Member Reviews
Wolf Rain was one of my favorite books in the psy-changeling world. Nalini Singh brings us back to my favorite changeling group, the Snow Dancer wolves. I loved that she included some guest appearances of our, very much missed, original characters from the first few books of the series, thus giving us a glimpse of the progress her other characters have made over the years.
The main character, Memory, introduced a new twist to how the psy may use their abilities and Alexei, our second main character, brought a new perspective about the life of those related to changeling rogues. Together these were both the damaged but lovable characters that I enjoy most from Singh's writing. As always, I am impressed by this author's ability to provide depth in her characters and world-building. And as always, the romance was heated. Thanks you again, Nalini, for a great read.
Nalini Singh does not disappoint! We travel back to snow dancer pack for Alexei & Memory's story. Alexei hears her cries of pain and discovers her in an underground bunker being held against her will. They begin the search for her captor. Memory also begins her own journey to discover what her Psy power is for. Alexei is suffering from his brothers death & the impact to his own future. I loved their story as they help each other walk through their problems.
I LOVED visiting with everyone in snow dancer and with some Leopard's as well.! It was so much fun to catch up with our old friends . Thank you Nalini Singh!!!
In this brave new world that has been evolving since Silence fell, Humans, Psy, and Changelings have come to new accords. The PsyNet remains in great danger of failing and causing a catastrophic loss of life, perhaps the essential end of an entire race. The empaths known as Es have only recently been allowed to use innate talents to shore up the deteriorating universe of the mind that is the Net for all Psy. They are still learning how to use nascent abilities. Empaths are usually known as healers and protectors, but Memory Aven-Rose’s gift seems very different. After she is rescued after a very long captivity by Alexi “Sexy Lexie” Vasiliev Harte while he is on patrol in the Snow Dancer territory, her unusual and previously enslaved empathic abilities look to be a possible game changer for the fracturing PsyNet. Memory’s new found freedom comes with many challenges and costs to her personally since she has been mentally and literally chained for so long. As she struggles to learn to function freely in the world and with other empaths, Alexei, who is a snarly protective wolf dealing with some devastating issues of his own, takes her for a wild Changeling ride.
Alexei is one of Hawke’s strongest, most loyal lieutenants with a big heart that bears the brunt of a tragic problem with his heritage. One of the worst anathemas in the Changeling world has stained his beloved family causing Alexei considerable grief and pain. Memory is determined to shake that growly golden wolf right out of his dark emotional pit no matter how actively he resists. Once she is truly free, Memory realizes that choosing a known hell over unknown heaven is not acceptable for herself or that stubborn wolf.
Those who are working to save the PsyNet including the uber Cardinal and de facto ruler, Kaleb Krychek, desperately need more help. They are running out of answers so a critical breach is becoming a reality. Memory’s abilities may offer some hope if she can learn to utilize them and not just see herself as a wreathed in darkness. Other more lethal Psy are “waking up” to powers that had been suppressed. These powers might prove to be another major hit to Psy survival. And while Memory is learning to live fully in the world for the first time, she is being stalked on two fronts by dangerous enemies.
This precarious new world order rests on the edge of a knife, but many in the coalition, some former enemies, work together trying to save it. With access to the PsyNet opened to her for the first time and a growing connection to Alexei despite his resistance, Memory has the opportunity to turn something dark into light and to find love in the most unexpected of places. Harte is an apt name for Alexei because he has a lot of it and would do anything, make any sacrifice to protect Memory, especially from himself.
Memory may be a small, not very physically strong Psy, but she is mighty enough to tangle with a man who is all wolf with a heart as big as the Sierras. Book three in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series, so much has changed for all the races since the fall of Silence… some of it good, some bad, and with more changes on the horizon that may put this vastly different landscape under even more pressure. Ms. Singh's finely crafted heartfelt story will please fans drawing out some very deep emotions demonstrating how love shines a light in the dark, casting out evil and filling up the broken and damaged places in the heart and mind.
