<strong>Wolf Rain</strong> is the third book in the <a href="http://bookbinge.com/reviews/series/psychangeling-trinity/" target="_blank">Psy-Changeling Trinity</a> and we're back in the SnowDancer's Den as this story features Hawke's Lieutenant Alexei and the E Psy that he saves from captivity, Memory. Memory was kidnapped when she was just 8 years old and when she was rescued by Alexei, she was 23. That's a long time to be held a prisoner in a tiny bunker hidden on SnowDancer land.

Once she's rescued, Alexei and Memory become close as they try to run down Memory's kidnapper and while Alexei and his pack are running leads down, Memory is taken to the compound where she joins a bunch of E Psy's like her that need training on how to use their powers. Sascha comes in to help Memory with her mind shields so that if she never runs across her kidnapper, she'd be better equipped at fighting him on an even battlefield. All the while, these two are fighting an attraction that is fast overwhelming both of them. Alexei comes from a family of rogue wolves and he won't put his pack, or anyone else in danger by taking a mate. I really enjoyed seeing the way that Nalini Singh tackles all of Alexei's and Memory's problems. She kind of just pulls all these strings together until the characters figure their shit out and I thought this story was well written.

One of the things that I loved about this book, and this series, really, is that we see so many of our favorite characters from the previous books play active roles in these newer ones. I loved that Memory had to work with Kaleb Krychek and Ivy Jane, along with Sascha and the other E's to take down the bad guys. I also liked seeing our SnowDancer and DarkRiver friends. The entire time that I was reading this book, it felt like a warm hug from friends that you haven't seen in a long time but are so happy to see again.

The romance between Alexei and Memory was a lot of fun. I loved seeing Memory come into her own. I loved seeing her fight to get back on her feet after so many years in captivity. I really loved seeing her and Alexei butt heads, fall in love and then figure out a way to be together. I loved that Mercy was hellbent on fighting for Alexei and when all was said and done, Alexei felt the exact same way about Memory. Memory's fashion sense made me pause because homegirl loved wearing all of the colors in one outfit but other than that, I adored her. My heart hurt for Alexei's situation and I was so happy when they worked together on trying to figure out if he'd go rogue just like his family did.

This is another great paranormal romance with characters that will light up your world so if you're in the mood for action, steamy romance and lots of fun characters, this is the book for you.

I sincerely enjoyed the character development in this book, while I felt there was a bit of repetitiveness in the characters the book itself and the story was great.

4 Wine Glass #Review of Wolf Rain (Psy-Changeling Trinity #3) by Nalini Singh
Crystal's Thoughts:


Nalini Singh is a sensational author that never disappoints. With eighteen books in a series, chances are that they're not all going to be five-star reads, but I can promise you this - you will enjoy every single one regardless.

Readers return to the Snow Dancer den in Wolf Rain, where Lieutenant Alexei finds the unimaginable... a grief-stricken woman held captive in an underground habitat. Memory has been held against her will by a strong Psy since she was a little girl, with only her pet cat and psychotic jailer for companionship. Used against her will for his deadly purposes, fearing both the monster outside, and the one within too much to attempt escape. When a handsome wolf penetrates her cage, Memory knows that he could be her only chance at freedom, and to put her friend and pet to rest. They don't trust each other, and they're both have secrets, but unbeknownst to them - they're exactly what the other never knew they needed...

Wolf Rain is as creative and complex as any other story in the series. Despite the end of Silence, the psy are still at danger from themselves, and there are many in the world that do not trust the tentative peace between psy, changeling, and human. In this tale though, we move away from the attacks against the Trinity Accord, and focus on the degradation of the psy net and the unexpected villain that it births. As well as a new type of empath, a designation that they didn't know they needed until now. These new threads to the ongoing series-arc is what captivated me most about this book. I love the intricate details that the author weaves in to keep the series fresh and exciting. The villain's additional perspective throughout the story gave me chills.

While I enjoyed the story as a whole, Memory wasn't my favorite heroine of the series. That being said, I still liked her character. She is a strong, determined Psy who is struggling to find herself in the midst of chaos and while also accepting and understanding her power. Alexei was also a little meh for me. I had trouble understanding his actions at times. These two did not have an easy romance, and there is a lot of push and pull between them. Mixed signals. Confused feelings. Alexei is trying to come to terms with the death of his brother and his brother's mate, and the possibility of turning rogue himself if he was to ever find a mate. Rogue changelings is a topic that has only been whispered about in the changeling packs, and while Alexei's family history is heart-breaking, it added another depth to the story and series. Memory and Alexei's romance is a slow burn; as they get to know each other and themselves, and learn to trust in their feelings. However, there were a lot of fun moments between them as well. I loved how Memory played with Alexei, getting him to loosen up a bit. Alexei's need to take care of Memory, while still giving her her independence was also heart-warming. Some of our favorite empaths, Arrows, wolves, and leopards make an appearance Wolf Rain. Hawke and Sascha play an integral role with the two main characters, and we see another facet of Hawke in his role as alpha that we haven't quiet seen yet.

All together, Wolf Rain was another stunning addition to the Psy-Changeling series. This is one of my absolute all-time favorite paranormal romance series ever, and one of the few that I religiously keep up with after so many releases. It's a series without equal. I'm crossing my fingers for Singh to return to Russia with the next installment. Where ever she takes us though, I know that it will be phenomenal!

