Veena’s review of Ocean Light (Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 2) by Nalini Singh
Romantic Fantasy published by Berkley 12 Jun 18

Readers familiar with fur, fang, and claw now dive into the black to meet the denizens of the deep, also known as the Black Sea Changelings. Words like blue and black will acquire new meaning after you read this book. While much of the story plays out fathoms below the sea with a host of new characters, the author keeps things humming by bringing in favorite characters from the series for cameo appearances. Humans who have been dismissed as weak and fragile by the psy are the glue that is necessary to restore health to the psy-changeling world.

When a near fatal shooting in Venice leaves Bowen Knight, leader of the human alliance, for dead, it jeopardizes the survival of the Trinity Accord and the Psy. In any event, if it wasn’t the bullet from the gun, it might be the degrading chip in his brain that might have brought him down anyway, right? Perhaps…

It seems there’s a chance in a million that an experimental procedure in a Black Sea lab might be able to give Bowen a chance at life. Bowen, who awakens from a coma with a mechanical heart, now has a choice to make. Die from the degradation of the chip? Live as a vegetable if the treatment does not deliver on the outcome? Or live a long life to achieve all his dreams? Not easy for a man who has vowed after a brutal assault on his brain to never live a life as a vegetable with no control.

At the end there is no choice. Bowen loves his sister and the other knights of the human alliance too much to not give them a chance. Also, the lab assistant who smells of cinnamon and directs her anger at him intrigues him beyond measure. Determined to live each day he has left to the fullest, he sets out to court Kaia and to make friends with the denizens of the undersea city where he finds himself. Of course you can’t divorce the security chief from the man as he works with his team outside to track down the disappearance of Black Sea changelings and how the human alliance and his ships are participating in the plot.

Life is not totally smooth, even though we have endless days of love and fun for Kaia and Bowen. It turns out that Kaia is hiding some secrets. The most important one is her telepathic power, which is an anathema to Bowen, and then, of course, the next insurmountable challenge is her phobia of being on land. Even if Bowen lives, what future do they have as a mated couple if she can’t live on land and he can’t live under the sea? Have faith in the author who’s been writing romance a long time to find a solution.

More than any other changeling characters, the Black Sea have such a large host of animals to chose from, so it’s a lot of fun seeing changeling characteristics in the human characters we get to meet. Also, the entire underground city is a glass biosphere that allows one to look in as much as to look out. and so we enjoy seeing the changeling side of the characters as they swim outside the glass.

Grade: B

Bowen Knight has come back from the dead but there’s a ticking time bomb in his head. Even with the most brilliant scientists in the world working on the problem, he only has a small chance of living beyond a few weeks. With so little time left who should be helping the Human Alliance. Instead he is at the bottom of the ocean consumed with thought of the enigmatic Kaia Luna. Kaia has had enough pain in her life, mostly at the hands of humans. So she is baffled by her attraction to the human male who despite his potent vitality, is on the brink of death. But, when Kaia is taken, Bo will do anything to get her back…even if it means losing his mind.

So far in the Psy-Changeling and Psy-Changeling Trinity series we’ve had all land mammals. In Ocean Light we finally get an in depth glimpse at the water changelings in the BlackSea Clan. Unlike most other packs that consist of mainly one type of animal – leopard, wolf, bear – the BlackSea Clan includes any water based creature, from sharks to minnows, whales and turtles. Anything that is at home in the water belongs to BlackSea. Because of this they are a vast and powerful organisation, who have only just chosen to create alliances with outside groups. One of those groups being the Human Alliance.

Bowen is the Security Chief for the Human Alliance and has done a few questionable things in previous books. But, in Ocean Light we finally get to know his full background and get a deep dive in to his personality. He surprised me. As much as I look forward to every Singh book, Bo has never been a favourite of mine. I should have known that Singh could get me to fall in love with him! Kaia is a water changeling, but I won’t tell you what she changes into as it is a cute game between Kaia and Bo for him to guess, you find out towards the end of the book. Like all Singh heroines, she was likeable and had her own strengths and an interesting past. The romance between them grew quickly, but still managed to somehow convey a depth of feeling.

It wasn’t just the romance that was going on though. Water changelings have been disappearing and found dead and we finally get a little bit more information on what’s been happening. I can’t wait to read the next book so I can keep getting more bits of the puzzle. This book also introduced us to more new characters from both the Human Alliance and from BlackSea. It will be interesting to know more about them and then hopefully see them have their own book.

Although this didn’t quite have the charm of Silver Silence, (the bears completely won me over!) this was an enjoyable read and a worthy instalment in the Psy-Changeling series.

