Bowen Knight has been hidden in an undersea location since the shooting that destroyed his heart. He wakes up when Kaia monitoring him while her cousin, the doctor responsible for his care, takes a break. His heart has been replaced. His brain chip is failing, and his sister gave him into BlackSea's care to see if they can heal him and stop the chip from degenerating.

Kaia is angry about Bowen being there as she distrusts humans. She has information on Bowen from her best friend, Hugo, who is now missing, and loathes Bowen because she blames him for the missing BlackSea changelings. So it's more than a bit of a surprise that they are attracted to each other. The forced proximity works very well here because this is the first time in his adult life that Bowen gets a break from being the head of the Alliance. He gets to know some of the Changelings as he heals and gets to woo Kaia surrounded by her friends and family. Most of the book takes place under the sea.

The tension throughout the novel is very well done. Singh keeps the storyline tightly woven and there's a lot less bouncing around through other character's stories as there have been in the series. The focus is on Bowen and Kaia, and the fact that he possibly has only two weeks left as her cousin tries a series of treatments designed to stop the chip from imploding. There's a lot of external conflict once the distrust between them in settled. I really enjoyed this new cast of characters and wonder if the next book will be here or back in bear territory, or which changelings could be next. I like the mysteries of the BlackSea changelings and that there's more to learn there. As more pieces of the mysteries of the disappearing changelings unfurl, the more we get closer to knowing who is behind it all.

Grade: A- Another winner from Singh! I think this one could work as a standalone though it helps to have Bowen's backstory.

It’s been over eight week’s since the attempt on the Human Alliance Security Chief, Bowen’s life, when he took a bullet and fell into the waters of Venice. Waking from a coma, he discovers he’s been in the care of the BlackSea physicians who are using him as an experiment to see if they can eliminate the degradation of the Psy blocker in his (and other’s) head. Agreeing to the high probability of experiment failure so he (and other humans) can live on his own terms, Bowen finds himself falling for the talent BlackSea chef, even though she brings him news of traitors within the Human Alliance.

Kaia has lived her adult life deep in the blackest parts of the ocean, happiest when she’s cooking for her pack mates. Suffering from the loss of her best friend, Kaia is on guard against the Human Alliance security chief, who may be behind the kidnapping of her kind. However, her instincts tell her Bo is trustworthy, and she is torn between walking away or loving him only to lose him.

Kaia and Bo are mates, each recognizing it from the first time they speak to one another, though neither is willing nor able to accept or acknowledge it. Their immediate attraction, coupled with the fact he may only live a few more weeks, gives each the push needed to just live life and enjoy each other. The opt for open communication and sharing quiet moments rather than allow the evidence the Alliance may be behind the brutal taking of the BlackSea members. It’s not smooth sailing, and the both make mistakes, but they don’t fall apart at the first sign of problems.

I love that Ocean Light focuses on the relationship between Bo and Kaia. While there is the seriousness of his procedure and the mystery of the Alliance betrayal, the story spends the bulk of its efforts sharing the tender moments, fun times, and all the instances in between for Bo and Kaia. The romance is always front and center, yet never overwhelming. The romance is woven around each aspect of the story, creating cohesiveness and even warm-fuzzies when the more serious moments shift to center stage.

In addition the wonderful romance between Kaia and Bowen, Ocean Light shares more fragments regarding the mysterious Consortium and the shifting balance in power since the fall of Silence. Furthermore, we finally see the inner workings of the BlackSea clan, something that has been illusive for far too long. There is still much to be unravelled and uncovered, but the author is developing strong ties and alliances that will be needed down the road if our heroes was to stop the Consortium.

In the end, I really enjoyed Ocean Light for its romance, action, and intrigue. As Ms. Singh’s Psy-Changeling world continues to grow, it only gets better and better.

My Rating: B, Liked It

I’m sorry to say it, but OCEAN LIGHT was kind of a disappointing read for me. After adoring the first book in this Psy-Changeling spin-off/continuation series, SILVER SILENCE, I was sure I’d love this one too. But the change in tone, character archetypes, and tropes meant that this story didn’t work for me nearly as well as the previous one.

After the assassination attempt that left him fatally wounded, human security expert Bowen Knight is airlifted to the BlackSea changeling base to undergo experimental cardiac and neurosurgeries. Helping him despite her fear and distrust of humans is Kaia Luna, BlackSea Changeling and scientist-turned-cook. Bo’s taken with the beautiful and enigmatic woman immediately, trying everything he can think of to prove that not all humans are dangerous to Changelings. If the experiment doesn’t take, the chip in Bowen’s brain that prevents telepathic manipulation by the Psy will kill him before he has the chance…

Although I liked Kaia and Bowen as characters, their romance fell flat for me. There’s some serious insta-love going on, and I confess that I found myself rolling my eyes quite a bit at just how quickly they fall for each other and the grandiose declarations they made. I get that Kaia’s a Changeling so mate bonding is a thing, but I thought Singh handled it way better in SILVER SILENCE than she did here. Bo and Kaia’s love for one another was sweet but rather abrupt for my liking.

I am enjoying the overarching plot of the series so far. Who’s the shadowy group know as the Consortium, and why are they trying to sabotage the Trinity of Psy, Changeling, and human efforts? If you’ve been keen to try Singh’s Psy-Changeling series but you’re intimidated by its length, I recommend giving this series a try. If you’ve not read the original series, some major plot elements will be spoiled, but that hasn’t impacted my excitement to go back and read the first Psy-Changeling books!

