Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling, #1) in Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group

Dec 11, 2010 AH rated it really liked it

Shelves: alpha-males, sos-bookshelf-bingo, paranormal, romance, shifters, first-in-series, zzread-sept-2011, own

This was a really cool book. What an intriguing world. In this world, people with Psy powers who are taught from an early age to suppress their emotions. The Psy do not feel rage, nor are they violent. They are in absolute control of their emotions, logical. The Psy are known to have enhanced mental capabilities such as telepathy, foresight, telekinesis, and psychometry.

This world also includes changelings. The Darkriver Leopard Pack is led by Lucas Hunter. The other changeling pack in the area This was a really cool book. What an intriguing world. In this world, people with Psy powers who are taught from an early age to suppress their emotions. The Psy do not feel rage, nor are they violent. They are in absolute control of their emotions, logical. The Psy are known to have enhanced mental capabilities such as telepathy, foresight, telekinesis, and psychometry.

This world also includes changelings. The Darkriver Leopard Pack is led by Lucas Hunter. The other changeling pack in the area is the Snow Dancers, wolf changelings.

The Psy do not mix with the changelings but Sascha Duncan is given the opportunity to work with Lucas Hunter on a construction project. She is given this assignment so that she can learn more about the changelings. Sascha is a little bit of an oddball among her kinds. She thinks she is broken and lacks a Psy power.

I must admit that I am kicking myself for not reading this sooner. I was floored by the writing style and I’ve seen that it only gets better. Nalini Singh has an elegant, beautiful writing style. It was so relaxing to kick back and read this book.

There were a few things that stood out for me in this book: The chemistry between Sascha and Lucas. I loved that Lucas’ panther was fascinated by Sascha. I enjoyed the slow buildup to a relationship. The sensation thing was exquisite. It made me want a Lucas of my own….Hot!

“Traveling” the Psy-Net – Cool beyond cool. Sascha was able to use her mind and enter a collective of minds and stored data to glean information. Fascinating.

Changelings accepting Sascha – As changelings and Psy do not normally associate; it was very odd that Sascha would be so readily accepted by the changelings. One of my favorite scenes was the one where the young changeling cubs were playfully chewing on Sascha’s shoes. Priceless.

Of course, there was a great story. Changelings are being kidnapped and killed. I was able to guess who the bad guy was, but it was a fun read nonetheless.

Off to find myself a copy of the next book Visions of Heat.

Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.

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Oct 06, 2011 Shera (Book Whispers) rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal-romance, animal-shifters, ebook-second, 2006

The futuristic take and tacky—horribly tacky—covers stopped me from reading this series for years. Even after buying a number of the books on close out, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. After reading Angels' Blood, the first in Singh's Guild Hunter books, and realizing that when done right I can really dig the futuristic take on UF/PNR it was time to get past my hang-ups. After all this series had many strong points going for it: animal shifters, amazing reviews from reliable book buddies, The futuristic take and tacky—horribly tacky—covers stopped me from reading this series for years. Even after buying a number of the books on close out, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. After reading Angels' Blood, the first in Singh's Guild Hunter books, and realizing that when done right I can really dig the futuristic take on UF/PNR it was time to get past my hang-ups. After all this series had many strong points going for it: animal shifters, amazing reviews from reliable book buddies, unique world, hot chemistry, and the promise that each book gets better after the next.

Addressing the unique world, it was something I didn't fully understand. Unique doesn't even begin to describe it. In 1969 the Psy, beings with super mental powers, telekinesis, telepathy, and such, decided to wipe out rage in the species. Ten years later Silence is created, which wipes out all emotions. After all it's "impossible to isolate that one emotion." The Psy are connected to the PsyNet, much like the internet, but it's compromised of minds. Council is the absolute power, no checks and balances. If a Psy steps out of line they can be mind wiped, turned into a walking brain dead, functioning on low levels. It's now 2079, Psy have become a huge power. However, the world is changing as Changelings adapt better and work with the humans. A Psy serial killer is picking off Changeling women. Lucas has recently lost one of his pack to the killer and is now looking for an in to find the murderer. The Psy Council is doing everything they can to cover up the killer so that the Psy image is upheld. Sascha is his in as a cardinal, she should have enough power to get him a link to the Council. What Lucas doesn't know is that Sascha is damaged and she's about to crack.