✦ Human + water shifter (I won’t spoil what she is)

✦ Major conflict/plot: Countdown to his possible death unless the meds work
✦ Other plot: who is betraying BlackSea? What's happening to their abducted people?

✦ I LOVE this series! SO MUCH! But this wasn’t my fav. I didn’t connect with the couple as much as I would have liked, barely felt like I knew them, and didn’t see the romance. Also, the few sex scenes are either SUPER quick and really vague or fade to black, which is not Singh's usual MO with this series.
✦ I was just left wanting more from these two.
✦I felt like the pace was very slow and nothing was going on for most of the book, then we get a bit of a kick in the last 20% or so but it wasn't enough for me. And I still felt like the romance was MIA (on-page). :(


That being said: You bet I'm still excited to see what's next in this world! But Bo and Kaia won't be hitting my favorites.

The last thing Bowen Knight, the head of the Human Alliance, remembers is being shot and falling into the water. Now awake he realizes he’s not dead but has been saved by the Black Sea clan and is deep below in their habitat in the sea. His life has been saved, but the chip that shields his mind from Psy attacks is degrading quickly. He only has a few weeks/months left to live if nothing is done. However, the Black Sea clan doctor has been working on an experimental compound to neutralize the threat. The chances it’ll work are very slim, but even if he doesn’t make it the data obtained could benefit the rest of the humans with the same problem, and Bowen realizes he must take the risk. Bowen doesn’t think in all this he’d find a woman who’d so completely capture his heart, but Kaia is unique. She’s everything warm and protective, but she has a mischievous playful side that speaks to the serious Bowen in a way that’s too tempting to resist.

Ocean Light had so much grabbing my attention! An intense, but possibly doomed romance, internal threats and betrayals, and a race fix the ticking time bomb in Bowen’s head. Nalini’s Singh’s writing is captivating and beautiful, playful and sensual, thrilling and exciting! Ocean Light is the second in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series, but it’s not necessary to read the previous book to enjoy the story. Loving this series!

A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.

This review is also posted at The Readers Den.

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.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity
Sequence in Series: Book 2
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: June 12, 2018
ISBN-10: 1101987820
ISBN-13: 978-1101987827
Genre: Urban Fantasy | Paranormal Romance

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As always Nalini Singh's latest book grabs your attention and doesn't let go until you reach the end. Kaia and Bowen's romance is a reminder to seize joy when it's in front of you and to not let the dark places and experiences of the past rob you of future joys. I don't want to give too much away since this book is full of twists and turns and unexpected betrayals. Once I started Ocean Light I couldn't put it down, staying up far later than I should have and barely staying awake during meetings the next day but I have no regrets. I can't wait to see where things go in the next installment!

" Oceans Light " by Nalini Singh

***a special thank you to Berkley Publishing, Nalini Singh, and Netgalley for providing a copy for this review.

SYNOPSIS
Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there's a ticking time bomb in his head: 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 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...

★★★★☆
Paranormal Romance | Fantasy | Romance

once again a complete hit in her department! I loved the new world introduction in this sereis- falling completely in love with every new character and plot twist that is building yet another set of epic books sure to come. I've loved the Pay-Changeling series for years - only deciding to read them after numerous recommendations, considering I was hesitant on her character building when compared to a series that followed the same handful of characters (Guild Hunter) and I shame myself for not reading it earlier! Despite this being a long running romance series - Nalini has this epic ability to change the world and stakes so smoothly that it's not whiplash when you enter a new arc of difficult circumstances and villainy. Sure we have our overall 'antagonists' that flow through the series, but ever character has their own issue that stems from an overall "bad thing they need to stop"

So, enough about the series contemplation - lets get to this book.
Honestly, I was really unasure of the new branch of books, Ive never been a 'second generation' fan, and these aren't that in any case, but I was afraid i'd still get shadow emotions from a series that would have. I think 'Oceans Light' was perfect enough to continue the pull of my love with sneaks at other previous characters I fell in love with (no Hawk though (damn)) but it held its ground as a new beginning. I want new characters to find their mates and live the happy ever after, I want characters mentioned in this one from previous books to finally take their spot light in this part two of the series. I highly recommend reading this book, perfectly laid out for these two to get their mate ending, and an epic build for more to come.