In the third of Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling Trinity novels, Wolf Rain, she returns to origins: back to the Sierra Nevada region where the SnowDancer pack of Changeling wolves rules. The previous two novels – Silver Silence, which takes place in the Changeling bear packs of Russia and Ocean Light, which explored the secretive BlackSea pack of water changelings – struck out into unexplored groups and places to uneven results. Ocean Light especially felt like it was lacking, so it feels like a good move to head back to familiar ground. We know a lot of people in SnowDancer, and when we ran into them, mostly they weren’t just hanging around canoodling and being sooooo in lurrrrrve, which I find happens often in romance sequels. This always sets my teeth.

The novel kicks off with emotionally isolated SnowDancer lieutenant Alexei (who I’m fairly sure has popped up before in previous novels?) following an anguished psychic broadcast in the middle of nowhere SnowDancer territory. He finds a hatch to a bunker inside a cave, and inside the bunker he finds a Psy woman (named Memory) grieving over her dead cat. They gtfo of there, with Alexei provoking the Psy to anger to keep her moving. He identifies her as an E, the empathic designation, which she balks at: she has an affinity with monsters, in her mind. She nonetheless submits to interviews with such talents as Sascha Duncan, a cardinal E and shield technician, and sets up residence with other Es in the SnowDancer territory.

Since childhood, Memory has been in the clutches of one of those psychopath villains Silence produced in batches. Silence, a widespread form of social conditioning used by the Psy for several generations to remove all emotion, has fallen, but the Psy, and by extension Memory, are on a long road to wellness. In some ways, her arc is one of the entire race, post-Silence, a road map out of the recrimination and self-loathing that comes from discarding Silence. The E-built “honeycomb” is fine and all, but they cannot be doing all of the emotional work for the entire race. Wolf Rain addresses head on the problems the Psy face in a post-Silence world. Wolf Rain is probably more mythology-heavy than its predecessors, which I count as a good thing.

Alexei’s trajectory is maybe less interesting, but then I’m just way less into Changeling psychology in general, so it could be me. I find the whole predatory dominant thing – which Alexei embodies to a T – rather tiresome, and the whole “mate for life” trope endlessly frustrating. A biologically based unbreakable bond absolutely destroys any real emotional agency. People have vastly different emotional makeups, and even worse, one’s character changes over time. I don’t get how “mate for life” isn’t anything but an emotional prison when two people bond in their 20s, and then get tethered to one another permanently despite divergent interests and concerns as they age.

Moreover, both mate-bonding and pack-bonding lends the Changelings a form of emotional perfection that can really mar any story that relies on emotional growth. They’re often cast as incapable of hurting children or bullying others, which makes them hard to relate to, and limits their emotional range. (I mean, that may be the ultimate thrust of the series, in a way: the Psy, who are all too capable of horrific abuse must learn from the Changelings, who are almost constitutionally incapable of it. They’re aspects of humanity split out, and the series finds them coming back together.) Alexei’s experiences actually calls some of this Changeling bonding stuff into question; just because two people are mated, doesn’t mean things can’t go horribly, horribly wrong. I still have my reservations, but some of my issues are addressed, and credibly.

Memory’s experience as a sub-designation E mirrors Alexei’s grapplings with the Changeling emotional makeup. Though (of course) her self-image was completely twisted by her Psy captor, she’s still not like the other Es we’ve met, who are stereotypically soft and feminine, true nurturers and providers. Memory is made out of anger and vengeance; it is what got her through her captivity. She is willing to cut a bitch if a bitch needs cutting. I really, really like the idea of an empath who is sensitive to the darker registers of the human emotional experience. It’s more neatly dealt with in Wolf Rain than I would prefer, but that it’s acknowledged at all is aces.

So far, the Psy-Changeling Trinity novels have been slightly shaky, but Wolf Rain gets back to basics in a satisfying way.

I’ve missed the wolves of SnowDancer. They, and DarkRiver, will always have the most special place in my changeling-loving heart, simply because they were the first. I’ll never get over their unique personalities, their love and care, or the vastness of their packs. They are large packs, but still family. You can feel it in all their interactions, and it’s like coming home for me.

Fair warning. Spoilers abound for any and all of the previous books in the series. Just trust me and go start at the beginning with Slave to Sensation. Even if you don’t love every book as you go along (and there are eighteen now), the world building alone is worth continuing this series. One of my favorites things about this series is the inclusiveness, and it’s something I’ve only briefly touched on before.

The characters are wildly diverse and unique, to the point where it feels celebrated. The characters come from so many different cultures and have varied customs, making the world feel every bit as interesting as it is. The subtle and strong underlying theme of differences being not only accepted but being necessary for survival in the world is refreshing. If I could ask for one thing, it would be more LGBT inclusion. I recall a couple of side characters shown as gay earlier in the series. Silver Silence added a couple more that we actually got some page time with. I’d just love to see more.

That wish aside…when I re-read every year, the romances get me right in the heart. This ever-expanding cast of characters and how well they love each other continues to capture my heart and mind.

