a fan of Werewolves then you will love this book. This book is the ultimate in female science fiction! It reminded me of 'Damia' by Anne McCaffrey and the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer just to name a few. I did warn you of my overwhelming need to gush.

There are five books in the series with the sixth book, Branded by Fire to be released in July 2009 so there is plenty to keep you going.

Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series and therefore teaches you about the world of the Psy and the Changeling. The main characters Sascha (Psy) and Lucas (Changeling) end up coming together to fight a serial killer. What fascinated me the most was the Psy network and the way it works. They are a race of people who have been trained to experience or express no emotion whatsoever. The network in which every Psy mind is linked to and dependent on for their survival is described to be like the Internet but with minds instead of computers. This is truly a fascinating concept to me!

The Changelings are people who morph into various animals. In this book they are Leopards, Jaguars and Wolves and they function as a family/pack unit. They of course have all the human traits that are appealing including loyalty, working for the greater good and fierce protectiveness. Being a that this book is also a romance they have very attractive males in their group and if that doesn't get you wait until you read about their 'mating' for life rituals!

This is an action packed fast paced novel that I would recommend to anyone who likes Science Fiction. If you are an adult searching for something to read after Twilight then go no further, this book will more than satisfy your needs.

Royal Rating: