Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

[Lisarenee]

This topic is open for discussion of Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh. Be prepared for SPOILERS.

Description:
THE HOT NEW NAME IN PARANORMAL ROMANCE.

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...

[Lisarenee]

Reading schedule we followed:

 Date Chapters 
July 5th 1 - 3
July 6th 4 - 7
July 7th 8 - 11
July 8th 12 - 15
July 9th 16 - 19
July 10th 20 - 23
July 11th 24 - Epilogue

[Lisarenee]

Actual Questions hidden under spoiler captions


Questions for Chapters Prologue - 3
(view spoiler)[1) So the Psy-Changeling series appears to be about two different species. The Psy who display psychic like abilities and the Changelings which are the equivalent of Weres, as in were-wolves and were-panthers. Which are you finding more intriguing at the moment?

2) So the Psy have been programmed/brainwashed into not displaying emotion. Prior to that their was an increase in their going insane enough to become serial killer or depressed enough to kill themselves. What do you think of the Silence?

3) Those who display emotions are reprogrammed so as not to. I shudder to think what that would entail.

4) Sascha and other Psys remind me a bit of Spock from Star Trek. I wonder if that character was what sparked Nalini's imagination to create this series?

5) Sascha lives daily with the fear someone might notice she's different. The more she's with the Changelings, the more she seems to get in touch with her 'human' emotions. Do you think given an option she'd attempt to leave the Psy network?

6) What is your opinion of Lucas? Would he betray her to get the information he wants?

7) What do you think of the Psy Council being "above the law"?

8) What did you think of Sascha's interaction with the cubs? (hide spoiler)]

Questions for Chapters 4 - 7
(view spoiler)[9) I find it interesting that Lucas' grandmother was Psy. Wonder if children who are born for a Psy/non Psy union would have any Psy powers? Do you find it strange Lucas dislikes the Psy so much since he is part Psy himself?

10) Okay I'm a little surprised about Sascha realizing Zara was not a leopard. Could there be some DNA in her that's not Psy?

11) "Changelings are different from the Psy, Sascha. We like things that are our alone, things that are unique." Double entendre?????

12) I wasn't getting a good vibe about Councilor Enrique or the Council. "None of the Council were people you'd turn your back on." It seems like all of them kill or cheat their way to the top. I think the theory that someone on the council could be the serial killer is a very viable possibility. They sound scary.

13) "The Psy had the biggest drug problem on the planet." ????? That doesn't seem right if they don't feel anything. I guess it depends on the type of drugs and what they're used for?

14) What do you make of the dreams? "Psy don't dream." Hmmmm....could this be one of her powers? To be able to infiltrate other's dreams?

15) So we got a small look into how the PsyNet works. Any thoughts?

16) I like the contrast Nalini displays between the Psy and Changelings when she reveals that Sascha's mom would probably have no problem with killing her yet Lucas mourns for his parents who've been gone for some time.

17) Do you think it's possible the Council are different from the other Psy and haven't been totally silenced by the Silence? Interesting how in her Guild Hunter series she has something referred to as the Quiet. I wonder why that is???? (hide spoiler)]

Questions for Chapters 8 - 11
(view spoiler)[18) "I'm broken... And the Psy don't allow broken creatures to live." I thought they'd reprogram her, but this is much more serious.

19) Taking away pain? What kind of Psy is she? It sounds like what she did cost her physically. This is an interesting twist. ALso, from what Lucas surmised most Psy needed to be close by the person they messed with, but Sascha wasn't really all that close.

20) We now know more about the murderer. He's getting bolder and making mistakes and is brutal to his victims. Plus the whole mind going to mush? Scary stuff. Wonder if he can do that to a Psy as well?

21) Interesting that Sascha doesn't smell like the other Psy. Wonder why? Does that mean she's missing something or has something extra?

22) He marked her? Wonder if that just means he drew blood or something more significant?

23) It's kind of fun to see Sascha jealous. She now fears he couldn't put her first before the pack. She thinks he's sleeping with Rina. So now she's trying to reason herself out her attraction since the thinking about it or should I say dreaming about him didn't work. Hmmm... (hide spoiler)]

Questions for Chapters 12 - 15
(view spoiler)[Wow! So much happens in this part.

24) So Sascha didn't tattle on the Changelings. Interesting.

25) "I need to be a part of something, even if that means I'm part of a race of killers. If I'm not Psy then what am I?"

26) 'Cut off from it for much longer than a minute or two, she'd die a miserable death.' Hmmm...sounds a little like how the changelings have to be in constant skin contact, the Psy need constant mental contact.

27) We get a better insight into Lucas. He's been acting a little out of character by touching her and seems to have formed an attached to Sascha and is afraid of that attachment.

