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caitlinemccann's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Forced institutionalization
heydebigale's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I thought the world building was really unique and that the romance was also very well done! I can see why folks say this is more on the fantasy side of paranormal romance.
This is an urban fantasy paranormal romance, and I was particularly impressed and intrigued with the psy species that was introduced in this series. I definitely have many more questions, so I am looking forward to the rest of the series!
My only minor quibble was that it was difficult to keep track of all of the characters in the pack, but I am guessing we will solidify those folks in future books.
Also, a few minor things aged weird, but I am willing to forgive all of that for a book that came out almost 20 years ago!
This is an urban fantasy paranormal romance, and I was particularly impressed and intrigued with the psy species that was introduced in this series. I definitely have many more questions, so I am looking forward to the rest of the series!
My only minor quibble was that it was difficult to keep track of all of the characters in the pack, but I am guessing we will solidify those folks in future books.
Also, a few minor things aged weird, but I am willing to forgive all of that for a book that came out almost 20 years ago!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Violence
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I spent the last week on vacation in Hawaii (a trip that has been postponed for over a year, for all the obvious reasons) and it was amazinggggggg. I had a few books on deck to bring/read, but knew that I was going to want some deep romance reads because that is the perfect beach/poolside genre for me. I did a little research and re-stumbled upon the Black Dagger Brotherhood series that I binged the shit out of a few years ago (or maybe longer, since it was pre-blog). Anyways, the feels for a new bingeable paranormal romance series that I could get totally lost in (and speed through) hit hard. And, having had it on my backburner radar for a while now, this was the series I landed on.
Sascha Duncan is Psy – the economic ruling species with varying psychic powers, that has trained themselves to not feel emotion or react to stimuli over generations. Lucas Hunter is Pack alpha of DarkRiver leopards, changelings (part human, part animal) who survive on emotion and connection. When the two are thrown together to work on a precarious, and first of its kind, business deal. But Lucas also has ulterior motives of gaining insight/access to secret Psy information in an attempt to track down the murderer responsible for the deaths of a number of his packmates. And Sascha is attempting to hide her increasingly deteriorating ability to ignore her emotions (her “flaw”). Cue the development of a sensual romance between these two conflicting species/worlds.
Well, despite the horrific title (I mean seriously, I’m here for exactly what this story provided, but this title makes me cringe when I think about it for so many reasons), this story hit the damn spot. If you go in expecting the exact “trashy” paranormal romance vibe that the title indicates, you will be completely satisfied with what you get. Does it hit the reader over the head with the animal sexuality of the “beast” side of the changelings? Yes. Are the “exotic” descriptors a bit much? You better believe it. Are the descriptions of the lightening and heat and sizzling affects of touch/eye contact on the arousal of the characters overdone? Of course. Did I speed through this book in like, a few hours, and immediately check the next one out from the library? Absolutely.
I also do feel like it’s worth noting some interesting aspects that were included as well. I honestly was impressed with the depth of development of the Psy and changeling cultures. I mean yes, a lot of it was predictable, but it was also there was some real nuance to it. In addition, there were a few really original and creative psychological aspects and connections that (as a fantasy/sci-fi lover) I was legitimately fascinated by. There were a few holes, but nothing major, especially when considering other sci-fi tropes/stories, and I thought a couple things were quite unique in a more general sense. So that was unexpected and pretty cool. In particular, the way that dreams were used to give some steamy scenes quickly, but in a believable way, considering a realistic pace for the two characters to get to that point IRL under the setting/circumstances, was nicely done. Sort of related, and I know this is a personal preference (or not), but the heavy protective “mated male” trope is strong in this novel and, I can’t help it (I know it’s not exactly healthy), but I love it. I was hoping for it and I got it in full force.
I know a murderer was mentioned in the plot blurb, but let me just say, the entire plot of that part of the story was way more involved and had way more page time than I had been anticipating. It was much more intense than expected as a result (CW: kidnapping, confinement, torture, psychological/emotional and physical abuse, violence and death), but also gave a lot more depth to the book overall. Just, be careful going into it if you know that’s a triggering topic for you, because it’s not glossed over. Similarly, be careful as there is significant parental loss (of the violent sort) and childhood trauma as well.