CHARACTERS
Bo - yay! our boy is back from the dead ladies - but with a catch and an overall "hope this goes well" idealism that kept me keeping up through the book. Obviously we know all is well (it is a romance come on, we haven't had a 'that was a shitty ending' for a character by character base series since J.R. Ward's " The Shadows" (still pissed at you Ward, I mean, what the hell)) but back to my tangent - we all know its going to go well, but still we ache and hurt every time there is a hint at any possible disaster between these two. I liked Bo as a character, he was cunningly smart while being boss at everything he does. I seem to have completely forgotten about him, everyone was like "its Bo OMG" and im over here like ... "did I miss the invite to the meet and greet orrrrr?" but don't you worry - it all came back to me. End notes : he was amazing. 'nough said.
Kaia - this book was the first introduction to this character, and while she became highly enjoyable as the book progressed - I wasn't initially a fan of hers. Maybe it was her character style that just felt a little too familiar, the 'I can't be with you because a,b,c,d,e,f...' -- yeah you get it. However, as I got to see these two interact with each other and build, I slowly began to root for her, I wanted more time in her head and more time watching her interactions with everyone in her family.
THE STORY
This book was a bit slow paced for me personally - keeping it from the full five stars. Honestly, I discovered myself in a lot of situations where I just wanted to skip until I found something interesting. I never found myself wanting to completely end the book or just skip to the end- but I was waving my hand in a 'lets move forward' motion a few times. Now, Nalini doesn't have books where you can do that- maybe it's me being a impatient reader who found an adorable couple and just wanted every moment to be them interacting together . . . or of other characters . . . yum. So I stuck through and thank god I did! To much information that is vital and important to other books and perhaps future ones as well. Now, this issue is probably coming from me as a reader, I don't like it when I can say 'okay chapter done, lets leave some for tomorrow' because I . . . LIKE it . . . but don't LOVE it. I want to plow through these books faster, I want to go "shoot I have to put it down- end my life, how will I go on" and I didn't get that from this book. Once again - It could totally be me as a reader, but FYI.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Bowen Knight was shot in the chest. The bullet obliterated his heart. But lucky for him that the fast action of his sister gave him a chance to extend his life. Bowen woke up from a coma under the care of the BlackSea water changelings to find that his heart has been replaced with a mechanical one and that he has been entered into an experiment to try to neutralize the ticking time bomb in his brain; the chip he had implanted to keep the Psy from invading his mind. There is only a 5% chance that Bowen will survive the experiment as the same person he is now. It’s much more likely that he will become a vegetable; a shell of himself. However, Bo will do anything for his people and he knows that the experiment must continue to help find a solution for the others who were implanted with the chip.

BlackSea’s cook (who also helps their healer with the experiment), Kaia, is angry at Bo and he doesn’t know why. He soon finds out that her best friend, Hugo, is one of BlackSea’s clan mates that have disappeared. Before he vanished, he gave their head of security a dossier that implicates Bo’s Alliance in the disappearances. She blames Bo for the loss of Hugo and the others. Bo only has two weeks of guaranteed lucidity and he’s determined to find out who on his team is a traitor and to help find out what happened to the missing members of BlackSea.

However, Bo never expected to fall in love with the fiery Kaia. Their timing couldn’t be worse. They are only guaranteed the two weeks and he only has a 5% chance of surviving with his brain intact. Do the two give in to desire and enjoy what little time they have or try to protect themselves as much as possible and end the relationship before it even begins?

This was a decent read. It wasn’t as good of some of the past books in the original Psy-Changeling series, but it was okay. I liked Bo and Kaia. They have to be strong, if they are to survive what is ahead for them. It takes a special kind of man to be able to sacrifice himself for a measly 5% chance for the good of other people.

However, if you were expecting steamy sex scenes you will probably be disappointed. Bo and Kaia do have some intimate scenes, but it’s not the play-by-play hot sex you may be expecting.

There didn’t seem to be nearly as much action in this novel either. All the action was crammed into the end of the book and we’re left with a giant dose of it all at once.

The mystery, on the hand, was written incredibly well. There were several twists and turns as they tried to uncover who the traitors within the Alliance and BlackSea were. I don’t see anybody being able to completely figure it out. I had part of it figured out, but not nearly the whole plot.

Also, I’m proud to say that my guess on what Kaia shifts into was correct!

And thanks to Disney’s Lilo and Stitch I knew what ohana meant as it’s mentioned many times in this book!

This book was good, but not great. But I am anxious to see what is in store for us next!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

If you're a fan of urban fantasy or paranormal romance, I imagine you're familiar with Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series. I discovered it back in 2006, and I've been a devoted fan ever since. Ocean Light is the seventeenth installment, and the second entry in a sort of second story arc called the Psy/Changeling Trinity series, and I leapt at the chance to review it.

