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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked this book, but some parts felt very similar to other books in this series.
I liked Canto and Payal’s connection, but I thought that there could have been more scenes showing their relationship development. I liked how caring Canto was towards Payal, and I found it funny how blunt Payal was.
There were some side characters mentioned, but not enough. It’s mentioned that Payal’s father is very controlling and yet it seemed like Payal was able to get away with not working and disappearing for long periods of time a lot. Canto’s family are close (or as close as a Psy family can be) and he talks about how he’s gotten quite close with the bears, but there aren’t many scenes showing either of those things. I wanted to see more scenes showing Payal interacting with Canto’s family and the bears.
The plot was fine, but it seems similar to what happened in the last book with how the situation seemed impossible and then in the last moments, the main characters have a light bulb moment and save the day, or at least get everyone more time to figure out a long term solution.
Another thing that I think has happened two or three times now, is how one of the main characters has a ‘time bomb’ in their head and the solution to it isn’t found until one of the last chapters. I swear something similar has already happened a couple of times now.
I’m kind of bored with the Architect as she doesn’t seem to do much other than scheme and think of world domination or how superior she is. Also, after this book it looks like she could just self-destruct because of her delusions, although that would be too easy.
I’ll continue with this series, but I’m no longer as excited about reading the next books.
Keeps getting better.
This world keeps getting richer and richer. If you follow this series, you can’t miss this book. Can hardly wait for the next episode.
This world keeps getting richer and richer. If you follow this series, you can’t miss this book. Can hardly wait for the next episode.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
I'll just come out and say it: Nalini Singh is a goddess among writers. I'm not even exaggerating.
This book is a tribute to everything I love about her. First and foremost, her commitment to diversity. But her incredible characters, intricate world-building, well thought-out plots and celebration of what happens when people come together for a common good. On top of all that, she did something really special in this book and paired unsung, silent heroism with disability.
All hail the goddess. For reals.
Okay let me flesh that out a bit with some specifics without spoiling. In this book we dive deep into an aforementioned but rarely considered Psy designation - anchors. And it's kind of dumb how little they've been considered (as this book makes clear) because as the PsyNet crumbles around them you'd think the anchors would be one of the first groups you'd talk to. But here's the thing. Anchors have been operating in the shadows for generations. They silently keep all the Psy alive without anyone really even thinking about them. And I'd love to go on and on, but that's why you have to read this book. Point is, they are the true heroes and no one even thinks about them.
And there's a reason why they've kept to the shadows - well several, but one big one - they are mostly disabled. In a race that prizes perfection, the people keeping them alive are far from perfect. They are this book's hero and heroine - Canto Mercant and Payal Rao. Canto has a spine condition that has him in a wheelchair, unable to feel his legs. Payal has (1) brain tumors that threaten to kill her if she doesn't get regular injections and (2) a developmental(?) disability that goes unnamed but if were to guess from what we see of her, she's on the spectrum. This has to be my favorite book of all the Psy-Changeling books because of the way Nalini Singh wrote their story. They are such powerful individuals - not just in terms of the Psy abilities, but their personalities. They are so human (well Psy, but you know what I'm getting at) and she preserved that dignity while also making their disabilities ring so true. Payal, for example, says things in such a matter of fact way that I found it hilarious, but also you can't help but have incredible respect for her intelligence in those moments. Seriously, I'm just blown away by this book.
Oh and I didn't even mention yet, but that PsyNet situation? Yeah, it's gotten catastrophic. So the world and plot development in this book are just as on point as the characters. I don't feel like I can say much without spoiling, but I will say dang it, did it have to end there? Is it July yet? Because I am ready for the next book now.
As always, Angela Dawe delivered a flawless performance. She did this incredible book justice on all points. I am so grateful for her narration because without it, I'd probably be still working my way through the first series, as I can't read at this same speed when reading print.
This book is a tribute to everything I love about her. First and foremost, her commitment to diversity. But her incredible characters, intricate world-building, well thought-out plots and celebration of what happens when people come together for a common good. On top of all that, she did something really special in this book and paired unsung, silent heroism with disability.
All hail the goddess. For reals.
Okay let me flesh that out a bit with some specifics without spoiling. In this book we dive deep into an aforementioned but rarely considered Psy designation - anchors. And it's kind of dumb how little they've been considered (as this book makes clear) because as the PsyNet crumbles around them you'd think the anchors would be one of the first groups you'd talk to. But here's the thing. Anchors have been operating in the shadows for generations. They silently keep all the Psy alive without anyone really even thinking about them. And I'd love to go on and on, but that's why you have to read this book. Point is, they are the true heroes and no one even thinks about them.
And there's a reason why they've kept to the shadows - well several, but one big one - they are mostly disabled. In a race that prizes perfection, the people keeping them alive are far from perfect. They are this book's hero and heroine - Canto Mercant and Payal Rao. Canto has a spine condition that has him in a wheelchair, unable to feel his legs. Payal has (1) brain tumors that threaten to kill her if she doesn't get regular injections and (2) a developmental(?) disability that goes unnamed but if were to guess from what we see of her, she's on the spectrum. This has to be my favorite book of all the Psy-Changeling books because of the way Nalini Singh wrote their story. They are such powerful individuals - not just in terms of the Psy abilities, but their personalities. They are so human (well Psy, but you know what I'm getting at) and she preserved that dignity while also making their disabilities ring so true. Payal, for example, says things in such a matter of fact way that I found it hilarious, but also you can't help but have incredible respect for her intelligence in those moments. Seriously, I'm just blown away by this book.
Oh and I didn't even mention yet, but that PsyNet situation? Yeah, it's gotten catastrophic. So the world and plot development in this book are just as on point as the characters. I don't feel like I can say much without spoiling, but I will say dang it, did it have to end there? Is it July yet? Because I am ready for the next book now.
As always, Angela Dawe delivered a flawless performance. She did this incredible book justice on all points. I am so grateful for her narration because without it, I'd probably be still working my way through the first series, as I can't read at this same speed when reading print.
As always a good story with a good over reaching plot line. It will be interesting to see how the foil the plots of the "Queen". The two mains in this were great.
QOTD: Is there a particular series or author you just know will always deliver a five star read?
For me that author is @authornalinisingh and her Psy-Changeling Books
---------------------
#ARC #Review of Last Guard
I am never going to tire of this series. Nalini Singh has a way of telling unique and heart-warming romance stories that make you want to revisit them again and again.
She so effortlessly writes diverse characters, capturing their cultures and weaving them into her books. I wish there were more authors out there like this. Those willing and determined to paint their worlds in color and show readers just how vibrant the world outside themselves can be.
In Last Guard we meet Canto and Payal, two psy hub anchors who share a traumatic past that leaves scars on them both in entirely different ways. They share a unique bond forged from that trauma and their shared strength is what helps bring them together in a bid to save the net and their people before the damage is so catastrophic as to be unrecoverable.
In a way, the challenge they face to save the net is reminiscent of the struggle we face today with global warming. The decades of damage humans have contributed to have left far reaching devastation and there is limited time on the clock to correct the damage man has made and turn things around before it's too late and defeat becomes a forgone conclusion.
On top of trying to save the net, Payal stuggles with the scars of her past that in her case, reside mostly on the inside, hidden away from the outside world. She has a manipulative and unloving father who has deemed her defective. A sociopathic brother who has no issue making attempts on her life to further his objectives, and a traumatic childhood thats makes her cling to structure and order making it difficult to let herself love.
