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Psy-Changeling #11
Tangle of Need
Discover the exhilarating risks of passion in the breathtaking new Psy-Changeling novel by Nalini Singh, the New York Times bestselling “alpha author of paranormal romance."
Adria, wolf changeling and resilient soldier, has made a break with the past—one as unpredictable in love as it was in war. Now comes a new territory, and a devastating new complication: Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant already sworn to a desperate woman who belongs to another.
For Riaz, the primal attraction he feels for Adria is a staggering betrayal. For Adria, his dangerous lone-wolf appeal is beyond sexual. It consumes her. It terrifies her. It threatens to undermine everything she has built of her new life. But fighting their wild compulsion toward one another proves a losing battle.
Their coming together is an inferno . . . and a melding of two wounded souls who promise each other no commitment, no ties, no bonds. Only pleasure. Too late, they realize that they have more to lose than they ever imagined. Drawn into a cataclysmic Psy war that may alter the fate of the world itself, they must make a decision that might just break them both.
Adria, wolf changeling and resilient soldier, has made a break with the past—one as unpredictable in love as it was in war. Now comes a new territory, and a devastating new complication: Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant already sworn to a desperate woman who belongs to another.
For Riaz, the primal attraction he feels for Adria is a staggering betrayal. For Adria, his dangerous lone-wolf appeal is beyond sexual. It consumes her. It terrifies her. It threatens to undermine everything she has built of her new life. But fighting their wild compulsion toward one another proves a losing battle.
Their coming together is an inferno . . . and a melding of two wounded souls who promise each other no commitment, no ties, no bonds. Only pleasure. Too late, they realize that they have more to lose than they ever imagined. Drawn into a cataclysmic Psy war that may alter the fate of the world itself, they must make a decision that might just break them both.
422 pages, Hardcover
First published May 29, 2012
About the author
Nalini Singh
241 books26.2k followersI've been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There's no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,644 reviews
December 18, 2017
I am going to keep this super short as I have two kids sick with the flu and I haven't slept much, this book was an alright read. I loved all the Sienna and Hawke time I got. I also really enjoyed Mercy and Riley. It was the main couple that didn't wow me. I didn't really connect to Adria and Riaz. I felt like Nalini Singh did a great job at making me feel like Riaz picked Adria and loved her. I didn't feel like she was second place even though Riaz had a mate. I just didn't care for them as a couple. Riaz and Adria bored me. I found myself wanting to skip their part to get to Hawke and Sienna, which is bad as they are suppose to be the main part of the book. Oh well I can't wait to read Kaleb's book!
November 6, 2016
How can I read a teaser like that at the ending, and remain mentally sane until the new book comes out??
My mind is just frozen right now, but I'll try to sum up my feelings about this book:The story:
Riaz and Adria are two dominants in the wolf pack that can't stand each other. Riaz eventually gets tired of Adria's hostility and confronts her, but it turns out he didn't actually want to know the real reason behind it - she is terribly attracted to him and vice versa. Riaz, having found his mate and losing her at the same time because she's in love with another man, considers their attraction as a deepest form of betrayal (
). Adria, after spending almost a decade in a destructive relationship, doesn't want any more heartbreak and doesn't want anything with Riaz. Mmm-Hmm, that's gonna happen
After some time and stuff happening, they decide to have a "friends with benefits" relationship :)The romance:
Where do I start? Good idea, very good idea with those two, but in this book they just weren't the focus, AT ALL. They didn't have that much page time, and it would've helped with their relationship. As it was, there was nothing spectacular going on between them. First they hated each other, then started a FWB relationship, became very close and so on, and then they were just going back and forth with the "I'm not your real mate, we shouldn't be together". It went for too long. Just got on my nerves a bit
The one thing I loved about those two was Riaz
and his approach to their relationship. Basically, he figures right from the start that they have something special, even though she's not his mate. He trusts her like no one else, and wants to have a real bond with her, a commitment. Adria is the one who always said no, but he was persistent through the entire book, he literally NEVER gave up on them even when she broke things off for like a thousand times. So
again for him :)The other characters:
In this one, we get to see everyone from the wolf pack, all the couples from the past books and all the supporting characters :) There are lots of Sienna/Hawke moments
, almost as much as the main characters :) The Psy guys were there and I'm guessing the ones that appeared will have their books too XD Can't wait :) The overall feeling about the book:
I just had the feeling that this was goodbye to the wolf pack
Every single couple appeared from the previous books, they had a happy moment and some things were resolved, and it all seemd like wrapping it up with their stories. In a way I understand, the wp was in focus for the last 3 books, where almost wasn't a peep from the leopards (I kinda miss them), so I guess the story will take a turn here.
And the background story, the Psy Net, Vasic, Kaleb, Aden, Alice - it just got more and more complicated!
And I want to know everything - NOW
As far as it seems there will be atleast 3 more books (I hope so); Kaleb, Vasic and Aden (if they all end up alive hahah) and I bet that Alice will end up with one of them :) Can't wait
And so ends my campaign of reading the Psy/changeling books
I am happy I started this series because it became one of the best I've ever read :) Nalini Singh is freaking amazing with the world she created, and I know I'll keep reading this series no matter how many more books there'll be (but I still hope it won't go for too long)I want to know who is in the next book so badly
damn!
June 23, 2019
Adria (wolf changeling) and Riaz (SnowDancer lieutenant, wolf changeling and lone-wolf)
This is a strange different story because both Adria and Riaz are fighting their mating bonds.
That's because they were both unlucky with their bonding mates.
Adria was too dominant for her previous partner and this ended up to a bad breaking up.
When Riaz met his destined mate, she was already happily married and he never got a chance.
So, when they meet, they are both disappointed, sad and broken and when they start a relationship they never expected it to last.
Riaz: “I’m a bad risk, Adria.” Raw, his soul stripped bare. “A really bad one.”
Although Riaz is a lone-wolf and although he will have maybe a chance to claim his destined mate, still he is the one who believes mostly to a new beginning. He is the one who will chase Adria and try to convince her to give them a chance.
Untangling their fingers, she pushed up into a kneeling position, the sheet held to her breasts. “I’m worse.” The scars she carried were invisible, and marked her to the bone. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to trust a man with all of me ever again.” His honesty deserved her own. “I’m broken deep inside.”
This is a beautiful love story that celebrates freewill and personal choice over destiny and pre-decided futures.
I would prefer it if the book was focusing mostly on Riaz and Adria. Unfortunately there are so many sidestories that are happening at the same time.
I confess that I skimmed many irrelevant pages.
This is a strange different story because both Adria and Riaz are fighting their mating bonds.
That's because they were both unlucky with their bonding mates.
Adria was too dominant for her previous partner and this ended up to a bad breaking up.
When Riaz met his destined mate, she was already happily married and he never got a chance.
So, when they meet, they are both disappointed, sad and broken and when they start a relationship they never expected it to last.
Riaz: “I’m a bad risk, Adria.” Raw, his soul stripped bare. “A really bad one.”
Although Riaz is a lone-wolf and although he will have maybe a chance to claim his destined mate, still he is the one who believes mostly to a new beginning. He is the one who will chase Adria and try to convince her to give them a chance.
Untangling their fingers, she pushed up into a kneeling position, the sheet held to her breasts. “I’m worse.” The scars she carried were invisible, and marked her to the bone. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to trust a man with all of me ever again.” His honesty deserved her own. “I’m broken deep inside.”
This is a beautiful love story that celebrates freewill and personal choice over destiny and pre-decided futures.
I would prefer it if the book was focusing mostly on Riaz and Adria. Unfortunately there are so many sidestories that are happening at the same time.
I confess that I skimmed many irrelevant pages.
December 5, 2016
*** 4 ***
Another great buddy read with the fantastic ladies at BB&B!!!
How does Nalini Singh keep on doing this? She has weaved a world of such complex and multilayered infrastructure, that the multitude of plot lines and characters constantly come in and out of our vision, making this Psi-Changeling-Human society rich with diversity and color. This is the 11th book and I still can't get enough of it! And the way this book finished, I want to read the next book with tremendous anticipation!!!
"...“Maybe, just maybe, two broken people could manage to create something whole.” ..."
In this book we got to see once again Adria, the wolf changeling who is also the very youthful aunt of Indigo, who at this point is happily mated. Adria however, just split with her boyfriend of several years, they were not mated, and they had issues with her being more dominant than he was, so it did not work out and broke both of their hearts. She has not had any fun times in over a year... Skin starved:((( Enters another of Indigo related characters - Riaz, who had dated Indigo before moving to Europe where he found the woman who was meant to be his mate, already in love and married to another man. His heart is broken too and he is in need of some "skin privileges" too. Put those two very sexually frustrated healthy adults together, as being partnered to guard the pack territory and train the younglings, and sparks of attraction fly! Only neither one of them is ready to get into anything more serious, and even once Adria offers a kind of friendship with benefits, Riaz becomes a total ass-hat and repels her in the rudest way possible, making me want to hit him with a 2X4 and really hurting Adria's feelings and pride, especially after it becomes obvious that he is also attracted to her and still rejects her by once more hurting her feelings! I wanted him to gravel and gravel some more, but I guess sexy, dominant, and very good in the sack wolf changelings are good with winning a girl's heart and forgiveness over without too much effort and with no graveling.... *shakes fist in the air* - Damn sexy beasts!!!!
"...“You’ll hate me,” she said, her arms locked around him because she couldn’t not hold him when he was close. “One day, you’ll hate me.” It was the thing she most feared. Hand fisting in her hair, he pressed his forehead to her own, his eyes night-glow in the dark. “I will love you until the day they put me in the earth.” ..."
Just as many other readers, I had an issue with them as a couple, since he already had this mate bond with the woman who is already taken and once Adria and him became a couple, he could not give her that bond... Throughout the series we have been conditioned to expect when two changelings fall in love, and once both become open to the commitment, the mating bond somehow settles in their skin and their minds and it is the best thing a changeling can ever experience. It is for life, it is for only one person, and it is glorious!!! And all of this was kind of turned on its head here with him . I was hoping that somehow this bond will focus on the new person who is willing and perfect to be a mate, because it feels like if this does not happen, they are both cheated out of the best thing two changelings can look foreword in their lives to... I want everyone to have a true Happily Ever After - no one likes to settle for second best....
"...“Eyes narrowed, Judd stared at the structure as if at a mortal enemy. Slapping his fellow lieutenant on the shoulder, Riaz said, "Don't even think about it." A pissed-off telekinetic versus the complex metal pylons and tubes of the jungle gym- the results would not be pretty.
Judd glanced at his watch. "I'll destroy it later.” ..." ---->>> I am sooooo in love with him!!!
Apart from all that angst, the book was just as fun as all its predecessors. It gives us updates on several of the previous couples and we get to find out more about the Psi Arrows:):):) Also, I want one of the "I Love Judd!" shirts and memorabilia for sure!!!
I enjoyed this book and think it is a must read for all the fans of the series! Now I can't wait to jump into the next!!!
I wish you all Happy Reading and enjoyable Holidays!!!
Another great buddy read with the fantastic ladies at BB&B!!!
How does Nalini Singh keep on doing this? She has weaved a world of such complex and multilayered infrastructure, that the multitude of plot lines and characters constantly come in and out of our vision, making this Psi-Changeling-Human society rich with diversity and color. This is the 11th book and I still can't get enough of it! And the way this book finished, I want to read the next book with tremendous anticipation!!!
"...“Maybe, just maybe, two broken people could manage to create something whole.” ..."
In this book we got to see once again Adria, the wolf changeling who is also the very youthful aunt of Indigo, who at this point is happily mated. Adria however, just split with her boyfriend of several years, they were not mated, and they had issues with her being more dominant than he was, so it did not work out and broke both of their hearts. She has not had any fun times in over a year... Skin starved:((( Enters another of Indigo related characters - Riaz, who had dated Indigo before moving to Europe where he found the woman who was meant to be his mate, already in love and married to another man. His heart is broken too and he is in need of some "skin privileges" too. Put those two very sexually frustrated healthy adults together, as being partnered to guard the pack territory and train the younglings, and sparks of attraction fly! Only neither one of them is ready to get into anything more serious, and even once Adria offers a kind of friendship with benefits, Riaz becomes a total ass-hat and repels her in the rudest way possible, making me want to hit him with a 2X4 and really hurting Adria's feelings and pride, especially after it becomes obvious that he is also attracted to her and still rejects her by once more hurting her feelings! I wanted him to gravel and gravel some more, but I guess sexy, dominant, and very good in the sack wolf changelings are good with winning a girl's heart and forgiveness over without too much effort and with no graveling.... *shakes fist in the air* - Damn sexy beasts!!!!
