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!

The following review was posted on Goodreads.

While I did enjoy Ocean Light, there were definitely some disappointments for me personally. I was hoping for a human/psy book to begin addressing the issues in the psy-net. When it became clear it featured the water changelings, I was fine. Except it didn't reveal as much about BlackSea as I wanted/hoped.

I did enjoy the relationship build with Bo and Kaia as well as the bits of other people from previous books that Singh weaves throughout the story. I also liked getting a look at the underwater city and enjoyed that newish piece of world building.

My twin sister has been telling me to read this series for years and despite liking the other Nalini Singh's I had read I never got around to reading it. After finally reading these books I can't imagine why I hesitated to read them ; they are really good. However, I was a bit concerned if I would like a book that dealt with one of the ocean changelings as I had been least interested in them in the other books but I really liked this book. The story is fresh and original, the writing style is engaging and the characters are so well written that you truly get invested in their lives. I am reviewing this book based on an ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

Great installment! Really enjoying this post silence, alliance world. I love these new shifters, too. Great chemistry between the lead charcters.

And... she's back! Ms. Singh brings to us a fantastic second book in the spin-off series, Psy-Changeling Trinity. This is a book I devoured from the first to the last page. From the start to end, I'm riveted and read this book until the wee hours in the night. I loved this one so much because we are focusing on the water shifters and I love everything to do with water. Plus we get to learn more about Bowen Knight, the powerhouse from the human alliance.

To prevent psy from reading their minds, Bowen and his top lieutenants implanted a chip they thought was safe. Unfortunately, it was coming apart and Bowen's chip was the first to go. In the last book, it looked as if Bowen's end had come. This one is all about his Lazarus rising miracle. This could only happen due to the help of the BlackSea Changeling and their scientists.

So it comes as a surprise that the main female is not really a scientist. Kaia Luna is a bit of a mystery. She is well loved in her under water station. She used to be a scientist but gave it all up due to a traumatic event. She now finds her balance as the chef for the deep water science center fathoms below the water surface. She brings a smile to all the inhabitant in this magical underwater world.

From a world building and characters creation perspective, this book calls to me more than the other changeling ones. The siren song of the underwater creatures speaks to my soul. Ms. Singh does a phenomenal job of incorporating the playfulness of dolphins as well as the majestic whale into these shifter characters. What surprised me the most is bringing in the cephalopods. One particular secondary character is a flirty female who is not shy about the benefits of tentacle sex. You read that right. I just about fell out of bed and woke my spouse up stifling a snort when I came across this titillating scene. For those who loved reading about the wolf and leopard changeling focused stories, this one will suck you under. There are several subplots to this story and it seems the BlackSea shifters tend to be more reserved and separated from the rest of the world. And this is what makes the story feel real.

In our current lives, there is an increasing divisiveness in many different nations all around the world. No one can exactly trace who is starting it or stirring the pot. Many people throw accusations without substance. Ms. Singh does a poignant variation of this in this story. Because even though the BlackSea shifters are part of the changeling world, they are even one more step removed because they are water breathers. Unlike all other humans and shifters, they are a minority who are quiet and solitary. This makes them easier to be misunderstood and in some senses, left out of major decisions. This needs to change if the BlackSea changelings are to survive. Because a group has already been picking them off and it is all pointing to the Human Alliance as the culprit. Perhaps saving Bowen is not the prime directive for this exotic water changeling.

The tangled relationships between humans and the changelings is at times painful to witness. Misunderstandings, perceived slights and outright abuse have caused an air of distrust. This leads to friends and families questioning each other and at times, wondering who is telling the truth. And is truth not in the eyes of the beholder? When facts are given, this is when the picture becomes clear. It is not a pretty picture. The reader learns more about this group trying to destroy the Trinity Accord. We still do not receive enough information to figure out who the villain is behind all of this, but it is clear, most are only a puppet being pulled on strings they did not even know they were bound by. It is sad.

Through all of this, Bowen and Kaia learn more about each other. Their exchanging of how they see things and how they grew up gives them a baseline in understanding each other. Some of the changelings who are not around humans as much are starting to open up as they interact with Bowen. Their fear starts to recede which is a problem for the hidden group out to destroy all alliances.

I liked how Kaia's relationship with Bowen goes slowly and with some set backs. Instead of an instant love, their fondness for each other grows into a mutual admiration. This slow and steady courtship is sweet. The conflicts arising to tear them apart are realistic and difficult to watch at times. I loved the emotions pulled from me in this story. Sometimes I'm gleefully chortling with the mischievous BlackSea children. Other times, I'm heartbroken as past abuses are revealed in how they shaped a person. And lastly, I'm angered at how good people are broken by people who lied to them. This is a rich tale which casts a spell upon its readers. Ms. Singh's writing is like an ocean. At times it seems to be smooth and calm. Then there are whirlpools, undertows and intense emotions that makes a reader feel as if they are drowning in heartbreak. I love it. Highly recommended to paranormal readers who enjoy love under fire themes and water shifters.