Wonderful entry to the psy-changling series! I love these books, and have really been enjoying the deeper story of the broken silence among the psy and how they are trying to fix it. As always, I really look forward to every installment of these books. I really liked the two main characters though, in this one especially. I thought their romance was particularly poignant.
It is hard to jump into a long-running series, especially one with a dozen interconnected books, but Nalini Singh’s Wolf Rain makes it easy. Although there are a lot of familiar characters for long-time readers to enjoy, the story focuses tightly on Memory and her journey to learn how to live outside of captivity. While Singh continues to develop the current Psy-changeling Trinity arc, primarily through alternate POV chapters peppered throughout the novel, it doesn’t distract from the central romance. Long-time readers however will be pleased by a return to the SnowDancer Wolf Den, and its playful and vibrant pack. Alexei’s grumpy and protective personality is the perfect foil for Memory’s fierce but fragile fury.
I adore stories where MC’s find unexpected belonging, and I loved how Memory struggles with impostor syndrome worried that her new friends might reject her because of the dark side of her powers but instead finds a purpose and a new people who see her more clearly than she does herself and love her. As cozy and comforting that aspect of the narrative was, Wolf Rain like most Psy-Changeling novels, is full of tense action and violence and reads much like a romantic suspense novel.
I loved how powerfully Singh portrays grief and its different manifestations, from the feeling of loss and absence, anger and sadness to irrational preoccupations. I was frankly astounded by the way Singh made me feel about a secondary character’s traumatic injury as I moved from shock to anger and betrayal to appreciation. I was less satisfied how clinically and abruptly Alexei’s fears about mating and his family’s predisposition to feral-ness was handled.
Wolf Rain pairs Singh’s trademark intense action with emotional character-driven storytelling and is a fabulous jumping on point for anyone interested in trying the Psy-Changeling series.
Content Warnings: Animal Death, Past Trauma (murder of parent, mental violation), Near death of prominent character, Kidnapping/Abduction
Ana received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.
"Do not allow the past to shape your future."
I love visiting this epic, sprawling, diverse universe of changelings and psy and humans—and sprawling it most certainly is, though it's driven deftly by the skilled hand and sharp mind of Nalini Singh. Honestly, I had to read Wolf Rain twice before I could even come close to corralling my thoughts enough for even a simple review. Why? I was afraid that in my lust to finish Alexei and Memory's beautiful story I would overlook something, so much there is to take in. (Plus, TBH, I just wanted an excuse to re-read it—I'm nothing if not a fiend for Ms. Singh's words. It's probably better if you don't ask how many times I've read this series.)
From the first heart-rending moments to the music-swelling, soul-sighing fight toward acceptance and love, and all that's in between, the third book in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series is simply exceptional. It propels forward our post-Silence world; rocky peace, shaky survival and leftover damage from a century of emotionless existence giving every page, every interaction, more weight. And while doing that, it also shines a light on the damage inflicted by the past on a much more personal level.
And that's where this book hooked me—on Alexei, SnowDancer lieutenant (and "Russian Bridegroom" of my heart, tbh), and on Memory, a new kind of Empath. I just love these two together and, perhaps more importantly, I love these two as individuals. I'm predisposed to swoon for Lexie given his dominant predatory nature and the fact that he stood out in small-but-memorable cameos in books past, but Memory is a scene-and-heart stealer. Gawd, I just want to be her friend. Memory's bold bravery is another hallmark of Ms. Singh's writing—she can make a heroine infinitely lovable and likable while also making them strong—and another reason to embrace Wolf Rain.
Not that you'll really need one if you're a reader of this series. Just the lure of returning to SnowDancer will probably have all and sundry lining up to get their copy (and it's 100% worth it, loyal fans). For new readers . . . I recommend going back to where it all began, with Slave to Sensation, and being prepared for a binge-read worthy of this epic series.
