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rbradley923's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, and Child abuse
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Murder, Mass/school shootings, and Suicide
Minor: Addiction, Torture, Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, and Rape
just_one_more_paige's review
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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
And I'm back, having finished the eighth book and officially halfway through this end of the year paranormal romance series binge read extravaganza. (I was hoping to get through the whole series by the end of 2021, but it may bleed over into the new year *just* a little. We'll see!)
So this is another romance featuring two non-changeling characters. We are re-introduced to Max, who is a human cop that we first met during Clay and Tally's story (and his work in helping protect Shine youth in that story gave him some major loyalty from the DarkRiver pack). Sophia Russo is a J-Psy, so she's worked hand in hand with human law enforcement for years, but is coming up on the end of her "usefulness" - facing a dramatic break in her shields (an inevitable rehabilitation) after years of being exposed to the worst of humanity (and Psy). But after she and Max are pulled together to work on a special project for Council Nikita Duncan, she realizes that she does, in fact, want to fight the inevitable. Because although her case may be hopeless, her shields too far gone and her ability to disentangle from the PsyNet impossible, her feelings for Max make her want to try. Her need for him, to touch and be with him, is worth fighting for. And he definitely isn't letting her go without a fight either.
Well, as you already probably know, I was a bit disappointed by the lack of changeling in the central romance in this book. I mean, I'm invested enough in the overarching story now to want to know where it goes (and I can get down with "regular" romance too, of course), but having begun this series with a specifica reading "want," having it not met two books in a row was "meh" for me. I didn't dislike Max and Sophia, necessarily, but I was a bit "meh" on them (not least of which is because one of their major "steamy" interactions, as a result of Sophia legit not being able to touch people, was dirty talk/notes, which just personally doesn't do it for me). I did appreciate though that this is the first time there was no "convenient fix" for a Psy not being able to leave the PsyNet. Like, Sophia is legitimately stuck in it, and at the end, she's still in it. I appreciated that because it was a new twist on the Psy-falling-in-love story we've gotten used to throughout the series. And is realistic, since Max is the first love interest that has no access to another Net of any kind.
Where this book lacked, for me, in the romance department, it did make up for (at least mostly) with the overall plot development. We learn quite a bit more about the Psy Councilors and their motivations and "sides" in the clearly upcoming "break from Silence or not" fight. Lots of insight into Nikita and the Henry/Shoshana team in particular, with many suspicions from previous books being confirmed (or denied), with the details we get here. Plus, some real lines in the sand are drawn in this book, which indicates to me that a "major event" on the Psy front is coming soon. In addition, I was super intrigued by all the insights into Kaleb's connections and powers and motivations that we get. He is not just the silent, powerful, secretive Councilperson character in this book, but actually has some major action, resulting in me being fully interested in more about him. And having peeked forward at the synopsis of the upcoming books (sorry not sorry), an knowing we get a story focused on him before the series ends, I am getting pretty hype for that installation.
Overall, not my favorite of the series. But it was solid. And it did a lot to move the greater story forwards and set up what I hope is some great upcoming drama to unfold alongside the romances in the second half of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Car accident, Forced institutionalization, and Torture
now_booking's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
3.5
This was probably my favourite book in the Psy-Changeling series in a while- probably because there’s not a lot of undue enemies-to-lovers bickering and for once it makes the Psy 3-dimensional and not necessarily the villains of the plot they’ve been in the previous books. The premise is that someone is out to sabotage Psy Councillor Nikita Duncan’s business and eliminate her. She requests Max, a human police officer with a super natural shield that makes him impervious to psychic attack, and J-Psy, Sophia, to investigate. Meanwhile the pair are also working on a case with a dangerous human killer and with Sophia’s shields barely holding on by a thread and complete rehabilitation on her horizon, she’s uncertain about the safety of the feelings she’s developing for Max.
I liked this couple together. This is an example of two broken people finding each other. Max is perfect for Sophie, and even though Sophie is barely hanging on to her sanity by a thread, she’s still a strong, smart, kickbutt heroine. If there’s anything I didn’t like about this, it was that some of it was a bit to convenient and pat. I didn’t really get the explanation about Sophie’s conditioning at the end. It felt like sometimes people just got skills added to them out of the blue just to have a resolution... it was a little piecey for me in the how it all came together at the end. That said, I did love the ending. I loved that there was limited bickiering and childishness, that the conflicts felt significant. The little notes at the start of each chapter between Sophie and Max were heartbreaking and their relationship was absolutely beautiful. I loved the fellowship interaction between Sophie and her fellow Js and just kind of getting a good sense for the first time of the Psy-Changeling-Human dynamic. This book introduced a lot of interesting dynamics for the future especially amongst the Councillors. Perhaps not everyone’s Silence conditioning is as we thought from the first 7 books. I’m re-intrigued by this series after this book rather than bored like I was with the last book and I look forward to reading the next one.
I liked this couple together. This is an example of two broken people finding each other. Max is perfect for Sophie, and even though Sophie is barely hanging on to her sanity by a thread, she’s still a strong, smart, kickbutt heroine. If there’s anything I didn’t like about this, it was that some of it was a bit to convenient and pat. I didn’t really get the explanation about Sophie’s conditioning at the end. It felt like sometimes people just got skills added to them out of the blue just to have a resolution... it was a little piecey for me in the how it all came together at the end. That said, I did love the ending. I loved that there was limited bickiering and childishness, that the conflicts felt significant. The little notes at the start of each chapter between Sophie and Max were heartbreaking and their relationship was absolutely beautiful. I loved the fellowship interaction between Sophie and her fellow Js and just kind of getting a good sense for the first time of the Psy-Changeling-Human dynamic. This book introduced a lot of interesting dynamics for the future especially amongst the Councillors. Perhaps not everyone’s Silence conditioning is as we thought from the first 7 books. I’m re-intrigued by this series after this book rather than bored like I was with the last book and I look forward to reading the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
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