Shield of Winter (Psy-Changeling Book 13)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters, like all of Ms. Singh's characters, are delightfully engaging and the plot was intriguing. I had a very hard time putting it down so I could get some badly needed sleep. I have finished re-reading the entire series and have pre-ordered the next volume. Ms. Singh is a very gifted writer.

Love, love Nalini Singh and her Psy-changeling heroes and heroines. Well written and consuming stories. Can't wait to read the experiences of Arrow squad in her next installment.

I founded myself having feelings for Vasic...really pulling for him where in the past I liked him but didn't really think about him. I also liked how former characters showed in this story. I was disappointed that there was not more changeling interaction.

Didn't think I would like a series like this, I had picked up her angel series, read the description in the back of one of them for this series and decided to give it a try. Needless to say, I make sure to pre-order her books.

Poignant. Made me smile and cry. The author has created a world that is vibrant and feels emotionally real. Great read.

I love Nalini and her world of special people. I am amazed at anyone who can write a book....I am astounded by someone who can envision a whole world.

This book was certainly worth the wait ...Nalini Singh has created an amazing world where readers can feel an affinity to the characters. The background story of the changeling society becomes just as an important to the overall feel as the central characters story. It is comparable to the Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series as it is just as captivating and reader thinks about the characters after the book has been finished. A truly worthwhile series to read..

The latest installment concerns mostly Psy and their emotions. Interesting characters, good plot, romance, danger, it has it all. Nevertheless I find myself hoping that next book concerns shifters. Cann't wait either way.

Feels like I have been waiting forever for Vasic's story. It was well worth the wait. To see the real Vasic behind the Arrow was so beautiful. Also, to get to meet more of the Arrow's was fabulous. Ms. Singh has out done herself again.

Fantastic story this series started out amazing and just continues to get better. A story about a race of people who's leaders tried to remove their emotions resulted in an emotional journey. Keep Kleenex close, at one point I was crying so hard I couldn't see the page. Nalini's writing sucks you into the story, the characters are real and you are right there with them living their story. Loved this book one of the best if the series.

Holy cow! I don't know how Nalini Singh keeps upping her game, but she's certainly done it again with Shield of Winter! This book was so strong and so emotional and just grabbed me and kept me reading until I devoured it. We get quite a few visits with Kaleb and Sahara, as well as Lucas and Sascha, but Vasic and Ivy are front and center always and just incredible. Their story is so real and wonderful, and the quest to find a cure for the PsyNet was a fantastic storyline. Ms. Singh made me laugh out loud, cry, and become even more invested in this world she has created. It's definitely one of the strongest stories in the series, and as always I can't wait for the next one!

This is book 13 in the Psy/Changeling Series. I've read every book in this series. I am a devoted fan of Nalini Singh. This book is the story of Vasic, an Arrow and Ivy Jane an Empath. I enjoy watching recurring characters lives continue on and the feeling I get of knowing these people. The stories are written so well as to constantly keep your interest. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, which I'll begin once I'm done here. I highly recommend this book and series. Ms. Singh writes another series known as The Guild Hunter Series, do yourself a favor and get hooked on those too!

I really really liked this book in the series. It was nice to read more about the Arrows and Empaths. A whole lot of edge of your seat action as well as a really great storyline with the main characters. The previously introduced characters were brilliantly written into the story. And of course, as always, a big bad guy is still left alive to leave lots of room for another book. Fitting to have so much about Empaths since this was a very emotionally complicated read. Not a lot of happy involved due to the horrible things that were in the plot, but it wasn't a story that left you in permanent sadness, however, lots of anxiety is involved. Can't wait for the next one.

I adore this series and really loved The Heart of Obsidian which reset the series and allowed it to bloom again. This is a good book in the series. Silence for the Psy has fallen. Vasic is a great hero and Ivy a wonderful heroine. The overarching plot of the world is excellent and we get to see a ton of of our favorite characters. We even get a great dog. The slow burn of the romance is good but the action parts of the book do overwhelm the romance in places. Unlike Heart of Obsidian, I think you would need to have read at least a few books in the series to get the full enjoyment out of this love story. Wonderful overall.

Nalini Singh is a favorite author of mine that writes several different series. The Psy/Changling series is a wonderful series about paranormal individuals that have many obstacles in their lives, but manage to find the one person to bring out the best in themselves. Vasic is an Arrow assassin in the Psy net that has no feelings and is about to burn out, literally. He is sent to protect Ivy and meets the mate that he never thought he would have. The complications that develop and the enemy that is out to destroy the Psy-net continues to involve other past characters from the Psy and Changling communities. Great book, can't wait for the next one.

Emotionally engaging, sizzling and sensational writing. The Net is on the verge of collapsing and the Psi are going mad. The only people that can save them are the Es. The ones who have been told their entire lives they are useless and unimportant. Nalini Singh draws you in and creates an engaging world that even with all the strife you want to be a part of. Clear your schedule, because you won't want to put this book down. I was a late to find her books and am very glad I did. She is now one of my most favorite authors. I am hanging out for the next one. (I really hope it's Aden's story)

That Vasic would be so bold in bed? Ivy is sweet, and though we can pity Vasic, it's hard to view him with same raw rage and pain in his behalf that Judd inspired, simply because we got more detailed pieces of Judd's past. Vasic is still a wonderful man, but he's probably not your favorite Arrow.

Not quite as much focus on the sex part of the book (a good thing). To me the story line evolution between book 1 and 15 is excellent although there is, to me, still too much focus on the sex and the graphics of sex. I ordered "Shards of Hope" at the same time and have yet to receive it so I don't know exactly what happened but book 15 leaves out almost all the sex and the story certainly does NOT suffer for the lack.

This was a good addition to the series. If you have not read the preceding books, you might get a little lost. I recommend you start with the first book "Slave to Sensation." This addition to the series had solid plot progression and glimpses of the ongoing lives of some of our favorite characters. The story end was predictable from the onset but Singh's dialog kept it moving. It was a little repetitive and somewhat gory in a few areas but not annoyingly so. Singh also leaves room for future books on characters she fleshed out in this book. Over all An enjoyable read.

I have read the entire pay-changeling collection at least twice, some books at least three times. Vasic and Ivy Jane and Judd and Brenna were two of the best written books in the collection in my opinion. You became involved in their lives, you wanted them to be able to love without pain. Every time I read over a book I see more details, little things I missed that link you to other little facts from books in the series. Waiting patiently for more books to come.

This has been one of the best series I have ever read. Regrettably there are only two left but the way Nalini Singh is bringing all the individual characters together is amazing!

If anyone needed an E it was Vasic. This tale is just classic. Every evolution of the PsyNet has been uniquely satisfying but this one is the best so far involving all the players in a wild ride of intricate emotion and science. So well done. Another bravo!

I have read all of Nalini Singhs works and have never been disappointed yet and this story just raises the bar again. The characters are vibrant the book delivers a timeless love story, but one with "Bite" there is solid dialogue and humor and the author draws you in to her world which becomes all too easily your world and for me there is no greater accolade than to regret coming to the end. But really there is no end just a short wait until the next time you travel into the world of Psy, human and changeling, may there be ever more.

Loved it! A roller coaster ride with action, suspense and romance leavened with a bit of spice. Highly recommend to those who enjoy an engrossing book. Wouldn't mind another with empaths and Arrows.

I can't stop thinking about Vasil and Ivy , what great characters and such a great story , it is so worth the long wait , if you have never read a book by Ms Singh , I recommend you start now ! Is so wonderful I can't wait for her next book . I hope we will see more about the arrows specifically Aden's story . Great job!

Another brilliant read from Nalini Singh. She has not disappointed yet. Wonderful H and h with a fabulous continuation of the Psy-Changling story. This a fabulous series and if you haven't seen it yet, start from the beginning with Lucas and Sasha.

Another great read by Nalini Singh. I know I can always depend on the Psy-Changeling series for an exciting story whether it’s for the first time or the 50th.

I'm a huge fan of Nalini Singh and like most, couldn't wait for the book to be published. Read it in 2 days and could not put it down. Loved the story as I was wanting to get to know some of the Arrows better and I feel that this story made them more human. Would really like for Aden to get a story of his own sometime in the future. I'm also very excited about the story arch and can't wait to see who's story follows Vasic's in this series. I'm looking forward to the next Psy-Changeling novel as I can't get enough of this series. Will definately be reading this one again.

Truly fell in love with the darkness known as Vasic. This story is by far my favorite. To see how the world of the Psys are changing is wondrous as well as scary. I can only imagine the casualties that are coming, but I admire seeing the love that endures through the darkness.

My Goodness, Nalini Singh did it again!!! I have been in love with this series since I was first given Slave to Sensation to read. It has been a whirlwind of excitement for me to read each and everyone of the books in the series and now I have to say that I now have a new favorite from it. Ivy and Vasic's love is something we all strive for. To love our mate without any judgement and condemnation but also freely with every ounce of ourselves no matter the things we may have done in the past or what happened to us. There is always light in the darkness we just have to find it, and to be patient as we search for it, not giving up hope that we won't. Love is a gift beyond what the world thinks it is and somehow Nalini has figured out how to truly capture it in each and every one of her pairings in her Pay/Changeling series. For every love is different and beautiful in its own right. Thank you for your truly inspiring words.

great book

I always look forward to and enjoy her books. The h are mature and real, as are the heroes. I agree with some of the other reviewers that it does have the feel of a bridging novel but very enjoyable. She is always an automatic buy for me.

I would suggest you read the series in order. Thoroughly enjoy Them all and await the next installment. Highly recommend

Another wonderful book in this series. The characters are vivid, and the plot intense. One reason why I love Nalini's novels is that she has a plot beyond the romance. The characters' bond is a critical part of that plot, but the story could stand on its own. I sometimes need to read a story with a struggle that has a happy ending, but I also need to know that people can persevere. I don't want to spoil the book for others, but this one came close to showing the latter. To truly show that, it would need to have the characters continue on after a true tragedy. I think that's why "Tangled Need" might be my favorite novel, and Zach and Anna's short story a close second.

Awesome!!!

I love this series. This was an excellent edition. It explained some of the previous characters in more detailed. It was fast moving, excellent story line and thrilling ending

This is one of my favorite novels of the whole series...Empaths and Arrows finding their rightful place in their world. Ivy and Vasic just melt ❤️💕 me. ☺️

This book was fast-paced, as we're her previous books. I really love t his debris as the characters are so diverse. I love the detail in the different groups pop. Keep them coming..

This series has evolved from interesting fantasy into politically nuanced and extremely well written. The relationships that take place in the series are intelligent and well developed. I recommend this author to all those who are looking for something different.

I thought that Singh wrote an intricate story about the redemption of the Psy Race. She is a master storyteller who sucks you into her book and does not release you until the last word is read. You should not miss Vasic and Ivy 's story.

How I love this author, her writing is so emotional and beautiful. On location number 5596, Kindle device comes the following " You're my hope Ivy, my beacon home on the darkest night......." sigh......beautiful words, beautiful writing......

Good book

I fall more in love with this series with every new book! My main problem is that I am so fickle that my favorite characters change with every new book! Vasic and Ivy Jane have now stolen the top spot and I cannot wait to see if the next couple can change that!

All the books in the Psy-Changling series are excellent, in spite of a great deal of superfluous sex scenes, but I think this one had the best plot and character development yet. It moved quickly, and I really liked the ending.

A beautiful story about hope. Vasic and Ivy stole my heart. They made the perfect combination emotion and calculate movement. Empath and Arrow. Love it.

I loved this book. It was great seeing a book focused on trying to improve things, instead of trying to defend against others trying to destroy things. And I'd already liked Vasic, and loved the way he developed in this book. So glad he got a happy ending!

If this your first book in the series it will be confusing and you may not like it because you won't understand all the relationships. But if you read this you will want to know how it started and you will enjoy the ride.

Vasic was such a wonderful hero, tormented and very humane. Ivy was a good counterpart for him and their lovestory was great. The book could have had more changelings, but then again, I always want more changelings. Eagerly waiting for the next book.

I enjoyed the book a lot. However I will say that I liked Kalebs better. I enjoyed Vasic and Ivy but the chemistry between Kaleb and his mate was so much more like a couple to me. I cant wait to get to the next book Nalini Singh is always on my preorder list.

- honestly the only bad thing is there is a 6 months wait to the next Nalini Singh book - i just inhale them when they come out and then re-read the series before the next one. If you haven't read the series...it is probably better to start at the beginning - you really won't regret it, they are a ride!

Nalini Singh is seriously messing with my head. This is not the first time I thought that the last book I read of hers was the best until I read the next one and then I feel kinda stupid. In Shield of Winter she takes Vasic who is a stone cold killer from all appearances in previous books and pairs him up with Ivy an empath and carves a story of romance and sacrifice that defies description (that will be my excuse for this review). In the early chapters I could not get past the feeling that I was reading something that could best be described as “The Love Life of Mr. Spock” and that mental image stuck with me for a good portion of the first half of the novel but at about 450 pages you know there is some serious changes coming. It was funny and touching before it got really serious and somewhat sad and frustrating. The novel morphs into a “save the world” plot with the romance being an integral part of the story and add in a couple of very stressful subplots that add exceptional depth to this story and you have a formula for another masterpiece (no I don't use that word much). The fact that with the fate of the world hanging in the balance the romance never lets go and the emotional feelings that is imparted to the reader just all make me wonder why all authors can't be this good instead of the mere handful writing today. The loyalty of friends, the romance of people that never doubt their mates, the multi-layered plot all make this yet another of the better things I have read in the last year. She inserts most of the characters from previous books into this story in various places which I love. So, if you love a great romance, great action and a story you can’t forget, this is it (I also said a similar thing about Heart of Obsidian which was true).

I always enjoy this author's books and this was no exception. I loved the romance between Ivy and Vasic. It was similar to the relationship between Kaleb and Sahara, but it was unique in that each couple had it's own issues brought about by different traumas.

Another great addition to the psy/changeling series. I am so in love with the world that Ms. Singh has created. This story pics up after the fall of silence and is Vasic's story. Learning more about the E designation and the world of the Arrows is neat and interesting. The story progresses nicely and while others might think it dragged on to long I thought it was perfect. Hearing about all the groups coming together in the way is a nice closure to the story. Don't know if there are more novels to come in this series but I certainly hope so because this world is so fun. Ivy Jane is a great heroine and I enjoyed learning about her. The scenes between her and Vasic are sweet as they both learn to love. Well done Nalini Singh

This is just as wonderful as all of Ms. Singh's other books. I have had a soft spot for Vasic for several books, and Ivy Jane is perfect as the woman to drag him back to life. You get closer looks at the other arrows, like Aden and Abbot, and old friends show up, as usual with Ms. Singh's books. If you like the Psy-Changeling books (and I think that the universe that Ms. Singh has made is wonderfully different than most), read this. If you haven't met Sascha and Lucas,or Hawke and Sienna yet, dive in!

The story was not as good as I expected but it is still a good addition to the series. Vasic is an arrow who doesn't believe he can be redeemed and Ivy is just the woman to prove him wrong. Vasic is an unusual arrow because he is actually built to protect, not harm. So for someone who was trained to be unfeeling, he still wants to account for his wrong doings. I feel we get a good look at the arrows in this story and see that although they show no facial expressions, these cold assassins' actions toward each other speak louder than words.