Wolf Rain is a fabulous powerhouse of a paranormal romance! It will sweep your heart away to a beautifully intriguing world and hold it captive before you even realize what’s happening. I lost my heart, my mind, and my soul to this breathtaking world, and I never want it back. The characters I met along this heart wrenching journey were beautiful beyond words. Their haunting stories and rocky lives have given way to such astonishing people who live and love with their entire being. When you touch and become one with this richly complex and deeply creative storyline, you find your mind and soul opening up to wonderful possibilities too numerous to count. This is a series that I would love to dig deep into and get lost within. I would never fear losing myself because I know I would only find myself within these glorious pages!
Alexei lives a good life. It is solid, filled with good people, and rewarding. The only thing he misses more than his next breath is family. While he is a part of his beloved pack, nothing can replace his long lost parents and his recently lost brother. His heart doesn’t know how to cope, so he just keeps moving forward trying to live with keeping his grief boxed up until he feel safe to let it escape for a few seconds. Memory’s life has been reduced to contact invisibility and deep pain. The only person who even knows of her existence is the one who viciously orchestrates every aspect of it. When Fate intervenes, nothing will ever be the same again for when these two find each other, the entire Universe will stop and take notice. Words are useless to these two; instead they come to rely on the most basic and primal means of communication in order to reach the other; their touch. Only through the power of connection can they hope to unravel their secrets and unearth the promises they are within their reach. Can both put aside their individual struggles long enough to heal the wounds of the other, or will they lose any hope of a future before it is savagely ripped away?
I feel hard and deeply for both Alexei and Memory. They wove themselves into the fabric of my being and refused to let go. Nothing could have prepared me for their story both of their epic love and of their individual conquests. My heart is still trying to process the depth and breath of every part of this monumental masterpiece. I was left in awe, and I am still reeling from the raw power and overwhelming beauty within these pages! Do not hesitate to pick up any of the books in this series for if they are even a fraction as good as this book is, you will NEVER be disappointed.
This is the first book that I have read by Sing, and I swear it won’t be my last. I felt like I was taken over and conquered by this story, and that is a feeling I haven’t had in a long time. That is the mark of a writing genius! This book is the absolute gold standard of paranormal romance, and I want so much more. I dare you to pick up this book and not love it. I dare you walk away and not find yourself craving for more of this delicious and incredible series! I double dog dare you to walk away and not ever think about any part of this book.
Another amazing story from Nalini Singh.
Memory and Alexi couldn’t be more of an odd couple yet they couldn’t be more perfect for each other. Alexi is a Senior Lieutenant of the Snow Dancer pack. He is on patrol on the edge of Snow Dancer territory when he feels waves of grieving and pain coming from the oddest direction. Knowing that the psy had once trespassed on Snow Dancer territory thinking they were outsmarting the wolves, Alexi keeps following the odd sensation until he comes upon a trap door wedged into a small cave. When he pries it open, he finds a small bunker and Memory crying over her cat who has died of old age.
It turns out that Memory was abducted as a child by a psychotic psy with TK abilities who knew about the secret bunker. She has been kept there for years with the cat as her only companion and television as her only window to the outside world. It doesn’t take much for Alexi to convince Memory to leave the bunker with him before her captor returns and teleports her away.
Until he knows it is safe, Alexi can’t return to the den so he takes her to one of the outposts to get her some food and clean clothes. He also needs to contact Hawk about what to do next since Memory is clearly an Empath but her abilities are much different than those of Sasha or Ivy, something that makes a psychopath crave more and more.
As Memory is introduced to the Empaths and makes a home in their training compound, she gets a taste of freedom for the first time. But her wolfie savior wants to make sure that her growing attachment isn’t just because he gave her her freedom, and as Memory grows more confident, she is frustrated by Alexi’s pulling away. So she is going to show that wolf that she is tired of playing games and she is ready to embrace this new life without walls but she wants her wolf by her side.