With Cato, we have a man whose father gave him away as a child without thought or care to his wellbeing. He was physically abused and wears the marks of that abuse in an obvious way but his capacity to love and to move forward make him the best type of hero. I loved Cato the moment he stepped onto the page. His strength and compassion are touching in a sincere and authentic way
Last Guard delivers everything I could ask for
*An authentic and diverse cast of characters
*A disabled hero who's strength and compassion shine through the page
*A second chance romance
*High stakes and a race against the clock
*Real life relationship challenges
*Family Dynamics both the good and the bad
*Heat because we definitely need some sexy times
*And an HEA that will you leave you more than satisfied
All in all, Last Guard is a love story that will grip your heart all the way to the last page and trust me when I say you're going to love every second of it. An absolute must read in 2021
For me that author is @authornalinisingh and her Psy-Changeling Books
---------------------
#ARC #Review of Last Guard
I am never going to tire of this series. Nalini Singh has a way of telling unique and heart-warming romance stories that make you want to revisit them again and again.
She so effortlessly writes diverse characters, capturing their cultures and weaving them into her books. I wish there were more authors out there like this. Those willing and determined to paint their worlds in color and show readers just how vibrant the world outside themselves can be.
In Last Guard we meet Canto and Payal, two psy hub anchors who share a traumatic past that leaves scars on them both in entirely different ways. They share a unique bond forged from that trauma and their shared strength is what helps bring them together in a bid to save the net and their people before the damage is so catastrophic as to be unrecoverable.
In a way, the challenge they face to save the net is reminiscent of the struggle we face today with global warming. The decades of damage humans have contributed to have left far reaching devastation and there is limited time on the clock to correct the damage man has made and turn things around before it's too late and defeat becomes a forgone conclusion.
On top of trying to save the net, Payal stuggles with the scars of her past that in her case, reside mostly on the inside, hidden away from the outside world. She has a manipulative and unloving father who has deemed her defective. A sociopathic brother who has no issue making attempts on her life to further his objectives, and a traumatic childhood thats makes her cling to structure and order making it difficult to let herself love.
With Cato, we have a man whose father gave him away as a child without thought or care to his wellbeing. He was physically abused and wears the marks of that abuse in an obvious way but his capacity to love and to move forward make him the best type of hero. I loved Cato the moment he stepped onto the page. His strength and compassion are touching in a sincere and authentic way
Last Guard delivers everything I could ask for
*An authentic and diverse cast of characters
*A disabled hero who's strength and compassion shine through the page
*A second chance romance
*High stakes and a race against the clock
*Real life relationship challenges
*Family Dynamics both the good and the bad
*Heat because we definitely need some sexy times
*And an HEA that will you leave you more than satisfied
All in all, Last Guard is a love story that will grip your heart all the way to the last page and trust me when I say you're going to love every second of it. An absolute must read in 2021
Reviewed for Wit and Sin
Delve beneath the surface of the PsyNet in Last Guard. Psy Designation A gets its first true time in the spotlight as Nalini Singh expands the already vast and engaging world she’s built. I loved seeing beneath the surface to the twisting world of the Substrate where As keep the PsyNet from falling apart. But the As are stretched thin; there are too few for such a vast space. And the As that have been born were often seen as imperfect under Silence and eliminated before their A status became known. The problems stretch back before Silence and it’s utterly fascinating to see how this oft-forgotten designation plays such a crucial role in the survival of the Psy. There is a lot of information in Last Guard that goes into the history of Designation A, what went wrong, and what is continuing to fracture the PsyNet.
Canto and Payal are both hub anchors who had a brutal childhood that bonded them. Canto was nearly killed before his mother’s family found him. The Mercants never let go of one of their own so they took the angry, injured boy and gave him the love and support he needed. Canto has grown up to be a shadowy figure in the Mercant family, but a powerful one nonetheless. Abelists who think the grumpy Psy is imperfect have a shock coming when they see the power of this brilliant, caring man. Payal grew up in a nightmare and it’s a testament to her inner strength that she became someone good, honest, and true. She’s seen as a robot by many, her Silence perfect even in after its fall, but they don’t see the struggle behind the mask and the wear of having no truly safe space. Payal is at war with herself and she broke my heart more than once. She also has to deal with monsters every day in the form of her father and brother. She and Canto are bonded by shared horrors and their childhood connection has remained. Though they’ve been separated for decades, that bond does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to the romance. There’s so much going on in the world around them that the romance often takes a back seat, but nevertheless Singh made me believe in their happily ever after.
