Slave to Sensation
Addictive
Page turning
Easy read

Slave to Sensation Psy-Changeling, #1

Nalini Singh2010
In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of 'rehabilitation' - the complete psychic erasure of her personality ... Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy co-existence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murder of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion - and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities - or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation ...
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Reviews

Photo of Madi Van Houten
Madi Van Houten@madi_vh
3.5 stars
Jul 3, 2024

Though it’s the first in my favorite romance series and for that I want to shower it with stars, it is one of the weaker installments of the series. But! Sets up the world and the cast of characters for the rest.

+3
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Lover of Romance @addictedtoromance
5 stars
Jan 1, 2023

Sasha is a Psy, having grown up where her own mother is part of their great council, and having to never experience any emotion. But Sasha is different than the rest of the Psy, she does feel emotion, but tries to hide it from the other Psy so that the unthinkable doesn't happen. Then her mother tells her that she will be liason of sorts with a changeling, more specifically Luc Hunter the Alpha of his pack. Lucas, has always had a certain distaste for the Psy, however when he meets Sasha he thinks differently. He knows that there is something different about her, but he can't put his finger on what exactly there is that makes her stand out from the other Psy. As they work together, in trying to discover a missing girl, and a man who keeps on murdering innocent changeling women, they start to draw closer together, despite the fact that the odds are definitely against them. Both Lucas and Sasha will have to work in unison to solve the greatest mystery and to come out both alive. Will the love that they have built be enough to stand against everything that stands against them? I loved reading Lucas's story, I have read a few other books within this series, and I have always wanted to read Lucas and Sasha's story, they always seemed so connected and in tune with one another in the other books, that I definitely was thrilled when I got my hands on this one at the library. I found it to be such a riveting tale and had a suspenseful intensity about it, that really kept me turning the pages, and I could hardly put it down. The passion between these two is definitely steaming, and will fog up your windows for sure. I also loved the plot of this book, it definitely was one rollercoaster after another, and left me wondering what was going to happen next and always surprising me till the very end.

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Haley Murray@fortunesdear
2 stars
Oct 4, 2022

** spoiler alert ** Looking back at this made me remove a star. It was very readable but I just don’t think that in a romance I should ever believe that the main hero would willingly kill the heroine. There was a moment where it went there which just left a bad taste in my mouth.

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Aditi@phoenixs
3 stars
Aug 15, 2022

The world was really interesting. I liked the dynamics between the two main characters. I’m not the biggest fan of the alpha male trope but it wasn’t absolutely unbearable here as I’d thought it would be. It was also made better by the fact that the main character had her own powers which were actually useful and she could stand on her own against the hero if needed. Both their back stories were well developed and I really liked the found family aspect of the story as well.

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Manda@manda86
5 stars
Jul 28, 2022

Love these books I read this book for the first time a few years back now bought a paper back from my local bookshop and was hooked from the first word I've read it so much that the pages had started to come loose so I bought an kindle version only a couple of days ago and it was like reading Whole new book there were things added to it that were not in the print version and it didn't disappoint quite the opposite to be honest definatly buying the rest of the series if there are anything like this one. To those Neto Nalini Singh this is what is called season 1 and she has just begun season 2 great books you just have to read over and over.

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JoLee@cozysundayreads
4 stars
Jun 26, 2022

