Ocean Light

Psy-Changeling Trinity #2

by Nalini Singh

Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there's a ticking time bomb in his a chip implanted to block telepathic interference that could fail at any moment - taking his brain along with it. With no time to waste, he should be back on land helping the Human Alliance. Instead, he's at the bottom of the ocean, consumed with an enigmatic changeling . . .

Kaia Luna may have traded in science for being a chef, but she won't hide the facts of Bo's condition from him or herself. She's suffered too much loss in her life to fall prey to the dangerous charm of a human who is a dead man walking. And she carries a devastating secret that Bo could never imagine . . .

But when Kaia is taken by those who mean her deadly harm, all bets are off. Bo will do anything to get her back - even if it means striking a devil's bargain and giving up his mind to the enemy.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Urban Fantasy, Audiobook

417 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2018

About the author

I've been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There's no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.


I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).

So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.

Reviews

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ Solid Stars

Before we get started, I have a confession to make...

I wasn't all that excited about reading this book.



I know, I know, how dare I, and all that jazz.

As I've said before in other Psy-Changeling/Trinity reviews, such as THIS one and THIS one, I prefer my P-C/T books to be about, well, changelings.



Or really powerful Psy à la Kaleb Krycheck.



Because I'm just snobby and alpha-driven like that, homies.



Thus, when I found out that this book was about Bowen...

You know, we-thought-he-was-dead, he-has-a-degrading-chip-in-his-brain-so-is-almost-dead-anyway, Human Alliance, HUMAN Bowen...

I just...wasn't all that excited, to be honest.

But, never fear, Nalini Singh is here...



And you know who else was here?

BlackSea.

Black. Fucking. Sea, people!



That's right my friends, you heard me correctly.

Singh FINALLY took us down under the sea and introduced us to the ways of the BlackSea ocean changelings clan in this installment.

She has been taunting us with details about BlackSea for several books now.

And while we don't necessarily get ALL the details we are all pining for...



aka MALACHI DETAILS...we still get enough juicy underwater goodness to make my heart pitter-patter like little PNR slut I am.

What do we also get?

A decently solid plot line and several other awesome cameos that will make your heart sing and rejoice.

Bowen also turned out to be a very solid and magnetically engaging Hero.
Not gonna lie, he's no Lucas/Hawke/Kaleb/Malachi...but, then again, who is?

Boom.

Cannot wait for the next one.

[Jilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you hit book #17 in a series, you really don't get to complain too much because you keep reading. So... you know, don't keep ordering the same meal and then complain that you don't like it, stupid! But, I do like a LOT of this series, it's just that there are so many Paranormal Romance Tropes that she includes in all of them that it drives me crazy.


Don't worry, they are deeply in love within 90 minutes of spending time together. And, no, for once I'm not exaggerating. Here, proof through quotes from the book:

It had nothing to do with anything as ordinary as attraction or desire. In a short ninety minutes, Kaia had smashed his defenses open, aroused him to boiling point and to fury, and made him act the rash youth he'd never been....His muscles locked at the memory...Kaia already understood him better than any lover he'd ever had.


*note - this isn't YA. It has pages and pages of sappy boring sex. But, still... if it fits, I sits..

Again, I could stop reading. But, I won't. So, I'll bitch and whine then read the next one the second I get my grubby little hands on it.


I just know this shade of purple nail polish is going to be so much better than my 36 other shades of purple nail polish. This one is special!

In this one, we have Bowan, the leader of the human alliance, pairing up with Kaia - some sort of ocean animal shifter. So, let's get this out of the way immediately. The book will try and be all mysterious about what each ocean shifter is, especially Kaia, but when they are revealed, you won't be surprised ever by any of them.


No, I'm not Korean. Why do you ask?

I never felt an ounce of surprise at anything that happened in the book. It was disappointing. Sometimes, when I'm reading this kind of thing, and I could practically tell anyone exactly what will happen, I just wish the book would shock the crap out of me and let the bad guy win, or kill the hero off, or anything.... Give me an effing red wedding once in a while! It keeps things interesting.


Surprises are so fun!

There were some redeeming things that happened too, though. First, Kaleb showed up. Too briefly, but still... Kaleb.
Second, the world is cool. I'll always love the Psy-Changeling world. Personally, the Psy are my favorite books usually, but a pupcub is okay too. By the way... pupcubs....

E.T.A....I forgot to mention that Bowen had a hamster with the most epic, awesome hamster name ever: Toric the Destroyer. How much do I love this name?!!!!

[Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since listening to the audiobook of Silver Silence I've been obsessed with the Psy-Changeling world. I'm making my way through the first books in this series via audio and loving them. If you don't mind jumping in in the middle of a series - Silver Silence is a good place to start but you definitely want to read all of them because the other books just give you a deeper reading experience.

So...Ocean Light. My friends know how fascinated I am with the ocean. There is nothing more mysterious on this planet than the creatures and biosphere underwater so reading about ocean changelings totally ticked my boxes.

Bowen Knight, security chief of the Human Alliance, is a charismatic, fascinating character. He has the alpha-thing down pat, but there is also a kindness and goodness in him that just made me love him so hard. He fights for his life, against all odds, holding on to his positive attitude although he knows that the chances are overwhelmingly high that he'll end up a vegetable - something he fears most in his life, not having control over his mind. But he sacrifices it all for the people he loves. Bo is a noble, good man, much more than he gives himself credit for. He is a man of principles and those are unmovable. I just loved him.

He’d found the one person who sang to his heart and he’d found her at the worst possible moment in his life.

Kaia's changeling form is not revealed until the very end but I think it's pretty easy to guess. Her playful, loving nature, her way of taking care of her people by cooking them their favorite foods, her levelheadedness and sweet composition that still holds an edge, made me love her. Kaia has issues aplenty but she doesn't let fear stand in her way for long - she grabs it by the horns and wrestles it down.

She’d never be an easy lover, his siren. But she’d love fiercely and she’d light up his fucking life.

The woman in Kaia wasn't looking for love and Bo definitely wasn't the man she would have picked but fate doesn't really give you options. She's the perfect counterpart to the man who is so aware of the duties to his people. She teaches him to let loose and play and underscores Bo's protective side. She makes him laugh and brings out his playful and romantic side. I adored their relationship, they fell in love at the best and worst time. Their time is limited but they give all they have, hoping for the best, expecting the worst.

They might only have a fragment of an instant in time, but he’d make that fragment extraordinary.

The ocean world Nalini Singh built is utterly captivating. I could see the city underwater before my eyes. It was lush and exuberant, beautiful and abundant and I loved spending time there. I loved reading about whales and octopus, turtles and orcas. It felt like a place from the future, something that is possible.



I'm completely intrigued by all of the side cast in this installment. Miane and Malachai definitely need their own story, and I also want to see Kaia's other cousins mated! They are so mischievous, lovable rogues with a constant twinkle in their eyes.