"...“You’ll hate me,” she said, her arms locked around him because she couldn’t not hold him when he was close. “One day, you’ll hate me.” It was the thing she most feared. Hand fisting in her hair, he pressed his forehead to her own, his eyes night-glow in the dark. “I will love you until the day they put me in the earth.” ..."
Just as many other readers, I had an issue with them as a couple, since he already had this mate bond with the woman who is already taken and once Adria and him became a couple, he could not give her that bond... Throughout the series we have been conditioned to expect when two changelings fall in love, and once both become open to the commitment, the mating bond somehow settles in their skin and their minds and it is the best thing a changeling can ever experience. It is for life, it is for only one person, and it is glorious!!! And all of this was kind of turned on its head here with him . I was hoping that somehow this bond will focus on the new person who is willing and perfect to be a mate, because it feels like if this does not happen, they are both cheated out of the best thing two changelings can look foreword in their lives to... I want everyone to have a true Happily Ever After - no one likes to settle for second best....
"...“Eyes narrowed, Judd stared at the structure as if at a mortal enemy. Slapping his fellow lieutenant on the shoulder, Riaz said, "Don't even think about it." A pissed-off telekinetic versus the complex metal pylons and tubes of the jungle gym- the results would not be pretty.
Judd glanced at his watch. "I'll destroy it later.” ..." ---->>> I am sooooo in love with him!!!
Apart from all that angst, the book was just as fun as all its predecessors. It gives us updates on several of the previous couples and we get to find out more about the Psi Arrows:):):) Also, I want one of the "I Love Judd!" shirts and memorabilia for sure!!!
I enjoyed this book and think it is a must read for all the fans of the series! Now I can't wait to jump into the next!!!
I wish you all Happy Reading and enjoyable Holidays!!!
September 25, 2016
2 stars
20% Filler...
30% Filler...
40% Filler...
50% Filler...
65% Yay, something is happening at last!!
70% Back to filler.....
80% Filler......
85% Incredibly short chapter where something exciting does happen but ends abruptly.
87% Filler..........
89% Ooh drama. Yawn..
90% Catastrophic event for Psy-Net awaited for the whole of the book happens. Mediocre.
94% Snoozing again.. Drew did it better..
95% Ming makes a move and it's such a let down..
97% A few seconds worth of action.
100% The end. F*cking finally.
This wasn't a book about Riaz and Adria. This was a book about everyone else with a side note of Riaz and Adria. With no mating bond.
20% Filler...
30% Filler...
40% Filler...
50% Filler...
65% Yay, something is happening at last!!
70% Back to filler.....
80% Filler......
85% Incredibly short chapter where something exciting does happen but ends abruptly.
87% Filler..........
89% Ooh drama. Yawn..
90% Catastrophic event for Psy-Net awaited for the whole of the book happens. Mediocre.
94% Snoozing again.. Drew did it better..
95% Ming makes a move and it's such a let down..
97% A few seconds worth of action.
100% The end. F*cking finally.
This wasn't a book about Riaz and Adria. This was a book about everyone else with a side note of Riaz and Adria. With no mating bond.
March 31, 2012
When I finished reading Nalini Singh’s Tangle of Need, the eleventh book in her Psy-Changeling series, my jaw dropped and I did a little Snoopy Dance in my seat. The reason is the last three pages. But since revealing what occurs in those pages are big BIG spoilers, and allude to possibility of who the hero of the next book will be (I get down on my knees and pray it’s who I think it is because, I AM THIS CHARACTER’S BIGGEST FAN. Ahem).
I’ve said it time and again, when it comes to Nalini’s Psy-Changeling books, I can’t praise them enough. I’ve enjoyed some more than others, but with Tangle of Need, Nalini is again tying up loose ends and the countdown has begun to finish this series with what will be explosive results. For me it’s no longer about the primary romance. It’s all the steps, very concentrated and planned out steps, to the final outcome of the Psy community and how the changelings and humans will rise up and defeat the silence the Psy has created as their idea as to what peace and harmony should be. There’s big cracks within the Psy community and with their leaders. This is shown in Tangle of Need as we see plans for the battle that’s going to have a massive ripple effect for everyone involved. But as everyone trains for this upcoming battle, and the knowledge things are going to get very difficult and deadly, there are moments of tranquility shown through friendships, family and the relationships Nalini has created with her cast of characters.
The primary couple here from the Snowdancer pack with Adria and Riaz who are at odds with one another. These two don’t have a high opinion of one another, but have this crazy attraction where they can’t stop thinking about each other and want to act on it. Both fight hard, and when they have time to play, they don’t want their emotions involved when it comes to sex. But as we know, when two characters like Adria and Riaz get it on, their hearts will soon be intertwined. The moment these two engaged in a hot and heavy and sexual relationship, it’s beyond smoldering, more so than any other couple Nalini has created. Adria and Riaz have enough passion to fill an Olympic size pool. Their love scenes are incredible, but at times I had trouble connecting with them on an emotional level. They didn’t really fly off the page for me. I had more of an interest in all the other on-going stories such as Sienna and Hawke’s mating ceremony and their life after their HEA in Kiss of Snow. Whereas I was a tad disappointed in Kiss of Snow, this time around I was completely hooked on Sienna and Hawke.
Many alliances have been formed within the changeling packs. We also gain more insight on the Arrows, Judd and the mysterious Ghost that has become a fan favorite. The biggest question in this series is the Ghost’s identity. It’s come down to two possible characters for me. Knowing how sneaky Nalini is, I’m probably totally off base regarding the Ghost, but when it’s revealed who the Ghost is, which I think will be in the next book, it will be well worth the wait.
Nalini’s writing improves with very book she publishes, and I always end up wanting more. Gimme Gimme now is my motto here. I’m beyond addicted to any scene with Kaleb, who is not what he seems and is slowing cracking emotionally as he has become obsessed in his search for a mysterious “her”. I have an idea who “her” is mainly because of something special Kaleb possesses. This is a big clue (reminds me of Eve’s button Roarke keeps on him at all times from JD Robb’s In Death series). There’s a mega, jaw dropping reveal concerning him, so much so that I’m on pins and needles wondering… as to what I’m wondering… I can’t say, but it's one of the biggest spoilers (beside who the Ghost is) here, and what I believe will be a game changer when all is said and done when Kaleb gets what he wants.
Tangle of Need really kept my interest and shocked me silly with a cliffhanger of an ending that had me gasping for breath. Thank you Nalini, for making me lose my breath and beyond anxious (more so than any other bk before it) for the next book in this series I can’t get enough of.
I’ve said it time and again, when it comes to Nalini’s Psy-Changeling books, I can’t praise them enough. I’ve enjoyed some more than others, but with Tangle of Need, Nalini is again tying up loose ends and the countdown has begun to finish this series with what will be explosive results. For me it’s no longer about the primary romance. It’s all the steps, very concentrated and planned out steps, to the final outcome of the Psy community and how the changelings and humans will rise up and defeat the silence the Psy has created as their idea as to what peace and harmony should be. There’s big cracks within the Psy community and with their leaders. This is shown in Tangle of Need as we see plans for the battle that’s going to have a massive ripple effect for everyone involved. But as everyone trains for this upcoming battle, and the knowledge things are going to get very difficult and deadly, there are moments of tranquility shown through friendships, family and the relationships Nalini has created with her cast of characters.
The primary couple here from the Snowdancer pack with Adria and Riaz who are at odds with one another. These two don’t have a high opinion of one another, but have this crazy attraction where they can’t stop thinking about each other and want to act on it. Both fight hard, and when they have time to play, they don’t want their emotions involved when it comes to sex. But as we know, when two characters like Adria and Riaz get it on, their hearts will soon be intertwined. The moment these two engaged in a hot and heavy and sexual relationship, it’s beyond smoldering, more so than any other couple Nalini has created. Adria and Riaz have enough passion to fill an Olympic size pool. Their love scenes are incredible, but at times I had trouble connecting with them on an emotional level. They didn’t really fly off the page for me. I had more of an interest in all the other on-going stories such as Sienna and Hawke’s mating ceremony and their life after their HEA in Kiss of Snow. Whereas I was a tad disappointed in Kiss of Snow, this time around I was completely hooked on Sienna and Hawke.
Many alliances have been formed within the changeling packs. We also gain more insight on the Arrows, Judd and the mysterious Ghost that has become a fan favorite. The biggest question in this series is the Ghost’s identity. It’s come down to two possible characters for me. Knowing how sneaky Nalini is, I’m probably totally off base regarding the Ghost, but when it’s revealed who the Ghost is, which I think will be in the next book, it will be well worth the wait.
Nalini’s writing improves with very book she publishes, and I always end up wanting more. Gimme Gimme now is my motto here. I’m beyond addicted to any scene with Kaleb, who is not what he seems and is slowing cracking emotionally as he has become obsessed in his search for a mysterious “her”. I have an idea who “her” is mainly because of something special Kaleb possesses. This is a big clue (reminds me of Eve’s button Roarke keeps on him at all times from JD Robb’s In Death series). There’s a mega, jaw dropping reveal concerning him, so much so that I’m on pins and needles wondering… as to what I’m wondering… I can’t say, but it's one of the biggest spoilers (beside who the Ghost is) here, and what I believe will be a game changer when all is said and done when Kaleb gets what he wants.
Tangle of Need really kept my interest and shocked me silly with a cliffhanger of an ending that had me gasping for breath. Thank you Nalini, for making me lose my breath and beyond anxious (more so than any other bk before it) for the next book in this series I can’t get enough of.
October 12, 2015
3,5 stars
Tangle of Need, the 11th book in Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling Series begins just two months after the ending of Kiss of Snow.
Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant, is devastated when he realizes that the person he believed to be his mate, is actually in love with someone else.
Adria, a wolf changeling has moved back to SnowDance after a bitter divorce from her mate.
The last thing both want is to enter into any relationship. Adria cannot understand the attraction she feels for Riaz so she does everything possible to keep him from hassling her. Her behavior, naturally, puzzles Riaz, who is unable to understand her dislike and coldness towards him.
A large number of characters from previous books make an appearance here…..which I was most happy about. I loved the mating ceremony between Hawke and Sienna, which was really beautiful.
We get to know more about Kaleb. This is one dangerous Psy Council member….there’s something more to him than the manipulator he has been seen in the previous books.
The Pure Psy continue to cause more problems as they relentlessly continue their plan to take over the Psy people. This has resulted in the Psy and Changeling groups forming an alliance in trying to stop the chaos and casualties that are occurring each day. War is on the cards!!!
I liked this addition to the series but I must admit it wasn’t as exciting as Kiss of Snow. ‘Adria and Riaz didn’t excite me as much as Hawke and Sienna did!!!!
I loved this quote:
Tangle of Need, the 11th book in Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling Series begins just two months after the ending of Kiss of Snow.
Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant, is devastated when he realizes that the person he believed to be his mate, is actually in love with someone else.
Adria, a wolf changeling has moved back to SnowDance after a bitter divorce from her mate.
The last thing both want is to enter into any relationship. Adria cannot understand the attraction she feels for Riaz so she does everything possible to keep him from hassling her. Her behavior, naturally, puzzles Riaz, who is unable to understand her dislike and coldness towards him.
Riaz realizes he has feelings for Adria but he also understands her reluctance to having a relationship with anyone, after the way her ex had treated her…she has trust issues and Riaz will have to convince her that he would never hurt or mistreat her. He understood her fears and insecurities. Adria would have to take a “leap of faith” in Riaz!!!!
A large number of characters from previous books make an appearance here…..which I was most happy about. I loved the mating ceremony between Hawke and Sienna, which was really beautiful.
We get to know more about Kaleb. This is one dangerous Psy Council member….there’s something more to him than the manipulator he has been seen in the previous books.
The Pure Psy continue to cause more problems as they relentlessly continue their plan to take over the Psy people. This has resulted in the Psy and Changeling groups forming an alliance in trying to stop the chaos and casualties that are occurring each day. War is on the cards!!!
I liked this addition to the series but I must admit it wasn’t as exciting as Kiss of Snow. ‘Adria and Riaz didn’t excite me as much as Hawke and Sienna did!!!!
I loved this quote:
December 22, 2016
3,5 STARS
Just one read away from Kaleb's story, yes!
Riaz and Adria's story was an unusual one. They were both from the same pack, both wolves and both knew there was no maing bond between them. I kinda hoped there would be one at the end but that didn't happen. Riaz has already found his mate but she was already taken by another. So you can imagine that he was heartbroken. Similar thing happened to Adria. She was in a disfunctional relationship for years and when she finally broke the circle, her heart bleed as well. It's such a strange thing for those two to find each other in a phase of their lives, where love seems an impossibility.
I wasn't that impressed with Riaz's behaviour towards Adria at the beginning of the book. To be frank, he was a total jerk and only let his hurt control him. With that he not only pushed others away but also almost destroyed his chance of love. I'm glad he overcame that as the story went on. As it turned out, he's actually a quite nice fella and super protective towards the people he loves. With that he managed to win himself some bonus points. Also, I like it that he never gives up. And that was just what Adria needed. Someone who really saw her worth and didn't give up on her.
Adria is a strong woman but one with a broken heart. And she didn't really have the right time to grieve. So when Riaz and her new job make her emotions go haywire she finally breaks and lets herself remember the loss and pain. Finally she heals. That makes her then woundable and she doesn't trust in Riaz's feelings for her. And tat the leadst to a long plot where nothing really happens.
Now the thing that bothered me in the previous book is that we don't see much of a progress in the big plot. Yes, something is happening, some die and some don't really matter to the plot because they don't freaking do anything! We get so much of Siena and Wrath's story, that it almost felt like this story was a continuation of the previous one and Adria and Riaz's story is just a side-kick. Also there wasn't much action, not much memorable romance and frankly said, I'm disappointed in the whole book. The only saving grace were the Arrows and of course Kaleb. So...yeah...
But anyway, I'm finally going to read Heart of Obsidian and that's all that matters! Yes!
Just one read away from Kaleb's story, yes!
Riaz and Adria's story was an unusual one. They were both from the same pack, both wolves and both knew there was no maing bond between them. I kinda hoped there would be one at the end but that didn't happen. Riaz has already found his mate but she was already taken by another. So you can imagine that he was heartbroken. Similar thing happened to Adria. She was in a disfunctional relationship for years and when she finally broke the circle, her heart bleed as well. It's such a strange thing for those two to find each other in a phase of their lives, where love seems an impossibility.
I wasn't that impressed with Riaz's behaviour towards Adria at the beginning of the book. To be frank, he was a total jerk and only let his hurt control him. With that he not only pushed others away but also almost destroyed his chance of love. I'm glad he overcame that as the story went on. As it turned out, he's actually a quite nice fella and super protective towards the people he loves. With that he managed to win himself some bonus points. Also, I like it that he never gives up. And that was just what Adria needed. Someone who really saw her worth and didn't give up on her.
Adria is a strong woman but one with a broken heart. And she didn't really have the right time to grieve. So when Riaz and her new job make her emotions go haywire she finally breaks and lets herself remember the loss and pain. Finally she heals. That makes her then woundable and she doesn't trust in Riaz's feelings for her. And tat the leadst to a long plot where nothing really happens.
Now the thing that bothered me in the previous book is that we don't see much of a progress in the big plot. Yes, something is happening, some die and some don't really matter to the plot because they don't freaking do anything! We get so much of Siena and Wrath's story, that it almost felt like this story was a continuation of the previous one and Adria and Riaz's story is just a side-kick. Also there wasn't much action, not much memorable romance and frankly said, I'm disappointed in the whole book. The only saving grace were the Arrows and of course Kaleb. So...yeah...
But anyway, I'm finally going to read Heart of Obsidian and that's all that matters! Yes!
October 9, 2013
3 ½ to 4 Stars.
Tangle of Need felt more like a prep book for Heart of Obsidian, the next book in the series. Also, I had a difficult time staying emotionally invested in the main couple. Frankly, their story was…yawn…ho-hum. However, a huge portion of this book was a continuation of Hawke and Sienna's story, and that alone made reading the book worth while.
Tangle of Need felt more like a prep book for Heart of Obsidian, the next book in the series. Also, I had a difficult time staying emotionally invested in the main couple. Frankly, their story was…yawn…ho-hum. However, a huge portion of this book was a continuation of Hawke and Sienna's story, and that alone made reading the book worth while.
May 9, 2015
3.5 Empress stars!
Despite my rating of 3.5, I still enjoyed this one immensely. But it does feel like a filler and transitory book for me. The main couple, Riaz and Adria's romance got overshadowed by the myriad of sub-plots and story arcs. It's a real shame though because I happen to love their love story. Theirs is an epic "unrequited love" story. Adria and Riaz has an instantaneous physical connection. The problem is, Riaz already found his mate. But she's married and is in love with her husband that it left Riaz broken. But Adria changed all that.
The issue for me wasn't the unrequited aspect because God knows, I love me some of those. It's the fact that they got so little screen time together that their romance felt underdeveloped. There were so many things happening with Psy, the alliances, with the Arrows, etc that their story got lost in the shuffle.
I still enjoyed it though. I'm not a big PNR reader but I will read any PNR from Nalini Singh because she is just that good.
Despite my rating of 3.5, I still enjoyed this one immensely. But it does feel like a filler and transitory book for me. The main couple, Riaz and Adria's romance got overshadowed by the myriad of sub-plots and story arcs. It's a real shame though because I happen to love their love story. Theirs is an epic "unrequited love" story. Adria and Riaz has an instantaneous physical connection. The problem is, Riaz already found his mate. But she's married and is in love with her husband that it left Riaz broken. But Adria changed all that.
The issue for me wasn't the unrequited aspect because God knows, I love me some of those. It's the fact that they got so little screen time together that their romance felt underdeveloped. There were so many things happening with Psy, the alliances, with the Arrows, etc that their story got lost in the shuffle.
I still enjoyed it though. I'm not a big PNR reader but I will read any PNR from Nalini Singh because she is just that good.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
December 26, 2014
▪ DNF at 76% ▪
I can't believe this but I just couldn't finish this book. I never thought I would not like a book in this series and yet here I am. I was and still am a big fan but Tangle of Need was just not a story for me.
It was boring as hell.
I really had to force myself to keep reading it and after a while, I just couldn't do it anymore. What happened, Nalini?! It didn't feel like reading a book of yours.
I absolutely did not connect with the two main characters. They were barely there. It felt like their story was in the background. Sienna and Hawke were more present than them. Actually, it felt more like the continuation of their book than anything else. And at first I didn't mind because I love them but then it got too much. It felt forced, like Nalini had to write about them for no reason whatsoever. Like I said, it was boring and at some point, I stopped paying attention to what I was reading.
It's a shame because Riaz had potential, I even liked him but his story with Adria was a bust. It felt like Nalini didn't really want to write about them so she gave them a book but made them the secondary characters and made us believe they were the main ones.
Also, there were too many different POVs. Enough is enough.
I couldn't concentrate and get into the story, practically each chapter we were changing of POV, with a new character each time. It really annoyed me and I got to a point where all the characters I loved before were now annoying me because it felt like I had to read pointless things about them in order to fill the book.
I just hope I haven't missed anything in the last 24%. I'll, at least, try to read Kaleb's POVs so I can better understand his story because it's the next one but I will definitely not read Tangle of Need again. It was a real disappointment for me.
March 20, 2012
Great installment in this series.
This is as much Hawke and Sienna's book as it is Adria's and Riaz's. Which I didn't mind! I think there was so much left to explore with them...and Singh explores a lot of it.
Adria and Riaz both hate each other to start - which I always enjoy :) Riaz has found his mate, a wolf named Lisette, but she is married to someone else. Devastated, he has returned to the SD pack to mend his wounds. Convinced he can't love another or bear another's touch, he has lived a celibate lifestyle for a long time. He is a wee bit cranky :)
Adria was in a relationship that turned sour...so although not as devastating as Riaz...she is afraid to trust another man. But being wolves, they both need that skin contact, and they are drawn together.
The PurePsy continue to play a big role, as does Vasic and Aden. I LOVE what we get of them in this book.
I expected a little more violence - or a little more action - don't get me wrong..this book in no way bored me. I just expected something super big to happen. BUT - what we get as build up to the psy stuff is really cool. I love what happens and what we learn.
AND - the very last page with a certain someone is awesome. :) Great installment - I can't wait for the next one.
This is as much Hawke and Sienna's book as it is Adria's and Riaz's. Which I didn't mind! I think there was so much left to explore with them...and Singh explores a lot of it.
Adria and Riaz both hate each other to start - which I always enjoy :) Riaz has found his mate, a wolf named Lisette, but she is married to someone else. Devastated, he has returned to the SD pack to mend his wounds. Convinced he can't love another or bear another's touch, he has lived a celibate lifestyle for a long time. He is a wee bit cranky :)
Adria was in a relationship that turned sour...so although not as devastating as Riaz...she is afraid to trust another man. But being wolves, they both need that skin contact, and they are drawn together.
The PurePsy continue to play a big role, as does Vasic and Aden. I LOVE what we get of them in this book.
I expected a little more violence - or a little more action - don't get me wrong..this book in no way bored me. I just expected something super big to happen. BUT - what we get as build up to the psy stuff is really cool. I love what happens and what we learn.
AND - the very last page with a certain someone is awesome. :) Great installment - I can't wait for the next one.
August 12, 2016
I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this. I wasn't sure I'd get into the story, with both of the characters dealing with angst at their past failed matings. It was such a great book. I don't know why I was surprised because Nalini Singh is a fantastic writer. I've tended to be more of a Psy fan for a while, and the latest books in the series that were Changeling/Changeling mating weren't my favorites. However, this book broke that negative streak for me. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the Psy storyline is so prominent!
Riaz is a cool guy. He's a strong dominant, but he's also a very caring man. He comes off as being a jerk at first, but it's just him trying to deal with his soul-deep hurt. He's attracted to Adria, another dominant soldier in the SnowDancer pack. It's inconvenient and powerful. When she suggests they become lovers to deal with their need for skin to skin contact as changelings, he rebuffs her in a hurtful way. But he isn't able to stop his feelings for her.
I liked how Nalini Singh dealt with the idea of fated mates not working out like one would expect. In this case, Riaz fated mate is someone else and he can't have her. Adria chose a partner who wasn't strong enough to handle her as a dominant female. It broke her heart. She's not in a position to fall in love again. I like that she isn't going to let Riaz walk all over her. He has to earn her trust and she does continue to guard her heart because of the fact that she's not Riaz's true mate. However, their love grows naturally and deeply. It's almost as though the whole concept of fated mates is turned on its ears in this book. But it's done so well, I was happy with the result. I loved how Riaz continues to woo Adria and show his love for her.
The ongoing suspense story about the PsyNet breaking down--and Pure Psy's attempts to destroy it so that people can go back to their rigid and pure form of Silence--continues. This book follows up after Kiss of Snow and Sienna's manifestation as a powerful X-Psy, and what that means. Sienna and Hawke's relationship is still prominent in this book, but that's fine with me. I love them as a couple, and it's great to see how well things are going for them. The Arrows have their own plans in helping their people, and they form an alliance with Kaleb Krychek, a powerful Psy who has some motivations that aren't 100% clear. And there's some very good news for a past mated pair.
This storyline just continues to grow and the connection between the Psy, Changelings, and Humans becomes more rich and complicated with each book. The Humans aren't the frail, ineffectual agents in this world that one might believe. Far from it.
I'm so excited to read Kaleb, Vasic and Aden's book. When I started this book, I was mainly just reading it so I could make it to the next books, which are Psy-oriented. But I ended up enjoying this enormously.