I have my favorites in the series, I think everyone does, and when they show up again for more screen time in the newest book it always makes me grin. Wolf Rain gave me plenty of reason for smiles. Being back in California, with SnowDancer ensures that we’re going to meet with plenty of previous heroes and heroines. I loved seeing Lucas, Sasha, Hawke, Mercy, Kaleb, and so many others. It was a nice moment when we got to see their lives happily continuing on, even when some of them aren’t mentioned by name.

As usual, at least for me, the main couple took center stage. I immediately fell in love with Memory. She’s a fascinating and strong heroine that I couldn’t get enough of. I loved that even though we were in her heart and head a good portion of the time, we began to understand her at the same rate Alexei did. She doubted her own self enough, in the beginning, that she was a bit of an unreliable narrator. I think it’s easy to know – because this is Nalini Singh, after all – that she was a “good” person. There is good reason for her to think that her Psy talent is more a curse, and that just made this so much more interesting.

Alexei, we’ve met before, but I loved seeing deeper into his soul and heart. He’s got this huge heart that only wants to protect everyone, even from himself. I loved his playful side, and his courting. Seeing the wolves court their mates is one of my favorite things.

It was easy to see why they fell in love with each other. Their interactions with each other are incredibly sigh-worthy.

I really appreciated that despite the fact that they both had legitimate concerns about how they may harm someone they love, they worked through it together. It didn’t stop them from talking about it. Nor did it keep them apart. There was no manufactured drama here. Even when fighting their own feelings, they both understood what they had with each other and fought for that.

This book combined all of my favorite elements – the “original” changelings, Psy and Changeling falling in love, favorite characters come back for more screen-time, and some very real pressing and imperative obstacles and concerns.

As always, I can’t wait for the next Nalini Singh book. I think I’ll go re-read all 18 books (and the many short stories and bonus stories) in this series in the meantime.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Alexei has never gotten over his brother, Brodie, going rogue and slaughtering his mate. Unfortunately, going rogue runs in his family and seems to occur after mating. Their grandfather and father both went rogue, which led to Alexei and Brodie to make a pact to never mate. However, Brodie couldn’t deny his mate when she came into his life and now they’re both dead. Alexei knows what will happen if he ever mates. Therefore, he knows that he never will. The family line *will* end with him.

Alexei heard her anguish and pain. It led him to a hidden prison within SnowDancer territory. A small malnourished empath had been locked inside a tiny bunker without any of them knowing. Had she not projected her grief so loudly, she may have never been found. Her pet had been locked away with her and had recently passed away, causing her insurmountable pain. Alexei knows he must move quickly before her jailer returns so he wastes no time in taking her to the nearby empathetic compound. The wolves will make sure the man responsible is rightfully punished. And, Lexie has every intention of being a part of that punishment.

Memory watched Renault murder her mother when she was only seven years old. He has kept her as a prisoner ever since. Now, she finally has a taste of freedom and she never wants to go back. However, the wolf that saved her thinks she’s an empath, he doesn’t realize she’s something much darker. She has the ability to make monsters, like Renault, into better monsters. It’s why he refuses to let her go and the reason she knows he will never give up on finding her.
I always enjoy the wolves and Alexei was no exception! My heart hurt for him and the pain and death that has surrounded him his whole life. He only allows himself to live a shell of a life since his brother’s death in hopes of keeping himself sane.

I’m not a big fan of the Psy in general, but they’re getting better now that Silence has fallen and they’re allowed to feel emotions again. Although I don’t think, Memory was ever truly silent. It’s good to see her develop into her own person and learn to live.

This was an okay read. It wasn’t my favorite, but not the worst either. Like I said, I truly enjoy the wolves. This book wasn’t as steamy as some of the others have been because Alexei saw that he needed to take things slow with Memory (smart wolf).

It looks like the Psy are definitely on the right track as far as trying to fix the PsyNet is concerned. However, it appears more evil is ahead as well. I’m curious to see what and who they discover next and what dangers are uncovered.

*OBS would like to thanks the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
This book kicks right off and is action packed! We instantly meet Memory our new empathic heroine trapped in an underground cell. And from the moment Alexie helps her escape it's a non-stop thrill ride. A lot happens in this book as Singh foreshadows the forth coming danger to the net and potential solutions. We can expect some really exciting evolutions in the psychangeling universe in the next few books! As always with Singh and banter and chemistry were too notch. I really loved Memory and her take no prisoners attitude and determination to carve out a life for herself with Alexie. She is definitely a fighter ❤️. In this book, we get a deep look into Alexie's character and past. It was cool to see a different side of a character I was already pretty familiar with. Alexie's character development and the foreshadowed developments in psychangeling universe are hallmarks of what makes any of Singh's books instant purchases for me, her world building is impeccable and evolves! All the good vibes aside I had one tiny issue..... I got reallllllyyyy tired of Alexie calling Memory " lioness" all the time. ALL THE TIME. But as a writer friend point out Singh probably got tired of typing Memory all the time 😂 which is fair. All in all another fantastic addition to the psychangeling universe!

Wolf Rain

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series - Book 3
By Nalini Singh
Berkley Sensation - June 2019
Paranormal Romance

The Psy-Changeling Trinity series, is a continuation of Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series. It is essentially the second story arc. New readers might find starting with Silver Silence a good easy introduction into this world. However, it does contain spoilers to the previous story arc and characters. Accordingly, this review assumes that the reader has read the previous stories in Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series. Personally, since I have enjoyed all of the stories to date, I highly suggest reading the series in order.

