Title: Branded by Fire (Psy-Changeling # 6)
Author: Nalini Singh
Date of publication: 7 July 2009
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters
Author's links:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

My rating: 4.5 Stars




Though DarkRiver sentinel Mercy is feeling the pressure to mate, she savagely resists when Riley Kincaid, a lieutenant from the SnowDancer pack, tries to possess her. The problem is not simply that he pushes her buttons; the problem is that he’s a wolf, she’s a cat, and they’re both used to being on top.

But when a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped from DarkRiver territory, Mercy and Riley must work together to track the young man—before his shadowy captors decide he’s no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it’ll leave them both branded by fire…

Note: I've already finished the series and I've posted my review of the latest book, Shield of Winter, on the blog. I've decided to post spoiler-free mini-reviews of all the books over time.

I loved the romance between Riley and Mercy. The two changeling were not afraid of their emotions and they acted in their desires right from the start, unlike the Psy in previous books who need time to embrace their sensuality. Still, Mercy and Riley had their own problems to deal with - on the one hand both of them were dominants and on the other, they were members of different packs - wolves and leopards, so this made mating a challenge on many levels and ultimately their actions affected not just them and their families but also both changeling packs as a whole.

I liked the intensity of their relationship, it was perfect reflection of their changeling nature and the need for touch. The story opens with some very hot love making which both of them try to play off as a casual thing, a physical contact to satisfy  their needs.

We see how different members of both pacts react to the new couple and I have to say that Mercy's family were just wonderful and Riley's brother and sister, together with Hawke were just as fun to read.

I didn't particularly like the suspense plot line. We see a new player coming to the scene, the Human alliance, yet the whole issue with the kidnappings and assassination attempts took a back seat to the turbulent relationship between Riley and Mercy. He is he typical dominant changeling - powerful, possessive, protective. The thing is that Mercy was just the same - the road to their mating it was true clash of wills. 

It was another intense installment of this series. Mercy and Riley are of my favourite couples, though I was not particularly invested in the criminal aspect of the story and loved the romance with it complexity and passion.