Customer Reviews

Branded by Fire (Psy-Changelings)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Riley and Mercy have made annoying one another an additional job requirement to their many responsibilities as pack liaisons. Since the wolves of SnowDancer and the leopards of DarkRiver made a blood pact and became allies, Riley and Mercy were put in charge of interpack communications and to soothe any pack related fur. The problem is that Riley and Mercy don't necessarily play nice with one another. Both are extremely dominant and hold identical positions within the highest ranks of their packs. While Mercy is flamboyant, opinionated, outspoken and daring, Riley is calm, steadfast, quiet and cunning.

As a dominant female and sentinel of the DarkRiver pack, Mercy grudgingly accepts the fact that she may never mate. While the human in her may love with all her heart, her leopard won't be able to stand being tied so strongly to another. This happens occasionally with very dominant and independent females of the pack. But at this moment, Mercy doesn't care if the man's her mate, she just needs release on such a primal level that all other Changelings are picking up on her heat and when "stick-in-the-mud" Riley Kincaid steps out of the trees, Mercy is more than willing to take him on. She could use a bit of violence to cool her need. But when Riley begins tempting Mercy on a highly sexual level during their sparring, it takes her but a moment to dispel any leopard instincts to turn away the enemy wolf.

Not only are Mercy's sensual curves and feline nature a physical draw for Riley, it's also the fact that she's the one person who can break him out of his shell. Not very long ago Riley's sister, Brenna, was kidnapped and horribly abused by a Psy killer. Although Brenna was rescued and now happily mated, he still feels the guilt of her abduction and mind rape. Dreams plague him where Brenna is found dead rather than alive and ever since that horrific time of his life, Riley has closed himself off from others. While his cool demeanor may keep others at bay, it only serves to instigate Mercy's need to crack through his brooding moments of guilt and shame.

It's not long before Riley proves that he's just a tad more dominant than Mercy. And while this knowledge raises Mercy's hackles it also ignites her sexual desperation for the wolf and besides, he makes her cat purr. But when the mating dance blooms, the two must face some serious ramifications to their potential mating. For one, they shift into different animals. How will that affect their offspring if they can even have offspring? And more importantly, how will this affect their packs? Both Riley and Mercy are blood bound to their alphas and neither has the desire to leave their respective packs but if the mating bond is complete, one will undergo the heartbreak of their blood bond snapping apart from their alpha. Because Riley is the more dominant of the two, most likely it will be Mercy that will be forced away from her pack by the mating bond.

In the end, it's the female's decision whether or not to complete the mating bond and this causes the males to be a bit more feral than usual. Given the fact that Mercy holds the same rank within DarkRiver as Riley does in SnowDancer, there will be many times where both must face death. This poses a huge trust issue on Mercy's end for Riley. If his overbearing protective urges come into play, he could very well suffocate Mercy's leopard. Mercy will not drop her position in Pack and it's a real testament of Riley's promises to her when he walks into battle beside his mate.

Throughout all this emotional turmoil, added to the mix is the rise of the Human Alliance. No longer content with being known world round as the weakest link, the humans will not tolerate be looked down upon any longer. When launching a massive strike against the Psy Council members, the Alliance steps on the toes of the DarkRiver and SnowDancer packs thus rising their hackles and their claws. When juveniles from both packs are kidnapped, Riley and Mercy must put aside their mating dance and locate their packmates before its death that they find.

'Branded by Fire' lived up to every impossibly high expectation I set for it. In fact, it obliterated those expectations and rose above them into an entirely new realm of greatness. It's hard to imagine the Psy/Changeling series reaching an ever greater height of amazement but truly, this author continues to pleasantly shock me time and again.

I loved Mercy. It's not often that I fall in love with a heroine, but Mercy embodied traits that sang to my reader heart. She's strong, protective and intelligent and she never hurts anyone who is weaker than her, which is a lot of people. I love that she had courage and although mating to Riley was frightening for her, she trusted her heart. Mercy is a proud leopard but she didn't let that stop her from going to Riley when she's made a mistake and apologizing. Needless to say, Mercy earned my respect as well as my heart.