This was a delightful addition to this amazing series! This is one of my favorite series of all time, any genre, and I always look forward to what's next!

Bowen Knight is the head of the Human Alliance and someone tried to kill him. Luckily they didn't succeed. Yet. But, there's still the matter of the ticking time bomb in his head, which is going to finish him off anyway. He allowed the implantation of the chip as a trial run. It's no one's fault this is the outcome. All he wants is for his fellow humans to live without fear of a Psy entering their mind uninvited and influencing them in some way. He still lives for the hope of that reality. Now he's on a secret Black Sea station under the ocean, hoping that a doctor can stabilize the chip in his head. If not, that'll be the end.

Kaia Luna is a water changeling. She used to be a scientist, but she never loved it. Now she's a chef, and she loves every minute of it. She leaves the science to her cousin now, but her cousin is heavily pregnant, and needs Kaia's help with her current experiment, AKA Bowen Knight. Kaia wants to hate him, for various reasons. But she can't seem to stay away from him. Or stop taking care of him and feeding him. After losing so much in her life already, how can she put herself in a position to fall in love with a man who might drop dead soon? How can she NOT?

Bowen and Kaia had a fantastic connection, right from the very beginning, and I enjoyed their banter immensely. Their chemistry was strong, and I loved the way they related to each other on so many levels, though they couldn't be more different in a lot of ways. I had been waiting a long time to learn more about the mysterious Bo, and I loved getting the insight into his head like we never have before.

The suspense plot was exciting and really kept me guessing on who the bad guys were. There's an ongoing bad guy throughout the series, that they keep taking apart, piece by piece, as they find them. So, you never know what will happen next!

I loved so many of the side characters, as always, but especially Kaia's many protective cousins, and the ways they interacted, both with her, and with Bo. As always, there were a few glimpses of many old fan favorite characters, and it's always nice to catch up with them and see how everyone is doing. I've loved the evolution this series has taken. It's been a great way to focus on different characters (and new types of Changelings!), and keep the universe new, fun, and exciting.

While I LOVED the bears in the last book SOMUCH, I really enjoyed this one as well. The Black Sea clan is so widespread, and contains so many different types of Changelings, that I hope we'll get to see more of them as time goes on. I highly recommend this story to all lovers of this universe, as well as PNR in general. Ms. Singh is one of the very best!

Nalini Singh is one of the few authors who has never let me down, I preorder her books the second they pop up on amazon, devour them the minute I can get hold of them and I always know that I'm in for heartwarming romance, fantastic characters and wonderful world building. Her Psy-Changeling series is one of the best paranormal romance series out there and this new second phase of the series is proving that she's still at the top of her game. As much as I love the SnowDancer and DarkRiver packs I'm really enjoying the expansion of this world first with the bears in Silver Silence and now getting to know the water changelings of BlackSea in Ocean Light.

Bowen has always been a character I've been curious about, as the human leader of the Alliance he has a lot of power in his hands but the ticking time bomb of the telepathic blocker implanted in his brain has him desperately looking for answers. Then there was the shocking attack in the last book which of course left me even more keen to get answers. He's such a sweet hero, I loved how open and honest he was with Kaia from the very beginning and how determined he was to make the most of the time he had left if they weren't able to fix his implant safely. I've always admired the way he wanted to put humans on the same playing field as the Changelings and Psy too, even though humans are physically weaker than the Changelings and defenceless against most Psy telepathic abilities they vastly outnumber those two groups and Bowen is fighting for equality amongst the races.

Kaia is a character we've not met before but she was brilliant too, very intelligent but the best thing about her was her huge heart and the way she cared for everyone in her circle. Kaia is the kind of person that is always there to offer a shoulder to cry on or moral support but who never wants to burden anyone with her own problems so she always sees to her own needs last. Bowen saw that immediately and went to great effort to show her how important she was to him. They fitted together really well and balanced each other out in a lot of ways.

There is no denying that the first half of Ocean Light is a little slower paced and more character driven than most books in this series, the action doesn't really pick up until later on but I was having so much fun exploring BlackSea's underwater home and meeting so many different water changelings (whales, turtles, sharks and so many more - including ones with tentacles!) that I really enjoyed the change of pace. Later on as the danger increases and things get more complicated I was so fully invested in the characters that I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the story would end. This was another fantastic instalment in the series and I can't wait to find out who will be the stars of the next one!

When we last saw Bowen Knight, he had just been shot and left for dead. Recovering from that injury though, is really the least of his problems. In order to defend against Psy telepathy, Bowen and other members of his group had experimental chips implanted in their brains. The chips are now failing and threatening to leave them brain dead, starting with Bowen. After months in a coma, he wakes up in an underwater outpost where one of the Blacksea Changelings’ doctors is working to cure him.

Kaia is the doctor’s sister and has been pressed into assisting in Bowen’s care. She’s a complicated character, both afraid to leave the water and reluctant to take her other form. (We don’t find out what that form is until near the end of the book.) Her slowly developing romance with Bowen brings her out of her shell and also shows another side of him.

