Joint Review – Tangle of Need by Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: Out now
How we got this book: ARC from the author.

Adria, wolf changeling and resilient soldier, has made a break with the past—one as unpredictable in love as it was in war. Now comes a new territory, and a devastating new complication: Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant already sworn to a desperate woman who belongs to another.

For Riaz, the primal attraction he feels for Adria is a staggering betrayal. For Adria, his dangerous lone-wolf appeal is beyond sexual. It consumes her. It terrifies her. It threatens to undermine everything she has built of her new life. But fighting their wild compulsion toward one another proves a losing battle.

Their coming together is an inferno…and a melding of two wounded souls who promise each other no commitment, no ties, no bonds. Only pleasure. Too late, they realize that they have more to lose than they ever imagined. Drawn into a cataclysmic Psy war that may alter the fate of the world itself, they must make a decision that might just break them both.

We got this blurb from the author’s website here.

Don’t forget to check back later today to see our interview with Ms Singh. She might give away some hints…

1. Thoughts on the Hero –

Lou -I was actually quite hesitant about the pairing of this couple because I thought it was somewhat squicky with Riaz being in a relationship with both Aunt and Niece. But Nalini Singh managed to pull it off, and I loved the pairing of these two. Riaz was such a conflicted hero, and at times he acted quite the arse with Adria. Knowing that his mate was out there, and that he could never be with her, it must have played havoc with his wolf. I didn’t like Riaz as much as Adria, but the passion and connection between them was incredibly strong with lots of rawr smexing.

MinnChica – While the whole aunt/niece thing didn’t bother me, I was more concerned about Riaz already having a mate. Throughout most of the story, I felt as if poor Riaz and Adria both were getting jipped out of something so special that the rest of the Psy-Changeling couples have been able to experience. That being said, as a hero, I liked Riaz. Once he committed to Adria, he was committed. He wanted to be be with her, and he was willing to do whatever he needed to in order to show her that. For that I adored him.

Has – I felt the same way about Riaz and the fact he was previously mated, although I loved how this was explored in the story and I think it really added another dimension with the mating trope which wasn’t covered in previous books. And I really liked that because I think Riaz’s feelings were very deep and intense for Adria when he realised his feelings for her was much stronger despite being previously mated. I loved the little things he did to woo her as well as the grrrowly alpha scenes where he stated he really wanted her.

E – While I agree that Riaz was an arse towards Adria at times, I also think that he made a wonderful hero. I found it really fascinating to see a hero who knew he wasn’t going to have the mystical mate bond that he could have had still experience love. It was almost like this might have been worth more because it took work not just instinct and it was a choice. Once he and his wolf decided that they had become a nasty mean creature and that wasn’t right he stole my heart as he almost stalked Adria. It was great to see him do the little things as well as trust her to take care of the big things. He really had to work to get Adria especially since he did not have the mate bond to act as a bridge.

2. Thoughts on the Heroine

Lou -I really like Adria as a heroine. She was different in the sense of she wasn’t as wolf-like as others. Living and being partnered with a human meant that she had to push down her dominance, and in the end, her relationship with Martin turned unbelievably bitter. I felt so bad for Adria when Riaz treated her the way he did, but she wasn’t a sucker or a victim against his behaviour.

MinnChica – I liked Adria, but I didn’t connect with her as easily as I did some of the other heroines in this series. My heart hurt for her and her relationship history. I wanted so much more for her, and was glad when she and Riaz started really working toward a relationship. I was glad that she continually stuck up for herself against Riaz’s bull, and wished that she didn’t have to deal with him having a mate. But what can you do? She was so sweet either way!

Has – At the beginning I had trouble warming to Adria as well, but when the romance started to progress between her and Riaz I really warmed up to her character. But her vulnerability is what made her character for me despite her past with Martin she never really let that overcome and embitter her even though initially she was so hurt. So I could understand why she was so stubborn and obstinate with Riaz and even when he pushed her she stood her ground against him. I also liked how she interacted with the other side characters, which also helped to open herself up and heal from the past. The romance between Adria and Riaz was more about healing and finding second chances again and I loved how that panned out in the story.

E – Adria was so wounded. I could see how she kept bending and trying to keep her special relationship based on the strongest aspects of her personality. I felt for her from the first time I met her in a previous book. It was interesting to see that in some respects she was stronger and more grounded then Riaz yet just as determined that she would never lose her self identity for anyone again. While she was extremely skittish when it came to intimate relationships Adria had to much love and support to give to the members of her pack. Again I liked seeing a heroine who was damaged as a result of the different aspects of her personality warring against each other. I also liked that even after she fell in love with Riaz she still didn’t let him take her for granted.

3. Favorite Scene

Lou -My favourite scene has to be the reveal of the water shapershifters. Holy freaking moly, that was freaking epic. That scene just showed the scope and how far wide the Psy-Changelling series can go. I loved it! I also loved the scenes with Hawke and Sienna, and how Sienna dealt with being the Alpha’s mate.

