1st read: May 2020
2nd read: April 2023

This is a good book in a good series. I liked this book just as much the second time around, and I'm really excited to read this series again.

I think this book, as the first in the series, has some rough edges that the author smoothes out in later books.

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Original review:
This is one of my first romance novels, unless you count the YA books that I've read, and it set the bar pretty high. Nalini Singh's writing flows really well, the characters are fun and interesting, the world building is done well, and the romance is very fun to read. I really enjoyed it, and I'm excited to read more of the Psy-Changeling series, and more of Singh's writing in general.

I didn't like the "overprotective" behavior of the male lead. He likes that the female lead is strong and independent, but at the same time has a tendency to be controlling. I get that they are supposed to be part animal, but they need to ease up on that. I guess it could be meant to show how a person can make mistakes (as everyone does) and grow into a better person and partner. And the situation that they were going through was an unusually extreme situation, where people don't tend to act in the best way. It still bothered me. ( )

Sascha Duncan is a member of a race known for their emotional detachment, cold precision and deadly sharp minds. Only Sascha isn't like other Psy. She feels powerful emotion and she grows worried she may soon not be able to repress the building surge. A business meeting with changeling Lucas Hunter, the alpha of the DarkRiver leopards, lures her even closer to the edge of certain discovery. As she is assigned as the Psy contact for the ensuing project Lucas's company takes on, she soon begins to fear grave repercussions from her people.

Lucas feels something different about Sascha--she's not like other Psy. It doesn't take long for the dominant male to begin asserting his blatant interest in her in traditionally pack ways. Could her mysterious differences be the key his and a rival pack's have been looking for? A serial killer has targeted changeling women, and the packs believe the killer to be Psy. As a Psy with connections amongst her race, Sascha will become the only saving grace in a race against time to stop two opposing groups on the brink of war. Her and Lucas's efforts will bring them to some shocking realizations as well as some heated and sensually stimulating encounters.

The first impression of this romance was that it combined an awesome feel of not only paranormal elements, but sci-fi as well. Lucas's pack dynamics will ring somewhat similar to other paranormal romances, while having their own unique qualities at the same time, most notably their love for one another and family dynamics. The chilling addition of the Psy brings to mind a more futuristic sense with their sparse and utilitarian lifestyles. There are some very interesting twists to the plot that makes good use of the pacing throughout the book, making for a very hard to put down read. Sascha is a heroine readers may sympathize with in her plight to become fully herself, while Lucas is so wonderfully sexy in his concern for her welfare. I am actually looking forward to reading more from this author and series ( )

I felt like reading paranormal romance, and this is exactly that. I'm not that familiar with the genre, so I don't know how this compares, but it was light entertainment, and that's what I wanted. It's easy to read, and it doesn't require too much brain power. Although I realize it's a romance trope, I was a little annoyed with the male possessiveness. Fortunately the really annoying bit didn't last too long, and yes, the heroine does push back, and yes, the hero does back off a bit, but it was never really clear to me why he backed off. And he was never called out on his behaviour, it was all 'hey, I'm an animal, and that's just how I am'. It was never pointed out that it's disrespectful and definitely not a sign of love.
But hey. What can you expect? It's paranormal romance. I'll readily admit it could have been a lot worse. Most of it was acceptable enough, and I enjoyed reading it. ( )

Psy/Changling series. Liked but not enough to continue ( )

I think I will really enjoy this series. The Psy and Changeling worlds are intriguing, the characters are interesting and the romance is great. I hope the rest of this series is more of the same. ( )