Ocean Light (Psy-Changeling Trinity, #2)

by Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh dives beneath the surface of her Psy-Changeling world into a story of passionate devotion and selfless love... 

Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there’s a ticking time bomb in his head: a chip implanted to block telepathic interference that could fail at any moment—taking his brain along with it. With no time to waste, he should be back on land helping the Human Alliance. Instead, he’s at the bottom of the ocean, consumed with an enigmatic changeling. 

Kaia Luna may have traded in science for being a chef, but she won’t hide the facts of Bo’s condition from him or herself. She’s suffered too much loss in her life to fall prey to the dangerous charm of a human who is a dead man walking. And she carries a devastating secret Bo could never imagine. 

But when Kaia is taken by those who mean her deadly harm, all bets are off. Bo will do anything to get her back—even if it means striking a devil’s bargain and giving up his mind to the enemy…

• ISBN10: 1101987839
• ISBN13: 9781101987834
• Publish Date: 31 December 2018 (first published 12 June 2018)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Berkley Publishing Corporation,U.S.
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 416
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781101987834

Reviews

[Berls]

I have mixed feelings about Ocean Light. I definitely enjoyed it, but there were some things that really bothered me too. I'm actually writing this review to figure out what my rating is lol. I buddy read with Anne and she gave it 4.5 hearts/stars.

I was very excited to be learning more about the Water Changelings. And the majority of this book was in this sea station where quite a few live, so we go to see them up close and personal, after they've been a mystery for so long. And I was thrilled when reading the description to see that Bowen (Bo) was alive, because I thought he wasn't going to make it as of last book.

I really like Bo - have for some time. He's made some big mistakes, but he's not above admitting and learning from his mistakes. And, as we get to see more clearly in this book, he has very good reasons for his missteps and prejudices. Fear is a very powerful force! He shows a lot of growth in this book and some of the developments have me very eager to see where things will go as the series progresses.

And I quickly grew to love Kaia. She has such a big, generous heart. She cares so much for her people and that love shows in all the little things she does. I really think, were she a Psy, she'd be an empath. Pairing her with Bo makes a lot of sense, because he's not so very different from the deadly Arrows who are also finding so much solace in their empaths.

So lots of positives - but a few flaws that really tripped me up. It's a Paranormal Romance and I get that the romance can come on strong and fast - but this was Insta Love like I haven't seen in this series before (that I can recall). Their first kiss came out of NOWHERE. I didn't see it coming. It really caught me off guard; I was like wth? And their relationship developed with similar breakneck, out of nowhere speed. My one reason for kinda getting it -- Bo is living on a ticking clock and I can see that pushing them along faster than they normally would have allowed. Maybe.

The other thing is the way one plot piece was solved. It was far too easy. I can't explain without spoiling, but there was a 5% chance and the only obstacle ended up being external and unrelated? Really?! Call me skeptical.

But then there were some very marvelous plot points. I actually cried at one point. It was just so heartbreaking some of the things that have been happening to the water changelings. And I'm very excited for some of the resolution those tears may have brought.

So ultimately... I think I'm deciding on 4 stars for this book. Lots of greatness, and a little bit of irk.

Angela Dawe's narration was impeccable, as always. Very much looking forward to continuing to listen to this series.

[Melanie]

My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.

4.5 stars

Back to the world of Psy-Changeling. This is a series that I’ve loved since I read the first book, Slave to Sensation, back in 2013. I’ve sense devoured the series and grab every new book as soon as possible. Now, the series has sorta spun off to the Psy-Changeling Trinity series, which moves out of the San Francisco area and to new characters.

In Ocean Light, we finally get to learn more about the water changelings. While most of the packs are mostly a single species, like the leopards, wolves and bears, the water changelings are all the different species into one group. They are lesser in number and many are more solitary than the other shifters, so have one group encompass them all makes sense. They still have a fierce devotion to their group.

Bowen Knight is a character we’ve known for several books now. He is the security specialist and leader of the Human Alliance. He got an implant to help block the Psy from ever attacking his mind. Problem is, that this blocker has a time limit on it. He will not live much longer unless it is removed, which would make him vulnerable to the Psy, which he isn’t willing to do. Black Sea changelings have offered to help.

Kaia Luna is a water changeling in Black Sea. Her sister is working to try to solve Bowen’s issue. Kaia is helping, because she does have a medical background, even though she gave it up for her first love, cooking. She has a very strong heart and is part of the glue that is keeping Black Sea together.

While a large part of this story focuses on trying to Bowen through his deadline without his death, there is also the vanishing of several of the Black Sea changelings. Because the oceans are so vast and so many of the changelings go out into the deep on solitary swims, it is very hard to keep track of everyone, but there are some that it is known that they are not just missing, but dead at the hands of fishing vessels and the Human Alliance does appear that they might be involved, which puts strain between Bowen and Black Sea.

I loved learning so much more about Black Sea and seeing how they all work together. Even with all the different species, they are still very much family. It was also interesting seeing how the animal’s personality affected the person too. I hope to see more of the water changelings in future books.

Narration
Angela Dawe continues to nail the narration of this series. I just love all of the voices that she chooses for characters. I think she really brings out their personalities. I think her pacing and tone are perfect as well. If you haven’t tried listening to Angela Dawe, I highly recommend her.

**I like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Rowena]

I went into this read with reservations because so many of my friends were bored by this one and while it was slow in the beginning, I ended up rather enjoying Bo and Kaia's book. I'm so here for more. I loved seeing all of our DarkRiver and HAWKE and, and...KIT!!! I'm still laughing at Kaia's name. She speaks Samoan so I imagine she's laughing at her name too. Full review to come.

[Linda]

Singh did it again! I was so totally engrossed in Ocean Light, so implicated in the characters' lives I forgot to make lunch today!

[thebookdisciple]

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!

 

• POV: 3rd


• Tears: no


• Trope: shifters


• Triggers: none


• Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series


• Cliffhanger: not for Kaia and Bowen; the larger story ARC still has some questions to be answered


• HEA: yes

books by Christine Feehan, Jennifer Ashley, Shelly Laurenston...then you will probably like Ocean Light!

 

Ocean Light

Psy-Changeling

Psy-Changeling Trinity

 See full review on The Book Disciple

[EBookObsessed]

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?)…

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.
Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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