Riaz is a cool guy. He's a strong dominant, but he's also a very caring man. He comes off as being a jerk at first, but it's just him trying to deal with his soul-deep hurt. He's attracted to Adria, another dominant soldier in the SnowDancer pack. It's inconvenient and powerful. When she suggests they become lovers to deal with their need for skin to skin contact as changelings, he rebuffs her in a hurtful way. But he isn't able to stop his feelings for her.
I liked how Nalini Singh dealt with the idea of fated mates not working out like one would expect. In this case, Riaz fated mate is someone else and he can't have her. Adria chose a partner who wasn't strong enough to handle her as a dominant female. It broke her heart. She's not in a position to fall in love again. I like that she isn't going to let Riaz walk all over her. He has to earn her trust and she does continue to guard her heart because of the fact that she's not Riaz's true mate. However, their love grows naturally and deeply. It's almost as though the whole concept of fated mates is turned on its ears in this book. But it's done so well, I was happy with the result. I loved how Riaz continues to woo Adria and show his love for her.
The ongoing suspense story about the PsyNet breaking down--and Pure Psy's attempts to destroy it so that people can go back to their rigid and pure form of Silence--continues. This book follows up after Kiss of Snow and Sienna's manifestation as a powerful X-Psy, and what that means. Sienna and Hawke's relationship is still prominent in this book, but that's fine with me. I love them as a couple, and it's great to see how well things are going for them. The Arrows have their own plans in helping their people, and they form an alliance with Kaleb Krychek, a powerful Psy who has some motivations that aren't 100% clear. And there's some very good news for a past mated pair.
This storyline just continues to grow and the connection between the Psy, Changelings, and Humans becomes more rich and complicated with each book. The Humans aren't the frail, ineffectual agents in this world that one might believe. Far from it.
I'm so excited to read Kaleb, Vasic and Aden's book. When I started this book, I was mainly just reading it so I could make it to the next books, which are Psy-oriented. But I ended up enjoying this enormously.
March 23, 2020
2nd read: October 2014
Buddy read with Maru and Sarah
I love all the characters Nalini creates...
1st read: May 2012
I loved it! I know some people complained that it was slow at the start, that they hadn't cared about the main characters, but I absolutely loved everything! There isn't a thing that I disliked.
I loved:
-Riaz: he was a little bit of a bastard at the start, but as I read more I understood why so I forgave him fast :D he is so open and loving with Adria that it makes me love him even more then I thought I would
-Adria: we knew more about her story from Indy and Drew's book so I sympathized with her: trying to be less to please someone is utter bull, but when you think you love him/her and you feel indebted to him/her you do stupid things... The way she cared about Riaz, that she would have given him up and with him her happiness made me respect her a lot.
-The visits in Mercy and Riley's lives was great, it reminded me of how much I loved their relationship(and made me want to re-read their book:D), the same happened with Sienna and Hawke(to see them stable and growing to be so much more together then when they were apart was eye-opening; it also made me want to re-read their books:)) )
-Seeing more of Vasic and Aden, whom I both love and am fascinated with, made me a happy camper.
-Kaleb, I can't say enough about him :)) he just is... and I think the next full novel will be his(which will rock with action)
-Alice was also intriguing, I think what we can find out from her will be a stunner! I think she knows a lot about the Arrows, and the person who created them *cough*Zaid*cough*
I am running out of adjectives and adverbs here so I'll stop while I still have my dignity intact :D
How I looked after finishing the book[imagine a human instead of a cat, even though he isn't as cute]
From all of my raving above you can understand my main thought: I adore this series, those characters and Nalini Singh for creating them.
Buddy read with Maru and Sarah
I love all the characters Nalini creates...
1st read: May 2012
I loved it! I know some people complained that it was slow at the start, that they hadn't cared about the main characters, but I absolutely loved everything! There isn't a thing that I disliked.
I loved:
-Riaz: he was a little bit of a bastard at the start, but as I read more I understood why so I forgave him fast :D he is so open and loving with Adria that it makes me love him even more then I thought I would
-Adria: we knew more about her story from Indy and Drew's book so I sympathized with her: trying to be less to please someone is utter bull, but when you think you love him/her and you feel indebted to him/her you do stupid things... The way she cared about Riaz, that she would have given him up and with him her happiness made me respect her a lot.
-The visits in Mercy and Riley's lives was great, it reminded me of how much I loved their relationship(and made me want to re-read their book:D), the same happened with Sienna and Hawke(to see them stable and growing to be so much more together then when they were apart was eye-opening; it also made me want to re-read their books:)) )
-Seeing more of Vasic and Aden, whom I both love and am fascinated with, made me a happy camper.
-Kaleb, I can't say enough about him :)) he just is... and I think the next full novel will be his(which will rock with action)
-Alice was also intriguing, I think what we can find out from her will be a stunner! I think she knows a lot about the Arrows, and the person who created them *cough*Zaid*cough*
I am running out of adjectives and adverbs here so I'll stop while I still have my dignity intact :D
How I looked after finishing the book[imagine a human instead of a cat, even though he isn't as cute]
From all of my raving above you can understand my main thought: I adore this series, those characters and Nalini Singh for creating them.
April 15, 2013
April 2013: Finally finished my Psy-Changeling re-read. And I still have, like, fifty days to go until Heart of Obsidian. And it's been one year and thirty-one days since I read Tangle of Need for the first time. Totally suffering from withdrawal pains. *sigh*
March 13, 2012
If I say too much, an angry mob will cross the bridges and stone me to death. Since there are entirely too many books left in my TBR to risk that, I only have the following cryptic comments for you.
1. If Kiss of Snow was the explosion that changed everything, Tangle of Need is the aftermath. Adria and Riaz are the main couple, yes, but their relationship is only part of the book's focus.
2. Re-read every book that centers on the SnowDancers as Tangle of Need is a reunion of epic proportions. DarkRiver characters make appearances, but only in very minor capacities.
3. If you have not read any of the Psy/Changeling books, do not start with this one because a) you will ruin the pleasure of watching the series develop for yourself and b) you will not enjoy Tangle of Need the way you should and I shall be forced to angrily exclaim 'I told you so.' You have 10 weeks. Read a book a week to catch up.
4. My personal theory as to the Ghost's identity remains in play and I think Nalini eliminates two more possible candidates.
5. I read a theory online about who Kaleb is searching for and now I'm pretty sure that theory was on the money, which makes my personal theory incorrect.
6. If Berkley does not make 'I heart Judd' pins to give away at the various cons & trade shows, I will be very sad.
7. I know I'm usually pretty stingy about price, now that I am discount-less, but I'm telling you, guys, I'd recommend picking this book up on May 29th when it's released. There is so much crammed into Tangle of Need and if you get spoiled, I honestly think it'll affect your enjoyment level of the book. Think of it this way, if you can save $3 a week between now & the time the book is released, you'll be able to afford it.
March 13, 2012
If I say too much, an angry mob will cross the bridges and stone me to death. Since there are entirely too many books left in my TBR to risk that, I only have the following cryptic comments for you.
1. If Kiss of Snow was the explosion that changed everything, Tangle of Need is the aftermath. Adria and Riaz are the main couple, yes, but their relationship is only part of the book's focus.
2. Re-read every book that centers on the SnowDancers as Tangle of Need is a reunion of epic proportions. DarkRiver characters make appearances, but only in very minor capacities.
3. If you have not read any of the Psy/Changeling books, do not start with this one because a) you will ruin the pleasure of watching the series develop for yourself and b) you will not enjoy Tangle of Need the way you should and I shall be forced to angrily exclaim 'I told you so.' You have 10 weeks. Read a book a week to catch up.
4. My personal theory as to the Ghost's identity remains in play and I think Nalini eliminates two more possible candidates.
5. I read a theory online about who Kaleb is searching for and now I'm pretty sure that theory was on the money, which makes my personal theory incorrect.
6. If Berkley does not make 'I heart Judd' pins to give away at the various cons & trade shows, I will be very sad.
7. I know I'm usually pretty stingy about price, now that I am discount-less, but I'm telling you, guys, I'd recommend picking this book up on May 29th when it's released. There is so much crammed into Tangle of Need and if you get spoiled, I honestly think it'll affect your enjoyment level of the book. Think of it this way, if you can save $3 a week between now & the time the book is released, you'll be able to afford it.
October 8, 2013
I had waited almost two years to read this book. Knowing any book that followed Kiss of Snow would likely disappoint and all... and dang it, I was right. I thing this may have been Singh's thoughts as well (not that I presume to speak for her) as this just felt very much like a transition book.
Riaz and Adria's story felt somewhat cheated. What was there was okay. Riaz recently found out that his mate is already married to the love of her life. Instead of continuing to live in Europe and live with the agony of knowing his fated mate is with another man, he comes home to the Snow Dancer pack. There he meets Adria, a lieutenant. There is an immediate attraction between them, but Riaz feels nothing but misplaced guilt when he thinks of this headstrong female that makes him feel forbidden desires.
Harsh? Yes. But wait...
Meanwhile, Adria us trying to get over her own failed relationship with a submissive male. Everyone told her that they wouldn't work together, but she forged on and spent years in a partnership that dragged her down and made her lose herself.
So the couple of the story fight each other for awhile, and although I was satisfied with their outcome, I really did feel as if they were just a pause in the order of things, garnering a little more info on Kaleb Krychek and giving us a LOT more of Hawke and Sienna. That was a definite plus...I have a feeling that the issues that Sienna has with Ming are far from over.
The Psy war is just really starting, so much happens on that front. Still, I feel as if this book is mostly about gearing up for what's to come. My three stars is because Singh's world continues to fascinate me, the lack of more stars because this was an easily forgettable book.
(edit to add quotes)
Riaz and Adria's story felt somewhat cheated. What was there was okay. Riaz recently found out that his mate is already married to the love of her life. Instead of continuing to live in Europe and live with the agony of knowing his fated mate is with another man, he comes home to the Snow Dancer pack. There he meets Adria, a lieutenant. There is an immediate attraction between them, but Riaz feels nothing but misplaced guilt when he thinks of this headstrong female that makes him feel forbidden desires.
"You're not a woman I'll ever want in my bed."
Adria could feel her face burning, the heat blistering, but she didn't run off, tail between her legs. "Can't get much clearer than that."
Harsh? Yes. But wait...
"Dance with me." It came out harsh, crushed rocks in his throat.
Adria wrenched away her arm, shuddering at the contact. "I don't think that'd be a good idea." Riaz was a drug her body craved - and like all addictive substances, he was not good for her.
"Scared?" Eyes gone night - glow.
"No," she said, her own wolf rising to the fore. "I just happen to have some self respect."
Meanwhile, Adria us trying to get over her own failed relationship with a submissive male. Everyone told her that they wouldn't work together, but she forged on and spent years in a partnership that dragged her down and made her lose herself.
So the couple of the story fight each other for awhile, and although I was satisfied with their outcome, I really did feel as if they were just a pause in the order of things, garnering a little more info on Kaleb Krychek and giving us a LOT more of Hawke and Sienna. That was a definite plus...I have a feeling that the issues that Sienna has with Ming are far from over.
The Psy war is just really starting, so much happens on that front. Still, I feel as if this book is mostly about gearing up for what's to come. My three stars is because Singh's world continues to fascinate me, the lack of more stars because this was an easily forgettable book.
(edit to add quotes)
May 31, 2012
I love Nalini Singh & the Psy-Changeling world but this is the book I haven't been excited about much, maybe because Riaz and Adria were never characters I connected with much. Adria is dominant and was in a relationship with a submissive for years and it went sour and she had to finally admit defeat and has returned to the den, scarred.
Riaz too has returned scarred, he found his mate in Europe, happily married and in love with another man. He finds himself growing angry and bitter and Adria kind of becomes a target when their mutual lust comes to the surface. Wanting to be with her seems like a betrayal to his mate and Adria who was in a relationship that corroded her self respect, doesn't want to be with another man who won't respect her.
To be honest this has to be my least favorite book of the series, I just didn't connect with it much even though we got plenty of Hawke-Sienna time, seeing them deal with the pack hierarchy, being a couple, discuss her power and future children, it was all what happens once you are together and kind of perfect for fans of the couple, plus we even got the mating ceremony.
