Nalini Singh

The next novel in the mesmerizing Psy-Changeling Trinity series by New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh.

Storm Echo

Lover of Romance 

Hold onto her, onto the spark of joy inside your heart
  



Storm Echo is the most recent release into the Psy Changeling Trinity series and in this story we have something a bit different than what we have seen in the previous books in the series. We, of course, get introduced to some new characters within this story, but also get taken back to the DarkRiver pack which was a delightful surprise. I pretty much went into this book blind, I just have faith in Nalini Singh and her writing. Her writing style just connects to me. As many of you know my health and attention have been off in my reading but this book has really brought me back into it. Storm Echo was such a beautiful story, and I became so endeared to these characters from their “meet cute” all the way to them working through their relationship and discovering what they were capable of together. It was quite interesting to see certain plot points that are layered within the story. It was an experience being able to experience this journey alongside our delightful characters from our main protagonists to the supporting cast that is built within the story.


  
    When I’m around you, you’re all I see. You’re like a star, you shine so bright. If I had my way, I’d keep you forever.
  


Storm Echo sets off with our hero and heroine, Ivan and Soleil, meeting in the forest where Ivan is bowled over by Soleil in her grace and beauty, and femininity. He only wants to learn more about her and is intrigued. Ivan and Soleil discover a sweet love in such a short time but then a horrific attack to Soleil’s pack, brings her severely injured and Ivan saving her life but then they are separated for a space of time. Now when Ivan finds Soleil again, her memories and body have not fully recovered and even though her memory of him is scattered, her wolf recognizes him as theirs and will do anything to keep him by her side. Soleil trusts in the instincts that her wolf has, but she is on a dangerous mission and the last thing that she needs is the distraction of him. But even though Ivan knows that Soleil is out for revenge against the man she believes to be behind the devastation to her pack, he is willing to risk his life to stand by her side and be her protector. But not everything is as it seems, and Soleil finds family and connection within the pack she believes to have destroyed her pack. She finds home and peace and with Ivan by her side, she is willing to do whatever it takes.


  
    The only person who gets to decide my future is me. And I’ve decided that I’m going to be yours.
  


I was stunned by the power of this story and I just wanted to stay within this story and I never wanted to let go of Ivan and Soleil. Their story was such a beautiful one and seeing the various facets of their relationship was such beauty and Nalini Singh takes us on a journey here that is epic and endearing and poignant in the small quiet moments. There are heartbreaking aspects to this story (so check the triggers on this one here before reading) but I adored the tension that is built within this story. This book takes place after the silence has fallen for the Psy but the Psy are learning who they are. Ivan is part of a family that has always had some emotion and connection to each other. But his mind is about to fall and he refuses to take down those that he loves because his mind could be a weapon if he isn’t careful. The last thing he ever expected was to fall in love with Soleil or find such a connection to her. And now the DarkRiver pack is involved and he doesn’t want to put others in danger. Soleil is determined to keep Ivan no matter what it takes. There is a fierceness in this heroine (as we have seen in this series) in how the women just fight for their mates just as equally or more so as we seek from the heroes. Soleil may be a healer, but she is changeling and fierce in her love for him. Soleil is one of those heroines that has so much depth to her. The way she is willing to fight for the relationship was such a beautiful experience and you just want to cheer her on throughout all of this one here. I was amazed at how she really tested those boundaries and discovered her own strength. We also see some great discoveries for Ivan’s side of the relationship. He doesn’t want to put Soleil in danger, but he won’t drive her away either. You see how torn he is in how he doesn’t want to risk her but also can’t let her go. We of course get some fun times with the changelings here and I adored seeing so many old favorites within this book and seeing a healer and alpha connection form was so beautiful. I loved how Soleil and Lucas connect to each other. The way that Singh writes pack dynamics never ceases to amaze me. There is something so poignant about these connections, the intimacy, and strong familial bonds is enthralling at times and the reader aches for it to be real. Its written in such a manner that astounds the reader every time you immerse yourself into this world.

Overall I found Storm Echo to be a romance that astounds and delves deeply; its a story that will gravitate the reader to the story in a unique way that you won’t want to let go of. Its a story of healing, deep layered emotion, the strength of one’s self, and the value of family connection and fierce love that is compounded into an essence of beauty and lively delights!


  
    I’m with you. No matter what. Always and forever and back again.

Nat T

You'd think that 20+ books into a series would have dulled my interest by now but there's gotta be crack or some magic in this world that Nalini has built. Spoilers ahead!

(view spoiler)[This entry starts a bit slow with our latest Merchant, Ivan, who kills people because his mom was a druggie who did Jax while she was pregnant with him and that obviously made him less than perfect. I never quite understood his "quirk" but as this is a safe space, I will also admit that I haven't understand many of the "quirks" in these last batch of novels. Just know he's special and it's all doom and gloom. He meets a girl and they have insta love! which is weird. By this point I think the book is going to be boring but then things happen similar to An Affair To Remember and they end up leaving bits of themselves in each other. 

Then there's an unexpected time skip and that's when the book jumps from a 2 star to a 5 star. We actually learn the name of the female lead and Soleil is a lot more fun that she appeared before the time skip. Before she was giving manic pixie girl and I truly appreciate Nalini for introducing her for real because we got to know more about HER and that gave a bit more credence to the their relationship. Her connection to the Dark River pack, being a healer, her past with her parents and former pack, etc. made her feel like a fully fleshed out person.

Knowing more about Soleil also helped me start to believe in her relationship with Ivan and I do feel like they're a perfect match. They both need packs or family but they also need the lull of just being together. They had similarly unpleasant childhoods even though they were also surrounded by love. One thing that the story does very well is display the complexities of flawed love from parental units and how that shapes us adults. It would have been easy to have them trauma bond into a relationship and continue that cycle of trauma but they both had to come to terms with their conflicted feelings about love for their family and for each other. I don't see that often in romance novels. The romance also had this natural ebb and flow that was perfectly balanced with the instability of their world. It was whimsical and dreamy at the start. There was some heart-breaking moments. But their sexual chemistry is off the chart AND I liked them in their quiet more chill moments. This romance gave us everything!

Lastly, what grounded this book (and most of this series) is the relationships we the readers have with this grand cast of characters. Seeing the leads interact with Luc, Ena, Tasmyn and Arwen was especially heart-warming. Family is everything as Dom Toretto always says and that has kept me reading and re-reading this series even after all these years. When Soleil joined Dark River, it was a beautiful feeling. Like coming home after a long time away. 

I truly cherish this series and I can't even feel sad with the knowledge that it (as everything) with come to end one day. Getting to experience it, like a perfect day, makes it worth that inevitability  (hide spoiler)]

I have been reading this series since the beginning with slave to sensation and every year without fail I order the next installment but I'm glad this one went back to its roots with old familiar faces from the first books mingled with the new to tackle the threat they face together and now I'm left wanting more I need the next book now the Scott's and ming Leoben were a problem from the start and now there back.... 

This book was so good I loved that he didn't give up on her and she found a family that she deserved so much just a good book

Manda

I have been reading this series since the beginning with slave to sensation and every year without fail I order the next installment but I'm glad this one went back to its roots with old familiar faces from the first books mingled with the new to tackle the threat they face together and now I'm left wanting more I need the next book now the Scott's and ming Leoben were a problem from the start and now there back.... 

This book was so good I loved that he didn't give up on her and she found a family that she deserved so much just a good book

Storm Echo

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