Alpha Night (Psy-Changeling Trinity, #4)

by Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her breathtaking Psy-Changeling Trinity series with a mating that shouldn’t exist…
 
Alpha wolf Selenka Durev’s devotion to her pack is equaled only by her anger at anyone who would harm those under her care. That currently includes the empaths who’ve flowed into her city for a symposium that is a security nightmare, a powder keg just waiting for a match.
 
Ethan Night is an Arrow who isn’t an Arrow. Numb and disengaged from the world, he’s loyal only to himself. Assigned as part of the security force at a world-first symposium, he carries a dark agenda tied to the power-hungry and murderous Consortium. Then violence erupts and Ethan finds himself crashing into the heart and soul of an alpha wolf.
 
Mating at first sight is a myth, a fairytale. Yet Selenka’s wolf is resolute: Ethan Night, broken Arrow and a man capable of obsessive devotion, is the mate it has chosen. Even if the mating bond is full of static and not quite as it should be. Because Selenka’s new mate has a terrible secret, his mind surging with a power that is a creature of madness and death…

• ISBN10: 198480362X
• ISBN13: 9781984803627
• Publish Date: 9 June 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Berkley Publishing Corporation,U.S.
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 368
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781984803627

Reviews

[Berls]

Another win in the Nalini Singh column! Anne and I buddy read this and both loved it! At this point, she's established herself as an auto-read author for me, she's just so consistent.

That said, I should have had more faith because this one started a little uncertain for me. We had an insta-mate situation, and I did not love it. BUT even Selenka (the alpha whose wolf triggered the mating) was doing a double-take and thinking "wtf?" So I should have known that this was going to a more complex plot point than insta-love often is. And sure enough, it really was. I went from uncertain to adoring the story.

First of all, the characters were phenomenal. I love Selenka - she's the alpha and I think that as much as I love my alpha males, I love my alpha females a little more because it goes against the grain. And Selenka, despite the wolves being more evolved than humans and readily accepting female alphas because it's just WHO they are, had still had struggle because of both her mother (human who left her) and father (not alpha and not happy about it). She was an incredible alpha and I also loved the way that instinct took over in her relationship with Ethan. Oh and the way she and the Bear Alpha (mated to Silver, forgot his name) commiserated was equally fantastic.

As much as I loved Selenka, Ethan was just heart melting. As if I didn't already have enough reasons that Ming was on my shit list, Ethan's past added another one. Ethan is so broken; you can't help but want to wrap him up and protect him (which I think is exactly why Selenka ended up insta-mating with him). He is an arrow but wasn't raised and trained with them. He feels like an outsider. To him, the insta-mating is the best gift because he finally belongs to someone. Heart melting sadness y'all. He is incredibly powerful (hence his history with Ming) but sadly seems himself as purely an instrument of death and destruction. His path to healing was a remarkable one read.

Beyond the relationship, the plot really moved forward a lot in this book. I THOUGHT his history with Ming was going to be result in some satisfaction in that arena but sadly no, not yet. However, huge developments with the Psy-Net and the Architect, most notably the ending which is a wee-bit of a cliff. Be sure to have the next book on hand, so glad we were able to jump right into it!

I'm continuing to adore Angela Dawe's narration. With Trinity, we've seen her really flex her accent muscles, since we've been in Russia quite a bit. I'm especially impressed with her ability to give children accented voices. Such a wonderful listening experience, even at 2x, my standard listening speed.

[booksandcats]

Alright, so I downloaded this book yesterday (finally) and spent the night reading it, because I couldn't get myself to stop. I am starting again today, but I want to put up a review of my first read, before a second one might change things. I am going to struggle with putting this in the right words because I have so many thoughts on this. And no, I don't think I can be subjective with this series, I love it way too much.

First of all: Oh my GOD! I love Selenka. I love how dominant she is and how she is so clearly the Alpha and how Ethan has absolutely no problem with her strength. He supports her and isn't afraid to be second to her alpha, knight to her queen (even though she doesn't like that term, because she doesn't want him "just" as her knight and she isn't a queen). He never struggles with the fact that she is the one who calls the shots in the end (not in their relationship, but in life) and I don't know many fantasy/romance authors who write that dynamic and I am so here for it. Can't wait for Miane's book now to be honest, seeing how well Nalini writes female Alphas.

I mean, I loved all her previous books, but honestly, a few books past I was starting to wish this usual dynamic (soft, loving empath or woman or whatever gets mixed with a more dominant arrow or alpha or warrior) would get mixed up some. Simply, because it is the default setting for almost every romantic arch out there and I was growing a bit tired of it. Now Ethan is the perfect male for this story, because, yes he is an Arrow. He is strong, dangerous, it is most of the book a bit murky wether he is dominant or maybe not, but he is clearly not a soft, loving submissive. But it is equally made sure from the beginning, he is not an alpha, dominant-wise he is below Selenka period. That is what was so new here. Yes, we have seen dominant woman, warriors and such (looking at Mercy for example). It was always clear however, that their partners were more dominant. In every single novel that was the case (a few novellas don't count). Finally it is turned around and it is clear that it can be done. It takes nothing away from the excitement, I still love the male hero, still find him swoon worthy and don't feel like anything is lost. Well done for that.