We also saw a lot of progress with the Human Alliance, Pure Psy group and Arrows which I liked but ultimately I never came to care much for Adria and Riaz. Their journey was angst ridden and we see them deal with the lack of mating bond and whether love is more important.
I just seem to be noticing way too many similarities in the writing style I guess or I just felt there were more dynamic characters who deserved a story sooner.
And for Kaleb fans there is plenty of action and the war seems to be boiling over set for an explosion. And there is a awesome pregnancy.
All in all I still have to rate this as my least favorite book in the series, which was earlier Mine to Possess, the other developments and story arc were great, I just never got much into the main couple.
Riaz too has returned scarred, he found his mate in Europe, happily married and in love with another man. He finds himself growing angry and bitter and Adria kind of becomes a target when their mutual lust comes to the surface. Wanting to be with her seems like a betrayal to his mate and Adria who was in a relationship that corroded her self respect, doesn't want to be with another man who won't respect her.
To be honest this has to be my least favorite book of the series, I just didn't connect with it much even though we got plenty of Hawke-Sienna time, seeing them deal with the pack hierarchy, being a couple, discuss her power and future children, it was all what happens once you are together and kind of perfect for fans of the couple, plus we even got the mating ceremony.
We also saw a lot of progress with the Human Alliance, Pure Psy group and Arrows which I liked but ultimately I never came to care much for Adria and Riaz. Their journey was angst ridden and we see them deal with the lack of mating bond and whether love is more important.
I just seem to be noticing way too many similarities in the writing style I guess or I just felt there were more dynamic characters who deserved a story sooner.
And for Kaleb fans there is plenty of action and the war seems to be boiling over set for an explosion. And there is a awesome pregnancy.
All in all I still have to rate this as my least favorite book in the series, which was earlier Mine to Possess, the other developments and story arc were great, I just never got much into the main couple.
July 16, 2014
4 stars
So... The day has finally come... when I can say:KALEB'S BOOK BETTER BE NEXT!
Ahem, now that I got that out of my system, back to this book. It had sooo many threads, but here are the basics:
Riaz and Adria
Possibly because of everything going down at the same time, I think this couple wasn't given enough attention. They were good, but as a reader, I was dragged all over the place, and get this, they were my least favorite part!(other than the bad guys, but you get my drift).
I liked the tension at the start, the conflict. Riaz finding his mate and being unable to be with her, Adria recovering after her damaging relationship with a man of less dominance, it all left us with lots of tension and angst. Slowly they start growing closer(after an explosive start) and their relationship deepens into more than friendship, into love. But past hurts and mating bonds may get in the way.
My problem? I didn't completely buy their love and devotion for each other. Nor was I that absorbed by them. their story felt like just a background for everything else, for me. I did like them overall, so just them: 3 stars.
Luckily(or maybe unluckily for Riaz and Adria) there were other threads...
The Main Story
The Pure Psy have been temporarily paused, but they are far from over. Under the leadership of Henry Scott they think of a nefarious ways to get back at the changelings-and psy-who have "betrayed" them. And their strike may be deadly to many...
The Human Allience has finally advanced. They may have found a way to prevent being controlled by the psy. They have also tested it. Now might be the time for HA and the changelings to unite.
New pacts are made, including one with the sea creatures, and life in the Snow Dancer pack moves on...
Hawke and Sienna
I'm happy to say I enjoyed their 'epilogue'(which was a good chink of this book). I liked Kiss of Snow, but I wanted more and here I got it. Ridiculously happy,lovesick and sweet, these two would set your teeth ache! But, it was so nice to see. Sienna and Hawke in their everyday lives, settling in, adjusting, making cookies, bickering... *sigh* Domestic bliss!
The Arrows
I adore Aden and Vasic, so NS better keep them alive! They are so...heartbreaking to read about, so broken all I want to cuddle them and assure them their HEA is, in fact, coming(which better be coming!). They remind me of Judd(my favorite hero in the series), they're cold and rational and hurting. They are also very careful how they step, but for now they're loyal to a former councilman Kaleb.
I love the Arrows!
The Packmates
We see bits of pretty much everyone. We get Mercy and Riley being ecstatic and cute. We get more Judd (Always nice. Somehow I can't imagine him as a blond.), who is now apparently a superstar(with his very own fangirls!). Drew and Indigo, Lara, Ashaya, Amara, Sacha and others! Of the unpaired wolves we saw a few sentinels. Personally I'd love a story about Kenji. He seems interesting.
Connected to this is the continuance of the Story Of Alice, the author of books on E-Psy and X-Psy. I'm intrigued by her. I wonder whether she's a future heroine? It would be interesting to see.
And finally... Kaleb
Did I say already I love Kaleb. 'Cause it needs to be said. I ADORE Kaleb. Don't ask me why, I just do. He's still a badass, still Silent, still looking for the mystery person. Also, weaving webs of intrigue, since he has a master plan and is playing everyone, while saving lives and being hot. You know, the usual.
As to the ending... I have no clue who it is and what it means, but I'm definitely anxious for the next book. Which might also answer the question of who the Ghost is.
A lot of things can be said about this book, but it can't be denied all these threads make a sweet tangle of love, loyalty and friendship. Very enjoyable!
So... The day has finally come... when I can say:KALEB'S BOOK BETTER BE NEXT!
Ahem, now that I got that out of my system, back to this book. It had sooo many threads, but here are the basics:
Riaz and Adria
Possibly because of everything going down at the same time, I think this couple wasn't given enough attention. They were good, but as a reader, I was dragged all over the place, and get this, they were my least favorite part!(other than the bad guys, but you get my drift).
I liked the tension at the start, the conflict. Riaz finding his mate and being unable to be with her, Adria recovering after her damaging relationship with a man of less dominance, it all left us with lots of tension and angst. Slowly they start growing closer(after an explosive start) and their relationship deepens into more than friendship, into love. But past hurts and mating bonds may get in the way.
My problem? I didn't completely buy their love and devotion for each other. Nor was I that absorbed by them. their story felt like just a background for everything else, for me. I did like them overall, so just them: 3 stars.
Luckily(or maybe unluckily for Riaz and Adria) there were other threads...
The Main Story
The Pure Psy have been temporarily paused, but they are far from over. Under the leadership of Henry Scott they think of a nefarious ways to get back at the changelings-and psy-who have "betrayed" them. And their strike may be deadly to many...
The Human Allience has finally advanced. They may have found a way to prevent being controlled by the psy. They have also tested it. Now might be the time for HA and the changelings to unite.
New pacts are made, including one with the sea creatures, and life in the Snow Dancer pack moves on...
Hawke and Sienna
I'm happy to say I enjoyed their 'epilogue'(which was a good chink of this book). I liked Kiss of Snow, but I wanted more and here I got it. Ridiculously happy,lovesick and sweet, these two would set your teeth ache! But, it was so nice to see. Sienna and Hawke in their everyday lives, settling in, adjusting, making cookies, bickering... *sigh* Domestic bliss!
The Arrows
I adore Aden and Vasic, so NS better keep them alive! They are so...heartbreaking to read about, so broken all I want to cuddle them and assure them their HEA is, in fact, coming(which better be coming!). They remind me of Judd(my favorite hero in the series), they're cold and rational and hurting. They are also very careful how they step, but for now they're loyal to a former councilman Kaleb.
I love the Arrows!
The Packmates
We see bits of pretty much everyone. We get Mercy and Riley being ecstatic and cute. We get more Judd (Always nice. Somehow I can't imagine him as a blond.), who is now apparently a superstar(with his very own fan
Connected to this is the continuance of the Story Of Alice, the author of books on E-Psy and X-Psy. I'm intrigued by her. I wonder whether she's a future heroine? It would be interesting to see.
And finally... Kaleb
Did I say already I love Kaleb. 'Cause it needs to be said. I ADORE Kaleb. Don't ask me why, I just do. He's still a badass, still Silent, still looking for the mystery person. Also, weaving webs of intrigue, since he has a master plan and is playing everyone, while saving lives and being hot. You know, the usual.
As to the ending... I have no clue who it is and what it means, but I'm definitely anxious for the next book. Which might also answer the question of who the Ghost is.
A lot of things can be said about this book, but it can't be denied all these threads make a sweet tangle of love, loyalty and friendship. Very enjoyable!
October 17, 2015
I'm a broken record on this series, but I love the world, and hate some of the Alpha-asses that some of the books have in the romance part. This is another one of those times.
Let's look at this from an objective standpoint, shall we? I will state absolute facts about what Mr. Alpha did in this book - not out of context - and we'll see if I'm being unreasonable in my loathing of him.
Changelings (shapeshifters) only find one mate, and when they mate, it is for life.
The main guy, Riaz, found his mate, but she was married to someone else, so he is butthurt. After being really rude to another girl that he finds attractive (tells her that he doesn't even like her when she asks him out), he decides he wants her after all, and pursues her aggressively. He also informs her that she can never be his mate.
Riaz's true mate turns up and says she is getting a divorce and moving into town. So, his girlfriend, Adria, breaks it off with him because she knows she will never be his mate, and she is being nice to let him go.
But, Riaz decides he wants to keep Adria on his leash. Even though, this means she will also never get to find her true mate. Adria doesn't want this. She broke up with him.
So, here is what Riaz does: he stalks her relentlessly, breaks in to her apartment several times when she isn't home, rearranges her work schedule so that she has to spend time with him, physically grabs her and restrains her when she walks by him, and forces her into a room and starts pulling off her clothes when she just clearly told him "no". In the real world, this guy would get arrested.
So, I ask: Am I being unreasonable in thinking this guy is a total douchebag? I'll answer that question for you: NO! He's a dick!
On the other hand, the other parts of the story were good. I love the psy-world and all of the stuff going on in it. There is a war coming and it is pretty cool. I love the Arrows, Aden and Vasic (although Vasic makes me think of Vlasic, the pickles.), and I can't wait to find out who Ghost is, and what Kaleb is up to. So, I'll keep reading and hoping for a better love-interest in the next book.
Let's look at this from an objective standpoint, shall we? I will state absolute facts about what Mr. Alpha did in this book - not out of context - and we'll see if I'm being unreasonable in my loathing of him.
Changelings (shapeshifters) only find one mate, and when they mate, it is for life.
The main guy, Riaz, found his mate, but she was married to someone else, so he is butthurt. After being really rude to another girl that he finds attractive (tells her that he doesn't even like her when she asks him out), he decides he wants her after all, and pursues her aggressively. He also informs her that she can never be his mate.
Riaz's true mate turns up and says she is getting a divorce and moving into town. So, his girlfriend, Adria, breaks it off with him because she knows she will never be his mate, and she is being nice to let him go.
But, Riaz decides he wants to keep Adria on his leash. Even though, this means she will also never get to find her true mate. Adria doesn't want this. She broke up with him.
So, here is what Riaz does: he stalks her relentlessly, breaks in to her apartment several times when she isn't home, rearranges her work schedule so that she has to spend time with him, physically grabs her and restrains her when she walks by him, and forces her into a room and starts pulling off her clothes when she just clearly told him "no". In the real world, this guy would get arrested.
So, I ask: Am I being unreasonable in thinking this guy is a total douchebag? I'll answer that question for you: NO! He's a dick!
On the other hand, the other parts of the story were good. I love the psy-world and all of the stuff going on in it. There is a war coming and it is pretty cool. I love the Arrows, Aden and Vasic (although Vasic makes me think of Vlasic, the pickles.), and I can't wait to find out who Ghost is, and what Kaleb is up to. So, I'll keep reading and hoping for a better love-interest in the next book.
April 21, 2012
Not a favorite, but a spectacular read non the less. As always NS keeps blowing my mind with this amazing series.
I just know I WILL NEVER GET ENOUGH of this intriguing Psy and passionate Changelings because... What's not to love about them? NS has created a very complex and original world from scratch and introduced us to some very intricate characters we just can't seem to help falling hopelessly in love with. But more than that, I will always emphasize Singh's brilliant writing style. Nobody knows how to say things in a more fervid or avid way, impossible not to adore her books.
THE MAIN COUPLE:
This book is about Riaz, A snow Dancer Sentinel who found his mate -while working on Europe- only to discover she was already married and completely in love with somebody else. Devastated and heartbroken he decides to come back to his pack to recover from such a terrible and hurting revelation. Once appeased and contained he decides to confront Adria, the only female who wont make his life any easier. Both will have to work things out as it's clear there's just too much tension and animosity between them.
Adria, a wolf changeling soldier, is trying to recover herself after a terrible divorce. She just wants to be happy again and not feel such terrible devastation every time she remembers what couldn't be. But then there's this infuriating lone-wolf who just wont let her suffer quietly, who wont let her mourn her lost relationship alone and be annoyingly bitchy whenever she feels like it. She is miserable and can't help treating him accordingly, but only him, who just keeps awakening something inside her she is NOT ready to analyze yet.
THE PSY CHANGELING WORLD AROUND THEM:
While they discover how they truly feel about each other and try to make things work out, it gets more and more obvious that war is becoming impossible to avoid. Things between humans, changelings and psy are becoming more and more uncertain. Some start strategizing, while others start choosing sides. And Deaths start increasing. Something will have to be done, things need to stop getting worst, but what? Nothing is easy nor predictable and it's up to those who care to make things better and peaceful again, but then again, how? No one has an answer, things for the psy are getting worst and while the changelings get a bit of peace, a break inside a tiny bubble, they just can't hide from what's going on around them because it will eventually condemn them as well.
Everybody is just waiting for an impeding battle that may alter the very fate of the world.
SO MUCH CONSTANT TENSION, SO MANY DOUBTS AND UNCERTAIN FUTURE PATHS, it's just too compelling and captivating. That's what I adore the most about this series, it's not only romance and NEVER a simple read.
Be ready for another great installment in this wonderful series.
**I didn't go for the whole 5 stars rating because this wasn't a couple I was THAT intrigued or excited about. I think the series got to a point where there are too many IMPORTANT characters who still need their own book, so while Riaz & Adria were great I just couldn't help focusing in other characters like the ghost, Kaleb, Vasic, Aden, Nikita, Anthony and so many others.
Also the book was as much about Sienna and Hawke as Riaz and Adria. Normally this would be a plus -as I have been helplessly in love with Hawke since day one- but this was Riaz & Adria's story and so much information about the other couple distracted me too much.
I just know I WILL NEVER GET ENOUGH of this intriguing Psy and passionate Changelings because... What's not to love about them? NS has created a very complex and original world from scratch and introduced us to some very intricate characters we just can't seem to help falling hopelessly in love with. But more than that, I will always emphasize Singh's brilliant writing style. Nobody knows how to say things in a more fervid or avid way, impossible not to adore her books.
THE MAIN COUPLE:
This book is about Riaz, A snow Dancer Sentinel who found his mate -while working on Europe- only to discover she was already married and completely in love with somebody else. Devastated and heartbroken he decides to come back to his pack to recover from such a terrible and hurting revelation. Once appeased and contained he decides to confront Adria, the only female who wont make his life any easier. Both will have to work things out as it's clear there's just too much tension and animosity between them.
Adria, a wolf changeling soldier, is trying to recover herself after a terrible divorce. She just wants to be happy again and not feel such terrible devastation every time she remembers what couldn't be. But then there's this infuriating lone-wolf who just wont let her suffer quietly, who wont let her mourn her lost relationship alone and be annoyingly bitchy whenever she feels like it. She is miserable and can't help treating him accordingly, but only him, who just keeps awakening something inside her she is NOT ready to analyze yet.
THE PSY CHANGELING WORLD AROUND THEM:
While they discover how they truly feel about each other and try to make things work out, it gets more and more obvious that war is becoming impossible to avoid. Things between humans, changelings and psy are becoming more and more uncertain. Some start strategizing, while others start choosing sides. And Deaths start increasing. Something will have to be done, things need to stop getting worst, but what? Nothing is easy nor predictable and it's up to those who care to make things better and peaceful again, but then again, how? No one has an answer, things for the psy are getting worst and while the changelings get a bit of peace, a break inside a tiny bubble, they just can't hide from what's going on around them because it will eventually condemn them as well.
Everybody is just waiting for an impeding battle that may alter the very fate of the world.
SO MUCH CONSTANT TENSION, SO MANY DOUBTS AND UNCERTAIN FUTURE PATHS, it's just too compelling and captivating. That's what I adore the most about this series, it's not only romance and NEVER a simple read.
Be ready for another great installment in this wonderful series.
**I didn't go for the whole 5 stars rating because this wasn't a couple I was THAT intrigued or excited about. I think the series got to a point where there are too many IMPORTANT characters who still need their own book, so while Riaz & Adria were great I just couldn't help focusing in other characters like the ghost, Kaleb, Vasic, Aden, Nikita, Anthony and so many others.
Also the book was as much about Sienna and Hawke as Riaz and Adria. Normally this would be a plus -as I have been helplessly in love with Hawke since day one- but this was Riaz & Adria's story and so much information about the other couple distracted me too much.
June 1, 2012
Yes, here there be SPOILERS.
I love Nalini. To the extent that I've, literally, read everything she has in print. Upfront I want to write that I loved "Tangle of Need", also, just not so much for the love story of Riaz and Adria. I won't describe it, readers can pick up the bits and pieces from the cover and the goodreads blurb. Suffice it to say that regardless of my empathy for the characters I didn't get the teaching point.
Every other major pair set in this world - even Judd/Brenna, Sienna/Hawke and the other psy/changeling pairings - are "mated." But, for some reason these two changelings, both wolves, aren't mates. Yes, they love each other, but based on the previous workings of the characters in this world, that's a second best thing. It makes their relationship very human, but it doesn't make it changeling; that's confusing and frankly, odd. Even after Riaz decides it's Adria that fills his heart he still feels a "tug" for his "real" mate.
Honestly, Adria should be running for the hills if her intent is to be first in his heart. That ship sailed, and with the best of good will it's an iffy proposition with an iffy resolution. Because even if Riaz decided that he'll take Adria because he loves and trusts her, she's never met her "mate" either. Martin was not it, and now Riaz is not it. What the heck? Did Nalini decide to write a story about settling? Cause that's what happened here.
Having dumped all that, the Psy civil war and the changeling place in it moved along well. We got to see more of Hawk and Sienna (I'm still working with that one, as much as I love the two it still kind of skives me that she's 19 and he's about 10 to 15 years older. I have to pretend she's older in my mind or I get all icky.) We see some of our faves from previous books. There's lots of Aden, Vasic and Krychek, plus Alice is finally awake and Henry's gone (I felt like singing a verse of "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead.")
I think the book met its purpose of moving the arc along and it feels like that was what it was supposed to do. Now of course, I'm already jonsing for more.
I love Nalini. To the extent that I've, literally, read everything she has in print. Upfront I want to write that I loved "Tangle of Need", also, just not so much for the love story of Riaz and Adria. I won't describe it, readers can pick up the bits and pieces from the cover and the goodreads blurb. Suffice it to say that regardless of my empathy for the characters I didn't get the teaching point.
Every other major pair set in this world - even Judd/Brenna, Sienna/Hawke and the other psy/changeling pairings - are "mated." But, for some reason these two changelings, both wolves, aren't mates. Yes, they love each other, but based on the previous workings of the characters in this world, that's a second best thing. It makes their relationship very human, but it doesn't make it changeling; that's confusing and frankly, odd. Even after Riaz decides it's Adria that fills his heart he still feels a "tug" for his "real" mate.
Honestly, Adria should be running for the hills if her intent is to be first in his heart. That ship sailed, and with the best of good will it's an iffy proposition with an iffy resolution. Because even if Riaz decided that he'll take Adria because he loves and trusts her, she's never met her "mate" either. Martin was not it, and now Riaz is not it. What the heck? Did Nalini decide to write a story about settling? Cause that's what happened here.
Having dumped all that, the Psy civil war and the changeling place in it moved along well. We got to see more of Hawk and Sienna (I'm still working with that one, as much as I love the two it still kind of skives me that she's 19 and he's about 10 to 15 years older. I have to pretend she's older in my mind or I get all icky.) We see some of our faves from previous books. There's lots of Aden, Vasic and Krychek, plus Alice is finally awake and Henry's gone (I felt like singing a verse of "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead.")
I think the book met its purpose of moving the arc along and it feels like that was what it was supposed to do. Now of course, I'm already jonsing for more.
August 30, 2021
2016 Re-read: Okay, so here's the thing - Riaz does something so incredibly mean in the early parts of this book that I spend quite a long time wanting him to grovel and beg to get back into Adria's good graces. I'm not sure, entirely, there's ever really enough of it - Adria forgives him (because of understandable reasons, absolutely, but...) and their courtship takes an entirely different pace than the one I would have envisioned. But that doesn't mean it's a bad course. I love the way they develop and the way their relationship grows and settles. Somewhere along the way I forgave Riaz, too. Far sooner than my buddy-reading friends to be sure. And by the end, with his outrageous, beautiful courtship of her....I love them. They're a beautiful couple.
This book does bring up some interesting ideas regarding the mating bond itself. I know some have said that it makes the bond less special, or less beautiful, but I don't think it does. The mating bond, in this series, to me has always come about and solidified because the couple was in love. Their love and care drove the bond. And that's what always made it so beautiful to me.
2013 Re-read notes: Original review is from first reading. Don't let the 4 stars fool you. First, it's really 4.5 stars (why won't GR go to half-star system?) This is a great book. It's just not quite at the level of Kiss of Snow for me, and as that was the most recent book before this one, it's hard for me not to let that color my rating. I love this book though. Even more on re-reads.
Original review:
Riaz and Adria’s relationship burns steady and hot in this tension filled installment in the Psy/Changeling series. This is definitely a time when I’d recommend reading the previous books in this series prior to this one. Rest assured that each book is well worth the read, and you have a wonderful journey in front of you. Read no further if you don’t want spoilers for the previous books.
We first met Riaz and Adria in Play of Passion. Riaz had come back from Italy after having found his mate – except she’s already married and he can’t have her. Adria, Indigo’s aunt, was in a destructive relationship that’s nearly destroyed her sense of self. Sparks fly between them from page one, something neither is sure they want. But they have to figure it out because they can’t seem to stay away from each other.
The romance here ended up being one of my favorites. I admit that when I started the book I wasn’t invested in Riaz and Adria and, as such, it felt like this book wasn’t really focused on them. It didn’t take long, however, until I absolutely adored both Riaz, with his strength and the warmth, and Adria’s quick mind, intelligence, and warm heart. What I immediately anticipated, even as I worried about the resolution, was that their relationship was unlike any other we’ve seen in the series. There were real obstacles set up pitting Riaz and Adria's love against the odds in world as we know it. Nalini Singh resolved these conflicts in an absolutely stunning way – and one that didn’t involve any deus ex machina, but simply made me believe in their love even more.
Ms. Singh is absolutely a master at weaving together multiple plots and threads throughout each book and, indeed, the entire series. Seemingly effortlessly we are treated to a whole lot of beloved characters from previous books – most especially Hawke and Sienna who have a very prominent plot line in Tangle of Need. It was wonderful to see more of their story and how they’re making it work. Additionally, we see a lot of Kaleb (*sigh*), Judd, Mercy, Riley, and many others. Tangle of Need was a book just made me happy. I spent nearly the entire book smiling, laughing and cheering.
Honestly, Ms. Singh is a master of her craft. I’m constantly in awe of her ability to weave engaging, relevant, interesting stories around characters I truly care about, in a world that’s so incredibly complex and compelling. Every time I pick up one of her novels I know I’m in for a treat and Tangle of Need was no different! Already I’m counting down to the next Psy/Changeling novel!
ETA: The last scene of the novel absolutely ramped up my excitement for what has to come next! It can't possibly be another year to wait...
This book does bring up some interesting ideas regarding the mating bond itself. I know some have said that it makes the bond less special, or less beautiful, but I don't think it does. The mating bond, in this series, to me has always come about and solidified because the couple was in love. Their love and care drove the bond. And that's what always made it so beautiful to me.
2013 Re-read notes: Original review is from first reading. Don't let the 4 stars fool you. First, it's really 4.5 stars (why won't GR go to half-star system?) This is a great book. It's just not quite at the level of Kiss of Snow for me, and as that was the most recent book before this one, it's hard for me not to let that color my rating. I love this book though. Even more on re-reads.