Things ended on rather an ominous note the last time human Alliance Security Officer, Bowen Knight, was in the picture and now he turns up down deep in a Black Sea Changeling facility. I’ve always liked Bowen since he got his act together, but I have to confess that I was most intrigued when I learned that we were finally getting to pull the curtain aside on these most mysterious of the Changeling races. I was not disappointed. Just Magical!
Review

Ocean Light is the second installment of the Psy Trinity series which is the second season of the overall Psy-Changeling series. This is not a good place to jump into the series as much about it is already in play from previous books.

From the get go, Ocean Light has tension. Bowen’s mind is a ticking time bomb since the chip he has installed there to shield from Psy mental attacks is malfunctioning and will kill him when it goes. Now, he has been kidnapped with the aid of his sister to this deep underwater Black Sea facility where one of their leading research medical scientists is trying a long shot experimental treatment. Bowen learns that if it fails, he could be alive, but a vegetable. He wants no other human in the trials so he agrees to press forward.

Meanwhile, Kaia, the facility cook is angry and hates that this particular human is there. She sees Bowen Knight as the embodiment of all evil since, not only is he from the race that killed her parents, but her friend Hugo fingered him as the guy responsible for the disappearances of their people before he, too, disappeared. Only, things aren’t adding up when she observes Bowen and interacts with him.

The pair feel a sizzling undercurrent of attraction in their enemies to lovers romance, but Bowen’s got less than a five percent chance of surviving and he is from the land and she, from the sea. Doomed, or are they?

This one doesn’t get as action-packed as others in the series with the built in conflict of potential enemy and the deadly life situation with Bowen. There is building tension in the romance, but also in the intrigue going on as Black Sea slowly starts to realize that they might have Consortium moles.

There are a few character-driven plot threads including Kaia’s struggles now to work through her prejudice against humans that is rooted in fear and grief from losing the people she loves. Bowen, too, has to face his worst nightmares while he is vulnerable that lead back to traumatic past events. I was rooting them both on.

Beyond the insular romance and personal growth threads, the setting, backstory, and intro to a large new cast of characters to love in the Black Sea pack. Each time I get introduced to a new Changeling pack group from the leopards to the wolves, and most recently, the bears, I fall in love with the whole familial group. The Black Sea pack with all its different sea shifter types is no exception. Kaia, her large group of cousins, aunts and uncles, and her grandmother along with her best friends were all a delight. From whales to sea turtles, they were fabulous.

The end had some great twists and reveals, heartbreaking moments mixed with such lovely swooning times that I was not ready to close the last page on this wonderful, touching, and suspenseful story. Yep, already feeling the need for the next book. If you haven’t started, these are great for those who enjoy a marvelous blend of paranormal, sci-fi, and action-suspense.

My thanks to Penguin-Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The second book in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series (Psy-Changeling #17) didn’t start with a bang, but rather a gentle, easy getting to know you as readers are finally introduced to the Blacksea water changelings.

If you’ve followed this series through the years, and yes I consider it all one series even though there has been a shift to a new series title, you will recognize the name Bowen Knight. He’s the head of the Human Alliance and has been presumed dead after jumping in front of a bullet meant for his sister. Not that he wasn’t on limited time to begin with, since the chip in his head meant to keep out the Psy is literally a ticking time bomb. He wakes up from a coma to find himself at the bottom of the ocean, in the middle of a Blacksea stronghold and at the mercy of a brilliant doctor who thinks she might have a way to save his life.

Kaia Luna is a beloved member of the Blacksea community. Orphaned at a young age, she was taken in by her extended family and doted on by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is a scientist, a chef, a friend and is intrigued by the human man who is under her cousin’s care. She only knows Bowen from rumors and suspicions about how his Human Alliance might be involved in the disappearances of her clan mates. Her heart and body know him almost immediately as someone different. Her mate.

I always enjoy diving back into this world and will admit that I’m a sucker for Ms. Singh’s changelings. It doesn’t matter which kind of changeling, I just like reading about skin privileges and mates and families that are families by choice and love. The Blacksea world is fascinating and I loved how well thought the underwater station of Ryujin was. Transparent walls where changelings in human form can watch their brethren swim, areas to rest and work and descriptions of how this tight-knit community comes together to eat and play and find comfort. The secondary characters introduced were interesting and there are quite a few I hope to see in the future. *cough* Malachai *cough*

Kaia and Bowen have an easy, soft, quiet love that begins almost from the first chapter and steadily builds throughout the book. Despite knowing Bowen may only have a short time left, and that Kaia has a few secrets she isn’t quite ready to share about how her past has effected her, they don’t fight their attraction for each other. There are a few bumps in the road, but they really weren’t that large or hard to get around. Kaia and Bowen won’t make your reader’s heart frustrated or worried, you might sigh a few times, just be prepared to fall in love with this hero and heroine as they fall in love with each other.

The pacing doesn’t really pick up until the last 25%, which is when some of the mysteries from the previous books start to come together and the identities of the villains kidnapping and killing water changelings are finally unmasked. There are even several appearances from familiar and much-loved faces. While there is a definite HEA for our main couple, one of the bad guys remains at large so I’m guessing that the ongoing plot of disappearing changelings and the involvement of the Consortium will continue in the next book in the series. I look forward to it and whatever comes next. Final Grade- B

Favorite Quote:

“Bridges are built over thin air. Someone must lay the first plank, the first brick, take the risk.”

Throughout the Psy Changeling series and the Trinity Arc, Bowen has been one of my favorite characters, and I was very excited to get my hands on this one. I'll admit I wasn't in love with the beginning of this book, but after we got over the initial bumps and bruises in the first part of Kaia and Bowen's relationship, the rest of the book really settles into a gripping read that definitely had me crying on my kindle through parts of it.

