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Early Review: Ocean Light by Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity #2)

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Ocean Light by Nalini Singh // VBC ReviewOcean Light (Psy-Changeling Trinity #2)
Nalini Singh
Published: Jun. 12, 2018 (Berkley)
Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon
Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review 

Reviewed by: Margaret

Rating (out of 5): 4 stars

Note: While review will be spoiler free, it does make reference to previous books in this series and the Psy-Changeling series. If you haven’t started this series yet, check out VBC’s review of book 1, Silver Silence. Or our review of book 1 in the Psy-Changeling series, Slave to Sensation.

When we last saw Bowen Knight, he had just been shot and left for dead. Recovering from that injury though, is really the least of his problems. In order to defend against Psy telepathy, Bowen and other members of his group had experimental chips implanted in their brains. The chips are now failing and threatening to leave them brain dead, starting with Bowen. After months in a coma, he wakes up in an underwater outpost where one of the Blacksea Changelings’ doctors is working to cure him.

Kaia is the doctor’s sister and has been pressed into assisting in Bowen’s care. She’s a complicated character, both afraid to leave the water and reluctant to take her other form. (We don’t find out what that form is until near the end of the book.) Her slowly developing romance with Bowen brings her out of her shell and also shows another side of him.

Bowen was a villain in the series until his Human Alliance allied with the Arrows. Not everyone he meets likes or forgives him because of his past behavior. His story is similar to Kaleb’s in Heart of Obsidian in that respect. I actually feel like there might be a bromance brewing between Bowen and Kaleb, which I’m totally there for.

Unlike most of the Changeling groups in the series, Blacksea is made up of lots of different species of sea creatures. Most of them are pretty secretive about their other forms so it’s fun to see them finally revealed. But I didn’t find them quite as charming as the bears in Silver Silence, maybe because there aren’t as many children in the group. To be fair, though, the bear cubs were super cute so it’s a pretty big standard to live up to. I did love Blacksea’s underwater home though.

The terminal illness/exploding brain thing seems to be a recurring theme in the series, as does being a guinea pig for experimental surgery. I thought Bowen’s situation felt a little too much like Silver’s from the previous book. Also like in the previous book, I felt like the plot twist in the secondary storyline about missing Changelings wrapped up too quickly. Plus, it bothered me that Kaia could have done more to save herself but just didn’t think to use certain skills. I had another issue with the plot that I really can’t explain well without spoilers. (But if there were so many of this particular thing, someone really should have noticed.)

That said, I really did enjoy Ocean Light. Maybe just not quite as much as the previous book. I love the Psy-Changeling world and the fact that Singh continues to find ways to expand it. I also liked the supporting characters she introduced and I’m looking forward to more of their stories.

Sexual content: sex

4 Responses to “Early Review: Ocean Light by Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity #2)”

  1. AmyM says:

    Great Review! I’ve been waiting for a BlackSea centered book since they were first introduced (eons ago 🙂 )

    I completely understand what you mean about the brain exploding thing. I kept having feelings of deja vu.

    But I still enjoyed the book and really want a Miane book now.

    • Margaret says:

      Thanks. I’m so glad that you got the brain thing, though it probably helped that I didn’t refer to it as “splodey head” like I did in my notes.

  2. Wrayth says:

    Can you hint what the other issue was? I’m curious (& finished the book)

  3. Ss says:

    I liked Ocean Light much more than Silver Silence. I just couldn’t connect with the bears at all. They seemed too mushy and corny for my taste. An the constant usage of the exasperated term “Bears” got on my nerves.

    Ocean light was much more interesting. It was like getting a glimpse into a whole new world. It was exciting and much more realistic. Not lame like the bear clan. There was darkness in the story which gives a sense of realism. Something you can relate to. Plus I didn’t really feel the chemistry between Silver and her bear. It seemed somewhat forced and disjointed. Sea Changelings are so much more intriguing compared to a bunch of rowdy, drunk bears.

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