Review + Giveaway: Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh

Title: Bonds of Justice
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy/Changeling #8
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: July 6, 2010
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:
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 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 a catastrophic mental fracture…

Sophia Russo is a Justice-Psy, cursed with the ability to retrieve memories from men and women so twisted even veteran cops keep their distance. Appointed as Max’s liaison with the Psy, she finds herself fascinated by this human, her frozen heart threatening to thaw with forbidden emotion. But, her mind filled with other people’s nightmares, other people’s evil, she’s standing on the border between sanity and a silken darkness that urges her to take justice into her own hands, to become judge, jury…and executioner…


Nalini Singh is one of my favourite authors, so I was very happy when I got the opportunity to review this book. I was a little hesitant when I heard that the main couple was going to be a human/psy pairing, but Nalini makes it work beautifully.

We met Max in Mine to Possess, where he helped Tally and Clay find the missing Forgotten children. He's a cop with the special "ability" of having a shield psy can't penetrate, which means they can't influence him.
He ends up working a case with Sophia Russo, a Justice psy who is very close to breaking Silence, and being rehabilitated permanently.

Sophia is a very interesting character. With her, we learn a lot more about Psy society and some very well kept secrets. She's very brave, and while she knows she doesn't have a lot of time left, she's convinced to make the best of it, especially when she meets Max. Her ability reminded me of Faith's one, the Forseer, and some of the consequences of their abilities, such as having nightmares, are the same in both of them.
Max is a clever, competent cop with a firm sense of justice. He has some issues with his past which makes it difficult for him to get close to anyone. Sophia gets under his defences and he tries to deal with the feelings she evoques in him plus all the problems those feelings can bring up. I really liked the way their relationship developed and how they took thier time with each other.

A few loved characters come back in this book. Sasha & Lucas have to deal with Nikita plus we learn more about Sasha's abilities. We see a little bit of Faith, Clay and Tally, while they try to help Max & Sophia and I know there are a lot of Kaleb fans out there, so all I'll say about him is that after I read the book, I had a lot more questions than before. I wished I could have seen more of the wolves, but I guess I'll have to wait for Indigo's book for that.

The plot moved along nicely. It was interesting seeing the inside of Nikita's bussiness operations while trying to figure out who was targeting her people. The world the author created is fascinating as usual and I love how in each new book we find out a little more about it. The plot arc kept advancing in this book and I can't wait to see how everything unfolds in the next 2 books.

All in all, this was a great entry of the Psy/Changeling series with a great romance and an interesting mystery, and while some parts of the end seemed a little too convenient, I really enjoyed this book. Now I can't wait to get my hands on Indigo's book, 6 months seems like such a long time!


Memorable Lines:

"Do you think," he said, slamming the door on those memories, "that Sasha is flawed?"

"It doesn't matter what I think, only what Councilor Duncan believes."

"You didn't strike me as a coward, Sophia."

Utter stillness. "What is it you want from me?" It was an outwardly calm question, but he was certain he heard a bewildered vulnerability beneath the surface.

It made him feel like a bastard. "I'm just trying to know who you are." And why she spoke to a part of him that had gone quiet a long, long time ago.

"Nobody," she said, her tone so flat, he could've imagined the soft-voiced woman who'd told him his nightmares would pass. "I'm nobody."


Next Book:
Play of Passion - Psy/Changeling #9 - November 2, 2010.


Rating: 1/2



* Thanks so much to the publisher and Nalini's publicist for providing me with a review copy plus one copy for the giveaway.

Giveaway

I have one copy of Bonds of Justice to giveaway to a lucky winner.
To enter all you have to do is fill out this FORM and answer this question in the comments: Which one of Nalini's books or couples is your favourite? Why? And if you haven't read any of her books yet, which of all her books sounds best to you?
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Ends on July 6th.