But Memory’s captor isn’t ready to let go of the high he gets from Memory and while Memory is dodging his searches, someone else wants to stop the E’s from building their honeycomb over the psynet and the E’s will be attacked where they least expect it — from within their own ranks.
Nalini Singh once again weaves her magic bringing us romance and excitement in her special world of changelings and psy.
My only concern is that when characters insist that it is time to tell their story, such as Alexi, we are forgetting that the very fragile psynet needs human bondings to help heal it. My guy, Kaleb, states that the psynet will fail in the next 12 months unless more non-psy bond with psy and help support the psynet but the only human in a story lately was Bowen Knight and he mated with a changeling. The clock is ticking and if we don’t get a psy-human romance soon, it will be too late to save the psy. And we didn’t even deal with any of the larger conspiracies in this story regarding the consortium. There was already so much going on.
I am looking forward to seeing what comes next and how Nalini plans to pull the psy back from near extinction.
Memory is a empath for monsters, and her path back to redemption is an uphill fight. When a haunted wolf finds her where she shouldn't be, their relationship will test the chains and baggage of their past.
Why I started this book: Singh is my top romance author, I read and reread her books... and they keep getting better.
Why I finished it: Another hit, and another win. Great addition to the series and I love how the world building continues with each book without detracting from the story or characters. I need a pet cat... and a SnowDancer wolf of my own.
A great addition to the series, Nalini Singh delivers as she always does. It was so good to be back in Snowdancer and Darkriver territory and “seeing” beloved characters from throughout the series. She’s built a huge world but I think she’s doing a fantastic job of maintaining it and moving it forward. The progress of the whole world/story arc seems a bit slow after a few of the more recent previous books, but I think she’s slowly gaining power for this new story arc whereas the other books were finishing off a story arc. So that makes sense. I was also very happy to get to know Alexei better and to meet Memory and her unique abilities. While I’d love to visit other Psy abilities in future books, I hope we see more like her, at least on the periphery.
I’m excited to see who we’re visiting next. Hopefully someone on the long list of characters we’ve been introduced to who’s story I really want to read?
And actually, as a side note because I don’t know how much it’d really further the story arc as a whole, I’d love at least a novella of Matthias and Nell. Just saying.
Good entry to an already great series. They needed a bit more character development...and growth. I would have liked to seen more interaction with previous characters.
Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh is the 18th book in her Pys-Changeling series, and the 3rd book in her Trinity arc. As I have said numerous times, Nalini Singh is one of my top favorite authors, as I love the Psy-Changeling series, her spinoff Trinity series, and of course, her Guild Hunter series. No one does world building so smoothly and flawlessly better than Nalini Singh. Once again, in Wolf Rain she has created a masterpiece that grabs hold of me and never ever let’s go until the very end. Unfortunately, as I get closer to the end of this exciting pulse pounding and enjoyable story, I tend to read too fast, but it is always great to go back and reread it as I can savor it slowly.
I was thrilled to see this story brings us back to our wonderful Snow Dancer wolf pack, as we met our hero, Alexei Harte, who is a Lieutenant for Snow Dancer, at the start. Alexei is still grieving the death of his brother a year ago, and running as his wolf to release the tension. Along the way, he senses someone also grieving, and finds his way into a cave.
Memory, our heroine, has been confined since she was 8 years old, and has been a prisoner of darkness to a powerful Psy teleporter for 15 years. Memory is unconsciously sending out her grief to losing her cat, who was her only consolation all those years. Enter Alexei to the rescue.
Alexei was so sweet to Memory, slowly teaching her about his pack, and her making friends, as she never had before. I enjoyed how much she enjoyed seeing Alexei change to a wolf, as well as her watching other pack pups. Memory will learn how strong she is an Empath, and those from Snow Dancer, Dark River, and other psy/changelings will help her along the way. Memory, though still being hunted by the man who kidnapped her, was an amazing heroine, whose ability will be recognized to help the major players of the Psy Net find a way to save it.
