This is the dedicated *spoiler* thread for Allegiance of Honor and earlier books in the series. Spoilers abound, so be warned!!
Usual rules: be kind to your fellow commenters and have fun. This spoiler thread will remain active as long as the blog does, so you can join in at any time. :-)
I don't monitor the thread for questions, so if you have a Q for me, you can email me.
If you're at an earlier point in the series and would like to discuss that book, click on the Spoiler Zone tag and it should bring up all the previous spoiler threads. Some of the earlier books don't have them, but if there's a demand, I'd be happy to set them up. Just drop me an email (nalinisinghwrites AT gmail DOT com).
Usual rules: be kind to your fellow commenters and have fun. This spoiler thread will remain active as long as the blog does, so you can join in at any time. :-)
I don't monitor the thread for questions, so if you have a Q for me, you can email me.
If you're at an earlier point in the series and would like to discuss that book, click on the Spoiler Zone tag and it should bring up all the previous spoiler threads. Some of the earlier books don't have them, but if there's a demand, I'd be happy to set them up. Just drop me an email (nalinisinghwrites AT gmail DOT com).
25 comments:
Just finished AoH. As of yet I can't find other words for it except - it's so beautiful that my heart and head both hurt. Little random thoughts:
Kit. I feel like I have known him for so long and I already miss him and it's driving me nuts. I pray we get a book for him eventually.
So proud of Jamie!
All the kids. Oh, how adorable.
Jon. Love the guy.
Nina and Xavier are life.
The ocelots! I need more, so much more.
Hawke and Lucas make me want to scream with delight.
Kaleb and Annie's meeting was beautiful.
This series just tears my heart out in the best way possible. Ms Singh, the world you've created with all it's imperfections is a true dream.
So much great stuff in this book. I'd understand why some may say the pacing was slow, but I loved it. L-O-V-E-D!
I was psyched to meet Annie and Ria's babies as well as the pupcubs (my guess was so off!). Thrilled about Lara's news. I'm hoping Sascha & Lucas have more kids soon. Also Katya & Dev, Sophia & Max, and Tally & Clay. I understand why Faith/Vaughn, Brenna/Judd, and Kirby/Bas are waiting and appreciated the conversations the couples had during the book about having kids. (I'll include Sienna/Hawke on the list since they'd had their discussion in a previous book).
Not sure what Nalini considers to be the "humdinger of a curve ball no one saw coming" but I was surprised by Xavier's initial plan for Judd. I smiled when I read it because obviously we know it didn't happen. I loved Sascha finding her claws ;)
There were so many great scenes in the book but my top 5 non-romance ones in order of appearance are: (1) Naya's first shift, (2) Faith meeting Tanique, (3) Nikita meeting Naya, (4) Teijan and Zane's arrival for the party , and (5) Annie thanking Kaleb. Honorable mention to the pilot reveal and Bowen taking Lily on the gondola ride.
A couple of random thoughts about the books to this point: Even though the "next generation" is a long way off, I am not at all convinced that Marlee should end up with Ben. Not only because of their age difference, but I don't get why so many of the children should end up with their first crush (Marlee/Ben, Noor/Keenan, etc). I would much rather they each wind up with other people and stay friends. Same goes for Jonquil's crush on Rina. But that's for far off in the future - lol.
Also, while I do feel bad that Olivia's mate was killed, I don't really get the need to follow him into death as soon as their daughter grows up. I understand why she wouldn't want to fall in love again, but what about Persephone? How is she supposed to feel knowing her mother is barely functioning through life? Lucas' father was severely injured so I can better understand him letting go. Hawke's mom...I'm undecided. Same with Clay's mother. I just don't like the whole I-can-only-live/enjoy-life-if-my-mate-is-alive-and-our-children-aren't-worth-sticking-around-for vibe. Kids don't stop needing their parents when they turn 18. The whole thing just makes me sad.
[Part 1 of 2]
[Part 2 of 2]
As for the second "season" arc, I kind of want the Architect to be a Changeling because so far most of the main bad guys have been Psy (Santano, Henry, Ming, Blake, etc). So I'm hoping the Architect is Changeling because it seems like they're portrayed as the most perfect and least flawed race of the three. Also, the fact the other big "guess the identity" character (the Ghost) is Psy. That said I hope it's not Adam or Hamilton as I would like for them each to get their own stories. And I'm glad it's not any of the already mated characters we've met at SnowDancer and DarkRiver like D'Arn, Shamus, Jess, etc. Since we know from Shards of Hope that the Architect has a "highly recognizable face" I suppose that rules out the Changelings since they are not well known. Plus the fact the Architect knows Ena (or at least acted like he/she did). All of that seems to indicate he/she is a Psy. I know Nalini will surprise us somehow. Looking forward to more clues.
I'm wondering how Bo and the Human Alliance will beat the faulty chips. How will Kaleb get the NetMind/DarkMind to merge or at this point will can they ever? What will be Sahara's plan to get Psy and Humans dating? How will the various folks on the Architect's hit list survive? Will Ming ever get what's coming to him? (actually I'm glad Ming is still around as it gave the Arrows and Dev/Katya a chance to get in on making him pay -- literally via the ruin-him-financially plan -- and it hasn't turned into an only Hawke gets revenge plot.) I'm also glad the Nikita/Anthony story is being spaced out over so many books. As Kaleb said, to be a fly on the wall...
I am looking forward to Silver, Bowen, Finn, and Remington's stories the most plus Teijan's if we ever get it. And I was very intrigued by the introduction of Kiya. Also Adam, Rina, Lissa, Selenka...I will stop as this post is already too long. (It made me split it in half. My ramblings were even longer, but I cut a bunch of stuff – eek! What can I say, I love this series.)
I plan to reread the book again starting tonight.
This is killing me we don't get the book in the UK til Thursday.
Z2 spent 100 years guarding the psy race after the loss of his Sunny and Persephone is highly likely to lose her mom by the time she is 20. Even though Z2 was as psychically bonded as a changling couple. >sigh<
Naya the mighty hunter was cute. I keep wanting her to share her cho with Gram. Yes,let's make Nikita her daughter's mother!
While the pacing waas a little slow, it was expected (Ms. Singh did give us fair warning). Plus, it was kind of nice to have a book that I was racing/compelled to read straight through. (I actually did something on a release day aside from read and sleep!)
I loved the passing of Z2; it was very touching and I could only wish that kind of peace for everyone upon their death bed.
Annie and Kaleb met!...Finally...I loved it!
While I love Marley and Ben, I kind of hope that they develop from friends to siblings.
I am kind of hoping that the Architect is human (Yup, I'm going there). Everyone seems to have over looked that possibility... They are considered the weakest race and we are coming to understand that humans are needed in the net. Additionally, I remember Ms. Singh talking (can't remember where/when) about this next story arc showing off more of the human potential (which can be good or bad). So far, the main players are Psy/Changeling and they are taking their stands. The humans seems to be the fragile point in this because they are so divided. While we (humans) negoatied the treaties to end the Changeling Wars, there is no defining (positive) moment of the Psy/human relationship...
I read it today and wallowed in it's brilliance. I loved everything about it. I decided that $13 for an ebook (I complained about that when pressing the preorder button) was worth it. All of my favourite parts were mentioned in previous comments. I look forward to the romance between Malachai (what is he?) and Miane. Thanks Nalini!!!!
Although the pace was slow, I loved the book. It was nice to see all our favorite characters as they move through their lives. I have only purchased 1 other ebook from a major publisher this year as the price in my area for ebooks is $18.99, due to exchange rate differences. I will not be buying another as there are too many quality authors self publishing.
I stayed up late and finished AOH last night. I think it's a love letter to fans of the series. It isn't like any other book in the series, and I'm glad Nalini makes that really clear in the author's note at the beginning. We are given glimpses into the lives of the characters populating this amazing Psy/Changling world.
For me what resonated most were the moments when we see how much people have changed by not just the big stuff (wars, politics, collapse of Silence, blending of packs) but but how relationships have changed them. Particularly the men from the first 3 books in the series: Lucas, Vaughn, and Judd.
