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Showing posts with label Heart of Obsidian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heart of Obsidian. Show all posts
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Winner - Wild Invitation by Nalini Singh
Congratulations to the winner of WILD INVITATION by Nalini Singh, and a HUGE thank you to Nalini for her wonderful interview and generous donation.
The winner is:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm sending the winner an email. The prize will be mailed by Ms. Singh's assistant.
Thank you all for stopping by!
Happy Reading!
The winner is:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm sending the winner an email. The prize will be mailed by Ms. Singh's assistant.
Thank you all for stopping by!
Happy Reading!
Labels:
Berkley Sensation,
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Heart of Obsidian,
Nalini Singh,
Psy/Changeling,
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Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Review: Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh
Heart of Obsidian
Author: Nalini Singh
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Berkley
Psy/Changeling #12
ISBN: #978-0425263990
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Hardcover (368 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher for review
About the book:
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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.
What I’m talking about:
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SPOILERS: for those wishing to remain completely spoiler-free, please note that this review contains information that has been kept secret prior to release - things such as the heroine’s identity. I do NOT provide spoilers about the ending of the story or any key actions that occur which may spoil the ending.
For same review with the name of the heroine withheld, please visit GoodReads, HERE.
For same review with the name of the heroine withheld, please visit GoodReads, HERE.
Heart of Obsidian has finally arrived! The twelfth book in Ms. Singh’s amazing Psy/Changeling series is a well thought-out adventure that truly does change the course of the overall series. Once again, Ms. Singh creates characters with beautiful emotional depth and detailed flaws, giving me a world that I want to fully explore.
The opening of Heart of Obsidian has a very different feel than previous books in the series. The first several chapters are told almost completely from the POV of ex-Councilor Kaleb Krychek, someone we all know, but have never seen this up-close and personal. It was extremely fascinating for me to see how powerful he is. Another aspect that gives Heart of Obsidian a very different feel is the fact we don't know who the female lead is for the first five chapters. I liked this - it was like unraveling the pieces of a good mystery. Finally, after focusing primarily on the Changelings for the past several books, the primary couple in Heart of Obsidian is comprised of two Psys - something we’ve not seen before.
The first several chapters of the story grabbed my attention - who was this mystery woman that Kaleb had been searching for all these years? Why is he utterly possessive of her? And the sections that were written from the mystery woman’s POV were fantastic. The broken Psy female created mental labyrinths to protect her mind and inner core from the pain of torture and to prevent her enemies from breaking and controlling her. The writing detailed the madnesses of the shifting labyrinths with finesse.
It’s not until Chapter 5 that we discover the identity of this woman Kaleb has rescued: Sahara Kyriakus of PsyClan NightStar... As Sahara breaks down her mental labyrinths, she begins to reclaim her sanity and memories. Armed with an attraction to and an explicable trust in Kaleb, Sahara pushes her boundaries and heals rather quickly - although there are some memories that her body and mind will not allow her to recover.
Much of the first half to two-thirds of the book focused on the slow process of regaining Sahara’s memories, and it is also a carefully constructed release of information to the reader by the author. For the most part, the tale was successful at keeping me hooked, wondering why something was a certain way or who did what. However, I did feel that the book began to drag and got repetitive by the midpoint. Yes... He'd never hurt her. Yes... She is his weakness. Yes... He's got tons of power. Yes... She is the deepest fracture in his psyche. Yes... She belongs to him. I got frustrated for a little while.
In addition, the beginnings of their romance were very cold and calculated, which rubbed me the wrong way - at first. I thought to myself, how much of Kaleb’s interactions are part of his plans - seeing as he needed to bond with Sahara and get her to trust him.
However... things quickly picked back up...
As Sahara and Kaleb truly get to know each other again and her memories return, we see a different side of the couple. They each grow and mature in ways that were extremely satisfying for me. I loved how Sahara would push Kaleb, but never abuse the absolute loyalty he’s given her. She is completely feisty and such a strong woman. I admire that Kaleb stays true to his Psy nature and character, yet by virtue of his relationship with Sahara, he can see things and approach problems in a different way. And their sexual encounters were pretty smokin’ hot for two virgins! I just have to share one of my favorite lines, said by Kaleb to Sahara after their first time, "we've shared DNA." I love it!
We also learn quite a lot about Kaleb’s past, which had a few twists and turns that kept me on my toes. I applaud the direction Ms. Singh took with Kaleb - never diminishing the monstrous things he’s done or the darkness that surrounds him, yet supplying the reader with the bigger picture and reasons for his actions.
For those anxious to see the Changelings - they get in on the mix in a supporting manner about halfway into the story. This also helps to pickup the speed of the book. The addition of multiple characters gives more depth to the story structure.