Bowen was a villain in the series until his Human Alliance allied with the Arrows. Not everyone he meets likes or forgives him because of his past behavior. His story is similar to Kaleb’s in Heart of Obsidian in that respect. I actually feel like there might be a bromance brewing between Bowen and Kaleb, which I’m totally there for.

Unlike most of the Changeling groups in the series, Blacksea is made up of lots of different species of sea creatures. Most of them are pretty secretive about their other forms so it’s fun to see them finally revealed. But I didn’t find them quite as charming as the bears in Silver Silence, maybe because there aren’t as many children in the group. To be fair, though, the bear cubs were super cute so it’s a pretty big standard to live up to. I did love Blacksea’s underwater home though.

The terminal illness/exploding brain thing seems to be a recurring theme in the series, as does being a guinea pig for experimental surgery. I thought Bowen’s situation felt a little too much like Silver’s from the previous book. Also like in the previous book, I felt like the plot twist in the secondary storyline about missing Changelings wrapped up too quickly. Plus, it bothered me that Kaia could have done more to save herself but just didn’t think to use certain skills. I had another issue with the plot that I really can’t explain well without spoilers. (But if there were so many of this particular thing, someone really should have noticed.)

That said, I really did enjoy Ocean Light. Maybe just not quite as much as the previous book. I love the Psy-Changeling world and the fact that Singh continues to find ways to expand it. I also liked the supporting characters she introduced and I’m looking forward to more of their stories.

I liked the wrap up of Bowen Knight's brain bomb problem. That was a relief. I still want the Consortium broken up and painfully squashed. I'm getting a bit impatient about that, actually. It was a fun read and I would recommend it to readers who like paranormal romance, and characters that have more character than the usual run of the mill romance types.

In Ocean Light, Nalini Singh returns to her Psy/Changeling world with a close look at the intriguing but seldom featured BlackSea changelings. Oceanic changelings are vanishing, taken from the sea far from their homes and marked so that no teleporter can get a lock to locate them. The kidnappings were mentioned in earlier books but become the focus in this one. This story is a special treat for those who’ve wanted to know more about the BlackSea group.

The heroine, Kaia Luna, is a chef and healer at one of BlackSea’s installations. Currently among the missing is one of her closest friends, a male who told her the Human Alliance, the third leg of the Psy/Changeling Trinity, was behind the vanishings. Kaia is thus less than thrilled when the Human Alliance’s security chief becomes a patient at her cousin’s clinic.

The security chief, Bowen Knight, is the hero. Like many members of the Alliance, he has a chip in his brain to prevent Psy intrusion. The chips are all now degrading, dooming those who have them implanted. Bowen suffered a gunshot wound that should have been fatal, and his last request to his sister was that she use his brain, meaning that experiments on it might lead to stopping the degradation of the chips and saving others.

Bowen didn’t die, but he’s at BlackSea to undergo an experimental protocol designed to stabilize the chips. It’s not expected to succeed, but the data it yields should contribute to a solution down the road. Bo has approximately two weeks left before he suffers catastrophic brain damage.

From the first, Kaia and Bowen are drawn together. She resists because of her suspicions about the Human Alliance and his prominent role in it, and he is all too aware that his time is running out. She also knows he’ll have to live on land, and nothing good has ever happened to her there. The idea of going onto land distresses her so much that she has to be medicated to handle it.

Despite the grim prospects hanging over Kaia and Bowen, Ocean Light is full of humor. When Bowen awakens, something he never expected to happen, this is his reaction:

He’d said something to Lily before he died. He’d told his sister to use his brain.

Maybe he wouldn’t have said that if he’d realized he’d still be conscious while his brain was being chopped up.

“I am not chopping up your brain.”

Bo frowned … Could a brain frown? And why was his brain talking back to him in such a coolly affronted tone of voice? Had it gone insane while being a disembodied brain in a jar that someone was experimenting on?

Further down: He’d really thought he could trust Lily to make certain he was actually dead when his brain was put into a jar.

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He’s not a disembodied brain in a jar, of course, but the exchange is humorous and kind of sweet.

A running exchange between Kaia and Bowen involves his trying to find out what her changeling form is and her refusing to tell him. It then becomes fun for the reader to try to guess, too.

The worldbuilding, as usual, is excellent, and having Kaia view her clanmates’ forms through a chef’s eyes, focused on what they like to eat, is a nice touch. At one point, Kaia shows Bowen a passing family of bioluminescent Medusozoa, who are changelings and don’t like to be called jellyfish even though they resemble them. BlackSea also includes walruses, whales, an ancient turtle, and a great white shark, among others.

Finding a path forward isn’t easy for Kaia and Bowen, and not everyone wants the experimental protocol to succeed. Working against their various obstacles brings them closer and leads them to their own happy ending.

My only quibble with this book is that a major event had a lot of buildup and then was over in a couple of pages. Otherwise, I loved everything about it.