I love our heroine, Kaia, and the rest of her family. And it's really great to see a part of the Psy Changeling world, and get to know the Black Sea changelings. Not only that, but we get to see a lot more of the Human Alliance, which has been really pushed to the background since their introduction. It's also nice to see some old friends make an appearance, some in unexpected places.

For me, though, the romance really takes a backseat to the political stuff going on with the Trinity Accords, alliances, potential betrayals, and how it moves the whole Trinity Arc forward. I can't wait for the next one!

Well one of the reasons I don't write books (outside of that no talent and no imagination thing) is that I have no patience, I would have all bad guys dead by page 10 and wonder "where do I go from here". Fortunately Nalini Singh does not suffer from any of those afflictions and we have a story that manages to have drama, romance, loyalty and my favorite, violence all thrown together in a story to warm the heart while making the blood boil for those who suffer and takes us along on a pace that changes to suit the scene.

First of all my memory is terrible and I spent several chapters while reading trying to remember if Bowen had been thought dead in any previous books but since I was too lazy to go back and research it I finally decided it really did not matter (and it did not). Suffice it to say he was pretty much dead when we start this book and some medical miracle are the only thing keeping him alive and those might not be enough.

Then Kaia enters the scene and pretty much hates him on sight which always makes for a good story in the hands of a talented writer. We have a slow romance with a touch of insta-love thrown in but not too heavy handed (meaning there is no "MINE" moment just minutes after they meet). He will have to work at this one IF he manages to live long enough which does not look all that promising.

Enter a subplot of some residents of BlackSea disappearing over the last few months and it looks like humans (specifically the organization Bowen heads up) might be behind it.

Throw in a couple of hints, some red herrings, a bevy of suspects with a good mystery and along with an excellent romance you have a 5 Star story (which I actually rated 4.5).

We do get a slight bit more than a cameo of our favorite Psy - Kaleb Krycheck (who I personally love because he pretty much kills anyone who ever did Sahara wrong in any way LOL) but we do get a cameo of Sahara also towards the end. They obviously add to any book they are mentioned. We also get a really short cameo of Hawke just to add a bit of flavor into the story in how outsiders actually see him which I found interesting since we all still have Kiss of Snow in our heads which warps out viewpoint a bit.

My only minor complaint (go back and read paragraph 1) is that everybody I wanted to kill was not dead at the end of the book . I am assured there will be justice for all since this is actually book #17 of this series it is also book #2 of a trilogy with a bit of an overarching plot, so I can hardly wait to see where it goes from here. I did love the way she handled everything so there is nothing that resembles a cliffhanger but does leave a thread or two to make you want the next book immediately.

4+ Solid Stars

Before we get started, I have a confession to make...

I wasn't all that excited about reading this book.

I know, I know, how dare I, and all that jazz.

As I've said before in other Psy-Changeling/Trinity reviews, such as THIS one and THIS one, I prefer my P-C/T books to be about, well, changelings.

Or really powerful Psy à la Kaleb Krycheck.

Because I'm just snobby and alpha-driven like that.

Thus, when I found out that this book was about Bowen...

You know, we-thought-he-was-dead, he-has-a-degrading-chip-in-his-brain-so-is-almost-dead-anyway, Human Alliance, HUMAN Bowen...

I just...wasn't all that excited, to be honest.

But, never fear, Nalini Singh is here...

And you know who else was here?

BlackSea.

Black. Friggin'. Sea.

That's right my friends, you heard me correctly.

Singh FINALLY took us down under the sea and introduced us to the ways of the BlackSea ocean changelings clan in this installment.

She has been taunting us with details about BlackSea for several books now.

And while we don't necessarily get ALL the details we are all pining for...

aka MALACHI DETAILS...we still get enough juicy underwater goodness to make my heart pitter-patter like little PNR slut I am.

What do we also get?

A decently solid plot line and several other awesome cameos that will make your heart sing and rejoice.

Bowen also turned out to be a very solid and magnetically engaging Hero.
Not gonna lie, he's no Lucas/Hawke/Kaleb/Malachi...but, then again, who is?

Boom.

Cannot wait for the next one.

Ocean Light is pure delight! Life under the sea has not been this much fun since The Little Mermaid. Every time Nalini Singh invites readers into a new part of the Psy-Changeling world, I fall in love all over again.

Bowen Knight – the champion and effective leader of the Human Alliance – is living on borrowed time. The chip implanted in his brain to stop Psy attacks on his mind is failing and will more than likely take his brain down with it. His only shot at survival comes when he is taken to a clinic on Ryūjin, a BlackSea installation deep under the sea. Bo was an intriguing secondary character in the Psy-Changeling series and I’m thrilled that I finally got to read his story. Bo is incredibly smart, deeply caring, and protective. He also carries scars from his past that have made him all-too-aware of human vulnerability to psychic assault. His determination to protect humanity and put them on equal footing with Psy and Changelings may cost him his life, but Bo is the kind of man who will always put himself in the line of danger to protect others from harm. For so many years Bo’s focus has been on learning to defend himself and others, leaving no time for fun. That’s why I found myself smiling over and over as Bo found the playful, fun side of himself with Kaia.

