Bonds of Justice (Psy/Changelings)

Sheer genius. Nalini Singh writes with amazing skill as she depicted the delicate balance of the growing attraction between the woman who cannot be touched and the man who aches to do so. By page 70 of this book, there are already several poignant scenes between the main couple that would tug at your heartstrings and make you root for an HEA for them. But most especially for Sophia Russo, who just about breaks me whenever I think about her past and her life, what it meant to be a J Psy. Sophia Russo is a Justice Psy, able to walk the twisted pathways of the criminals' minds and retrieve the needed memories to take them to justice. However, this exerts a great toll on her shields. Though she goes in every now and then for reconditioning (strengthening her shields), she's nearing the point where she'll crack and go insane, when no amount of reconditioning would help and and then, her personality--her very self--would be erased and it will be as if she never was. As a Psy, they are trained not to feel, but each moment spent with Max Shannon, a detective, as they work together on a case made her shields crack that little more. Skin contact may be normal to us, but to Sophia, each touch is magnified a thousand-fold and threatens her shield. Yet, she didn't hesitate. If she'd go, then she wanted to go knowing how Max felt against her skin. To Sophia, her near eventual demise was real, and to the reader, it felt real. There were some real touching scenes that blurred my eyesight, and I'd like to quote one of them, though it would probably be out of context to those who haven't read this and thus, wouldn't be able to grasp the richness of the emotion behind the words: "Max?" "Yes?" "Will you remember me?" His heart broke into a thousand pieces. "Always." I couldn't remember a couple who fought as fiercely and desperately for their HEA as Sophia and Max. It seems like every chapter contains some new information that contributed to the growing conviction of Sophia's eventual demise and how Max couldn't bear to lose her. I don't know how I was able to hold on to my will not to turn to the end of the book and have a peek. But I managed. Somehow. Though I know some miracle would happen to bring about Sophia's HEA with Max (this is a romance, after all), at the moment of reading, I could believe there's no hope anywhere for Sophia, that she's probably going to have one intimate, glorious moment with Max and then she'd die. That's how powerful Nalini Singh's writing is. I can feel Sophia's fragile state like a tangible object. I think it's in the careful way Sophia holds herself, the way she takes care not to touch anybody, and also in the way Max acts around her, the way his thoughts contrast with his actions. There is so much feeling going on on both sides, but because of Sophia's condition, these feelings are controlled and subdued, repressed. This, coupled with the murders that Sophia and Max are taxed to solve and the build-up regarding Sophia's end f

It is not easy to compare Bonds of Justice with other books in Psy-Changeling series. In some regards it is very similar while in others very different and though I can't seem to stop trying, I came to realize one crucial thing - it doesn't matter where it stands among others, it's worth every last penny and more. Normally, I would say I want more changeling characters for the hero role. I have to admit I wasn't overly exited after hearing the hero of Bonds of Justice was human. And especially someone who hadn't impressed me much (there still are so many characters I'm dying to read about). However, I am not ashamed to say how wrong I was. First, Nalini Singh's brilliant writing is more than enough to leave a reader satisfied. Changeling hero or not. And second, Max, despite being the member of the race considered to be the weakest, without mental abilities, or superior physical strength and senses, is a character to be admired of. Loyal, honest, smart, protective, strong and sexy. A true hero in every sense. A heroine was also a strong, intelligent and likable person. But then again, it is very rare for Nalini Singh to create a weak character. I could probably pick nits if I really wanted to (the heroine's recovery was somewhat on a miraculous side for example), but "strangely" - I won't. The few small flaws (and I really hate that word here) didn't do anything to lessen the impact of the book. The romance is not based on conflict, where one or both characters fight each other or themselves. It is a relationship based on mutual trust, growing feelings and not an instant carnal experience. The story has such a slow emotional build-up, the suspense is a killer. The tension - thick enough to cut with a knife. Add an intricate world full of twists an unpredictable turns, a mysterious storyline, a much loved secondary characters (Lucas, Sascha, Vaughn, Clay, Nikita, Kaleb, etc.) and we've got a fantastic read. With Bonds of Justice written on the cover. A highly recommended book!