Riley. What a hero! He had so many shadows in his soul and its Mercy who shines some much needed light into his heart. Sometimes I've felt that in other novels, the heroine was more than the hero deserved, but not in this case. Riley deserved every inch of Mercy's soul. I also loved that although he was more dominant and frightfully protective, he gave Mercy freedom. He may have faltered a few times but in the end, he'd rather revel in the freedom of Mercy's soul than contain it. It showed depth in his love for Mercy that he could fight every dominant instinct and not smother Mercy's leopard. Riley has no wish to break her, he just wants to love her. Definitely a true hero.

The only draw back to this book is that it may not be a suitable start for new readers of the Psy/Changeling series. I even found myself confused at times since it has been a while since I read the book prior to 'Branded by Fire'. This wasn't enough incentive for me to drop the rating but I highly recommend new readers to start at the beginning of the series with 'Slave to Sensation'.

The story:

Mercy is the last of the DarkRiver leopards that is single. This weighs heavily on her. There are no more alpha males in her pack that entice her. There is one alpha she is into, only problem is he is a wolf. Riley is a lieutenant for the SnowDancer wolf pack. Mercy is part of the joint partnership in the alliance between the packs. Riley can't get enough of Mercy, all he has to do is convince her now. The wolf will have to think like a cat to get Mercy into the mating dance with him. Someone kidnapped a brilliant college changeling from their territory. Mercy and Riley must follow the trail to the scandalous kidnappers and prey no one gets killed in the war that is initiated.

My thoughts

This book is now my new favorite in this series! The only thing that was missing was Dorian's new ability to shift, it wasn't mentioned at all. Other than that, I have no complaints. As per usual this is a very fast paced, action packed and a fierce/tender mating dance between Riley and Mercy. Their relationship is enchanting, they are perfect for each other! The other relationships hinting for future stories already are adorable ( hint hint Wolf alpha and psy defector). Nalini never disappoints, she is a fantastic writer!

Highly recommended novel and series!

Nalini Singh cranks up the heat in what is perhaps one of the best stories so far in her phenomenal Psy-Changeling series. Branded by Fire is an erotic and exciting read that captivates from the very first page and continues to enchant long after the story ends.

Mercy has always been one of my favorite characters, but in Branded by Fire she sealed her position as my personal favorite heroine of Ms. Singh's. She's strong, both physically and mentally, cunning, kind, warm, and generous - everything a heroine should be without being impossibly perfect. Despite her reticence at falling in love with a wolf, Riley is exactly the right male for her. He's more than Mercy's equal in terms of strength, dominance, and pack position. He's also incredibly giving, which is utterly endearing. His heart is scarred by the kidnapping and torture of his sister, Brenna (of Caressed by Ice). Her imprisonment left its mark on Riley, making him overprotective of those he cares about, which causes problems at times in his relationship with Mercy. I loved watching the two of them find their way in their relationship, each complimenting the other's strengths and willing to call one another on their flaws. It should also be mentioned that, in being a perfectly-matched couple, Mercy and Riley burn up the page like no one's business. Since they are Changelings, both Mercy and Riley are tactile beings, and Ms. Singh definitely makes the most of this in ways sure to make the reader shiver.

Branded by Fire is the eighth story (sixth full-length book) in the Psy-Changeling series. While Mercy and Riley's romance stands on its own, when it comes to the complex world Ms. Singh has created and the impact events in this book have on the characters and storylines which run throughout the series, new readers might want to start with the first five full-length books (Slave to Sensation, Visions of Heat, Caressed by Ice, Mine to Possess, and Hostage to Pleasure) before enjoying Branded by Fire. I can promise they won't regret it, as Ms. Singh never fails to pen a fascinating tale. For those who are already fans of the series, I am sure they will be delighted to see the characters from the previous books once again. One of the things I love best about this series is how close the packs are, and it was wonderful to revisit beloved characters. But be warned, Ms. Singh will also leave you wanting more characters' book. For me personally, I finished Branded by Fire desperate for Sienna Lauren's story.

