Kate Daniels 7.6: Dabwaha, Curran Twitter

Kate Daniels 7.6: Dabwaha, Curran Twitter by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The heck was this?! This was so random and left field, yet totally believable by-play between Curran and Kate (and Julie when applicable). Heaven forbid there be a simple answer for anything. Curran trying to the laundry (again, apparently), the supposed meter man actually being a demon who wants to eat Curran, and Julie is the only one who seems to give a specific answer to Kate's original question regarding her shopping trip at the market. Definitely good for a chuckle.

View all my reviews

Kate Daniels 5.7: Curran Twitter, The Wilson Building

Kate Daniels 5.7: Curran Twitter, The Wilson Building by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Twitter doesn't actually exist in this universe, but this is a cute little side story of a "what if" sort. Curran essentially uses twitter to hold multiple conversations at once trying to determine if he should hold out on an auction bid or not... except he's not the one actually at the auction and he has no idea what he's actually bidding on. Yeah, he's got a humorous mean streak, even over text.

View all my reviews

Psy-Changeling 16.5: Ain’t No Party Like A Bear Party

Psy-Changeling 16.5: Ain’t No Party Like A Bear Party by Nalini Singh

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This came as part of one of the newsletters and brings Silver back to the bear den after a day of work to find a party in the works - her own mating party. It's interesting to see how the Psy learn to adapt, and in some ways break out of their shells, as they interact more with the other races, especially the more outgoing shifter clans. These newsletter shorts give a very small taste that is entertaining and cute filler, but doesn't necessarily add progression to the overall series.

View all my reviews

Psy-Changeling 14.2: The Song of the Wolf

Psy-Changeling 14.2: The Song of the Wolf by Nalini Singh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This short story was from Nalini's newsletter. It features Hawke and Sienna while she's traveling from den to den for Soldier training. As usual, these two hard heads are adorable together and really do get each other (when they don't let pride or other things get in the way). Very short story, but it will still put a smile on your face.

View all my reviews

Guild Hunter 9.1: An Unexpected Guest

Guild Hunter 9.1: An Unexpected Guest by Nalini Singh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


There was a brief reference to this party in Archangel's Heart. Raphael is Elena's plus one for the Guild's anniversary party. Ransom apparently wins the betting pool on that one and Ash keeps proving that she knows things in advance of other hunters. Raphael can't stay for long due to his sheer power levels, but it's nice that he makes the effort and appears to get along with Elena's friends for the most part, even if he does have a fairly dangerous sense of humor (though that probably meshes well with some of the hunters).

View all my reviews

Guild Hunter 8.1: One Night at the Refuge

Guild Hunter 8.1: One Night at the Refuge by Nalini Singh

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a cute little piece when Illium and Aodhan are small children getting into mischief and the Hummingbird has to go find them. We even get a glimpse of a younger Raphael as he races with Uram and some unnamed other angels. Cute, but curious that the series would number this so far into the story when the characters are grown instead of as a prequel.

View all my reviews

Guild Hunter 7.3: Fairy Balloons

Guild Hunter 7.3: Fairy Balloons by Nalini Singh

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This cute short takes place a couple of months after A Small Fairy Tale and also features Talu. Apparently she will be one of Izzy's friends as well as being in Honor's program and taking self defense from Elena. Izzy has healed enough that he's able to fly Talu to the cemetery so she can visit her mother. They do blow up balloons while they are there, but I'm not sure where "fairy" comes into the title unless it's a reference to the statue Talu found before and still treasures. Given the level of Izzy's healing, I would guess this happens closer to book eight than seven considering Elena spoon feeds him cake during the party in book seven.

View all my reviews

Guild Hunter 7.2: A Small Fairy Tale

Guild Hunter 7.2: A Small Fairy Tale by Nalini Singh

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Talu is an orphan running away from a bad living situation with her aunt. Thanks to a chance meeting with Elena, she ends up in Honor's new program to help kids get off the street. She's also fortunate enough to stumble across one of Adohan's little fairy sculptures, likely even before Janvier takes Ash to see them. Despite the run in on the street, it appears as if her luck has changed after finding that little statue. It'll be interesting to see if Talu pops up in the main series now that she's been mentioned elsewhere.