28) "She appears so vibrant, so full of joy and life. He wants to take that from her, wants to keep it for himself." Wonder what his connection is to all the victims? How does he find them?

29) Teleportation is a skill some Psy have? Wonder what else they can do.

30) Now we learn about the NetMind. I'm not sure but it sounds like something that monitors the PsyNet?

31) What did you think of Sascha's breakdown? Could she just be overwhelmed with feelings or is she truly going insane?

32) We get a nice view of how the changelings function in a pack.

33)I wonder if Rina will be a problem later?

34) Ghosting the PsyNet? Interesting.

35) She felt a brush of fur against her cheek? That is even more interesting. I'm thinking it was Lucas?

36) So there are 7 councilors. We find out more about the Psy hierarchy and Council.

37) Shoshanna and Henry Scott sound like interesting Psy. I'd like to know more about them. They're married. Did they truly do it to be seen as more human? (hide spoiler)]

Questions for chapters 16 - 19
(view spoiler)[38) The PsyNet is like the internet but linking minds instead of computers.

39)We now know the classifications of the Psy. What are F-Psy? and E-Psy????

40) Do you think Lucas should heed her warning about completing the Mating dance? Notice how he put all the blame on her? lol

41) She used Hilary's line about baking cookies. lol

42) These guys are definitely a touchy feely kind of group. Definitely reminds me of cats.

43) "He lapped at her like a bowl of milk..." Clever description as we're dealing with cats.

44) So now we know that the Silence didn't work. So why is it still in practice?

45) So does Lucas do the alpha image justice? Is he too much, not enough, or just right?

46) Whose plan do you think would work better for capturing the killer the council's or Sascha's? (hide spoiler)]

Questions for Chapters 20 - 23
(view spoiler)[47) So there is a family that has managed to break free of the PsyNet and survive by creating their own mini PsyNet. Interesting they don't wish to have her join their little network.

48) Even more interesting that they believe changeling minds might be able to provide a similar network for her. With Lucas' Psy ancestry, I can't help but wonder if that could somehow increase the possibility.

49) Sascha would willingly sacrifice herself to stop the serial killer. Do you think if the odds of her surviving this whole development were higher she'd do the same thing?

50) So She's an Empath. Makes sense. If she can take emotion away and soothe people does that mean if the killer came after her she could fix him?

51) The phrase "You've come a long way, baby" is dancing through my head for Sascha. She was acting like a cat. Like someone unlocked her inner kitten and she roared to life. lol

52) So the big question is can she survive a net cut????? Will the theory of a changeling network work? (hide spoiler)]

Questions for chapter 24 - Epilogue
(view spoiler)[53) Enrique was the serial killer. Talk about abuse of power. It really wasn't a surprise (He seemed to be the only suspect), but I didn't really mind.

54) So Silence created the perfect serial killers. Lovely. They experience no remorse, no sympathy, no hate, they just had the mentality we can so we will.*shudder*

55) How did you like the connection Sascha established with Lucas as the alternate to the PsyNet?

56) 1979. Should have know there was significance behind the number of slashes.

59) What did you think of the confrontation with Enrique?

57) What did you think of the book overall? What will or have you rated it?

58) Did you have any favorite quotes? (hide spoiler)]

[Lisarenee]

Here it is Sara. A little different from the way we do buddy reads in this group.

[Katie]

I've been meaning to read this book.

[Sara]

Thoughts/Comments For Chapters Prologue - 7

Warning, Spoilers Ahead...

Questions for Chapters Prologue - 3
[1) So the Psy-Changeling series appears to be about two different species. The Psy who display psychic like abilities and the Changelings which are the equivalent of Weres, as in were-wolves and were-panthers. Which are you finding more intriguing at the moment?

The Changelings but I'm a big Weres/Shifters fan so that was a given.

2) So the Psy have been programmed/brainwashed into not displaying emotion. Prior to that their was an increase in their going insane enough to become serial killer or depressed enough to kill themselves. What do you think of the Silence?

I think it's too extreme - you can't even enjoy the taste of food or soft sheets? Insane. Couldn't they had done something along the martial arts meditation and discipline? Besides lack of emotion/concern for others leads to mental illness too.

3) Those who display emotions are reprogrammed so as not to. I shudder to think what that would entail.

Me too. That's a big indication that something is wrong in your society.

4) Sascha and other Psys remind me a bit of Spock from Star Trek. I wonder if that character was what sparked Nalini's imagination to create this series?

That was my first thought when I read about the Psy/Silence in Heart of Obsidian. The Psy = Earth Vulcans.

5) Sascha lives daily with the fear someone might notice she's different. The more she's with the Changelings, the more she seems to get in touch with her 'human' emotions. Do you think given an option she'd attempt to leave the Psy network?