One of my favorite books in an exquisite series, Branded by Fire should absolutely not be missed. Joyfully Recommended!

Shayna

Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Branded by Fire starts out with some fireworks as Mercy, a top sentinel in the Dark River leopard pack, has a hot forbidden interlude with Riley, the second to the alpha of the Snow Dancer wolf pack. She is a dominant alpha female in her pack which makes her fear that she will never find a mate because she would need someone more dominant than her and she doesn't think she would be able to submit to a mate the way she would need to. Riley is a stubborn, protective, by-the-rules man who is helplessly drawn to Mercy's fiery personality. He grew up taking care of his younger siblings and is now the highest ranking lieutenant in the Snow Dancer pack, so he can't imagine having a mate like Mercy who insists on taking care of herself.

Mercy and Riley are thrown together often as their respective pack's representative in the alliance between the cats and wolves - especially now as attacks on humans, changelings and Psy are beginning to escalate. The sexual attraction between Mercy and Riley leads them to start a forbidden affair because they just can't keep their hands off each other. Mercy knows Riley is a dominant wolf who will try to take over her life, which she thinks will kill a part of herself. Riley feels like he needs to protect those he loves, especially after what he sees as a failure to protect his little sister Brenna from being attacked. Mercy and Riley start to care a lot about each other but both are afraid of the consequences of staying together. They both dedicate their lives to protecting their packs - plus cats and wolves just barely get along. Can they both survive a mating - and do they have any choice but to try since their feelings are so intense?

I loved this story! Mercy and Riley were such a great pair, they really complemented each other in every way. The love scenes were scorching hot! Riley certainly knows how to please a woman. Both Riley and Mercy had to come to terms with each other - Riley had to accept that he could be dominant with Mercy while they were making love but he needed to see her as a partner at all other times and not try to shield her, while Mercy had to accept and trust Riley enough to allow him completely into her heart as a mate.

The storyline of the series progresses as we learn more about the battle for and against Silence in the Psy web and more clues about the Ghost's identity. Sienna and Hawke have small parts in the story, I can't wait until we see what happens between them. Lucas and Sascha receive wonderful news that I have been waiting for! I also found out the answer to the two questions I have been wondering about since I heard of the pairing between Riley and Mercy: What type of children will a wolf and cat have together and how can two dominant sentinels from different packs actually make a mating work - but you will have to read Branded by Fire to find out for yourself!

The Psy/Changling series is one of my favorite romance series, every single book has been amazing. Nalini Singh is a very talented author who writes wonderful romances with a great background story. I highly recommend this series to any romance reader!

The Psy-Changeling Series:

Slave to Sensation****(Good story and characters. A bit long- winded)

Visions of Heat*****(Better than book 1, terrific story with ultra hot alpha hero)

Caressed by Ice*****(Super romantic "love against all odds" story. Lots of action)

Mine to Possess***(Disappointing. Not enough romance. Didn't like heroine)

Hostage to Pleasure*****(Good story and likable characters)

Branded By Fire**(Boring and choppy. Couple is not at all captivating)

2 stars for a Nalini book??? I have trouble accepting it myself, even as I write the review feeling the rating is justified. I love this series. But "Branded By Fire" really falls short of Singh's usual talent. There are plenty of synopsis reviews, so here is my "nutshell review":

~ I couldn't seem to force myself to care about whether or not Mercy and Riley ended up together. There was NO romance involved in their story. She is pissed off at him for being himself. Why would she want to be with a man who is everything she hates in the male gender, not to mention he is of a race she despises? Why does he want a woman who gets pissed off at him for being himself? There was nothing between them other than "wild monkey sex" (quoting Mercy). Stories based upon the 'I hate everything you are and everything you stand for, but I'm so in love with you because we have great sex' plot never work for me. There has to be some kind of deeper bonding.