Before I get into the meat of the review, I want to point out that Ocean Light is not a good point of entry to Ms. Singh's intricately-built world. The world and the characters who inhabit it are quite complex, and jumping in here would result in a great deal of confusion and frustration. Instead, do yourself a huge favor and start way back at the very beginning with Slave to Sensation. I doubt you'll regret it.

It's also worth pointing out that it would be pretty near impossible to review Ocean Light without spoiling some things about the previous books in the series. So, if you aren't caught up with the goings-on in the Psy/Changeling universe, you might want to hold off on reading this review until you are.

Ocean Light picks up not long after the events of Silver Silence. Bowen Knight, the head of a group who call themselves the Human Alliance, awakens from a sort of medically-induced coma. No one really expected him to recover from the gunshot wound he suffered a few months before, but Bowen is a fighter with lots of work left to do. Unfortunately, waking from the coma is not quite the joyous event you might expect it to be because there's something terribly wrong with his brain. A chip he had implanted to protect him from the telepathic interference of the mentally gifted Psy has begun to break down, and there's only one person with the medical expertise to fix it.

Changeling Kaia Luna doesn't have much use for humanity. Both humans and Psy have caused her unspeakable heartache, and she's not sure she can handle any more. So she spends her time deep beneath the sea, working as a chef in the settlement built to shelter those changelings who live as sea creatures. Her cousin and closest friend is the surgeon tasked with saving Bowen's life, and Kaia is determined to keep her distance from the wildly attractive and charismatic human male.

Of course, Kaia isn't able to stay away from Bowen, and in fact, it's not long after he comes out of the coma before sparks begin to fly between the two of them. Both Kaia and Bowen have multiple reasons for not wishing to get involved, but the heat of their attraction soon becomes too great for them to ignore.

I absolutely adored the chemistry between Bowen and Kaia. Their banter is some of the best I've had the pleasure of reading, and the sexual tension between them is almost palpable. I loved the straightforward way they dealt with one another, too. I get really tired of all the miscommunication and foolish misunderstandings that fill so many of today's romance novels, so it was super refreshing not to have to deal with that here. Kaia and Bowen are adults who know what they want both in and out of the bedroom, and they don't play games in order to get it.

Whenever I read a Psy/Changeling novel, I look forward to being reunited with characters I love from previous books, and Ocean Light did not disappoint in that respect. Several of my favorite characters make appearances here, and it was wonderful to be able to check in on them. That's one of the perks of series reading, for me.

Ms. Singh has managed to create the perfect balance of action and quiet time. Bowen and Kaia are given ample opportunity to get to know each other and allow their relationship to deepen, but it never gets boring. There are quite a few pretty intense action scenes that spice things up quite nicely.

I could go on and on extolling the virtues of Ms. Singh's latest novel, but I'll just urge you to read it for yourself instead. It was everything I was hoping it would be and more, and I can't wait for other devoted fans of the author's work to read it and love it as much as I did.

Buy it at: Amazon/Barnes & Noble/iBooks/Kobo

Ocean Light

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series - Book 2


By Nalini Singh

Berkley Sensation - June 2018

Paranormal Romance



The Psy-Changeling Trinity series, is a continuation of Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series. It is essentially the second story arc. New readers might find starting with Silver Silence a good easy introduction into this world. However, it does contain spoilers to the previous story arc and characters. Accordingly, this review assumes that the reader has read the previous stories in Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series. Personally, since I have enjoyed all of the stories to date, I highly suggest reading the series in order.

Bowen Knight had known his expiration date was near. He, and so many of his friends, had an implant that prevented the Psy from invading a human's mind. Unfortunately, there was a terminal side-effect, and it was too late to remove the implant. Even if he could, he wouldn't have. He knew all too well the destructive effects of one losing control of one's own self.

What he had never expected was to have his life expectancy shortened by a bullet. Even more surprising was to learn that he had been taken to recover among the BlackSea changelings. Here he was at the bottom of the, actually, Bowen didn't know exactly where he was to know if he was in the ocean, or sea, but he was definitely surrounded by water. The windows allowed him access to view some of the mysteries of the elusive water changelings that puzzled many, but it was the woman with the prickly attitude that consumed Bowen's thoughts. He should be trying to get back to help the Human Alliance with the short time he had remaining, but Kaia Luna kept distracting him. She might cook for those on the station, but she was also helping in his recovery. Kaia had secrets. Secrets Bowen was determined to uncover in whatever time he had remaining.