The Psy-Changeling universe is very political. The world the three factions are trying to build is very complex and full of machinations and schemes. It makes for a slower read but in no way is it boring. I love the rich and complicated world Nalini Singh has created. It is captivating, spell-binding and I hope we get lots and lots more of books in this series. Ms Singh is at the top of my favorite authors with her beautiful, emotion-filled writing which is so full of romance and love and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

“You are the greatest gift of my life.”

[Corina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I’m more of a fan of Nalini Singh’s changelings than her Psy. Whenever a story centers on the changelings, I go into full-on “DO NOT DISTURB” mode.

Ocean Light was absolutely fabulous. It wasn’t packed with nonstop action, but it was a character-driven masterpiece—slow burn, swoon-worthy, sweet, and at times, heart-wrenchingly beautiful. All in all, just an incredible read.

What I loved most about this book was the story between Bowen and Kaia.

Bowen has been a part of the series for a while, but as a human, he never really stood out for me. I’m all about changeling alphas, and let’s be real—Hawke is the king, so it’s tough to compete with that. But Bowen? He was fantastic.

The odds were stacked against him from the start. A human with a ticking time bomb in his head, he was basically a dead man walking. But somehow, he was still enigmatic, intense, alpha, sensitive, and surprisingly fascinating without being a changeling. Nalini Singh really nailed it by writing a human alpha who could hold his own against the changeling counterparts. He was a guy I wouldn’t mind having in my life—or my bed. And Kaia, from the moment they met, saw exactly what she had in front of her. Despite their reasons to be wary of each other—humans and changelings alike, both have trust issues—they listened to their hearts when it mattered.

That’s what I adore about Nalini Singh’s writing. She has so much patience with her characters. She invests real thought and heart into her books, and the characters reflect that. Bowen and Kaia were mature, level-headed, and so accustomed to taking care of their pack. Neither of them were actively looking for a mate, especially not at such a tense time. Bowen, as the head of the Human Alliance, was focused on his people’s survival, while Kaia had her own reasons for staying single. But when they came together, it just clicked. Bowen and Kaia were like a warm breeze—comforting, satisfying, and made me feel all kinds of glow. It checked all the boxes.

Ocean Light worked for me on so many levels.

The underwater deep-sea station was fascinating—endlessly so. And the BlackSea pack? More intriguing than I could’ve imagined, especially with their secretive ways. I loved discovering the animals each changeling was connected to, and I hope Nalini writes more about BlackSea. Malachai and Miane definitely deserve their own book—they’re a power couple in the making. And I’m all about the power couples—Hawke and Sienna being the ultimate example.

[Terrie's Just Another Book B*tch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just Another Book Bitch's ALWAYS SPOILER FREE REVIEW

3.5 Stars

Assuming you've read Silver Silence you know what condition Bowan Knight was in last time we "saw" him. (if you haven't read it OH EM GEE! Do it, do it now!! I adored it!) life hanging by a thread ... his heart obliterated by the enemy. Sacrificing himself to save the life of a loved one (keeping it on the down-low in case you haven't read it yet but want to) In Ocean Light we pick up where we left off where Bo's life is concerned. While Bowan may have survived the previous incident his life still hangs precariously by a thread, with "a 95% chance of oblivion".


Ocean Light is Bowen Knight's tale of survival and love. Bo, the leader of the human Alliance must put everything he knows on the line. Making a brave choice to do anything to protect the human race to save the lives of the people he holds dear. When we met Bo in book 1 of the Psy-Changeling Trinity we only get a glimpse of the strong and mysterious "human alpha" of the Alliance. In all honesty, I can't even say I cared for him that much in the first book. I didn't trust him and I didn't understand him... That all changed in this book *sigh...dreamy eyes* author Nalini Singh shows us that everyone has a story...

Some of the mysteries of BlackSea are finally revealed and once again the author shows us that all clans are "ohana" and as a unity, they are beautiful and protective when they come together. However...deception and treachery seem to be coming from the inside of either the human alliance or BlackSea...maybe both. Whatever future or lack thereof, Bo may have, he wants to find out what's happening and if the humans can be involved.

Kaia, a water changeling and a member of BlackSea, wants to hate Bo...yet with her caring heart, that proves quite difficult. Suspicious of Bo and his involvement with what has been plaguing the BlackSea clan she tries her best to keep him at a distance. Determined to discover if he's involved or if she can trust him with her heart.

I had an instant love for Kaia's character. She made me laugh and smile and I was also very intrigued as to what her changeling form may be... you see BlackSea is made up of all the underground creatures from the deep. All unified and protective of one another. While also very secretive on what their "other" form may be. In fact, it took me till 77% before I could finally have my suspicions confirmed or denied on what Kaia's other form was. Which I thought was a fun little touch from the author to keep us on our toes.

I found this to be a great book that kept me engaged and put a smile on my face. I loved the twist at the end that I didn't see coming. (love when the author can catch you off guard and keep you guessing! Ocean Light is also a sweet romance between Bo and Kaia that made it an easy read for sure. I love the author's writing style and her imagination. The world(s) she has created has made me want to read her previous novels and has me on the edge of my seat for the next Psy-Changeling novel and wondering who it could be about... no seriously! If y'all find out you have to tell me!!!


Thanks to Berkley Roamnce Publishing for a final hardback copy/ARC and Nalini Singh for the opportunity to review.

Ocean Light releases June 12th in the US and Canada and June 14th in the UK
PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon CA

Find/follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & My Blog Page

[Ira · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars!

Bo is the man!! ❤️❤️❤️
But.... Kaleb still is the god though! 😘
Next, Malachai’s story please Nalini? 😁

I really like this story, the suspense and mystery was good, and the villain? I really didn’t see that coming, but I couldn’t give this 5 stars! Because I’m getting tired with this Consortium Bastards getting free pass for those awful crimes they’ve been doing without being punished. The ones who paid their crimes mostly just their minions! 😡

It has been too many books Nalini, is about time to cut the snake’s head, don’t you think?
Will you kill the bastards in Malachai’s book?
Pretty please? 😍😍😍

Yes, the waiting game for the next book is on again! 😘😂

❤️❤️❤️

Bo’s story! He is not dead! Yes!:) *happy dance*

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really expecting more from this book. Maybe that was the problem. I loved Silver Silence so much and by comparison, this book was such a letdown. Was it terrible? Absolutely not. But it wasn't great either.



And dammit, I wanted great.

Plot: Bowen wakes up and finds himself under the care of water changelings as they attempt to prevent the chip which is supposed to protect his mind from Psy invasion from eventually killing him. Unfortunately, he only has a 5% chance of success. He meets Kaia Luna and they fall for each other (which is definitely complicated by Bowen's possible impending death) while trying to solve the mysterious disappearances of water changelings and figure out who is behind it all. All the while racing against the clock to make sure Bowen survives.

I think my major issue with the book was the lack of chemistry between Bowen and Kaia. I absolutely adored Bowen. I mean damn, he was the whole package. Kaia was lovely, but I didn't really get the impression that they were meant to be together. It felt more like two people with a mutual attraction dating, not a powerful mating bond. For a couple with Bowen's possible and statistically probable death constantly hanging over them, there was little to no angst. And I wanted angst. It was more like ”Oh no, you might not make it, well, we should probably keep this kind of casual then.” Even the sex was boring. I actually found my mind wandering. Kissing, body part, body part, kissing, thrust.



