Book Review: Alpha Night by Nalini Singh

Alpha Night
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 4
Publication: Berkley (June 9, 2020)

Description: New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her breathtaking Psy-Changeling Trinity series with a mating that shouldn’t exist…

Alpha wolf Selenka Durev’s devotion to her pack is equaled only by her anger at anyone who would harm those under her care. That currently includes the empaths who’ve flowed into her city for a symposium that is a security nightmare, a powder keg just waiting for a match.

Ethan Night is an Arrow who isn’t an Arrow. Numb and disengaged from the world, he’s loyal only to himself. Assigned as part of the security force at a world-first symposium, he carries a dark agenda tied to the power-hungry and murderous Consortium. Then violence erupts and Ethan finds himself crashing into the heart and soul of an alpha wolf.

Mating at first sight is a myth, a fairytale. Yet Selenka’s wolf is resolute: Ethan Night, broken Arrow and a man capable of obsessive devotion, is the mate it has chosen. Even if the mating bond is full of static and not quite as it should be. Because Selenka’s new mate has a terrible secret, his mind surging with a power that is a creature of madness and death…

My Thoughts: The fourth book in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series stars Alph wolf Selenka Durev and Arrow Ethan Night. They meet at a security conference and one look engages the mating bond.

Ethan considers himself damaged because he was under the control of Councilor Ming LeBon who trained him and used him as a weapon until he was rescued by other Arrows. He also believes that he is soon to go mad because he seems to have the Scarab Syndrome with is killing Psys.

Selenka has her own troubles with her pack that are mostly caused by her father who was sure that he would be the next Alpha and who resents Selenka for being a better and stronger wolf. The whole Russian shifter population, but especially the wolves, are being bothered by a charismatic leader named Blaise who is wooing away wolves, Psys, and humans for his cult-like church. Blaise seems to have taken a special dislike for Selenka.

The PysNet is also taking hits since someone seems to be trying to destroy it. Psys depend on the PsyNet to maintain their sanity. So finding the villain is especially important to the Psy leaders. It seems that Ethan is almost the only one who can see some infestations in the PsyNet that are showing up around the new breeches and which lead to people who have the Scarab Syndrome and whose madness is triggering the breeches.

This was a powerful and engaging story about two people - Selenka and Ethan - who are trying to build a partnership while dealing with lots and lots of other issues. I loved the emotional intensity of their relationship.

Fans of the Psy-Changeling series won't want to miss this one.

Favorite Quote:

Gut cold with anger all over again for how his view of himself had been twisted, Selenka ran her claws over his jaw. "Then show me your jagged edges and your fractured pieces, your obsession and your need. Show me you."

I bought this one for my Kindle and I bought the audiobook too. You can buy your copy here.