Bonds of Justice (Psy/Changeling, #8)

by Nalini Singh

A Psy-Changeling novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Shards of Hope, Shield of Winter, and Heart of Obsidian..."the alpha author of paranormal romance" (Booklist).

Max Shannon is a good cop, one of the best in New York Enforcement. Born with a natural shield that protects him against Psy mental invasions, he knows he has little chance of advancement within the Psy-dominated power structure.

The last case he expects to be assigned to is that of a murderer targeting a Psy Councilor's closest advisors. And the last woman he expects to compel him in the most sensual of ways is a Psy on the verge of catastrophic mental fracture...

• ISBN10: 0425235440
• ISBN13: 9780425235447
• Publish Date: 6 July 2010 (first published 1 July 2010)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Penguin USA
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 368
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780425235447

Reviews

[Berls]

Just when I think I have the pattern figured out, Nalini Singh turns it on it's head! I so enjoyed this book, perhaps less for the romance, but the story development - particularly for the overall series arc is fantastic.

Sophie is a J-Psy and I have to say, it's one of my favorite Psy designations we've encountered. There's something very bad ass about the J psy ability. They're both powerful and incredibly vulnerable at the same time. Then you've got Max, the cop we met in a previous book who we've already established as being very honest in a crooked police force. He also has a natural shield to Psy talents. So it's a Psy-Human pairing - the first true Psy-Human pairing IMO.

As I said, though, it's the plot development that made this book great. It's the things we're learning about the Psy Net and the Psy Councilors. And we do also get a few developments with the Changlings. Overall, though, this book is (I think) a game-changer for how things will go moving forward. Very exciting!

I've been buddy reading this series with Anne and enjoying our discussions / theories, not to mention the Read Along Chat. I also am listening and loving Angela Dawe's narration. She continues to deliver the characters fantastically, despite a constantly expanding cast of characters. Can't wait for the next one!

[thebookdisciple]

So, this book can be thought of in terms of the various plot lines:

• Romance between Max and Sophia: I just adored both Max and Sophia. She is a J Psy, which was fascinating! Her job is to search the memories of killers to discern facts necessary for a criminal case. Obviously, as you can imagine, this takes a toll on the Psy, mentally. Sophia knows her shields are starting to fracture and very soon, she will be forced into total rehabilitation. However, she is recruited by Nikita Duncan to help ferret out the mole with the help of Max. Max and Sophia aren't changelings so it isn't a 'fated mate' situation but their love story is every bit as wonderful. Max is smart and protective. Sophia is determined and unfailingly kind (unless you are a convicted criminal....then she will use her TP powers to make you cut off your own dick!). I just loved both Max and Sophia. They have similar sad pasts that make them more alike than they appear outwardly.


• The issues that Nikita Duncan is having: Someone is killing associates of Nikita. She is determined to find out who and why. Max and Sophia are assigned this task but it leads to learning a lot more about psy and the impending changes in the psy council!


• Bonner: His story seems like an intro, but it ends up being a larger part of the plot. He is a super creepy sociopath that Max and Sophia had encountered while trying to find missing victims. He seems like just a plot device to allow Max and Sophia to meet, but he just won't leave Sophia alone!

Overall, this story is much more than just Max and Sophia's story. You have a LOT of Sascha and Lucas, plus lots of the other cats as well. You get a great deal of information about Kaleb and the direction the council is headed in the future. This book gave me the same emotions that Slave to Sensation did, which has been missing in the previous books in my opinion. I am very excited to get the rest of the series!

 

• POV: 3rd


• Tears: no


• Trope: opposites attract, coworkers


• Triggers: none


• Series/Standalone: series


• Cliffhanger: Not really but the major story arcs obviously continue!


• HEA: yes with a sweet epilogue

authors including Jennifer Ashley, Thea Harrison, Ilona Andrews...then you will probably like Bonds of Justice!

 

Bonds of Justice

 See full review on The Book Disciple

[Chelsea]

Another great addition to the series. I'm actually really interested in learning more about Nikita so I'm glad we got to see her a good deal in this book. I'm hoping she gets her own book later on but I'm not hopeful about it. This wasn't my favourite romance of the series. I'm a fan of the changeling and wanted to see more of them. Sophia's psychic abilities were very interesting to read about though so I'm glad she got her own book.

[wyvernfriend]

In a near future world psionics and changelings are known and part of the community. In the justice system some psionics work to find out the truth in people. Sophia Russo is one of these psions. She is near the end of the time that she can do this, her shields are beginning to come apart, this may be her last case.

Max Shannon is a cop, an ordinary human with a slight advantage, he has a natural shield agains psionics which makes him useful as an investigator of psionics.

This case has them investigating together the hows and whys of some murders around one of the psionic councilors, murders that could swing psions against humans and changelings. And they have to deal with their feelings for each other, can Sophia survive?

I liked it, the characters were fun and the mystery kept giving.

[Linda]

Oh my goodness, the slow, so slow buildup in this book almost killed me! And it set the stage for some very interesting future stories to be told as well.

Max and Sophia felt right from the very beginning of the book, and Max was one I had wanted to learn more about from prior books. Sophia has the possibility to stand up to the toughest of them, and with Max at her side, she can prove to be unstoppable.

Sasha and Lucas are still important, even when the story isn't about them. And Nikita and Anthony continue to have important places as well.

I really love this series, and look forward to reading more.