It's completely possible that Silver Silence is to blame for my poor opinion of this book. I fucking loved Silver Silence. It had romance and angst in spades and Ocean Light seemed overly fluffy and uninspired by comparison. Frankly, I was even bored in the last 25% or so, which is when things should really get interesting. The writing was fantastic as always, I mean come on, this is Nalini Singh. The world building is massive in scope, the characters are interesting and unique, and it is so easy to get lost in her world. I just didn't enjoy this book as much as her others.

My verdict? I absolutely recommend it to lovers of this series and her books but it certainly wasn't a favorite of mine. I won't be reading it again but I'll happily continue with the series. I look forward to it.



*I received an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Blacky *Romance Addict* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this could've been so much better. If only there was something actually happening in the book. But nothing. Nada. Boring until the last 30% where something so stupid happened, that when you actually get some "action", and that is extremely overstating it, it's not really interesting or that relevant.

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

A tale of underwater changelings and the human who volunteered to be their science experiment.

Bowan has been a character  I’ve had mixed feelings about in prior books of this Psy-Changeling Trinity series.  I didn’t get all of Bo’s motivations to put a dangerous experimental chip in his head that protects him from psy manipulation but is also killing him slowly as well.  Ocean Light digs into Bo’s head literally and we learn not only why the leader of the human alliance is so committed to the group but what it has cost him.

Kaia is the sweetest sea changeling and takes care of everyone.  She is the mother figure for everyone on the underwater site that Bowan was taken to in hopes of finding a way to save him from the degrading chip in his head.  There is something about the wounded human that calls to her and it is the first time she has felt a pull this strong to another being.

The attraction between the pair starts off really strong and immediately.  Sure, it is a little fast but Bowan might only have weeks to live so there is no time like the present.  As always with this series, the story is heavy on the romance front but there is a bit of action in this more towards the end.  Since this is our first journey under the sea Nalini spends a lot of time on how the culture of the water changelings works and some of the very cool things you can do in an underwater base.

All the action came closer to the end.  It seems some are not happy about some Psy, Changeling and Humans trying to build bonds together and they are trying to sabotage the newly made bonds.  It looks like there might be multiple races working together to bring down The Trinity and it gets a bit nail bitey for a little while.

There are some great but short cameos by series favorites including Mercy, Kit, Vasek and Ivy as well as Kaleb and Sahara.

Ocean Light is the second book of a spin off series to Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changling series.  You could also think of it as Psy-Changling #17 instead. While I don’t think you need to have read all 16 of the other books to understand or enjoy the story, I do think you should definitely read Silver Silence before starting this journey.
Narration:
For me, Angela Dawe is Psy-Changeling.  I can’t think of one without the other after listening to over 17 books with her voice.  She does a fantastic job of conveying the emotion of this series so well. I have liked every performance by her for this series.  

Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world has forgotten that humans are the bridge.

Ocean Light takes use into the BlackSea Changeling world and the Human Alliance where we see doubt, over coming the odds, betrayal, fears, and making new friendships. Those that have kept up with the Psy-Changeling world know that things are changing and all the races are trying to get along, but their is one group that doesn’t want to see things succeed.

Bowen Knight is a true Knight in all the right ways. He’s had a difficult past that has shaped him into the man that he is today. I enjoyed learning about Bowen and seeing him change from the Security Chief and Leader of the Human Alliance into a man who can find happiness when he never thought he’d have the chance or be capable of it. Kaia is a water changeling who has caged herself to life in the underwater compound. I was proud of Kaia in facing her fears and over come them.

We finally get to dive into the sea and learn about the BlackSea Changelings. It was interesting learning about the water changelings and watching Bowen try to figure out what everyone is. Up until now we’ve only seen glimpses of the sea changelings and we know next to nothing about them. We do get to meet a bunch of new characters and a few previous characters popping up, but it’s a whole new world with the water changelings.

Kaia and Bowen’s romance is a slow romantic bloom. The Knight who notices everything and the Siren who soothes the Knights heart.

I enjoyed Ocean Light. It did take me longer to read; because the pace is slower and we spend the majority of our time under water watching Bowen and Kaia’s building romance. I would have liked more action, but all and all Ocean Light was a delightful read.

Rated: 4 Stars

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

[NAT.orious reads ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 outraged STARS ★★✩✩✩

This book is for you … maybeeee? [in extremely high pitch] If you’re really determined to continue this series maybe just … skip this one? Credible reviews lead me to suspect #3 in the spin off might be an improvement to this complete fake news romance.

⤐ Overall.
You guys, this book was so ridiculous you won't believe me if I told you. Guess I'll try anyway. The upside of this absolute waste of time is that we fudging finally get actual insights into BlackSea, the most mysterious changelings of all. Personally, I'm still eager to get back to them wolfs and cats, but, whateverrrrr.

The romance, however, was an absolute joke. I kid you not, this dude wakes up from a coma, still with a deadly implant in his brain, and the first best thing he does is thinking 'I've been an absolutely problematic lover so far, why not kinda crush on the next best woman in the room?' within 90 minutes of waking up. She, in turn, has chemical processes going on inside of her that have a very weird motto. It goes a little something like this: Ignore all instincts, let dangerous enemy roam freely, get sexy with him every chance you get! Go, go go! All on deck for operation hasty.


Okay, obviously, I'm exaggerating a little bit. The central meaning stays the same, though. The entire book is outright unrelatable romance wise and I wish there were more non-romance plot happening, but I really enjoyed the insights Nalini offers into the life of BlackSea. So, there's that. Do with this what you wish.

⤐ What’s happening.
A guy we believed dead awakes from an artificially induced coma to fall in love with the next best woman within 90 minutes of his awakening. Although human, he can smell every little scent that makes her - you know that one, guys. She feels the exact same way, dusting off her maternal instincts for a complete stranger who supposedly - supposedly - is a threat to the sea changelings as a whole. Naturally, everyone allows said threat to roam about their home freely, no biggie. In addition, and I am majorly pissed off about this, the sex is mediocre to boring. If you want to safe yourself the trouble, just drop me a message and I'll enlighten you about the non-romance parts so you can skip this book entirely.
_____________________
writing quality + easy of reading = 3*

pace = 1*

plot/story in general = 3*

plot development = 2*

characters = 2*

enjoyability = 1*

insightfulness = 2*

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bowen is a human man who has forgone an experimental operation to keep the psys out of his head. This operation implanted a chip, a chip that will eventually kill him and unless someone figures out a way to save him, he is a dead man walking.

Kaia is an aquatic shifter, living in the science base at the bottom of the ocean. She has been hiding herself underwater after the tragic circumstance that surround her life. The last thing she needs to be is drawn to Bo, a man with an expiration date…but sometimes fate is a fickle thing.

I love the Psy-Changeling world. And here comes the but... even though there is a few character crossovers, for the most part, this story takes place underwater in the aquatic changling realm with unfamiliar characters and little to no action till the last few chapters. I did really liked it and found it highly enjoyable but felt like I was starting a totally new series and the character connection was newly developing. By the end, I was hooked on Singh's new world and look forward to finding this world as familar as found in the original Psy-Changeling series.