The long awaited answer to fixing the corruption in the Net personified in the relationship between Ivy Jane, an Empath and one of the strongest and most feared Arrows. A fascinating and complex story of discovery, understanding and love. A great addition to a fabulous series. Strong characters, wonderful complex story and a sensitive and unusual love story between a man taught to feel nothing and a woman who can't live without emotion. It helps to have read previous books in t h e series even though there is a much needed cast of characters.

OMG, The wait for this book to come out was NEVER ENDING. Was totally worth it though. I love Vasic, his gradual transformation from Arrow Soldier to something more was beautiful to read about. BTW, if you've only JUST come across this author, or this series, PLEASE start at the beginning, which is Slave to Temptation, and go from there. Things make MUCH more sense if you start from the beginning :) Happy reading!

I chose this rating because this book delivered for me. The story had its own twist on the psy-changeling series yet with enough linkages to other characters that I got an update on what is happening and yet still focused in the story. I love that there was no fairy tale ending for Vasic yet he had been saved. I really enjoyed getting an update on other characters from previous books and that each book adds a chapter to the remarkably 3D world Nalini Singh has created. I hope he next book in the series is not a year away - I am ready for it now.

This series is one of the best I have read, and it just keeps getting better! I was understandingly.. blown away by Vasic! I think his my favorite of all the the characters. His Ivy brought out in him the true man he is. And the warmth of love that grows between them is soft, sweet and deep. The story also focuses on a challenge that is all to real in today's world. Bigotry, fear of the unknown, the great divide that a lot of people find themselves in. With the break of Silence and re-making a race will not be an easy task.

Finally! There were lots of answers in this installment about why the E designation was virtually eliminated and how it all tied into problems in the "net". And learning more about the Arrows and how they are changing and evolving out of the shadows into a who other faction independent of just being Psy was interesting. There are so many dynamics and the possibilities to extend deeper into the series are endless. Great installment Ms. Singh, keep them coming!

I love of spy/changeling books, but by far this was my favorite. Ivy and Vasic have just an innocence about their relationship that touches the heart. I love the character building and seeing more glimpses of Aden and Alice. Can't wait for the next book, hopefully Mercy will have her babies in the next one, it's really no fair to keep us waiting! Me and my friend have been debating on who the next book is about, can't wait to find out. Keep them coming!

I am a huge fan of Nalini Singh so this slightly less enthusiastic grading is against her most excellent other novels. I did like this and, as usual, her characters are believable (well except for being changelings and psy of course), However, I felt that there was an element of moving the overall story along. I suppose that's not a bad thing and it does tie up a whole bucket of threads that could have stayed loose but feel very comforting to be worked out.

There's pretty much nothing about this book I didn't like. I've had a crush on Vasic since he first appeared in the books. He seemed so tormented because underneath his apparent silence was unselfish, giving soul. Sounds cheesy but it's true. This book shows that. It's not easy and he doesn't just give in, but Ivy is an empath and they are persistent! The scene with her cami strap! What can I say? Singh really shows Vasic's falling for ivy in steps, which made for sexy, slowish growth between them!

Oh wow, oh wow. Truly, another winner from Ms Singh. No spoilers here, just confirmation that this is a great addition to the series that starts to pull into place a lot of earlier hinted at threads. As Silence evolves, so does all your favs, and the future for this series is cardinal bright. This is series that is just getting better & better. (PS - can we please please have Alice's story ASAP??)

I confess, I adore her psy/changeling novels; just when one doesn't think they can get any better, they do. The characters are strong & moving, prior characters make the stories even better. It's definitely better if you've read any of the previous books, because the entire story line builds from before. The story can stand alone, but you probably won't get all little 'bits & pieces' referred to throughout the book. Sit back & enjoy the read!

I have read most of Ms Singh Changeling books and this one is the best to me. The Hero and Heroine in this book had the best personalities! It was her light to his darkness and the supporting characters were amazing. Ms Singh mind is amazing. Her stories have sooo much Love and romance in them with tons of suspense, The action scenes are so descriptive its like you are there. This book has everything!

This is book 13 when and took place when silence has fallen. There are too many characters pop-up in the book and NS always tell their background story which is annoying after sometime. This is book 13, so readers would and should have known already. Other than that, the story is decent and the importance of E is established. Psy race is saved.

Nalini continues to provide us with delicious heros, both male and female. Reading her stories leaves a warm feeling knowing love conquers in the end. Vasic and Ivy continue the rich interaction of this world and it's players as we revisit old friends from previous tales. It is clear that there is more to come, and I, for one, know this author cannot write fast enough to suit me. I love her stories and eagerly await the next!

A nice romance story considering the H/h were Psy, but the story line got v repetitive. I also didn't buy into the plot - if Psy start killing innocent changelings and humans why weren't humans and changelings retailiating or separating out the Psy in their neighbourhoods? As usual I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, Nalini writes her characters so well. I liked the story but was able to put the story down and come back to it later, which I did not do when reading her earlier books in this series, especially the changeling stories.

Nalini Singh is my favourite author, and this is her best series IMO. I'm always going to like changeling books more than the Psy books, but this was a great addition to the series with Vasic and the Arrows. Ivy was a strong and likeable character, which you'd kind of hope would be the case for an empath. I'm left wondering where the series will go from here, but I'm happy to see there is more to come.

A big fan since the first book, it was great to finally get a story about one of the arrows. One of the major draws of this book for me, was the way nalini brought alot of the other characters into this story and gave us a brief glimpse into their lives to date. Can't wait for the next book

I loved this story of the broken Arrow, Vasic, and his empath, Ivy. Vasic, with his incredible teleportation powers, has been an intriguing side character in the series and his awakening to emotion, and the subtle blossoming of his imprisoned heart under the unconditional acceptance of Ivy's love, make this a new favorite in the series. The sensual tension building is excellent - the slow build here is so good. And while I often am irked by the 'interruption ploy' that backs things off just when you think the romantic payoff is coming, here it is cute and appropriate. One thing that worked better here than in the some of the earlier books is the background story, it is better woven and really interesting and it's great fun to get a nice amount of page time with previous cast members: Sahara and Kaleb, Lucas and Sasha, and Judd among others. Oh and Aiden, the heart of the Arrows, I hope he gets a book soon. So, I really enjoyed this one and I am amazed that this series is still going strong after so many books

I really enjoyed this as a sequel to "Heart of Obsidian." I have to admit that I was PISSED that HofO was about Kaleb. He is okay and the book was good, but I have never been as enamored of him as so many fans tend to be. In fact, it seemed to me that his character changed a lot from when he was first introduced. As one other reviewer noted, the looooong run of Psy books is grinding my nerves. Return to the Changelings, particularly Teijan! Anyway, all of that is an aside. This book is different from the others in that there is a sense that the couple knows they will end up together. I actually like that a lot. HofO started to give me a headache because of the level of insecurity and angst of Sahara's memory loss. The only thing that seemed odd to me was that Ming made only a single attempt to capture Vasic. That seemed unrealistic to me. Ming WANTS Vasic and Sienna. He has made numerous plays for Sienna and lots hundreds, if not thousands of operatives in the process. The loss of 3 Tks made him conclude that he needed to back off of Vasic? That did not seem realistic or in keeping with Ming's character. On the other hand, I appreciated that Vasic was not kidnapped and tortured and that I did not have to read chapters of a search for him. So, in the end, I was glad that Ming backed off, though it honestly does not bode well for anyone that he did. What could he be up to that he gave up on Vasic so easily? It must be Sienna or something even more important. I love Aden and am happy that his book is next. But like many others, I feel Singh MUST return to the Changelings for a few books. A novella for Bastien is simply not enough!!!!!!!! Additionally, Teijan deserves some story, even if it is a novella! Write it now!

i really loved this book,when Vasic was ask to save just one empath,and he really didn`t want to do it,but being who he was a cold blooded killer, an arrow and always followed orders,he agreed to save just one,they told him the details and where to find her,they were hiding from the net,and scared to be found,but vasic found her and watched her a little,then transported in to talk to her,he told her she would get paid to come back and do a job for them by saving more empaths ,ivy jane had a hard time in trusting him, so he told her to think about it and he would come back,ivy told her parents that she was going to do it,and told them to stay hid,and vasic was her protector so he had to stay with her at all cost,but ivy talked and talked,and made him crazy because he was silent do to the way psy net,but ivy grew on him,she kept making him talk,and he had help from ,aden,judd,and vasic had a guntlit on his arm that was malfuctioning,and had to get it removed or it would kill him. ivy fell in love with vasic,and she kepe working on him,he was in love with her but didn`t know what the feeling was,he thought about it a lot,she tryed to make love to him little by little,it was until he gave in,but this is nothing compared to the whole story,this is not even half of what happened it is just fantastic i think you`ll really enjoy it,it really is a mus buy.

Love love love it .... we all know that the changelings are hot blooded and passionate... so to see two psy come to gather to make hot passionate love is simply amazing ... love the depth and character of the book ... another winner .. i am well satisfied ..dont know how she will top this .

Happy to give Shield of Winter five stars. Thanks for this fuller understanding of the whole story. It would be cool to then have a series about " after the era of silence" to see what happened to everyone later. Loved Vasic and Ivy 's story. Highly enjoyable read, Thanks!

I just love this series. The books follow on from the others. The characters have grown the relationships have become more complex. I was cheering for the main characters all the way. The storylines interweave but each book stands alone. I love when the other characters from the other books pop in and you see how they have grown, can't wait until the next one.

Ms Singh has done it again. The latest addition of the Psy/Changeling series had me on the verge of tears, happy and sad, on every other page. A true empathetic experience as only she can do it. Ivy and Vasic are a beautiful couple, whom I can't wait to see in future installments. Although this novel is centered around a psy/psy mating there are plenty of glimpses of the changeling we love so much. As always, I'll be chomping at the bit waiting for the next. Let the book hangover begin!

Malibu Singh does it again. She takes the Psy-Changeling story line to a new level. Very adroitly bringing in new characters while further rounding and giving new dimension to the existing ones. She brings a balance in the Psy world by very smoothly tying the Empaths and the Arrows together in a way that will move even the most skeptical. Bravo! Can't wait until the next one! !!!

One of my favorites in the series. Singh's characters continue to grow and have more depth. You won't be disappointed.

This is just one more in a long line of absolutely GREAT stories! I love the whole Psy-Changling world - the strong characters and the whole premise that emotions are necessary! I still see others that I would love to read their story - I hope this series continues for some time to come!!! Thanks, Nalini - for the work and effort to publish!!!

I whipped through this book in a day and a half. Vasic has been one of those background characters quietly yet powerfully present, and it is a delight to get his story. Some of the books in this series are character studies (Drew and Indigo's, for example) and others primarily serve to advance the overall story (Tangle of Need), but the best manage to do both. This one, like its predecessor, does both, and does it well. A delight, and I can't wait to read it again. Update 8/14 One of the best things about a Kindle is the ability to quickly thumb through the library, and pick books to re-read on a whim. Maybe just a favorite section, or maybe the whole thing. I find myself re-reading Nalini Singh's books often, and at this point I've read Shield of Winter three times, cover to cover. So I guess my original knee-jerk review still stands. :-) Having a Psy protagonist isn't the easiest point of view to tell a story from - people with no emotions, no visible reactions, and limited experience interacting with other people can be a little dry. And having two Psy protagonists had the potential to be stiff and awkward storytelling indeed. (Although I suppose one could argue that Ivy is not a typical Psy, and is in fact brimming with emotional reactions.) But oh, Vasic. Our frost-eyed hero with a heart of gold, how I do adore him. The story itself is a bit frenetic. Between the developing love affair, the impending doom of Vasic's malfunctioning gauntlet, and the chaos within the PsyNet itself, there is a lot going on. And you really do have to pay attention to all the moving pieces, so it's not what I'd call an "easy" read. The occasional check-ins with other established characters are welcome glimpses into how some of our favorite couples are doing, but generally aren't necessary, as Ivy and Vasic's story stands on its own. Clearly this book can't be read alone, or in fact without reading most (if not all) of the rest of the series first, otherwise it won't make any sense whatsoever. One minor quibble - After a tremendous build up, the ending itself does seem a little abrupt, and wrapped up a lot of loose ends perhaps a bit too neatly. But the series isn't over yet, and I am so very eager to see will happen next in Aden's story.

Wow what a story! Shield of Winter picks up after the Fall of Silence in Heart Of Obsidian.. Its called The Twilight of 2081! The relations building between Vasic and Ivy was very believable an very realist. Vasic has always been an interesting character to me and he was paired perfectly with Ivy the empath. The story is about the PsyNet rebuilding itself and in order to do that they need to find and help all the empaths to intergrate back in to the PsyNet. The E designation as it's called does a great job in balancing out the coldness of the DarkNet and stabilizing the growing infection of madness in the Psy people. As you read the story you come to realize the Empaths are also balancing and grounding the Cold Silent Arrow Squad. We get introduce to a whole new cast of interesting characters, I want to know more about in future books. We also get to visit some of our old favorites Hawke and Sienna, Lucas and Sascha and of course Kaleb and Sahara, Judd and Aiden a lots more of our favorite characters. The story moves at a fast pace and I could turn the page fast enough. Nalini Singh is a Brilliant author who thinks out very carefully how she want to portray the Psy/Changling World and all the different Characters are written with deep layers of personality. Ms. Singh even pulls you into the environment. You can imagine that you are their and see the places with your minds eye. Nalini is an extraordinary story teller and her Psy/Changling world and it many wonderful cast of characters are proof it!! "SOW" is very Well Done. I highly recommend to you to read this book and the series if you haven't. Magnificent!!!

Nalini Singh is a favorite and Shield of Winter is a great addition to her body of work. She is exceptional at building a world obviously different but somehow relatable to our own. Her characters draw you in and make you care about them from the very beginning. I love this series and hope Ms. Singh will continue the good work.

This is a very interesting story tied to her changeling series - how can an Arrow become more human? She doesn't rush the details of the changes both of the main characters must make and keeps their flaws as well as their virtues. A very good continuation of a very good series. I recommend all of the books in the Psy/Changeling series.

In my experience when a series goes on as long as this one has...the writing and story lines become stale. I am happy to say with Nalani Singh you never need worry about that!!! This book was light on the normally steamy scenes in the series, but somehow that didn't matter with the stellar quality of the plot and writing...bad news we have to wait another whole year for more!

I didn't think Ms. Singh could follow Heart of Obsidian with anything more than a filler book for her series. I was thrilled to be so wrong. As usual a terrific story with a couple that were relate-able. The world didn't stop having things to share with the readers because of the end of Silence. Thank you Ms. Singh.

I love pretty much anything Ms. Singh writes and this is no exception. Vasic is a great hero and I love how you get to see him slowly change and grow throughout the story. Ivy is everything you could want in a heroine, loving and giving but a total fighter for what she wants. I have been reading this series since book 1 and I will continue to do so. Definitely worth the read!

Maliki has done it again. Wrote another fantastic book in this series. I loved how Ivy and Vasic fell in love despite the odds against them. I was waiting for this book and fell in love with it despite the tears and laughter I had while reading this book. I would recommend this book and the whole series.

Once again, Nalini Singh has hit it out of the ballpark. This story focuses on a "broken" Arrow. Vasic has been seen in many of the past books, each time beocming more and more intriguing. This is his story. He is a great hero - alpha strong, broken, craving normalcy but knows that he has to do to help his race survive. His heroine is strong, empathic, intelligent and willing to stand next to him. Ivy and Vasic make a great pair. Their love story flows naturally, making the entire relationship make sense even on the Psy level. It was great to see Krychek and Sahara continue their relationship as strong as before. Seeing Aden in a more detailed view has made me fall a bit more for him and I hope he also finds his HEA. There were so many funny moments in the book, including a very amusing personal conversation between Judd and Vasic which had me laughing out loud. There were a few tear jerking moments as well which I fully admit broke me down. Well written, Nalini! I highly recommend this book. I cannot wait for the next one.

Shield of Winter is written in third person with a moderate amount of sexual content and adult wording throughout with a HEA ending. This world is different from reality and set in the future, so all of the series stands up over time. This story can be read as a standalone but, you might be lost if this is your first Psy-Changling story (thought there is a fair amount of recap detailed in the story), you should pick up the first books in the series to fully enjoy this one. Both Ivy and Vasic are Psy. Ivy is very likeable and honest in the way she acts and grows into her power. She doesn’t have to hide now that silence has fallen and wants to help as any empath would want to. Vasic, is wonderful, so powerfully written that you love him even though he doesn’t love himself… watching him grow into feelings and self-worth was amazing. Vasic was written true to himself throughout the series (he was in several past books) and continued to grow throughout the story after he meets Ivy. Ivy we had not meet before but that didn’t diminish her character at all. This was a very emotional story. So well written, I felt everything, happiness, sadness, despair, overwhelming joy, love… I was so immersed in this story I was surprised and slightly sad when it was over, I just wanted more, but I was so very happy everything worked out and Ivy and Vasic got their HEA. None of that changed the second and third times I read this book. As with many of the other books in the series there are many POV’s in this story. Most are from our main couple, Ivy and Vasic, however there are a fair amount from others including Lucas, Hawke, Aden, Kaleb, Ming and others. The difference in this story from the past books is that each of the POV tell us more about Vasic, Ivy, or the emotions and/or threats involving them. Even though they are others POV’s it still felt like the whole story was about Vasic and Ivy. Ms. Singh is a very talented writer and I highly recommend any of the Psy-Changeling Books.

Consider this - I read the 1st novel in this series the first week in December and by December 19th - I was reading this one, the 13th one in the series. (Yes folks - I'm retired - if I want to sit and read all day - I can indulge - especially if it is really, really good.) I was buying and downloading the next in the series before I even finished with the one I was reading because I DID NOT WANT TO STOP THE STORY. I have even pre-ordered the next and folks - I only do that with a VERY few authors - having been burned before by lack of consistency. Each of the novels has been continuously good with the same quality of world, character and action development. That really impresses me - too often I have picked up a series to have it steadily go downhill and have to give up on an author because I no longer trust their work. Yes, there were a few that I liked better than others in the series but each one was a page turner and essential to the overall story. These novels are more of a continuing saga than just a series and each novel in the series builds upon the other and must be read in order. Each book in this series contains: - A detailed alternate reality that is so developed that it is easily pictured in the reader's mind. - Characters that come to life - Creativity - so different from any other paranormal romance book out there. So dissimilar that one is almost taken aback with such an altered world presented. This is definitely not a "formula" book. - Alpha males with strong females that can handle them. Neither perfect (I hate perfect characters!) - making the characters more believable even for a Sci-Fi novel. - No "huh" moments or misspellings. This is professional writing at it's finest. - No plot holes or getting loss in trivial garbage that is simply put in to increase word count. Each word, each sentence, each page is central to the development of the plot and characters. - Book starts out strong and ends strong. No starting out and then tapers off to a weak or contrived short ending. (Been there, read that - really, really hate that!)

Shield of Winter is definitely a tipping point in the overall story-arc when it comes to the Psy-Changeling series. Strong characters move the story forward, helped by a tough plot. Somehow, I had read the book that is after Shield of Winter in this series, but not this one. I was so happy when I realized I had an unread Psy-Changeling book on my kindle just waiting for me to indulge. Vasic is a character who has intrigued me since I was first introduced to the deadly Arrows, and seeing him with a seemingly fragile E psy, one who might be able to save the Psy-Net, made him seem more human somehow. A lot happened in Shield of Winter, and it all was building on what happened in the prior books, both when it comes to the complex politics and the various storylines and plots that are happening in this series. From the first book in this series, I knew I was going to love it – both because of the very unique concept of the Psy, and the way Singh’s changelings are a bit different from your average shifters. Also, the whole series is set in the future, and that makes a lot of the technology seem plausible, too. Singh is an expert at bringing together characters that don’t really have a lot in common – at least on the surface. And when Vasic first met Ivy, he was ready to just do his job – protect her with his life if necessary – and that was all. As he got to know the empath, though, he slowly come to realize that there was more to life than being an arrow – even if that was all he knew. I also really enjoyed that several characters from prior books in the series had important roles to play in Shield of Winter, and I especially liked seeing Sascha and Lukas who were the main characters in the very first book. Between the fast-paced action scenes and the slower pace of characters getting to know each other, there were some very tender, and smoldering hot romantic scenes as well. I found Ivy’s almost naïve joy for life, and her positive optimism and outlook on life to be the perfect counterbalance of the darkness that lived inside Vasic. They were both a bit broken, though, and it was beautiful to see them try to mend each other. Written in third person point of view, past tense, but with a closer perspective on Vasic and Ivy, the story unfolded in a way that made me completely engrossed from start to finish. There are great dialgoues as well as the narration, and some notes and messages between characters to make the reader have a full view of what was going on.

Series: Psy-Changeling #13 --One Sentence Summary-- The PsyNet will not survive unless the Empaths can be awakened -- but what will happen when an Arrow finds himself guarding an Empath? --What are the Issues-- Ivy Jane is an Empath, unbeknownst to herself, but she knows she's always struggled with Silence and even had a very serious reconditioning when she was a teenager. Now she lives on her family's farm with others similar to her, tucked away from the judging eyes of the PsyNet. Ivy isn't sure she can help with the sudden outbreaks of violence in the PsyNet but she's determined to do her best, because for once she finally feels like she has a purpose. Vasic was meant to be a protector and his work as an Arrow under Ming Lebon has deeply damaged his soul. He's barely hanging on and all he wants is peace from all his guilt. But meeting Ivy changes everything -- right when it might be too late. The computer device embedded in his arm is beginning to malfunction and with the original creator missing and presumed dead, there's no way to stop it. --What I Liked and Didn’t Liked-- A World Without Silence -- I've really enjoyed reading how the Psy race is learning to adapt to the changes in the Net and the fall of Silence. Of course there are those who are still clinging desperately to it (the newly formed Silent Voices) but most understand what it finally means to be free. I can't wait to see where Nalini Singh is going to continue to take this plot line. We're also seeing more cooperation between all the races as they work to protect each other. This is why I like to read fiction -- so I can believe in the goodness of all and that human decency can conquer. There were several new groups formed in this book that will act as groups to aid the Psy race or protect certain interests of the Psy race and I look forward to seeing how they'll grow. Ivy and Vasic -- Ivy and Vasic's love story wasn't one of my favorite but I still enjoyed them, especially Vasic. We've seen him almost from the beginning and he's been this very powerful, but very mysterious character. We got a glimpse of his pain in Hostage to Pleasure when he interacts with Dorian and now we get to see where it all stems from. There were several plot points from early books that re-emerged in this book and I always appreciate an author that can so thoroughly link books in a series. Ivy was very gentle, sweet, and innocent partly due to her being an empath but also from a more sheltered and protected upbringing. Her parents might be Silent but she's always known they love her and would protect her. Vasic on the other hand grew up in Arrow training and as is typical, it was brutal. However, I adored the glimpses of Vasic and Aden as young boys growing up in the Arrow Squad and desperate for a friend. --Final Thoughts-- Mostly focused on the Empaths and the rot in the PsyNet, this story was very centrally focused but still advanced the overall world. Vasic and Ivy were nice as a couple, but that's about all.

Shield of Winter was one of my most anticipated books of 2014. After the extraordinary, impossible romance and jaw-dropping leaps forward for the overarching series plot in Heart of Obsidian I was dying to see what would next happen in the Psy-Changeling world. I was also wary of being disappointed. Highly anticipated books always run that risk, but I think following up a stunner like HoO is a tougher challenge. Luckily, Nalini Singh is on a hot streak and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. And that's saying something because even the earliest books in her paranormal series are outstanding. And I'm still recovering from Heart of Obsidian, by the way. Shield of Winter showcases everything that that makes this series so wonderful: 1) Unique, intricate worldbuilding - the concept of the PsyNet is one of the best worldbuilding constructs I've ever read and it takes center stage here. 2) An alpha hero with a devoted, protective and positively molten core despite his mistakes and haunts from the past. Vasic was not what I expected but I couldn't imagine him every other way. He is different than the other heroes in this series yet so, so perfect. 3) A strong feisty heroine who has an iron will, contagious zest for life, and deep awareness of the world around her. I admire Ivy like crazy. Out of all the leading ladies in this world I think she's the truest fighter of them all. 4) Airtight plotting with threads that come full circle from the first book, Slave to Sensation (and SoW is #13!). 5) A sweet, heartrending romance that's also hot, hot, hot. 6) Prose that is haunting, soulful and beautiful on one page and clinical yet flowing the next - Ms. Singh has an incredible storytelling voice. First, SO much was packed into this book. It is just as much an aftermath book as it is about new beginnings and continuing the stories already told. After the destruction wrought on the PsyNet and wider world by the fanatical group Pure Psy everyone is still reeling. Now add that to the fall of Silence, the protocol that conditions Psy not to feel emotion...because often their rampant feelings cause them to sink into insanity or lose control of their abilities and unintentionally hurt others. Silence kept the lid on those things but it also destroyed their society and allowed sociopaths free reign. Now a disease that originated in Silence is destroying the fabric of the PsyNet - the psychic network that connects all Psy and keeps them alive. After Silence fell it grew ever more voracious. The Arrow Squad, which was long the Psy Council's dirty little secret now works only for itself and is dedicated to saving the Net. To do this they must "wake" the empaths, whose core ability of healing emotions and damaged psyches caused them to be systematically suffocated under Silence. Vasic is one of those Arrows. As a telekinetic who is also a born teleporter he was extremely valuable to the Council and has been part of the squad since childhood. After all he has seen and done he is ready to give up. Ivy is a powerful empath who was very nearly rehabilitated (a psychic brainwipe) after she broke Silence in a big way at 16. It took her years to recover, and now she's been asked to be part of a group of empaths to investigate the disease and find a cure. Vasic is her guard. He will do this one last thing before he finds the only peace he can get. However, Ivy is a fighter through and through and she refuses to give up on Vasic - or allow him to give up on himself. The disease and romance are the two biggest plot threads. However, there are also quite a few new characters introduced (Arrows and Empaths - what a combination!). There is a kind-of secondary romance (Nalini Singh you owe us a story about Abbot and Jaya!...I mean, please?). Like I said, there's lots more but this review is already going to be way too long. We do get to catch up with characters from past books like Kaleb and Sahara, Judd Lauren, Sascha and Lucas, Alice Eldridge, Zie Zen and even Dev Santos. Kaleb in particular is such a complex character, and for all his enormous power he is ever the politician. I also loved seeing Sahara building her own life and her life with Kaleb. These two deserve every single millisecond of their happiness. And Judd Lauren continues to steal my heart. I love you, Judd Lauren. Don't get me started on Kaleb. So I know I gave this book five stars, but there are actually quite a few things that annoyed me. I'm going to list them briefly, but I just want to say despite the stuff I didn't like this book and series just leave me awestruck. 1) Too many cameos. There are well over fifty significant characters in this series. Ms. Singh never, ever info dumps on her readers, and while I LOVE seeing past MCs again sometimes I feel certain appearances are unnecessary. In particular I didn't think Mercy, Riley and Sienna's part were necessary. 2) The prose. Yeah, I said it was great. But there was some ridiculousness going on in there. At times it's so overly dramatic it feels campy. It also gets repetitious in places. And there was THREE times Ivy felt like there was "confetti" inside her. It stuck out like an awkward, sore thumb. 3) Too much build up and glossed-over resolution. I was nervous about how Ms. Singh would solve the dilemma (understatement) of the disease, and I thought the solution was perfect. Unfortunately there wasn't much pagetime for the actual cure and aftermath. I'm sure some of this will be covered in Psy-Changeling #14, but it was still somewhat disjointing. 4) Ming LeBon. This situation still isn't resolved. I'm thinking his part happened for a reason that will become evident later on but it felt unneeded while reading. 5) This is a darker series and some pretty horrifying things happen. Like not thousands but hundreds of thousands of people dying. Sometimes I feel that awfulness isn't emphasized enough. I also think the characters and events get pretty edgy only for Ms. Singh to pull back. I wouldn't call it deus-ex-machina but it still seems there should be more sacrifice from the characters. Although this is a series I think SoW can be read standalone. New readers won't be familiar with the socioeconomic attributes of the Psy-Changeling universe or the histories of past MCs, but it's still manageable. However, you're going to really like this book, then go back and read the rest and wish you had read them in order in first. It's an amazing journey and Nalini Singh is a sneaky, genius, masterful storyteller. And very emotive. These stories will touch your heart and soul. I don't so much dread having to wait for a new installment in this series as I do finding something to read after a new book goes out. Seriously, withdrawal occurs - and it ain't pretty. Booklist has called Nalini Singh the "alpha author" of paranormal romance. For me it's pretty much fact. Shield of Winter is an impressive addition to the phenomenal Psy-Changeling series, and I treasured every minute of reading it. The phrase not-to-be-missed is NOT an exaggeration here!

I cannot believe I haven’t reviewed this! My absolute favorite in the series, and my favorite MMC. Absolutely LOVE this book. Along about Bonds of Justice this series just takes off. It becomes so much more complex in the wider plot, and interaction of characters. Singh builds the foundation for this over each book from the first. They seem like enjoyable PNR, but she builds and builds until is an epic UF series with romance. Brilliant. Absolutely love this series, and Singh will always be a favorite.

Nalini Singh skillfully continues her Psy-Changeling series with Shield of Winter: Silence has fallen and the world is on the edge of chaos. Only the mysterious E designation, with the help of the shadowy Arrow Squad, can save the day. Book number thirteen is definitely Vasic and Ivy's story but it also moves us farther along in the series' story arc while organically weaving in previous couples and new characters. The story is romantic, exciting, and pretty much perfect, especially if you're a long-time follower of the series. If you're not, I'm not sure if you can/will enjoy it quite as much. One reviewer mentioned that this story cannot be compared to Heart of Obsidian. True that. HofO is still my all time favorite in the series, and it is so passionate and powerful that it stands alone in the realm of romance. There's not much out there like HofO. Vasic and Ivy's story is sweeter, gentler, funnier, and in some ways less intense... IF you don't count the fact that this duo regularly teleports into blood-thirsty crowds of crazy Psy. Vasic and Ivy are perfect for each other--sweet, funny, courageous, compassionate, and oh so wounded, especially Vasic. I've always had a soft-spot for the Tk-V assassin--maybe it's his Slavic cheekbones? Ivy is worthy of him in every way. They're just so right together. And watching them discover how to be intimate while controlling Vasic's Tk power--pure, sexy fun! Meanwhile, we get to check in on Kaleb and Sahara and see how their every-day life together is evolving. (because Nalini knew we were all wondering!) And there are new and intriguing characters, but they're introduced naturally. The author isn't just trying to sell the next book. These characters have an organic part of the story arc. I'm particularly interested in Samuel the wild-eyed inventor. If you haven't read this series from the beginning, I recommend that you start there. Later installments probably can be read as stand-alones, but you'll miss so many nuances. Even more significantly,you'll miss the heartache and thrill of watching this world change for the better thanks to the blood, sweat, and tears of Singh's characters.