Humans have long been positioned as the weakest race, but Kaia Luna knows that they can be just as deadly. The BlackSea Changelings’ history is filled with harm done to them by humans and Kaia herself has experienced trauma at human hands. Upon first meeting Bo, she’s suspicious of him, but her cousin needs her assistance treating the far-too-attractive male. Kaia’s wariness doesn’t last long and I loved watching her open up to Bo. Kaia is an absolutely wonderful heroine. She’s a chef who shows her love through food and her warm, caring nature simply sprung off the page. She’s the kind of heroine you wish were real just so you could be friends with her (and not just because she makes fantastic cookies). She and Bo are a perfect fit and their romance made me smile and sigh. The proverbial ticking time bomb in Bo’s head isn’t the only obstacle they face. Bo’s a creature of land and Kaia of the sea; finding a happy medium given their lives, obligations, and deep-seated fears isn’t easy. I was rooting for them every step of the way because I liked them both so much.

Ocean Light takes readers deep into the heart of BlackSea territory and I couldn’t be happier. What I wouldn’t give to live on the Ryūjin installation with its friendly, unique characters and fascinating feats of engineering. BlackSea is different from many of the Changeling groups we’ve seen so far not only because of the variety of species, but because they’re spread out across the world. It made for a different dynamic that was fascinating and fun to see. How often would you expect to see a conversation with a whale or shark or a fight with a walrus, all in human form? Every character Ms. Singh introduces us to is intriguing and when you add in a plotline involving the missing members of BlackSea, it’s easy to see why I didn’t want Ocean Light to end.

Romance, action, and a bright, vivid world all make Ocean Light a captivating read. I read Kaia and Bo’s book late into the night until I couldn’t possibly keep my eyes open any longer, only to finish it as soon as I woke up the next morning. Ms. Singh’s writing continues to be incredibly addictive her characters never fail to grab my heart. I loved Ocean Light and I hope to see more of BlackSea soon!

Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling is a long-standing series and I really love that the author is taking readers on a new story arc with the Trinity series. Ocean Light revisits recurring character, Bowen Knight, and takes him on a deep sea adventure where readers are treated to a closer look at the sea dwelling changelings. Very cool stuff here.

Fans of Singh's series will naturally enjoy this newest addition; however, I do feel that this one lacked some of the power present in the previous books. Or, at least, fans who prefer the Psy-focused stories will - sadly, there is very limited appearances by the Psy in this one. Bowen is not a fan of the Psy and Kaia is more than a little afraid of humans and the outside world. Naturally, this makes their romance a tad complicated, and Singh does an admirable job in overcoming those obstacles.

For me, Ocean Light is not the best in the series, but it is a must-read for fans of the world that Singh has created. Outside forces continue to hamper any unity between the Psy, Changeling and Human factions, and as per usual I'm left disappointed that I don't have another book in the series to read.

Ever since it was discovered that the chip some humans had implanted in order to prevent Psy mind invasion has an expiration date, Bowen Knight, leader of the Human Alliance, has been searching for a fix. Unfortunately, being a prominent figure, he didn't get very far before he was targeted by those opposed to the Trinity Accords and what they stand for.

Saved by the changelings of BlackSea, Bo seemingly gets another chance at life, albeit in the form of an experiment. Bo agrees to let the BlackSea scientists study the implant and see if they can figure out a way to keep it from self-destruction. Luckily he's protected under the guise of lab rat, because when proof surfaces that the Human Alliance might be behind the vanishings that have been happening within BlackSea he's quickly considered persona non grata especially by Kaia Luna who's childhood friend has recently become one of the missing which reminds her of the similar loss of her parents at a young age, and hurts her deep within her soul.

However much Kaia wants to keep her impressions of Bo restricted to that of enemy, she can't help also being drawn to him. As she gets to know him, she begins to realize that he would never be a part of such a heinous plot. What also becomes clear is that there is a traitor somewhere in their midst, and with time counting down on Bo's chip remaining viable, they'll have to work fast.

Ocean Light is the second book in Nalini Singh's new story arc within her Psy-Changeling world and we finally get a BlackSea changeling book! I have been waiting and waiting for a BlackSea book since they were first introduced what feels like eons ago and Nalini Singh also took this opportunity to tie up some of the more pervasive story threads that have been running in the background for quite a few books now. Namely, the vanishings within BlackSea and the human mind chip malfunctions.

I felt like Ocean Light took the opportunity to resolve and / or make a big headway in resolving these things without adding extra layers as previous books in this series have done. For example, the vanishings themselves were a side story in a previous book (I'm sorry I can't recall which book at this time) in the series, but there's really none of that here. Instead the focus remains on the missing changelings and trying to figure out a way to help the humans with the implants, which also intertwines Kaia and Bo's own stories as they are effected by what's going on.

While I enjoyed the story overall, I found it took me a little bit longer to get into it than previous books. I don't know if it was the more sedate feeling pacing - despite Bo's brain being on a countdown - with much of the solving of the mystery happening closer to the end, or the fact that it takes Kaia a little bit to fully open herself up to Bo that had me taking my time with it. There's so much dedicated time to BlackSea, I almost felt like other pressing matters (i.e. The Consortium) in the Psy-Changeling world fell away for the moment.

Regardless, I loved that most of the action takes place in BlackSea. It really hits home how different BlackSea's world is even from other changeling groups. The sea below is so vast and unknown. I feel like we've only broken the surface of this changeling group and I hope Nalini Singh doesn't make us wait too long before we get to revisit them.

It's been awhile since we've had a human and changeling pairing, but I felt like Kaia and Bo really embodied the world this series has become after everything that happened in the first story arc now with the start of the new trilogy. I don't want to say too much more because Nalini Singh takes her time developing these characters, especially Kaia, but I really loved their romance. It felt really different from what I'm used to reading in this series, yet it's still incontrovertibly the Psy-Changeling world.

