Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh Series: Psy-Changeling #1
Published by berkley, Sensation on September 5, 2006
Genres: PNR
Pages: 352
Format: eBook
Source: Courtesy review copy
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Nalini Singh dives into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind-and none of the heart.
In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of "rehabilitation" - the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was...
Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy coexistence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion - and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities - or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation.
This is the first in the Psy/Changeling series and it’s got a gorgeous new cover!
Everyone talks about Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series, and I can see why! It’s excellent. This book isn’t my favorite in the series, but it really sets the tone, without overwhelming the reader with world building of her 2079 San Francisco.
Sascha is a Psy, her world is full of people who have purposefully created a society without emotion. They are logical and calm. Not only is emotion suppressed, it is forbidden. Sascha, a very strong Psy, has a secret. She feels. She feels very deeply. But to admit such would be worse than a death sentence. Her mother is very powerful, both mentally and socially. She knows the Psy have to get along with the Changelings, so Sascha is sent to play nice with the Changeling alpha of the Dark River pack.
Lucas doesn’t like or trust the Psy. The Psy think of the Changelings as nothing more than animals.Meanwhile there’s a serial killer out there targeting Changeling women, and he and Sascha begin to work on the puzzle. finding out the killer is a Psy is absolutely impossible to Sascha, but Lucas knows better.
He feels that without emotion, what governs your actions? Think about it. An emotionless killer is out there. sociopaths feel no emotion, he truly feels that without emotion, the next step in human evolution is a race of psychically strong sociopaths.
The Psy are in constant denial that it could even happen, let alone that it could be a fluke. They are perfection. No emotion, strong psychic talents, no crime, and yet…
Sascha knows how flawed the system is, because she is flawed. So which way will she lean? Towards the strong, sensitive Changeling who is teaching her more and more about herself every day? Or back towards the system of Silence that has failed her already?
Between the amazing world-building, and the intriguing characters, you can’t go wrong with a Nalini Singh!
***Review copy provided by Berkley Sensation