So as not to spoil, I will try to keep this review short and sweet. That may be hard though because I have adored this series for so long and I was beside myself when I scored an advanced copy of the book I've been waiting years for! For those of you who've been waiting impatiently on the edge of your seats for Vasic's story, the wait is finally over!!! I started this book expecting great things and what I got was so much better! I can't even begin to express how much I enjoyed this book. Vasic is just WOW! Remember Judd? Yeah, SO MUCH BETTER (and I loved Judds book)! The connection between him and Ivy Jane is one of the best in this series. I think I'm really going to love these sexy Arrows! Nalini gives us some of the answers we've been waiting for and raises even more questions about the Psy race, the future and the world that surrounds them. Her Psy/Changeling world changes dramatically this time around, bringing some unexpected allies together while also causing even more chaos with others. I've loved everything about this series for years now and this book just solidifies that feeling for me. As far as I'm concerned this series needs to go on forever! Please Nalini gives us many many more!!! I'll never get tired of this world and these characters. If you have not picked up this series yet, I suggest that you do so ASAP. And if you are a long time fan, don't delay! This is one you'll not want to miss! It's definitely a drop-everything-and-read kind of book. :)

I was up all night reading this one, it didn't disappoint! Vasic and Ivy Jane have more of a slow burn, less of the breaking through the conditioning of Silence in a blaze of emotion and shattered barriers, more of a subtle easing of the chains and growing into the feelings of love and passion (on Vasic's part that is, Ivy was all over it from the beginning) Its a very gradual, hardly noticeable change from frozen Silence to warm love and acceptance, each encounter with Ivy gets him a little bit closer to the thaw until suddenly he's there and he's not going back. Still lots of the angsty "I'm a monster who doesn't deserve loooooove, turn awaaaay" that you would expect from this series, but its not overwhelming. Some of the Psy/Changeling books have been kind of forgettable (good, but I can't remember them with any clarity or even who the main couples were) but I think this one will stick with me for a while. Parts of it were so beautifully written and poignant that I got a little teary-eyed, and the final scenes are wonderful and full of hope for the future. (especially the scenes where you could feel that Vasic, Aden, and Judd desperately wanted a future for the Arrows, even if Vasic didn't feel like he deserved one of his own, sniff) I agree with other reviewers that there were a few too many violent mass insanity scenes, they did get a bit old after a while (oh hey, another riot, but the last one was like 20 minutes ago) and I thought the problem of the PsyNet was handled kind of quickly and skimmed over. I would have loved to have gotten some scenes of putting that together, rather than the couple of paragraphs it got. Minor quibbles aside, I do think this is one of the best books in the series so far, I've been waiting for Vasic's book for ages and it did not disappoint- and Ivy was a great counterpoint, damaged but not broken, desperate to LIVE now that Silence has fallen, and to save Vasic from himself. She may be an empath, but she's not a wimp! (and Rabbit, I loved Rabbit!) Beautifully written, lots of action, romance, VASIC, and plenty of potential books to come (still have Ming to deal with, and those people who want Silence back and think Empaths are creepy, plenty of Arrows to pair off, Aden, what's up with that Alice chick, and what about Nikita...)

Warning! This review contains minor spoilers for earlier books in the Psy-Changeling series. The world of the Psy changed forever at the conclusion of Heart of Obsidian with Kaleb Krychek putting an end to the Silence that has been the norm for decades. Now, this unique species is forced to figure out how to live with their emotions and battle the rapidly increasing infection that is oozing through the Psy Net. One way that they believe they can fight the disease is by utilizing the powers of the E-Psy or empaths who are in hiding due to the former mistrust of them during the years of Silence. In order to increase the success off this experiment, Kaleb reaches out to the Arrows, a military-like order, to keep the empaths safe and help them learn how to use their powers. Vasic is one of the heads of the Arrows and is the most powerful teleporter in the Net. He and his fellow soldiers have been trained to be completely unfeeling in order to properly protect Psy interests. Now that Silence has fallen, the Arrows have decided that they will devote their lives to helping the Psy population adjust to their new world and keep the innocent safe. Vasic is assigned to Ivy Jane, an empath who lives in seclusion with her parents after she was tortured when it was revealed that her Silence was flawed. Shield of Winter tells the story of Vasic and Ivy as they figure out this new world and how to trust one another enough to help save it. Anybody who reads my blog on a regular basis knows that I have a soft spot for stoic heroes. There is something that I find so attractive about their stubbornness plus they are usually tortured for one reason or another which is another draw for me. Vasic is one of the sexiest and heartbreaking heroes I've read this year. He was put into intense Arrow education from an early age with his trainers' goal being that he become an unfeeling assassin. Unfortunately, while Vasic is programmed to associate feelings with pain, he obviously retains a heart and, it turns out, feels guilt over all that he did in the name of protecting the Psy under the former leader. One of the best things about this series is the way that Nalini Singh slowly develops her characters and allows them to undergo realistic transformations. This book allows him to slowly break out of his shell and understand that he deserves to be happy which was a joy to read about. The catalyst for Vasic's change is the introduction of Ivy to his life. She is an empath that survived an unsuccessful Silence rehabilitation attempt and is, understandably, wary of opening up again. But, her inner strength and emotional sensitivity forces her to step into the line of fire and try to do everything she can to help heal the Psy Net. I enjoyed her character and thought she was a great match for Vasic. There were a few moments where I wanted to know more about her past and how it shaped her personality, but I understand why the author left it a little mysterious. Ivy is a character who is determined to not think about the past, but live in the present which is shown in her character development. While she is not my favorite of the Psy heroines (my heart will always belong to Sascha), she is admirable and intelligent enough to rank her pretty high on my list. The relationship between Vasic and Ivy is very interesting and takes a bit of patience on the part of the reader. Because of each of their own issues, neither person is comfortable with physical intimacy, but their chemistry is obvious from their first meeting. I loved the slow and deliberate way that their relationship developed from casual friendship to lovers. By the end, I was rooting for them to be happy which is something I always look for in a good romance. While the romance is central to the Psy-Changeling books, the series also benefits from one of the most creative settings and overall plot in paranormal romance. I mentioned above that Silence has finally ended for the Psy and they are at a turning point as they try to adjust to a new life. I love this development and am excited to see how the story moves forward with such a change. Readers see hints of it in this book and I know more is coming in the future. I also liked the infection storyline which forced the Psy to see the type of damage the Net is facing as well as making the Psy, changelings, and humans all work together for a goal. Vasic and Ivy are the main focus of Shield of Winter, but, as one would expect from a series as lengthy as this, there are plenty of background characters popping in and out. In particular, I enjoyed getting to know more about Vasic's Arrow partner, Aden, who is taking center stage in the next book. It was also great to see the return of some favorites like Sascha, Lucas, Kaleb, Ashaya, and (my favorite) Judd Lauren. Judd has had my heart since the beginning of the series and his attempt at providing Vasic with sex advice was absolutely priceless. All in all, I thought Shield of Winter was a great installment in the Psy-Changeling series. The main couple was wonderful while the rest of the cast continued to develop in interesting ways. This world remains highly original and it seems like the plot is just picking up speed again. I highly recommend this series for anyone who wants creative and thought-provoking paranormal romance though make sure you start at the beginning to get the full impact.

I have read all of Nalini Singh Psy/Changling books and this one didn't disappoint. Vasic was a very troubled character. An Arrow who should have never been one, because of his conscience. Ivy Jane was an Empath who had been damaged and was in hiding. She was really strong once she found her calling and Vasic. It was great to check in with some favorite characters from other books. I really liked this one.

I love the world NS had created. As the psy battle to save themselves, our H/h battle for a happy ever after. I love these books, because the H/h always work together to solve the problem. They don't give up on one another. That's a true HEA.

I love the Psy/Changeling series! Singh has created a complete world full interesting characters and different factions that must learn to live together. I am curious to see where Singh will take the series now that some of the big plot twists are resolving! Unlike many other series Singh has managed to keep the series interesting and not too repetitive. I hope she can keep it up!

I had originally thought about buying this book a few months ago, but the price was crazy high so I didn't purchase it. It went on sale and I took the time to read it. The author did a really good job with the nuances of the story. She wove a good pattern of the nuances between an empath and an arrow. They are still some unanswered questions that I'm sure will be answered in book 14. I look forward to reading it.

Vasic and Ivy Jane captivate your attention, so good to see them come out of the cruel darkness. I really hope Nalia will write Adam's story next. The whole series well written, many more please Nalia.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this series!!!!! I love how Singh incorporates all of her characters and doesn't leave you hanging. In other words, if she has another story with other characters on the side, she finishes them as well. It takes a BRILLIANT author to do that. I look forward to more and more of this series, altho I would love to see another one with the shifters as well.

There was just not enough to the core bad boy in Vasic to take the hero (or anti-hero) throne from Kaleb ("Heart of Obsidian"). At one point in Shield of Winter, Kaleb's mate tells Vasic's mate, Ivy, that Vasic is just as deadly as Kaleb. This may be true, but Vasic will never be as dangerous as Kaleb--and this why Kaleb is my true Psy love, lol. Comparisons aside, however, I found Vasic and Ivy's story sweet and compelling...but more so because of Ivy. Vasic never stood a chance. Also, some truly interesting world building and advancement. I love Nalini Singh's writing style and storytelling. I can't wait for Aden!

who that has read this series hasn't wanted the best for the Arrows? The job so vital to the society. It's so good to read about then finally finding peace.

Bloody marvelous. This book was a trill. This is Arrow Vasic's story of love and redemption with empath Ivy Jane. Ms. Singh's gift is to excite, involve and enchant her reader into the lives of her characters along with the epic sweep of her stories. "Shield of Winter" is no exception to that criteria. Crisis: There is a malignancy in the psy net which will cause it to fail killing millions. Solution: Empaths Complications: Empaths have been silenced or terminated for over one hundred years. There is only one person alive who might know how and why empaths are integral to the stability of the net but her memory is fragmented. In their search for an answer the Ruling Council (Kaleb Krychek, Nikita Duncan, Anthony Kyriakus & the Arrows), Dark River, Snow Dancer and the Forgotten leader Devag Santos form alliances to save to planet. Krychek's interest in saving anyone is contingent on the health and welfare of his mate Sahara Kyriakus. The psy community has no idea how to deal with the end of Silence they are receiving little guidance from their leaders. With net failures and people still recovering from the murderous actions of Pure, hope is a rare commodity. To remedy this dire situation the arrows are tasked with the protection of ten clueless newly awakening empaths. Empaths who have been persecuted by the very society they are being asked to save. No one wanted to acknowledge they existed now they are under contract to Krychek the most dangerous man on earth, guarded by assassins and expected to turn the tide on the blight effecting the net. Results are not as expected. While the empaths have little effect on the deceased net they are influencing the deadly Arrows. Especially Vasic the Arrow who has given up on life, who is partnered to Ivy. During the telling of this tale heart rending accounts of Vasic and Aden's brutal training as small children along with Ivy's reconditioning at age sixteen when the breaks in her silence becomes obvious are told. Aden and Ivy had parents who loved them but were victims of the system. Vasic had no one until a stubborn empath with a fluffy little white dog named Rabbit has the will to see past Silence to love an Arrow unconditionally. This is a wonderful adventure in the psy-changeling world, can't wait for the next chapter. I adore the Arrows.

Great read great story.

A man more machine then psy, fighting to accept that it's okay to accept love and fight for the right to live... I love the story of the struggle.

If you are not familar with this Psy/Changeling series, I would suggest you start at the beginning of the series which is Slave to Sensation. There is just too much of the history of the Psy net and the current situation that you may find yourself a little lost in the current story. The first book is still may favorite with Sasha darling and her mate Lucas. I loved reading Vasic's story and the emergence of the E-Psy. I am hooked on this series and not only have the paperback/digital book copy I also purchase the audio book so I can enjoy this series while I am driving. This is a must read series!

I have enjoyed every book in this series and have been waiting to learn more about the mysterious Arrows who have appeared in several of the previous books. If you have not read the previous books in the series, do not start here. Start with Slave to Sensation and read all 13 books in order. The story starts off where the previous book ended. Not only has Silence fallen for the Psy race, but an insidious virus is affecting the PsyNet. The Virus causes outbreaks of violence which not only affects the Psy but the rest of the world. The only hope is to awaken the Empaths, a designation of Psy who have been trained from birth to suppress the knowledge of their gifts. Ivy is part of a test group of Empaths put together to train and test their abilities to find a cure for the virus. They are each assigned an Arrow as a protector and Ivy gets Vasic, who has been a part of the Arrow program since he was four years old. Ivy has never been fully Silent and after a painful traumatic attempt at rehabilitation has been living under the radar with her family on a farm. As usual, Nalini Singh, seamlessly integrates the love story developing between Ivy and Vasic, with the “must save the world” plot of the story. There were several subplots that only served to enhance the story. The way in which Vasic’s loss of control manifested during the romantic moments with Ivy were worth the price of the book alone. I don’t know how she does it, but Nalini Singh is an auto-buy author for me. I finished the book in a day and now I will be depressed until her next release.

This book is so innocent and heart warming, I couldn't put it down. I adored this book and the psy' s journey back to the light.

As I've always believed, the warmth of love can melt any ice and light any darkness!!! I loved this book!!! Vida

Another great read by Nalini Singh. What I need for books like this is questions in the back so I can recommend them for my book club.

I was shocked that she continued the series after "Heart of Obsidian" and did such a great job. This is one series that isn't getting tired, hope to see many more additions.

I rated the story with 5 stars because it is a great story. you'll have to read it to understand. Also all of the previous books from the author.

Great read. It was wonderful to read about character from past books that always captured my interest. Vasic was one of those characters. Nalini writes with such depth and insight into her characters that you feel like you really know the characters you are reading about. If you haven't read any of the Psy/Changling series you are truly missing out. Again a fantastic read. I highly recommend this book and all the books of the series!!!!!

