**SPOILER FREE**
Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: Out now
How we got this book: ARC from the publisher and purchased
Step into New York Times bestseller Nalini Singh’s explosive and shockingly passionate Psy-Changeling world…
A dangerous, volatile rebel, hands stained bloodred.
A woman whose very existence has been erased.
A love story so dark, it may shatter the world itself.
A deadly price that must be paid.
The day of reckoning is here.
From “the alpha author of paranormal romance” (Booklist) comes the most highly anticipated novel of her career—one that blurs the line between madness and genius, between subjugation and liberation, between the living and the dead.
This blurb came from the author’s website.
E: If Nalini Singh writes it I will read it. I have been waiting for this book for years it seems but at least since the hints first started coming out I have anticipated this just as much as I did Kiss of Snow. I am very happy to say that this was well worth the wait and the serious book hangover I am experiencing today! Singh took her trademark skill at connecting the dots and pulled threads stretching from the very first book through this one to provide both a satisfying release to a certain amount of the tension while continuing to raise the stakes for this entire overall story arc. I am in awe at how much information she provided throughout the series to date without giving anything away but looking back the hints are there.
MinnChica: Ever since I first picked up the Psy-Changeling Series I have been addicted to this cast of characters, this world, and this ongoing story arc. This book is probably one of my most anticipated books ever, and I was so excited to see all the secrets revealed that we’ve been waiting twelve books for! Like E, I am totally in awe of how amazing Singh did of tying up loose ends, making sure everything made sense, and putting together not only an amazing story, but also a wonderful conclusion to the current plot arc.
E: When Tangle of Need ended things were at a very tense point. For all practical purposes the Council was nonexistent, dead members had not been replaced. DarkRiver and SnowDancer helped save the psy population of San Francisco and the surrounding areas from a sudden brutal death by defeating a Pure Psy plot. This open cooperation between Psy, Changeling and human spotlighted the shocking changes that have occurred in the world since Sasha’s defection and made other Psy question the actions and motives of Pure Psy’s insistence on Silence. We also learned that Kaleb’s search had ended successfully. On top of all of that Singh was able to both answer lingering questions and spotlight others. A lot was at stake between Pure Psy, the Ghost, Kaleb, the Human Alliance, and the Changeling packs so it was wonderful to see the tension and not always mutually trusting groups of people working towards a different future.
MinnChica: I was so anxious to see where things would go now that Pure Psy seemed to be on a rampage. I was so so excited to see how that whole aspect of the story wrapped up, and how the Ghost and our hero and heroine played into it. I never seem to know where Singh is going in her stories, and I was a little surprised – pleasantly so – to see how the hero and heroine of this story were so profound in bringing about change to the Psy race as a whole. I loved the aspect of Silence, and how it was seen as the saving grace of the Psy race, and yet over time it was seen as something that was hindering the people. I loved the ending and how Singh was able to resolve that aspect of the plot arc. So imaginative and well thought out!
E: Yes! Singh has made every single hero and heroine play a key role in the changes from the current to the future. I also like how all of their various skills were needed at different times and sometimes needed together to protect others. One of the other things I love about Singh’s writing is while the most outwardly drastic changes involve the Psy, she changes the foundations that have separated and confined all three branches of humanity because none of them are truly isolated from the others.
MinnChica: I really liked the romance in this story as well. I thought our hero was so incredible. While I liked Judd and Walker, those two Psy heroes couldn’t hold a candle to this one. He was romantic in his own way, he was thoughtful, caring, passionate. and all around fabulous, all while spoiling his heroine rotten with meeting and fulfilling her every need. As a couple, I adored these two together, and think they might give Riley & Mercy and Nate & Tammy a run for their money in regards to favorite couples in the series.
E: The romance, passion, intensity, and depth of feeling between this particular couple was just amazing. I would have to change my answer to one of the pre-release party questions we asked Monday because WOW. The growth between them. The building connection between them that had its fair share of ups and downs and then some. I have to say that when the men in Singh’s books fall they are just absolutely wonderful to watch because while they compromise they never lose themselves. To me that is just amazing because they are all so strong, respect the strength their heroines’ have and the heroines respect the strength of the heroes. I absolutely love seeing that.
I think this has become my favorite story in the Psy-Changeling series so far. The fact that it was so difficult to write this without spoilers because I just want everyone to enjoy the goodness says a lot. The hero and heroine were great seperately and together. I also enjoyed seeing the inclusion of individuals who have been relatively silent in the last few books. So many things became clear but so many other things are now in question. I can sit and re-read this entire series and each time I spot new connections. Singh has certainly provided a story that was well worth waiting for.
I give Heart of Obsidian an A+
MinnChica: All in all I think this is probably one of the best books in the series. The hero and heroine are so fabulous as both individuals, and as a couple. The overall plot of both this book and the series arc was so incredible, in both execution and thought. I loved everything about this book, and can’t wait to see what Singh does next within this world. This series has become one of my favorite of all the paranormal romances series out there. Singh is such an incredible author with the forethought to create some of the most magical characters and settings I’ve ever read. Anyone who has yet to read this series is missing out!
I give Heart of Obsidian an A+
I loved this one so much! I read the whole thing yesterday afternoon/evening, and I’m floating around today on a total book high. Such a great story, I loved the hero & heroine, and how deep their connection to each other was. All the revelations in this book seem to fit in to the series so well.
@Ailsa: So glad you enjoyed this as much as we did!