In addition to the love story, the book spends much of its time on the escalating issues with the PsyNet, the actions of PurePsy and the overall story arc. Pretty much everything is revealed, including the future direction of the Psy race and its relationship with the other two races. There is a great deal of conflict caused by PurePsy, and once again, it allows for Kaleb to evaluate his position on Silence and his plans for his race. I enjoyed seeing how Kaleb dealt with conflict.
Finally, I will note that the identity of the Ghost is revealed. However, after much hoopla over his character in previous stories, I was disappointed that we didn’t even have mention of the Ghost until page 257. Overall, I have to say the Ghost storyline fell flat for me.
In the end, I really enjoyed Heart of Obsidian. With the exception of a few minor issues, I feel this is one of the strongest Psy/ Changeling stories. I delighted in learning about the "real" Kaleb Krychek - seeing sides of him that only Sahara knows, and I adored Sahara’s amazing strength and resilient character. The love story of Kaleb and Sahara became stronger and more engaging as I learned more of their mutual past. What started out as cold, black ice, matured into warmth and sunshine. They are a wonderful couple and one of my new favorites from the series.
My Rating:
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Reviews in the Series:
Wild Invitation (Anthology)
Don't forget to read my interview with author Nalini Singh and enter to win Wild Invitation... Details HERE.
Don't forget to read my interview with author Nalini Singh and enter to win Wild Invitation... Details HERE.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Author Interview & Giveaway: Nalini Singh
Today I have the honor of bringing to you one of my all-time favorite authors, Nalini Singh. *inserts fangirl squee* New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh is passionate about writing. Though she’s traveled as far afield as the deserts of China, the Highlands of Scotland and the temples of Japan, it is the journey of the imagination that fascinates her most. She’s beyond delighted to be able to follow her dream as writer. Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand. Visit the author online at
Please help me welcome Nalini toThat’s What I’m Talking About.
Twimom: Nalini, welcome to That’s What I’m Talking About from all the review ladies. We are all very big fans!
Nalini: Thanks for having me!
Twimom: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Heart of Obsidian, the twelfth book in your amazing Psy/Changeling series. When you first started with Slave to Sensation, did you imagine you’d end up here? Have the pathways or storylines altered much along the journey from the beginning to this climatic book?
Nalini: I knew where I wanted to go from the very start, which has helped me stay on track. While I’ve always had the end goal in mind, I’ve let the characters lead me there, so there have been plenty of surprises along the way.
Twimom: There has been a lot of speculation over who is at the center of Heart of Obsidian. Why go to such lengths to keep the characters a secret? Have you enjoyed reading through the tweets and blog comments regarding the gorgeous cover and mysterious blurb? (I know I have!)
Nalini: As of now, a two chapter preview has been posted online, so the male lead of the book is known.
As for the speculation about the book, what I find fascinating is that recently, a few people have guessed almost to the letter certain elements of the book. One particular comment—which a friend who’d read the book forwarded me, after seeing it online—hit it out of the ballpark. I was delighted by that comment, because it means I’ve done my job right, laid the foundation for certain conclusions to be drawn.
There are, however, some things no one has guessed (at least not that I know of), but that once you read the book, will fit into the overall jigsaw of the series. I hope these elements don’t leak prior to the release date, as these are powerful moments within the story that I’d love readers to experience first hand, rather than be told about them.
Twimom: I know I am super excited about reading Heart of Obsidian and I’ve done everything possible to stay away from spoilers! It’s been fun.
Was the choice to base the Psy/Changeling series, as well as the Guild Hunter series, primarily in the United States a personal one or for wider reader appeal? Have you considered setting a series in your native Fiji or New Zealand?
Nalini: I get asked this question a lot, and the simple answer is that both Fiji and New Zealand are just too small, geographically and population wise, for the kinds of stories I tell in my two series. I needed massive areas of land, huge political powers, and much as I love my homeland and my birthplace both, we’re minnows on the world stage. (Minnows with some breathtaking scenery and gorgeous water in the case of Fiji, but minnows regardless).
Locations have to fit the stories, so I’m totally open to NZ as a location for the right story or stories (one of my other projects that you may see one day, does in fact use NZ as a setting). Several of my Silhouette Desires were also set in NZ, and I even sent a couple to honeymoon in Fiji.
Twimom: One of the things I love about your storytelling is your attention to detail and ability to paint a visual image with your words. Have you visited and/or spent much time in Northern California, the Bay area, and/or Yosemite to help you with the setting details? How much does your worldly travel impact your fictional locales?