View all my reviews

Guild Hunter 7.1: A Walk on the Cliffs

Guild Hunter 7.1: A Walk on the Cliffs by Nalini Singh

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a cute and short piece of fluff about Montgomery and Sivya's walk on the cliff after Raphael's hint when he delays dinner for him and Elena. I guess it goes to show how perceptive Raphael is and how much he cares about his people, and is now willing to show that care, that he makes a point of this. Cute that Sivya's pastry counts are always off because she didn't know Montgomery was swiping one from the start. Another pair of opposites who work incredibly well together.

View all my reviews

Gulid Hunter 6.9: A Sip of Eternity

Guild Hunter 6.9: A Sip of Eternity by Nalini Singh

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is a very brief short of Dimitri and Honor. After surviving the war with Lijuan, both are a little thirsty, which leads to other things for this vampire couple. Given there is a reference to a meeting with Raphael scheduled in fifteen minutes, it's obvious the length of this story is short on both words and time.

View all my reviews

Guild Hunter 6.5: Zoe's Workshop

Guild Hunter 6.5: Zoe's Workshop by Nalini Singh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It doesn't really continue the story from the main series, but this little short is still adorably hilarious. Mostly a bit of fluff for Deacon and Sara with a healthy side dose if Zoe's antics. Having two small children myself, it is easy for me to connect to their humor with their little girl.

View all my reviews

Guild Hunter 5.5: Knives & Sheaths

Guild Hunter 5.5: Knives & Sheaths by Nalini Singh

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is a cute little bit of fluff between Raphael and Elena. The title not only covers this short story, but could also be considered a reference to their conversation before Lijuan's ball. These two have definitely grown on me, so this short got a smile even though it has ltitle to offer as far as plot or character progression.

View all my reviews

Guild Hunter 2.5: Weapons Training

Guild Hunter 2.5: Weapons Training by Nalini Singh

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is a very brief story about Galen and Jessamy, though it also revolves around Elena. Galen is obviously furious with Elena for having shot Raphael, but seems to start thawing towards her after they start training together. This piece just highlights that he does believe she has potential just as Jess predicts she and Elena will become good friends. All of this wrapped in a bit of romance continuing from Angels' Dance (which takes place 400 years previously). At least most angels don't appear to be fickle.

View all my reviews

Guild Hunter 0.6: Angels' Pawn

Guild Hunter 0.6: Angels' Pawn by Nalini Singh

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is largely Ash and Janiver's story (otherwise known as Cajun). While it does explain the reference to their continuous hunts, as well as where Ash might have acquired grenades, the overall story was very dry. Cajun's humor and prodding was the only real amusement while the rest was just another job that fell very flat.

View all my reviews

Guild Hunter 0.4: Angels' Dance

Guild Hunter 0.4: Angels' Dance by Nalini Singh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was surprisingly longer than I expected for a short story. Can't help but like Jess and Galen. They are polar opposites, yet obviously understand each other better than most. It is also interesting to get some back story on Raphael, Alexander, and Michaela (though I still don't like Michaela or expect that to change soon).

View all my reviews

Psy-Changeling 15.5: Wild Embrace

Psy-Changeling 15.5: Wild Embrace by Nalini Singh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I can't say this was my favorite book of the series, but it was a good read. Engaging, with good descriptions and emotions in and a variety of pairings. Also helps fill in some of the gaps and ties in several of the smaller pairings that might be more on the sideline of the main series.

Echo of Silence (#2.5)
Taking place after the second book in the series, this takes us back to the beginning with probably the first Psy/Human pairing currently known. Stefan is interesting as it becomes obvious he is not truly silent at all despite all outward signs pointing to him being another "perfect" psy. In their own ways, both Stefan and Tazia are sort of rebels, not fitting the molds of the societies they grew up in.

