Early Review: Allegiance of Honor by Nalini Singh + Interview & Excerpt
Allegiance of Honor by Nalini Singh
Psy-Changlings #15
The Psy-Changeling world has undergone a staggering transformation and now stands at a crossroads. The Trinity Accord promises a new era of cooperation between disparate races and groups. It is a beacon of hope held together by many hands: Old enemies. New allies. Wary loners.
But a century of distrust and suspicion can’t be so easily forgotten and threatens to shatter Trinity from within at any moment. As rival members vie for dominance, chaos and evil gather in the shadows and a kidnapped woman’s cry for help washes up in San Francisco, while the Consortium turns its murderous gaze toward a child who is the embodiment of change, of love, of piercing hope: A child who is both Psy…and changeling.
To find the lost, protect the vulnerable—and save Trinity—no one can stand alone. This is a time of loyalty across divisions, of bonds woven into the heart and the soul, of heroes known and unknown standing back to back and holding the line. But is an allegiance of honor even possible with traitors lurking in their midst?
Considering ALLEGIANCE OF HONOR is a compilation book, I feel I should start with talking about my experience with the series. I’m a huge fan of Nalini’s Archangel books, but just hadn’t read her even more popular Psy-Changling series. A few months ago I gave it a try and fell in love. I read the first few books back to back, reading them as fast as I could. And then life intervened and I wound up setting the series aside. That all changed a few weeks ago when I decided to pick up the next book in the series, and I was a goner. I wound up devouring all the many many books in this series back to back, winding up with very little sleep over a two week period because I just couldn’t stop reading them. If I wasn’t working or taking care of my family, I was turning the pages in these books as fast as I could, sleep be darned. There’s just something about this incredible world and cast of characters that is so alluring. Each book built upon the last and while you did get that coveted HEA at the end of each book, and move onto the next couple in each book, you never really say goodbye to any of the couples. Everything is so entwined in this series and I love. Granted there were a few books/couples I enjoyed less in this series as they just didn’t quite jive for me, but the overall series and the previous couple focuses intertwined into each book kept me more than sucked in even during the few times where I wasn’t fully in love with the current couple in focus.
Getting back to ALLEGIANCE OF HONOR, even with reading almost the entire series back to back you lose somewhat “sight” of some of the previous couples, so this refresher and catch up with all the characters was utterly fantastic. It brought the series even more of a cohesive feel and I loved every moment of it. And not only do we catch up with almost the entire cast thus far, but there’s a larger overarching plotline as well. Honestly when I saw that this was going to be a compliation book, I had thought we’d just bounce from couple to couple with an update on “where they are now” with no real tie in or arching storyline, almost as in an anthology. But this book couldn’t be further from that, with the plot having just as much focus as all the check ins with favorite characters. It truly was a stellar read that I loved.
Without a doubt, ALLEGIANCE OF HONOR is an absolute must, must, MUST read for fans of the series. It is 100% wish fulfillment and I cannot express just how much I loved this book. I’m so very glad the series isn’t ending here and I can’t wait to see the next chapter this incredible series brings.
(Received a copy from the publisher)
Rating:
Order Links:
Other Reviews:
Wit and Sin
The Book Eaters
Book Binge
Previous Books:
1. Slave to Sensation
2. Visions of Heat
3. Caressed by Ice
4. Mine to Possess
5. Hostage to Pleasure
6. Branded by Fire
7. Blaze of Memory
8. Bonds of Justice
9. Play of Passion
10. Kiss of Snow
11. Tangle of Need
12. Heart of Obsidian
12.5. Night Shift
13. Shield of Winter
14. Shards of Hope
Nalini Singh on the future of the Psy-Changeling series
No, it’s not. :) I ADORE this world and the characters and I have so many Psy-Changeling stories yet to tell. (I've often joked that I'll be writing this series until I'm ninety-eight!)
Where do you see the Psy-Changeling world going from here? Who is the next book about?
(Slightly spoilery answer to follow if you’re just starting the series).
Allegiance of Honor sets up a lot of possibilities for the future. There are many avenues I could take. However, for me, this arc is all about what happens not just to the Psy, but to the world, now that Silence has fallen and all the rules have changed.
We’ve had the immediate aftermath books, both of which focused on the Psy race (Shield of Winter &Shards of Hope), but what about the wider long-term future? Because Silence existed for a reason. The Psy still have these incredible abilities that have the potential to drive them murderously insane, and the world is still a fractured triumvirate. And there are players about whom we know very little, like the falcons and BlackSea.
As for who’s book is next, I’m not ready to announce it yet because I want to be certain this character is ready – but I think you’ll be pleased. ;-)
Lucas had had to chase Naya around the aerie at bedtime last night—her walk might still be a little shaky, but she was a rocket when it came to crawling. Dressed only in a diaper, she’d laughed uproariously and said a loud, firm “No” each time Lucas caught her and put her in her crib.
After which she’d clamber out—she’d figured out how to escape a month earlier—and the game would begin again. Of course, since Lucas was a cat, he’d been having just as much fun as their daughter. Sascha, meanwhile, had sat in the living room with a cup of hot chocolate and just indulged in the sight of her mate playing with their cub.
She’d had to pretend to be stern when Naya ran over and pleaded her case with loud sounds and wild gesticulations of her hands. “No, Naya,” she’d said, biting her tongue in an effort not to laugh. “It’s time for bed. Go with Papa.”
At which point, Naya had growled at her, eyes sparkling with mischief.
And Sascha had cracked, laughing so hard she’d had to put down her hot chocolate before she spilled it. Lucas had shaken his head as Naya plopped down on her diaper-covered butt and joined in, clapping her hands at having made her mommy laugh. “No discipline.” Lucas had mock-growled at her before picking up their misbehaving baby. “And you”—a growly nuzzle that made Naya laugh harder and pat his stubbledcheek—“time for bed.”
He’d finally got her to sleep—by walking around with her pressed up against his bare chest.
Today, their cub was playing in the living area just outside the kitchen nook. Sascha had locked the aerie door to ensure Naya wouldn’t undo the latch and go out onto the balcony, and Lucas had childproofed the entire main area of the aerie, so Naya was free to roam as she liked. A lot of the time she practiced her walking skills. And no matter how often she fell down, she started back up again after a little break.
Stubborn, determined baby.
Peeking out from the kitchen, Sascha found her concentrating on stacking the colored alphabet blocks Faith and Vaughn had given her as a gift. Beside her sat a more than slightly ragged wolf plush toy, aka “The Toy That Shall Not Be Named.” Hawke had given that to Naya when she was a newborn, and it remained her favorite snuggle toy, much to her father’s despair.
Though Lucas did enjoy it when Naya went leopard on the toy, growling and “fighting” with the wolf. Then he’d smile and say, “That’s my girl.”