So yea, this book is, mostly, exactly what it advertises itself as. And it was completely what I wanted on vacation. In fact, as I enter my cold-weather, early-dark, end of year “meh” period, I do believe the binge of this series that I have on my horizon is going to be on par with the BDB binge of a few years past. And I am not at all sorry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
rorikae's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
'Slave to Sensation' by Nalini Singh is an engaging paranormal romance with a mystery at its center.
This is the first installment in the Psy-Changeling series, which takes place on an Earth where there are three different groups of people. These are the Psy, who have psychic powers and have ensconced themselves in the Silence to suppress all of their emotions, there are changelings who can shift into different animals, and then there are humans. 'Slave to Sensation' centers on Sascha Duncan, a Psy who believes she is falling apart because she is unable to completely shut out her emotions like other Psy. When she is assigned to help with a building project, she meets Lucas Hunter, an alpha changeling. Her emotions begin to crack further as she starts to feel drawn to Lucas and as she is drawn into a mystery. There is a Psy serial killer abducting changeling women and Sascha's link to the PsyNet may be the one way that they can solve this mystery and stop any future changelings from being hunted.
I absolutely love the world in this book. Singh does an exceptional job of introducing a politically complex world but in an easy to understand way. One thing that helps is that it is set on Earth and familiar places, which means that the reader can focus on the relationships and politics of the world. Getting to learn about this through her character's interactions does a great job of making the reader interested both in the world and the characters themselves.
I am finding that the romances I enjoy best are those that have a really strong plot outside of the romance element and that is definitely true for 'Slave to Sensation.' The reader gets to uncover a lot about the characters as Singh expands their relationships through the main mystery of the story. Though the beginning was a bit slow, when the mystery element and investigation started to heat up, I found it really hard to put this book down. The one hiccup with the mystery is that there aren't that many people who are possible suspects, which makes it a little easy to figure out though that didn't stop Singh's set-up from being engaging.
The one downside for this story for me is that Lucas is very alpha and that isn't something that I love in books. He's very possessive and though him being a changeling explains this away in some respects, it was the part of the book that I enjoyed the least.
I do love this world though and will definitely be reading more in this series. I can't wait to see what happens next because I have heard that Singh does an exceptional job of incorporating what is happening in the world in each book.
This is the first installment in the Psy-Changeling series, which takes place on an Earth where there are three different groups of people. These are the Psy, who have psychic powers and have ensconced themselves in the Silence to suppress all of their emotions, there are changelings who can shift into different animals, and then there are humans. 'Slave to Sensation' centers on Sascha Duncan, a Psy who believes she is falling apart because she is unable to completely shut out her emotions like other Psy. When she is assigned to help with a building project, she meets Lucas Hunter, an alpha changeling. Her emotions begin to crack further as she starts to feel drawn to Lucas and as she is drawn into a mystery. There is a Psy serial killer abducting changeling women and Sascha's link to the PsyNet may be the one way that they can solve this mystery and stop any future changelings from being hunted.
I absolutely love the world in this book. Singh does an exceptional job of introducing a politically complex world but in an easy to understand way. One thing that helps is that it is set on Earth and familiar places, which means that the reader can focus on the relationships and politics of the world. Getting to learn about this through her character's interactions does a great job of making the reader interested both in the world and the characters themselves.
I am finding that the romances I enjoy best are those that have a really strong plot outside of the romance element and that is definitely true for 'Slave to Sensation.' The reader gets to uncover a lot about the characters as Singh expands their relationships through the main mystery of the story. Though the beginning was a bit slow, when the mystery element and investigation started to heat up, I found it really hard to put this book down. The one hiccup with the mystery is that there aren't that many people who are possible suspects, which makes it a little easy to figure out though that didn't stop Singh's set-up from being engaging.
The one downside for this story for me is that Lucas is very alpha and that isn't something that I love in books. He's very possessive and though him being a changeling explains this away in some respects, it was the part of the book that I enjoyed the least.
I do love this world though and will definitely be reading more in this series. I can't wait to see what happens next because I have heard that Singh does an exceptional job of incorporating what is happening in the world in each book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder