#1 New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh allies two fierce changelings in this explosive Psy-Changeling novel. Though DarkRiver sentinel Mercy is feeling the pressure to mate, she resists savagely when Riley Kincaid, a lieutenant from the SnowDancer pack, seeks 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 … she’s a cat, and they’re both used to being on top.
But when a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped from DarkRiver territory in a seemingly senseless attack, Mercy and Riley must work together to track the young male—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, it’ll leave them both branded by fire…
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Branded by Fire is the sixth book in Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changling series. This book is the one I’ve been anticipating reading since it’s Mercy and Riley’s book. I never expected these two to end up together, and I don’t think these two characters expected it either.
Storyline/My Thoughts :
Both Mercy and Riley have been standout characters to me since they were introduced in previous books in the series. Both have different reasons why they stand out to me. Mercy is a DarkRiver sentinel, and she’s all about taking her job seriously. She’s one kick-butt heroine who can handle herself, especially since she’s a DarkRiver sentinel. At times though, her character drove me crazy with going back and forth with Riley and why they couldn’t be anything serious. She was worried that since she was a leopard and he was a wolf, it wouldn’t work to be mates. She needed to find a leopard mate and her grandmother even sends her a couple from her pack to win her over. Although, Mercy doesn’t want anything to do with them.
Let me not forget Riley; I fell for him because he has overcome a lot in his life. He lost his parents, and he almost lost his little sister to a Psy. He doesn’t lose sight of what he is supposed to do in the pack, but he does fall hard for Mercy. At first, they are a fling, but then it becomes more, and Riley is determined to prove he wants more with Mercy. He gets put in his place several times, though, in this book that Mercy can handle herself. He can’t change Mercy and how independent she is, and she’s also very dominant.
Be prepared for some very steamy scenes between Riley and Mercy from beginning to end. These two could not stay away from each other, and both packs started realizing it, even if Mercy and Riley tried to hide it at times.
There were drama and action-packed scenes in this book that involved the Psy and the Alliance. Why are the Psy council members being targeted individually, and why are Changelings dealing with unexpected issues too.
Overall, this book receives 4.5 stars, and I can’t wait to read the next book.
There was a big moment in this book that I was so happy about, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. It happens to deal with one of my favorite couples in the series so far that I’ve read, and I hope more moments like this happen in the series.
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Psy/Changeling series, and I recommend reading in order.
Steaminess: Steamy.
Trope: Fated Mates; Opposite’s Attract
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I recommend this book/series to Paranormal Romance readers. I can’t brag enough about how addicting Nalini Singh’s books are since I started reading them. I wish I would’ve read them sooner. I love the world she creates in her books and the characters.
2nd read: 2021
1st read : 2009
This story was a bit different than the previous books because this romance story was between two Changelings. And to make it even more special Riley is a wolf changeling and Mercy a leopard changeling. (And like you know cats and dogs aren’t always best friends!)
It was fascinating and entertaining to see a romance story between two changeling characters. I liked both Mercy and Riley very much, we had met both in previous stories but in this story we got to really known them in depth and they were both great characters. Protective, loyal, intelligent, strong.
Seeing and experiencing the mating dance between these two dominant characters was wonderful because even strong, dominant changelings have fears and can feel vulnerable at times. Both trained as soldiers they see this mostly like a weakness, but feeling emotions and love can be a strength too. And that is something that both Riley and Mercy have to learn in their mating dance.
I appreciated that even though they were both very dominant they still knew when to give in to the other, when the other needed his/her space and they weren’t afraid to lean on the other, to shown the other their soft side in private.
The story was again told in both POV’s. The problems with Psy silence are getting worse and there is a new enemy coming out to play, the human alliance but in this story we also get to see how the DarkRiver pack and the SnowDancer pack are getting closer with each other and more trustful.
This was again a great story.
Despite being a dominant, Riley isn’t unreasonable, nor too stubborn to learn from his mistakes and he’s good at finding compromises. Even though she’s an alpha as well, Mercy is also good at finding middle ground and has a more loving, giving side, too, wanting to take care of Riley in the same way he takes care of her. They may not have been officially engaged in the mating dance until late in the story, but they take part in a dance of sorts throughout the entire book that was fun to read. This was a very eventful story that provided a great deal of intrigue as the greater Psy-Changeling story
arc continues to develop, while definitely not skimping on the love, romance, and steamy goodness between our main couple.
Mercy and Riley’s story!
I’m rereading the Psy-Changeling series when I get time plus I notice bits and pieces of information that will be important in later books in the series!
DarkRiver sentinel Mercy Smith is ready to find a mate but all the male sentinels in DarkRiver have mated but she is interested in SnowDancer lieutenant, Riley Kincaid. Leopard Mercy interested in a wolf? But will Riley overcome her resistance.
DarkRiver sentinel Mercy has been fighting the urge to mate for months. The problem is her leopard only seems to be interested in Riley Kincaid, a lieutenant from the SnowDancer pack. He is a wolf, she is a cat, and he pushes every single one of her buttons.
