This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Published by Berkley
Released on June 9, 2020
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
The Delight
A symposium threat and a brutal Changeling murder brings together a fiery alpha wolf female and an icy, broken Arrow who must navigate the ties to each other, the devious minds behind the attacks, and the count down to Scarab Syndrome taking over his mind. There is no doubt that any new story in this series will be enjoyed. The surprise is always going to be how much.
Review
Alpha Night is the fourth in the Psy-Changeling Trinity second season and the nineteenth overall Psy-Changeling book. Though this is a paranormal romance series, it really works best read in order so the strong series arc and large cast of character connections make sense.
Selenka Durev is a powerful alpha wolf of a pack that shares Moscow with the bears under Valentin. She thought that bear was something when he mated powerful Psi, Silver Mercant, but after having an Arrow with a strong, dangerous gift save her life and the lives of everyone at the E-Psi symposium and his brutal honesty and loyalty to the tie that forms between them, she can now see the attraction. Her Arrow may be broken and their mate bond abnormal, but Ethan is hers and she knows that he will never abandon her or feel threatened by her alpha strength and nature like her bitter father. She will make the male see his own worth and as she wraps him up in wolf pack care and her own acceptance and desire. She will fight for him when he won’t fight for himself though for her, she knows he is willing to kill.
Ethan Knight was taken as a child, put in a dark hole, and formed by Ming’s brutality into a killer and a savage. He knows he’s messed up and unlike even his fellow Arrows who all went through the vigorous and rough training to be formed into what they are. Beyond that, he feels the pressure building in his mind of the insidious Scarab Syndrome that will eventually turn him into a crazed monster that must be put down before he takes out a bunch of people. His Arrow Squad leader, Aden, and his fellow Arrows have tried to get through to him, but all those years of isolation took their toll. It is only when a fiery alpha truly sees him, accepts him for who he is, and desires him that he comes to life. He will do anything for Selenka including stand at her back while she leads her wolves and searches for the people harrowing the Trinity Accord and the scavengers who are attacking her pack.
This was another fabulous entry in the series that takes us back to Moscow where the first Psy-Changeling Trinity book took place introducing a new main circle of characters. I was happy to see the bears and Silver back in this story acting as secondary to new characters from the local wolf pack. The overall fight against the Consortium who are trying to undermine the new Trinity Accord and the desperate battle of the Psi to save the Psi Net are still going on, but this also includes a more specific conflict that involves the Arrow unit of the Psi and a strong local wolf Changeling pack.
The author has a wonderful gift of building up her character’s backgrounds and the development as individuals and their romance so that it comes in layers and not all at once while, at the same time, presenting a suspenseful action plot that builds to an exciting climax. I enjoyed figuring out what was going on with Ethan’s raging psi gift and also working out what was going down in Selenka’s pack territory.
Alpha Night introduces a pair of improbable lovers who are opposites though both strong alpha powers in their own right. Selenka and Ethan work so well as a team and as a growing bonded pair of mates. Selenka is a dominant wolf and has been alone in the midst of pack and friends with whom she can never show them everything because she is their alpha. Ethan is a gift to her because he is her equal, but he is not pack. She can be just Selenka with him and, when she must take up her alpha mantle, he is not threatened and supports her. Most of the time love at first sight doesn’t work well for me, but this was different. The bond was right away, but the relationship came along steadily. I liked how it was done.
There was an interesting twist in the situation with the Psi Net and I’m curious to see what that will mean. Just like I am eager to get the master mind of the Consortium unmasked. Each visit with the Psy-Changeling world is utter delight and I can’t wait for the next installment in the series. If you love a powerful world building, characters, suspenseful plotting, and romance in your Paranormal Romances then give this series a go.
My thanks to Berkley for the providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Challenges Met
New Release #69
Literary Pickers #83 purple cover
COYER Quarantine #43
Romance BINGO #2 PNR
Romanceopoly #47 Fated Folly
Preview
About Nalini Singh
I’ve been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There’s no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I’ve worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer’s mill.
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Even though I haven’t read Singh’s work, I’ve heard that every one of her books are pretty amazing. Glad you enjoyed this one so much! Hugs, RO
Yes, her reputation of being a sensational author is well-deserved. Hugs back, Radiant Ro!
So fun! I really must read more by this author
You really must, Carole! 🙂
I loved seeing Silver and Valetin again, too! That ending, right? I’m wondering who our next couple is. Glad to see you loved this, too, Sophia Rose! 🙂
The bears are the best and I did love seeing Silver and Valentin be a strong part of this one. Yeah, I’m curious who gets next. Maybe one of the sea changelings again. 🙂
wow that’s a lot of books. wonderful review
sherry @ <a href=”http://www.fundinmental.com/”> fundinmental</a>
There are several, but they are well worth wading in on, Sherry. 🙂
yes Robin loved this one too. I’ve only read the first in the series so I need to get going.
They were just such a great couple. Oh yes, you have some good ones to look forward to.
The way you describe the build-up of the character’s, their backgrounds, and romance sounds fabulous. It’s why I love slow burn romance so much. It pays off to be patient, and then as new nuggets of information come to life, as well as more layers to a character, and more passion, and intensity from the buildup of a romance; it adds depth and entertainment. Fantastic Review Sophia!
Oh man, that is exactly it, Lindy. Great description of what is best about a slow burn. This pair was so perfect for each other even from the beginning. Hope you get the chance at them. Thanks, Lindy!
Hello !
Great review. By the way, you have a nice blog. I liked it.
If you want you can visit mine and we can follow us back each other.
See you !
https://mariainwonderlandbook.blogspot.com/
https://mariainmagazine.blogspot.com/
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the invitation, Maria!
Nice review! This really was a good one – so much happening in the overall story arc, plus a fresh, unique romance/mating.
Thanks! It was different from the others in the series, but still fabulous.
Great review you have here Sophia. I am so thrilled that you loved this one as well. I just adored this complex pairing. Ethan and Selenka fit so well together.
Yes! I think she is a genius at showing how a romance can work and also showcasing their individuality.