There shouldn't have been anyone in this section of SnowDancer land, but Alexei had found a woman. A Psy. One who was an empath. The question of why she was broadcasting her emotions became moot when Alexei discovered her situation and the danger she was in.

Memory didn't believe she was an empath, one of the miracle Psy who was helping to save the Psy-Net and did so much good. That wasn't her, and her abilities drew only darkness and danger. A monster had held her prisoner, and it was her abilities which had assisted him in his vile acts.

Although Memory might not believe she is an E, and that her abilities are not good, Alexei sees the truth. Memory is pure of heart and caring. She was also becoming the one person who meant more than anything to him, but Alexei knew that she could not be his mate. He knew his family's history, and he would protect Memory at all costs. From the murderous threat stalking her, and from himself.

Wolf Rain was captivating from beginning to end. I loved Memory, and felt for her especially at the beginning when her emotions were so raw. Alexei was a perfect hero, challenging her to embrace her abilities, and the fact that she was an empath. This was my favorite of the Psy-Changeling Trinity books so far simply because the setting was in SnowDancer / DarkRiver territories and there was so much interaction with so many characters. We got to catch up with previous couples, characters hopefully in future stories, and more. I am eager to see where this series goes next.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
I really loved this story! Like the first two books in the Psy-Changeling Trinity, this story pretty much goes back to series basics – a damaged Psy meets an alpha changeling. Memory has spent most of her life a captive and Alexei’s world is alien to her. Like some of the Psy women we’ve seen in previous books, Memory’s abilities are terrifying and potentially dangerous.

One of my favourite parts of this book was getting to catch up with Sascha Duncan and her group of empaths. Many of the recent books have been set in various parts of the world and it was lovely to come back to SnowDancer, DarkRiver, and so many of my favourite characters.

Memory and Alexei’s relationship follows familiar patterns. Following straight after the mind-blowing Ocean Light, this book feels easy and comfortable. Alexei is a good romantic lead but there isn’t much that is new or novel about his character. Memory’s story has similarities to Sienna’s and there are also echoes of Brenna’s experiences. The combination of tormented Alpha wolf and strong female Psy is fairly formulaic but it's a familiar, comforting formula and I'm not really complaining.

I really like that these new Trinity books have moved away from some of the metaphysical theoretics that made my head spin. The overarching series plot about the crumbling Psy-Net became far too complicated for me by the last few books in the original series. There’s a little more about the Psy-Net in this book than there was in Ocean Light, but this is much less complicated than the last few books in the original series. I’m enjoying a return to the characters, relationships, and romance that made me first fall in love with this series.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
Just when you thought the PsyNet might be settling down now that the Empaths are free from Silence, there is another storm brewing. Kaleb can sense it, but neither he nor the Net Mind or the Dark Mind can find it.

Alexei is having a hard time dealing with the loss of his brother. Taking a break from his normal routine, he scouts SnowDancer territory when he comes across a hidden bunker. What he finds surprises him. A Psy female who looks to be a prisoner, holding her dead cat. Alexei knows that this woman/child is important, and he leads her to safety. Hearing her story only makes Alexei more determined to protect her.

Memory hasn't had freedom since she was eight years old and the monster that holds her captive killed her mother. She's been brainwashed to believe that her gifts are evil and that she is a monster for having these gifts. What she is, however, is a very rare "E" sub-designation that can only help the PsyNet.

Yet there are people in the world that don't want the PsyNet to heal itself. They want the fragile alliance between the humans, changelings, and the Psy destroyed.

I love how we get to see old characters interacting with the new ones and I'm certainly glad we got to see Mercy's pup-cubs. I can't wait until we find out who's right – Are they wolves or cats?

Memory's strength and Lexi's determination make them stronger and able to take on the forces that seek to divide them.


Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Wolf Rain is the 18th installment of the Psy-Changeling series. While it's listed as the 3rd in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series, I suggest strongly against starting at Silver Silence. Go back to the very beginning and read Slave to Sensation, because I have no idea how a reader wouldn't be confused by reading only the past two novels, when all the foundation and world-building laid is from the original series, along with the plots mentioned and the characters cameoed.

After struggling with the past two novels, I immediately fell back in love with the Psy-Changeling series within a page or two of Wolf Rain. It was classic Singh. The world-building is immense, original, and intriguing, while the author breathes lifelike realism into the characters.

I'm not sure if I was simply struggling with the human aspects in the past novels, or simply because I adore the perfect balance of a Psy mated with a shifter.

Memory has been held captive since she was only eight years old, a Psy with an E-designation. Empath. Only Memory doesn't believe herself to be an Empath, more of a monster. The reader learns alongside Memory, how her E-designation functions, and that is why this novel resonated so strongly with me. The story unfolds, the information is delivered, smoothly and organically, as to not confuse the reader, because we're on this journey with Memory. No info-dumps as the all-knowing narrator tries to catch the reader up to speed, because our narrator is in the dark as much as we are, as we learn about this new type of Empath. This is why the flow is reminiscent of the earliest novels in the series, where we learned alongside the narrator.