Rating: 4 stars: Loved It Spoil Free Review Back when I started Psy-Changeling series I was and still am a huge Christine Feehan fan and it was her quote on the cover ("I love this book! It's a must read for all my fans.") that got me interested in wanting to read this series. Instantly fell in love with Psy-Changeling series and Nalini Singh writing style. Slave To Sensation is one of those novels I would love to go back and read for the first time and experience the unique world between Changeling's and Psy that Nalini Singh has brilliantly created. Loved that she brought a mixture of sci fi and paranormal together. For me I have never and still have not read anything like this. Loved the layers that were peeled away little by little in Sascha's character. She starts off emotionless and a bit spineless. But that is how she was raised. Enjoyed how she gradually showed her emotions and for sure got a backbone especially when it came to Lucas. Sascha is a sweetheart once it came to Lucas pack. Now Lucas is what I love in my cat shifter heroes. He is protective of the ones he loves but is also a sweetheart. Working side by side with Sascha his cat and him become infatuated with her. He becomes possessive and protective of her. He has an alpha male attitude but knows when to take down a notch when it comes to her. I loved that there is no insta love, readers are right along with these characters getting to know each other and rooting for them to become a couple and once they do they are hot fan your-self together. Nalini Singh does an outstanding job at bringing many characters together with out taking away from the main characters. I love in my novels secondary characters and when done right add so much to the story line. All secondary characters play into her story line and she never bombards readers with too much info on them. She gives readers just enough info to where readers want to know more about them. All the different characters with the mixed breeds, wolf and cat shifters and even the psy bring Slave To Sensation to life. Everyone has their own voice and personality. Even though this novel is Paranormal Romance her characters and world feel real. I love how they are all known to the world and live everyday life like real families. For me I love mix breeds and the journey with Cat and Wolf Shifters working together to find the killer was at times a hoot. Nalini Singh is the queen of Alpha Male heroes. I loved that there are many alpha males in her story and they never feel out of place. I have fallen a tad behind in Psy-Changeling series and excited I am able to partake in 2014 Psy-Changeling read a long hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup and Aly Miscellany. Look for forward to next up for Feb. Vaughn story in Visions of Heat (Psy-Changeling #2). Wickedly Delicious Book Blog

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Sarah Escorsa@shrimpy
4 stars
Mar 8, 2022

I'm not usually a fan of romance and I'm pretty new to PNR so I didn't really know what to expect from this book. I've had the whole series on my Kindle for some time but wasn't planning on reading it until Sarah and Angela ganged up on me. Ah, good old peer pressure never fails! So I decided to give the series a try despite the cheesy titles and ridiculous book covers. Well, I have to say, thank you so much ladies because this was fun! I expected silly romance but what did I get? Complex, well thought-out, refreshingly original world building. I've always been a shifter fan (what can I say? I can't resist domineering/possessive Alphas who need taming^^) and the idea of mixing them up with the Psy (a race with psychic abilities) was just pure brilliance. Cold, analytical Psy vs emotional, tactile, unpredictable Changelings? This is one world with huge potential. I can't wait to see what Singh comes up with in the next instalments. There are so many possibilities here that I can't see how this series could ever get boring *crosses fingers* If I wasn't feeling so lazy I'd give more details about the world but I am so if you want to know more about just go read the book:p Trust me when I say that this is good. Really good. I think the main weakness of the book is the plot. Hold on, no that's not right. It's not the plot, it's the resolution. No, that's not right either. The plot is fast-paced and pretty good but its resolution is disappointing because of the culprit's identity. I guessed who it was very early on. I kept hoping there would be a twist and it would turn out to be someone else but it didn't happen. This is part of the reason I didn't give this book a 4. It was still a very entertaining story though. Singh's writing flows effortlessly despite the changes in POV. They can ruin a book when badly handled but here they only add to the story dynamics. The characters? Sascha is great. I just love how complex her character is, the way she constantly fights with herself and struggles with her arising emotions. She's very straightforward, strong-willed and isn't easily pushed around. That's my kind of girl! Lucas is the designated possessive/stubborn/sexy Alpha. I have to admit that he's a bit on the light side as Alphas go and not as aggravating or overbearing as I expected. It doesn't mean I didn't like him though and I wouldn't mind having this particular cat to tame;o) As I said before I'm not very big on romance but I have to say this one was handled fairly well by Singh as it wasn't too overwhelming. It's more insta-lust than insta-love which fits the story perfectly. The relationship between Sascha & Lucas slowly evolves throughout the book and although you know from the start where it's heading Singh manages to keep things interesting until the end. Okay, so it takes a while to get to the steamy sex scenes but the dream trick adds just enough lust and sexual tension to make it worth the wait. And yes, the sex scenes are pretty hot^^ Now the ending of the book is a bit too HEA for my taste but I guess it's pretty much a requirement in this genre so I'll try to get over it. A surprisingly good read which leaves me wanting more. Next please!