I received this ARC copy of Ocean Light from Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review. Ocean Light is set for publication June 12, 2018.

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once I got into the thick of this, it was enjoyable, but I think it had too much repetition of previous books' storylines. I think the whole "I'm about to die/have my emotions permanently shut off/etc." as the driver of conflict has been played out for this series-- time for a new internal conflict. That said, I always enjoy my time in this world, and enjoyed spending more time with the BlackSea clan

UPDATE: I stand by my original feelings and feel even more this time that I didn't fully buy the transition from hate to love on Kaia's part

[Scholar inArmor · Rating 3 out of 5]

AFTER READING:
SPOILERS AHEAD, BE WARNED!

This book was an enjoyable read for me. Before this book, I did not consider Bowen a great lead character material because I thought that he was boring. Nalini changed my mind.

Kaia Luna was an interesting heroine. At first, I was disappointed that we are not getting Malachai or Miane and instead we got a new character from BlackSea. When I was reading this book I did not mind at all that she is the heroine. Kaia was a brave and gentle character and she had a lot of chemistry with Bowen. It's revealed that she is a dolphin changeling and a telepath, which made her that more interesting to me.

My only complaint is with the Bowen brain chip issue. It is presented as a huge threat throughout the book and then, BAM, it's resolved so quickly and without proper danger. There was not a moment in this book that I thought: "fuck, he's not gonna make it."

On the other hand, I loved that the main culprit for the bad stuff that happened in this book was not someone whom I thought it would be.

I loved that they saved George.

In this book, it is implied that Miane and Malachai are a thing. There's this one scene where it is so obvious that they are having something-something goin' on.

There was one hilarious moment from Bowen:

"Bowen took the organizer, spent the next five minutes reading the article. One measly coma and the world turns upside down. Silver Mercant with a bear. What the hell am I going to find out next? That Psy Councilor Nikita Duncan has fallen madly in love and eloped?"



AFTER THE BLURB RELEASE:

I guess it is Bowen's turn. I am not particularly crazy about it but I'm giving it a shot. Kaia Luna will definitely give us some deeper insight into the BlackSea world.

BEFORE RELEASE:

I hope that Miane Lévesque and/or Malachai Rhys are/is going to be featured in this book. BlackSea FTW!




Psy-Changeling & Psy-Changeling Trinity series reading order:

- novella
* bonus scene/chapter/short story

Silence Arc:
- Beat of Temptation (Psy-Changeling #0.5) [Wild Invitation Anthology]
- Whisper of Sin (Psy-Changeling #0.75)
Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling #1)
* The Shower (Psy-Changeling #1.1) [http://nalinisingh.com/extras/deleted...]
* The Cannibal Princess (Psy-Changeling #1.2) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
Visions of Heat (Psy-Changeling #2)
- Echo of Silence (Psy-Changeling 2.5) [Wild Embrace Anthology]
Caressed by Ice (Psy-Changeling #3)
* Miss Leozandra's (Psy-Changeling #3, Chapter 21, Bonus Scene [http://nalinisingh.com/extras/deleted...]
- Stroke of Enticement (Psy-Changeling #3.5) [Wild Invitation Anthology]
Mine to Possess (Psy-Changeling #4)
* A Conversation (Psy-Changeling #4.1) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changeling #5)
- Dorian (Psy-Changeling #5.5) [Wild Embrace Anthology]
* A Gift for Kit (Psy-Changeling #5.6) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
* Movie Night (Psy-Changeling #5.7) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
Branded by Fire (Psy-Changeling #6)
* The Party (Psy-Changeling #6, Bonus Scene) [http://nalinisingh.com/extras/free-sh...]
Blaze of Memory (Psy-Changeling #7)
* Christmas in the Kitchen (Psy-Changeling #7.1) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
Bonds of Justice (Psy-Changeling #8)
Play of Passion (Psy-Changeling #9)
* Wolf School (Psy-Changeling #9.1) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
* Clean & Dirty (Psy-Changeling #9.2) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
- Declaration of Courtship (Psy-Changeling #9.5) [Wild Invitation Anthology]
* Home (Psy-Changeling #9.6) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changeling #10)
* Wild Night (Psy-Changeling #10, Chapter Nine, Bonus Scene) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
* Naya's Most Important Visitors (Psy-Changeling #10.1) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
* Grocery Shopping (Psy-Changeling #10.2) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
* Stalking Hawke (Psy-Changeling #10.3) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
- Texture of Intimacy (Psy-Changeling #10.5) [Wild Invitation Anthology]
* Pancakes (Psy-Changeling #10.6) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
Tangle of Need (Psy-Changeling #11)
- Partners in Persuasion (Psy-Changeling #11.5) [Wild Embrace Anthology]
* Dancing with Cooper (Psy-Changeling #11.6) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
* Poker Night (Psy-Changeling #11.7) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
* Making Dinner (Psy-Changeling #11.8) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
* Sunday Morning (Psy-Changeling 11.9) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
Heart of Obsidian (Psy-Changeling #12)
- Flirtation of Fate (Psy-Changeling #12.25) [Wild Embrace Anthology]
- Secrets at Midnight (Psy-Changeling #12.5)
* Hide and Seek (Psy-Changeling #12.6) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
* New Year's Kisses (Psy-Changeling #12.7) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
Shield of Winter (Psy-Changeling #13)
* Kaleb and Sahara’s Meeting with Sascha and Lucas (Psy-Changeling #13, Chapter 7, Bonus Scene) [https://madmimi.com/s/9b47e5]
* Housewarming at the Orchard (Psy-Changeling #13.2) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
Shards of Hope (Psy-Changeling #14)
* Romancing Drew (Psy-Changeling #14.1) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
* The Song of the Wolf (Psy-Changeling #14.2) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
Allegiance of Honor (Psy-Changeling #15)
* Rowan (Psy-Changeling #15.1) [Newsletter Exclusives Volume I]
* Baubles and Ben (Psy-Changeling #15.2) [http://nalinisingh.com/extras/psychan...]

Trinity Arc:
Silver Silence (Psy-Changeling Trinity #1, Psy-Changeling #16)
Ocean Light (Psy-Changeling Trinity #2, Psy-Changeling #17)

[Hayley ☾ (TheVillainousReader) · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 S T A R S

I wish this book didn't happen.

This book shouldn't have happened.

I'm not just saying that because I was 100% not interested in Bowan and/or sea changelings going into to this, but seriously, cut this whole entire book out and nothing would have been effected.

I do not understand why this book was written, I'm going to keep saying it because I can't wrap my head around it, but I'm mad about it because now I have to rate my first Nalini book 1.5 stars. Travesty.

An awesome thing about Nalini is even though she has like... a million characters she is able to make them all different, give them little quirks that have them stand out. Bowan SUCKED. ALL CAPS. I found nothing fun, interesting, or endearing about him. He was stock love interest number 2842894 to go with stock female heroine number 2842894 because Kaya was just as bad. Both beige, beige, beige and felt like they had already been done.