Alexei is a wolf, displaying all the wolfy attributes that makes shifter stories so addictive. He's strong, fierce, possessive, yet compassionate. Terrified of going rogue like his father and brother, terrified of ending the life of his mate as his father and brother did, Alexei assumes it's the mating that triggers the rogue curse to be activated in his bloodline. He's grieving the heinous loss of his only brother and his sister-in-law, at the hands of the alpha who protected them all. Similar to a Psy, he's shut himself off emotionally, only engaging in the most basic of skin privileges.

What made me appreciate Wolf Rain so much is simply how the romance wasn't forced, wasn't thrust in my face from the pages. There was masculine and feminine appreciation, but no "OMG! He/she's so hot, I just can't help myself but to fall into love within three seconds!" Even with the fierce drive to mate for a wolf, Alexei and Memory take it slowly, building a connection over time and interaction, not using the need to 'mate' as an excuse for insta-love/lust/mating. There's a beautiful slow-burn nature to their romance that has the reader buying into the strength of the connection.

I struggled with the past two novels, as they both seemed too insta-love for my enjoyment. The last being between a human and shifter, when it was the human displaying the feelings of insta-love mating that just felt off. That had left me leery of the human couplings to come – as I said, Wolf Rain renewed my love of the series and regained the trust I placed in the author.

The pets and children were heartstring tuggers. Adorableness. The treat deliveries when Memory didn't realize it was part of the mating dance. The past characters shown. All of it put a smile on my face and clenched my heart.

Avoiding spoilers: the villains of the tale weren't mockeries. They were written with flaws that explained why they were the way they were, not simply to push the plot forward to a predetermined destination. What tied this all together is how they both interacted with Memory, balancing out the purposeful and usefulness of her unique gifts.

Before reading this novel, I was truly on the fence about continuing farther in the series. I realize books are hit or miss, and sometimes even our favorite authors within one of our favorite series won't resonate. But after two misses in a row, I was worried my reading tastes had changed. Wolf Rain was classic Psy-Changeling, and I look forward to more in the series to come.

Definitely recommend to Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy fans. Start at Slave to Sensation. Some of the books are more paranormal, some are more romancy, but most top my favorites list.

My review of Wolf Rain appeared on Dear Author on June 5:

https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/overall-b-reviews/b-plus-reviews/review-wolf-rain-by-nalini-singh/

Code Status:

Star rating Stable: 4

I love, love, love Alexei and Memory are just fantastic and their journey absolutely sigh-worthy





Allergies/Sensitivities:

Content that some readers may find triggering or objectionable, not exhaustive

There is on page m/f sex, violence, and abduction



History:

Is this part of a series, a spin off, a debut, or a stand alone?

This is very much part of a series. While a new reader could manage without being too lost, I highly recommend reading the whole series. Now, you might be concerned by the time commitment involved but let me assure you that it's worth it!!

If you pick up this book you won't be lost as there is enough backstory sprinkled throughout, BUT Nalini Singh is a master world builder and each book weaves in more layers to create such a complex tapestry that it would truly be a shame to miss it.



Temperature:

Heat level- 1 to 5 thermometers noting the amount of explicit content

I'd put it right in the middle at a 3

There is definitely sexual attraction and eventually on page sex but the language isn't graphic. The sexual interaction is definitely in furtherance of the story line and does not constitute even a moderate amount of space in the book



Pain Level:

How much angst, drama, or emotional pain is contained?

There is definitely plenty of emotional pain. Both the hero and heroine believe themselves to be harmful to those around them for different reasons. There is definitely emotional healing in this story.



Heart Rate:

How much Action, Horror, Thriller, Mystery, and Excitement etc 0-5

There are definitely some very emotional moments. There is tension, heartbreak, suspense, mystery, and more. There is plenty to keep you turning the page!



Breathing:

How long is the novel and how was the pacing?

This book felt tight. Everything worked to advance the story arc.


Blood Pressure:

Did something get my blood pressure up? Something infuriating or upsetting?

At a few points it felt like there had originally been more to some sections. I'm curious if there was a lot on the cutting room floor?



Diversity:

How much and what kind of diversity is found among the characters? Any glaring issues noticed by the reviewer?

Nalini Singh is herself an author of color and is fantastic about writing diverse characters. Her worlds have an incredible amount of racial mixing and many of her books have the lead characters as an interracial couple. In Wolf Rain Alexei is a golden and beautiful man and Memory has dark brown skin and wild brown naturally curly hair. I have friends that will be ecstatic to have a heroine with curls and have the fact that said curls require different hair tools, products, and care be part of the story. I think the way Singh handles the diversity is fantastic. She addresses in earlier books that the amount of travel and the way Psy procreate through IVF has lead to an incredible level of genetic diversity and that diversity in physical features is reflected in her characters (both main and side characters). The major racial tension runs between Psy, Changeling, and Humans.



Examination:

Overall review; may contain minor spoilers

This is book three of the PsyChangeling Trinity series.

I absolutely adore the way former pairs reappear and we get to see their happily ever after in progress!

Alexei is a SnowDancer wolf who is temporarily at the main den (he's a lieutenant in charge of his own satellite den) when he finds an Empath Psy. Memory has been imprisoned since she was eight years old by the same man who killed her mother. Yet, another of the psychopaths that flourished under Silence. Readers of the series may recognize some of these aspects but Nalini Singh meets expectations and more by giving us a unique tale and characters that seem to jump off the page. Memory is strong, brash, and tender hearted. She is also an E the likes of which we haven't seen. Her bravery and strength are truly a wonder to behold and Alexei has such a huge heart, he is a great compliment to her.

