Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changelings, Book 1)

Oh, how I wish there was a way we reviewers can rate a writer’s entire series and not just the individual book. This book, Slave to Sensation, is the first of the Psy/Changeling series, which, at the time of this review, is up to 12 books (13 if you count the collection of novellas in Wild Invitation), with the newest in the series expected to come out in June 2014. I have read... okay, gobbled up - all of the books in this series, all in Kindle format. I have no complaints of the format Many reviewers have commented on the plot of this book itself, therefore, I will not bother re-hashing yet again this book, but instead, consider this a review of the ENTIRE series. This is a series FOR mature adults who like to read ABOUT mature adults with intricate characters and story lines and delves into deep theories of psychology without being too technical. There is playfulness and humor, mild language, and the sex scenes are natural, sensual and hot!The Psy/Changeling series is the first series of ANY writer I have read with this many books involved, who has remained true to all of the characters, and true to the plot throughout. Ms. Singh has been able to successfully connect all the books seamlessly all the while allowing each character to have their own individual personalities and their own conflicts and weaknesses. With each book, you grow to know and care for the characters and understand what drives them. They are all strong, mature, sensual and at times playful characters, even the secondary ones, which is refreshing. I have stopped reading many a book simply for the fact the H/H are brainless, witless cardboard caricatures who fall into the Too Stupid To Live category.Ms. Singh creates a wonderful, well-thought out world where Psys, Changelings, and Humans basically fight for good and evil in the not too distant future, and has actually given great consideration to the history of this world. Each book weaves itself into a much larger tapestry. There are not many writers who are able to do build upon the last book as successfully as Ms. Singh. I have been disappointed in the past where I followed a series faithfully, only to have the writer (or the editor!) change the direction of the entire series with just one book, to where the new plot resembles nothing of the first book. Too many times the writer seems to "forget" all of the previous characters and their actions. But not Ms. Singh. She may leave you guessing, but she continues to stay true to the main theme. I don't know how she can keep all of the details straight, but I have gone back and re-read the series from beginning to the most current book a few times over, and I cannot find any holes in the plot, or holes in the characters at all. As with all series, some books will have more action and holds more interest than others, but there is nothing false in how each character reacts and behaves. Some of the story lines concerned me because they began too similar from some of the other books in the series, but the new h/h still had their own individual, conflicts and personalities that enhanced both the story and the series, which is hard to maintain for most authors.Bottom line: If you like this first book, and you like the nuances this book has to offer, I have no doubt you will enjoy the series. Here are the books in order: Slave to Sensation, Visions of Heat, Caressed by Ice, Mine to Possess, Hostage to Pleasure, Branded by Fire, Blaze of Memory, Bonds of Justice, Play of Passion, Kiss of Snow, Wild Invitation – collection of novellas, Tangle of Need, Heart of Obsidian, and the newest so far, Shield of Winter (in June 2014)

I enjoyed reading about a whole new paranormal society. Nalini Singh creates a fantasy future unlike any other. She uses true California locations, based around the year 2080. Her world includes 3 types of species... human, changelings (predatory cat/ humans & wolf/ humans), and Singh's own creation: a species of people known as "Psy".The Psy have bred all emotions out of their people. They exist only for the sake of gaining power through cold efficiency. If any of their breed show emotion, they are considered "broken". Broken Psy are sent to a clinic to have their mind chemically washed, leaving them vegetables. If any Psy tries to leave their community, called "PsyNet", they will instantly die from the lack of interaction with other Psy minds.Lucas Hunter is panther/ human changeling of the DarkRiver Pack. As alpha of his pack, he is heading an investigation to find a Psy who has been murdering female changelings. To get the info he needs, he enters into a construction contract with the Duncan family of the Psy. Sascha Duncan is going to be working closely with Lucas on the construction of homes. Neither Lucas or Sascha knows that the other is only in the contract as a means for finding info on the other species.Early into the contract, Lucas recognizes that Sascha is different from most Psy. She reacts and shows hints of emotion. Sascha is doing her best to hide that she is "broken". If her species finds out, they will send her to the clinic to be brain- washed. As she learns more about Lucas and his pack, she has no choice but to accept that there is a murderer among her species.Lucas has begun to acknowledge that Sascha is more than a business contact. She is his life- mate. He makes it his goal to convince her that she is not "broken", but gifted. The affection and protective possessiveness that Lucas shows for Sascha works to break down her personal barriers. Now Sascha will sacrifice everything to help save the pack of changelings who have made her one of their own. Facing off with the murdering Psy will mean exposure of her emotions. Sascha would rather be killed by breaking away from the life force of the PsyNet than be sent to the clinic. When Lucas discovers that he can save her for a few months by giving her half his life force, he decides he would rather die with her than live without her. Neither can bare letting the other die. Neither can find an answer to save them both.Overall, a great story with vivid landscapes and intricate personalities. About 3/4 of the way through, I skimmed some pages that got too detailed about how the PsyNet works, etc... There were some pages with too much planning for the future actions to capture the murderer as well. Some of this would have been better left a mystery. Another slowing point was the reiteration of Sascha's sorrow and hopelessness for a future with Lucas. The martyrdom was a bit too much.After all of that detail, the whole thing is solved in just a few pages. We don't get to actually "be there" when the murderer is caught. We are just quickly told about how it happened. The dilemma involving saving Lucas and Sascha was wrapped up in one paragraph. I would have preferred less planning 3/4 of the way through the book, and much more solid solutions at the end.The Pack is terrific. Loyal and fierce, there is nothing they won't do for one another. They show affection openly and share in the caring of the young. The males are very possessive. The females are strong and independent, many of them warriors. The Pack made the story for me.Want to read the whole series? Here are the sequels: Visions of Heat (Psy-Changelings, Book 2) Caressed By Ice (Psy-Changelings, Book 3) If you enjoy changeling romances, where the hero can change between human and beast forms, here are a few I suggest: A Hunger Like No Other (The Immortals After Dark Series, Book 1) Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (The Immortals After Dark, Book 3) Lair of the Lion Dragon Heat (Dragon Series, Book 1) The Black Dragon (Dragon Series, Book 2) If you enjoy romantic tales between protective men and modern women, try the "Bullet Catchers" series: Kill Me Twice (The Bullet Catchers, Book 1) Thrill Me to Death (The Bullet Catchers, Book 2) Take Me Tonight (The Bullet Catchers, Book 3)

I love this series . Already on the second book and waiting for the other 2 to arrive . Hope I can wait that long !

