Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity #1; Psy-Changeling #16 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 13th 2017
Links: Ebook • Hardcover • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her extraordinary Psy-Changeling world with a story of wild passion and darkest betrayal…
Control. Precision. Family. These are the principles that drive Silver Mercant. At a time when the fledgling Trinity Accord seeks to unite a divided world, with Silver playing a crucial role as director of a worldwide emergency response network, wildness and chaos are the last things she needs in her life. But that’s exactly what Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater bears, brings with him.
Valentin has never met a more fascinating woman. Though Silver is ruled by Silence—her mind clear of all emotion—Valentin senses a whisper of fire around her. That’s what keeps him climbing apartment buildings to be near her. But when a shadow assassin almost succeeds in poisoning Silver, the stakes become deadly serious…and Silver finds herself in the heart of a powerful bear clan.
Her would-be assassin has no idea what their poison has unleashed…
Nalini Singh is hands down my PNR Queen. Every time I pick up a book by her, she amazes me with her intricate world-and character-building. Her books are seriously the best – and as soon as I finished Silver Silence, I knew it was going straight near the top as one of my favorite NS books of all time. It’s up there with Heart of Obsidian and Kiss of Snow, and if you know me, you know how obsessed I am with those books. So to say I loved Silver Silence would be a huge understatement. NS blew me away with this incredible read. She took me back to the early books that made me fall in love with the Psy-Changeling series, where the romance was a much heavier factor that they were in the newer books. Not to say I don’t love the recent books too, but I missed the original feel of the older books. NS gives that feel back to us in spades, mostly in the form of a gorgeous, charming bear alpha who is determined to win the heart of his Psy.
“Have you thought about my offer?” he asked, the laughter still in his eyes.
“The answer remains the same,” Silver said as a burn spread through her chest. “I do not wish to go have ice cream with you.”
“It’s really good ice cream.”
StoneWater alpha Valentin Nikolaev knew from the moment he met Silver Mercant, she was his and he was hers. But this bear alpha is smart and charming, so his courtship of his mate is a COURTSHIP. His months-long courtship has him showing up at her apartment at odd hours, much to Silver’s annoyance – Valentin is a bear she just can’t get rid of or avoid. But when Silver ends up poisoned one morning during an unexpected visit from the bear alpha, Valentin steps up his game to protect the one woman meant for him… all while still trying to win her over.
“Solnyshko moyo.” A kiss to the dampness of her neck as he roughly spoke words whose meaning had deepened to raw intimacy with a simple change in order.
Sun of my heart. Sunshine of my life.
The slow burn romance between Silver and Valentin was DIVINE. I was in PNR heaven reading about all the ways Valentin tried to endear himself to Silver, and Silver not giving him the time of day… much. Valentin is one determined bear alpha who does so many adorable things I was swooning and giggling like crazy the whole story (he tells her to call him her teddy bear!!!). Silver is her own amazing, badass character who I’m so happy got her own story. If you loved the earlier Psy-Changeling books, or are just looking for a darn good PNR read, you absolutely must read this book.
“I love you, Valyusha.”
“I’ll be your teddy bear anytime, Starlight.” Taking her hand, he pressed it to the bass beat of his heart. “It’s yours. Forever and always.”
I have to say it. I can’t hold it back anymore… but BEARS ARE MY NEW FAVORITE CHANGELINGS!!!! I love Valentin and Silver – Starlight and her teddy bear – but I have to be honest and tell you that the bear changelings are half the reason why I love this book so, so much. They are playful, ridiculous, party-animals, charming, sneaky – the bear clan had so much personality it was literally overflowing over the pages. I adored the bears so freaking much. They are without a doubt my new favorite changelings (sorry, DarkRiver and SnowDancer!) because honestly, if I were a changeling, I’d obviously be a bear. (Also, I’ve never used as many bear emojis as I have after reading this book.)
If you’ve never read the Psy-Changeling series (what are you doing with yourself), you can still absolutely read Silver Silence on its own. I don’t recommend it, mainly because of how incredible the original series is and how much better you’ll understand the Psy-Changeling world if you read it, especially in this second arc. I know fifteen books can be daunting, but trust me, once you start Nalini Singh, you won’t be able to stop. Either way, if you’ve read the series or not, you have to read Silver Silence and experience the wonder that is bear changelings!