~ I used to love lines like "His eyes went wolf" when a male changeling is getting riled. However the phase was used so often in this book, it just started to sound ridiculous.

~ The story as a whole was so choppy that I never got to really enjoy any one piece of the plot completely. Just as something begins to happen in Psy-land, we jump to changeling-land, only to make a quick leap to human-vill. Cut- paste- chop- paste- shred- paste... No time was taken for giving the reader an understanding of any of the character's motives. Just little inconsistent pieces of actions and events. Very unfulfilling. I waited and waited for things to start to come together, but it all dragged on too long. At page 290, I quit trying. Only about 50 pages to reach the ending, but I don't care enough about the main couple to push through.

Despite this one disappointment in the series, most of the Psy-Changeling series is excellent. I do recommend it.

The series:

Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changelings, Book 1)

Visions of Heat (Psy-Changelings, Book 2) (My favorite of the series)

Caressed By Ice (Psy-Changelings, Book 3)

Mine to Possess (Psy-Changelings, Book 4)

Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changelings, Book 5)

Branded By Fire is Book 6

Up Next:

Blaze of Memory (Psy-Changelings, Book 7)

Also, try Nalini Singh's New "Guild Hunters" Series:

Angels' Blood

Angels' Pawn: A Companion Novella to Angels- Blood (This is short story that is available only as an ebook. It is not really necessary for the series, but you may enjoy it.)

I love this series since it is one of the few within PNR genre that's always maintained a good balance between plot development and romance. Nalini Singh created a unique world with her Psy-Changelings books and filled them with vivid three-dimensional characters, hence I've been eagerly expecting the next installment for months. Unfortunately, after reading Branded by Fire I was left somewhat dissatisfied, and here's why:

1. The delicate balance I mentioned above was definitely skewed in this book. The story took a backseat to romance between Mercy and Riley. The plot felt more like an afterthought to incessant love scenes and everything they did to further the story line felt rushed and underdeveloped. Yes, they went through the motions of acting as a sentinel and lieutenant and spoke about the total dedication to their packs, but it came out forced and unreal.

2. To elaborate on my previous point, I love romantic elements in books, but this book contained nothing else. After the fourth explicit encounter between Mercy and Riley, I started flipping through pages since it was more of the same. There is a thin line between passion and porn and I think it's been crossed here. Those two are supposed to be the highest ranking members of their packs, but throughout the book acted like horny teenagers. All that served to make me feel discontented with this pairing, even though I love both of these characters from their parts in previous books.

3. I don't want to give away spoilers to potential readers, but the focus of this book shifted from the growing hostilities between Psy and Changelings to the involvement of Human Alliance, the new player introduced in the previous book. The problem is that Human Alliance members felt very two dimensional and more like plot devices than interesting new development. Also I wish PsyNet problems would've been better explored since I liked where that was going.

4. The ending was completely anticlimactic and predictable. I realize that this series is formulaic hence should be somewhat predictable by definition, but this was the first book in this series where I pretty much lost interest half way through and didn't really care what happened at the end. Interestingly enough, nothing of significance happened.

I'm assuming that many fans are going to disagree with my point of view, but I felt that voicing my opinion would be beneficial to those whose tastes run parallel to mine. I am giving the book three stars mainly because almost all my favorite characters were featured here and the sections about Hawke and Sienna were fantastic.

It is pretty much a given that Nalini Singh writes spectacular books. Her Psy/Changeling series is a very successful and beloved by her readers, and I am one of them. Her soon to be released, Branded by Fire (Psy/Changeling book #6) is no exception. Not only has she delivered another great action packed tale, but she raises the steam, as in the sexual dynamics between the two main characters. The majority of Nalini's heroes are alpha males- hear them roar. Their women are tender fighters and their men feel the need to coddle them. But in Branded by Fire, Nalini has written a hero and heroine that are on equal footing. Mercy and Riley are both alphas and they must come to terms with their natures. These two want it their way or no way at all. And as these two continually butt heads with one another, their attraction and lust is smoldering. Branded by Fire is the most sexually charged book in this whole series. The first chapter says it all. Usually it takes a hundred pages or so before a love bird duo will act on their desires. Not Riley and Mercy. The hottest sex scene in this whole book is in the first twenty pages. And it is very satisfying indeed.