As I said, I hope this book is a starting off point to get even more stories about BlackSea. Like with DarkRiver and SnowDancer, there are secondary characters who beg to have their own stories revealed, and as I said, the sea is so vast. Plus, there are some undeniable repercussions I can see arising from events in this book, I can't wait to see where we go next!

Water changelings of the BlackSea coalition are some of the most secretive and enigmatic in the Psy/Changeling Trinity series as well as the Psy/Changeling books. They are a disparate group who came together for protection against Humans, Psy, and even on occasion, land based Changelings. Kaia Luna works in a station deep below the ocean as head chef though she is also a trained scientist. She assists her cousin, Atalina, the doctor in charge of an extremely important patient: Bowen Knight, leader of the Human Alliance. Recovering from a deadly attack, Bo carries a brain chip designed to protect humans from the Psy. That chip is now nearing critical failure giving Bo very little chance for survival. Kaia is in turns drawn and resistant to Bo because of his ruthless reputation, and what humans have done to her family and species. Kaia has been traumatized by past events for a long time and so while her underwater home may be a refuge, it also a keeps her locked away from living life fully in the larger world.

Bo spent much of his life dealing with a trauma too after being brutalized by a telepathic Psy as a young boy. Since then, his mission has ever been finding a way for protection from the powerful Psy abilities to control humans and ravage their minds. Now, as part of the Trinity Alliance formed of Human, Psy, and Changelings, he is going against his instincts learning to work with former enemies, new allies and in this case, loving someone so very different from humans. Bo and Kaia’s attraction forms quickly; however, they have very little time until his chip catastrophically fails.

Unlike with previous Changeling stories, it’s not immediately evident what Kaia’s other form is although there are hints along the way. Bo becomes deeply immersed in experiencing life on this deep sea station while keeping in touch with his people in Venice because it seems, they may have a traitor working with the Consortium which is a group threatening the fragile Trinity Alliance. Kaia feels a constant tension between being intensely attracted to this Alpha male and feeling torn because he just may be the enemy. BlackSea Changelings have been kidnapped; those behind their taking know too much for it to be random. This new Alliance has much work to do in order to save the world from plunging into chaos and despair.

Kaia’s struggle to be the hero of her own life and no longer a victim coupled with the love story between two people from very different backgrounds gives this tale a lot of heart. It’s also quite pleasing getting some time with some of our favorite wolf and cat changelings plus a certain deadly and seemingly, the most powerful of all Psy, Kaleb Krychek. The Psy/Changeling Trinity series remains one in which I cannot wait to find out what happens next. Ms. Singh’s stories always entertain, frequently enlighten, and continue to be a great pleasure.

In Ocean Light (Psy-Changeling Trinity #2) by Nalini Singh, Bowen Knight's life--and his heart, literally--was shattered when he took a bullet meant for his beloved younger sister. As the head security specialist for the Human Alliance, he's used to his life being on the line. But when he wakes from his coma it's to find out that, although he's still alive somehow, the chip in his brain that shields him from the Psy is on the verge of killing him. Bo is willing to try the experimental procedures being offered by BlackSea, considering they already have him in their station far below the ocean. Because even if he doesn't survive, at least they can use the information to hopefully save his family and fellow Alliance members. Although Bowen prays he'll pull through so he can get a chance to prove to Kaia Luna, a BlackSea changeling whom he can't seem to stay away from, that their bond is worth cultivating--and worth any sacrifice to hold onto what they have together.

BlackSea's talented chef Kaia was unbelievably angry when she learned Bowen would be staying onboard their station. As one of the head members of the Alliance, she doesn't trust him a bit, especially after the suspicious disappearance of some of her clan. Her compassionate nature may mean that she feels sad about his seemingly hopeless situation, but Kaia tries her hardest to stay away from Bo. Although doing so is much more difficult than she expected. Her connection with him is electric and something she never thought she'd find--or want in her life. And just when they begin to call a truce of sorts, finding that they fit on many levels, Kaia is forced to face her childhood fears head on in order to save a close friend. With secrets she just can't seem to tell Bowen about, she knows she's walking a fine line and may end up brokenhearted in the end if they can't save her friend and figure out a way to fix the chip threatening Bo's life.

Ocean Light was impressive, complicated and everything I hoped it would be. With an amazing plot and warm, tender romance tinged with a sense of urgency due to our hero's impending medical disaster, Nalini Singh continued this fantastic series with even more deceit and powerful connections than ever before.

I swear I say this every time I review one of Nalini Singh's books, but I *adore* her writing style! It's so difficult to describe why it resonates with me so deeply but I think it basically boils down to two things with this story: character development and depth of emotion. There is something very intimate about the way Singh writes dialogue as well as the overall interactions of her characters. Whether it's between family members, friends, or lovers, emotions are the driving factor in everything they do. And Singh knows just how to position the conversations and those personal moments to bring out the most of each character's personality as well as each scene they are in.

With Bowen and Kaia, that couldn't have been more true. Their attraction was almost visceral and instantaneous, although there was also a world of anger on Kaia's end as she thought Bowen was partly to blame for some of her clan vanishing. As with all of Singh's books (and couples) our hero and heroine had quite the battle to get their HEA. I do love it when a happy ending is earned. It makes the reward seem so much more satisfying. And boy did Kaia and Bowen have to fight not only their own fears and personal issues, but they had to work together to figure out who was behind the disappearances. I really thought they made a terrific couple: they were both brave and rather selfless, loyal, and they loved fiercely. *sigh* It was rather heartbreaking to find out what was behind the issues BlackSea and the Alliance faced--as well as who was involved--but things ended on a more positive note than book one in the Trinity did.

