Branded by Fire (Psy-Changelings, Book 6)

by Nalini Singh

Book Overview

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh allies two fierce changelings in this explosive Psy-Changeling novel. Though DarkRiver sentinel Mercy is feeling the pressure to mate, she resists... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425226735
• Release Date: July 2009
• Publisher: Berkley
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.7" x 0.9" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Great Addition to the Series

This is a great series of books. Initially I wasn't sure I would like this one as well because neither of the main characters was a Psy but were instead both Changelings. I soon changed my mind as the characters drew me into the story. It was nice to see a very strong female character who was also sympathetic. The only problem I have with the book is that it is getting a bit hard to keep track of all of the characters in this wonderfully developing story. Given that many of the main characters from previous books have important roles in subsequent books, perhaps she should add a brief character summary at the end of the book. I also found the frequent tangents with other characters a bit disruptive to the main story. Not a major flaw however. All in all a very fun book to read. I can't wait for the next one.

Fiery Hot Romance!

Branded by Fire starts out with some fireworks as Mercy, a top sentinel in the Dark River leopard pack, has a hot forbidden interlude with Riley, the second to the alpha of the Snow Dancer wolf pack. She is a dominant alpha female in her pack which makes her fear that she will never find a mate because she would need someone more dominant than her and she doesn't think she would be able to submit to a mate the way she would need to. Riley is a stubborn, protective, by-the-rules man who is helplessly drawn to Mercy's fiery personality. He grew up taking care of his younger siblings and is now the highest ranking lieutenant in the Snow Dancer pack, so he can't imagine having a mate like Mercy who insists on taking care of herself. Mercy and Riley are thrown together often as their respective pack's representative in the alliance between the cats and wolves - especially now as attacks on humans, changelings and Psy are beginning to escalate. The sexual attraction between Mercy and Riley leads them to start a forbidden affair because they just can't keep their hands off each other. Mercy knows Riley is a dominant wolf who will try to take over her life, which she thinks will kill a part of herself. Riley feels like he needs to protect those he loves, especially after what he sees as a failure to protect his little sister Brenna from being attacked. Mercy and Riley start to care a lot about each other but both are afraid of the consequences of staying together. They both dedicate their lives to protecting their packs - plus cats and wolves just barely get along. Can they both survive a mating - and do they have any choice but to try since their feelings are so intense? I loved this story! Mercy and Riley were such a great pair, they really complemented each other in every way. The love scenes were scorching hot! Riley certainly knows how to please a woman. Both Riley and Mercy had to come to terms with each other - Riley had to accept that he could be dominant with Mercy while they were making love but he needed to see her as a partner at all other times and not try to shield her, while Mercy had to accept and trust Riley enough to allow him completely into her heart as a mate. The storyline of the series progresses as we learn more about the battle for and against Silence in the Psy web and more clues about the Ghost's identity. Sienna and Hawke have small parts in the story, I can't wait until we see what happens between them. Lucas and Sascha receive wonderful news that I have been waiting for! I also found out the answer to the two questions I have been wondering about since I heard of the pairing between Riley and Mercy: What type of children will a wolf and cat have together and how can two dominant sentinels from different packs actually make a mating work - but you will have to read Branded by Fire to find out for yourself! The Psy/Changling series is one of my favorite romance series, every single book has been amazing. Nalini Singh is a

Dominant Male + Dominant Female = tons of trouble ;)

