Slave to Sensation
Reread for the fourth time as a BR with the fabulous Gaby.
It's still awesome.
Big cats rule.
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2nd read - 25 - 27 February 2013
3rd read - 15 - 17 April 2014
4th read - 21 - 24 March 2015
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I'll start off by saying that I find Nalini Singh's books so difficult to review. The reason being is that I am absolutely in love with the worlds she creates. She is an amazing storyteller and her books are a joy to read and re-read.
Slave to Sensation is the first in the amazing world of the Psy-Changeling's. The Psy are a race of psychic beings who are all linked together by the Psy Net and who in the past have been prone to committing horrific acts of violence. In order to try and stop their race from committing these crimes they implement the Silence protocol, a form of conditioning emotion from the entire race, resulting in what they believe is a perfect race that commits no violence and is highly intelligent and successful.
The Changelings are a race of beings that can shape shift, the predators among them are tight knit and protective of both their own packs and those too weak to protect themselves. They rely heavily on emotion and touch, something the Psy have destroyed and something the Changelings would become aggressive without.
Lucas (Panther Changeling and Alpha to his pack DarkRiver) and Sascha's (Psy and daughter to a Councilor) story is a wonderful introduction to this world, a world that is intriguing and fabulously developed. The characters are really well portrayed and you get a really good idea of what is to come. Predatory Changelings are POSSESSIVE and seeing Lucas with a Sascha who does not really understand this world that she has wondered into is interesting to say the least. The pain that she goes through in order to be who she was always supposed to be but was forced to hide was so heartbreaking, she is a really lovable character and I did wonder how she survived as long as she did. Lucas was strong and willful and really the perfect partner for her.
Their introduction to each other comes about because of an active serial killer who is targeting Changeling women, that serial killer is believed to be Psy. Something the Psy Council (a group of 7 Psy who are omnipotent and highly corrupt) have led the world to believe isn't possible. Both the Council and the killer lend a highly sinister feel to the book, the Council especially, you get a real sense of helplessness because of them throughout, they are so influential and so corrupt that you can really understand the rock and the hard place that the other races have found themselves.
This world is so intriguing and these books are a joy to read. So far I can't get enough of them and have had to limit myself to only reading them once a year in preparation for new releases. I can't recommend these books enough.
The world of the Psy-Changeling's makes me so happy.