Because Branded by Fire is the sixth book in this futuristic, sci-fi romance all rolled into one, newcomers must go back to book one. Sorry, Branded by Fire is not a stand alone book. Things have been building up through the last few books where there is about to be an explosion dealing with every society Nalini has created. The Psy, the various Changeling creatures and Humans are all at war with one another. The world they live in together, side by side, is crumbling and unless they can come to a resolution there will be many causalities. No one is safe. And I have come to the conclusion that they cannot survive without the other. Things have become very complex and to explain everything would take too long to explain.

If you love reading strong, in your face characters, Nalini has accomplished that with Riley and Mercy. These two are a bit like Romeo and Juliet because Mercy is a leopard and Riley is a wolf. They are total opposites because a wolf and a leopard should not mate, but their need for one another defies all reason. And if they complete the mating bond, one must turn away from their pack and embrace their mate's new one. Riley is a bit more understanding and is willing to sacrifice a part of himself to make Mercy happy. Mercy holds back and will only give Riley a small piece of herself, mainly though the physical attraction she has for Riley. Riley wants a no holds bar relationship with his kitty-cat and that means she must give him her heart and soul. Riley chases Mercy and tries to tire her to the point she will give in because he knows he is the only one who can tame her.

Now when I say Riley wants to tame Mercy, it is not meant as a negative. He wants to cherish her and protect her and also keep those sharp claws of her in check. He doesn't mind a bit of pain when it comes to Mercy, (especially during sex because Riley enjoys when Mercy let's go and scratches him) but because Mercy is skilled as a warrior, she doesn't know how to give in a little to the other side, the one that needs a bit of TLC from such a man like Riley. And the scene towards the end where Mercy decides she needs Riley is everything the reader has been waiting for. Love is all about giving and taking and after Riley has inched his way into her heart, she finally has an epiphany.

Even though the Mercy and Riley's relationship is very prominent there are other important things to take note of in Branded by Fire. Many past beloved characters make an appearance. We see a great deal of Sasha and Lucas and how they have grown together. Their happily ever after is everything you would imagine and Nalini gives them something so very special that made me smile and raises my fists in the air. Fans of Brenna and Judd will be also thrilled. Judd is still happily breaking furniture. And for those who wants Hawke's story (he is Riley's alpha of the Snowdancer pack) and Sienna's (she is Judd's Psy niece), you will not be disappointed. Nalini is slowly building the emotional bonds between these two. She makes Hawke and Sienna suffer. Hawke wants Sienna badly, but Sienna is still so young and confused. Sienna is destroying herself because of her feelings for Hawke and doesn't know how to deal with them. They cannot continue to be around each other, but being apart is also painful. Nalini also throws a curve ball in their relationship because there is possibly someone waiting in the wings to take Sienna way from Hawke even before anything could happen between these two. And dare I mention one of the most mysterious and deadly characters of all in that of the Psy Kaleb? Again Nalini gives us just enough, a small peek as to what Kaleb has planned and what he hopes to accomplish. I have had my eye on Kaleb for a long time and I know Nalini must have a reason for making Kaleb an important part of this series. (I am a team Kaleb girl all the way and I am anxiously awaiting his own story.)

Branded by Fire left me wanting more and again cements my devotion to the writing talents of Nalini Singh. If there is one author you haven't read and should, Nalini is one of them.

