Branded by Fire (Psy-Changeling, #6) in Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group

Nov 03, 2010 Quinn rated it really liked it

Shelves: series, library-book, paranormal-romance

I stopped reading Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series when I finished Hostage to Pleasure back in August 2009. I’m not a sci-fi fan, and while the writing was good and I was enjoying the Changelings, I wasn’t at all interested in the Psy storyline, which is integral to the series.

Throughout the 17 months since deciding not to continue with this series, I have continued to see very positive reviews for the books in this series, and lively discussions from its legion of fans. Because I liked the I stopped reading Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series when I finished Hostage to Pleasure back in August 2009. I’m not a sci-fi fan, and while the writing was good and I was enjoying the Changelings, I wasn’t at all interested in the Psy storyline, which is integral to the series.

Throughout the 17 months since deciding not to continue with this series, I have continued to see very positive reviews for the books in this series, and lively discussions from its legion of fans. Because I liked the writing, and because the praise seemed to be focused on the Changeling characters, I admit, it got the better of me, and I thought I would give the series another go.

Well did I ever luck out, because the hero and heroine in this book are both Changelings. Hurrah! And the Psy elements of the story, while certainly necessary for the ongoing story arc, were definitely less prevalent and more of a background focus. Hurrah again!

Riley, a SnowDancer (wolf pack) lieutenant, and Mercy, a DarkRiver (leopard) sentinel are both dominants. And while Mercy is happy to use Riley to ‘scratch an itch’ as it were, a mating between wolf and leopard, particularly where both are dominant and neither will submit, is out of the question. Or is it?

I really enjoyed watching Riley and Mercy struggle with how to make their relationship work for both of them. In this instance, there was no build up to the physical side – that happened quite explosively in the first chapter – but rather a process where animal instincts must be carefully managed and compromises reached.

Mercy is a predatory dominant, which was reflected in her behaviour. While I probably wouldn’t have liked her much as a human character, I was able to appreciate and understand her in this context. And Riley, as with all the Changeling males I have read so far, was wonderful, even as he struggled with his protective instincts.

For me, the Psy are a little like the Lessors in J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Not that there are any similarities at all in the storylines, but because it’s less engaging and distracts from the characters that you really want to read about. But just as I kept reading that series, maybe, just maybe, I will continue with this one.
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Dec 01, 2010 Keri rated it liked it

Shelves: 2010s-read, romance-paranormal

This was a good read, but not my fav of the series. NS used alot of repeat phrasing that got on my nerves after awhile. I also had a hard time staying connected to the story and kept wanting to read about other players introduced in the story versus Riley and Mercy. I still like the series and wonder how it is all going to play out.

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Aug 25, 2009 PT rated it really liked it

Shelves: scarred-hero-heroine, romance, paranormal, futuristic, whoa-nelly-sexy, shape-shifters

This is totally random, OK not random, but I had to get it off my chest. I really don't like the couple on the cover of this book. They look like a couple of high school kids playing at being sexy. For that alone, I took away one star. Mean, yes, but completely necessary.
That being said, can the heroes in this series get any more super delicious hot? Riley certainly lives up the standards set by the previous heroes from this series. He's tough, yet vulnerable in a really attractive way.
Mercy, ...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Jill Myles rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio

This book was really steamy! I loved Riley and how stalwart he was, and Mercy was so strong. And boy, they liked to get it on. Lol. Great book. My biggest complaint was that the narrator is BORING. Very boring. If you listen to the audio, she has one voice for female characters, and one voice for male characters, and if there are two guys talking in the same room, beware.

I picked up another in the series but IMO the audiobooks could really use a new reader.

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Oct 03, 2012 Michelle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: nalini-singh, michelle-mcm-s-2012-reading-list, psy-changeling-re-read-2012

2nd Edition added as I'm re-reading.

Original read date - 12th July 2009
Re-read - 4t October 2012

I love this book, the passion between Mercy and Riley is palpable. Who would have thought a wolf and a leopard would have been so perfect together. Riley is going to be an amazing father whenever th time comes. ...more

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Jul 14, 2009 Darcy rated it really liked it

Shelves: pnr, 2021, 2009, 2011, audio-book, shifters, psychic-gifts, re-read-2021

This was a good book. I like this world with it's very separate kinds of people. This book seemed to cement the alliance between the leopards and the wolves. It was fun to see both Mercy and Riley try to fight what they felt for each other and try to trivialize it. The interactions with their repsective packs and their ranking was interesting to watch especially as they realized how over their heads they were with each other. The long story battle going on really has started to heat up, and brou ...more

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Jun 21, 2009 Teri rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Can't get enough of those packs! I want to be a changeling! Great books. This one in particular, I loved the Snowdancer DarkRiver love affair, nice change of pace! ...more

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