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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.92
EAN: 9780425231111
ISBN: 0425231119
Label: Berkley
Manufacturer: Berkley
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 400
Publication Date: November 03, 2009
Publisher: Berkley
Studio: Berkley
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Dev Santos finds a woman with amnesia—and all she can remember is that she's dangerous. Stripped of her memories by a shadowy oppressor and programmed to kill, Katya's only hope is Dev. But he could very well be her next target.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
Solid Book, good continuation to the Psy/Changeling Series. Introduced new characters, that are half psy/human. (some interesting and some ehhh - balance). Best part of the book was actually the heroine Ekaterina (Katya) and about how she handled what she had been through during capture, and what she was doing to overcome and to continue on, with protecting the people she loves. Its great to have a well written female lead in the very Alpha Male driven romance books that we love to read. New big thing is convincing people that some "Silence" is not all bad for Psy (and half psy) that have very dangerous abilities. Shows people their prejudices in trying to stop something they do not completely understand with no controls for people who need that disciple to live. Shows the different factions that they need to work together and not at odds with each other. Some brief but good catchups on the past characters too...
Rating:  -
The main characters were both quite engaging in their own right. Seeing some characters from prior books was a pleasant inter-weaving. But mostly, it's seeing some definite movement w/ the "Silence" story thread. I liked seeing why it was started, and how it was instituted, as well as the depths to which both sides stuck to their guns.
Interesting information about the Arrows, and their continuing presence in the stories. The children previously saved were not relegated to "suddenly grown up X books later" syndrome.
The more I read Singh's books in this series, the more I want to go back & find earlier books, and I eagerly await future offerings in this 'verse and others she may venture into.
Rating: -
I loved this story. Even though this is a fairly lengthy novel, it moved really fast. I'm always impressed with Nalini Singh's alpha males, and the complementing females, as they move through the pages of her story. In particular this novel was interesting to me, because of the novelty of
Dev's "gift." Right through to the end of the book, I was unable to make a good guess how the story was going to end. Singh's world building is wonderful, and captivating. I love the series, and the re-appearance of familiar faces from earlier stories. The world continues to expand on itself, and always manages to keep me enthralled.
I really enjoyed the story of Dev and Katya's association/relationship. I especially appreciated that there wasn't any use of character deception, a too-commonly used tool for conflict in romances. Singh did a great job with Katya, keeping her honest and on the level with Dev, and potential dangers that she represented. It was another great read of the Psy-Changeling series. Dev is probably my second most favorite of her heroes, after Judd Lauren from Caressed by Ice.
Rating: -
Let me start of by saying that I was not as excited about this book before I started reading it. I thought the lack of Changeling characters would make the book bland. Especially coming off "Branded by Fire" which was sizzling hot. But Nalini proved me wrong. I loved Dev and Katya's relationship. I think Nalini was able to bring out the interplay of distrust and instinct to believe the other person really well. The emotions between the leads rang true, and never forced. Overall, a grade A installment.
One thing that has always stood out for me with this series is how well the world-building is. The details all tie together, its a very complete place. Shows that the author is in command of her story arc and is not simply building the world around as she goes along.
Rating: -
Blaze of Memory is an excellent addition to Nalini Singh's Changeling/Psy series. Even though the beginning lags a bit (for me, anyway), the plot picks up and the last third of the book is simply fantastic!
Why is it such a good book? Reason 1: the main couple!
Katya was betrayed by a Psy villain, her Silence broken under the cruelest torture. She knows she's been programmed to do something terrible. She's not certain what that is, but she's a smart cookie and figures it out right quick.
The hero Dev is a member of the Forgotten, the Psy who fled the Psynet when Silence was instigated. He directs the Shine Foundation, an organization that protects the Forgotten. He's ruthless and focused, maybe a little too much so, but then he meets Katya. Dev can be a dominating he-man, but Katya loves and needs that aspect of his personality because of her past. She doesn't mind his chest-beating, "you're MINE" intensity, so I don't mind it either. It's kind of fun actually. Plus I like the sexy Hindi vibe Dev's got going on, so I cut him some slack.
Dev and Katya are both likable characters who react realistically given the situations they find themselves in. Watching them address their problems, especially in the last third of the book, was a top-notch read.
Reason 2: Singh strikes the perfect balance for a series. She maintains focus on the main couple's romance but organically weaves in couples and characters from previous books. Yet I'm not overwhelmed and don't lose track of who is who. And even though this book has multiple points of view, it's never confusing. That's good writing!
Most importantly I never feel I must go back and re-read a previous book in the series to understand what's going on in the latest entry. That sense of missing or having forgotten crucial information is A GIANT pet peeve of mine, one that has soured me on other series before. (I want to read a series of books for pleasure, NOT study them.) Happily, I never encounter that problem with Singh. Even though months pass between publications, she gets you up to speed but never info dumps. But I still wouldn't recommend Blaze of Memory for the uninitiated. You'll miss the emotional nuances that make the book special.
Reason 3: two incredibly moving scenes with side characters. Judd Lauren visits a frightened child with a terrible power and offers the child hope. This brief and simple scene was one of the book's best. It put a painful lump in my throat. When Dev and Katya visit his father , I cried outright. You know it's good when it hurts!
Reason 4: Singh peppers her story with intriguing characters, characters that one day will get stories of their own. But she makes them essential to the plot; she never tosses them in just to sell her next book. (I can't wait for Tag and Tiana btw.)
What a wonderfully reliable and reliably wonderful writer Singh is! I hope this series goes on for a long time.
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