Though Memory slowly began to fit in, and begin to enjoy her life; Alexei also had his own past issues. Both his brother and father turned rogue, and Alexei was stubborn in not wanting to mate with Memory, as he feared he too would turn and hurt her.
Wolf Rain was very suspenseful and intriguing, as we learn more about the slow unraveling of the Psy Net and the Empaths, who in the past were cast aside. We also learn more about Memory, and her ability to work with the council.
What follows is a beautiful romance between two unlikely people, with so much chemistry between them that sizzles the pages. I loved Memory and Alexei together, as they made such a wonderful loving couple. Memory was a fantastic heroine, who despite her years imprisoned, was strong, independent, savvy and determined to rise up to her destiny. She is very much in love with Alexei, though knowing he is holding back from mating with her due to his worry of going rogue. Alexei was a great hero, who was very protective of Memory. This was a wonderful romance, with so many sweet, fun, emotional and tense moments; especially when Alexei realizes how strong his love is for Memory. Once again, an awesome romance and awesome couple.
I loved seeing many of our favorites, including Sasha, who had a big part, as well as Hawke, Mercy, Amara, Jaya, Judd, Kaleb, Aden, Lucas just to name a few. I loved every moment of this book.
I can’t say enough about Nalini Singh, as she is my go-to author, who never fails to captivate me with her engaging creative stories, fantastic plots, and seamless world building; wonderful couples in each and every story; super secondary characters and fantastic world-building. I have said this so many times, if you have not read Nalini Singh, you are missing such a gem of an author.
Warning: While in theory you can drop in on any of the Pay-Changeloing novels, I would really not recommend going into Wolf Rain without reading a few other titles. This is a deep cut novel with a lot of history and characters and you lose quite a bit by not reading other works.
Memory has lived in a cage most of her life. She was kidnapped as a child by a mad-man and her E-Psy powers were harnessed and used against her and humanity. Until one day, she is able to signal out her rage and sorrow and escape via the help of the Snow Dancer lieutenant, Alexei. E-Psy's are mostly seen as a gift to the broken Psy consciousness. Built to create empathy in the world and fix what has been broken by Silence but Memory has seen the darkness of her gift and cannot see herself as someone who can help fix that which was broken.
There is a lot to like in "Wolf Rain". First, Memory is bad tempered and determined to live life on her terms after being locked away and is a joy to watch grow and come into her power. Alexei too is a great character, he is grieving for very understandable reasons but still reaches out to make a connection to Memory even though his brain is telling him to stay far away.
I have been reading the Psy-Changeling series for a while and didn't manage to finish Ocean's Light. So it was nice to return to SnowDancers to see what has grown and check in on other characters that we haven't seen in a while. Wolf Rain was not perfect, a lot is up in the air regarding the Trinity Accords, so the book feels a little unfinished and the "villain" of the story was a bit of a cardboard cut out villain but Alexei and Memory make a lot of the problems worth it.
Classic, old school Psy changeling i.e. I enjoyed QUITE A BIT. The empath/wolf dynamic felt like a natural one to be explored, considering some of the previous pairings like Judd & Brenna and Hawke & Sienna. There was one plot twist that wasn't resolved the way I would have expected, so I'm a bit disappointed by that, but otherwise, very solid read!
I adored Wolf Rain!! Memory is delightfully different and Alexei is a grumpus. Their love story is great on its own, but the story gives you so much more towards the general arc. You get answers about the psy net, the E's, and a few secrets the Council covered up over the years. Overall, incredible!
Memory is unique and has been held captive because of this. I was enthralled as Singh slowly unraveled Memory's abilities. Seeing Memory deal with her own feelings of guilt and shame over what her power has been used for was heart breaking. I think I cried for Memory at least 10 different times.
Alexei takes lone wolf and grumpy hero to a new level. He has been through a lot of tough experiences-his father went rogue, then his mother died, then his brother went rogue. He is sure he can NEVER mate because he doesn't want to put anyone through all this. He fights his connection to Memory but it comes from a place of deep concern. I wanted to just hug him.