Readers finally get a romance with a BlackSea changeling. There have been so many questions asked. Were there sharks? Whales? Humans, land-based changelings, and probably even the Psy have questioned the mysteries of those who lived in the deepest recesses on Earth. Bowen had been no exception, but it is his intrigue of Kaia that overshadows all those questions. He wants to know why she seems to hate him. Bowen needs to have Kaia trust him, and he wants to prove that the Human Alliance is not a threat to BlackSea. But more than anything, Bowen wishes for a solution to the implant. Only then can he have a future with the glorious woman he wants to call his own.











Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

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+

BlackSea’s motto should be: Secretive R Us.

Let me just reassure fans of this series that Nalini Singh has done it again. I absolutely loved this latest installment in one of my all-time favorite series—and considering my expectations for this book were sky-high, that's saying something.

Bowen has been an important if small part of this series for a long, long time, and to finally see the pay off of his story arc was beyond rewarding. Not to mention, finally getting a look into the elusive, secretive and utterly fascinating BlackSea clan made me a little giddy with possibilities.

Once again, Ms. Singh has delivered (with ease, it seems) spectacular world-building—another sprawling clan, another universe crawling with detail—and an achingly tender, wonderfully built bond, wrapped in a suspenseful and mesmerizing story. In a word, this book was perfection, and left me with two clear thoughts:

1) How soon is too soon for a re-read? (This is my second read already, so . . . maybe in a week or so?)
2) How long before the next book in this series is on my Kindle and in my hands? It can't come soon enough, TBH.

“No matter what tomorrow brings . . .”

~ FIVE Hex STARS ~

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Tautly plotted with dynamic characters and contains of the highest stakes—both romantic and plot-wise—in the series, Ocean Light will engage not just your mind but your heart as well.

“Love can alter the fabric of the universe.”

This book picks up not far from where the last book ended. Bowen Knight survived his assassination attempt but the chip in his brain is still degenerating and with time running out, his sister agrees to a deal with the Blacksea changeling clan to take Bo deep underwater to undergo an experiment that could save his life or end it.

I am so happy that this Nalini continued to build on this universe. We’ve only heard about the BlackSea changelings in previous books but in Ocean Light, they finally take the center stage. And what a fascinating world it is. Ms. Singh’s clever world building continues to fascinate and entranced. The BlackSea changelings have their own quirks that separate them from other changelings but what remains constant is their sense of belonging to a family, a pack, or a clan. This theme has been a constant from the very first Psy-Changeling book and continues with the Trinity series. It is again a huge theme here.

As I mentioned, this book has one of the highest stakes in the series. Don’t get me wrong. The stakes in these books are always high but in Ocean Light it is even more so. With Bo’s life on the line and the Trinity Accord being attacked from the inside, not to mention Kaia dealing with trauma and mental health issues, the characters are in constant state of peril in this book. There’s a sense of urgency and doom that I wasn’t exactly sure how the author was going to resolve everything but she did and did it wonderfully.

The romance between Bo and Kaia was just as satisfying as the mystery and intrigue. Singh is one of the masters of crafting a strong romantic conflict. Bowen is a human, a leader of the Alliance that wasn’t always trustworthy in the eyes of the changelings. He’s made errors in the past but his heart is always in the right place.

Kaia on the other hand is a changeling whose past made her distrustful of humans. She sees humans and the land as forces of destruction and loss. Bowen’s presence and her peculiar reaction to him puts Kaia in a very vulnerable position.

I love how the romance developed between them. There’s playfulness to their relationship that I found endearing to read. Their HEA was EARNED and it was SATISFYING.

Ocean Light delivers on the romance along with healthy sprinkling of mystery and intrigue that will hold your attention from beginning to end. This is another win for Nalini Singh, and I highly recommend that you start from the very beginning with Slave to Sensation. Yes, it’s a lot of books and you can probably start with Silver Silence and still enjoy or even love the books but I highly HIGHLY recommend starting with the original Psy-Changeling series.

Ocean Light by Nalini Singh is the second in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series. Ocean Light features Bowen Knight who we know had an unfortunate incident in a previous book. He is lucky to be alive and after two months, is finally awakening from a coma. He still has health hurdles to face and as the commander of the Human Alliance, he feels it is his responsibility to take on the experimentation that is needed to save the Knights with chips. Time is not on his side when he falls for the beautiful Kaia Luna.

Kaia has suffered much loss and she believes at the hands of humans so initially has a hard time following her instincts and feelings with Bowen. She knows he is dangerous to her well-being. Kaia is a great character. There was so much I loved about her. She had so many sides, she was playful, protective and smart.

