Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

Narrated by Angela Dawe

Slave to Sensation is the first title in Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series. The Psy live by a protocol purposefully implemented to breed out all emotion. They call it Silence. The Changeling are shapeshifters who embrace life and all it holds with passion. Needless to say, neither race views the other in a positive light.

Changeling Lucas Hunter, Alpha of the DarkRiver leopard pack, is looking for a serial killer who is  preying on the young female members of his pack. Having determined the killer is Psy, he proposes a joint business venture as a way into their world. The Psy’s cold view doesn’t preclude them from seeing dollar signs when doing business with Changelings. Sascha Duncan, the daughter of one of the ruling council members, is assigned as liaison between the two races. Lucas may see Sascha as the embodiment of the Psy ideal but that doesn’t halt his attraction to her. In truth, Sascha is not the perfect Psy. She feels too much and lives in constant fear of discovery and “rehabilitation” (a lobotomy for all intents and purposes). Even with that fear haunting her, it’s all she can do to resist the warmth of the pack once introduced.

Angela Dawe hits all the right notes as she brings this intriguing look at the future alive. There was the easy differentiation between the races and the more difficult between characters, especially the pack with all its members. She doesn’t have a wide range of male voices but, with pitch and pacing, you always know who’s speaking and her females are distinct in sound and personality portrayal as well.

Why does Ms Dawe’s portrayal of Lucas in particular work for me?  He is a hunting cat stalking his prey, first when he wants a way into the Psy world to ferret out a killer and second, when he realizes he wants to coax this seemingly rigid woman to him. He may be Alpha but he isn’t going to be aggressive with “I’m big and bad” growls emanating from him.

To Sacsha and other outsiders, Lucas looks wild. He uses the complete contradiction of his looks and tone of voice to throw them off guard. Angela Dawe delivers his vibe throughout in a perfect gruff but low toned “nothings going to hurt you, come a little closer, that’s it, just a little closer…”.  Hearing that kind of control combined with an all out seduction? Sascha doesn’t stand a chance and, with Ms Dawe’s delivery, neither does the listener. Audiobook gold!

Brenda

Narration: A

Book Content: A

Steam Factor: Glad I had my earbuds in

Violence: minimal

Genre: Paranormal

Publisher: Tantor Audio

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