I must mention that getting to know the members of the BlackSea clan was ridiculously fun. I love all things aquatic/maritime so figuring out what each changeling's animal or creature was had me laughing and feeling like a detective. Singh dropped some hints along the way about some of the clan members, and outright told us who others were, but we didn't find out for sure until the last third of the book what Kaia was. (I did guess right, but admittedly had a few ideas as the story progessed. lol) Seeing Bowen's fascination with BlackSea--and especially with Kaia--was really wonderful. For someone who was reserved and hid his emotions, I loved that he eventually felt like BlackSea was his family.

Nalini Singh packed a ton of goodness into Ocean Light. And the stakes couldn't have been higher for our couple, nor could the tension between them have been stronger. The powerful lessons they learned about love, friendship, family and trust, I think, will be something for readers to treasure and take forward into their own lives.

Ocean Light continues the Psy-Changeling Trinity series, but I really feel you could probably grab this one without being lost. Ocean Light focuses on a changeling group that has been introduced in previous books but is VERY secretive so I was dying to get more info on Black Sea.

We initially met Bowen Knight early on in the initial Psy-Changeling series. He is the security chief for the Human Alliance. His hatred for the Psy runs deep due to a traumatic event when he was a child. This leads him to get a chip implanted in his brain to block psychic interference. Bad idea when the chip wasn't fully tested and now he has only days to live. He gets shot at the end of Silver Silence and ends up at the hands of a doctor in Black Sea who MIGHT have a way to save him.

Kaia also had a traumatic event in her past, but it caused her to hate humans. She hasn't set foot on land since her parents death and spends most of her time in one of Black Sea's underwater cities. She gave up her career in science and now serves as the head chef for the city. There are instant sparks between Bowen and Kaia, and she is NOT happy about that. First, he is human. Second, he is the leader of the Human Alliance and she had recently learned some information that made them sound shady. Finally, she knows his chance of survival is only 5%. None of that is able to prevent her for falling for Bowen.

Both Bowen and Kaia have some serious issues with racism. Bo hates all the Psy. He is getting better and more open minded. I understand WHY he hates them, but to treat a whole race with disdain because of the actions of one? Not cool. Kaia is even worse though. She has such a deep hatred for humans because they didn't save her parents that she refuses to interact with them in any way. She always assumes the worst of humans. Again, I get it-some humans did her wrong. But, seriously, to hate a whole race because of a small group?

Plot wise, you have the push/pull of attraction between Bo and Kaia, the eminent and deadly malfunction of the chip in Bo's brain, the mystery of who is the mole in Black Sea and the Human Alliance, and what kind of shifter is Kaia. Seriously, I was DYING to know! All Black Sea members are very secretive about their animal which is so different from the previous changelings and was fascinating.

Like all Singh books, I love the depth she brings to all the characters. Kaia and Bowen might not be my favorite couple, but Singh develops them so well that you still appreciate them. Like always, I adored the supporting cast of characters because they add so much to the story. The Psy-Changeling books are always going to be favorites of mine and I will reread many times to come because I just adore the world Singh has created.

As always, Angela Dawe does a phenomenal job with narration. Her performance is always spot on and delightful!
(blog link live on 6/11/18)

Take a dive into Ocean Light, Singh's newest addition to the long-running, and still excellent, Psy-Changeling Series, you won't regret it! After a bit of a fumble last year with Silver Silence, I'm please to say that Singh is back and better than ever this year with the long awaited HEA for Bowen Knight. In a series that often under-develops and underutilizes human characters, Bowen stood as a strong, complex, and well drawn addition to the series' cast. We also finally gained more insight into the mysterious and diverse BlackSea culture, and it did not disappoint! Although the "ticking time-bomb in your head" plot line has been used and re-used by Singh more often than I'd like, the plot nevertheless retains it's suspense and intrigue, largely thanks to the compelling main and side characters who drive the story forward. Ocean Light stands as another lovely entry into a much beloved series, fans of which will devour it with glee.

This book hit all the right notes--romance, drama, paranormal elements, highly developed characterization. Even more, I think than the previous book in the Trinity Accord series, this book represents the change and next level in the Psy-Changeling situation. Singh is the master of her writing game and it shows well in this book.

One doesn’t read a book in the Psy-Changeling series so much as one immerses oneself in the fascinating world that the author has created. One doesn’t just read, one dives back into something that is already there.

And those are perfect metaphors for this particular entry in the series, Ocean Light, as the plot centers around a group of changelings that have remained as mysterious as the ocean depths that they call home.

We’ve been deeply enmeshed in with the wolves, the cats and even the bears, but this is the first time we’ve visited the Black Sea Base and had the chance to seriously get to know this most diverse and most far flung group of changelings – who come from all of the many species that populate Earth’ oceans.



The action in Ocean Light picks up where Silver Silence left off. And that’s a hint that this is not a good place to start this series. The first book in the series is Slave to Sensation, but starting anywhere within the first few books could probably work. One warning – Slave to Sensation reads more like a typical paranormal romance than the later books, and barely hints at the depths of worldbuilding yet to come. I bounced off it the first time I read it, and only returned after some serious prompting from a friend. She was right, this series is awesome.

At the end of Silver Silence, the fledgling Trinity Accords between the changelings, the psy and the original recipe humans are under threat from a mysterious consortium that finds war between the groups much, much, MUCH more profitable than peace, and will do anything to make sure that peace does not stick around.

Because the humans are crucial to making the alliance work, the consortium targeted the leader of the Human Alliance, Bowen Knight. It would have been possible to open Ocean Light the same way that Dickens’ Christmas Carol opens, “Bowen Knight was dead: to begin with.”