The plot was pretty much nonexistent, there really was no overarching plot, and of what character focused plot there was a sad sad rehashing of a plot point we've already read.

One of my favorite parts of these books is seeing cameos of past, and much loved characters, and seeing how the new characters fit into their world. Welp, since this took place in a freaking marine station 10,000 leagues below I got none of that!! It was just Bo and Kaya, their AWFUL romance, and her gross rat.

Their romance was ewwww so intalove-y. The amount of times I physically shuddered and was unable to hold back a whispered "gross" while listening to this is alarming.

This truly felt like Nalini had no plan for this book, like maybe it was something her publicist wanted...? Or like.. she had mentioned Bowan WAY early on in the books and felt like she owed him a book? Either way, bad move.

This book was TRASH R US.
It shouldn't exist.

[Glamdring · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I'm a huge fan of this series, Silver Silence bored me beyond mesure so I was pretty afraid of picking this one. If it wasn't as bad as Silver Silence, it wasn't up to par with the rest of the series either.

Quite frankly, even though I love Bo and everything related to the sea-changelings and liked kaia enough, I found the first half boring. Nothing much happened. No tension, no nothing.

I don't know how to say this but it's a romance book, so of course Bo is going to survive the experiment. It's obvious, so give us something else to keep us on our toes. Like a good political plot, or something. Anything.

Like in Silver Silence the book start getting interesting in the last quarter and it's the reason I'm not giving it 2 stars. But for most of the last 2 books the rich world building that made this series one of my favorite is sadly absent.

To end up on a positive note, I'll say that I loved Kit, Mercy, Hawke, Kaled and Sahara cameos.

"The redhead narrowed her eyes at Kaia... before groaning and throwing up her hands. "Sweet insanity, you brought a maternal with you?" The words were directed at Bowen. "I just got away from a whole cabal of them.""

[Viri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Para mí, este libro es un NO rotundo. Si me preguntan después seguiré diciendo lo mismo. No pasa nada si te lo saltas. Porque no aporta nada a la trama principal.

No hay nada destacable además de la aparición de Kaleb y su papel en la resolución de la historia romántica.

Eso y una bonita cena son todo lo que me gustó en este libro.

La historia de amor es poco creíble y muy instalove, sus escenas juntos me dejaron indiferente y francamente... Nunca pude conciliar la imagen de un Bo sexy as hell que mencionaba la autora.


No sé porque pero mi mente siempre lo imaginó como un hombre chaparrito y rechoncho 🙈🤣🤣🤣 lo siento pero no pude imaginarlo de otra manera.

Claramente no lo recomendaría y siento feo decirlo porque adoro esta serie pero a mí no me gustó y más estafada no puedo sentirme. Si de por sí ya no me llamaba su historia cuando vi quien sería el protagonista... Ahora después de haber leído este libro sigo en las mismas.

Suerte paaaara la próxima porque me voy a olvidar este libro malo malísimo de mi memoria. Porque decir que leí en diagonal la mitad del libro es poco.

Chaaaaaaito. 🤟🏻

[MelissaB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I haven’t loved the last few books but this series is still one of my absolute favorites. This one was just okay, I felt like the entire middle of the book was kind of slow but the end got more exciting so I liked it more overall. I hope the next book is more exciting.

Update after rereading the book as part of a series reread: I did like the book better on a reread but noticed that the love scenes were strangely vague in this book, it was more noticeable since I just read so many that had much better, detailed love scenes and in this book I actually wasn’t always sure what Bowen and Kaia were even doing some of the time. I still think the middle part was slow but the end did get better. The part with her deciding to live in Venice at the end seemed a bit rushed as well but I still enjoyed it.

I will say Silver Silence was way better on a reread, the bears made me laugh.

[Ⓐlleskelle - That ranting lady ッ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I need more Kaia and Bowen! Dare I hope we'll see more of them in the next books?
Witnessing them overcome so many obstacles, threats, controversies and trauma I'm now left wanting to see more of their HEA.

Sure there's a good deal of playfulness, want and heat exchanged but the romance between Kaia and Bo didn't quite overbalance the amount of perils they had to conquer in my eyes. Especially considering their over the top insta-love. It's my only regret about this book.
That and the arguable sense of doom shrooding the romance because of Bowen's brain chip situation. Not once did I believe he wouldn't make it, so the whole contrived "let's not acknowledge we are obviously life mates because imma gonna die tomorrow" felt super cheap as plot devices go. That angst felt so manufactured it failed to trigger my feelings.

That being said, I did adore both Kaia and Bowen characters, they were a perfect pairing.

I wasn't so sure about my feelings about Blacksea changelings at first but Nalini Singh made me once again addicted and and attached to this clan and their customs. I would have happily remained underwater for many more chapters, reading more about every new character that made Blacksea's ohana. Discovering the characters and intricacies of sea changelings through Bowen's curious and gentle eyes was perfect.

I'm looking forward the next instalment and I'm hoping for more books about sea changelings!

PS : Do not dive into this book on a empty stomach. Grab some snacks, cookies, cake, anything. Kaia is a cook and the author deliberately teases her readers with yummy food all throughout! You've been warned!

I received an advance review copy from the publisher.

More reviews and book talk at :

You can find me here too ☞

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nalini Singh is one of the few authors who has never let me down, I preorder her books the second they pop up on amazon, devour them the minute I can get hold of them and I always know that I'm in for heartwarming romance, fantastic characters and wonderful world building. Her Psy-Changeling series is one of the best paranormal romance series out there and this new second phase of the series is proving that she's still at the top of her game. As much as I love the SnowDancer and DarkRiver packs I'm really enjoying the expansion of this world first with the bears in Silver Silence and now getting to know the water changelings of BlackSea in Ocean Light.

Bowen has always been a character I've been curious about, as the human leader of the Alliance he has a lot of power in his hands but the ticking time bomb of the telepathic blocker implanted in his brain has him desperately looking for answers. Then there was the shocking attack in the last book which of course left me even more keen to get answers. He's such a sweet hero, I loved how open and honest he was with Kaia from the very beginning and how determined he was to make the most of the time he had left if they weren't able to fix his implant safely. I've always admired the way he wanted to put humans on the same playing field as the Changelings and Psy too, even though humans are physically weaker than the Changelings and defenceless against most Psy telepathic abilities they vastly outnumber those two groups and Bowen is fighting for equality amongst the races.

Kaia is a character we've not met before but she was brilliant too, very intelligent but the best thing about her was her huge heart and the way she cared for everyone in her circle. Kaia is the kind of person that is always there to offer a shoulder to cry on or moral support but who never wants to burden anyone with her own problems so she always sees to her own needs last. Bowen saw that immediately and went to great effort to show her how important she was to him. They fitted together really well and balanced each other out in a lot of ways.