Max Shannon is a human cop for the New York Enforcement with a gift that allows him peace. His mind has a strong natural shield that excludes him from the suggestions that are sometimes planted in his fellow officers' minds by the Psy. This has also precluded him from rising in the ranks, but Max doesn't mind as long as he is sure he's the one making the decisions in regards to his cases. Knowing this it comes as a huge surprise when he's tapped as a special investigator by a Psy Councilor, and not just any Psy Councilor, but Nikita Duncan herself. And he won't be working alone... Sophia Russo has been a J (Justice) for over 12 years. The long active period has left her with terrifyingly thin shields and she knows it's just a matter of time before she's called in for that final rehabilitation that all Js must either succumb to, or escape from through death. Having first met Max on the case of a sociopath, Sophia was intrigued by, and attracted to, him - something a perfect Psy would never be. Sophia is a long ways from the perfect Psy though, and has been for longer than she's been a J. Knowing her interest in Max will only lead her more quickly to her final end, she's relieved (and disappointed) when she's out of his presence. But then she's called to be Max's liaison and partner on this new deadly case for Nikita. Can they find out who's killing those close to Nikita before they strike again? Will the bonds Max and Sophia form be strong enough to save them both? I have to admit, in this world of the Psy/Changelings I was not that interested in the main couple going into this book because of the human hero. I'm not afraid to admit when I am wrong. And boy was I wrong. At a glance humans are the very lowest of the three races. They don't have the mental abilities that the Psy do. They don't have the strength and enhanced senses that the Changelings do. They're thought of as less by many Psy and Changelings. But Max is a fantastic hero. One hundred percent human, he's got an intelligent, quick mind and strong ethics, added to the fact that he's very protective, totally loyal, persistant and incredibly, absolutely sexy-as-hell. Sophia, on the other hand, is kind, caring, smart and intriguing all with an underlying core of steel. She's strong and vulnerable. Sweet and sexy (as Max would say). She's been a J for longer than most others, and yet she continues to push that, in the end, things are fair. It's such a likable quality, and one that could easily push her over the edge into either too good, or not good enough. The balance is perfectly attained, and Sophia is a character that I'll love for many years to come. She faces some of the same issues that most of the Psy that are still in the Net, but with new, heart-breaking twists. Max and Sophia are now some of my favorite characters in the story, and I hope that we get to see more of them in the future. There is a lot going on in Bonds of Justice, with the Psy, the

Funny how readers prefer either the Psy or the Changelings. Could it mirror something in our individual personalities? I'm in the Psy camp. And I can't wait for Kaleb Krychek's book - bring him on! You can read these as standalones, but I recommend starting with the first and working your way through in order to fully appreciate the world Nalini Singh has built -- where J-psys scan memories of criminals and transmit them to others, and where they can kill; where TK-psys teleport, M-psys heal. And on the Changeling front, clans of leopards, wolves, bears and more. And it's all so normal! I'm not going to summarize the plot other than to mention there is a jet setting, wealthy serial killer and psychopath with an off the charts intelligence, a human cop and a J-psy working on a case together, both with fractured pasts; and a conspiracy of PurePsy that infiltrates the Psy's highest governing body, the Council, and is forcing a rift in the Psy Net. There's enough intrigue and suspense in this romance to keep you riveted to the end; and I agree the Epilogue was unnecessary and didn't add to the book.

Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh Paranormal Romance- July 6th, 2010 4 1/2 stars Bonds of Justice has everything! Mystery, high tension, sexy characters and startling imagination make this a book you won't want to stop. Nalini Singh's lasted Psy installment is a worthy new addition to this groundbreaking series filled with high tension and charismatic characters. If you haven't read this series I would suggest starting with the first book Slave to Sensation because although the author's writing is very clear and easy to read many characters from previous books return and play integral parts that build upon this story's plot. In Body of Justice we are introduced to the J Psy or Justice Psy. They are rare and unfortunately deemed as expendable. Used by the Psy until they become a risk to society. The J are valuable because they can retrieve memories from criminals and these memories can be used in court to convict. However, having these abilities, is a steep price to pay. When Js take on the memories of the killers' sick and twisted minds it slowly begins to degrade their mental shields. If their shields collapse it results in their mental breakdown and they become a danger to the public. Before this happens they are 'reconditioned' to strengthen their shields. But there is a limit to how much reconditioning can help and when treatment is no longer viable, J Psys are 'rehabilitated.' A kind word for being mentally wiped clean and essential turned into living vegetables. Unfortunately, there is no way out except for the Js to commit suicide. Even if they wanted to find another job because their skills are so rare once they are discovered as a J no one will hire them as anything else. Sophia Russo is a J Psy and she knows her time is coming. She can feel her shields fading and soon her mind will no longer be stable enough to hold against the nightmares that she constantly retrieves from the sociopaths she investigates. But she is determined to finish her last case with a serial killer who loves playing games. He is obsessed with Sophia but she knows she must try to hold out. She is driven to discover where he has hidden the bodies of the women he has killed. Resigned to her fate, Sophia contemplates suicide but she is surprised when she is assigned yet another case involving the handsome and elusive human, Detective Max Shannon. Max is a cop with a terrible past. He has never let himself be open in any relationship but he recognizes in Sophia a kindred spirit. He is very attracted to her and determined to make her his own. He counts himself lucky when he discovers that he and Sophia are placed on an important case together. They are tasked with discovering why a high placed Psy Councilor's staff is being systematically murdered and how. Max knows his time together with Sophia is perfect to lay his claim and break down her cold Psy walls. But he is shocked and tormented when he discovers Sophia is living on borrowed time. And to make matter