Title: Shield of Winter (Psy-Changeling #13)

Author: Nalini Singh

Rating: 5 Stars

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publish Date: June 3, 2014

Publisher: Berkley an imprint of Penguin

Synopsis:

Assassin. Soldier. Arrow. That is who Vasic is, who he will always be. His soul drenched in blood, his conscience heavy with the weight of all he’s done, he exists in the shadows, far from the hope his people can almost touch—if only they do not first drown in the murderous insanity of a lethal contagion. To stop the wave of death, Vasic must complete the simplest and most difficult mission of his life.

For if the Psy race is to survive, the empaths must wake…

Having rebuilt her life after medical “treatment” that violated her mind and sought to stifle her abilities, Ivy should have run from the black-clad Arrow with eyes of winter frost. But Ivy Jane has never done what she should. Now, she’ll fight for her people, and for this Arrow who stands as her living shield, yet believes he is beyond redemption. But as the world turns to screaming crimson, even Ivy’s fierce will may not be enough to save Vasic from the cold darkness…

 

Karen’s Thoughts 

Why I think you should read Shield of Winter.  Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh is the 13 work in the Psy-Changeling urban fantasy series.   The Singh has built of world of the future were three races inhabit the earth, Psy (those who have cut emotions of out their lives and rely on psychic abilities, Changelings who are an animal shifter race of people and regular old humans, poor us we just are never the cool kids.  Singh books are not stand alone reads, but here are the reasons I think any urban fantasy reader should be reading this series.

1. Simple the world building of the series is complete and complex. Signh has built a world that is intricate in detail, but easy to understand, she brings the reader along slowly so as not to overwhelm.  She isn’t an authors who throws everything at the reader at once, she allows the them to get to know the world and it complexities with each book.
2. She crafts a well told story.  She doesn’t have to dazzle the reader with the future and the components of the races, because  at the bases the stories she tells are about relationships.
3. The romance that takes place in each of the books is written with such a sensuality, they are sexy and heartfelt emotional commitments.  She writes a sex scene that is toe curling worthy.
4. Every character from the main ones to the minor ones is fleshed out, and they all have unique personalities.  ***Psst** I have been taken by Ben a small wolf pup since his very first appearance.  His character just shines through, and he is an example of how a minor character can have such a hold on a readers heart.
5. The characters are never perfect.  There is a lot of grey areas in the Psy and Changeling world. Life is not black and white in Signh world and it is the technicolor that make the books worth the read.

 

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About the Author

I’ve been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There’s no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.

I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).

So far, I’ve worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer’s mill.

 

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