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Psy-Changeling - To Read or Not to Read?
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I was really surprised how much I liked it! Only read book #1 this year, and I couldn't understand why I fought it for so long.I can only compare to Guild Huntress from the 1st Psy book, it wasn't as 'sexy times' as Guild Huntress, IMO. The 'opposites attract' thing IS going on for both these books. They are similar but I don't think it's interchangeable or anything.
However, if you're looking for more urban fantasy and less PNR, one of my favorites is the Incryptid series and the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire. Also Dresden Files are a great go-to... and Iron Druid series.
I know I'm in the minority on it, but I mildly disliked the first psy-changling book. It was full of foolish people making bad decisions, and it bored me. It's definately heavy on the insta-love-lust, light on the plot. Haven't read the guild huntress series, so can't compare that. We've read worse here, but it wasn't very original. But then, I lean more towards fantasy with just a little romance, and psy-changeling is much more romance with an outer shell of fantasy, so that has a lot to do with my reaction to it too.I would say check out the free glimpse inside at amazon or Barnes and noble, then decide. It's a fair representation of the rest, I would say, so it will give you a better idea if it suits you.
The Psy-Changeling series is one of my favourites but then I love romance in my books. I find it a fascinating world that I am always eager to jump into again, revisiting old friends and meeting new ones each time. The world building continues in each book with hidden motives and secrets unfolding more and more. Of course I'm also a big fan of (good) long series; witness the fact that I have all 40 of J.D.Robb's "in Death" series. :)
It's one of my favorite series, ever. It's also one that I reread the entire series at least a couple times a year. I think it depends on what you like to read. There's a very strong weave that arcs the first 14 books(plus the already published novellas) together above the individual stories. I'm a much bigger fan of this series then of the GH ones. It's definitely PNR and not UF and it's definitely romance before any other definition. My suggestion is actually to start with the first novella - Beat of Temptation since that's the first story in the timeline.
I don't like the Guild Huntress books as well as the Psy-Changeling ones. I think the weakness of the Psy-Changeling series is that the character development is pretty shallow and the dialogue is not the best. I think the plots are pretty good and I am fascinated by the world-building. But it is PNR, as opposed to UF. PNR series are, of course, big on romance, usually written in third person rather than first, and follow a network of characters rather than mostly sticking with one character or one couple. Oftentimes, the author is more prolific than UF authors are. So if you are a high volume reader, PNR can be nice. If your reading time is at a premium, it's probably not your best genre. Or that's how I look at it, anyway.
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Top of my paranormal romance, drug of choice. Just re-read most of them to get me back to understanding the politics for Shards of Hope. After about book 8 or so the political background, over arc, takes over much of the books/series, which turns it into half UF and half PNR. Sometimes she pulls it off incredibly and other times just good/very good. The two plots can get in the way of one another. Still, haven't had a bad or just OK read yet from the series. I have been getting the "ultimate character" syndrome in each but still really love it. (Where one of the protagonists is the top powerful person. Cardinals are so rare yet...)
The Psy-Changeling books are definite PNR. The world building and overarching story is great, the character descriptions get very repetitive, insta-love and sexytimes prevail, the dialogue can get dire, but still: I've read and enjoyed every single one.If you're thinking of reading them, I'd recommend not starting with the first one. I actually think they generally get stronger further in to the series. Maybe start with the third one, Caressed by Ice, or alternatively the sixth Branded by Fire, then loop back and read the rest chronologically.
I really liked the series, no matter the label. The characters are really well drawn, and the world the author created is really well realized. Good read.
I was not expecting much from this series when I read 'Slave To Sensation ' recently and only because it is for VF. So imagine my surprise when I spent a sleepless night devouring its entirety and ordering the remainder of the series in a stupor at work the following day!
The Guild Hunter series keeps showing up when I'm book shopping online. I didn't even realise it was a Kiwi author until I saw this thread and went searching. I'm keen on looking up both series now, but my library seems to like buying everything but the first book of the series. Better start looking in the bargain bins.
I loved 'Slave to Sensation'. I read it straight through. Someone told me she head-hops too much with the POV, but I didn't have any trouble following it. Thoughts?
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Books mentioned in this topic
Caressed by Ice (other topics)Branded by Fire (other topics)
I see positive review after positive review of Psy-Changeling, and it seems to be an almost required reading of PNR fans (in the same way you can't claim to be a nerd if you don't like at least one of LotR, Star Trek, or Star Wars, preferably all 3). I just can't seem to talk myself into actually reading it.
Anybody else have this issue? Is it REALLY worth the read? Is it different (better/worse) than the Guild Huntress series? Comparable to others? What say you all?