What Singh has done best in Wolf rain is continue to push this world forward. You learn more about the Psy net, more about the E's, and more about the real danger all the Psy's are in. After all these books, Singh still manages to stun me with the unique plot turns, remarkable characters, and deep wells of emotion. I LIVE for more Psy Changeling books!
THIS. Book.
This Book was like drinking hot coco, it was like returning home. it was EVERYTHING!
I can not praise this series enough, I cant complain about anything, this story was perfect. Everything i could as for in a Snow-dancer story.
Wolf Rain, was everything I needed and everything I have been missing. I was so happy we were back with the original cast of the Psy- Changeling series.
We were back in our favourite SnowDancer den.
Now t his book is apparently book 3 in the Trinity series, but its really in my eyes book 18 in one of the most EPIC series ever created.
I have nothing but love for this series as you all know, and this story was just perfect. Alexei & Memory were to lovable characters, you couldn't have asked for a better couple. I have enjoyed this new season of this series, but I have also felt something has been missing too, I think we just found out what that was. The original characters that we have spent a better decade loving and learning about, to be back were the overall arc begun was so good. I could be on my own here though, I loved the pace of this story, the romance that bloomed and how both of them grew and accepted the challenges they both faced.
Putting it simple, I adored this series. You get some answers about whats been happening with the psy net, the E's and some new secret's the old council covered up. Overall it was fantastic.
A+
Seriously Nalini Singh never fails to surprise me, she is talented with her creative (ness) her world building, just when I personally was thinking where can we go now, she finds another adventure for us to explore.
I am bias, my favourite everything of this world is Hawk, he has and will always remain as my number 1.
I cannot wait for the next one, and I personally think if you were to pick this up with out reading all the others first you are just fooling yourself to really understand how freaking epic this world truly is, do your self a favour and go read from the beginning, learn like a old timer reading this series, how wonderful each character is, how the grow and develop of the years, how everything is connected, how incredible every thing has been to lead us back here where it almost all began.
We see Lucas, and Sasha, we get so many amazing and faves from all over the series, we see and here about the pub cubs and who is pregnant.
5/5 stars
Psy Changeling is and will always remain to be my fav series, i am excited to see where the future will take us, to see what will happen next and who we will meet next.
Love this series, another win for the Psy/Shifters. A strong alpha helps rescue a Psy prisoner and helps her regain her confidence. She'll need it to survive in the shifter's world.
I took a break from this series and thought it would be one of those books where you can step away, then pick it up again…I was wrong. After a couple off pages, I was lost. So, many new characters were introduced, since the last book. New Psy powers and abilities….
Though lost, I continued reading, the plot flowed and the characters were likable; if not mysterious, again I blame it on the sabbatical. I most certainly need to reread this series to catch up on what I missed.
This is book three in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series and there are various characters from the initial Psy-Changeling series.
The book opens with SnowDancer wolf Alexei finding Memory, trapped deep in an underground bunker in the mountains. She has been there for years after her mother was killed by the man who wanted Memory for her psychic powers. He officially adopted her and was occasionally seen with her in public as his admin but she could not escape. Alexei finds her because he can feel her grief; her precious cat, Jitterbug, has just died. Like the photo album in Up, any Jitterbug story throughout the book made me cry. She was Memory's only friend. Memory tried to help her escape but Jitterbug wouldn't leave her. Cats are the best, but this is a story about a wolf and a Psy, so that's not a statement Alexei would appreciate.
Wolf Rain takes place over an extended period of time as Memory moves to the Empath Psy compound and begins to adjust to not being imprisoned. She has work to do with her shielding and her mysterious powers.
Alexei is struggling with a genetic family issue that he may or may not have. He's tempted to get to know Memory better but he's holding himself back out of fear. Both main characters have to face a lot of fears to move forward in this book and open themselves up to their feelings for each other.