Last Guard takes the Psy-Changeling/Psy-Changeling Trinity world in new and interesting directions. The major players of the Ruling Coalition make appearances and as always it’s nice to see them. It was even more of a delightful surprise to revisit Sophia (of Bonds of Justice) who isn’t a character that pops up very often. There are many difficult topics broached in this book and it’s a testament to Singh’s talent that the book never drags because of it. There are also lighter moments, thanks in large part to the StoneWater bears, the clan that Canto’s cousin Silver mated into. The bears never fail to make me smile and oh, I do hope Singh has at least a novella planned for Arwen Mecant and his bear.
Last Guard is interesting from beginning to end. It goes more into the technical aspects of the PsyNet which may make the book a bit of a dry read for some. Payal and Canto are unique, well-drawn characters and I’m interested to see what comes from them as the world continues to build. Singh knows how to keep her characters – and her readers – on their toes.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Delve beneath the surface of the PsyNet in Last Guard. Psy Designation A gets its first true time in the spotlight as Nalini Singh expands the already vast and engaging world she’s built. I loved seeing beneath the surface to the twisting world of the Substrate where As keep the PsyNet from falling apart. But the As are stretched thin; there are too few for such a vast space. And the As that have been born were often seen as imperfect under Silence and eliminated before their A status became known. The problems stretch back before Silence and it’s utterly fascinating to see how this oft-forgotten designation plays such a crucial role in the survival of the Psy. There is a lot of information in Last Guard that goes into the history of Designation A, what went wrong, and what is continuing to fracture the PsyNet.
Canto and Payal are both hub anchors who had a brutal childhood that bonded them. Canto was nearly killed before his mother’s family found him. The Mercants never let go of one of their own so they took the angry, injured boy and gave him the love and support he needed. Canto has grown up to be a shadowy figure in the Mercant family, but a powerful one nonetheless. Abelists who think the grumpy Psy is imperfect have a shock coming when they see the power of this brilliant, caring man. Payal grew up in a nightmare and it’s a testament to her inner strength that she became someone good, honest, and true. She’s seen as a robot by many, her Silence perfect even in after its fall, but they don’t see the struggle behind the mask and the wear of having no truly safe space. Payal is at war with herself and she broke my heart more than once. She also has to deal with monsters every day in the form of her father and brother. She and Canto are bonded by shared horrors and their childhood connection has remained. Though they’ve been separated for decades, that bond does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to the romance. There’s so much going on in the world around them that the romance often takes a back seat, but nevertheless Singh made me believe in their happily ever after.
Last Guard takes the Psy-Changeling/Psy-Changeling Trinity world in new and interesting directions. The major players of the Ruling Coalition make appearances and as always it’s nice to see them. It was even more of a delightful surprise to revisit Sophia (of Bonds of Justice) who isn’t a character that pops up very often. There are many difficult topics broached in this book and it’s a testament to Singh’s talent that the book never drags because of it. There are also lighter moments, thanks in large part to the StoneWater bears, the clan that Canto’s cousin Silver mated into. The bears never fail to make me smile and oh, I do hope Singh has at least a novella planned for Arwen Mecant and his bear.
Last Guard is interesting from beginning to end. It goes more into the technical aspects of the PsyNet which may make the book a bit of a dry read for some. Payal and Canto are unique, well-drawn characters and I’m interested to see what comes from them as the world continues to build. Singh knows how to keep her characters – and her readers – on their toes.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I am a huge Nalini Singh fan, but I preferred the first series arc over Trinity. I don’t find it as exciting and the conflict doesn’t feel as immediate or intense. I also tend to like couples with a changeling more than when there are two psys or a psy and a human. I really like the difference in perspective you get when you have a changeling in the mix. All of that the Last Guard was enjoyable, I still really like the series and will continue to read it.
I continue to love the Trinity books. Great characters - particularly loved Canto - and loved seeing so many bits of past characters.