The relationship between Selenka and Ethan is interesting. I was hesitant at first, because it was an instant mating and it felt off a bit. It is made clear, that in this case, just because they are mated doesn't mean the feelings and everything are there. I am usually so not there for insta-love. It feels out of place and annoying. And yes, this book takes place in a very very short time frame and yes they fall in love eventually. It felt kind of alright, but it wasn't my favorite set up. I do love how we get Ethan, who is in a really interesting mind-frame. He has spent almost his whole life behind what he calls a gray fog, something to distance himself from everything. Which is why he never felt for anything. He is pretty much suicidal and doesn't care for anything, which is why Selenkas wolf mates with him instantly. Then, he sees her, meets her, get's mated and suddenly she becomes his focus, he feels and something finally matters. Now, he dedicates himself to her, making it clear that he is hers in anyway she wants. This devotion was a bit weird in the beginning, but then again it is similar to other arrow reactions I have seen. More than one arrow has commited themselves totally to someone or something, it just isn't this intense. And to be fair, as Ethan grows more stable and connected, it changes something. His dedication never wavers, but is is more similar to the dedication of a normal relationship.

I love the BlackEdge wolves a lot. It is a shame to get dropped to get into them so suddenly, so we don't really care about the loss they suffer in the beginning of the book, but you have to start somewhere and by the end of the book, I would love a story about each of the Lieutenants, especially more background on Alia! Loved her a lot! I get that is is hard in the new Trinity Arch, how we get a new pack each time, but I also kind of love it really. I read the books several times anyway, so I feel for them instantly the second time around.

I don't really care that much about the overall story line, it was interesting, it was well done and I liked it, but for me, in this book, it was mostly background to the things going on with Selenka and Ethan and Ethan's power. It wasn't bad by any means, just not my main focus.

I loved the little parts of the Architect in this book, we are (or I am) pretty sure about their identity and, with the Scarab thing going around, it is interesting to witness how their thought process changes. Very fascinating and setting her up for an awesome plot on the future, even though we know who it is and it isn't going to be about the big reveal anymore.


So. Finally. Ethan's powers. It was made obvious about halfway through the book that it isn't the Scarab Syndrome, at least that's how I felt, but we still had to jump through some hoops to get there, which is alright. I actually love that he is an Empath. I was getting tired of the usual Nalini Sing Empath-Arrow trope (as in their coupeling), but this, where an Empath is an arrow, I love it. He isn't a usual E, yes, he is nice and caring, but in my opinion not more than any normal person. His abilities are far different and I think we are going to hear much more about them and figure out more. Because until the end of the book, we only know that he is kind of similar to Melody, that he can feel Scarabs and track them and that he can help with the dangers of their outbursts. Other than that, we know mostly about his Tk powers, which are amazing btw.

I hate how, in the last book, we were so short before Melody finally asking the NetMind and DarkMind about why they hide bonds, and now here it doesn't even get mentioned, only that the twin Minds are descendet even more and now you can't communicate with them anymore. That sucks so so hard!

Also! If the truly break the Net, I am going to scream, because no! Just no! You can't spend book after book dedicated to saving it, and then just abandon it! And if you break it, won't the NetMind and DarkMind die? or cease to exist? I need the next book so urgently.


Some small notes at the end:
-I love how Ming is hunted by everyone and how everyone puts their revenge back behind Siennas and just enjoys his downfall.
-I love the recurring Characters in this and how Nalini uses them. There have been so many books, it would be hard to get all of them all the time, but I think it makes sense how she uses them. When shields are a problem, Sasha is the best answer. Also, yes, maybe someone else might be able to answer questions or help, but, like in real life, you might not think to ask everyone you have ever known. Establishing ways to talk to each other takes time and even then, connected communication is a daily struggle. So no, I don't agree with other reviews who think some other person or group should have been called.
-Love the mention or Arwen and his relationship with a bear! I squealed.
-Love love love the growing friendship between Selenka and Valentin and how they bond over their stubborn Psy-mates.
-Love Ethans interactions with Selenka's Lieutenants and how he fits into them quite fast.

[thebookdisciple]

Alpha Night delivers readers a new Russian wolf pack (yay, back to Russia!) and a broken arrow. Singh's writing is so brilliant, you will be swept into a world you never want to leave.

The "alpha" of Alpha Night is Selenka Durev, alpha of the Blackedge wolves and the Night is Ethan Night, Arrow who was raised and torture by Ming Labon to be a weapon. These two have a mate at first sight meet cute! Ethan is broken in so many ways. First, he was isolated and tortured by Ming throughout his childhood, and now he is living a gray life with no purpose, no connections. However confusing it is to him, he is devoted to Selenka from the start. But a darkness in Ethan is causing a damage to their bond and both are determined to figure out why. Both of these characters were amazing and perfect for each other. With Selenka being an alpha, Ethan has to be tough enough to stand beside her. As he says, "I'm the knight to your queen" and its so true!

