Blogging by Liza: ALLEGIANCE OF HONOR (PSY-CHANGELING #15)

Thursday, June 16, 2016

ALLEGIANCE OF HONOR (PSY-CHANGELING #15)

The “unparalleled romantic adventure”* of Nalini Singh’s New York Times bestselling series continues as a new dawn begins for the Psy-Changeling world...

The Psy-Changeling world has undergone a staggering transformation and now stands at a crossroads. The Trinity Accord promises a new era of cooperation between disparate races and groups. It is a beacon of hope held together by many hands: Old enemies. New allies. Wary loners.

But a century of distrust and suspicion can’t be so easily forgotten and threatens to shatter Trinity from within at any moment. As rival members vie for dominance, chaos and evil gather in the shadows and a kidnapped woman’s cry for help washes up in San Francisco, while the Consortium turns its murderous gaze toward a child who is the embodiment of change, of love, of piercing hope: A child who is both Psy…and changeling.

To find the lost, protect the vulnerable—and save Trinity—no one can stand alone. This is a time of loyalty across divisions, of bonds woven into the heart and the soul, of heroes known and unknown standing back to back and holding the line. But is an allegiance of honor even possible with traitors lurking in their midst?

Nalini Singh on the future of the Psy-Changeling series

Is Allegiance of Honor the end of the Psy-Changeling series?

No, it’s not. :) I ADORE this world and the characters and I have so many Psy-Changeling stories yet to tell. (I've often joked that I'll be writing this series until I'm ninety-eight!)

Where do you see the Psy-Changeling world going from here? Who is the next book about?

(Slightly spoilery answer to follow if you’re just starting the series).

Allegiance of Honor sets up a lot of possibilities for the future. There are many avenues I could take. However, for me, this arc is all about what happens not just to the Psy, but to the world, now that Silence has fallen and all the rules have changed.

We’ve had the immediate aftermath books, both of which focused on the Psy race (Shield of Winter & Shards of Hope), but what about the wider long-term future? Because Silence existed for a reason. The Psy still have these incredible abilities that have the potential to drive them murderously insane, and the world is still a fractured triumvirate. And there are players about whom we know very little, like the falcons and BlackSea.

As for who’s book is next, I’m not ready to announce it yet because I want to be certain this character is ready – but I think you’ll be pleased. ;-)

Release Date: June 14, 2016

Psy-Changeling #15

Berkley Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

Nalini Singh has been an auto-buy author for me from the moment I read my very first Guild Hunter book. Yes I started reading Guild Hunter before the Psy-Changelings, but in my defense, there were only 4 of the Guild Hunter books at the time and at least 8 Psy-Changelings. As soon as I read Slave to Sensation I was hooked and now can't wait for the release of each new book in the series. Allegiance of Honor was so worth the wait!

I absolutely adored Allegiance of Honor. I knew in advance it was going to be an ensemble story, not just focusing on just one main couple as other books in the series. I loved getting to spend time with so many of my favorite couples. I especially loved time with Lucas, Sasha and Naya. I have to also say that the time spent with Sasha and Nikita and Naya absolutely was one of my most favorite parts of the book. It gave me new respect for Nikita and also made me want to see Nikita and Anthony have a relationship, as he is so protective of Nikita. I also loved watching Naya grow and start to shift. I just wanted to cuddle her, especially since she is a target now since she is the first every child who is both Psy and Changeling.

I loved getting to see the progression of the Arrows as they worked to turn the squad from a squad of killers to a pack family. Yes they are still killers, but they aren't only killers now. I really think Aden and the other Arrows are on the right track and look forward to seeing all they can do while working with the other Psy, Changelings, humans, and the Forgotten.

It was also common knowledge that Riley and Mercy's pupcubs would finally be born in Allegiance of Honor. I would have loved more one on one time with Riley and Mercy, but did love that we finally found out about how many babies and the sexes and type of changelings of each.

There is more time with the Water Changelings in this book. While I'm starting to like the various characters we've met, it felt like they got more page time than some of my other favorite characters. Again, I'm starting to connect with these characters and can see them being huge allies to the other Changelings and the Psy. As hard as everyone worked to help them out, I hope they return the favors in the future.

I was hooked on Allegiance of Honor from the very first page. In fact I moved it up on my reading list as I needed a comfort read, and without reading it first, I just knew that once again Nalini Singh would deliver me a book I would want to read over and over again. I love this series so much and would put Allegiance of Honor on my re-read list anytime I need a comfort read.

5 Stars (A)

Excerpt from Allegiance of Honor by Nalini Singh

Lucas had had to chase Naya around the aerie at bedtime last night—her walk might still be a little shaky, but she was a rocket when it came to crawling. Dressed only in a diaper, she’d laughed uproariously and said a loud, firm “No” each time Lucas caught her and put her in her crib.

After which she’d clamber out—she’d figured out how to escape a month earlier—and the game would begin again. Of course, since Lucas was a cat, he’d been having just as much fun as their daughter. Sascha, meanwhile, had sat in the living room with a cup of hot chocolate and just indulged in the sight of her mate playing with their cub.

She’d had to pretend to be stern when Naya ran over and pleaded her case with loud sounds and wild gesticulations of her hands. “No, Naya,” she’d said, biting her tongue in an effort not to laugh. “It’s time for bed. Go with Papa.”

At which point, Naya had growled at her, eyes sparkling with mischief.

And Sascha had cracked, laughing so hard she’d had to put down her hot chocolate before she spilled it. Lucas had shaken his head as Naya plopped down on her diaper-covered butt and joined in, clapping her hands at having made her mommy laugh. “No discipline.” Lucas had mock-growled at her before picking up their misbehaving baby. “And you”—a growly nuzzle that made Naya laugh harder and pat his stubbled cheek—“time for bed.”

He’d finally got her to sleep—by walking around with her pressed up against his bare chest.

Today, their cub was playing in the living area just outside the kitchen nook. Sascha had locked the aerie door to ensure Naya wouldn’t undo the latch and go out onto the balcony, and Lucas had childproofed the entire main area of the aerie, so Naya was free to roam as she liked. A lot of the time she practiced her walking skills. And no matter how often she fell down, she started back up again after a little break.

Stubborn, determined baby.

Peeking out from the kitchen, Sascha found her concentrating on stacking the colored alphabet blocks Faith and Vaughn had given her as a gift. Beside her sat a more than slightly ragged wolf plush toy, aka “The Toy That Shall Not Be Named.” Hawke had given that to Naya when she was a newborn, and it remained her favorite snuggle toy, much to her father’s despair.

Though Lucas did enjoy it when Naya went leopard on the toy, growling and “fighting” with the wolf. Then he’d smile and say, “That’s my girl.”