SHARDS OF HOPE

The “smoldering heat, epic romance, and awesome action” of Nalini Singh’s New York Times bestselling series continues as two Arrows find themselves caught in a chilling conspiracy that spans all three races…

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.

Release Date: June 2, 2015

Psy-Changelings #14

Berkley

Review copy provided by publisher

I’m a huge fan of Nalini Singh and wait impatiently for each and every new book. I especially love her Psy-Changeling series and was so excited to read Shards of Hope.

I was really glad to see Aden was getting his book with Shards of Hope. I’ll say I was a little concerned with Zaira being his heroine when the story started, but I came to really respect and love her character as the book progressed.

I’ve always like Aden’s character, although I knew there were things we didn’t know about him beyond the fact that he was the leader of the Arrows. He has always comes across as a strong character, yet I felt like he was a bit in Vasic’s shadow. I loved that Aden finally stepped out of the shadows and showed us why he was such an amazing leader. Shards of Hope picks up where Shield of Winter left off. The Psy people are still feeling their way through in a world without Silence. I had no idea how strong Aden truly was until he had to get both himself and Zaira away from their kidnappers while severally injured. His strength and determination are not only physical, but mental as well.

Zaira is equally as strong a character, but has continued to let her childhood traumas dictate who she believes herself to be.  I absolutely loved that Aden saw all the strength and good in Zaira and was willing to fight to make her see herself as others see her. Zaira’s childhood was so horrific and I honestly was with Aden in wanting to go back and kill her parents again. I honestly felt like Zaira was able to move forward faster since she and Aden had to ground each other with touch following their kidnapping and and rescue by the RainFire changeling pack.

While I enjoyed the connection between Aden and Zaira, it took me almost as long as Zaira to accept them as a couple. They had an amazing connection to one another, and I loved watching discover the physical side of their relationship together. I seriously love Aden downloading sex manuals to Zaira’s tablet, as well as mentioning Judd had some tips for them. I could feel the chemistry and love between them, yet really didn’t like that Zaira kept fighting her feelings based on her past. I loved watching Zaira’s character grow over the course of this book and found she ended up being one of my favorite characters in the series.

I also really liked we finally saw why Aden has earned the respect of his fellow Arrows. I always knew he had a strong protective instinct, but loved seeing the power he is capable of as well. As with each Psy-Changeling book, there are multiple storylines going on, and I felt we had another change in the world for the Psy, Changelings and humans. I’m very intrigued by where Ms. Singh is taking the world.

I really enjoyed Shards of Hope a great deal. While it took me longer than normal to be drawn into the story, once I was drawn in, I couldn’t put the book down.