New to the series? Read my review of book one, Slave to Sensation!
I did the unthinkable. I doubted the amazing Ms. Singh. I think it’s worth noting, again, that I’ve already read this series (many times) and this book (once before). However, out of the other fourteen books in this series, this is the book that I remembered nothing about. That mildly terrified me, so I put off my series reread for five months! because of this asinine fear.
But finally, it was just time. I made myself sit down and read this book, and it didn’t take long before I was entranced … and kicking myself. Allegiance of Honor is a gift to Psy-Changeling readers. It doesn’t follow one particular couple, but it touches base with each and every one.
Sascha and Lucas, from Slave to Sensation got most of the focus, but that’s because their sweet little Naya, the first child of direct Changeling and Psy descent since Silence, plays such a pivotal role on the world stage. Naya, a shifter with Psy abilities, is a symbol to the world of the change that it’s gone through over the past three-ish years (and fifteen books), of the possibilities and the consequences of the deteriorating Silence protocol – which has been all but abolished – and with the Trinity Accord, which aims to unite all factions of the world.
“Heroes, I’ve learned, don’t always wear white.
Sometimes they come from the darkness, shadows among shadows.”
What’s so special about Allegiance of Honor is that it’s so subtle. It reads like a collection of related novellas, tied together by a central problem of looming Civil War, and the kidnapping of a BlackSea pack member. However, it also sets up for the sister-series Psy-Changeling Trinity, a series that follows the aftermath of change, how they’ll have to evolve to stay on top of it, and how the whole world comes together to save the PsyNet.
Actually, my favorite part of Allegiance of Honor is that it quickly summarizes what I love so much about this series and this world in general: it celebrates the bonds, connections, and relationships between everyone. All of the Psy-Changeling books are tied together by playfulness, community, and love; the emotions are apparent even just a few pages in each book. It’s hard to put into words how cool this series is in the way that it does this. I love how each character is so unique, and how hard they all work to help each other.
“Look after my friends, won’t you, Kaleb?”
“Stop making so many.”
“I love you, too.”
Heart of Obsidian is always one of my top favorites of the series because it follows Kaleb Krycheck, thought to be a villain by the world, and definitively the most powerful Psy in existence and in history. He’s thought to be heartless, a sociopath, a psychopath, a murderer, willing to do anything for Power. But in truth, he may be all of those things, but every single thing he does is out of love for his Sahara. He tore apart the world to find her, and is saving it only because she wants her friends to live. He’ll protect the DarkRiver pack to death because it would hurt Sahara to see her family die, and he’ll fight for the SnowDancer pack because harm to SnowDancer means pain for DarkRiver… which means pain for Sahara.
Caressed by Ice is another favorite because it follows Judd Lauren, a “heartless” and “emotionless” Arrow assassin, who risked his life to save his family. He was someone who always stood removed, due to his training to not flinch at a broken arm or have enough emotion to prefer one nutrition bar over another. And yet we see him throwing snowballs at PackMembers and playing jungle gym for young pups and laughing. These examples are the epitome of what this series is.
Allegiance of Honor is not the best book in this series… in fact, I think it will sit at number 15/15 for me. But the collection of special moments – Naya’s shift, Judd’s laughter, the Arrow’s party, to name a few – are absolutely wonderful and had me tearing up on several occasions. I love that we got this gift from Ms. Singh, to see them all as established couples all at various points in their lives and their families, and how they help move the world forward. (Read my review of book one)
Series Reading Order
More reviews to come as I continue with my reread of the series!
Other books you may enjoy…
Have you read a book by Nalini Singh? Do you typically enjoy urban fantasy books? Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you!
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