There is no denying that the first half of Ocean Light is a little slower paced and more character driven than most books in this series, the action doesn't really pick up until later on but I was having so much fun exploring BlackSea's underwater home and meeting so many different water changelings (whales, turtles, sharks and so many more - including ones with tentacles!) that I really enjoyed the change of pace. Later on as the danger increases and things get more complicated I was so fully invested in the characters that I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the story would end. This was another fantastic instalment in the series and I can't wait to find out who will be the stars of the next one!

[Alisi ☆ wants to read too many books ☆ · Rating 1 out of 5]

What happened to this series? The book before was bad and this was worse in some ways. It didn't even attempt to make some thing plausible. It just glossed over them.

We get Bowen and Kaia. They have insta-love connection, which is really fucked up because Kaia thinks Bowen kidnapped and murdered her friends and family. Her literal reason for trusting him was because she was in love with him. And everyone in that place is all cool with it, basically. Even her cousin.

What's worse is that he's got the degrading chip in his head and he was brought to this facility to get "treatment". They gave him like a 5% chance of survival but that was never touched upon. He made no real plans. He just decides to seduce Kaia. He has two whole weeks and he does all this these elaborate things, while not having any access to anything. He's got TWO WEEKS with a 5% CHANCE of SURVIVAL and he's seducing his changling "mate" (who mate once per lifetime and either die or survive alone for the rest of their lives.) And no one's like 'um, why don't you wait until you've survived to mate with her?' or 'hey, you kidnapped and killed ppl. perhaps we shouldn't have you walking around our kids?'

And you know he's gunna survive the chip thing but still! You except... something! It's just like 'I'm still alive. Coolies.' and he continues on.

The outside plot with the other group was interesting but it was barely touched upon. He kept telling Mal 'I'll deal with it' and that would be that. His sister/friend did all the work. It was just one big romance fest.

Bleh. Shitty book.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at SmexyBooks: http://smexybooks.com/2018/06/review-...


Favorite Quote: They might only have a fragment of an instant in time, but he’d make that fragment extraordinary.

Ocean Light is Bowen Knight’s story; the leader of the Human Alliance and one of the leaders in the Trinity Accord. Fans have been expecting his story, straddling the fence and withholding our forgiveness over his past deeds. Bowen had an experimental chip put in that blocks the Psy’s ability to manipulate human minds. However, now the chip is failing and he is living on borrowed time. An assassination attempt essentially kills him but his sister’s uncompromising love sends him deep into the ocean and into the hands of the secretive changeling group, BlackSea. They have the knowledge to potentially save him but certain members dislike humans and want him gone.

Kaia Luna is a member of Blacksea and works as a chef. Her dislike of humans stems from a traumatic event in her past. An event that has chained her to the deepest part of the ocean. Co-opted into helping with Bo’s care, she has no interest in humoring a man whose days are numbered. But the more time she spends with Bo, she discovers a man worth fighting for.

As Kaia and Bo grow closer, fighting for more time together, they discover a hidden tie between the Alliance and BlackSea. Betrayal exists on both sides and when Kaia is caught up in a net of deceit, Bo will do the unimaginable to save her.

Nalini Singh’s paranormal Psy/Changeling series is one of my top ten favorite fantasy series to date. I find myself re-reading the series, welcoming with arms wide open this alternative futuristic earth populated with shifters, humans, and the Psy as they struggle to co-exist. Each new story expands the world, bringing with it nonstop action and suspense that balances nicely with the lush romances and just the right amount of humor. Her brilliant reads remain intoxicating and engaging from the beginning to end as Singh effortlessly builds a relationship between two people not looking for love while engaging in exquisite wordplay and multiple plotlines that fit together like puzzles pieces; eventually letting readers see the big picture.

This series has undergone some changes after a long ongoing arc was settled… to an extent. Season One is now complete and Season Two aka The Trinity series picks up the ongoing storyline while introducing new characters, revisiting old favorites, and expanding on the world. The Trinity Accord offers all three races a chance at peace but there are those who want it all back the way it was and will do whatever it takes to destroy the Accord and all those in it.

Readers will love meeting Kaia and Bo and getting to know them. While Bo is a familiar face, we are used to seeing him only as the head of the Alliance. We have seen occasional glimpses of his flirty self but in here we get the full monty so to speak. Kaia fascinates Bo with her changeling personality and he turns his charm to Defcon 10 in his attempts to get to know her and eventually woo her. They are remarkably alike in their loyalty, compassion, fierce hearts, and willingness to do anything for those they love.

Singh does a fantastic job of blending the suspense of the story with the slow-burning romance and an in-depth look at a very secretive changeling group. I have been very curious about BlackSea since their introduction in Tangle of Need. It’s rare you see water changelings in stories that aren’t merfolk and I love how Singh incorporates all sea life into the BlackSea family. Her imagination is boundless. The storyline starts out slower than usual as Singh weaves her magic, taking her time with BlackSea and building their backstory and Kaia’s. Strongly character drive, the focus is on the romance while interjecting Bo’s medical issues with a subplot concerning the Alliance. It honestly doesn’t pick up till around the 60/65% mark. Singh’s clear and concise writing style leaves little confusion as the individual plotlines begin to merge and the endgame reveals itself. A well developed and personable supporting cast embraces our protagonists, adding to their story while creating their very own. I hope we see more of them in the future. The energetic ending keeps you on edge while a full-bodied epilogue leaves readers satisfied and secure in this couple’s future.

As always, Singh entertains till the very end. I’m looking forward to the 3rd book in Season Two and have my suspicions about who that couple may be. *crosses fingers*

Grade: B

[Jen Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book, which I hate to say because I am such a huge fan of Nalini Singh. But the degree of Insta love here was just insurmountable. It colored my ability to enjoy the first half of this story to such a degree that it made it difficult to connect to the characters or the romance for a very long time. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that with shifters, a mating instinct requires acceptance of a quick connection. But the hero here is human and he was the biggest offender.

Let me back up. This is Bowen’s story. The leader of the Human Alliance has some serious issues to overcome. Not only was he shot up in a previous book, but his brain is in danger of shutting down because of the chip he had implanted. Bowen is deathly afraid of a Psy manipulating his mind and the chip prevented that. But now it is degrading and death is knocking on his door.

There is hope. A doctor among the black sea changelings has worked up a treatment plan that could save him. Granted, it’s only a 5% chance, but 5% is better than nothing. Once he wakes up from his pesky coma, he finds himself in a facility deep underwater. It’s there he meets Kaia, the doctor’s cousin and sometimes assistant. And also a chef. Kia has issues of her own, but falling into an instant connection with Bowen is not one of them.

When I say they fall for each other immediately, I am talking about hours… a day or two. I just can’t suspend my disbelief to that degree. Bowen is a hard man. He does not trust easily, but a few exchanges with Kaia and he knows she is his for life? Come ON.

Putting that aside, there are good things happening here. As established earlier in the series, someone is snatching the outliers of the water changelings. There are signs that point to humans, but that’s a tough pill for Bowen to swallow. He doesn’t want to believe his people would do something so awful, yet he takes his job as the head of security seriously. He launches an investigation into his team, as the doctor continues the experiment on his brain. That’s good stuff, and honestly, so is the peek we get inside the world of Black Sea. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about water changelings. And while I didn’t love them the way I loved the Bears, for instance, they had a beautiful majesty which I enjoyed reading about.