Many authors try to take on the dominant female character falling in love. I'm speaking of the ultra alpha/beta female and all the problems and joys that come with it. Who would make a good mate for a dominant female? Not a submissive male who would be cowed down, but being courted by a dominant male would also lead to power plays and struggles. I must say Nalini Singh has it down perfect! Mercy is a lead Sentinel for DarkRiver. She knows there's a good chance she won't find a mate due to her inability to submit fully, and a desire to dominate herself. Riley is a very dominant male who dreams of a submissive mate who would stay at home safe while he's working for the SnowDancers. (What male doesn't right?) Here's where things get interesting. Riley and Mercy set off sparks every time they are within a 3 foot radius of one another! After a few, ahem, 'one night stands.' Both Mercy and Riley find themselves drowning in problems of pack loyalty, desire and fear. I think it's because Riley is a wolf that Mercy's leopard allows her to submit (just a little!) for Riley. Excellent scenes! The opening one started the entire book off perfectly! Nalini also gives us glimpses of past heros/heroines. Sasha and Lucas as well as Judd and Brenna are prevalent. I have also been waiting to see who Hawke is paired with and I have to say I saw Sienna coming for him the moment she planed her 18th party a year in advance just to tick off Hawke. I really can't wait! Among all these desires and sub plots the Human Alliance is gaining in power and balls and begin to take bolder and bolder moves. Meanwhile Psys are finding themselves implanted with a compulsion to kill randomly and in public. Pick up this book! Nalini Singh was amazing with Slave to Sensation and each book just shows her growth as an author. Branded by Fire has everything in it. Love, desire, loyalty, kidnapping, playing, war and tons of action. 5 stars all the way!

EXCELLENT!

I love the entire series and Branded by Fire did not disappoint. I lucked out and got an early copy. I won't go into details but to say I was very happy with the way the book went and I can see all kinds of books based on this one. I have read this book three times already. Seriously! The intermingling of the Wolves and Cats is getting interesting. It was also nice to see the human element stepping up. I love this series and I'm so happy the next installment comes out in November. I definitely recommend this book to everyone. If you haven't read the series start at book one, Slave to Sensation.

Lovin' Me Some Mercy!

Riley and Mercy have made annoying one another an additional job requirement to their many responsibilities as pack liaisons. Since the wolves of SnowDancer and the leopards of DarkRiver made a blood pact and became allies, Riley and Mercy were put in charge of interpack communications and to soothe any pack related fur. The problem is that Riley and Mercy don't necessarily play nice with one another. Both are extremely dominant and hold identical positions within the highest ranks of their packs. While Mercy is flamboyant, opinionated, outspoken and daring, Riley is calm, steadfast, quiet and cunning. As a dominant female and sentinel of the DarkRiver pack, Mercy grudgingly accepts the fact that she may never mate. While the human in her may love with all her heart, her leopard won't be able to stand being tied so strongly to another. This happens occasionally with very dominant and independent females of the pack. But at this moment, Mercy doesn't care if the man's her mate, she just needs release on such a primal level that all other Changelings are picking up on her heat and when "stick-in-the-mud" Riley Kincaid steps out of the trees, Mercy is more than willing to take him on. She could use a bit of violence to cool her need. But when Riley begins tempting Mercy on a highly sexual level during their sparring, it takes her but a moment to dispel any leopard instincts to turn away the enemy wolf. Not only are Mercy's sensual curves and feline nature a physical draw for Riley, it's also the fact that she's the one person who can break him out of his shell. Not very long ago Riley's sister, Brenna, was kidnapped and horribly abused by a Psy killer. Although Brenna was rescued and now happily mated, he still feels the guilt of her abduction and mind rape. Dreams plague him where Brenna is found dead rather than alive and ever since that horrific time of his life, Riley has closed himself off from others. While his cool demeanor may keep others at bay, it only serves to instigate Mercy's need to crack through his brooding moments of guilt and shame. It's not long before Riley proves that he's just a tad more dominant than Mercy. And while this knowledge raises Mercy's hackles it also ignites her sexual desperation for the wolf and besides, he makes her cat purr. But when the mating dance blooms, the two must face some serious ramifications to their potential mating. For one, they shift into different animals. How will that affect their offspring if they can even have offspring? And more importantly, how will this affect their packs? Both Riley and Mercy are blood bound to their alphas and neither has the desire to leave their respective packs but if the mating bond is complete, one will undergo the heartbreak of their blood bond snapping apart from their alpha. Because Riley is the more dominant of the two, most likely it will be Mercy that will be forced away from her pack by the mating bond. In the end, it's the female's decision whether or