Lucas is given a lot of page time in AOH and he is most reflective about this. How much the world has changed since he mated with Sasha and how much HE has changed, becoming a leader in the world. But Vaughn and Judd have these powerful but quieter (in terms of page time) moments. Vaughn's relationship w/Naya--for fans of the series--shows his healing from his painful childhood. Then there's Judd. Judd at the party at the end. Holding Emmett's baby. Again fan's of the series will know what it means to Judd to hear Emmett say, "I figured [my baby] couldn't be more safe than with an Arrow." From being a nightmare to being viewed as protectors.
So yeah. I felt these small (and some big) moments were the most satisfying. Moments that returned us to men and women from the beginning of the series.
Last comment: Equally awesome moments for me were (1) the fight between Hawke and Sienna. Because that relationship IS tricky. Sienna's place in the pack and her place in Hawke's heart are different. Hawke messed up. She kicks ass by standing in front of him and owning her hurt and she communicates this. He completely apologizes. He's still learning how to be a mate. I LOVED this micro-scene!! (2)Mercy and Riley fist-bumping from the bed over their devious misdirection to purposely mess with the betting pool on the number of pupcubs. Hilarious.
I knew I was going to be right--I thought the boys would be wolves and the girls would be cats--but I didn't expect there to be only three. I admit that there was some saline leaking when the wolves were named after the Alphas--Hawke's 'Ah, hell' got me right in the heart.
Annie and Kaleb--I loved that scene so much! I really did tear up--I was sniffling while listening to it (I usually read first and then listen to the audiobook, but this time I got the audiobook before the eBook).
I teared up when Kit was getting ready to roam--I was like, "I'm losing my baby! You can't go." But I knew it was time. I've thought to myself that he's been suspiciously absent in these last books--especially since he's been in the other books, even if it was like for a second. I know that the last couple have focused on Psy-Psy relationships, but if I remember correctly--he managed to make it into a Psy-Human book--so I didn't think that that was the sole factor of it. I am going to be a mess by the time for Jules and Roman to roam (I hope that you are still writing by that time) and Ben! They were so cute as always. Naya shifted into a black panther! My heart was so full!
I also loved how Nikita is unapologetic about the way she protected her daughter. I know a lot of people will not agree with that, however, the reality is that sometimes love hurts. And Sascha would not be the woman she is today without her mama being who she was. Sascha would not be velvet over steel if her mother did not be treat her the way she did. The reality of it was--she would not have made it to adulthood had Nikita not been who she was.
I also love how Nikita was not afraid to correct her grandchild or the mother. I loved that scene so much. Because it shows us exactly how much she loves them both. Correction, done the right way, is an action of love--Sascha herself points that out regarding her action with Jules and Roman prior to her meeting up with her mother.
Z2 passing also made me leak saline. He was a giant in this series--because we know that so many defections and the bonds in the net would not exist without this man. Oh that hurt my heart, but I am happy that he will be with his Sunny now.
I loved this book! So many lives, so many changes. Finally Annie meets Kaleb. What made me sigh is that Zach and Annie's son now carries Kaleb's name. Cuteness factor big time with not only Naya but all the pups, cubs, and pupcubs. The meeting with Nitkita, Sascha, and Naya was profound. Xavier finally gets his Nina back! Yay! Loved reading the letters from Xavier.
I cried huge tears when Zie Zen left his body. It made me think of my mom.
Patricia S
One other thing I forgot on my previous post...I was right about the number of pupcubs and one being female and a leopard. Wrong about the other two. So...do I and anyone else who was close get in on the DarkRiver betting pool?
Patricia S
I loved this book. How Nalini managed to draw so many characters into a coherent and compelling book is astounding. I didn't think the pacing was slow but there was less action and the book was much more reflective than the rest of the series.
I thought the writing was very clever, the truck driver and Jesse, incidental characters in Dev and Katya,s book that I had forgotten about but popped straight back into my head as I read AOH.
I liked the heavy focus on Lucas and Each, brought the whole series back round to the start. And I loved how the book laid out all the links and connections showing how far all the relationships have come.