The only thing keeping it at four stars was the sense that there was meant to be more to the story. I just had this feeling that maybe someone decided another storyline or some scenes would clutter it up too much and that sections were deleted. This did not create any continuity errors that I caught, but it was a feeling on both my first and second reading of this story. (though the fact that I've already read it twice should tell you how much I enjoyed it!

Prescription/Rx:

Book one of the PsyChangeling series is Slave to Sensation and Book one of the Trinity series is Silver Silence.

To look at the whole series click HERE and the author has a variety of purchase links

Wolf Rain was one of my top 2019 most anticipated releases! I really love the wolves, so to be back in Snow Dancer territory was something I had been so excited for!

Alexei finds himself the rescuer of an Empath Psy. She doesn’t believe that is what she is. Memory thinks herself a monster. With a lot of work with Alexei, Sascha and the Empath colony, she slowly grows into herself. She was held prisoner for so long and as the story moves along, her character is built. Memory becomes strong and independent. I loved that she was opening up and learning so much about herself. She took such pleasure in little things and it made me look at things differently.

Alexei is going through a particularly bad patch right now and his emotions are a mixed bag. Memory wants so bad to help him. He tries to resist, even pushes her away, but then finds himself leaving her food and gifts like he was courting her. The mixed signals really confused Memory for awhile and she decides she is going to let him be the “big wolfy chicken” he’s acting like and ignore him.

We have two storylines going on that keep everyone busy. There is the threat to Memory, her captor trying to get her back, as well as a figure that has a degrading mind and is attacking the E’s. With the training Memory has been receiving from the colony, she is a major player in bringing down these two conflicts. She moves from being someone who is determined she is a monster, to someone who can actually save lives. She is an anomaly in the PsyNet and has a great purpose. It will take some work with Ivy Jane and Caleb Krychek to help Memory develop her skills.

I absolutely LOVED Alexei and Memory’s relationship. It was built with the two of them helping each other through their issues. They were both strong characters, but characters that were plagued with trauma. Both Memory and Alexei were determined to help the other deal with their problems and make their relationship possible.

I was so happy with how the story was setup and flowed. The inclusion of previous characters was so fun and brought the level of my enjoyment even higher. We didn’t get much advancement in the way of the attacks against the Trinity Accord, this story was much more focused on the degradation of the PsyNet as well as the two sources of evil that needed to be dealt with. I’m sure we’ll get back to that story line in the next book. I’m dying to know who gets the next book. The Psy-Changeling series is one of my favorites and I am always impatient for new releases. Wolf Rain is definitely placed as one of my top books in the series.

I have waited so long to see Alexei fall in love. Memory is the perfect mate for the Russian. She calms his wolf and keeps him going. Loved Wolf Rain! Plus it was great to be back with Snow Dancer!

There are a handful of new releases that every year, without reading the blurb or checking the title I know I absolutely need to read. The next instalment in the Psy Changeling or Psy Changeling Trinity series is one of those releases. I know that whatever Nalini Singh is planning to release I am going to want to read it. Which explains one of the reasons why I was so excited to get my hands on WOLF RAIN.

However, it wasn’t the only reason. We are back with the SnowDancer pack. It seems like such a long time since we have immersed ourselves in one of the original packs. When I checked the last book where either the hero or heroine were SnowDancer was TANGLE OF NEED in 2012. Seven years is too long to go without! And, just in case, like me, you are desperate for more DarkRiver cats, the last full length book with a DarkRiver hero or heroine was BRANDED BY FIRE back in 2009. A decade. I feel like I need to start a petition about this. Would you sign it?

But, back to WOLF RAIN! Alexei is a lieutenant in the SnowDancer pack, he’s a character that although I recognise I am not very familiar with him. By the end of the book though I was completely in love with him. Memory is an e-Psy who has been kept prisoner since she was a child by another Psy. Physically and mentally abused, he used her unique abilities to make himself a better murderer. When Alexei discovers and frees Memory from her prison he is immediately drawn to her fighting spirit. However, it isn’t just Alexei that is drawn to Memory. It could be that Memory’s unusual abilities contain the key to preventing the PsyNet from collapsing and killing the Psy race.

As usual with Singh, she combines a beautiful, emotionally rich and sensual romance with the progression of the overarching story regarding the Psy and shattering of Silence. It makes it a compelling read as you get drawn into the romance between Alexei and Memory. But it also keeps you turning the page as you have to know what’s about to happen next for the PsyNet. Although all the events in the book do seem very conveniently timed, that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book.

As usual Nalini Singh has written a fantastic read. With her, we get a romance that seduces not only our bodies but our mind and emotions as well. She is also constantly developing her plot and driving this forward; I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next. I am hoping either DarkRiver or StoneWater!

Nalini Sign demands all your emotions with the newest Psy-changeling trinity Novel. The Heroin of this book has redefined and amplified what we have seen of the Psy race and specifically the E-designation. the hero is visceral in a relatable way that will connect with readers instantly. Get ready to fall in love with these two people as they fall in love with each other and find their best life. Readers will cry, laught and relish in how masterful Nalini is in taking us back to a world we know and yet continue to discover a new with each Novel. Wolf Rain is a must read on repeat... I have to say it was simply amazing,

Its been a little while since we've spent quality time with the wolves of Snow Dancer and it was amazing.

