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A review by kathydavie
Christmas in the Kitchen by Nalini Singh
5.0
A free short story, 7.5 in the Psy-Changeling paranormal romance series, revolving around two packs of shifters in the San Francisco area. The focus is on Dorian's family and a few friends.
"Christmas in the Kitchen" was in Nalini Singh's 21 December 2012 newsletter.
My Take
I love that Singh creates these short stories, as she explores the dynamics of characters within her Psy-Changeling series and makes use of deleted scenes. Heck, if you have to create a background for your characters, why not include the readers!?
It's a warm and comfy interchange among shifters and Psy in the DarkRiver pack, all taking place in the kitchen. The third person protagonist point-of-view is from Dorian's perspective, as we see everything through his eyes.
A beautiful blend of action and character with an easy pace.
The Story
Damn leaky pipes! Dorian may be brilliant in a lot of areas...but plumbing ain't one of 'em.
As a reward (and because Ashaya paid heed to Tamsyn's advice, lol), the aroma of of Shaya's baked cookies pulls in more characters who volunteer to judge an impromptu baking contest between Dorian and Clay.
The results of their baking...? You'll have to judge for yourself.
The Characters
Dorian Christensen's day job is as an architect (and hacker extraordinaire) with a license to fly as well as a pinpoint sniper/Sentinel within the DarkRiver pack. He can finally transform. Keenan is his son. Well, adopted really. He's actually Ashaya's biological son. Ashaya "Shaya" Aleine, a Psy scientist who escaped, is Dorian's mate.
DarkRiver is...
...a pack of leopard shifters up in the forests of the San Francisco–Bay area. Tamsyn Ryder is the pack healer. Kit is, finally, a steady young Soldier in the pack. Rina, a leopard, is Kit's older sister and a Soldier; Dorian is her trainer and supervisor. Talin "Tally" and Clay Bennett (a Sentinel; Hostage to Pleasure, 5) have adopted (Home", 9.7) Noor Hassan, who is Keenan's best friend, and the older Forgotten Jonquil "Jon" Duchslaya who survived such trauma. An ordeal that included losing his sister, Kylie.
The hierarchy is Alpha, Sentinel, Soldier.
The Psy are...
...a line of humanity which evolved into psychics with a variety of powers who now see themselves as superior to those shifters and humans. The PsyNet is both metaphysical and physical which sustains Psy minds. Lose the connection, lose your life.
The Title
The title is all about party prep with "Christmas in the Kitchen".
"Christmas in the Kitchen" was in Nalini Singh's 21 December 2012 newsletter.
My Take
I love that Singh creates these short stories, as she explores the dynamics of characters within her Psy-Changeling series and makes use of deleted scenes. Heck, if you have to create a background for your characters, why not include the readers!?
It's a warm and comfy interchange among shifters and Psy in the DarkRiver pack, all taking place in the kitchen. The third person protagonist point-of-view is from Dorian's perspective, as we see everything through his eyes.
A beautiful blend of action and character with an easy pace.
The Story
Damn leaky pipes! Dorian may be brilliant in a lot of areas...but plumbing ain't one of 'em.
As a reward (and because Ashaya paid heed to Tamsyn's advice, lol), the aroma of of Shaya's baked cookies pulls in more characters who volunteer to judge an impromptu baking contest between Dorian and Clay.
The results of their baking...? You'll have to judge for yourself.
The Characters
Dorian Christensen's day job is as an architect (and hacker extraordinaire) with a license to fly as well as a pinpoint sniper/Sentinel within the DarkRiver pack. He can finally transform. Keenan is his son. Well, adopted really. He's actually Ashaya's biological son. Ashaya "Shaya" Aleine, a Psy scientist who escaped, is Dorian's mate.
DarkRiver is...
...a pack of leopard shifters up in the forests of the San Francisco–Bay area. Tamsyn Ryder is the pack healer. Kit is, finally, a steady young Soldier in the pack. Rina, a leopard, is Kit's older sister and a Soldier; Dorian is her trainer and supervisor. Talin "Tally" and Clay Bennett (a Sentinel; Hostage to Pleasure, 5) have adopted (Home", 9.7) Noor Hassan, who is Keenan's best friend, and the older Forgotten Jonquil "Jon" Duchslaya who survived such trauma. An ordeal that included losing his sister, Kylie.
The hierarchy is Alpha, Sentinel, Soldier.
The Psy are...
...a line of humanity which evolved into psychics with a variety of powers who now see themselves as superior to those shifters and humans. The PsyNet is both metaphysical and physical which sustains Psy minds. Lose the connection, lose your life.
The Title
The title is all about party prep with "Christmas in the Kitchen".