Their romance does take off fairly quickly, but there is a lot of uncertainty at times on Kaia’s part. Bowen tries not to rush her, but she is really trying to protect her heart. Bowen does a wonderful job of wooing Kaia but the whole time it is bittersweet as Bo’s future is so uncertain.

Singh builds a somewhat stable relationship between the two characters before we jump into some action. There was an investigation all along that Bo and the Alliance are trying to solve, but incidents start happening. As the story continues on, the pair encounter obstacle after obstacle. Just when one gets solved and I think we can concentrate on Bo and Kaia being together, something else happens to distract from the romance and build some more adrenaline. I think the final straw was when Kaia is taken and Bo must do whatever it takes, despite his fears to bring her back. I thought it was amazing how Bowen takes on the mating feelings a Changeling would have.

I really loved getting to know more about the Black Sea Changelings. There is such a wide variety of them and their world is so different than that of the land creatures. It’s so peaceful and family-oriented. Everyone looks out for the other and life on their cities is run smoothly with everyone contributing. I am so curious about the attacks on the Black Sea Changelings. I’m wondering what this other party is hoping to achieve. You can see in Ocean Light how they are trying to shift the blame and drive a wedge between the humans and Black Sea. But I think that is only a part of their plan. I can’t wait to find out what they are going to try next. If they have given up on the Black Sea Changelings and are going to focus somewhere else with their evil intentions.

Ocean Light was a great story. I loved the Changelings and the adventure Bowen and Kaia are on. Their struggles both physical and mentally all keep your mind racing on how they will handle things. This was a new world and I’m glad we got to know it.

The audio was great as usual. I love listening to this series. Angela Dawe does a wonderful job taking on the narration of this story and voices of all the characters. I really loved how she brought out the playfulness that Bowen and Kaia shared at times. She really captured the mood differences on each of the couples encounters.

I am anxious to see if we are going to continue with more stories from Black Sea. I really loved this group of Changelings.

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

Reading this book was so fantastic! Bo's been a part of the series for a long while now, and Kaia is new to me, and I think new to the series, so it was great to both meet her, and watch these two interact! So great to read!

One of the most fantastic things about this book, for me, was the setting. I mean, the bottom of the ocean? That doesn't really happen all that often! This is also the first full length novel with a BlackSea changeling member being one of the leading characters. Oh, not to mention that BlackSea changelings make up the majority of the cast, mostly because it's their installation at the bottom of the sea!

The chip that Bo had implanted in his head to prevent Psy intrusion, and how they're trying to keep it from killing him is one of the 3 main thrusts of this story, the romance is another, and the final one is the BlackSea members kidnappings. They all had a certain amount of tension, given how they were woven together!

I really enjoyed watching all the interactions between Kaia and Bo, and with the other new characters as well, because there was just a lot of rich history that didn't need explaining, and it was very comforting!

This book was fantastic, I loved how everything worked out, and I can't wait for the next book!

"This woman was no princess. She was a warrior. One Bo was dead certain was fighting the compulsion to stab him."

FINAL DECISION: Hopeful, sweeter than I expected but with lots of intrigue and double crosses, I really enjoyed this book which continues to explore the struggles to create a united world with a man and woman who both need to overcome damaging pasts.

THE STORY: Bowen Knight of the Human Alliance should be dead. He was shot through the heart in an attempted assassination attempt. But even surviving that, Bowen has a ticking time bomb in his head -- a chip he had implanted to prevent psychic rape by the Psy is degrading and threatens to kill not only Bowen but his friends and family at the top of the Human Alliance. Taken to an undersea facility controlled by BlackSea, Bowen has to confront some of his deepest fears. And when he meets the sweet and sexy cook Kaia Luna, Bowen decides that he doesn't want to spent what might be the last few weeks of his life, without her. Kaia has faced so much loss in her life and getting involved with the seemingly doomed Bowen only threatens her with more sadness and grief.

OPINION: The Psy-Changeling series is one that I re-read every year. It takes weeks now as this is book number 17 (not including the novellas and free stories), but I never regret those weeks because the series is nuanced and complex and presents at its center a sense of hope and the possible.

OCEAN LIGHT takes readers into the mysterious world of the changeling group of BlackSea (which covers the ocean dwelling changelings). By the end of the this book, I still find this group very mysterious as it doesn't follow many of the "rules" readers have learned about changelings. I hope that we get more books about the BlackSea characters as this book only made me more curious.