MinnChica – For me there were too many to name, and ironically all of them dealt with previous characters. There was a super sweet moment with Riley and Mercy that had me almost in tears (they are still my favorite couple of the series!). All the moments with Hawke and Sienna were just incredibly done as well, especially the more sweet and tender moments like them making cookies together. *melt*

Has – Same here! And most Hawke and Sienna scenes which I was very glad we got to see more and the repercussions from the previous books. The new shifters and the human resistance group introduction as well, which really broadened the world-building and future plots. But for me the ongoing intrigue of the main arc kicks up another knotch and the mystery surrounding the Ghost and his real identity – I have a theory about this which I look forward to see if I am right but more probably wrong about heh.

E – The scenes mentioned by my fellow bookpushers are indeed touching and wonderful to read while adding a sense of continuity across the series but I think my favorite ones took a different turn. Leaving out a rather large spoiler I am going to pick the scenes with the Arrows and Kaleb. Not interacting together but separately or with an outsider. I think the Ghost falls is one of those and I am leaning strongly towards an Arrow. Ms Singh gave, I think/hope, so many clues to the actual state of the Psy and what forces are building that after I finished reading I immediately started speculating.

4. Dislike about book

Lou -My only dislike about the book was the whole mate affair subplot, and I could understand why it troubled Adria on such a deep level. To know that you’ll never be a bonding mate with the person you loved must have been hell. And knowing that these wolves mated for life, it just felt strange and unsettling knowing that Riaz and Adria wouldn’t have that when all of the other mated pairs we’ve had so far have that bond.

MinnChica – Like I’ve said before, the whole mate thing really upset me. I wanted Riaz and Adria to have that opportunity, especially after everything Adria went with her previous boyfriend. I wanted her to have the security of the mating bond with Riaz, and while Singh left it open ended by saying that mating bonds CAN form over time, I almost felt as if the story was left unsettled. I wanted the mating for them, and while I love that some shifting couples are able to make it work without the bond, I just thought that depriving these two of that bond was unfair.

Has – I don’t have any major dislikes about the book, and despite not warming up to the Riaz and Adria at the beginning, I found their romance very tender and intense. I am actually satisfied with how the mating bond didn’t really happen. I found that refreshing and I think that they were very committed because of their past histories of being disappointed and hurt with their previous partners and mates, I think they wont make the same mistakes.

E – I actually didn’t dislike anything about this book. Yes Riaz was an arse in the beginning but he was the one who had to chase, make amends, and proof himself. I liked seeing a changeling relationship that didn’t include a mate bond, because mate bonds were supposed to be rare. I think that if all of the primary relationships that involved a changeling had a mate bond that wouldn’t go along with the previous world-building.

5. Any other misc. thoughts along with grade

Lou -I loved that we saw Hawke and Sienna. It was great seeing their relationship continue and grow. Heck, I wouldn’t mind if we had another Hawke and Sienna book *grins*. Whilst the romance was fantastic in Tangle of Need, I loved the external plots of the Arrows, Kaleb, Alice and the expansion of the changelings. This book previewed what could happen in the future for this series, and it was incredibly exciting. I give Tangle of Need an A.

MinnChica – I actually enjoyed the fact that a lot of this book was devoted to the overall world and further development of the overall story arc. I wasn’t a huge fan of Riaz and Adria, so the fact that they had limited page time (even though it was THEIR book) made it all work that much better for me. The last page was very exciting, and I hope we get to see the book of a certain mysterious Psy Councilor VERY soon!!

All in all I enjoyed Tangle of Need. I felt as if it wasn’t as strong in the romance department as Singh’s previous books, but I also felt as if the overall story is really chugging along. I can’t wait to find out where the story goes and who is up next. This continues to be one of my all time favorite PNR series!
I give Tangle of Need an A-

Has – I thought this was a fantastic installment in the series, in a lot of ways, this felt like an all cast ensemble because of all of the ongoing subplots but the romance between Riaz and Adria wasn’t diminished in any way. And I loved the romance about healing and second chance at love in the back-drop of a huge showdown being in place with different factions. After I finished Tangle of Need I was left wanting to read the next one, damn I wished I had a time-machine!

I give Tangle of Need an A

E – Like MinnChica, Lou, and Has I found the balance between the primary couple and everything else an interesting change. I liked how the world events progressed at a much quicker rate in a variety of different areas involving humans, Psy, and changelings. It seems like the critical tipping point is getting nearer and nearer. Several things were hinted at or mentioned slightly that I know, given Ms Singh’s trademark ability to tie threads together, will be referenced in later books. She certainly ended this book on a very intriguing note and I can’t wait to see what happens next with a few particular characters.
I give Tangle of Need an A.

Links to purchase

Amazon | Kindle eBook