Nalini: It was a case of serendipity with the Psy-Changeling series. I was about to head to Japan to start what became a three-year-placement, but before that, I decided I wanted to travel through the States (on my way to my very first RWA National Conference in NY.)
And where did I end up for most of my time in the country but in California. I fell in love with the region, and when the idea for Slave to Sensation hit me, the location came with it – California was absolutely perfect. It had everything I needed, cities, mountains, lakes, forests, even desert regions.
The travel does definitely help me in terms of opening my mind to all the myriad locations out there. I was able to set Archangel’s Storm in India because I’d been there, specifically to the region where Neha’s court is based in the book, and because of that, I could insert tiny details that add to the authenticity of the story.
Having said that, I do also use locations I haven’t visited – with the Internet, research material is at my fingertips. People take videos, cities have webcams, there are countless blogs and photos…as with the pages of a good book, good research can take you anywhere!
Twimom: You are a very engaged author with your fans (for which we are grateful). How do you find a balance between writing a handful of quality books each year, your travels, keeping up with your fans, and life in general?
Nalini: I’m not always balanced – I can disappear into my writing cave for months at a time if I’m not careful. So I’ve learned to consciously make time for friends and family, and to have days off in the weekends.
The travel is a part of me, and the way I’m able to do it is that I’m super focused when I’m home, so I “save up” time to travel. I’ve also learned to write anywhere – planes, airports, trains, you name it, I’ve written there. (Even in a tent in a desert).
With my everyday fan interaction, it truly doesn’t feel like work. I enjoy social media, so it’s fun to check in every morning or in the afternoon. I love the photos people post, the comments they leave, the interesting questions they ask. As a writer, I work alone the majority of the time, so it’s nice to have that interaction during my work day.
However, writing is where my heart is, and I think fans, too, would rather I write than be online, so when I need to go under and focus exclusively on the book, I do, and readers have been really supportive of those time outs.
Twimom: I always love to find out what my favorite authors are reading... What is your favorite book you read in the past year? What is your most anticipated read coming in 2013?
Nalini: I have many favorites! One of my favorites of the last year was actually a non-fiction book. It’s called “Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness” by Susannah Cahalan – about a woman who thinks she’s going mad, but it turns out she has a rare brain disease. I found it a fascinating medical whodunit.
As for anticipated reads in 2013 - I’m really lucky because after so many years in the industry, I’m either friends with many of my favorite authors, or I know people I can ask for early copies of books I can’t wait to read. This isn’t because I just like to have early copies, but because often, I know I’ll be on deadline when a book is due to be released, so if I can sneak it in early, I will!
As a result, I’ve already read Guardian Demon by Meljean Brook, which is a book I’ve been waiting for, for years. Michael! He’s everything I dreamed he would be! Meljean really fulfilled her promise to fans with this book. <Twimom says *jealous*>
I also have Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews and I’m so looking forward to it (also a little bit scared after the hints the authors have dropped, but I trust them *bites nails*). <Twimom says *even more jealous*>
The next Sharon Lee and Steve Miller book is also a must-read. I adore the Liaden series, and every romance reader I’ve recommended it to has fallen for it as well, so you should all try it – especially since Agent of Change, one of the entry points in the series, is currently a free ebook (yes, I am a book pusher). I really liked Agent of Change, but I don’t think it’s the most romantic book in the series by far, so I’d suggest readers read the excerpts/blurbs of the other books as well. I love the interconnectivity of the series, and the fact that beneath it all, it’s a continuing story about a family.
And I’m always, always looking forward to the next JD Robb. I love the In Death series to pieces.
These are just a few of my anticipated reads. I have so many more!
Twimom: Nalini, once again thank you so much for taking the time to tell my readers a little bit about yourself and your writing. It was wonderful chatting with you.
Nalini: Thanks for the great interview.
GIVEAWAY: I have one (1) copy of Nalini’s recent Psy/Changeling anthology title, Wild Invitation, to giveaway here at That’s What I’m Talking About. Thank you to Nalini for sponsoring the giveaway. To enter, please complete the Rafflecopter form, below, and leave a comment at the end of today’s interview as to which Psy/Changeling character is your favorite. (If you haven’t read the series, list any favorite character and include what book/author it comes from.) One entry per person. Winner will be selected randomly from eligible entries. CONTEST IS OPEN INTERNATIONALLY, and prize will be mailed by the author. Contest open from May 31, 2013 until June 8, 2013 at 12:00 AM EDT-midnight. I am not responsible for items lost in the mail. If you have problems with the Rafflecopter form, please email me at twimom227 at gmail dot com.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Monday, May 20, 2013
Meet THE GHOST from Heart of Obsidian...
Have you heard...
ENJOY!!
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Labels:
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