This is it. A point of irrevocable change. For Pavel . . . for Arwen . . . for Yakov . . . and for another pair of twins whose bond has a far darker history.
A low-Gradient Psy, Theodora Marshall is considered worthless by everyone but her violently powerful twin, Pax. She is the sole person he trusts in their venomous family to investigate a hidden and terrible part of their family history—an unregistered rehabilitation Center established by their grandfather.
Places of unimaginable pain designed to psychically wipe minds, leaving the victims shells of their former selves, the Centers are an ugly vestige of the Psy race’s Silent past. But this Center was worse. Far, far worse. And now Theo must uncover the awful truth—in the company of a scowling bear named Yakov, who isn’t about to take a Marshall at face value . . . especially a Marshall who has turned his dreams into chilling nightmares.
Because Yakov is the great-grandson of a foreseer . . . and he has seen Theo die in an unstoppable surge of blood. Night after night after night . . .
Comment: This is the most recent installment in the Psy Changeling series by Nalini Singh. In the past years I've waited for the release of the paperback edition and that is why only now I've picked this book.
In this story we keep advancing on the world imagined by the author and the focus is on Yakov Stepyrev, one of the twin bears in the Moscow bear clan, whom we met in Silver Silence. Yakov and his twin Pavel are considerate and fun, but as most changelings, extremely loyal to their clan and family. Yakov is now tasked with helping Theodora "Theo"Marshall, a Psy from a family with a ruthless reputation among the Psy and that, as soon as he sees her, Yakov realizes she is the woman he has been dreaming of for years. Sadly, his dreams have not ended well, but as they work together, he can't help but like her and wanting her to be with him. Theo, too, hasn't been Silent and she feels something for this competent but funny bear, but the problem is that this mission has a reason, for Theo believes she is a monster and she is looking for proof. Will they be able to find something about the secretive compound they ate investigating before it's too late for Theo?
Reading my previous summary, I immediately thought to myself that it might feel a little confusing for someone who has not read the previous books. I would say the author does a good enough job, book after book, trying to present plots in a way that makes sense to a new reader but let it be said that it certainly doesn't seem as great, as addictive, if one has not read the previous stories. There are also too many small hints and allusions that a new reader won't fully grasp.
That said, to me - a follower and fan of the series since book#1 - this book was another success. Well, in general terms, for there are always things I'd change to suit my preferences, but I think it provided a cute romance (two if one wants to be kind of technical) and a simple enough plot, with a few little things related to the overall world building that are, as always, fascinating. The main situation here is Theo's investigation of an old compound managed by her family but it seems to be shut down, although money is still being poured into it. At the same time, being there brings back flashes of memories Theo shouldn't have. She knows she is dangerous, despite her low gradient status among the Psy, but why is she this way?
I think Theo is an interesting heroine because she is Psy but she doesn't behave as most Psy heroines in previous books. Fans know Silence has fallen but Theo hasn't truly be Silent and her behavior now is adapting. This means that she is a little easier to persuade about her emotions and the validity of them, mainly towards Yakov. I think it was clever that the author decided Yakov would have had dreams about her, since this makes it smoother for us to accept their connection would develop as quickly as it did, in spite of the usual Psy reticence.
I won't talk about the secrets she is hiding, part of it is plot related, but it also relates to her twin brother Pax. Well, nothing super secret is revealed until the very end, and I'm still hoping Pax will have his own book (not the next one apparently), so I'll simply say that the plot is centered enough on Theo and Yakov as individuals and everything else is secondary. I did like, however, that there are conversations and mentions of other characters or things said by other characters, to make it feel as if the world building is really advancing. To be fair, though, this isn't the goal of this book and after other books where so many new things happened, in this one things are definitely slower.
The romance between Yakov and Theo is solid enough, there are enough elements to be convincing of the power of their connection, of how they are meant to be and how slowly in love they fall in such a short amount of time. I would not go as far as to say theirs is a favorite romance, but I feel happy for them and for the family connections they can establish. I think the author does a great job placing the protagonist characters in dynamics where they interact with others and part of our interpretation of who they are and how good people they are is directly related to those situations.
Since Yakov is twin with Pavel, we also have Pavel's romance. Fans are aware Pavel and Arwen (brother to Silver, whom we met in Silver Silence) have been dating but haven't mated. Well, although I still feel we could have had more scenes with and about them, I finished the book happy enough about the developments featuring these two.
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