This book leaving me even more curious is a theme for me in this book. In fact, I ended this book with even more questions about where the overarching storyline is going than when I came in. There is some serious stuff going on in this series and while some parts are resolved, the core of the mystery still remains after this book. The Trinity series continues to investigate the conflict between those for and those against the Trinity alliance. The "villains" have managed to efficiently organize Psy, humans and changelings and the question still remains whether the "good guys" can manage to form their own connections in time.

Bowen Knight is familiar to readers of the series. Nominally the security head of the Human Alliance, Bo is, in fact, the leader and the person keeping the Alliance together. Bo has been obsessed with the idea of protecting the vulnerable humans from the psychic powers of the Psy. His singlemindedness has led him to have an experimental technology implanted in his brain to shield his mind from Psy. As we learned, however, Bo (along with his sister and friends who also got implants) are living on borrowed time as the implant is unstable. But as readers of the series will recall, although Bo has but months to live, Bo was shot protecting his sister in SILVER SILENCE. This book begins on the heels of those events.

In this book, we learn the origins of Bo's determination to find a way to protect humans. In the face of Bo's intense dislike of the Psy, ironically, Bo finds himself attracted to a woman who has her own reasons for disliking humans and wanting nothing to do with Bo. Bo's brush with death creates a determination in him to not miss a moment of possibility when he finds himself attracted to Kaia.

As the "alpha" of the Human Alliance, Bo's world is complicated and filled with the possibility of betrayal. The Trinity world is more political and dangerous because it is unclear who can be trusted. And the lack of trust extends not only between groups but within the groups themselves as both the Alliance and BlackSea have to consider if there are traitors within.

Kaia is a new character to the series and one I really, really liked. She is caring and smart and not willing to put up with any nonsense from Bo. Her heart is so big and life has bruised her up pretty badly. Yet she still opens herself up and risks more pain with Bo. Kaia's storyline here had much more interest for me. She is the one who is risking so much (because Bo could end up dead or as good as). And I admit that I was intrigued to find out what type of changeling she is. (I also want a cookbook with her recipes because they sound so good!)

I thought the romance between Bo and Kaia was intensely sweet. We get to see a side of Bo that he himself didn't know existed until he met Kaia. There is something to be said for what a clever and determined man will do when he finds the woman. There is a bit of innocence in how Bo approaches his courtship of Kaia because he has truly never connected with a woman before. And that continues the irony of Bo's life, just when he finds what matters in his life, this life has a countdown for him.

Most of the conflict here ends up being external and there is quite of bit of intrigue in this book. On the plot end, I was pleased to get to see some of my favorites from the series. Although we end up in a new environment, I like feeling the series grounded in its roots and with the characters who I already know and miss when they don't appear.

I walked away from this book with a sense of warmth and joy and loved all the characters we got to spend time with in this book.

WORTH MENTIONING: I tilted between a 4 and a 4.5 for this book. The epilogue, however, firmly tilted this book to a 4.5 -- any book where Kaleb and Sahara make a significant emotional appearance gets a little boost from me!

CONNECTED BOOKS: OCEAN LIGHT is the second book in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series. The books are interconnected with continuing storylines although the romance is self-contained. The Psy-Changeling Trinity series is a spin-off or Season 2 of the Psy-Changeling series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to prepare this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

The last time we saw Bowen Knight, human security chief of the Alliance, he was being shot by an assassin and falling into the waters of Venice, presumed dead (Silver Silence). He was already on limited time thanks to a degrading experimental chip in his brain designed to create a shield against psychic manipulation. Thankfully for him (and readers!) his sister Lily calls in help from the mysterious changelings of BlackSea, who have a possible, highly experimental, solution to all of these problems. Two months after being shot and the events of Silver Silence (not necessary to read before this, but highly recommended because it is a fantastic book!) Bowen comes out of a coma in a BlackSea clinic and meets the station's chef, Kaia Luna. Kaia and Bowen have plenty of suspicions to overcome, multiple traitors to uncover, and different worlds to reconcile before they can be together- if his brain doesn't kill him first.

Bowen and Kaia are an incredible couple. He's scarred from a Psy attack when he was a teen and has dedicated his entire life to building the Alliance and protecting humans from the stronger Psy. She's afraid of loving and losing those who matter most to her. He is a deadly predator, a hunter determined to see the three races build bridges and live on some level of equality. She is a graceful creature of the deep who cares for everyone within her sphere. Two worlds meet and clash, and the sparks between them are both instant and amazing. I especially loved Kaia- a strong and independent woman who is willing to overcome past trauma and crippling fears for a chance with the man she loves. Bowen does a great job of figuring out how to blend their two worlds together, not allowing all the obstacles to keep them from the happiness they both deserve. Despite the almost certain death sentence he is under, he lives every moment to its fullest and never gives up. There are some fun cameos by characters from earlier books (especially Kaleb and Sahara!) but Ocean's Light, like the rest of Singh's Psy-Changeling series, can be read as a stand alone book.

