Review: Play of Passion by Nalini Singh

Lieutenant Indigo Riviere doesn’t easily allow skin privileges, especially of the sensual kind—and the last person she expects to find herself craving is the most wickedly playful male in the den. Everything she knows tells her to pull back before the flames burn them both to ash…but she hasn’t counted on Drew’s will.

Now, two of SnowDancer’s most stubborn wolves find themselves playing a hot, sexy game even as lethal danger stalks the very place they call home…

In this ninth instalment of the Psy/Changeling series, the focus is back to the shifters and that of the SnowDancer pack, which I am really glad about because I am a huge fan of the Changelings rather than the Psy focused books. In Play of Passion, the book is based on Drew Kincaid, the brother of Riley and Mercy and, Indigo Riviere who is a senior Lieutenant of the SnowDancer pack. Drew has always been drawn to Indigo – even though she is ranked as his senior and is more dominant than he is in the pack rankings, but this does not stop the attraction that forms between them. Whilst they are dealing with their burgeoning feelings for each other, the ongoing political intrigue with the Psy fractions is coming to ahead as they are becoming more fragmented and are beginning to forge alliances. And with the Psy Council who are forming into two different factions for the fight over the future and direction for the Psy.

This book really sets up for a huge confrontation in the next book or so, but that’s not to say the focus on the romance is downplayed in any way. In fact, a lot of the attention and time is spent on the evolving relationship with Drew and Indigo.

The sensual and fierce tension that Drew and Indigo shared with each other was a highlight for me. I swear I could feel the pages sizzle with sexual tension, especially when they both clashed with each other. I also felt that that their courtship was a great twist on gender roles which Nalini twists deftly from the traditional Alpha male/female roles. I liked that even though Drew was very dominant, he also had beta lite qualities. I really loved how this was portrayed because it made his wooing for Indigo progress in an unpredictable way, and I liked how that played out especially when he learned and understood from his mistakes about their dominance issues.

Indigo who is more dominant and older than Drew, did feel exasperating at times because of her self doubts and fears. However I could understand why she would feel like that. But Drew’s fun and easygoing nature helped to balance her more serious side, and the courtship — wooing her with chocolate kisses and flowers in places she least expected it – was hilarious and was a refreshing and fun way to win over a stubborn character. Drew’s relentless chase and determination for Indigo helped to make it a multi-layered romance and I really enjoyed how their relationship evolved and deepened. Drew was wonderful, and although he was easygoing, he had an underlying strength and iron will which made him an ideal mate for her.

The glimpses of the pack is another highlight of the book, and we definitely get to see that in detail in this book. The pack-members interactions with Drew and Indigo and their reaction towards their ongoing romance was also fun and insightful, and I love how detailed and rich the world-building was. I love the earthy and sensual attention to detail about the lives of wolf-pack. In this book we really got an in-depth insight to the characters who lived there.

I also loved the glimpses we got with Hawke, and I am so happy we are going to get his story in the next Psy/Changeling book, Kiss of Snow. Nalini has subtly hinted who his heroine will be in the last few books, but in this book it definitely confirms who I hope it would be.

I can’t say enough good things about Play of Passion and although I was lukewarm about the last Psy/Changeling book, this instalment is one of the best entries to the series. The romance between Indigo and Drew is fun, sexy and intense,  and I loved how the issues of dominance played out along with their romance. Along with the political intrigue that does not overshadow the focus on the romance, Play of Passion is a fantastic book and I can’t hardly wait for the next book or two or three!

I give Play of Passion a B+