Enjoyable-not as steamy as some of her Psy-Changeling stories but seems to be a stepping stone novel, ties up some loose ends, updates us on previous couples and gives a new starting off place-for I hope- more new books and other directions in the series

Silence has fallen, bringing hope to the Psy race…if they can survive the aftermath. The Psy’s only hope for survival lies with the empaths, a designation almost entirely obliterated when the Silence Protocol was put in place. Vasic is an Arrow to his core. He’ll protect his people until the end, though he may not have long. His conscience is weighed down by all that he has been forced to do and the implant in his arm is slowly killing him. Empath Ivy Jane breathes new life into Vasic when he’s tasked with guarding her. He’ll stand as her shield as she risks everything to save their people, and their growing bond means there’s no chance Vasic can deny his attraction to the beautiful Ivy. But their burgeoning romance may not survive what lies in store for them. For not all Psy believe the empaths should exist, and some will do anything to protect what they believe is the “purity” of their race. Shield of Winter is a stunningly well-crafted book by paranormal romance superstar Nalini Singh. Vasic and Ivy are two endearing, memorable protagonists who join a long line of fantastic Psy-Changeling heroes and heroines. Vasic is a man who’s been used as a weapon for so long it breaks my heart. He’s so much more than his abilities, yet precious few outside the Arrows see him as more than such. I wanted to see Vasic truly experience life and love, and Ivy is the reason he does. She’s strong and deeply caring, and I admired her willingness to risk so much for the good of her people, even though she was almost broken as a child because of the Silence Protocol. Vasic and Ivy make a heck of a couple, their passion and blossoming love for one another making the pages of Shield of Winter fly by. While Ivy and Vasic’s romance is the heart of Shield of Winter, it’d be remiss of me not to mention the worldbuilding Ms. Singh does in this book. The end of Silence has sent shockwaves through the Net and we see the horrifying fallout that threatens to crush the Psy race. If they can survive the infection and chaos among the Net, there is hope for them to become stronger and better as a whole. The empaths are the key to the race’s survival, but figuring out how to unlock the empath’s abilities and use them to protect the race isn’t easy. There’s amazing advances as well as heartbreak in Shield of Winter, and I’ll leave it to readers to uncover what Ms. Singh has in store for the Psy. Shield of Winter is the thirteenth full-length book in the Psy-Changeling series and I don’t recommend reading it as a standalone. Each book in the series builds upon the last, and though Ms. Singh does a great job of providing all the information necessary to read Shield of Winter within the book, I suggest at least reading Heart of Obsidian before diving into Vasic and Ivy’s story. Fans of the series will surely devour the new information uncovered in Shield of Winter and the appearance of some past favorite heroes and heroines is both necessary to the story and just plain fun. Ms. Singh consistently writes incredible, intelligent stories and Shield of Winter is no exception. I loved this complex, fascinating romance from beginning to end and I can’t wait to see where Ms. Singh takes readers next. Joyfully Recommended! This book was reviewed by Shayna for Joyfully Reviewed (JR), and was provided by the publisher/author at no cost to JR for the purpose of being reviewed.

Overall I love Nalini's writing - I really liked Ivy as a match for Vasic - the whole thought behind empaths being paired with the emotionally scarred Arrows was great - I also liked the familiar faces that made an appearance in the book - my personal favorites - Lucas and Sasha - however something was missing for me in this one - the connection between Ivy and Vasic was established too easily I thought - I think it should have been a little more complex given Vasic's silence/stoicness and immense guilt for all the atrocities he committed- the story line of Ming trying to recapture Vasic was introduced and not fully explored - I think it would have given the book more richness if that had been developed a bit more. As it was, it was mentioned - a quick attempt made to suggest Ming made a move but no response from Ming -- so I think that the story line was underdeveloped from that aspect - and it would have been nice to see that angled explored a bit more - I liked book but it is not among my favorite of all her writings

It is extremely difficult to review this book. If you haven't read this series, or even just halfway, I'd say don't read the reviews or the synopsis of the most recent 3-4 books in the series, because a lot things happen to the overall series plot in these books, though each book still focuses on a main couple. Silence has fallen, but the infection in the PsyNet continues to spread and threatens the very existence of the Psy race. To cure this infection, Kaleb Krycheck believes that the E-Psy (empaths), are the key. If you remember, the empaths are the exact opposite of Silence, so their abilities have been stifled for generations, but Kaleb has found a group of E-Psys to test this theory. Vasic is to lead the protection detail for this group of 10 E-Psys. Ivy, a high gradient E-Psy, had undergone extreme reconditioning as a teenager when her Silence broke years ago. When I was reading the book, I didn't feel like Ivy was as broken as she made it out to be. Usually, when a heroine in this series is "broken" somehow, there're a lot more symptoms of how "broken" they are, but with Ivy, except for the very beginning when she first met Vasic, she was strong and stubborn and didn't feel one bit "broken" to me. Compared to Vasic, she was much more stable, which is just as well because Vasic needed a lot of work. Vasic, like many of the Psy heroes in this series, is the strong and silent type. He carries a huge weight on his shoulders from all that he'd done under Ming's command and is in a very very dark place in his soul. As always, I enjoy seeing his ice crack under Ivy's stubborn assault and seeing him fall prey to our heroine, all in positive terms of course. I love how protective he is of Ivy. Oh, and what I wouldn't give for his teleport ability! I think this book had even a bigger cast of side characters than the previous books. A lot of things are moving very quickly in the world and all the races, Psy, human, and changeling, have to work together as the PsyNet goes out of control. Lucas and Sascha plays a big role, so does Sahara and Krychek. But the good thing is that Vasic and Ivy's romance doesn't suffer page time at all, even with everyone else present. I also loved getting to know Vasic better, especially his relationship with Aden and Zie Zen. I'm glad this series is still going strong after so many books. I always say this, but if you love any kind paranormal romance, then you have to read this. Plus, this one has no angels, demons, or vampires! How rare is that? Oh, and Ms. Singh has announced that the series isn't ending any time soon! Yay!

As always, Nalini Singh has given us another wonderfully written book about the Psy/Changeling characters. The relationship and how it developed between Vasic and Ivy was a fantastic story. It was a strong book and it was nice to revisit characters from past books. While this was a great book, for me, it lacked something. This book follows Heart of Obsidian which was one of my absolute favorites and detailed the passionate and heart warming story of Kaleb & Sahara, Shield of Winter just didn't have that powerful connection between the two main characters. While you knew reading the book that Vasic & Ivy were eventually going to be together, the journey getting there was not the kind of journey visited in past books. I didn't feel that OMG moment of what is going to happen next! Don't get me wrong, I love her writing and will continue to read Nalini Singh's book because I absolutely think they are wonderfully written and have some amazing characters. I hope the next book in her series of the Psy/Changelings has more depth.

I had not read a Psy-Changling book in a long time, so this one took me a while to get into the story. However, once I did it was very difficult to put down. I think rereading the series (as I usually do) would have made the difference - I will likely do that soon. The Shield of Winter focuses on the degradation of the Psy Net, and the unknown connection between the harsh and controlled Arrows to the little known E designation (Empaths). Vasic is an arrow of the truest sense. Taken into the harsh training to become an Arrow at the age of 4 due to his Tk-V abilities, he was raised and trained with repetition and pain. He accepts orders without question. His basic nature is to protect. So when ordered to protect an Empath, he does so with all the strength and training behind him. Ice-cold. Ivy is the Empath who was fortunate enough to be loved and raised by her parents, and who Vasic is charged with protecting. Ivy can't help seeing Vasic differently than others due to her empathic nature. Without giving away the story, the Arrows and Empaths must work together to save the Psy race and stop the malignant degradation of the Psy Net. it is this partnership that becomes their guiding compass. Both Ivy and Vasic are strong characters, and a number of other characters stand out as well. Several from prior books, and new ones. Rabbit, Ivy's dog, is the joy throughout. This is a book that demands I read the full series again, so that a reread of this book will be that much more fulfilling. Well done, Ms Singh!

I thoroughly enjoyed Shield of Winter, ranking it my second favorite in the Psy-Changeling series (first is Heart of Obsidian). I've been a consistent reader of the series and always order the next book in the series as soon as it shows up. In Shield of Winter, Vasic is a Psy born with a rare and strategically useful Tp variation. Horrific childhood training sessions mold him into a weapon at a young age, but as an adult Arrow, his morals increasingly conflict with the brutal nature of his work. Emotionally broken, he begins to take mortal risks. Vasic's inner turmoil is touched upon in several previous series books, lending poignancy to his struggle here in Shield, and giving his character a depth rare in this series. His life-saving romance with Ivy is predictable but still enjoyable, due to smart storytelling by Singh. As backstory to the romance, Singh continues to weave her intricate Psy-Changeling universe: a crumbling Silence protocol, corruption in the Net, Psy struggling to find their identify, uber-powerful Arrow brotherhood, deadly interactions among the ex-Psy Council members, and collaboration between Psy and Changeling populations. These ongoing plot-lines are nicely paced by Singh throughout the series and the events that occurred in Shield of Winter were delivered with solid dramatic tension. I liked the book, so why still give it 4 out of 10 eyerolls? First, there can be only so many variations to the "predestined mate" story and after 10 or 11 books in a series, the couples, romance, and sex scenes all just blend together. Second, although Singh doesn't go as overboard on gratuitous sex as some authors (ahem, Christine Feehan), I find myself starting to skip some of the more generic hanky-panky to get to the Psy backstory. Third, I'm starting to get seriously annoyed by series where every single major character in an author's character pool magically finds his/her predestined partner within a few weeks or months. Last, I appreciate some aspects of the the 1-book per character romance premise, but don't like the situation where characters begin to be fleshed out, but then sink back into the murky overall series character pool and don't contribute much thereafter. Even after this many books, the only characters that I feel a consistent connection to are Judd, Kaleb and Vasic. The two alphas have even gone somewhat one-dimensional. Nalini Singh, you can do better!

SHIELD OF WINTER is Vasic's story. Long a side character of mystery and danger, he gets to find his own romance with Ivy Jane. Ivy is an empath. The Psys have been trying to breed the empaths out of the Psy. Now they find that the PsyNet is falling apart and it might depend on those same empaths to save everyone. I loved Vasic. He was so badly damaged by the various abuses and tortures that made him into a fearsome Arrow that he had given up on himself. He was the perfect warrior who made life safe for everyone but had to stay on the outside himself. The Arrows are the enforcers of the Psy. They are the ones who take care of the Psy who turn serial killers. When this story begins, Silence has fallen and caused all sorts of disruption for the Psys. The PsyNet also seems to have been invaded with a virus that causes Psy to go crazy and become violent. Kaleb Krychek has a plan to awaken the empaths to see if they can find a way to get this virus out of the PsyNet. If they can't, he will take stronger measures. Ivy has been living with a group of other Psy who were also having trouble with their conditioning. She has the strong support of her parents which is unusual for the Psy. She agrees to become part of this experiment to reawaken the empaths and Vasic is assigned as her personal guard. The romance was amazing. I also liked the way the story resolved an on-going plot thread that has been building through the last few books. It was also nice to see some of my favorite characters from earlier stories make appearances in this story too.

I won't bother going into the details of the book, there are many reviews that do this. What I will say is this is another great book from Nalini Singh and a fantastic addition to the Psy- Changeling series. Reading other reviews I was caught off guard by those who mention how fast the romance happened in a supposedly silent arrow. To me, the reason Vasic made such a great character was that he was an arrow who wasn't silent although he was able to hide this truth from himself and the rest of the net. Someone who is silent would not have felt the all consuming guilt and self loathing this character did. Their romance was quick but I did not find it forced and it did not cause me to roll my eyes, well except maybe the first time she sent him a "picture", nothing like jumping in feet first. I enjoyed the battle this book revolved around although one of the reasons I have rated it 4 stars and not 5 is that I do think a little more development of the story and characters would have further enriched the book. Instead of living vicariously in the Psy - Changeling world thru this book, it was at times like reading a newspaper where you are updated to events having to do with both the romance and the war being waged, instead experiencing them first hand. That being said, I finished it in record time and although there have been other books in the series that pulled me more fully into the story, Shield of Winter did not disappoint. Vasic's story was one I was looking forward to and I think Singh did a good job of telling it. I also liked the fact that she continually builds upon the connections already present within the series. Thru Vasic we are further introduced to the Arrows and the world they have been forced to live in, a world which is quickly changing.

"To be an Arrow is to be an island, devoid of attachments that create vulnerability." THE STORY: Vasic is an Arrow with the ability to teleport. He believes himself beyond Silence and irredeemable because of what he did to help preserve Silence. He knows he has not future...until he meets Ivy Jane. Ivy is a reconditioned empath who has lived her whole life believing that she is flawed. When the psy-net becomes more infected, the governing coalition realizes that empaths must be awakened to try to restore the psy-net to health. Ivy gives Vasic hope and the two begin a sweet romance. OPINION: I loved how the darkness of the story and the sadness and pain of Vasic and Ivy's past was paired with an almost sweet and gentle romance between the two. It was unexpected and gave lightness to a story that could have been dark. SHIELD OF WINTER continues to have much of the humor that is present in most of the Psy-Changeling novels. What was interesting to me is how normal the developing relationship between Vasic and Ivy felt even as they were involved in extraordinary events. That compelled me to keep reading to find out how things would be resolved. WORTH MENTIONING: There were small scenes with Kaleb and Sahara from HEART OF OBSIDIAN and I really enjoyed seeing how they are dealing with their relationship and how Sahara is keeping Kaleb in line. FINAL DECISION: I love Vasic and Ivy's story. In the midst of darkness and death and potential calamity, I found their almost innocent love moving and sweet. CONNECTED BOOKS: SHIELD OF WINTER is the thirteenth book in the Psy-Changeling series. Singh's series creates a complicated and intricate world in her series and while this book can be read separate from the series, I think it is best appreciated as part of the collective. Each individual book builds on the world and its mythology so that the characters and events resonate more with the background knowledge of the prior books. STAR RATING: I give this book 4.25 stars.

Silence has fallen and now Psy have to adapt to a new order. The web is infected and the infection is growing. Drastic methods must be attempted to save millions of people that will die if the disease continues. The E's may be the key but they must learn that their designation exists and try to piece together all that has been forgotten. Krycheck negotiates with Dark River and Snow Dance for an clean area to use as a training ground with the bonus of access to the only cardinal E, Sascha. The Arrows are to be the protection for the E's and Vasic has been charged with the safety of Ivy James, the most powerful Empath to be recruited. How Ivy, damaged by a vicious mindwipe and Vasic, an arrow at the very limit of his endurance for life, come together and make a new future is the thread that holds the book together. Ms Singh has built a complex world with wonderful characters and this latest book does not disappoint in any way.

Nalini's books keep getting better! I love that she took the time to build up a relationship between the well-known Vasic and a here-to-fore unmentioned heroine... But she did it in a way that has you rooting for this couple. Well-done!

This was a great lead and tie up of what is happening in the psy-changeling world. Love the series Nalini Singh has created a world I wish I lived in, amazing characters and storylines ,can't wait to see what happens next.

One of the strongest installments so far, which says a lot considering the series' longevity. I expected Vasic to be more harsh than he really turned out to be; it was so sweet how fast he melted under Ivy Jane's quirky charms. The world building aspect was monumental again, and tense but satisfying. Shield of Winter was definitely emotional and heart-wrenching, but ultimately heart-warming as well. Plus, unlike Tangle of Need with Hawke and Sienna, the scenes with Sahara and Caleb felt natural and firmly intertwined with the main narrative. Love them. Such a rich universe, I recommend this book to every Psy/Changeling fan.

Love stories are not always easily formed. It can be difficult, challenging, and frustratingly difficult but having the patience to love someone broken is priceless. This story was beautifully written and will make you cherish it forever. Job well done Nalini Singh!

Shield of winter had a different feel to it than Nalini's other novels. In some ways it was like Tangle of Need in that it was a mix of Kaleb and Sahara's and Vasic and Ivy's story. Their entire relationship just felt rushed to me it felt like I missed the part where they decided they wanted to be together....they just were. What I did enjoy about their developing relationship was the "real" factor. I also enjoyed the continuation of the psy/changling story and feel that the romance was almost a side story to this. 3 1/2 stars

I just was left in awe after experiencing the pure and raw beauty of Ivy and Vasic's joureny toward love, trust, and light. This couple fought their way together towrads the light and in turn lead the way to the path of hope for not only the Psy race but for their silent, unappreicated heroes, the Arrows. Vividly realistic yet ethereally romantic, watching these to broken innocents find save each others was a joy to behold. My experience was more than just a reader or onlookers, I was transported into the story with each and every character. Shield of Winter is a poignantly beautiful wrap up to this amazing world of Psy-Changeling. I'm so glad that this perfect world won't be stretched out to infinity until the the plot runs off the rails like so many other series have done. I look forward to Aden's book and the close of the series. Bravo Ms. Singh, you stand at the pinnacle and as the gold standard of exquisite storytelling.

