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allingoodtime's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Sometimes the first book in a series is so good, it’s hard for the following books to live up to the hype. I tried to temper my expectations with this book, but there was no need. It was fantastic.
In the first book, the Psy understood that she was feeling emotions. That was her fear. But that meant her transition out of the bubble of the Psy into the world of the Changelings wasn’t super rough. Not so with Faith. Not only has she been shielded from the world outside the Psy net, but she’s also been shielded from other Psy. Her rare classification makes her very valuable to her family and the other Psy. Faith has been conditioned to believe that even a simple touch of another being can send her into a seizure. The cats not only crave touch, they need touch. So when Faith and Vaughn find themselves irresistibly drawn together, there are some hurdles to overcome.
Vaughn is all about his animal instincts. In some ways, he’s more cat than human because of past trauma. That trauma also means he’s more of a loner than many of the others in his pack. But those instincts are what are needed for Faith to persevere and overcome the conditioning she’s had since she was a baby. Sometimes Vaughn seems to go too far, but more often than not his instincts are correct. Slowly, he teaches Faith to not only trust him but to trust herself.
This story expands our understanding of the psy-net and all it entails. With how Faith’s abilities manifest and the answer she seeks, much is revealed. Most of it adds to the mystery of this world, but much of it also helps the Changelings understand how they can continue to grow their own network. It’s fascinating and smart without being overwhelming.
I appreciate how different Faith and Vaugh’s story is from the first book. Not every Psy is going to come out of the net the same way or have the same personality, which the author made clear here. The passion and intense feelings are still there between the main characters, and that’s ultimately what I’m here for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting
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