Original review:
Riaz and Adria’s relationship burns steady and hot in this tension filled installment in the Psy/Changeling series. This is definitely a time when I’d recommend reading the previous books in this series prior to this one. Rest assured that each book is well worth the read, and you have a wonderful journey in front of you. Read no further if you don’t want spoilers for the previous books.
We first met Riaz and Adria in Play of Passion. Riaz had come back from Italy after having found his mate – except she’s already married and he can’t have her. Adria, Indigo’s aunt, was in a destructive relationship that’s nearly destroyed her sense of self. Sparks fly between them from page one, something neither is sure they want. But they have to figure it out because they can’t seem to stay away from each other.
The romance here ended up being one of my favorites. I admit that when I started the book I wasn’t invested in Riaz and Adria and, as such, it felt like this book wasn’t really focused on them. It didn’t take long, however, until I absolutely adored both Riaz, with his strength and the warmth, and Adria’s quick mind, intelligence, and warm heart. What I immediately anticipated, even as I worried about the resolution, was that their relationship was unlike any other we’ve seen in the series. There were real obstacles set up pitting Riaz and Adria's love against the odds in world as we know it. Nalini Singh resolved these conflicts in an absolutely stunning way – and one that didn’t involve any deus ex machina, but simply made me believe in their love even more.
Ms. Singh is absolutely a master at weaving together multiple plots and threads throughout each book and, indeed, the entire series. Seemingly effortlessly we are treated to a whole lot of beloved characters from previous books – most especially Hawke and Sienna who have a very prominent plot line in Tangle of Need. It was wonderful to see more of their story and how they’re making it work. Additionally, we see a lot of Kaleb (*sigh*), Judd, Mercy, Riley, and many others. Tangle of Need was a book just made me happy. I spent nearly the entire book smiling, laughing and cheering.
Honestly, Ms. Singh is a master of her craft. I’m constantly in awe of her ability to weave engaging, relevant, interesting stories around characters I truly care about, in a world that’s so incredibly complex and compelling. Every time I pick up one of her novels I know I’m in for a treat and Tangle of Need was no different! Already I’m counting down to the next Psy/Changeling novel!
ETA: The last scene of the novel absolutely ramped up my excitement for what has to come next! It can't possibly be another year to wait...
October 6, 2014
So...I don't know how to rate this book.
Idea: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★
S&H romance: ★★★★★
A&R romance: ★★
M&R news: ★★★★★★★★★★
No mating bond: ★
Vasic/Aden/Kaleb: ★★★★★
Last line of book: ★★★★★
Ending in general: ★
Adria as a person: ★
(S&H stand for Sienna and Hawke, A&R stands for Adria and Riaz, M&R stands for Mercy and Riley)
See my dilemma?
SPOILERS APLENTY
Adria
Adria is supposed to be a tough, dominant female like Indigo or Mercy. WTH? This girl was a whiny, bratty woman with a love for drama. She had a good childhood, people who loved her, friends who were always there for her and her one "trauma" was a bad relationship. One single bad relationship, not the abusive bf kind of bad either, just a relationship that didn't work out with a generally nice guy. The woman acts as if that was the first time in history a couple didn't work out. She has trust issues with anything male because she and Martin weren't meant to be.
I can accept heroines with bad childhoods or history of abuse having so many issues but I just can't accept so many issues as a result of one bad boyfriend choice. Call me crazy.
Riaz
I liked Riaz. Now, there, I get the drama. He found his mate and she is married and in love with someone else. It makes sense for him to be so messed up since changelings are supposed to be looking their whole lives for their other half. I freaking GET IT! And despite having a reason to be Riaz wasn't half as dramatic and overly emotional as Adria. He got over the fact that his mate belonged to another, fell in love with someone who could love him back, did everything to make her understand it. I like Riaz.
Don't get me started with the book in general. I would like this book to be two SHORT stories, not a huge book that has almost nothing to say. There was all this built up with the Pure Psy next movement and then:
*boom* Plan found out
*boom* Good guys protected
*boom* Good guy saved
*boom* Bad guy leader dead
All this in about two pages. I didn't even get the time to prepare emotionally for it. All this drama and the bad guy lost and died in two seconds flat.
Then there was the lack of the mating bond between Riaz and Adria. The fact that the bond could be doubted and ignored put a dark spot on the series for me. I accepted so many insta-love cases, so many changelings accepting the bond so easily because it was fated, couldn't be ignored, and the ones who tried even for a while supposedly went almost crazy and then this. WHY?
The only saving graces were the Hawke and Sienna scenes as well as the new Mercy and Riley turn. I also LOVE Vasic and Aden. I am so in the "want to see them together" group. Last but not least what's coming in the next book because of stupid spoilers I also loved the closing line of the book. I'm so looking forward to beginning HoO.
Idea: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★
S&H romance: ★★★★★
A&R romance: ★★
M&R news: ★★★★★★★★★★
No mating bond: ★
Vasic/Aden/Kaleb: ★★★★★
Last line of book: ★★★★★
Ending in general: ★
Adria as a person: ★
(S&H stand for Sienna and Hawke, A&R stands for Adria and Riaz, M&R stands for Mercy and Riley)
See my dilemma?
SPOILERS APLENTY
Adria
Adria is supposed to be a tough, dominant female like Indigo or Mercy. WTH? This girl was a whiny, bratty woman with a love for drama. She had a good childhood, people who loved her, friends who were always there for her and her one "trauma" was a bad relationship. One single bad relationship, not the abusive bf kind of bad either, just a relationship that didn't work out with a generally nice guy. The woman acts as if that was the first time in history a couple didn't work out. She has trust issues with anything male because she and Martin weren't meant to be.
I can accept heroines with bad childhoods or history of abuse having so many issues but I just can't accept so many issues as a result of one bad boyfriend choice. Call me crazy.
Riaz
I liked Riaz. Now, there, I get the drama. He found his mate and she is married and in love with someone else. It makes sense for him to be so messed up since changelings are supposed to be looking their whole lives for their other half. I freaking GET IT! And despite having a reason to be Riaz wasn't half as dramatic and overly emotional as Adria. He got over the fact that his mate belonged to another, fell in love with someone who could love him back, did everything to make her understand it. I like Riaz.
Don't get me started with the book in general. I would like this book to be two SHORT stories, not a huge book that has almost nothing to say. There was all this built up with the Pure Psy next movement and then:
*boom* Plan found out
*boom* Good guys protected
*boom* Good guy saved
*boom* Bad guy leader dead
All this in about two pages. I didn't even get the time to prepare emotionally for it. All this drama and the bad guy lost and died in two seconds flat.
Then there was the lack of the mating bond between Riaz and Adria. The fact that the bond could be doubted and ignored put a dark spot on the series for me. I accepted so many insta-love cases, so many changelings accepting the bond so easily because it was fated, couldn't be ignored, and the ones who tried even for a while supposedly went almost crazy and then this. WHY?
The only saving graces were the Hawke and Sienna scenes as well as the new Mercy and Riley turn. I also LOVE Vasic and Aden. I am so in the "want to see them together" group. Last but not least what's coming in the next book because of stupid spoilers I also loved the closing line of the book. I'm so looking forward to beginning HoO.
August 24, 2021
3.5 stars - This really surprised me on this reread! I remembered this as my least favorite book in the series, but upon revisiting it, I appreciate what it was doing a lot more this time around. I still have some issues with the central romance, but I do like where that ended up, and I loved seeing an extended HEA for Sienna & Hawke
July 8, 2015
ตอนแรกว่าจะให้ดาวเดียว ไปๆมาๆ เพิ่มเป็น 2 ดาวเพราะบท Retrieval ไปละกัน เพราะนี่น่าจะเป็นการเปิดตัวอย่างสวยงามไปสู่เล่ม Heart of Obsidian จริงแล้วๆ
หนังสือเล่มนี้ทนอ่านกว่าจะจบนี่ทรมานมากๆ เคมีระหว่างพระนางไม่มีเลย เห็นแล้วก็ถอนหายใจไปพลางๆ แล้วก็ดันใส่คู่หลักๆจากเล่มก่อนๆมาอีก ฮอว์ค/เซียนน่า แล้วก็มีคู่ของจัดด์ ไรลีย์ ดรูว์ โอ๊ยยย เยอะแยะไปหมด คือมันก็ดีนะที่ใส่คู่เก่าๆมาให้หายคิดถึง แต่มันมากเกินไป มากจนทำให้เนื้อเรื่องของคู่ริอาซกับเอเดรียแทบจะไม่ขยับไปไหน จุดอ่อนของนลินีตั้งแต่แรกคือบทโรมานซ์ในบางเล่มที่เธอเขียนออกมาได้จืดจางสุดๆ แต่เล่มนั้นๆจะจับความสนใจเราได้ด้วยพลอตหลัก การต่อสู้กันระหว่างไซและเชนจิงค์ เกมการเมืองที่ตื่นระทึกซะทุกเล่ม พอมาเล่มนี้...พลอตหลักดันมากร่อยอีก เพราะมันคือสิ่งที่เราเดาได้ว่าสมควรจะเกิดขึ้นตั้งแต่เล่มก่อนๆแล้ว แต่เหมือนนลินีพยายามจะยื้อไว้สุดฤทธิ์(ด้วยเหตุผลบางประการ)
เราเบื่อกับมุกเดิมๆที่ 75% แรกของหนังสือต่างฝ่ายจะคุมเชิงกัน พอท้ายๆเล่มถึงปะทะกัน มันเป็นแบบนี้ทุกเล่มเลยจริงๆ แล้วจังหวะการเล่าเรื่องเล่มนี้ก็คล้ายๆกับ Kiss of Snow เลยอาจจะเป็นส่วนหนึ่งที่ทำให้เราเซงเราเบื่อก็ได้ ตรงบทโรมานซ์เราสัมผัสความป่วยได้ตั้งแต่บทแรกๆ พอมากลางๆเรื่องนี่ยิ่งชัดเลย บางตอนนี่ให้ความรู้สึกว่า '...บอกฉันทำไม นี่ฉันไม่ได้อยากรู้เลยนะ' (ก็เลยอ่านข้ามไป) ยิ่งตอนจบของริอาซและเอเดรียบอกเลยว่าไม่ได้ทำให้เราพอใจเลยสักนิด ทั้งคู่เป็นเชนจิงค์ แต่บทลงเอยอย่างกับละครไทย ขาดความลึกซึ้งไปหน่อยนะ (ขอเอามือก่ายหน้าผาก)
หนังสือชุดไซที่เราอ่านๆมาเนี่ย สารภาพตามตรงเลยว่าอ่านเพราะเล่ม Heart of Obsidian แต่พอมาถึงเล่มนี้ ก็มีเป๋ๆไปบ้างเหมือนกัน กว่าจะอ่านเล่มของเคเลบต่อก็คงสักพักแหละ ขืนอ่านต่อมีหวังคงไม่มีอารมณ์ร่วมเท่าที่ควรแน่ๆ เฮ้ออออออ เราว่านักเขียนคนอื่นก็มีเล่มที่เราชอบมากชอบน้อยต่า���กันไปนะ แต่ไม่ถึงกับไม่ชอบเลยเหมือนกับเล่มนี้ ความคิดเราตั้งแต่แรกคือ Tangled of Need ไม่น่าจะทำเป็น Full-length น่าจะเป็น Novella เล่มบางๆซะมากกว่า
หนังสือเล่มนี้ทนอ่านกว่าจะจบนี่ทรมานมากๆ เคมีระหว่างพระนางไม่มีเลย เห็นแล้วก็ถอนหายใจไปพลางๆ แล้วก็ดันใส่คู่หลักๆจากเล่มก่อนๆมาอีก ฮอว์ค/เซียนน่า แล้วก็มีคู่ของจัดด์ ไรลีย์ ดรูว์ โอ๊ยยย เยอะแยะไปหมด คือมันก็ดีนะที่ใส่คู่เก่าๆมาให้หายคิดถึง แต่มันมากเกินไป มากจนทำให้เนื้อเรื่องของคู่ริอาซกับเอเดรียแทบจะไม่ขยับไปไหน จุดอ่อนของนลินีตั้งแต่แรกคือบทโรมานซ์ในบางเล่มที่เธอเขียนออกมาได้จืดจางสุดๆ แต่เล่มนั้นๆจะจับความสนใจเราได้ด้วยพลอตหลัก การต่อสู้กันระหว่างไซและเชนจิงค์ เกมการเมืองที่ตื่นระทึกซะทุกเล่ม พอมาเล่มนี้...พลอตหลักดันมากร่อยอีก เพราะมันคือสิ่งที่เราเดาได้ว่าสมควรจะเกิดขึ้นตั้งแต่เล่มก่อนๆแล้ว แต่เหมือนนลินีพยายามจะยื้อไว้สุดฤทธิ์(ด้วยเหตุผลบางประการ)
เราเบื่อกับมุกเดิมๆที่ 75% แรกของหนังสือต่างฝ่ายจะคุมเชิงกัน พอท้ายๆเล่มถึงปะทะกัน มันเป็นแบบนี้ทุกเล่มเลยจริงๆ แล้วจังหวะการเล่าเรื่องเล่มนี้ก็คล้ายๆกับ Kiss of Snow เลยอาจจะเป็นส่วนหนึ่งที่ทำให้เราเซงเราเบื่อก็ได้ ตรงบทโรมานซ์เราสัมผัสความป่วยได้ตั้งแต่บทแรกๆ พอมากลางๆเรื่องนี่ยิ่งชัดเลย บางตอนนี่ให้ความรู้สึกว่า '...บอกฉันทำไม นี่ฉันไม่ได้อยากรู้เลยนะ' (ก็เลยอ่านข้ามไป) ยิ่งตอนจบของริอาซและเอเดรียบอกเลยว่าไม่ได้ทำให้เราพอใจเลยสักนิด ทั้งคู่เป็นเชนจิงค์ แต่บทลงเอยอย่างกับละครไทย ขาดความลึกซึ้งไปหน่อยนะ (ขอเอามือก่ายหน้าผาก)
หนังสือชุดไซที่เราอ่านๆมาเนี่ย สารภาพตามตรงเลยว่าอ่านเพราะเล่ม Heart of Obsidian แต่พอมาถึงเล่มนี้ ก็มีเป๋ๆไปบ้างเหมือนกัน กว่าจะอ่านเล่มของเคเลบต่อก็คงสักพักแหละ ขืนอ่านต่อมีหวังคงไม่มีอารมณ์ร่วมเท่าที่ควรแน่ๆ เฮ้ออออออ เราว่านักเขียนคนอื่นก็มีเล่มที่เราชอบมากชอบน้อยต่า���กันไปนะ แต่ไม่ถึงกับไม่ชอบเลยเหมือนกับเล่มนี้ ความคิดเราตั้งแต่แรกคือ Tangled of Need ไม่น่าจะทำเป็น Full-length น่าจะเป็น Novella เล่มบางๆซะมากกว่า
April 19, 2018
Este es el libro que menos me ha gustado de la serie, pero no por sus protagonistas más bien por la historia en sí, gran parte del libro me aburrió bastante y agregando que le dieron bastante protagonismo a la pareja de Hawke y Sienna me terminó de fastidiar no me agradó que le dieran tanta importancia a su drama dije por favor It´s too much, así que todos los capítulos de ellos me los pasé y leía por encimita por lo que no me pasé nada importante y sus capítulos fueron irrelevantes no aportaron nada sólo páginas y más páginas de relleno. Tal vez la autora lo quiso compensar por lo que hizo en su libro con lo de Lara y Walker pero no le salió.