Dorian (#5.1)
This short focuses on one of the main characters in the original series as it time hops from his latent childhood to meeting his pack in his leopard form for the first time and learning how to be a sentinel in that form too. Not as much on the pairing aspect here, as that's covered in his main story. Rather, this is more about pack acceptance and learning how to live in two different forms, especially after one has been locked away for so long.

Partners in Persuasion (#11.5)
I wasn't sure what to expect from Felix and Desiree. It isn't the first time we see a submissive/dominant changeling pairing, but it is perhaps one of the first where the male is the submissive. Felix isn't as submissive as some people think once he comes out of his shell though, especially with the training SnowDancer gives all of its wolves to keep them safe. It is nice to see another wolf/leopard pair though, with a different dynamic than Mercy and Riley's dominant/dominant relationship.

Flirtation of Fate (#12.1)
Kenji and Garnet are another type of dominant/dominant pair, but one where everyone, including them, knew they were really supposed to be together and other things were getting in the way (namely Kenji's self-sacrificing delusions). It would seem that with Kenji being the one doing the pushing, that he would have to be the one to start repairing the rift, but that doesn't hold true when Garnet starts seeing things as they really are and decides she's not buying his lies any more. If not for Garnet knowing as surely as Kenji did that they were supposed to be mates, I doubt it would have (or should have) been so easy for the bond to have snapped into place. Despite both of them having very different emotional upheaval for different reasons over their seven year "separation," Kenji really did get off pretty easy in the end.

View all my reviews

Psy-Changeling 14.1: Romancing Drew

Psy-Changeling 14.1: Romancing Drew by Nalini Singh

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a cute little short about Drew and Indigo's first anniversary. Drew is being romantic, and Indigo is determined to put his plans to shame with her own gift. Not much else context and barely even a mention of any other characters. Still, it's a cute little piece of fluff that was distributed for free with Singh's newsletter. New subscriptions do get links to past stories that have been shared, so not being on the list before it was released is not an issue to be able to get it if wanted.

View all my reviews

Psy-Changeling 13.2: Housewarming at the Orchard

Psy-Changeling 13.2: Housewarming at the Orchard by Nalini Singh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a short little snippet focusing on Ivy and Vasic. Told from Ivy's perspective, it shares her thoughts and emotions as she hosts a housewarming party with the Arrows. Originally thinking Aden might be the only one to attend, she's pleasantly surprised when so many show up, some even hitching a ride from a local farmer, to spend some time turning their new cabin into a home. Even some none-Arrows join the mix. For being so entrenched in Silence due to their abilities, the Arrows are proving to be perhaps the most open-minded and flexible of all the Psy. An interesting contrast and comparison across the abilities, with the exception of the E's given they never truly fit with Silence to begin with.

View all my reviews

Psy-Changeling 13.1 Kaleb & Sahara’s Meeting with Sascha & Lucas

Psy-Changeling 13.1: Kaleb & Sahara's Meeting with Sascha & Lucas by Nalini Singh

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a very brief encounter between Kaleb, Sahara, Sascha & Lucas. Despite Kaleb's obvious cold demeanor, it is very evident to both our favorite E and her mate that Kaleb and Sahara are completely gone for each other. Interesting that Kaleb doesn't know or realize that Lucas can sense telepathic activity. Kaleb is an interesting individual as he seems to finally show a little bit more while still being locked down tight; mostly thanks to Sahara.

View all my reviews

Psy-Changeling 10.1: Wild Night

Psy-Changeling 10.1: Wild Night by Nalini Singh

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This mostly follows Tai and Evie as Tai helps take the wolves home after Hawke comes after them all at the club, Wild. Evie is a submissive and Tai is a dominant soldier in the pack. Add to that Evie's older sister is Indigo, one of the pack's lieutenants. Despite it being obvious that both young wolves still have some growing to do, it is also readily apparent that both want the growing to be done together. Lucky for Tai before his instincts start going out of control like we've seen with others in the past.

View all my reviews