Alexie is mourning the loss of his brother, who went rouge and killed his wife. As the one year anniversary arrives, he spends more time outside then den than in it. During one of these patrols, Alexie finds a grief as deep as his own. In a hidden underground Psy bunker is a E-psy who has not been free in 15 years. Rescued by a wolf, Memory knows that she is a monsters and not an empath who can help stabilize the failing Psynet. With her kidnapper still after her and questions about her ability can Memory has a lot on her plate. Alexie is fascinated but he's certain he can't mate, not after what happened with his brother.

So I adored this book. There is a new E destination that is so cool. I am constantly amazed with the depth in this world. There is so much going on and it never gets boring. I was a little like 'why are we not doing Blacksea" but I loved seeing Snowdancer and Darkriver along with some of my favorite characters. Also Harmonizers are sooo cool.

I don't really Alexie from earlier books but I'm going to have to go back and find him. I did adore both Memory and Alexie. Memory is fierce and she is determined to survive. Her love of color, the brightness of her spirit and the boldness of her fight for her wolf were awesome. Alexie had some baggage to figure out and Memory fought with him the whole time. I kinda adore these two and I'm excited to see them again.

I loved this and am excited to see what happens next!

Review went live on The Blogger Girls site on June 4th, 2019.

4.5 Stars rounded to 5

This is absolutely one of my favorite series and this was a great addition to it! Now, I will say that I don’t think you can read the Psy-Changeling Trinity series without reading the Psy-Changeling series first because without reading those, you won’t really understand what’s happening or how things have gotten to this point. When I first started reading this one, though, I didn’t know what I thought of it because I really wanted to get back to the bears but then Memory started showing her little claws and I fell in love with her and how gentle and protective Alexei was right off the bat. I loved that Memory had been abducted and kept in seclusion for years but then Alexei finds her and she’s struggling with not just her unique abilities but how she can contribute to the empaths.

Now, with every Psy-Changeling book, there’s always someone who the other person is trying to save or show what life could be like ‘on the other side,’ so to speak, if they’d just let themselves. In this one, Alexei shows Memory what life should be like outside the clutches of a psycho and Memory strives to show Alexei that he can let himself love. These two just melted my heart though and I loved how they were with each other. Memory was all feisty and stubborn while Alexei was all growly and protective. I adored Alexei’s courtship and how Memory wouldn’t let him leave without there being some consequences.

I will admit, I was a little worried how these two could progress the story arc because we’ve never met Memory and I didn’t remember much of who Alexei was. But the more you read, the more you realize that Memory plays a huge role in things to come. Her unique ability, like with all abilities, comes with good and bad aspects and so far she’s only known of the bad. This story shows Memory finally understanding her powers and getting a handle on them and what she can do. I won’t give away any spoilers but what she’s capable of can save so many people and I really enjoyed not just Memory growing as a person but how she affects Alexei and seeing how he grows as well.

I really loved this one but I felt like it had a lot of run on internal monologues. A lot more than I remember being in previous books so at times, it would feel like an eternity before Memory actually spoke to anyone. Add to that, while I loved Memory, I was sad that a good majority of the POVs were from her and not Alexei because I wanted to see more of Alexei’s perspective. Like when Alexei was talking to Keelie, we start with his POV and then it quickly switches to Memory’s POV but I wanted to experience things like that from Alexei’s perspective and Memory’s. Also, I’m a little sad that we didn’t get to see more of the Russian shifters 😦

All in all, I adored this book. I loved getting back to the SnowDancers and seeing characters from the earlier books. I loved seeing how much Memory and Alexei have grown and how the world is changing. I can’t wait to see who’s story comes next!

I think the description is a little misleading, because it features the side story a little too prominently, because this story is mainly about Memory, a woman who was held captive, and Alexei the Changeling Wolf who found and rescued her.

Memory, an E (empath) Psy, was a remarkable woman, who despite her long captivity retained her spirit and strength. When Alexei finds Memory he’s enraged at the man who’s held her captive, but delighted to find Memory hasn’t been broken by the experience. She’s as fierce and furious as a lioness, and Alexei finds himself magnetically drawn to this amazing woman. Alexei is determined, along with his Pack, to find and punish this man, before he hurts anyone else.

While Memory recovers and learns to strengthen her shields there’s an irresistible attraction brewing between her and Alexei. It’s intense, sexy, and fun! I love that Nalini Singh tempers some of the horrific parts of the story with humor. Alexei was a complete sweetheart! He may be a growly, protective wolf, but he was charming and not above using naughty, playful nips as a distraction. There’s a lot of fun sparring between these two. While each have their sad histories, both were determined to keep the other out any dark funk that threatened to swallow them up.

As I said, there’s another story, part of the continuing arc in the Trinity spinoff. First, the Psy Net has been slowly collapsing because of “Silence” the way of life which has now, thankfully, fallen. “Silence” the term the Psy used for living a life without emotions, and by doing that they excluded parts they didn’t know kept the Net healthy. The Net doesn’t have long unless they find some solutions. While the fall of Silence is a good thing, there have been some repercussions. One of the repercussions plays a prominent part in this installment, and Memory ends up being a big factor as all these stories tie in together. I was amazed to find out Memory’s abilities. Nalini Singh’s creative mind never fails to impress me, with the addition of Memory in the whole equation and this wonderful fantasy world!