Now here’s an excerpt from Silver Silence! ❤
Laughing at the cubs’ antics, Valentin jogged down the slight incline and waded into what had to be ice-cold water after kicking off his boots and socks. He splashed the cubs, laughed when they splashed him back. Running so they could chase him, he turned abruptly and chased them back, to their unhidden joy.
Silver took a seat on the grass. When the female bear looked her way, she inclined her head in a silent greeting. The bear did the same, then they both watched an alpha bear play with two energetic cubs, his hands holding rough care for their small bodies.
By the time Valentin made his way back to her, he was drenched and his eyes weren’t human in any way. When he spoke, his already deep voice was so low it felt like thunder against her skin. “Couldn’t resist,” he said, pushing back his wet hair with one big hand. “If you weren’t in recovery and if I wasn’t in terror of Nova’s wrath, I’d have invited you. The small monsters wanted to play with you.”
Silver didn’t get to her feet. “Can we stay here a little longer?” It was patent that Valentin had an extremely high tolerance for the cold, but he might want to dry off.
“Sure,” he said, and, moving away several feet, shook off the wet.
Fine droplets settled on the skin of her cheek, but she didn’t flinch at the unintentional tactile contact. She also controlled her urge to reach up and touch the water where it lay against her skin. There was no reason to do that, and Silver was alive because she only did things that were rational.
Settling beside her, Valentin waved at the cubs as their guardian led their tired forms toward a path in the trees that was at the same level as the stream. “Gentler climb,” Valentin told her.
“They seem too exhausted to make it to Denhome.”
“It’s all an act—they’re hoping for a ride on their aunt’s back.” His tone held the same fond affection she’d heard when he spoke of Dima. “It’d take more than a few minutes’ play in the water to wipe out those two.”
The cubs had played with Valentin for almost a half hour. “They’re hyperactive?”
“They’re baby bears.”
Silver watched as those baby bears turned toward her and rose up on their back paws, as if in challenge. A stern sound from their caretaker, and they dropped down and scrambled to catch up with her. Their bodies disappeared into the trees as dusk began to turn from orange to shadowy gray.
Beside her, Valentin sprawled out, bracing himself on his elbows. His drenched T-shirt clung to the ridged muscles of his abdomen, pulled tight across his pectoral muscles, shaped itself over his shoulders. His jeans weren’t much better, outlining the raw muscle of his thighs.
Valentin Nikolaev was a man of violent physical strength even in human form. Yet he clearly had iron control over it; when he’d played with the children, they’d displayed zero fear of their alpha.
“You thought about where you’re going to live when you escape the bears who’ve kidnapped you?”
When she raised an eyebrow at him, he grinned. “Fringe netter with his own Internet channel sent out a breaking report last night. Pasha—who obviously needs more work duties—made up a fake account and posted a comment swearing to have seen you being pulled into a black van by six burly bears in bear form.”
“You don’t seem too concerned.” Amber eyes and deep voice, he remained very much a bear in human form.
“Well, according to this ‘eyewitness,’ the getaway driver was in bear form, too. Must’ve been tough for him to steer with one paw since he was drinking a beer at the same time.”
“Bears,” Silver said, making Valentin throw his head back and laugh that huge laugh that wrapped around her.
Posted by arrangement with Berkley, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © Nalini Singh, 2017.
Reading Order: Psy-Changeling Trinity series:
#1 ~ Silver Silence: Ebook • Hardcover • Audible • Goodreads
The Psy-Changeling Trinity series is a spinoff of the Psy-Changeling series! You don’t have to read the original series to start Silver Silence, but I highly recommend it because it’s an incredible PNR series! And the heroine of Silver Silence is first shown in the original series.
Reading Order: Psy-Changeling series
#1 ~ Slave to Sensation: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Visions of Heat: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Caressed by Ice: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Mine to Possess: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Hostage to Pleasure: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Branded by Fire: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#7 ~ Blaze of Memory: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#8 ~ Bonds of Justice: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#9 ~ Play of Passion: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#10 ~ Kiss of Snow: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Collection #1 ~ Wild Invitation: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#11 ~ Tangle of Need: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#12 ~ Heart of Obsidian: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#13 ~ Shield of Winter: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#14 ~ Shards of Hope: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#15 ~ Allegiance of Honor: My Review • Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Collection #2 ~ Wild Embrace: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#16 ~ Silver Silence: Ebook • Hardcover • Audible • Goodreads
One hardcover copy of Silver Silence by Nalini Singh (INTL)
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