I liked both hero and the heroine well enough. Bowen’s issues were a little easier to understand than Kaia’s, but they each had their own journeys to overcome their fears. I liked the secondary characters, like the grumpy walrus and the old turtle. And we had a few cameos from characters I love like Kaleb and Mercy. There is even a Hawke sighting.

But. The resolution on Bowen’s chip is way too easy and abrupt. It almost felt like a tiny blip on the radar, when it was such a big thing in the first half of the story. The pacing felt off. Another issue: I had a hard time keeping track of who all the people were, so that when we started trying to figure out who the traitors were, I struggled to remember who was who.

Then again, the ending was great. I loved all the stuff with Kaleb. I loved Miane. I want more of her and Malachi. The last third of the book was really quite good.

I’m sure I sound all over the place with this review. Even to myself. And if you go on Goodreads, tons of people love it 100%. This just wasn’t my favorite in the series. It might even be my least favorite in this series, which makes me sad because I loved the last book SO much. But I have faith in Nalini Singh. I’m sure I will love the next one. And maybe this one will be a bigger hit for you than it was for me.

Rating: B-/C+

*ARC provided by publisher

[Grecia Robles · Rating 3 out of 5]

** 2.5 MEEEEH!! Stars **

Este es el libro 17 de la serie Psy/Cambiantes y tiene como protagonistas a Bo líder la Alianza Humana y Kaia una cambiante que pertenece al Clan Blacksea.

De inicio esta historia no me llamaba mucho la atención porque Bo no es uno de mis personajes favoritos y los cambiantes de agua se me hacen raros no veo muy viable una relación con ellos. Mi única motivación para seguir es que es un nuevo libro de la serie y nunca voy a decir que no, la nueva trama me tiene intrigada y la esperanza que salgan mis personajes favoritos.

La historia dejó mucho que desear fue muy equis, veamos Bo está herido de muerte a causa de una bala que le destrozó el corazón por lo tanto lo llevan a una de las instalaciones de Blacksea donde le ponen un corazón mecánico pero aparte de eso tiene un chip experimental incrustado en su cerebro para que cree un escudo en contra de los Psy-tp o telépatas y no que no puedan violar su mente pero ese chip ha fallado y le va a ocasionar la muerte por lo que una de las científicas de Blacksea lo está ayudando para poder detener el deterioro del chip. Cuando Bo se despierta del coma ve a una chica guapa y se enamora que viene siendo Kaia básicamente es la historia de amor.



En cuanto a la trama principal el consorcio todavía está secuestrando miembros del Clan Blacksea pero ahora se descubre quien es el traidor que los está ayudando pero todavía no tengo ninguna pista sobre el posible líder del consorcio. Lo peor de todo es que me tengo que esperar un año para que salga el próximo.



Lo que más me gustó de este libro es KALEB siempre Kaleb💕 su simple presencia mejora todo hay un problema llamen a Kaleb y no se lo merecen porque al pobre tanto que le echan, desconfían de él en libro tras libro y es el que viene resolviendo todo, a estas altura ya demostró con creces que se puede confiar en él.
Yo me doy por bien servida porque ya tuve mi dosis de amor y la media estrella extra es por el.😍😍



Quiero saber de quién es el próximo libro espero que sea mucho mejor y la autora nos traiga un libro como el de Judd.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Ocean Light the second time around I stand by my first rating of 4.5 Stars

Bowen Knight leader of the Alliance and a descendant of Adrian Kenner has a chip implanted in his head to stop the Psy from raping him as do many other humans as well however the chip is failing. To save his sister Lily he also steps in front of a bullet for her.

He is taken to BlackSea to try experimental treatment for the chip after waking up with a mechanical heart he meets Kaia Luna, the chef of the underground station.

Bowen was a bit of a wild card for me as his motives and as a character were hard to grasp however I liked him a lot more than I thought I would.

Kaia Luna doesn't want to be attracted to Bowen but when the mating bound is involved it is hard to deny. Kaia has a huge heart and loves deeply but she needs to put the past behind her to have a future.

By reading the book again I totally forgot some of the things that happened so the refresh was good.

They both have demons to fight and an enemy that is taking BlackSea changelings. I love NS as a PNR author and I just love this series. Action packed, a lot of fun and just great to read.

[AvidReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nalini singh can write a passionate romance like nobody’s business!
That’s proven once again.
The waterchangeling world and their habitat she created was so fascinating. I applaud for her imagination. That’s the one reason I enjoyed this book so much.
As usual her protagonists were worth a gem. Their obstacles were realistic and sometimes heart wrenching.
The secondary characters complimented the story beautifully. I so want a number of water changelings and Human alliance characters stories. Triplets, heroine’s friends, Maine, Mal, Bo’s knights and so on.

The mystery in this book kept my interest alive. The betrayal and corruption is getting deeper and I’m so happy that the BlackWater finally found the mole.
Hawke and Kaleb made an appearance. Even roaming kit got a tiny scene. Reading about Mercy and her pupcubs made my day.

Recommended.

[RachelW (BamaGal)]

DNF at 24%. I'm bored; and had already started skimming through all the nothing happening. It's just not holding my interest. I will have to hear that this gets vastly more entertaining before I pick it up again.

Singh's "Guild Hunter" series is so much better, imo...

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 5 out of 5]

And... she's back! Ms. Singh brings to us a fantastic second book in the spin-off series, Psy-Changeling Trinity. This is a book I devoured from the first to the last page. From the start to end, I'm riveted and read this book until the wee hours in the night. I loved this one so much because we are focusing on the water shifters and I love everything to do with water. Plus we get to learn more about Bowen Knight, the powerhouse from the human alliance.

To prevent psy from reading their minds, Bowen and his top lieutenants implanted a chip they thought was safe. Unfortunately, it was coming apart and Bowen's chip was the first to go. In the last book, it looked as if Bowen's end had come. This one is all about his Lazarus rising miracle. This could only happen due to the help of the BlackSea Changeling and their scientists.

So it comes as a surprise that the main female is not really a scientist. Kaia Luna is a bit of a mystery. She is well loved in her under water station. She used to be a scientist but gave it all up due to a traumatic event. She now finds her balance as the chef for the deep water science center fathoms below the water surface. She brings a smile to all the inhabitant in this magical underwater world.

From a world building and characters creation perspective, this book calls to me more than the other changeling ones. The siren song of the underwater creatures speaks to my soul. Ms. Singh does a phenomenal job of incorporating the playfulness of dolphins as well as the majestic whale into these shifter characters. What surprised me the most is bringing in the cephalopods. One particular secondary character is a flirty female who is not shy about the benefits of tentacle sex. You read that right. I just about fell out of bed and woke my spouse up stifling a snort when I came across this titillating scene. For those who loved reading about the wolf and leopard changeling focused stories, this one will suck you under. There are several subplots to this story and it seems the BlackSea shifters tend to be more reserved and separated from the rest of the world. And this is what makes the story feel real.