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Kelly Casey@caseygirlreads
4 stars
Mar 8, 2022

I started this book as an audio-book, but had to quickly switch to eBook because the book jumps straight into an info-dump and the narrator was very monotone. The ebook I read was free online, and therefore I cannot attest to the quality or accuracy of everything I read. What I did read was a great paranormal romance with an alternate history. I thought the concept was great, and although it was at times info-dumpy it still was a great world to read about. I really liked the main character Sascha, and I eventually warmed up to Lucas. I thought that Sascha's character development was fantastic, and I loved the way her powers allowed for some great dream scenes. I'm not sure where the story is headed or what characters we will see next, but I am excited to continue the series. I also want to note that although this book was written 16 years ago it did not seem outdated. I would recommend giving this series a try if you like futuristic paranormal romances.

+7
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Yaneli | @aquariusbookadventures @aquariusbooks
5 stars
Jan 13, 2022

Somebody slap me for waiting so long to read this😭

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Brittany@brittany_athena
5 stars
Nov 28, 2021

If you want an awesome paranormal romance series with decent plot, humans, psy, and cat/wolf shifters take a look at this series definitely a great pick for people who like character centered stories 😊

+3
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Sarina Sherman@sarina
3 stars
Nov 25, 2021

3ish stars. Honestly I started this book back in May, and couldn’t bring myself to finish it then. The whole psy thing was hard for me to get into. I picked it back up yesterday because I keep seeing that the books get better. The second half I actually enjoyed. Definitely gonna read the second and see if I’ll continue with the series

Photo of Olivera Mitić
Olivera Mitić@olyschka
3 stars
Nov 24, 2021

Hm, recimo 3.5/5🌟 Prva polovina je bila tačno ona vrsta sapunice od urbane fantastike koja mi se čitala, a onda se i suviše razvodnjila pred kraj. Svakako planiram da nastavim sa serijalom, dosta mi se dopao svet, a, ako zanemarimo očajan naslov i još gore korice, ovo u suštini i nije za bacanje.

Photo of Cheryl Hedlund
Cheryl Hedlund@cappuccino136
4 stars
Nov 17, 2021

An engaging science-fiction fantasy world. Humans have diverged into three sub-species you might call it. Psy, who have psychic powers and have purged all of their emotions. Changelings, who can shape shift between human form and an animal. And basic, regular humans. There is a lot of politics and tension between the three groups, with Psy being an elite, ruling class because they control a lot of the wealth. Equal weight in this novel is given to the romance story and a serial murderer mystery which gives a lot of the worldbuilding. The two threads of story really are woven together and cannot be fully separated from each other. It was well paced and exciting. Very interesting and enjoyable. I want to read more in this series to see how the larger story develops. It seems there is a war brewing.

Photo of Kayla Smith
Kayla Smith@kayla404
4 stars
Nov 17, 2021

This was much better than I expected! It took me awhile to feel fully engrossed and it felt a little info-dumpy at times but I'm excited to read on in the series.

Photo of Sara Gaspar Farinha
Sara Gaspar Farinha@sarafarinha
4 stars
Oct 29, 2021