Except of course he’s not. He is, however, very definitely dying, just not the way that his would-be assassins expected.

Shot through the heart by a sniper, Bowen should be dead. Instead, the miraculous medical team at the Black Sea Base replaced his flesh-and-blood (and very, very destroyed) heart with a metal heart that will probably outlast the rest of him. This isn’t out of altruism, or at least not out of altruism towards him.

The head scientist at Black Sea wants to study the other thing that’s killing him, because she thinks she might have a cure. And her clan is more than willing to indulge her wish to conduct the experiment.

Once Bowen is awake and aware of the risks and the consequences, he is more than willing to sign up for an experiment that gives him a 95% chance of ending up in the midst of his worst nightmare, leaving him as a vegetable with little or no brain function.

But that 5% chance of a full, normal life is worth fighting for – and even dying for if the research helps to save the lives of his sister and the other humans who implanted themselves with an experimental chip to prevent psy interference in their minds – because the side-effects of that experiment are definitely lethal.

After meeting Kaia Luna, the Black Sea’s head chef and part-time medical tech, Bowen discovers that he has finally found a reason not to just to survive, but actually to live – even if he only has a couple of weeks to squeeze a lifetime of living into.

Escape Rating B+: This is a difficult book to rate. I love this series. The world that the author has created is amazingly deep and rich and nuanced and just keeps getting bigger and better with every entry in the series.

But this particular entry moves a bit slowly through the first half of the story. While it is fascinating to get to finally see the Black Sea Base, the base itself is both remote and underwater – it does not get a lot of incidental contact from anyone or anywhere else.

For a good chunk of the story, Bowen is also recovering from a coma and heart surgery. And he’s being experimented on a bit by the medical chief. Even though the author has invented interesting medical breakthroughs that have kept Bowen from waking up as a wet noodle that has to recover muscle tone and physical capacity there is still some recovery time that keeps him occupied plus he needs time to learn how Black Sea operates.

Even his romance with Kaia gets off to a bit of a necessary slow start.

So there isn’t a lot of this series trademark breakneck action and suspense until the second half of the book, when Bowen is in the midst of a countdown on any possibility of life and the threats to both Black Sea and the Alliance ooze out of the woodwork.

As always, it’s the characters in the story that make it work. In this case Bowen and Kaia. We’ve met Bowen before, but he’s always been a mysterious figure, because he has deliberately worked to make himself so. Watching him take a chance at not just life but actually living was eye-opening.

Kaia is a marvelous heroine. While she is both scared and scarred, she has forged a life for herself after much trauma, and its a life where she is both loved and appreciated as much as she can be. The way that she wrestles with her fears in order to help Bowen is wonderful to watch.

All in all, I enjoyed this entry in the series, even though it wasn’t quite as compelling a read as this series usually is. I’m grateful as always that it is clear from the ending of Ocean Light that this series is far from over. I can’t wait for the next installment!

4.5 STARS

Since listening to the audiobook of Silver Silence I've been obsessed with the Psy-Changeling world. I'm making my way through the first books in this series via audio and loving them. If you don't mind jumping in in the middle of a series - Silver Silence is a good place to start but you definitely want to read all of them because the other books just give you a deeper reading experience.

So...Ocean Light. My friends know how fascinated I am with the ocean. There is nothing more mysterious on this planet than the creatures and biosphere underwater so reading about ocean changelings totally ticked my boxes.

Bowen Knight, security chief of the Human Alliance, is a charismatic, fascinating character. He has the alpha-thing down pat, but there is also a kindness and goodness in him that just made me love him so hard. He fights for his life, against all odds, holding on to his positive attitude although he knows that the chances are overwhelmingly high that he'll end up a vegetable - something he fears most in his life, not having control over his mind. But he sacrifices it all for the people he loves. Bo is a noble, good man, much more than he gives himself credit for. He is a man of principles and those are unmovable. I just loved him.
He’d found the one person who sang to his heart and he’d found her at the worst possible moment in his life.

Kaia's changeling form is not revealed until the very end but I think it's pretty easy to guess. Her playful, loving nature, her way of taking care of her people by cooking them their favorite foods, her levelheadedness and sweet composition that still holds an edge, made me love her. Kaia has issues aplenty but she doesn't let fear stand in her way for long - she grabs it by the horns and wrestles it down.

***She’d never be an easy lover, his siren. But she’d love fiercely and she’d light up his fucking life.***

The woman in Kaia wasn't looking for love and Bo definitely wasn't the man she would have picked but fate doesn't really give you options. She's the perfect counterpart to the man who is so aware of the duties to his people. She teaches him to let loose and play and underscores Bo's protective side. She makes him laugh and brings out his playful and romantic side. I adored their relationship, they fell in love at the best and worst time. Their time is limited but they give all they have, hoping for the best, expecting the worst.
They might only have a fragment of an instant in time, but he’d make that fragment extraordinary.

The ocean world Nalini Singh built is utterly captivating. I could see the city underwater before my eyes. It was lush and exuberant, beautiful and abundant and I loved spending time there. I loved reading about whales and octopus, turtles and orcas. It felt like a place from the future, something that is possible.

I'm completely intrigued by all of the side cast in this installment. Miane and Malachai definitely need their own story, and I also want to see Kaia's other cousins mated! They are so mischievous, lovable rogues with a constant twinkle in their eyes.

The Psy-Changeling universe is very political. The world the three factions are trying to build is very complex and full of machinations and schemes. It makes for a slower read but in no way is it boring. I love the rich and complicated world Nalini Singh has created. It is captivating, spell-binding and I hope we get lots and lots more of books in this series. Ms Singh is at the top of my favorite authors with her beautiful, emotion-filled writing which is so full of romance and love and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
“You are the greatest gift of my life.”