I have read all of Nalini Singh's books they always keep me interested and coming back for more! This book made me laugh & cry it is a wonderful story! Another 5 star book thank you so much for your wonderful story's Ms. Singh you never disappoint!!!

A happy ending but more work to do for PSY and the Changlings Vasic and Ivy are the future of the race. Their love story makes all of us believe in hope and happiness. Can not wait to read next book in this series.

The next psy-changling novel, SHIELD OF WINTER doesn't disappoint. Continuing the story of the psy-net disintegration and the fall of Silence, it takes up the Arrows and the empaths through the characters Vasic and an empath named Ivy Jane. As they work on a solution to the infection threatening the net, hope grows for Vasic and all the arrows. It includes many characters from earlier books and hints at a future confrontation with Ming Le Bon. Very fast-paced it pulls in and makes unexpected connections with seemingly unrelated characters. I'm always impressed when authors have an overarching storyline that comes together well. If you've enjoyed the earlier books in the series, you'll love this latest entry. No complaints at all. Can't wait for the next installment.

Another fantastic Psy-changeling book by Nalini Singh. She brings a warmth and humour to the story of Vasic and Ivy that kept me turning the page to the end and hoping to read more of the story even after the last turn. Loved it and please don't stop writing this series.

I'm not going to write anything about the story because I kind of hate reviews that tell the whole story, but as usual, Nalini Singh continues to grow the vast Psy - Changeling world and stretch our imaginations around the possibilities of a triumvirate without Silence. Beside the always amazing romance and the bone disintegrating heat of Vasic and the other arrows, nothing has captivated me more than the idea of, and the fall of the Silence protocol, along with the rise of the designation Es...so many places for this story to go...so many arcs to explore. I hope she never stops writing! Honestly these books could go on forever. Many story lines are still dangling so I'll assume more books are coming and wait with baited breathe.

Vasic is another strong and emotionally deprived/drained Psy who is fighting an internal death wish. His conflicted "feelings" of wanting to end his life, but knowing he still has things unfinished has him in a constant state of unrest. The PsyNet is infected. Thousands are killing each other, men, women and children. A "new" designation, "E" is about to be unlocked from a long sleep and unleashed on the Net. Vasic is assigned to an "E". Life suddenly takes him on totally unprecedented and unpredictable adventures. I don't know how the author's imagination develops these plots and characters, but she does. I didn't want to stop reading. I love the series and have read each and every book. Sometimes more than once. Another must read!!!

This is book 13 of a fantastic series. And while most of the series can be read as stand-a-lone books, I feel that this one would lose much of the wowness if you don't have a basic understand of the previous books. Don't get me wrong, there is enough flashback to explain where things are at now but to really understand the importance of the relationship between Vasic and Ivy, you need to know about the Arrows. Please read the first book (Slave to Sensation) at least before this one. Here's to Ms Singh for another fantastic installment of a fantastic series. Please give us more ;-)

I absolutely love reading nalini Singh she never lets me down I love the Changling series because there is so much going on between the characters there is mystery intrigue romance anger and pain the characters have built a beautiful family together reading and seeing them all learn to love and feel is so good if you haven't read any then I highly recommend this series you will enjoy it I know the series and her archangel series our two of my favorites and hands down would and have strongly suggest to my family and girlfriends to read the series so good luck and enjoy you won't be disappointed

I enjoyed Ivy and Vasic`s story. The teleporter has been a favorite character of mine since he first appeared in the Psy Changling books. Like many of these books there is a seemingly impossible problem with Vasic's gauntlet. On top of this is the rot within the payment that must find a way to be cured by the untested and raw empaths, of whom Ivy is one. Though the plot lines of two people going up against what seems to be impossible problems is a common one for Ms. Singh her characters and storytelling keep me coming back. I particularly enjoy the deleted scenes and so I tend to wait for the books to get to softcover prior to purchase.

We get a different view of the Arrows in Shield of Winter, letting us see the dynamics and structure. We also learn more about their functioning and the interaction with those around them and their background and history. Yes, we knew that Vasic and Ivy would be together, after all this is Vasic and Ivy's story. I don't understand some of the reviews who criticize the predictability....did they think that Vasic and Ivy wouldn't get together, when this was their story?? I loved the different characters especially Rabbit! This series just gets better and better. The winged changelings make an appearance and I am hoping we will hear more about them in the future. Definitely recommend reading!!

I chose this book because first I am such a fan of Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling novels. I enjoy reading about strong Alpha men and their strong Alpha mates. This story did not disappoint me. I was drawn into Vasic Arrow's story. I was so happy to see Vasic, who is an Arrow who's life is silence and coldness, finally meet his mate, Ivy Jane. Ivy Jane is not physically strong and does not have the same psy talent as Vasic, but she is strong within her wisdom and her psy talent. I really cared about what happened to Vasic and Ivy. Nalini Singh made sure that the reader would want to follow these two characters from the beginning of the story to the end. Also, it was fun revisiting other characters from previous psy/changeling stories. I recommend Shield of Winter for anyone who like men who can wear strong and vulnerable well.

I thought Ms Singh couldn't top 'Heart of Obsidian'. I was wrong! I loved Vasic and Ivy's story. To see an assassin who was not shown love or any caring from the age of four, slowly thaw out into a caring person despite his severe upbringing was riveting. I have abandoned most home duties for nearly two days just to get this book finished and I don't regret one second of it. This series just keeps getting better with every book and there are only 3 other authors who do that : J.R Ward, Kresley Cole and Sherrilyn Kenyon. I'll just have to reread all the previous stories while I wait for the next one.

I love, love, love me some Vasic. Watching him go from Ice cold to the open lover he became with Ivy made for a great read. Out of all the books in this series, this 1 among my favorite books, if not the very top.

I love love love Vasic and Ivy's story. He was always my favorite arrow. Why do I love broken Alphas so much. I want to hug him and make it all better. Such a must read you will not regret

Nalini Singh is a true artist. I love this series. I love her work. Book number 13 plays a key role in setting up the new structure in this wonderful world that Singh has created. The empaths are discovering their powers and the Arrows are their protectors. Ivy is the perfect mix of sheltered and strong. To date, Faith from “Visions of Heat” (book 2) has been my favorite character, but Ivy is definitely a close second. I love female characters that have a bit of vulnerability to them but also some sass and inner strength. And Vasic, in true Arrow form, was total badass. I loved seeing so much more of the Arrows. And the close friendship that he has with another Arrow. There are so many surprises in this book that I don’t want to share too much. I will say that we get to revisit Lucas and Sascha, and many other characters from the past. Plus we meet a lot of new characters. The entire book is crammed with so much goodness that it makes the fangirl in me want to re-read it immediately. If you haven’t read this series go out and buy book one, “Slave to Sensation” and prepare to be immersed in a unique world presented to you via the talented writing style that Singh possesses. Reviewer's Note: The complete review is posted on my review site "Ramblings and Reviews".

Nalini Singh writes a great series. Her characters are likeable, the plots developed and well layed out. Her relationships progress in an excellent fashion and I want to live in this world she has created! Don't know whether to be a changeling or even Psy though, great choices either way. When I finish one book, can't wait for the next to arrive.

I am a big fan of Nalini Singh and have purchased all of her books. That said, not all of them ended up in my re-read pile and this book was one of them. I tend to enjoy the psy romances more than the changelings (of course, Heart of Obsidian...swoon). Unfortunately, with this book the romance was really flat. The connection between the hero/heroine seemed...I don't know how to describe it - odd?.....especially when the progress of their relationship was constantly interrupted with descriptions updating the status of previous main characters as well as what is happening to the net and any and all upcoming crises. While I enjoy stories that have complicated storylines, I do not like it when the storyline interferes with the focus on the main characters and their love story (thus, I'm concerned this series is heading the way of Ward's Brotherhood series, which I dropped like a hot potato after roughly the fifth book). Overall, an okay read but not one I would recommend as an introduction to Ms. Singh's work.

Set in an alternate universe in the future. There is sex. The 13th book in the series, so if you're starting with this one, it'd be better to begin with "Slave To Sensation". Well! Another satisfying story from NS! I love Ivy & Vasic is drool worthy. This story has many characters from previous books, including A LOT of Sascha & Luc, Sahara & Kaleb. I love how NS doesn't just give you a token appearance from these well loved characters. They are important to the story. Although this was a good addition to the series, I only loved it enough for 4 stars. IMO, "Heart Of Obsidian" was better. Looking forward to the next installment. Hoping it will be Aden's story!

I almost wanted to quit the series after how amazing Obsidian was. But at the same time the drama was building so much couldn't wait to read this one. Vasic has been a secondary figure in several books, so it made sense that it was time to flesh him out. It had been hinted in previous books that he was nearing the end of his rope, so this book had to pull him back from that. Also the rot in the psynet has been building and so has the drama surrounding that. I was almost disappointed to find out how many E psy were actually around in the psynet. I don't know why, but I didn't expect it to be that common a designation. Ivy was a cute character and I liked the relationship she has with Vasic. As a dogmom I also loved her relationship with her dog, and that it was the first pet character in the series.

I have to admit that Vasic wasn't my favorite Arrow, I was hoping for Aden but this was absolutely wonderful! Ivy and Vasic were honest with each other from the beginning, there was a little uncertainty but I really think that after everything they had both gone through under the Psy rules and regs, they are exactly as they should have been, honest and open to each other. Who has time for all the arguments and posturing that most couples go through. Life it too short. Vasic was so hurt! The only expectation he had was that he would die as all the other arrows had before him and he didn't even care if it was soon. I loved Ivy's attitude toward him, so stubborn! The family aspect of both their lives was lovely and everything came to the perfect culmination. Of course now I don't have anything else I really want to read! Oh well, I'll just have to read this again. Ms. Singh never misses!

5 Stars review to this book for me meaning "I REALLY LOVE IT". I have been following this series for many years, finally I have an in depth inside to "Arrow" unit and of course our beloved Vasic. When you are a fan of this series you already know it is a love story of our Heroes/Heroine, our leading man and women in each book, and you already know the ending. I see some reviewers mentioned it is a repeated romantic, of course it is a love story, repeat is inevitable but that is not importance. If you enjoy the story, it is a moot point. it is the journey of both of them that count in my opinion, how they come to love each other, help each other grow and connect, how Vasic and Ivy have a big (may be a biggest) role to help Psy race, how each race - Psy, Changeling and Human intertwine to each other from Book 1 to this latest book (and future book) towards the story Arc "Silence has fallen". Can't wait for next book- Aden coming soon :) And next story Arc that our beloved Author Nalini Singh is cooking up in her kitchen or maybe in her home office or a coffee shop or on a beach somewhere eh? ;)

I have read all of the Psy-Changling series and this book is a wonderful read. If you follow the series, you will not be able to put it down. For new readers, I recommend starting at Heart of Obsidian then reading Shield of Winter; however, the author does a good job of getting enough info to the reader that you should be able to delve into the book. I won't rehash any of the plot but will say that I finished the book within hours after the download and plan to reread it again soon. I am a voracious reader of romance books and find that this author consistently writes a wonderful story with very few errors in editing. The quality of Nalini Singh's writing is top-notch in an era when many established romance authors seem to write stories with very little imagination or editing and plenty of half-baked characterizations.

I kept trying to call the guy Vlasic like the pickles. As always, this was a well-written, creative book, as are the author's other books in this series and the Archangel's series. I won't go into a lot on the plot - that's been done by others - but in my opinion this was the better of the books that is Psy-specific. I have to say, though, that my favorite books have been those that had relationsihps between psy/changeling, psy/human, etc. This was more enjoyable to me than the last one because the last one confused me. Too many people with names starting with V or K and it was just a difficult read. This time Ivy and the pickle guy were much easier to follow. The author also (as always) gave enough background to make you like the characters without overdoing it. I have to say that I read a lot of books like this (paranormal?) but there aren't really any others like this. This premise is by far the most creative and the author isn't afraid to make you think. I appreciate that! Not a stand alone book, but anyone new to this series won't regret it by starting with number one and working the way to this one. Just bring in the changelings next time - please?

I love this series along with her Archangel series. I think the world is genesis. It is not just about the romance, but an intricate world with unusual workings and revelations delivered cleverly and believably. I would recommend starting at the beginning and going forward, however, every book can be read as a stand alone and you will not be lost, just left wanting to know more. It is paranormal romance, but it is not boring or typical. I read it to know what comes next in the world, as well as the characters lives. There are many other reviews that give you a look at the story, so I am not going to go over it. As with all authors some books are better then others, but is was a very fun read and if you already reading the series a very satisfying addition to a world we love.

I have always loved the psy series and thought nothing could top krycheks story. I was wrong. Vasics tale is an incredibly moving story that kept me engaged till the end. I can't wait to read Aden's tale.

This more than met my expectation. If you liked her other books, you'll like this one too.

Another amazing Psy/Changeling book by Nalini Singh. This is a wonderful world that Ms. Singh has created. I recommend reading this whole series.

I was waiting for this one to come out as I was interested in the story for Vasic. It did not disappoint. One of the best in the Psy/Changling series. The Arrows and their new future as independent guardians is a hopeful future for the series.

While some themes are familiar, it is a fantastic read. Highly recommend this to all current and future fans of Nalini Singh.

I like that this book really uses many of the characters from this series. And I feel this book is very well rounded. I laughed and I cried and loved every second of it!

Seeing Vasic and Ivy's story was great. It's wonderful to see two people who have been through so much finally have some happiness. I'm looking forward to reading about the other Arrows too!!

YAY!! LOVED IT! Such an Awesome growth and development! You don't need to read all of them to enjoy this, but an understanding of the Psy/Changeling series helps a lot.

I enjoy all Singh's books, this one in particular. I had a soft spot for Vasic because of the torture he endured on behalf of training to be an Arrow. An Empath as his soulmate was the perfect fate for him. The Psy world is so brilliantly crafted by Singh that it's hard to remember you're reading science fiction. Beautifully written.

Vasic gets his HEA. Who would have thought that in the beginning of the series. Now she has to get Aden fixed up with someone.

I honestly didn't think Vasic could be unfrozen. But he was so wonderful and I loved to see the continuation of Kaleb and Sahara. I think checking back in with them and watching them grow was a wonderful experience.

Singh is just an awesome writer! I've loved all her books, the Psy/Changeling novels are my favorites. I genuinely like her characters and that means a lot.