My first book choice for Reading Romances Challenge was Psy-Changelings Series ‘Slave to Sensation’ by Nalini Sigh. Since its Alternate Realities month I decided to give a shot at the Psy-Changelings Series, and I’m very glad I did. I really love the constant twists and turns of this new kind of society, one that tries to accommodate three types of races: human’s, psy and changelings. I do appreciate a good romance but these books are so much more. Dealing with a wide range of emotional concepts, it makes us wonder about nature’s influence in the behavioral aspects of our existence. It speaks of all the emotions that any human being has at their disposal, good and extremely evil, tying smart stories and characters to dazzling sceneries and intriguing abilities. ‘Slave to Sensation’ it’s the beginning of a revolution in the 2079 society where the Psy consider themselves above humans and changelings, just because they don’t let emotions rule them. Or so they thought… The Changeling clans are all emotion and therefore the perfect antagonist for the Psy. But we mustn’t forget the human third of the world’s population, because they are pretty convinced that they can change their position in the power scale. I’m in the 6th book and having a blast with these stories. I can’t predict where all of this is going, only that it will have more of the intelligent turns that Nalini Sigh has accustomed us to. Φ O primeiro livro que escolhi, no âmbito do Reading Romances Challenge, foi ‘Slave to Sensation’ de Nalini Sigh. Uma vez que este é o mês das Realidades Alternativas decidi experimentar a Série Psy-Changelings desta autora. Estou bastante satisfeita por o ter feito. Gostei imenso das reviravoltas constantes desta nova sociedade que acomoda três tipos de raças: a humana, os Psy e os Changelings. Gosto bastante de um bom romance mas considero que estes livros são muito mais do que isso. Lidam com um vasto leque de conceitos emocionais e fazem-nos pensar sobre a influência que a natureza tem nos nossos comportamentos. Eles focam todas as emoções que um ser humano tem à sua disposição, falam do bem e da maldade extrema interligando histórias e personagens interessantes a cenários deslumbrantes e capacidades intrigantes. ‘Slave to Sensation’ prepara-nos para a revolução da sociedade de 2079 em que os Psy acreditam ser superiores aos humanos e aos changelings porque renegaram todas as emoções. Pensavam eles… Os clãs de changelings vivem de emoções, pelo que constituem o antagonista perfeito para os Psy. Não esquecendo o terço humano da população, determinados a mudar de posição na escala do poder. Neste momento estou a ler o 6º livro desta série e a apreciar cada uma das histórias. Felizmente não consigo prever para onde esta série se dirige, apenas que verei mais reviravoltas inteligentes, às quais Nalini Sigh nos acostumou. See the review here: http://sarinhafarinha.wordpress.com/2...

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b.andherbooks@bandherbooks
3 stars
Oct 9, 2021

A woman with Psy powers who believes she's losing her mind because she's starting to have emotions finds out she's not broken and that her race has hidden a terrible secret after she learns she's the mate of a were-panther. I enjoyed the world building a lot and immediately felt immersed in this world of Psy and Changelings. I loved the steamy intensity of Sasha and Lucas's chemistry, even if I wanted to kick Lucas a bunch of times. Super alpha cat to the extreme. The sheer amount of time Sasha's "night sky eyes" were referenced grew a bit tiresome for me (I listened to most of the story on audio) as did how much Lucas manhandled her. As a newbie to paranormal, what was missing for me was the humor. Slave to Sensation is very serious, and while well done and totally readable, I personally crave some acknowledgment of how ridiculous suddenly being in bed with a giant ass panther would be (besides some giggles and petting). I wanted more bananas if that makes sense? Sasha reminded me of Emma from A Hunger Like No Other (Book 1 of the IAD series by Kresley Cole) but I'm hoping that like that series I'll settle in to the world and characters as I read. Definitely a good read, just not exactly my cup of tea. The audio narration was superb.

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Manda@manda86
5 stars
Sep 30, 2021

Love these books I read this book for the first time a few years back now bought a paper back from my local bookshop and was hooked from the first word I've read it so much that the pages had started to come loose so I bought an kindle version only a couple of days ago and it was like reading Whole new book there were things added to it that were not in the print version and it didn't disappoint quite the opposite to be honest definatly buying the rest of the series if there are anything like this one. To those Neto Nalini Singh this is what is called season 1 and she has just begun season 2 great books you just have to read over and over.

Photo of Sans
Sans@sans
5 stars
Sep 11, 2021

Can I give this ten stars? Or fifty? I'm a bit speechless. Not sure if I'll be able to form a coherent review that involves more than gushing gibberish interspersed with fangurl squeeing, even in a day or two. Epic, awesome, and I need to get the books I'm missing from this series. Right now.

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Dearna Mulvaney@wordsoftheroses
4 stars
Sep 2, 2021

4.5*

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Csenge @ckiraly
4 stars
Feb 25, 2025
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Nicky Morgan@nickym96
4 stars
Jan 9, 2024
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Eszter H@eskratskrt
3.5 stars
Jul 19, 2023
+2
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Gabriella Lanouette@developergab
4 stars
May 21, 2023
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Madii@alieco
4 stars
Jul 30, 2024