Given the vast number of characters in this book if you tried to start this series here I think it would make your head explode, but having immersed myself in this world for so long I found it to be an unadulterated joy.
Thanks a million Nalini I hope your day is as good as you have made mine :-)
I remember starting the psy-changeling series and I while I loved the first two books, the third book with Judd was what got me hooked and after that I devoured the series. Which maybe wasn't a great idea because I was in my senior year of highschool! But I love this series with all my heart and after I got up to date and had to wait for shards of hope I struggled to find another series as amazing and complex as this one. I love these characters. I love the diversity and I freaking love Kaleb Krycheck. Well anyway I'm just going to list my favourite scenes from AOH:
Kaleb and Annie meeting. The fact that she honoured Kaleb by naming her son after him. That was amazing. Just Anything related to Kaleb and Sahara gets to me. And the scene with the photograph of Judd and Kaleb. Perfect ahah Wished Kaleb was in this book a lot more though!
Z2 passing away and vasics speech and the part where he cries at night. Heart breaking.
Naya shifting! Teijan and zane arriving at the pupcub party. Tanique was finally introduced and met Faith. Judd and Brenna looking after the baby. The pupcub birth. How they named the pups after the two alphas. I love how 3 of the alphas had children named after them (Hawke, Lucas and Kaleb).
And there are so many more scenes that I loved. Everything with the Cubs and pups and arrow children. And vasic, Aden and Remi's budding friendship. I wanna know more about Devs powers! Also how cute when tavish teleported the cupcake and also how the children wanted Kaleb to teleport them aha
I love you Nalini! This is one of my favourites. Thankyou for writing this beautiful series :)
Thanks a lot Nalini!!!
An awesome book!!!
Loved Kaleb Annie's meeting and Rowan Kaleb Quinn was brilliant...
Loved Nayas first transformation...
The pupcubs...
Ben,marlee,noor,toby,keenan,jules and Rome ..I adore them...
Brenn and Judd snuggling mialin...
Walker laras news...
Adria and Riaz..finally...
I will miss Kit a lot...
The Nikita Redemption was just awesome....
Aden Remi and Vasics rock climbing...
The funeral...
Aden Zaira...
Hawke Sienna and Sienna Walkers scene...
Hawke gift to pupcubs...
Xavier and Nina..shed some tears here too...
Maya ,Vaughn and Faith...
Vaughn and Faiths discussion about having a child
Faith meeting Tanique(he deserves at least a novella), adoble and sweet...
Nikthony...
The sentinel and lieutenant meets
Bas cooking for Mercy... love the hooligans...
Xavier's letter
Isaac and Jessi...
Judd and Drew and Bren..
Dorian and Ashaya..
Clay and pink bracelet...
Dinner at Tammy's
The ocelet alpha...
Devs eye fluctuations...any integration btw psynet and forgotten..
Good intro to pax...can he be a good guy??seems so..maybe..hmm
Miane a shark and Malachi a kraken??
What was all that about tortoise??
The rescue was super...KiyA chirpy and glad to hear Persephone is doing well..
Annnd....kaleb Judd picture was a sweet touch...
So was kalebs saying to Judd that he seems to have acquired so many people...
And continued ...
The pupcubs names were nice...
Hawke thoughts about how having a cub has changed Lucas...
Riley's thinking how luc and hawke were friends...
How it all started from a wary alliance to a faily..
Bowen and Malachi sharing a drink...
Need to know! Soooooo... did Judd beat Connor's obstacle course or did Connor "beat his arrow ass"! Sounds like a short story maybe 0.0. One can live in hope.
"Nikthony" (from above) < AWESOME name and i'm totally totally hoping for a book for them! Those little teasers are realllly getting to me!
All in all so good :) Great to see everyone again and the changes they've had in their lives. So glad we're getting another book this year!
I nominate Shoshanna for The Architect.....
Wow. I loved AoH, five stars and highly recommended. There is just so many scenes that struck a chord. You really took us on a journey to see how far the Psy-Changeling world has come in ten years.
My favorite scene was with Annie and Kaleb, I tear up over their meeting even after four re-reads. Kaleb finally finding acceptance and family filled my heart with joy.
