Allegiance of Honor

Starred review from April 25, 2016
Singh (Shards of Hope) once again delivers an epic delight with a large ensemble cast in the 15th Psy-Changeling paranormal, which wraps up several significant story threads. The war is over and the psychic Psy, shape-shifting changelings, and ordinary humans have all begun the slow, tortuous process of learning to live together without fear. Fear is the primary motivation for those who oppose the tentative peace. Naya, the toddler daughter of Sascha and Lucas (from 2006’s Slave to Sensation), is at the center of the latest maelstrom. She is the first of her kind, a changeling with Psy powers. When a plot to kidnap Naya is uncovered, beloved faces from the DarkRiver, SnowDancer, Forgotten, and Psy populations all play integral role in protecting her as well as assisting the BlackSea changelings in tracking lost members who have gone missing. No single couple or group is favored in this sweeping, somewhat futuristic fantasy. Romance, family, and loyalty are celebrated even as the dangers of a brave new world without war are explored. Agent: Nephele Tempest, Knight Agency.

Narrator Angela Dawe returns listeners to Nalini Singh's future world of the psy/changeling. About a hundred years in the future, the earth's population is made up of psychics, changelings, and humans. The story has no specific hero; instead it catches listeners up with characters from past stories. A kidnapping, the search for a lost love, and an anticipated birth add to the story. Dawe expertly narrates, voicing the multiple characters. She uses subtle inflections to differentiate each individual, especially the voices of the children. Familiarity with the series isn't necessary. Listeners can use this volume as a starting point to enjoy Singh's world. S.B. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine