Visions of Heat (Psy-Changelings, Book 2)
by Nalini Singh
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Book Reviews of Visions of Heat (Psy-Changelings, Book 2)
Book Review: Disappointed
Summary: 2 Stars
The series has an interesting plot, but the focus was squarely on the main character, Faith. She herself is a different type of heroine. The portrayal is somewhat confusing. Is she delicate, strong, or even brave? References to Vaughn thinking she's strong are confusing since the descriptions of her internal struggles are inconsistent. There was little character development, which unlike the first book, makes it difficult to care about what happens to these characters.
I do like the way the author incorporates other characters like the Pack; whereas, other series books I've read only lightly references previous main characters. It's nice to see them recurring throughout the story. The only other problems I had with this book were some of the repetitious phrases and while the concept of the Psy-Net is intriguing, descriptions about how it worked was really confusing. I found myself re-reading several passages and still not 100% understanding the actual concept. There were just too many extraneous links, nets, and bonds to get carried away with and I also found it difficult to believe all that maneuvering throughout the Net without detection from the Council.
I didn't get a true feel for Faith or Vaughn other than their early traumas and the relationship was just weird and it felt forced to an extent with no real attraction. Not really sure that I'll continue with this series but I almost want to give it another chance thinking that the series might develop into something.
Book Review: exciting but strange romantic fantasy
Summary: 5 Stars
Psychic Faith Nightstar avoids extreme emotions because she knows she cannot afford to lose control as that would mean losing her tenuous handle on her skills. However, her latest visions are loaded with tense feelings that frighten her. Already tight, she is almost over the edge when her sister is murdered.
Faith must leave her safety nest for the first time in over two decades to learn what happened to her sibling if she is to regain her equilibrium on life and to insure she is not next. She leaves her sanctuary trusting no one. On the outside she meets were-cat Vaughn D'Angelo, who feels an affinity towards the frightened woman and a need to protect her. She knows she needs him to keep her safe, but fears her new feelings for this Changeling because if her "handlers" learn that she is falling in love they will kill him and probably her.
This is an exciting but strange romantic fantasy that grips readers from the onset as the restrictive cocooned world of Faith Nightstar is revealed to the audience. She is a bird in a gilded cage who escapes to a wider world filled with senses rattling every step of the way. The mystery of her sister's death and the romantic subplot are delightfully created to provide deeper conflict within the soul of the heroine, but it does not take a forecaster, a psychic or a reviewer to know this is Faith's fate that turns Nalini Singh's thriller into what will be a sub-genre favorite.
Harriet Klausner
Book Review: A fantastic addition to the series!!
Summary: 5 Stars
As an F-Psy, Faith NightStar is extremely valuable to not only her NightStar PsyClan, but also to the Psy Council itself. When she starts having disturbing visions of murder, Faith believes that her mental state is declining even faster than that of a "normal" F-Psy. Faith had heard whispers of Sascha Duncan dropping out of the PsyNet and believes that Sascha is the only Psy that can help her battle the visions that are becoming harder and harder to hide. On her way to find Sascha, she is stopped by Vaughn, a sentinel for DarkRiver as well as a shape-shifting jaguar.
Vaughn knows that he walks a very fine line between humanity and following his animal instincts. When he first sees Faith, his animal instincts override what little humanity he may have. Though he wants nothing more than to claim Faith as his own, Vaughn's first duty is to Lucas, alpha of DarkRiver. As she tells her tale to Sascha, he realizes that he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
VISIONS OF HEAT is a fantastic addition to the Psy-Changeling series. Faith tries to overcome her natural instincts which were instilled in her during Silence. Vaughn knows that if he gets Faith away from the Psy, she will be far from safe. He also knows that she won't be safe if she stays in the PsyNet. As each day passes, Faith's foresight ability grows and soon they find themselves racing to stop murder.
Don't miss this one. You won't be disappointed!
Book Review: 4 stars
Summary: 4 Stars
Emotions are something that Faith Nightstar, one of the most powerful F-Psys on Earth, cannot afford to have. Yet, when her visions become filled with very emotianlly charged images and her sister is murdered, she knows she must venture out of the safety she has surrounded herself in for twenty one years if she wants answers. Finding the first Psy to pursure a life in the wilds, Sascha, she begins to learn how to feel when she meets Vaughn D'Angelo, a Changeling, or were-cat, who is drawn to the lovely, isolated young woman. He vows to protect her, to help her, and to eventually, claim her. Back in the city, Faith finds herself caught in the tangled web of politics and in more danger than she could have ever foreseen, even with her talents. Moreover, she has begun to feel, a fact she must keep hidden if she wants to retain any measure of safety from even those she previously trusted.
**** Though this series does remind me greatly of the Matrix, it makes far more sense than that movie saga did. Sharp contrasts paint a vivid picture with well defined characters who keep the action flowing as the tension mounts. I would note that Faith's father is one of the more fascinating secondary players in the drama and wonder if he might merit his own story someday. ****
Book Review: Not quite as good
Summary: 3 Stars
While I enjoyed this book, I didn't think it was quite as strong as the first book. Faith and Vaughn just didn't have the same chemistry as Sascha and Lucas. I appreciated how Singh was very careful in creating very distinct differences between Sascha and Faith. Faith and Vaughan are different characters and so their story played out differently. Yet while I think that Singh succeeded in writing a different story on many levels, it still felt like the stories were a bit too similar, especially if you read them back to back the way I did. I was relived to see that the third book involved a she-wolf and a male psy.
Also, Singh continues to do a bang up job on her world building. However, there were still parts of the book that dragged because there was just too much info dumping. In the end, some elements seemed unnecessarily complicated, to the point that I never quite understood everything that happened.
All in all, I liked how the smaller story arc (Faith and Vaughn) was completed while the larger arc (changelings vs. psy) is yet to be finished. I was a bit let down by this book but not enough to keep me from reading the 3rd book. I just hope that things pick up, otherwise, I'm not sure I can keep reading the rest of the series.