It's wonderful to have another Psy-Changeling installment with the wolves (and yes, we'll see some of our favourite Changeling cats as well). Wolf Rain does a great job of moving the series forward in exciting new directions as various Alliance characters work on fixing the PsyNet. Nalini Singh has worked her magic again!
Wolf Rain is book three in the Trinity series that is connected to the Psy Changeling series. So if you have read and loved the Psy changeling books than I can’t recommend the trinity books enough. I was very curious about this one though and was wondering how Singh would handle the set up of this book but give me a grumpy hero and feisty heroine any day of the week and I will fall in love and Wolf Rain definitely had me feeling some feels for sure. Nalini Singh is fantastic in her writing and every book I read from her I can’t recommend enough. Even though book one still remains as my personal favorite of this new series, Wolf Rain was definitely a much more enjoyable read for me than book two. And another plus for a diverse character, love seeing these mixed relationships and the dynamics were so well penned.
Wolf Rain begins with our hero, Snowdancer Lieutenant Alexei, who is going on his security rounds for the pack. Alexei has never been the same since his brothers death almost a year ago and he has never been the same. There is a place inside him cold and empty and he gets enough to survive with help from the pack. But as a changeling he is slowly dying himself if something doesn’t change. But Alexei knows what is in his future the same fate that his father and his brother suffered from….going rogue. He doesn’t want to risk ever falling in love or finding his true mate because he fears what he will do to them when he himself turns rogue. What Alexei never planned on is to sense the call of a Psy in grief and pain and he finds himself drawn to the E, in a way he never imagined. What he finds is a woman trapped in a cell, mourning the death of her pet cat.
Memory has been held prisoners by a superior Psy, since she was seven years old and her mother was murdered and she was left all alone and unable to fight the man that became obsessed with her and used her at free will. She never imagined a beautiful world when she finds freedom….there is part of her that fears a world she doesn’t know but there is another part of her that aches for this unique freedom and the connection that she feels to a certain grumpy wolf changeling. Memory is learing to discover her self and the powers that she is capable of and the true depths of emotion that she feels with a certain changeling who stands by her side….her protector, lover and….mate
Wolf Rain was such a pure delight in every way you can imagine. Nalini Singh keeps building up this world with such clarity and with each book we get a deeper detail and I love how this author builds the plot in Wolf Rain. I was really surprised by the element of “rogue changelings” we haven’t really seen this plot device much and I really enjoyed seeing how it added a certain element of tension in this story. We see the way that Alexei has seperated himself from his pack for the most part. He still has to have some touch though, and only goes to those he trusts when he really needs it. But he hasn’t talked to Hawke except when its absolutely necessary. We see a certain element, the strong relationships with Hawke and his lietenants and the pain that comes from seperation. We see this so well drawn into the plot without overwhelming the romance or story line. I am glad that Singh handled this with just the right touch. It really adds depth to the character of our hero and why he acts the way he does and what he is trying to overcome and the fears that are holding him at bay.
The romance between Alexei and Memory is not a easy one but in their own way they need each other. They both have pain that they have to learn to adapt to and turn that pain into ability and power. Alexei is suffering for fear of the future, the connection he feels for Memory and the loss of his brother and friend. Memory is trying to find her own strength after being held captive for so many years and finding herself. The romance is slow building, which is what this pairing really needs. They learn about their own capabilities and strengths before the relationship between them escalates before they are ready on a emotional and mental level.
Then we have our villain and boy this one is hard to catch and get rid of but boy he really was one of my favorite villains this author has EVER created. There was something so mentally unstable about this character, what he is willing to do but this is where our heroine really comes into her true powers and find herself. Because she ends up learning her own strengths when she has to face up to her past and the horrors that he put her through.
Overall I found Wolf Rain to be a spectacular read and full of spice and vinegar. Its a story that will keep you on the edge from beginning to end. A story that is bound to give you bursts of laughter, feels of the heart and a love tale that is fiery and packed with intensity!! GET READY FOR A WILD RIDE!!