I had looked forward to reading Vasic's story enough to purchase this book in hardcover - something I thought I'd never do and now wish I hadn't done. For the first time in this entire series, I was a touch disappointed in Ms. Singh's story. That being said, it was still far better than most of what's out there. The entire series has headed into a dangerous and horror filled time, so Tte SHIELD OF WiNTER title is very apt for this story, not only because Vasic had grown spiritually cold from the demands of his life, but because the writing itself had the brittleness of cold weather. For the first time, I had to force myself to continue reading after the first 50 pages because the story line seemed so icy, bleak, and disjointed. As it continued, and the Ivy Jane character was introduced, things got easier, but the only bit of levity throughout was Rabbit, the particularly bright and zany dog. Rabbit seemed to be most enlightened and truly emphatetic character aound. WINTER was not only about Vasic and Ivy as an evolving pair of lovers, but about the full contingent of Arrows and their evolution. The books ultimate unnamed character was Hope - not a person but the concept - for all the Arrows who through education, training and psychic enforcement had been denied any Hope for a different future. In accepting and loving Vasic, Ivy easily accepted all the Arrows and that was a new and sparkling addition to each Arrow life. (A small but brilliant element of this story was the necessity for Vasic to learn about interacting with another person and about touch. The idea of anything and everything being available and easily accessed in a how-to manual for anyone interested in solid research was a wonderfully funny segment.) In my opinion, the problem with WINTER was one of technology, strategy and logistics. It was the necessity of engraining Empaths other than Sasha Duncan into the series that made easy reading of this story an impossible task. Most of the chapters dealng with Empaths began with a supposed excerpt from the rare book by Alice Eldridge (who was forced into cryogenic bondage in an earlier book) which book sought to explain the E designation in the Psy world. The excepts were esoteric and disconnected and actually hindered this reader's understanding and the flow of the story. Ironically, it was only at the story's end that the purpose of these excepts became clear. They proved that the Psy were not as smart as they thought they were - but, we, the readers, already knew that. Still, I recommend this book - and the entire series - to anyone who enjoys good dialogue, solid writing, interesting characterizations and a world that is slightly outside the norm. As mentioned at the beginning, this might have offered a slight amount of disappointment at first, but it is still far and away better than most other paranormals on the market.

Nalini Singh is a wonderful storyteller. The series is full of great characters that are well developed and matched with unique tales. If you are looking for a great series, this is the one.

Nailing Singh has delivered another wonderful story. The story also wonderfully combines threads from previous stories that reach a satisfying conclusion.

You just can't go wrong with any of Ms Singhs books!! I love this series but my favorites will always be the Archangels books! Thank you, reading Vasics redemption and entrance back to life was awesome!!!!!

Once again, Nalini Singh nails the whole Psy/Changeling world as it evolves with the fall of Silence. She has produced another story that doesn't need anything more to make it fit with the rest of the books and yet be completely fresh and new. The only problem is that I read them so fast, and then have to wait so long for the next one.

Great reading couldn't put the book down! I can't wait for the next installment installment of the psy series. The only problem that I have is waiting on the next book! Please don't make us wait so long!

Have every one of the Psy books to date and have enjoyed each book. She challenges my mind and through's in new words to which I often have to look up. Can't wait for the next book to come out.

Since the very first Psy/Changeling book I read, I've been hooked. Just when you think there's no room for improvement Nalini manages to create a truly wonderful story even better than the last. This book was so well written I found myself experiencing all the same emotions of the characters. Fear, anger, despair, loneliness, joy, determination and a strong soul shattering love. Thank you Nalini and PLEASE keep creating and sharing your brilliance.

I love Nalini Singh and this is one of her best books yet. Ivy is a strong woman who is only just realizing how strong she truly is. Vasic is wounded but his heart is so strong and he has this rock solid core of honor. I loved watching both of these characters develop and grow together throughout this book. This is a great addition to the Psy/Changeling Series and I hope to read more about these characters in future books.

This book was a great continuance of the series. I loved the idea of the E's and love revisiting characters from previous books. It is rare for me to tear up at a book but this one (like several in the series) made me tear up. I love where she has taken this whole series and yes I want more more more.

I love this author!!

I can't even handle how much I love Nalini Singh, then I reread her series AND her newest release and just can't handle myself. I can't do it! I loved LOVED LOVED Heart of Obsidian and didn't think I'd like anything more than that...then she goes and does something like this AND TOTALLY REDEEMS herself. Not that any redemption was necessary...just that this was MARVELOUS!

If I could rate this book higher I would! The story was fast paced and never boring! Vasic's lived up to the advanced press. I recognize that it is a formula read, but it was fun, interactive with past characters that I wanted to know about. The love story fit the characters. I would recommend Shield of Winter to other Nalini Singh fans but also to paranormal romance fans! Awesome!

Nalini Singh has created this wonderful world with her Psy/Changling Series. Each novel creates a unique cog in the wheel and takes us deeper into the hearts and minds of the characters we love. In Shield of Winter, Silence has fallen and now the world must deal with the repercussions. The Pay are dealing with learning how to live with emotions. After over a hundred years they have stopped being sheep and are struggling to find their way. Not everyone is happy though and dissension begins to rise. Although the dissenters refuse to see the irony, had the council remained in control and Silence stood strong, they would never have been allowed to dissent. But when an infection in the net starts creating mass hysteria causing certain Psy to become violent and attack all in site something has to be done. Fortunately for the Psy, they are currently being led by a man who chooses to allow the pay to survive and hopefully someday thrive (for reasons of his own...). Coming up with what may become a brilliant plan he calls on the Arrows and newly awakening E-designation. Ivy Jane has never been silent at sixteen she went through such a brutal rehabilitation that it left her all but an empty husk. But Ivy managed to come back, even from that. Finally she is being told what exactly US "wrong" with her. She is a strong empath a creature of emotions and compassion, an anathema to Silence. But now she and her talents are needed to help save the net. Easy peasy, right? Vassic was turned over to the Arrows at the age if four. After surviving a brutal childhood and becoming an instrument of Silence, he managed to become a leader in the resistance. But it has taken a toll and now he is on the brink of losing his very soul. When asked to take the lead on dealing with the empath team he knows it is a "soft" job. Or so he thinks. What he doesn't expect is to find Ivy and discover that his soul is reawakening. Before I read this book, I was conflicted. I wanted Vassic's story but I'm not a great fan of the psy/psy stories in this series. I wanted to go back to the changlings. But this series isn't called the PSY/Changling Series for nothing. Ms. Singh does a brilliant job of telling Vassic's story. She merged her main theme and Vassic's awakening fantastically. Darkness coming to the light. For those of you who live those changlings as much as I do this isn't an insular book. Just as we discover that the infection destroying the net isn't an insular epidemic. The entire world is affected so all aspects of the world must be represented. So we get to see Sascha and Lucas and glimpses if Hawke and Ashaya and Kit and.... A truly wonderful book that rises to the top of recent releases! Shauni

Nalini Singh does it again. She has created such an amazing world with such nuanced characters you can't help but get lost in it and fall in love. She is a must read for me.

What I perhaps love most about Singh's books is how consistent and tight her overall story arc is. Shield of Winter connects all the way back to events from Slave to Sensation and Visions of Heat. Its a sweet romance, and we get to see more of the fascinating Arrows and much more about the empaths. A must read for series fans, but I recommend starting at the very beginning.

I really can't get enough of Nalini Singh's books. Her stories are always complex and emotional, and her characters tortured and completely redeemable. Shield of Winter gave me everything I look for in a romance: conflict, compassion and characters who have me cheering and crying for them at the same time. I couldn't put it down!

I am an avid Nalini Singh fan. I have read every book in all of her published series, and I find this to be a great addition to the Psy/Changling family. While it is not my favorite, it is in my top 5. I am sooo glad to see Vasic get his own happily ever after, because if any character needed one, he was it.

Shield of Winter is written in third person with a moderate amount of sexual content and adult wording throughout with a HEA ending. This world is different from reality and set in the future, so all of the series stands up over time. This story can be read as a standalone but, you might be lost if this is your first Psy-Changling story (thought there is a fair amount of recap detailed in the story), you should pick up the first books in the series to fully enjoy this one. Both Ivy and Vasic are Psy. Ivy is very likeable and honest in the way she acts and grows into her power. She doesn’t have to hide now that silence has fallen and wants to help as any empath would want to. Vasic, is wonderful, so powerfully written that you love him even though he doesn’t love himself… watching him grow into feelings and self-worth was amazing. Vasic was written true to himself throughout the series (he was in several past books) and continued to grow throughout the story after he meets Ivy. Ivy we had not meet before but that didn’t diminish her character at all. This was a very emotional story. So well written, I felt everything, happiness, sadness, despair, overwhelming joy, love… I was so immersed in this story I was surprised and slightly sad when it was over, I just wanted more, but I was so very happy everything worked out and Ivy and Vasic got their HEA. None of that changed the second and third times I read this book. As with many of the other books in the series there are many POV’s in this story. Most are from our main couple, Ivy and Vasic, however there are a fair amount from others including Lucas, Hawke, Aden, Kaleb, Ming and others. The difference in this story from the past books is that each of the POV tell us more about Vasic, Ivy, or the emotions and/or threats involving them. Even though they are others POV’s it still felt like the whole story was about Vasic and Ivy. Ms. Singh is a very talented writer and I highly recommend any of the Psy-Changeling Books.

Consider this - I read the 1st novel in this series the first week in December and by December 19th - I was reading this one, the 13th one in the series. (Yes folks - I'm retired - if I want to sit and read all day - I can indulge - especially if it is really, really good.) I was buying and downloading the next in the series before I even finished with the one I was reading because I DID NOT WANT TO STOP THE STORY. I have even pre-ordered the next and folks - I only do that with a VERY few authors - having been burned before by lack of consistency. Each of the novels has been continuously good with the same quality of world, character and action development. That really impresses me - too often I have picked up a series to have it steadily go downhill and have to give up on an author because I no longer trust their work. Yes, there were a few that I liked better than others in the series but each one was a page turner and essential to the overall story. These novels are more of a continuing saga than just a series and each novel in the series builds upon the other and must be read in order. Each book in this series contains: - A detailed alternate reality that is so developed that it is easily pictured in the reader's mind. - Characters that come to life - Creativity - so different from any other paranormal romance book out there. So dissimilar that one is almost taken aback with such an altered world presented. This is definitely not a "formula" book. - Alpha males with strong females that can handle them. Neither perfect (I hate perfect characters!) - making the characters more believable even for a Sci-Fi novel. - No "huh" moments or misspellings. This is professional writing at it's finest. - No plot holes or getting loss in trivial garbage that is simply put in to increase word count. Each word, each sentence, each page is central to the development of the plot and characters. - Book starts out strong and ends strong. No starting out and then tapers off to a weak or contrived short ending. (Been there, read that - really, really hate that!)

Shield of Winter is definitely a tipping point in the overall story-arc when it comes to the Psy-Changeling series. Strong characters move the story forward, helped by a tough plot. Somehow, I had read the book that is after Shield of Winter in this series, but not this one. I was so happy when I realized I had an unread Psy-Changeling book on my kindle just waiting for me to indulge. Vasic is a character who has intrigued me since I was first introduced to the deadly Arrows, and seeing him with a seemingly fragile E psy, one who might be able to save the Psy-Net, made him seem more human somehow. A lot happened in Shield of Winter, and it all was building on what happened in the prior books, both when it comes to the complex politics and the various storylines and plots that are happening in this series. From the first book in this series, I knew I was going to love it – both because of the very unique concept of the Psy, and the way Singh’s changelings are a bit different from your average shifters. Also, the whole series is set in the future, and that makes a lot of the technology seem plausible, too. Singh is an expert at bringing together characters that don’t really have a lot in common – at least on the surface. And when Vasic first met Ivy, he was ready to just do his job – protect her with his life if necessary – and that was all. As he got to know the empath, though, he slowly come to realize that there was more to life than being an arrow – even if that was all he knew. I also really enjoyed that several characters from prior books in the series had important roles to play in Shield of Winter, and I especially liked seeing Sascha and Lukas who were the main characters in the very first book. Between the fast-paced action scenes and the slower pace of characters getting to know each other, there were some very tender, and smoldering hot romantic scenes as well. I found Ivy’s almost naïve joy for life, and her positive optimism and outlook on life to be the perfect counterbalance of the darkness that lived inside Vasic. They were both a bit broken, though, and it was beautiful to see them try to mend each other. Written in third person point of view, past tense, but with a closer perspective on Vasic and Ivy, the story unfolded in a way that made me completely engrossed from start to finish. There are great dialgoues as well as the narration, and some notes and messages between characters to make the reader have a full view of what was going on.

Series: Psy-Changeling #13 --One Sentence Summary-- The PsyNet will not survive unless the Empaths can be awakened -- but what will happen when an Arrow finds himself guarding an Empath? --What are the Issues-- Ivy Jane is an Empath, unbeknownst to herself, but she knows she's always struggled with Silence and even had a very serious reconditioning when she was a teenager. Now she lives on her family's farm with others similar to her, tucked away from the judging eyes of the PsyNet. Ivy isn't sure she can help with the sudden outbreaks of violence in the PsyNet but she's determined to do her best, because for once she finally feels like she has a purpose. Vasic was meant to be a protector and his work as an Arrow under Ming Lebon has deeply damaged his soul. He's barely hanging on and all he wants is peace from all his guilt. But meeting Ivy changes everything -- right when it might be too late. The computer device embedded in his arm is beginning to malfunction and with the original creator missing and presumed dead, there's no way to stop it. --What I Liked and Didn’t Liked-- A World Without Silence -- I've really enjoyed reading how the Psy race is learning to adapt to the changes in the Net and the fall of Silence. Of course there are those who are still clinging desperately to it (the newly formed Silent Voices) but most understand what it finally means to be free. I can't wait to see where Nalini Singh is going to continue to take this plot line. We're also seeing more cooperation between all the races as they work to protect each other. This is why I like to read fiction -- so I can believe in the goodness of all and that human decency can conquer. There were several new groups formed in this book that will act as groups to aid the Psy race or protect certain interests of the Psy race and I look forward to seeing how they'll grow. Ivy and Vasic -- Ivy and Vasic's love story wasn't one of my favorite but I still enjoyed them, especially Vasic. We've seen him almost from the beginning and he's been this very powerful, but very mysterious character. We got a glimpse of his pain in Hostage to Pleasure when he interacts with Dorian and now we get to see where it all stems from. There were several plot points from early books that re-emerged in this book and I always appreciate an author that can so thoroughly link books in a series. Ivy was very gentle, sweet, and innocent partly due to her being an empath but also from a more sheltered and protected upbringing. Her parents might be Silent but she's always known they love her and would protect her. Vasic on the other hand grew up in Arrow training and as is typical, it was brutal. However, I adored the glimpses of Vasic and Aden as young boys growing up in the Arrow Squad and desperate for a friend. --Final Thoughts-- Mostly focused on the Empaths and the rot in the PsyNet, this story was very centrally focused but still advanced the overall world. Vasic and Ivy were nice as a couple, but that's about all.

