After another (what felt like) interminable wait for my hold on this next book to come in at the library, I have officially jumped into the final third of the series. I'm actually really impressed with myself that I have hung onto it over months, even through long waits. My previous paranormal romance series binges have all fizzled out on their own, but I am legitimately invested, apparently, in the overarching story that Singh has created here. Plus, it helps that these are such fast reads, and still meeting my escapist needs. 

 

This eleventh installment keeps us with the SnowDancer pack, with our leading couple being Adria (Indigo's aunt, who we met previously and who had a toxic previous relationship that she is still overcoming) and Riaz (Indigo's ex-lover and still close friend, a lone wolf who found his mate, but she was already in love with someone else, so he's been working through all that on his end). As their sort-of enemies to lovers, or more like "trying to avoid feelings" to lovers, unfolds, we simultaneously get a considerable amount of page time from Hawke and Sienna, as their relationship develops further and Sienna works to further build her position within the pack and her own confidence on that front. And, of course, the looming Psy civil war situation continues to escalate, with quite a few Psy-internal casualties. 

 

 This was a fairly different kind of romance, as far as the rest of the series so far. I mean all the characters have come into their relationships with some serious past trauma, but this was unique because for Riaz, his past trauma is the fact that he already found his mate, and cannot be with her. So we're looking at a "normal" committed relationship here (like the ones we saw previously with Max/Sophia and Dev/Katya), one that is every bit as powerful, but without that specific mating bond that comes with changeling relationships and kinda changes the depth of things a bit. I liked it, to be honest. Riaz and Adria both had to figure out for themselves, without any supernatural help, that they wanted to give their relationship everything they had, despite past pain, and trust the other to do so (to be able to do so) as well. Not why I get into paranormal romances, usually, but since this series is so long, it was a nice mix up. And, of course, since they were both changeling, the amount, and steraminess factor, of the physical/intimate scenes was great. 

 

As we all already know, Hawke and Sienna are far and away my favorite story, so I was thrilled to see so much of them here, in ways that were deeper than the surface-level screentime a lot of the other previous couples are given. The development of some of the other pieces of the SnowDancer story, like the negotiations with the BlackSea "pack," were really interesting to read. I love the idea of a sea-based changeling conglomerate a lot, though I wouldn't really be able to explain why. It was just a fun new addition. And bringing back the human Alliance was a nice addition here as well, to keep things fresh and, in the way they were reintroduced, to continue to add layers to the complexities of the internal Psy meltdown and the way it's affecting the other races. Also, some things happened with Alice that make me very curious to learn more about what she knows...  

 

And finally, speaking of the Psy...a lot happened here for them, on a grand scale. The steps the Pure Psy took here, to maintain Silence, are definitely leaning them past the logical Psy steps and into some really radical/idealized actions. So that heavy hypocrisy is definitely going to come back to haunt them. Plus, we get a bit more insight into the Arrows still in the PsyNet (Aden and Vasic get a lot of "growth" in the book) and waiting to see what they'll do when the chips are all down has got me very interested. (Plus, seeing them more in action, assassinating and stuff - phew!) And last, on the Psy front...seeing them ask for help from the changelings as a result of the extreme dangers/deaths from the Pure Psy situation/plans was monumental, within the series. Can't wait to see what other doors this first step opens, as we move forwards. 

 

All in all, while this one wasn't necessarily a favorite, it was great as far as moving the overarching plot along - I am starting to be able to feel the finale coming now. Adria and Riaz were a unique couple, relationship-wise, that I did enjoy reading (the changelings stories always have the best sex scenes and you know I'm here for that). And I was happy to jump back into the story development. Onwards to the next!