Absolutely. If nothing else she wouldn't have to live in terror that someone is going to wipe her mind clean or leave her a drooling vegetable. And she can eat all the cookies she wans to!

6) What is your opinion of Lucas? Would he betray her to get the information he wants?

Love Lucas. He wouldn't betray Sascha unless she is involved in the killings.

7) What do you think of the Psy Council being "above the law"?

It's another sign that something's wrong.

8) What did you think of Sascha's interaction with the cubs?

Super cute! She would have so much more fun in the changeling society.

Questions for Chapters 4 - 7
[9) I find it interesting that Lucas' grandmother was Psy. Wonder if children who are born for a Psy/non Psy union would have any Psy powers? Do you find it strange Lucas dislikes the Psy so much since he is part Psy himself?

I wondered about that too. Maybe he's connecting to Sascha in their dreams because of his Psy heritage?

10) Okay I'm a little surprised about Sascha realizing Zara was not a leopard. Could there be some DNA in her that's not Psy?

Good question.

11) "Changelings are different from the Psy, Sascha. We like things that are our alone, things that are unique." Double entendre?????

Definitely. A good indication of Lucas's possessive nature.

12) I wasn't getting a good vibe about Councilor Enrique or the Council. "None of the Council were people you'd turn your back on." It seems like all of them kill or cheat their way to the top. I think the theory that someone on the council could be the serial killer is a very viable possibility. They sound scary.

Yeah, the Silence seems to turn a lot of the Psy into sociopaths.

13) "The Psy had the biggest drug problem on the planet." ????? That doesn't seem right if they don't feel anything. I guess it depends on the type of drugs and what they're used for?

I found that odd too since they're not even allowed to enjoy the taste of food.

14) What do you make of the dreams? "Psy don't dream." Hmmmm....could this be one of her powers? To be able to infiltrate other's dreams?

Possibly. We still don't know why she's considered a "defective" cardinal. Considering it's a power ranking I would think you either have it or you don't.

15) So we got a small look into how the PsyNet works. Any thoughts?

I'll stick to telephones.

16) I like the contrast Nalini displays between the Psy and Changelings when she reveals that Sascha's mom would probably have no problem with killing her yet Lucas mourns for his parents who've been gone for some time.

I'll take the more personal, alive Changeling society any day. Not only can you kill your own child but you don't even mourn them?

17) Do you think it's possible the Council are different from the other Psy and haven't been totally silenced by the Silence? Interesting how in her Guild Hunter series she has something referred to as the Quiet. I wonder why that is????

The Silence seems to be a justification for the Council to engage in behavior that would have them imprisoned for the rest of their lives in a normal society.

[Katie]

Opps. Better delete this thread from my updates. If reading dates are for July I don't want to get SPOILED before I actually read it.

[Lisarenee]

Katie wrote: "Opps. Better delete this thread from my updates. If reading dates are for July I don't want to get SPOILED before I actually read it."

Katie, I read this with another buddy in another group almost a year ago so the dates are wrong. You can start this one any time. I took the questions I wrote (not thinking about the dates) and posted them here. It's set up so you can start any time and read through the responses as you go. When Sara said she was reading this one I asked if she'd like me to set up a thread with the questions I wrote in the other buddy read. She said yes, so I set this one up. If you guys like this style let me know and in the future we can try to do a buddy read like this every once in a while. I've got the first 4 or 5 set up this way I believe.

[Lisarenee]

I think I have two books left to read in the series. Branded by Fire and Bonds of Justice. I read all the others but may wish to revisit some since I didn't write reviews for all of them.

[Katie]

Oh okay. I just really hate being spoiled. So i know better now.

[Sara]

Thoughts/Comments on Chapters 8 - 11

Warning, Spoilers Ahead...

"No conscience, no heart, no feelings! How else do you define psychopath?" I have to agree with Dorian on this one.

"... you give off only coldness, a metallic stink that repels..." Ouch!

It was very sweet of Sascha to help Dorian with his pain considering the Changelings had just told her she was a stinky psychopath.

[18) "I'm broken... And the Psy don't allow broken creatures to live." I thought they'd reprogram her, but this is much more serious.

Definitely, though I'm not sure if it would be worse to be dead or to have someone damage your mind to the point that you have no free will or coherent thoughts.

19) Taking away pain? What kind of Psy is she? It sounds like what she did cost her physically. This is an interesting twist. ALso, from what Lucas surmised most Psy needed to be close by the person they messed with, but Sascha wasn't really all that close.

Maybe a type of ramped-up empathy. Is this why she's a cardinal?