I wasn’t a fan of Human Alliance leader Bowen Knight, but as always, Nalini Singh made me love him. We also get an amazing first look at the world of the BlackSea changelings.

Of all the characters in her Psy-changeling series, Bowen Knight was my least favorite. Except for his sacrifice in taking a bullet for his sister, I didn’t think much of him. Of all the leaders in this series, Bowen, as leader of the Human Alliance, was the only one reluctant in his joining of the Trinity. Yes, humans were at a disadvantage among the mentally powerful psy and the physically powerful shifters, but instead of jumping up and down with happiness that the other leadership would be extending a hand a friendship, and taking a hardline against anyone who would work against Trinity, he sat whining that the humans couldn’t trust anyone. He bugged me a great deal.

But Bowen does care about his people and when he saw a sniper’s red dot on his sister, he didn’t hesitate to put himself between her and death. On the brink of death himself, since he took that bullet to the heart, Bowen now owes a debt to the psy for the experimental artificial heart that they implanted in his chest. Kaleb Krychek made the offer because he knews Trinity’s success may be doomed without Bowen. Bowen Knight was the most trusted member of the Human Alliance and there is no one else who is as trusted and would be able to fill his shoes and get the humans on board.

When Kaleb approached Bowen with the idea of Trinity, Bowen told him that if the psy want to gain the trust of humans, they need to put their talented scientists into helping develop a safe way to keep the psy out of the minds of humans which would allow the humans a measure of equality and a feeling of safety. Bowen, and several of his top people, had an implant put into their brains several years ago to prevent the psy from “mentally raping” them. These implants are starting to degrade and if they don’t find a way to remove them, Bowen, his sister Lily and the others will die when the implants finally fail.

The salvation for Bowen and his people might just be found at the bottom of the ocean. A scientist with the BlackSea changelings has been experimenting and just might have found a way to safely shut down the implant and contain it without further degradation. Bowen volunteers to be the guinea pig for the risky procedure in hopes that even if it fails to save him, continued tests on his brain dead body could save the rest of his people. Bowen, a man who doesn’t trust easily, puts his future and that of the Human Alliance into the hands of the BlackSea changelings.

In previous stories, Bowen comes off as cold and standoffish. In his story, we learn why Bowen is so hesitant to trust the other races, especially the psy. We also see inside the mind of the stoic leader of the Human Alliance who is facing his worst fear, being trapped inside his own body while his mind is controlled by others. The loyalty and love Bowen has for his people gives him the strength to face those fears and in working with BlackSea, he comes to love and trust those members of the BlackSea changelings as if he is clan.

While Bowen undergoes this treatment, which is just as likely to make him brain dead as to heal him, he is drawn to Kaia Luna because of her kindness and thoughfulness. Kaia and her kitchen are the heart of the city. Kaia is a caregiver and even when she is angry with Bowen, she still does little things for him, like make his favorite pie. Bowen is known for keeping his distance in his relationships with women. His attraction to Kaia is immediate and as he gets to know her, he becomes attentive in his desire to give back to her for all her thoughtfulness. Bowen knows it is not fair to Kaia to deepen their relationship since his own future is doubtful, but he knows that if these are his last days, he could not be happier.

As Bowen needs to remain in one of the undersea cities for the duration of his treatment, we get our first real look at the world of the Blacksea changelings, and even though we are there for more than a month, Nalini Singh makes sure not to give up all their secrets. It is rude to ask a changeling what they change into, so you would actually have to catch a changeling as they change. Because of this we still don’t know the true nature of Malachai Rhys or all of the Blacksea people. Even Kaia keeps her true nature a secret as long as possible. We do get a chance to meet some whales, sharks, a sea turtle and an octopus. Actually all the boys try to convince you they are a shark. Sharks are cool and scary no matter who you are.

But not everyone is happy to have a stranger and the leader of the Human Alliance living among them. Especially since someone has been kidnapping lone ocean changelings. Usually solitary in nature, these changelings have worked harder than the wolves or cats to become a Clan and the sudden disappearance of their people are making them very wary of this new trust among the groups.

The Consortium is working hard to stop the Trinity Alliance. They don’t care who they hurt or how many humans, psy or changelings must die for their campaign to succeed. Nalini Singh is both brilliant and frustrating with her plotting (maybe she’s the mastermind behind the Consortium?)…View Spoiler »

I enjoyed this trip under the sea and our first look into the world of the BlackSea changelings. I even changed my mind about the indomintable Bowen Knight and wish him well with this HEA.

Hands down one of my favorite series is the #psychangeling by @authornalinisingh and was so excited to get an #arc of #oceanlight. Thank you to @netgalley @berkleypub and #nalinisingh for my free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Bowen Knight, the Human Alliance Security Chief, wakes up from a coma with a ticking time frame. He’s had a chip implanted in his head to stop telepathic interference but that very chip may be his doom. Itching to get back to his work he’s not expecting to
meet Kaia Luna a Black Sea changeling. Bowen finds him self immediately attached to Kaia who is holding herself from him due to pains of her past. Can Kaia get past all the obstacles set in their path to find there way to each other?

I’m not gonna lie I love any and everything Nalini Singh writes and I was happy to jump back into this wold. Honestly though it took me a while to get in the story and I think it’s because I wasn’t fully invested in these characters but once I got going I found myself immersed in a sweet love story. It also helps that we get cameo appearances from some of my beloved original characters. While I did like the story it didn’t hold all the magic I expect from this series. I can’t wait to see who’s story is next!