Shield of Winter was one of my most anticipated books of 2014. After the extraordinary, impossible romance and jaw-dropping leaps forward for the overarching series plot in Heart of Obsidian I was dying to see what would next happen in the Psy-Changeling world. I was also wary of being disappointed. Highly anticipated books always run that risk, but I think following up a stunner like HoO is a tougher challenge. Luckily, Nalini Singh is on a hot streak and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. And that's saying something because even the earliest books in her paranormal series are outstanding. And I'm still recovering from Heart of Obsidian, by the way. Shield of Winter showcases everything that that makes this series so wonderful: 1) Unique, intricate worldbuilding - the concept of the PsyNet is one of the best worldbuilding constructs I've ever read and it takes center stage here. 2) An alpha hero with a devoted, protective and positively molten core despite his mistakes and haunts from the past. Vasic was not what I expected but I couldn't imagine him every other way. He is different than the other heroes in this series yet so, so perfect. 3) A strong feisty heroine who has an iron will, contagious zest for life, and deep awareness of the world around her. I admire Ivy like crazy. Out of all the leading ladies in this world I think she's the truest fighter of them all. 4) Airtight plotting with threads that come full circle from the first book, Slave to Sensation (and SoW is #13!). 5) A sweet, heartrending romance that's also hot, hot, hot. 6) Prose that is haunting, soulful and beautiful on one page and clinical yet flowing the next - Ms. Singh has an incredible storytelling voice. First, SO much was packed into this book. It is just as much an aftermath book as it is about new beginnings and continuing the stories already told. After the destruction wrought on the PsyNet and wider world by the fanatical group Pure Psy everyone is still reeling. Now add that to the fall of Silence, the protocol that conditions Psy not to feel emotion...because often their rampant feelings cause them to sink into insanity or lose control of their abilities and unintentionally hurt others. Silence kept the lid on those things but it also destroyed their society and allowed sociopaths free reign. Now a disease that originated in Silence is destroying the fabric of the PsyNet - the psychic network that connects all Psy and keeps them alive. After Silence fell it grew ever more voracious. The Arrow Squad, which was long the Psy Council's dirty little secret now works only for itself and is dedicated to saving the Net. To do this they must "wake" the empaths, whose core ability of healing emotions and damaged psyches caused them to be systematically suffocated under Silence. Vasic is one of those Arrows. As a telekinetic who is also a born teleporter he was extremely valuable to the Council and has been part of the squad since childhood. After all he has seen and done he is ready to give up. Ivy is a powerful empath who was very nearly rehabilitated (a psychic brainwipe) after she broke Silence in a big way at 16. It took her years to recover, and now she's been asked to be part of a group of empaths to investigate the disease and find a cure. Vasic is her guard. He will do this one last thing before he finds the only peace he can get. However, Ivy is a fighter through and through and she refuses to give up on Vasic - or allow him to give up on himself. The disease and romance are the two biggest plot threads. However, there are also quite a few new characters introduced (Arrows and Empaths - what a combination!). There is a kind-of secondary romance (Nalini Singh you owe us a story about Abbot and Jaya!...I mean, please?). Like I said, there's lots more but this review is already going to be way too long. We do get to catch up with characters from past books like Kaleb and Sahara, Judd Lauren, Sascha and Lucas, Alice Eldridge, Zie Zen and even Dev Santos. Kaleb in particular is such a complex character, and for all his enormous power he is ever the politician. I also loved seeing Sahara building her own life and her life with Kaleb. These two deserve every single millisecond of their happiness. And Judd Lauren continues to steal my heart. I love you, Judd Lauren. Don't get me started on Kaleb. So I know I gave this book five stars, but there are actually quite a few things that annoyed me. I'm going to list them briefly, but I just want to say despite the stuff I didn't like this book and series just leave me awestruck. 1) Too many cameos. There are well over fifty significant characters in this series. Ms. Singh never, ever info dumps on her readers, and while I LOVE seeing past MCs again sometimes I feel certain appearances are unnecessary. In particular I didn't think Mercy, Riley and Sienna's part were necessary. 2) The prose. Yeah, I said it was great. But there was some ridiculousness going on in there. At times it's so overly dramatic it feels campy. It also gets repetitious in places. And there was THREE times Ivy felt like there was "confetti" inside her. It stuck out like an awkward, sore thumb. 3) Too much build up and glossed-over resolution. I was nervous about how Ms. Singh would solve the dilemma (understatement) of the disease, and I thought the solution was perfect. Unfortunately there wasn't much pagetime for the actual cure and aftermath. I'm sure some of this will be covered in Psy-Changeling #14, but it was still somewhat disjointing. 4) Ming LeBon. This situation still isn't resolved. I'm thinking his part happened for a reason that will become evident later on but it felt unneeded while reading. 5) This is a darker series and some pretty horrifying things happen. Like not thousands but hundreds of thousands of people dying. Sometimes I feel that awfulness isn't emphasized enough. I also think the characters and events get pretty edgy only for Ms. Singh to pull back. I wouldn't call it deus-ex-machina but it still seems there should be more sacrifice from the characters. Although this is a series I think SoW can be read standalone. New readers won't be familiar with the socioeconomic attributes of the Psy-Changeling universe or the histories of past MCs, but it's still manageable. However, you're going to really like this book, then go back and read the rest and wish you had read them in order in first. It's an amazing journey and Nalini Singh is a sneaky, genius, masterful storyteller. And very emotive. These stories will touch your heart and soul. I don't so much dread having to wait for a new installment in this series as I do finding something to read after a new book goes out. Seriously, withdrawal occurs - and it ain't pretty. Booklist has called Nalini Singh the "alpha author" of paranormal romance. For me it's pretty much fact. Shield of Winter is an impressive addition to the phenomenal Psy-Changeling series, and I treasured every minute of reading it. The phrase not-to-be-missed is NOT an exaggeration here!

I cannot believe I haven’t reviewed this! My absolute favorite in the series, and my favorite MMC. Absolutely LOVE this book. Along about Bonds of Justice this series just takes off. It becomes so much more complex in the wider plot, and interaction of characters. Singh builds the foundation for this over each book from the first. They seem like enjoyable PNR, but she builds and builds until is an epic UF series with romance. Brilliant. Absolutely love this series, and Singh will always be a favorite.

Nalini Singh skillfully continues her Psy-Changeling series with Shield of Winter: Silence has fallen and the world is on the edge of chaos. Only the mysterious E designation, with the help of the shadowy Arrow Squad, can save the day. Book number thirteen is definitely Vasic and Ivy's story but it also moves us farther along in the series' story arc while organically weaving in previous couples and new characters. The story is romantic, exciting, and pretty much perfect, especially if you're a long-time follower of the series. If you're not, I'm not sure if you can/will enjoy it quite as much. One reviewer mentioned that this story cannot be compared to Heart of Obsidian. True that. HofO is still my all time favorite in the series, and it is so passionate and powerful that it stands alone in the realm of romance. There's not much out there like HofO. Vasic and Ivy's story is sweeter, gentler, funnier, and in some ways less intense... IF you don't count the fact that this duo regularly teleports into blood-thirsty crowds of crazy Psy. Vasic and Ivy are perfect for each other--sweet, funny, courageous, compassionate, and oh so wounded, especially Vasic. I've always had a soft-spot for the Tk-V assassin--maybe it's his Slavic cheekbones? Ivy is worthy of him in every way. They're just so right together. And watching them discover how to be intimate while controlling Vasic's Tk power--pure, sexy fun! Meanwhile, we get to check in on Kaleb and Sahara and see how their every-day life together is evolving. (because Nalini knew we were all wondering!) And there are new and intriguing characters, but they're introduced naturally. The author isn't just trying to sell the next book. These characters have an organic part of the story arc. I'm particularly interested in Samuel the wild-eyed inventor. If you haven't read this series from the beginning, I recommend that you start there. Later installments probably can be read as stand-alones, but you'll miss so many nuances. Even more significantly,you'll miss the heartache and thrill of watching this world change for the better thanks to the blood, sweat, and tears of Singh's characters.

So as not to spoil, I will try to keep this review short and sweet. That may be hard though because I have adored this series for so long and I was beside myself when I scored an advanced copy of the book I've been waiting years for! For those of you who've been waiting impatiently on the edge of your seats for Vasic's story, the wait is finally over!!! I started this book expecting great things and what I got was so much better! I can't even begin to express how much I enjoyed this book. Vasic is just WOW! Remember Judd? Yeah, SO MUCH BETTER (and I loved Judds book)! The connection between him and Ivy Jane is one of the best in this series. I think I'm really going to love these sexy Arrows! Nalini gives us some of the answers we've been waiting for and raises even more questions about the Psy race, the future and the world that surrounds them. Her Psy/Changeling world changes dramatically this time around, bringing some unexpected allies together while also causing even more chaos with others. I've loved everything about this series for years now and this book just solidifies that feeling for me. As far as I'm concerned this series needs to go on forever! Please Nalini gives us many many more!!! I'll never get tired of this world and these characters. If you have not picked up this series yet, I suggest that you do so ASAP. And if you are a long time fan, don't delay! This is one you'll not want to miss! It's definitely a drop-everything-and-read kind of book. :)

I was up all night reading this one, it didn't disappoint! Vasic and Ivy Jane have more of a slow burn, less of the breaking through the conditioning of Silence in a blaze of emotion and shattered barriers, more of a subtle easing of the chains and growing into the feelings of love and passion (on Vasic's part that is, Ivy was all over it from the beginning) Its a very gradual, hardly noticeable change from frozen Silence to warm love and acceptance, each encounter with Ivy gets him a little bit closer to the thaw until suddenly he's there and he's not going back. Still lots of the angsty "I'm a monster who doesn't deserve loooooove, turn awaaaay" that you would expect from this series, but its not overwhelming. Some of the Psy/Changeling books have been kind of forgettable (good, but I can't remember them with any clarity or even who the main couples were) but I think this one will stick with me for a while. Parts of it were so beautifully written and poignant that I got a little teary-eyed, and the final scenes are wonderful and full of hope for the future. (especially the scenes where you could feel that Vasic, Aden, and Judd desperately wanted a future for the Arrows, even if Vasic didn't feel like he deserved one of his own, sniff) I agree with other reviewers that there were a few too many violent mass insanity scenes, they did get a bit old after a while (oh hey, another riot, but the last one was like 20 minutes ago) and I thought the problem of the PsyNet was handled kind of quickly and skimmed over. I would have loved to have gotten some scenes of putting that together, rather than the couple of paragraphs it got. Minor quibbles aside, I do think this is one of the best books in the series so far, I've been waiting for Vasic's book for ages and it did not disappoint- and Ivy was a great counterpoint, damaged but not broken, desperate to LIVE now that Silence has fallen, and to save Vasic from himself. She may be an empath, but she's not a wimp! (and Rabbit, I loved Rabbit!) Beautifully written, lots of action, romance, VASIC, and plenty of potential books to come (still have Ming to deal with, and those people who want Silence back and think Empaths are creepy, plenty of Arrows to pair off, Aden, what's up with that Alice chick, and what about Nikita...)

Warning! This review contains minor spoilers for earlier books in the Psy-Changeling series. The world of the Psy changed forever at the conclusion of Heart of Obsidian with Kaleb Krychek putting an end to the Silence that has been the norm for decades. Now, this unique species is forced to figure out how to live with their emotions and battle the rapidly increasing infection that is oozing through the Psy Net. One way that they believe they can fight the disease is by utilizing the powers of the E-Psy or empaths who are in hiding due to the former mistrust of them during the years of Silence. In order to increase the success off this experiment, Kaleb reaches out to the Arrows, a military-like order, to keep the empaths safe and help them learn how to use their powers. Vasic is one of the heads of the Arrows and is the most powerful teleporter in the Net. He and his fellow soldiers have been trained to be completely unfeeling in order to properly protect Psy interests. Now that Silence has fallen, the Arrows have decided that they will devote their lives to helping the Psy population adjust to their new world and keep the innocent safe. Vasic is assigned to Ivy Jane, an empath who lives in seclusion with her parents after she was tortured when it was revealed that her Silence was flawed. Shield of Winter tells the story of Vasic and Ivy as they figure out this new world and how to trust one another enough to help save it. Anybody who reads my blog on a regular basis knows that I have a soft spot for stoic heroes. There is something that I find so attractive about their stubbornness plus they are usually tortured for one reason or another which is another draw for me. Vasic is one of the sexiest and heartbreaking heroes I've read this year. He was put into intense Arrow education from an early age with his trainers' goal being that he become an unfeeling assassin. Unfortunately, while Vasic is programmed to associate feelings with pain, he obviously retains a heart and, it turns out, feels guilt over all that he did in the name of protecting the Psy under the former leader. One of the best things about this series is the way that Nalini Singh slowly develops her characters and allows them to undergo realistic transformations. This book allows him to slowly break out of his shell and understand that he deserves to be happy which was a joy to read about. The catalyst for Vasic's change is the introduction of Ivy to his life. She is an empath that survived an unsuccessful Silence rehabilitation attempt and is, understandably, wary of opening up again. But, her inner strength and emotional sensitivity forces her to step into the line of fire and try to do everything she can to help heal the Psy Net. I enjoyed her character and thought she was a great match for Vasic. There were a few moments where I wanted to know more about her past and how it shaped her personality, but I understand why the author left it a little mysterious. Ivy is a character who is determined to not think about the past, but live in the present which is shown in her character development. While she is not my favorite of the Psy heroines (my heart will always belong to Sascha), she is admirable and intelligent enough to rank her pretty high on my list. The relationship between Vasic and Ivy is very interesting and takes a bit of patience on the part of the reader. Because of each of their own issues, neither person is comfortable with physical intimacy, but their chemistry is obvious from their first meeting. I loved the slow and deliberate way that their relationship developed from casual friendship to lovers. By the end, I was rooting for them to be happy which is something I always look for in a good romance. While the romance is central to the Psy-Changeling books, the series also benefits from one of the most creative settings and overall plot in paranormal romance. I mentioned above that Silence has finally ended for the Psy and they are at a turning point as they try to adjust to a new life. I love this development and am excited to see how the story moves forward with such a change. Readers see hints of it in this book and I know more is coming in the future. I also liked the infection storyline which forced the Psy to see the type of damage the Net is facing as well as making the Psy, changelings, and humans all work together for a goal. Vasic and Ivy are the main focus of Shield of Winter, but, as one would expect from a series as lengthy as this, there are plenty of background characters popping in and out. In particular, I enjoyed getting to know more about Vasic's Arrow partner, Aden, who is taking center stage in the next book. It was also great to see the return of some favorites like Sascha, Lucas, Kaleb, Ashaya, and (my favorite) Judd Lauren. Judd has had my heart since the beginning of the series and his attempt at providing Vasic with sex advice was absolutely priceless. All in all, I thought Shield of Winter was a great installment in the Psy-Changeling series. The main couple was wonderful while the rest of the cast continued to develop in interesting ways. This world remains highly original and it seems like the plot is just picking up speed again. I highly recommend this series for anyone who wants creative and thought-provoking paranormal romance though make sure you start at the beginning to get the full impact.

Sexual content is a little too graphic for my taste, but I enjoyed the story.

wonderful....fabulous and all that comes from a Nalini Singh Changeling/ Psy novel. A must read in the series..enjoy this book

As always Ms. Singh comes through with a great plot and interesting characters. I look forward to her next offering.

This book is about the Phy race and how they prevent the genocide of their race. I liked Vasic and Ivy's story as well. It was very sweet.

I laughed, I cried, I sighed, and I fell in love all over again with this series. Can't wait for the next installment.

I absolutely love this series. She can't write them fast enough. The Psy/Changeling world is fasinating and the love stories are strong, heartfelt, and hot.

Can't wait to read it again. In fact I will as soon as I finish typing this stupid review. Can we have Aiden's story next, please????

The whole Psy-Changeling series is amazing - can't put them down! A must read series.

I have been waiting for this story for a long time, Singh did not disappoint. I love the fact the hero and heroine had to learn about sex together. the chemistry was sizzling. waiting eagerly for the next installment of the Psy/Changeling world

I love this series. Ivy and Vasic were amazing and even though it seemed impossible at times they were able to fight to help their world. Can't wait for the next story.