20) We now know more about the murderer. He's getting bolder and making mistakes and is brutal to his victims. Plus the whole mind going to mush? Scary stuff. Wonder if he can do that to a Psy as well?

I know who the murderer is because I read the latest book in the series first - but he is a sick freak!

21) Interesting that Sascha doesn't smell like the other Psy. Wonder why? Does that mean she's missing something or has something extra?

I'd go with something extra.

22) He marked her? Wonder if that just means he drew blood or something more significant?

I thought it might leave a mark that would have Nikita asking questions Sascha doesn't want to answer.

23) It's kind of fun to see Sascha jealous. She now fears he couldn't put her first before the pack. She thinks he's sleeping with Rina. So now she's trying to reason herself out her attraction since the thinking about it or should I say dreaming about him didn't work. Hmmm...

I don't think that's going to work out so well for her.

[Sara]

Took a break from this book to read a few history books but I'm back...

Questions for Chapters 12 - 15
[Wow! So much happens in this part.

24) So Sascha didn't tattle on the Changelings. Interesting.

Yep, her loyalties are shifting.

25) "I need to be a part of something, even if that means I'm part of a race of killers. If I'm not Psy then what am I?"

It would be very hard to leave your entire culture/upbringing behind.

26) 'Cut off from it for much longer than a minute or two, she'd die a miserable death.' Hmmm...sounds a little like how the changelings have to be in constant skin contact, the Psy need constant mental contact.

Different sides of the same coin.

27) We get a better insight into Lucas. He's been acting a little out of character by touching her and seems to have formed an attached to Sascha and is afraid of that attachment.

Yep.

28) "She appears so vibrant, so full of joy and life. He wants to take that from her, wants to keep it for himself." Wonder what his connection is to all the victims? How does he find them?

I wonder too - it's not like the two races mingle together.

29) Teleportation is a skill some Psy have? Wonder what else they can do.

A lot - teleportation would be a handy power to possess.

30) Now we learn about the NetMind. I'm not sure but it sounds like something that monitors the PsyNet?

Creepy idea to have someone monitoring your thoughts.

31) What did you think of Sascha's breakdown? Could she just be overwhelmed with feelings or is she truly going insane?

Overwhelmed - if a cookie can be too much sensory overload then all those feelings would send you over the edge.

32) We get a nice view of how the changelings function in a pack.

I've always liked changeling/shifter societies.

33)I wonder if Rina will be a problem later?

Maybe?

34) Ghosting the PsyNet? Interesting.

Mental stalking for the win!


35) She felt a brush of fur against her cheek? That is even more interesting. I'm thinking it was Lucas?

Me too.

36) So there are 7 councilors. We find out more about the Psy hierarchy and Council.

I read the latest book in the series first but I do wonder what my impressions of the councilors would be if I hadn't.

37) Shoshanna and Henry Scott sound like interesting Psy. I'd like to know more about them. They're married. Did they truly do it to be seen as more human?

If they did, I don't think either the human or changeling population are fooled by it.

[Sara]

Comments for chapters 16 - 19...

I find it very disturbing that the Psy are "providing" for their "important" serial killers as opposed to imprisoning or executing them.

[Alisa]

@Sara--are you going to keep reading this series?

[Lisarenee]

Sara wrote: "Comments for chapters 16 - 19...

I find it very disturbing that the Psy are "providing" for their "important" serial killers as opposed to imprisoning or executing them."

Yes, it is disturbing, but I found myself wondering if you were to get rid of a person's emotions would their conscious be taken as well? Would they still be able to determine right from wrong? Could that line be pushed, bent, manipulated by a smart individual to meet their sick needs? If Silence gains for some power, wealth, and control, and it's obvious that some seem to crave it, are all emotions truly extinguished? I tend to see a lot of the Nazi way of thinking in the Psy. Hitler wanted a race of superior individuals and went to extremes to attempt to create one. If memory serves he went so far as to create breeding camps. On the flip side, Hitler tried to kill off an entire race of people, the Jews, thereby attempting genocide. Likewise, he attempted experiments on those of whom he saw as less desirables. Most of which were cruel. What may not be revealed yet is the murderer is doing all this under the guise of experimentation. I think the council is smart enough to realize this isn't the case, but if so many could look the other way in real life...

[Sara]

Alisa,

Yes, I am going to continue reading the series. I finished Slave to Sensation and highly enjoyed it. I also skipped ahead and read Kiss Of Snow because I really like Hawke and didn't have the patience to read the nine books previous to his. I will now read the rest of the stories in order.

Lisareneee,

Good example with the Nazis. Real like can be so much scarier than fiction.

[Sara]

Final thoughts...

I wish we could have seen the final confrontation with the killer as opposed to hearing about it secondhand.

The characters were all interesting and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.