Paperback Reader

**GUEST REVIEW**

Book description:

Brenna, a she-wolf Psy, was abducted by a serial killer-and returned a monster. The only person who can help her is Judd, a telekinetic and Council defector. But the passion burning between them could push them both over the edge of sanity.

Alyssa's thoughts:

A woman overcomes the effects of an attack against her--a classic story in romance. A skilled writer can take a romance staple plot and turn it into a compelling story. Such is the case with Nalini Singh's Caressed by Ice.

Set in the future, this book is the third in a series about Psys, changelings, and humans whose worlds collide. The Psy reject emotion, preferring instead to focus on logic and the mind. This puts them in direct conflict with changelings, who are emotional and physical people.

When Caressed by Ice opens, changeling Brenna Kincaid, a member of the wolf SnowDancer clan, is recovering from a mental attack by one of the Psy. Some time has passed since the attack, and Brenna has been healing with the help of another Psy.

With Brenna, Singh creates a nuanced portrait of a woman who has must rebuild her life after it's been decimated. This struggle is realistically portrayed as a complicated one. Brenna's brothers have been overprotective since her return. And she's attracted to the one man--Psy-defector Judd Lauren--who has powers similar to those of the Psy who tortured her.

Brenna is at once stubborn and sympathetic. She's a complex woman with strengths and weaknesses. Her need to create a new life is understandable, and she is determined for Judd to be part of that new life.

The challenge comes from an elemental source. Judd's identity as a Psy means he suppresses emotion and touch. This becomes an impediment because even the lightest touch causes him pain. Therefore, Judd is a man who cannot give her the physical affection she craves even though he is the one she wants. This makes the personal and emotional conflict very real.

For his part, Judd knows the risks but cannot keep himself from braving them. He's conflicted because he believes he is not the best choice for her, but he doesn't want anyone else to have her. He also sees no way to be with her without leading to great injury and worse.

The path to resolution isn't easy, but that makes it all the more rewarding to read.

The first two books in Singh's Psy-Changeling series focus on a Psy heroine and changeling hero. Caressed by Ice takes a different approach and a fresh look at the world.

Though part of a series, Caressed by Ice provides enough world-building and context to make the story stand. Readers would probably appreciate it more if the series is read from the beginning.

Caressed by Ice offers a fast-paced read about an original world. In a paranormal subgenre packed with vampires and werewolves, this book is solid and original.

You can visit Nalini here and buy this book here and here.