Ocean's Light is the first time Nalini Singh really allows us into the mysterious world of BlackSea- the loose 'pack' of all the water changelings on the planet. Interestingly, she doesn't have one of the alpha, political, leaders being our introduction, but a more 'regular' person. While readers (and Bowen) know Mal and Miane slightly from earlier books, Kaia is new and a more accessible person to show us the alien world of the water changelings as if it is normal. Because to her, it is. Singh remains very coy about who shifts into what and although we get some hints, it is clear we're going to have to wait for future books to confirm our guesses. We don't even get solid confirmation of Kaia's animal until pretty far into the book- a nice piece of careful writing on Singh's part!

An intense, thrilling, and emotional read, Ocean's Light is a brilliant, must-read, addition to the Psy-Changeling world and hopefully opens doors to exploring some new aspects of that world. Wonderfully written, with excellent characters and chemistry, this is a book you won't be able to put down after starting- so make sure to clear your schedule for a few hours and enjoy!

4 Hearts SJ, Romance Junkies

From New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh comes the second in her Psy-Changeling Trinity series, a continuation of her bestselling Psy-Changeling books.

In OCEAN LIGHT, Bowen Knight, the leader of the Human Alliance, has been in a coma following the events that happened in SILVER SILENCE. (But this book remains a stand-alone, so a new reader isn't lost.) Bowen has a chip implanted in his brain that is sure to go off, leaving him brain-dead in a matter of weeks.

Awakened from his coma, he finds himself among the BlackSea Changelings, the home of shapeshifers with an affinity for the sea. There, Bowen meets Kaia, a female changeling with a grudge against the handsome human. Changelings are being taken from the waters, and many are sure Bowen is behind it. But is he?

There's a mystery to solve and a sudden attraction between Bowen and the beautiful and deadly Kaia. Conspiracy, danger, and a consuming love fill the pages of another Psy-Changeling story set in Nalini Singh's complex and masterful world.

While this story stood on its own,and Bowen has been a fascinating character from his first introduction several books into the original Psy-Changeling series, the chemistry between the protagonists felt off. Bowen falls in insta-love with Kaia. And though the two build up to a romance, it never felt credible enough to suspend disbelief. Perhaps the fast pacing of the story is to blame, as the events take place within a few weeks--all the time Bowen has before the chip in his mind turns deadly.

The mystery was well developed, and the glimpse into the Blacksea changelings was fascinating. But a deeper buildup, or at least a lengthier time frame to let the lead characters realize their feelings, might have helped the romance.

Still, a worthwhile read for Nalini Singh fans and those taken with the Psy-Changeling world. But this book doesn't quite stand up to the exquisite romance delivered in SILVER SILENCE.

Finally, the book we have been waiting for- Bowen’s story. After being shot and in a coma for two months, Bowen awakens in a room he doesn’t know surrounded by strangers. He is with the BlackSea changelings and they are using new technology to speed up his recuperation. Kaia, a cook at the station is the one who happens to be in the room when he awakens and Bo has a strange reaction to her, both attraction and a sense of danger.
Kaia’s best friend told her Bowen was responsible for the disappearance of several BlackSea changelings so Kaia regards him with a great deal of distrust mixed with a weird sort of attraction. Kaia’s cousin is working on the problem of the deadly chip implant that is slowly killing Bowen and the outlook does not seem very positive. As time progresses, Kaia begins to wonder if Bowen is really the monster her friend portrayed him to be and she finds herself more and more attracted to him.
When Bo discovers that his human alliance might be connected to the disappearances, he has to decide who to trust and try to investigate the possibilities. Meanwhile, someone keeps stirring up the pot, causing discord among the clan and distrust towards Bowen. As in so many of the Psy-Changling books, it seems impossible to have this love story get to its HEA.
I loved all of the new BlackSea changelings and watching Bowen figure out what each person changed into (especially Kaia). This book has so many new characters and complicated plots running through it. The chemistry between Bowen and Kais is amazing and yet threatened even though you know it will work out somehow. The eventual revealing of the bad guys makes the reader angry and sad at the same time. Even Kaleb Krychek makes himself part of the story and further cements his reputation as a good guy in wolf’s clothing.
The only bad part about the book is that it ends and there a long time before the next one comes out.