Read this based in recommendations and WOW!!!So much suspense and action in every sense of the word.Great description of characters that they easily come to life.Excited for the next book.

Great book. Arrived in perfect condition.

I'm a big fan of Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series so it was about time I finally got around to starting the Psy-Changeling books! I have to say I was impressed and I think this has the potential to become my favourite out of the two series. I loved the world that Nalini has created, you have two very different races who have pretty much the opposite outlooks and are struggling to live alongside each other. The Psy have incredible psychic abilities, from mind reading all the way through to telekinetic powers (although I'm sure there are even more types that we are yet to discover). As a race they have been trained not to feel any kind of emotions, they are supposed to be ruled purely by logic and anyone who shows the slightest hint of emotional behaviour will have their personality brutally wiped out at a rehabilitation centre. The Changelings on the other hand are ruled by their feelings, they work hard and play harder and nothing is more important to them than the bonds between pack and family - the Psy don't even develop close relationships with their parents or siblings.Our main characters for this instalment are Psy Sasha and Changeling Lucas. Sasha has always known how different she is from the other Psy and learnt from a young age to keep her feelings closely hidden - even from her mother who would never understand her behaviour. As the daughter of an important Council member Sasha knows more than most just how dangerous it would be if anyone found out just how different she is and she knows that not even her mother would protect her if she is discovered. Lucas is the alpha of the DarkRiver Leopard pack and he is working to track down the Psy who has been brutally murdering Changeling women. The latest victim was a member of his pack and he will do whatever it takes to make them pay, even if that does mean working with Sasha and trying to use her to get the information he needs.I absolutely adored this book, I loved the world building, I'm fascinated by the Psys (although I wouldn't want to be one!) and I always enjoy reading about different kinds of shapeshifters. Above all I loved the relationship between Sasha and Lucas, Nalini Singh takes the time to develop their relationship slowly and I enjoyed every minute of it. The way Lucas cares for his pack is heart warming but it was so good to see the way he began to care for Sasha and how determined he was to protect her and keep her safe from harm. Sasha had never been allowed to freely express herself so she finds it hard to even understand all the emotions that Lucas brings out in her, she instinctively knows how to love but she is so used to locking all her feelings away that she finds it hard to express herself. Lucas never pushes her beyond what she is prepared to give though, he understands how hard it is for her and he teaches her how to care for him and his packmates. One of my favourite things about the couple was the banter between them and when you have conversations like the one below it is very hard not to laugh out loud:"I could turn your mind to mush if I wanted""But then who'd lick you to orgasm?"Slave to Sensation was a fantastic start to the Psy-Changeling series and one that has left me very excited to find out more. We have been introduced to a great range of side characters so I'm happy that each book focuses on a different couple but I'm also interested to see how the ongoing storyline of the political relationship between the Psy and Changeling races will play out. If Nalini Singh wasn't already on my list of favourite authors this would have earned her a place there so if you haven't read any of her books before then you really should do as soon as possible!

This was one of the books I’ve read this year that really stood out. It had wonderful characters, a great plot, and terrific chemistry between hero and heroine. Nalini Singh created a new and interesting world that captivated me from the start!The story takes place in San Francisco in 2079. The Psy are humans who have developed psychic abilities. A program called “Silence”, created in order to erase baser notions such as hate and rage, succeeded in erasing all emotions in Psy. They think themselves superior to the normal humans and the Changelings, a race of shapeshifters. They have their own government and control most of the worldwide business. But a shift in power is on the horizon.Investigating the brutal murders of some changeling women have the leopard, wolves, and other shapeshifters believe that the killer must be a Psy. Because the races rarely interact, except for business matters, Lucas Hunter, pack leader of the leopards in the San Francisco area, needs an inside into the Psy world. The opportunity arises when Sascha Duncan, whose mother is in the Psy council, is appointed liaison for a building project between Psy and Changelings. But from the start Lucas’ keen animal senses detect something strange about Sascha. She doesn’t seem as cool and aloof as other Psy.Sascha is fearing that she is going insane because lately she is experiencing strong emotions which is as good as a death sentence in the Psy world where emotions are seen as a flaw. She is terrified that she will be incarcerated at the Center for Rehabilitation where they will destroy her mind. She always knew that she was different, but now that she gets to know Lucas and his pack she feels more and more drawn to the passionate way of the Changelings.Meanwhile the investigation indicates that the killer must be someone in the highest ranks of the council. Is maybe even Sascha’s mother involved?I don’t want to tell more for fear of spoiling the story for you. But this was one well-developed, fast-paced story that sucked me right in! Nalini Singh did a terrific job in creating a new exciting world that was different from scenarios in other paranormals I’ve read.Lucas’ and Sascha’s feelings develop in such a wonderful way, not too fast and not too slow, that makes their relationship very believable. The sexual tension is high throughout the story but what really sucked me in was the character development. I really came to care for Sascha and Lucas and even the secondary characters were three-dimensional and interesting. Some of them would make great heroes and heroines for further books. I can’t wait for “Visions of Heat” the next book in the series to come out!