REVIEW: Blaze of Memory

Title: Blaze of Memory
Author: Nalini Singh
Publisher: Berkley
Pub. Date: Nov. 3, 2009
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Paperback (390 pages)
ISBN-10: 0425231119
ISBN-13: 978-0425231111






Synopsis

Dev Santos discovers her unconscious and battered, with no memory of who she is. All she knows is that she's dangerous. Charged with protecting his people's most vulnerable secrets, Dev is duty-bound to eliminate all threats. It's a task he's never hesitated to complete...until he finds himself drawn to a woman who might prove to be the enemy's most insidious weapon yet.

Stripped of her memories by a shadowy oppressor and programmed to carry out cold-blooded murder, Katya Haas is fighting desperately for her sanity. Her only hope is Dev. But how can she expect to gain the trust of the man who could very well be her next target? For in this game, one must die...

Review

Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series is one of my personal favourites. One of the things that make Nalini’s books so great is her writing style. It’s fun, fresh and well-balanced. I find that, too often, authors get caught up in over-describing, which in turn leads to pages upon pages of narration. Nalini has mastered the art of balancing dialogue with narration to keep the story rolling.

In Blaze of Memory, the story moves along at a constant walking pace. I found that my suspense built higher and higher as I continued to read further into the book. So I was a bit taken aback when the suspense seemed to fizzle as the ending neared. One disappointment was that there was no explosive climax. I was anticipating a confrontation that eventually did happen...but not in such a fiery way as I had expected it to.

However, my disappointment at the lack of action was quickly overcome by the way in which the book ended. The final chapters of this book are truly touching. I feel as though I have just ridden an emotional rollercoaster.

From the beginning, I was immediately drawn to both of the main characters, Devraj Santos and Katya Haas. Both characters underwent dramatic personal growth throughout the story, forced to face their inner demons and realize their desire to be together. Their relationship was refreshing in that they accepted their passion and affection for one another almost immediately. Instead of fighting their own desires, they found themselves struggling in a battle for life, and a life together.

The biggest issue that I have with this book is the cover. Naturally, a book cover with the name Nalini Singh on it is going to draw me in. But for those unfamiliar with Nalini or the Psy-Changeling series, the cover screams ACTION...not paranormal romance. And for me, this book is first and foremost a heart-rending romance.

On a final note, although Blaze of Memory was written as a standalone, I would recommend that anyone new to the series read it in sequence, which I will post below for anyone who is interested. You will have a better understanding of the in-depth world that Nalini has created for the Psy-Changelings.

Three words to summarize Blaze of Memory — heart-rending, passionate and refreshing.

Rating:



Reading order:

1. Slave to Sensation
2. Visions of Heat
3. Caressed by Ice
4. Mine to Possess
5. Hostage to Pleasure
6. Branded by Fire
7. Blaze of Memory