War is a constant threat on the edges of the story, as the Psy's arrogance keeps them from seeing the Changelings as the powerful and lethal threat they are. The shifters are well done, every aspect of pack hierocracy thought out. The different animals are realistic from the DarkRiver pack of leopards to the SunDancer wolf pack. The politics of why the changelings wouldn't out right attack the Psy and get justice was stunning. The simple fact that if they did that the emotionless Psy would wipe out everyone, down to the children. The plot is clever and the "politics" are so well done. The futuristic world is real enough, minus flying "skateboards" and cars. It's about what I would think we'd be technology wise. Not so advanced that I felt the need to roll my eyes.

Lucas and Sascha are immediately setup to fall for each other. Yes, I'm a bit picky about the build up of relationships in my PNR so this might not bother most readers. However, there's some dream sequences that aren't all physical fantasies—of course those don't hurt—that adds a certain depth to the relationship and helps to make the mating more realistic. Their characters are so real, I could believe in the oppression of Sascha's brainwashed life, the fear that she constantly living in. Her need for touch is so amazing that in many scenes I found myself holding my breath. Lucas has been a man since the tragic past that lead to his father and mothers death, baptizing him in blood as a strong alpha. Lucas isn't so dark and damaged as Kresely Cole’s heroines, and I found him to be more tangible and real. It was very refreshing.

The other characters are so well fleshed out in this world that my anticipation in reading their books, or simply seeing them with small rolls, promises that I will read on. The plot behind the killer was underwhelming, and the mystery of Sascha's true powers where so obvious that I felt underwhelmed. Leaving the climatic highs a little flat with me. Singh's ability to create human emotions and a rich world made up for most of it. For the next titles I'll be expecting more.

It's true!! All of the buzz you've heard from friends, fans, and reviewers! Don't let the tacky covers, or maybe futuristic setting, or other hang-ups keep you from trying this series out. Even if certain parts of Slave to Sensation disappoint Singh has enough talent to captive readers. Clearly future books are going to heat up! Despite myself I'm very curious about the Psy and want to see a "uprising" or "civil war". The alliance of the DarkRiver and SunDancer plot tease my mind with possibilities. After all animal shifters are my Achilles’ heel in paranormal reads. I'm all in with the Psy-Changeling series!

Sexual Content: The shifters are sensual, but nothing too shocking. The sex is pretty steamy, but for a PNR it's pretty tame—that doesn't mean it ain't hot! Sexual humor and some creepy serial killer stuff. Also, some talk about a past rape and the mind rape of some victims.

3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.

Originally reviewed at Book Whispers. ...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Franjessca rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star-rating, subgenre-paranormal-romance, favorite-books, books-read-in-2015, first-book-in-series, own-audiobook-version, author-nalini-singh, series-psy-changeling, books-read-in-2021

Full Review posted at A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog

Read or Listened: (1st time) June 2015

Read: (2nd time) January 2021

Nalini Singh did a fantastic job with starting the series with Sascha and Lucas. I also enjoyed the world-building and finding out about the Psy and Changelings. I swear Nalini knows how to keep a reader continually turning the pages or, in my case listening to the audible version with her storytelling. I could go on and on with what I enjoyed the first book, but I’ll finish it by sa ...more

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Sep 18, 2010 Wan rated it really liked it

Shelves: shape-shifters, psychic, dangerous-hero

Definitely a solid 4 stars. Love it. A passive ice-cold Psy and a passionate Alpha Panther-shifter, can't they be any different? I always love the opposite attracts story. The possessiveness and the protectiveness Lucus over Sascha jumped of the page. I could totally feel it. And ..ahh..the dreaming rendezvous were---wait for it--- hot. The book’s just become one of my favorite series. I can’t wait to read the next book. ...more

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