I really want a Silver and Remy match because I can see the Mercants adopting Remy's pack as their own. Remy would treasure Silver and she would bring him balance. Also, we'd see more of Jojo!
As far as saving Bo, I am not at all thrilled at the thought of a Psy-human pairing, especially not with Silver. Bo will of course need a Psy mate to save him but it would be disappointing to sacrifice the potential of a Mercant-RainFire match to save dull Bowen.
Now I think that Bo and Amara would make an excellent match! I love how the anti-social Amara gets under everyone's skin. It's a shame to leave her stuck in a lab. It would be a hoot to see Amara and Bo spar with each other. I also think that an Alice/Samuel Rain pairing would heal whole sections of the Psy-Net, their minds are brilliant and would be a powerful force together!
Hawke cuddling the precious little pupcubs was also a highlight. Bella, Micah, and Ace...love those names. It was also a nice touch to include Teijan and his people in the pupcubs birth celebration. The Rats are so wary and vulnerable, used to being ignored and pushed aside by stronger predators. I loved when Julian ran back to invite Zane's little girl to play with the under ten kids.
Ben was his usual adorable self. I was heartbroken at the thought of Marlee maturing and leaving Ben behind. I love romances where characters knew each other as children. Somehow their adult relationship commitment is deeper and longer-lasting, a la Sahara and Kaleb. But I know Ben is stubborn enough to one day pursue his heart's desire and mate with Marlee when they are both adults!
Hiw I loved Nikita neeting her granddaughter! The reveal thatNikita wanted her daughter to have a quiet escape hatch to DarkRiver was poignant...and hysterical over her dismay that Sascha ended up as the mate of a high profile alpha, lol!
I thought it was so poignant what Kaleb did for Xavier and Nina. Finding his lost love, with Kaleb and Judd's help, was a wonderful show of deep friendship that was made even more poignant in that Xavier had been the glue that held the broken Arrow and the broken cardinal to the light until Brenna and Sahara took over.
I am so looking forward to Wild Embrace in August, Dezi is l=now living with her mate and I want to see how she and Felix worked things out.
Oh, I have to add that I loved that Lara and Walker are pregnant! This couple's devotion and love for each other and the kids just shimmers off the page. I am so happy they will be the next couple adding to the Psy-Changeling world...as I wait for Sienna and Hawke to become parents someday, heh! I just love all the baby storylines because without young, a community dies.
Miane and Malachai are so mysterious and enigmatic. These tow have this undercurrent of deadly magnetism, similar to Nikthony. I cannot wait to find out what these tow water changeling shift to. But PLEASE...no water snakes, ick!
I was left wondering show will be the first Psy-Psy couple to have the first naturally conceived baby in over 100 years. Sahara/Kaleb or Vasic/Ivy...
Thank you for many years of gold standard reading!
Happy sigh. This was one of my favorite books by the end, I think. Perfect circle from book 1 and a natural link into part 2 of the series. I'm hoping Silver's book is next. I want Malachai's too, but it's probably too soon.
Loved the pupcubs and all the scenes with Naya. Though as a mom of a toddler myself, I kept waiting for Naya to have an accident after she shifted. Haha, I think that was the only thing that makes me shake my head each chapter. Changeling children are soooo better potty trained than human.
I'd been waiting for that scene between Nikita, her daughter, and Naya and it was just what I'd hoped it would be.
I had tears at the end when Lara realized she was pregnant and watching everyone realize they've built this beautiful extended family in everyone who has come together.
And like everyone else, I am seriously looking forward to watching Naya and Marlee and Toby and the others grow up over the course of the next part of the series.
Ms. Singh, thank you! You make my heart happy each year with each new book in the series. Thank you for writing characters who the longer we know them, the more they feel like home.
I cried and laughed during reading AoH. This alone shows, how much I enjoyed this book. Well done Nalini!
Now I want a book about "Nikthony" (Love this word. Can´t wait to read more of these two.) and Bowen & Amara.
I cried and laughed during reading AoH. This allone shows how much I enjoyed this book. Well done Nalini!
Now I want a book of "Nikthony" (Love this word.) and Bowen & Amara.
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