Mercy and Riley have been butting heads since they were introduced. They constantly bicker but you can feel the attraction between them. Mercy is a dominant, smart, and beautiful sentinel who fears she will never have a mate or family. Being a dominant female makes it very hard to find a mate that her leopard will tolerante. I liked Mercy but she did annoy me a few times. Riley is Brenna’s older brother and has dedicated his life to protecting his packs and his family. Riley was a great hero and I loved seeing him loosen up a bit.
These books just get more and more interesting with each one. The alliances between groups are growing and new enemies are identified. The world just keeps growing and becoming more complex. I am loving it. We also get a wide variety of other characters in this book as usual, including some new shifters and a surprise.
I cannot get enough of this series! I highly recommend this series if you love paranormal romance featuring shifters and psychic abilities.
The world is very different in this future timeline. There are three races: Psy, changelings, and humans. The Psy use their x-men-esque powers to control the world. Changelings are shape shifters. And as we all know, humans are resilient lol. Mercy and Riley are forced to work together as their changling packs solidify an alliance to protect themselves from common enemies. Both used to being in charge, they fight like…well…cats and dogs… because they are! This one had some great snark in it!
Happy Reading!
Book 6 is a Changeling to Changeling pairing. Mercy, a Leopard Changeling and Riley, a Wolf Changeling.
I am loving the progress from story to story. I enjoy seeing past book characters as well as new characters. For such a dominant wolf, Riley was more sensitive than I was expecting. I liked that about him.
Mercy is also a dominant female and unfortunately she came off too hard to me. Her expectations seemed to be really high as well. She wanted a more dominant male but there seemed to be a fine line for her expectations of Riley. I guess it was a good thing he had that sensitive side to him that kept him from being too dominant for Mercy.
Still very good, I just didn’t enjoy Mercy as much as I have past heroines in the series.
I love this author. I love this series. I loved this book! A wolf and a leopard and it worked perfectly!
OMG! This book! So many feels! Mercy is a DarkRiver Sentinel and Riley is SnowDancer Lieutenant. Both alpha changelings except Mercy is a cat shifter and Riley is a wolf shifter. Their story is like that old adage: A bird and a fish can fall in love, but where will they live?
The chemistry is freakin’ explosive so there’s no question the two are compatible… but how can it work? Read to find out!!!
This book kicks so much ass ,from start to finish it’s pure awesomeness 🙂
I totally love everything about Riley,i was so happy he got his own book,it was so interesting to see him fall in love with Mercy ,they are totally perfect for each other,they are both strong and protective of their packs and it was great to see how much they come to love one another 🙂 , I felt so bad for Riley because he blamed himself for not being able to protect his sister Benna ,but I thought it was great that Mercy helped ease the guilt even tho it wasn’t his fault .
I love Mercy,she is a total badass,i love how she reacts to Riley,i think at times she was a bit of a bitch to him,but I think she was afraid of losing herself to him,because if she bonded with him she felt like she was gonna lose a piece of herself and her pack, but in the end she makes the jump and it’s so awesome to see how their story unfolds .
This is one of my favorites outta the whole series,it’s just such a killer book:) I love everything about,this isn’t one page that I would change 🙂 . This series kicks ass . This Book Is A Must Read .
Natalie Singh did a wonderful job on this whole series. Love the characters, alpha males who are imperfectly terrific. Strong opinionated heroines who impact the world around them. Just steamy enough to be awesome romance and story lines that engage and keep you wanting more.
The title captured me from the moment I saw this chapter in Ms Singh’s Psy/Changeling series and I knew it would be a favourite. I wasn’t wrong. Riley and Mercy fairy leap off the page. Highly recommend this book.
‘Branded by Fire’ is book 6 in Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series.
Wow, wow, WOW!!! This book has it all and so much more. You are going to be on one hell of a ride with these to different specie changelings. Riley Kincaid is a senior lieutenant for SnowDancer wolf pack and Mercy Smith is a sentinel for DarkRiver Leopard Pack. Two very dominant personalities from two different Changeling packs. This book had me on the edge of my seat from the moment I opened it to the moment I had finished it. Riley and Mercy’s story will have you laughing at the humour and wittiness, crying with the heartache, (especially after the explosion) jumping with joy over the bonding. I can not praise this book enough and I really hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have.
The thing I love most about Nalini’s books is that even though you get to go on a new journey with new characters in each new book in this series you still get to visit and get glimpses of the previous characters. I am so over the moon for Lucas & Sascha, I can’t help myself but laugh at the crap Sienna puts Hawke through, and getting to see more into Judd and Brenna xxx
Branded by Fire was a good read, but at times Mercy annoyed me. She would act a little witchy at times and go on and on about how she was a dominant female. Blah blah blah if I had to hear about her dominant self one more time I would have ripped my hair out. Just saying I get it she is a dominant female and they are hard to mate. Riley was a saint for putting up with Mercy’s butt. He was sexy, at times very sweet, protective and supportive! Riley made the book for me.