In our current lives, there is an increasing divisiveness in many different nations all around the world. No one can exactly trace who is starting it or stirring the pot. Many people throw accusations without substance. Ms. Singh does a poignant variation of this in this story. Because even though the BlackSea shifters are part of the changeling world, they are even one more step removed because they are water breathers. Unlike all other humans and shifters, they are a minority who are quiet and solitary. This makes them easier to be misunderstood and in some senses, left out of major decisions. This needs to change if the BlackSea changelings are to survive. Because a group has already been picking them off and it is all pointing to the Human Alliance as the culprit. Perhaps saving Bowen is not the prime directive for this exotic water changeling.

The tangled relationships between humans and the changelings is at times painful to witness. Misunderstandings, perceived slights and outright abuse have caused an air of distrust. This leads to friends and families questioning each other and at times, wondering who is telling the truth. And is truth not in the eyes of the beholder? When facts are given, this is when the picture becomes clear. It is not a pretty picture. The reader learns more about this group trying to destroy the Trinity Accord. We still do not receive enough information to figure out who the villain is behind all of this, but it is clear, most are only a puppet being pulled on strings they did not even know they were bound by. It is sad.

Through all of this, Bowen and Kaia learn more about each other. Their exchanging of how they see things and how they grew up gives them a baseline in understanding each other. Some of the changelings who are not around humans as much are starting to open up as they interact with Bowen. Their fear starts to recede which is a problem for the hidden group out to destroy all alliances.

I liked how Kaia's relationship with Bowen goes slowly and with some set backs. Instead of an instant love, their fondness for each other grows into a mutual admiration. This slow and steady courtship is sweet. The conflicts arising to tear them apart are realistic and difficult to watch at times. I loved the emotions pulled from me in this story. Sometimes I'm gleefully chortling with the mischievous BlackSea children. Other times, I'm heartbroken as past abuses are revealed in how they shaped a person. And lastly, I'm angered at how good people are broken by people who lied to them. This is a rich tale which casts a spell upon its readers. Ms. Singh's writing is like an ocean. At times it seems to be smooth and calm. Then there are whirlpools, undertows and intense emotions that makes a reader feel as if they are drowning in heartbreak. I love it. Highly recommended to paranormal readers who enjoy love under fire themes and water shifters.

*provided by NetGalley

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Wit and Sin

Ocean Light is pure delight! Life under the sea has not been this much fun since The Little Mermaid. Every time Nalini Singh invites readers into a new part of the Psy-Changeling world, I fall in love all over again.

Bowen Knight – the champion and effective leader of the Human Alliance – is living on borrowed time. The chip implanted in his brain to stop Psy attacks on his mind is failing and will more than likely take his brain down with it. His only shot at survival comes when he is taken to a clinic on Ryūjin, a BlackSea installation deep under the sea. Bo was an intriguing secondary character in the Psy-Changeling series and I’m thrilled that I finally got to read his story. Bo is incredibly smart, deeply caring, and protective. He also carries scars from his past that have made him all-too-aware of human vulnerability to psychic assault. His determination to protect humanity and put them on equal footing with Psy and Changelings may cost him his life, but Bo is the kind of man who will always put himself in the line of danger to protect others from harm. For so many years Bo’s focus has been on learning to defend himself and others, leaving no time for fun. That’s why I found myself smiling over and over as Bo found the playful, fun side of himself with Kaia.

Humans have long been positioned as the weakest race, but Kaia Luna knows that they can be just as deadly. The BlackSea Changelings’ history is filled with harm done to them by humans and Kaia herself has experienced trauma at human hands. Upon first meeting Bo, she’s suspicious of him, but her cousin needs her assistance treating the far-too-attractive male. Kaia’s wariness doesn’t last long and I loved watching her open up to Bo. Kaia is an absolutely wonderful heroine. She’s a chef who shows her love through food and her warm, caring nature simply sprung off the page. She’s the kind of heroine you wish were real just so you could be friends with her (and not just because she makes fantastic cookies). She and Bo are a perfect fit and their romance made me smile and sigh. The proverbial ticking time bomb in Bo’s head isn’t the only obstacle they face. Bo’s a creature of land and Kaia of the sea; finding a happy medium given their lives, obligations, and deep-seated fears isn’t easy. I was rooting for them every step of the way because I liked them both so much.

Ocean Light takes readers deep into the heart of BlackSea territory and I couldn’t be happier. What I wouldn’t give to live on the Ryūjin installation with its friendly, unique characters and fascinating feats of engineering. BlackSea is different from many of the Changeling groups we’ve seen so far not only because of the variety of species, but because they’re spread out across the world. It made for a different dynamic that was fascinating and fun to see. How often would you expect to see a conversation with a whale or shark or a fight with a walrus, all in human form? Every character Ms. Singh introduces us to is intriguing and when you add in a plotline involving the missing members of BlackSea, it’s easy to see why I didn’t want Ocean Light to end.

Romance, action, and a bright, vivid world all make Ocean Light a captivating read. I read Kaia and Bo’s book late into the night until I couldn’t possibly keep my eyes open any longer, only to finish it as soon as I woke up the next morning. Ms. Singh’s writing continues to be incredibly addictive her characters never fail to grab my heart. I loved Ocean Light and I hope to see more of BlackSea soon!


FTC Disclosure: I received the e-book edition of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Mei · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I said in my progress, I might have been influenced by my love for the sea, but I found very intriguing the "new" changelings of Black Sea! :)

I was ineterested in them since they appeared and here we are given a little glimpse at them and their life and interactions.

Almost like Bowen was! LOL
As he himself says, how could a small woman change into a whale? Where does all that mass comes from? It's a kind of magic! ;-)

I was also curious how NS would fit a human, Bowen, into a much bigger and more gifted Psy and Changelings! But, as usual, she did it!

Bowen, for all his being human and not having particular gifts, was an excellent hero! He was just as much an Alpha as all the others! His deep convinction about human having rights and being just as important as all the others, is what makes him a worthwhile hero!

And let's not forget his gentleness. With Kaia and all the other Black Sea people. He knows they're his potential enemies, but he's not afraid and he treats them with fairness and openness, giving them a chance to accept him and to appreciate him.

The heroine Kaia was more problematic. At the beginning she's not looking at Bo favorably; for her he's absolutely devil incarnate. He's the one responsible for her kins' deaths just because he's the Humans' Alpha.

But as the time passes she slowly changes her mind. How can a honorable man like him, who answers even the most difficult question and does not blindly defend his race, be a monster?

Their is a lovely story that, even if it starts like all the "mates" stories as a insta-attraction/love. But when Bo accepts it immediately, Kaia is not so ready to do it too.

Bo must work on convincing Kaia that they're meant to be together, but at the same time he must resist the pull because of the chip inside his brain that if the treatment doesn't work will kill him. So he must walk a tight rope: letting kaia know how he feels, but do not let her mate him.

The action here is not like in the other books overwhelming. The story is centered on Bo and Kaia and their feelings. Still there's a thread about traitors who work for the misterious Consortium with intention to sabotage the Alliance between Psy, Changelings and Human.

I'm so looking forward to the next one!