Como dije la pareja protagonista no me desagradó, pero no pasaba nada con ellos en todo el libro los pobres se vieron opacados y con eso de los capítulos entrelazados cortaban el desarrollo de su historia.
Estaba a punto de darle dos estrellas pero es que al final mejoró mucho y de los cambiantes Riaz es de los más tiernos y a pesar de todo si vi su amor, porque Adria no era su compañera destinada pero era la compañera que su corazón eligió y me pareció muy bonito, en los otros vemos primero que están atraídos por lo del enlace de parejas y todo eso y después como declaran su amor, entonces aquí fue como te amo no por el enlace sino por ti, además su última escena fue muy romántica y se me ablandó el corazón.
Como dije la pareja protagonista no me desagradó, pero no pasaba nada con ellos en todo el libro los pobres se vieron opacados y con eso de los capítulos entrelazados cortaban el desarrollo de su historia.
Estaba a punto de darle dos estrellas pero es que al final mejoró mucho y de los cambiantes Riaz es de los más tiernos y a pesar de todo si vi su amor, porque Adria no era su compañera destinada pero era la compañera que su corazón eligió y me pareció muy bonito, en los otros vemos primero que están atraídos por lo del enlace de parejas y todo eso y después como declaran su amor, entonces aquí fue como te amo no por el enlace sino por ti, además su última escena fue muy romántica y se me ablandó el corazón.
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February 13, 2023
What I like about this one is that the hero and heroine AREN'T fated mates. They don't develop that magical mating bond all the other couples in the series share. In fact, for most of the book, the hero has a mating bond trying to pull him to someone else.
Hear me out...
Riaz Delgado is a SnowDancer sentinel and lone wolf, but he's always looked forward to meeting his mate. Then he does - and discovers he's too late: Lisette is happily married to someone else, and as a human, doesn't even understand what the mating bond is or why she feels so comfortable with Riaz. So he leaves her alone and returns to the den to lick his wounds and mourn the end of the possibility.
Adria Morgan, a senior SnowDancer soldier, has just ended a decade-long relationship with a man who constantly made her feel inferior. When she sees Riaz, the instant chemistry between them leads her to offer an invitation to her bed. He rejects her in no uncertain terms, which frankly is why the book gets 4 stars and not 5; I wish she'd made him properly grovel for the hurtful way he spoke to him, even though I know he was in a bad place at the time. Anyway, Adria is a more forgiving person than I am, so later on they do start a strictly friends-with-benefits relationship to help them both get over the people they're missing.
The second half of this book gets 5 stars. Riaz is mentally, physically and emotionally committed to Adria, mating bond or no mating bond, but Lisette's sudden reappearance in their lives (and the news she's getting a divorce) leaves Adria feeling like she's the second choice. Riaz has to work hard to prove that she isn't, and IMO he manages it successfully. The final scene in the park - where he points out that human couples stay together for decades without a mating bond, and that the lack doesn't affect how he feels about her - is genuinely touching. They're definitely a couple I wish would pop up more in the rest of the rest of series.
Hear me out...
Riaz Delgado is a SnowDancer sentinel and lone wolf, but he's always looked forward to meeting his mate. Then he does - and discovers he's too late: Lisette is happily married to someone else, and as a human, doesn't even understand what the mating bond is or why she feels so comfortable with Riaz. So he leaves her alone and returns to the den to lick his wounds and mourn the end of the possibility.
Adria Morgan, a senior SnowDancer soldier, has just ended a decade-long relationship with a man who constantly made her feel inferior. When she sees Riaz, the instant chemistry between them leads her to offer an invitation to her bed. He rejects her in no uncertain terms, which frankly is why the book gets 4 stars and not 5; I wish she'd made him properly grovel for the hurtful way he spoke to him, even though I know he was in a bad place at the time. Anyway, Adria is a more forgiving person than I am, so later on they do start a strictly friends-with-benefits relationship to help them both get over the people they're missing.
The second half of this book gets 5 stars. Riaz is mentally, physically and emotionally committed to Adria, mating bond or no mating bond, but Lisette's sudden reappearance in their lives (and the news she's getting a divorce) leaves Adria feeling like she's the second choice. Riaz has to work hard to prove that she isn't, and IMO he manages it successfully. The final scene in the park - where he points out that human couples stay together for decades without a mating bond, and that the lack doesn't affect how he feels about her - is genuinely touching. They're definitely a couple I wish would pop up more in the rest of the rest of series.
March 24, 2015
SPOILERS!!
First off, I'm a huge admirer of Singh's writing, and the Psy-Changeling books are my favorites over the Guild Hunter series. Tangle of Need was supposed to be Riaz and Adria's story, but there were many other threads woven in, as well. There were several romantic/sex scenes between Hawke and Sienna, which gave dark hints of a danger to Sienna from Ming (the merciless) but when it finally manifested, it was over in a paragraph, leaving more future hints of worse to come. Everyone else had their few moments of page time,too. Riley and Mercy was a nice surprise, but could have been handled in a single scene. The vaguely menacing Krychek got some page time, and there were scenes with Vasic and Aden which were clearly meant to set up some future story.
But on to the couple at the center, and that's Riaz and Adria ... Riaz has lost his mate before he found her, since she's human and was already married by the time he met her, and Adria's mourning a lost relationship, but they're wildly attracted to one another. They resist, they come close, and they're really, really mean to each other ... at some point, I just wanted to slap them and say GET OVER YOURSELF as they take a fairly straightforward physical attraction and turn it into a huge crisis. But the sex scenes between them were hot, hot, hot. And I loved BOTH of them. I wanted them to get together and live happily ever after, even though they seemed determined to sabotage themselves! LOL
This series remains a favorite of mine and includes some of my favorite I-can-read-them-over-and-over books.
First off, I'm a huge admirer of Singh's writing, and the Psy-Changeling books are my favorites over the Guild Hunter series. Tangle of Need was supposed to be Riaz and Adria's story, but there were many other threads woven in, as well. There were several romantic/sex scenes between Hawke and Sienna, which gave dark hints of a danger to Sienna from Ming (the merciless) but when it finally manifested, it was over in a paragraph, leaving more future hints of worse to come. Everyone else had their few moments of page time,too. Riley and Mercy was a nice surprise, but could have been handled in a single scene. The vaguely menacing Krychek got some page time, and there were scenes with Vasic and Aden which were clearly meant to set up some future story.
But on to the couple at the center, and that's Riaz and Adria ... Riaz has lost his mate before he found her, since she's human and was already married by the time he met her, and Adria's mourning a lost relationship, but they're wildly attracted to one another. They resist, they come close, and they're really, really mean to each other ... at some point, I just wanted to slap them and say GET OVER YOURSELF as they take a fairly straightforward physical attraction and turn it into a huge crisis. But the sex scenes between them were hot, hot, hot. And I loved BOTH of them. I wanted them to get together and live happily ever after, even though they seemed determined to sabotage themselves! LOL
This series remains a favorite of mine and includes some of my favorite I-can-read-them-over-and-over books.
February 8, 2017
I love the Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series. Tangle of Need was another great addition to this series. Although there is no major battle in this book, it had me riveted to the pages. Ms. Singh had multiple story lines going throughout and although this was the story of Riaz and Adria it touched on many of the other character story lines as well. I know I mentioned in my notes that I didn’t enjoy the email type writing in the book, I have to admit I kind of skimmed over all the To: Fwd: Fwd: CC: etcetera... so, if it was important it was lost on me. Ultimately Tangle of Need grabbed me, made me feel for the characters, pulled me into the shifter/pys world and touched me emotionally with the struggles Adria had with Riaz’s mating instinct. Great read! Looking forward to what can come of the aquatic shifters!!!
May 31, 2018
Let me summarize the fist 60% of the book:
They have sex, and they have sex and they have sex and they have sex and ... with "they" going through the various mated pairs and so on.
I don't really care.
While action might be a pretext for one-on-one in these books, the porn channel is also open 24/7.
Off the top of my head, here are various things that were barely touched upon :
1. Ghost
2. Kaleb
3. Henry
4. THE GREAT EPIC BATTLE THAT FAITH SAID WAS COMING FOR SURE AND IT WASN'T THE ONE IN BOOK 10
Verdict: Waste of time.
They have sex, and they have sex and they have sex and they have sex and ... with "they" going through the various mated pairs and so on.
I don't really care.
While action might be a pretext for one-on-one in these books, the porn channel is also open 24/7.
Off the top of my head, here are various things that were barely touched upon :
1. Ghost
2. Kaleb
3. Henry
4. THE GREAT EPIC BATTLE THAT FAITH SAID WAS COMING FOR SURE AND IT WASN'T THE ONE IN BOOK 10
Verdict: Waste of time.
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