Like all of Singh's books, there are so many layers to Alpha Night. Selenka's pack has some trouble, Ethan has a dangerous power in his brain, and The Architect is still trying to bring down Trinity. All of these events weave together and build upon one another.

I love each and every story in the Psy-Changling world, and Selenka's and Ethan's story was no exception. The characters stole my heart and the world continues to enrapture. I must mention that Angela Dawe's narration continues to be flawless! She does a wonderful Russian accent that really keeps you in the story.

 

•   POV: 3rd


•   Tears: no


•   Trope: fated mates, shifters


•   Triggers: spoiler


•   Series/Standalone: series (while each book is about a different couple, there is an overarching story woven into every book)


•   Cliffhanger: spoiler


•   HEA: yes

The Carpathian series by Christine Feehan, The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward,  ...then you will probably like Alpha Night!

 

Alpha Night

 See full review on The Book Disciple

[Rowena]

Another solid paranormal romance from Nalini Singh. Ethan and Selenka were a great couple and I will happily read anything by Singh for the rest of my life. Good stuff.

[EBookObsessed]

Nalini Singh gives us our first powerful female in this latest Psy-Changeling story.

Psy Arrow Ethan Night has seen the world in a grey filter until he literally crashes into BlackEdge Alpha Selenka Durev and her wolf takes an opportunity to mate with this quiet Arrow on the edge of oblivion.

Ethan keeps to the fringes and is reserved even by Arrow standards. But unlike the rest of the Arrows, who were trained together, the former arrow leader Ming LeBon kept Ethan separated in order to train his unique ability to control light to be used as a weapon. Ethan had no desire to kill for anyone so Ming tortured and punished him by shutting him in a lightless room. Even after Ming was removed as the leader, the other Arrows didn’t even know who Ethan was or that he was kept imprisoned in such a torturous way. Aden has tried to make the Arrows into a family and has worked especially hard to include Ethan, who never even knew compassion let alone friendship.

While assigned to protect the E’s at a symposium, Ethan crashes into Selenka to protect her from an attack. She then gets hurt returning the favor by saving Ethan from a gunshot and for the first time ever something inside Ethan blossoms into full color. He has never had anyone try to protect him before. Mating at first sight is the stuff of fairy tales and soap operas, but when Selenka’s wolf suddenly claims Ethan as her mate, he couldn’t be happier with the situation although the bond hasn’t snapped together perfectly. Something is interfering with the mating bond and Ethan believes that is the fact that he is mentally damaged. Ethan also believes that the pressure building inside him is Scarab Syndrome, where a sudden increase in psychic abilities causes violent outbursts and delusions of grandeur. He doesn’t believe he has much time left before the pressure in his brain bursts free and he has already requested that Aden take care of him before he becomes a danger to those around him and the already fragile Psy-net.

Now I know it seems odd in a series where most of the characters have teeth and claw or powerful psychic abilities to say this is the first powerful female, but I can’t think of another book in the series where the female lead wasn’t somewhat submissive to the male lead once their romance was set in stone, or in cases like Silver Silence, where they were both very powerful in their own way. All the women in this series were strong women, but generally, it was the male who was the protector and took the lead in most matters and 99 percent of the time, she defers to his wishes and dominance. Here, Psy Arrow Ethan Night often defers to Blackedge Alpha Selenka Durev to make the decision of what to do next, and several times refers to himself as the Knight to her Queen. He puts himself between Selenka and danger, just like her lieutenants would, but he would neutralize that danger and wait for her decision of whether someone would be killed or simply punished.

This is was a very important distinction because Selenka is an Alpha, one of the few female alphas we have been introduced to with except, I believe, maybe the Blacksea changelings, and it would diminish her standing as Alpha is she was suddenly submissive to a mate, deferring to his every decision. While having a submissive mate isn’t bad since the submissive wolves play an important part in the pack, it wouldn’t be a good dynamic for an Alpha to have so much forced control over her mate. It would be a very unbalanced power dynamic. Ethan was strong and lethal in the way of the Psy especially an elite Arrow, but his strength didn’t challenge her standing as the Alpha especially as he was the one who kept offering himself as her knight, or as a subordinate member of her pack.

There are moments where his new found devotion come off as almost fanatical or obsessive, and I can only wonder if that is borne of his traumatic upbringing. This is the first time that Ethan has felt love and inclusion and as a mating bond isn’t breakable, Ethan throws himself in into the devotion of hew new mate.

I love Alpha Night and really enjoyed seeing this take charge Alpha female hold her pack with love and strength and you can easily see how she can hold her own territory against the likes of Kaleb Krychek and Valentin Nikolaev. Great story and certainly a worthy addition to such a fabulous series.

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

See more at EBookObssessed.com

[Linda]

*I received a free copy of Alpha Night. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review which is honest and unbiased.*

*growls* I don't know how Singh does it, but she captures this readers heart, mind and interest from the first to the last word with all her books. Alpha Night was a very strong story in the Psy-Changeling universe, and I adored both Ethan and Selenka. They were both alphas in their own right, and the way they were so understanding, giving, and loyal made my feels very strong.