I’m fairly new to the Psy-Changeling series. In fact, before picking up the first Psy-Changeling Trinity book, which is said to be considered “season two” of the Psy-Changeling series, I had only read the first book in the Psy-Changeling series. I mention this so you don’t let the number of books in the previous series keep you from picking up Wolf Rain. In fact, I think you could read Wolf Rain without reading any of the other books and still enjoy it, but I do think you’d get more if you read at least a few of the previous books.

Wolf Rain was an addictive, sexy adventure, and I’m glad I set aside time to read chunks at a time. It’s really not the kind of book you want to read in bits and pieces. I can’t wait for the next one!

While out on partol, SnowDancer Lieutenant Alexei encounters a Psy projecting strong emotions. When he finds the Psy, named Memory, he discovers she's been kept away in a hidden bunker in SnowDancer territory, held as a captive since she was eight years old. SnowDancer and DarkRiver will stop at nothing to locate the person capable of such atrocities, especially considering Memory is an E.

Memory doesn't know anything about being an E, but she does know that she was used by a murderer who committed crimes for decades. And now that she's escaped her prison, she knows he'll be coming after her. Having gained her freedom, Memory is not willing to let it go without a fight. As she learns about her powers, and what sets her apart from the others, she'll come up against a stubborn wolf changeling whose family history keeps him from forming any lasting bonds due to the threat of going rogue.

Meanwhile, a darkness is rising in the PsyNet that is threatening the already tentative threads that still hold it together putting millions on minds at risk.

After Silver Silence and Ocean Light, Wolf Rain felt like coming home again, even though we weren't too far away to begin with. The storyline involving Memory and her being held by a psychopathic Psy had me drawing comparisons to the first book in the series [book:Slave to Sensation|178476] only now we're on the other side of Silence. I think it hits home the fact that Silence didn't really fix or suppress anything. There were still monsters operating under Silence's banner just like there are monsters operating now that Silence has been broken.

Nalini Singh continues to add so much depth to this series (technically) 18 books in and counting. I loved that we got to see more E (empaths), and that Memory while falling under that designation, also represents a subcategory that I hope we'll learn more about in subsequent books.

The offshoot plot about the failing of the PsyNet has been going on ever since Silence was officially broken, but I felt like the threat was a little confusing at times and kind of came out of no where. Although I did love the chapter headers as those tended to be excerpts from old writings or magazine articles and would provide some interesting background, but overall I thought this thread, which is somewhat tied up with Memory's designation as well, stuck out. I'm pretty sure it's an introductory issue that, hopefully, Nalini Singh will continue addressing.

I loved the romance between Alexei and Memory. They are a great pairing, and I especially loved how he believed in her so much even when she thought the worst of herself. Vice versa, I loved how Memory wouldn't even consider the idea of Alexei going rogue, even understanding his fears, she never let the fears encroach upon her feelings.

Which leads me into the fact that Memory really stole the show for me personally, beyond the romance (sorry Alexei). She's such a strong character. She suffered trauma and abuse for years upon years. Until Alexei found her, I don't think she had ever really thought that she was getting out of her captivity. Once she did, she embraced her freedom and didn't squash it by being afraid of her tormentor still on the loose. Instead she decides to live. She decides to make friends, and learn more about her powers, and help. She's a survivor, and I thought Nalini Singh wrote her perfectly.

While reading I kept recognizing the traits Memory shows throughout, and it wasn't until the end that I finally pieces together that she reminds me of Meg Corbin from Anne Bishop's The Others series. Both are characters who were held captive for the power they could provide others, and either escape or were rescued and bring this very pure and joyful light to the world as they learn more about themselves and their powers. They are even similar in the way they deal with stubborn wolves.

Overall, you can never go wrong with Nalini Singh, in this series or any other she writes. I love she she keeps opening new doors in this world, and I can't wait to see where they lead to next.

Nalini Singh writes a wildly exciting story full of hope… and sexy wolf shifters 😉

“Alexi Harte: SnowDancer wolf, 6.2, blond, gray-eyed, and panty-melting gorgeous.”

I absolutely LOVED Alexi’s book! We finally get to see what makes him tick, and it’s exciting and heartbreaking. Alexi carries a heavy burden with a deadly family curse that affects mated pairs. That’s why Alexi keeps his distance and never lets himself get close with anyone. There’s just something about a damaged hero that makes me swoon! Alexi is so loyal to his pack and loved by all. His quick smile and happy disposition hide Alexi’s pain, and you can’t help but want to reach out and hug the heck out of him!

Memory has gone through hell having been kidnapped at 8 years old by a sadistic and cold psy. After years of being held captive, she’s rescued by Alexi and protected by the SnowDancers. Despite her captivity and years of abuse, Memory has a powerful resilience and beautiful spirit. She’s loving, kind and so strong. Memory definitely can hold her own against a “big wolfy chicken!” The couple pair beautifully together.

The storyline is brilliantly crafted, and the characters are vibrant and plentiful! I absolutely love coming back to the series. The world is so big, and you can sometimes feel lost, but the characters and plot ground the reader and offer an enjoyable and memorable experience. I highly recommend WOLF RAIN and any book, novella, snippet or grocery list written by Ms. Singh!