Katiebabs

There was something about this book, which captivated me more than any other from this wonderful series. First of all, I loved Mercy & Riley together. From their explosive chemistry, the always fun bantering, and the fact that their being complete opposites (cat & wolf) works so, so, well. I loved how from the very first chapter it felt so wrong for them to be together, it was totally right! The way the fireworks exploded on those first pages...Mmmm...what an intensely refreshing surprise! Another thing I liked a lot about this book was how Mercy played the wild child, while "stick-in-the-mud" Riley was, well, as grounded and practical as her nickname for him suggests. In other words, her job was to drive him completely insane! And what a mouth-watering challenge that was! Beside the joy of watching those two work it out, I was delighted in how this book made progress in the story arch, including insights into old a new characters.

Three words for you: Hawke and Sienna. Talk about sexual tension!! (When I realized their book wasn't due until 2011 I thought I'd have a heart attack!)

Needless to say, I fell in love with these two's story as well. They made the book so much better still for me. Weirdly enough, this was the first book I read from the series, and I never got quite over it. I went back and read them all, the ones before and those since. Still, I've lost count how many times I've re-read this book, which I must say isn't something I tend to do in general with books. Not even with my very favorite author Jane Austen. Overall, the whole belonging-to-the-family feeling I got from both packs as they came together for Mercy & Riley made me feel right at home with friends. I think this was what really did it for me. I wasn't an outsider, but an important member of the family.

Unbelievably, after two long years of wait Kiss of Snow (Hawke & Sienna's book) is finally coming out, and on the day of my birthday too!!! What more can I say?

Ms. Singh, thank you.

This is one of the few paranormal series I have managed to stick with over the last couple of years. But I think it's largely due to the fact this series feels more fantasy than paranormal. The world of the Psy is just so different from any thing else out there, and it adds an element that sets it apart from the others.

Branded by Fire focuses mostly on the Changelings of her world, but the Psy are always a very prominent part of each book. Nalini Singh is simply an amazing talent. The uniqueness of the characters and the world is so unbelievably awesome. She is one of the best when it comes to writing two people and how they interact, and she brings something new with every book. This book grabbed me, just as the other five did and didn't let go til the last page. Her writing is fast-paced, and the chemistry is absolute. And this time around she does it with two different changeling species...Leopard and wolf...Can a puppy dog really make a kitty cat purr?

I loved this book as I have loved each book previously! Provocative, intense, a sensual playground...that's what fills the pages in this Psy/Changeling series, and especially so in this one!

I've been struggling with this review since yesterday, trying to figure out why this book didn't earn a 5-star rating from me. I loved Riley, I liked Mercy, I enjoyed the plot and the new developments in the series' story arc - especially the introduction of Bowen, a new secondary character with all the signs of a future hero - and, last but not least, Hawke (oh, how I love thee!) had some major scenes that had me drooling all over the pages. So what was "wrong" with this latest installment in the Psy-Changeling series?

After some pondering, I finally nailed it... I'm afraid to say Riley and Mercy's relationship didn't work too well for me. I mean, they fit each other, I was happy to see them together and, always a plus, their love scenes were hot, but here's the problem: there was no sexual tension and no real build-up to their relationship. They were doing the "panting and sweating" right from the start - and what a 1st Chapter that was, let me tell you! - and, while I understood the reasoning behind it, it ended up "killing" the fun of watching them finding their HEA. The old saying is true, anticipation heightens the pleasure... Judd and Brenna took forever to have their 1st love scene in Caressed By Ice (Psy-Changelings, Book 3) and, boy, when they did... wow, get me a bucket of ice! But I digress... The thing is, I prefer seeing my H/h working their way towards a sexual relationship, so the Changeling-Changeling pairing in Branded by Fire (Psy-Changelings, Book 6) fell kind of flat to me.

Everything else was perfect, including the darn twist Ms. Singh gave to Hawke and Sienna's relationship, and I'm still a devoted fan of the Psy-Changeling series. I'm a bit wary of the next book, Blaze of Memory (Psy-Changelings, Book 7), because I still can't picture Dev Santos, a secondary character who only appeared in Mine to Possess (Psy-Changelings, Book 4) so far, as the hero but, WTH, I trust Ms. Singh to make it work.