Silver Silence by Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity, # 1/Psy-Changeling, #16
Paranormal Romance
June 13, 2017
Berkley
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “We are who we are and we are strong”
Silence has fallen and the Psy are no longer at the top of the food chain. A new world order has emerged-The Trinity Accord. Consisting of all three races-Psys, Humans, and Changelings-the Accord is an attempt to level the playing field and ensure peace among the races. But there are those who fear the Accord and the changes it brings and are slowly and steadily chipping away at the foundation on which the Accord stands.
The psychically gifted Psy seek to feel emotion for the first time in over a hundred years.
Changelings with their primal hearts fight their natural instinct to trust only pack, only clan.
Humans look to the future with a grim-eyed determination to no longer be the weakest race.
And others … they seek to spread chaos and death and division.
Fans have been chomping at the bit to learn more about Silver Mercant, the highly efficient and secretive right hand of Cardinal Kaleb Krychek and now director of the Em Net for the Trinity Accord, since our first sighting of her. Singh has been leaving tantalizing clues concerning Silver, the elusive Merchant family, and where their loyalties truly lay since the beginning. All our questions are answered in Silver Silence. The first in the Trinity spin-off and what Singh herself has labeled as Season Two of the series, Singh turns her focus to an important secondary character, elevating their status and using their story to help expand this world with new intrigues, new dangers, new romances, and a new and delightful cast of characters. I do not recommend starting this series here. We are sixteen books in and there is no recap of events to bring you up to date.
Welcome to the Age of Trinity.
Singh takes us to Russia and drops us into Silver Mercant life as she is once again dealing with an annoyingly obstinate force of nature that keeps infiltrating her apartment building. A force of nature that refuses to heed her warnings and continues to show up uninvited. A force of nature so irritating handsome and playful that Silver chooses to allow them their continued breaking and entering without pausing to examine her reasons why.
“How did you get in?”
“I asked nicely.”
Meet the man more than ready to take on Silver ‘F*cking’ Mercant. Valentin Niklaev. AKA Mr. I.M.A. Medvezhonok. A Russian bear changeling and Alpha of the StoneWater Clan. This gorgeous and ‘beary’ delicious man fell head over heels for Silver the moment he saw her at a EmNet meeting. He knows who and what she is but senses his “Starlight” isn’t so deeply entrenched in Silence that her emotions are gone forever.
…the faint touch of fire he kept picking up around her, a hidden sunshine that flickered against his skin. Valentin was determined to seduce that hidden wildness out into the light. Who better than an uncivilized bear after all?
An impromptu B&E with yet another date request for ice cream puts Val in the right place at the right time when Silver collapses right in front of him. Val calls upon Krychek for an emergency medical teleport and discovers Silver’s food has been poisoned, meaning someone has attempted to assassinate her. At the hospital, Val meets the head matriarch of the Merchant family, the very dangerous and powerful Ena Merchant, who gives Val an order to protect her granddaughter at all costs.
“Are you asking me to kidnap your granddaughter?”
“Let’s call it an enforced move out of the field of danger.”
Val spirits Silver away to Denhome, introduces her to his family and friends and begins his not so subtle courtship. Convinced she is his mate, Val does everything he can to show Silver her future is tied to his. Of course, what fun would it be if Silver didn’t offer up some resistance?
“She’s never going to forgive me for having witnessed her collapse.”
“Given the current time and the fact that Silver keeps to a firm schedule unless she needs to adapt to fit a developing situation, you interrupted her at breakfast, thus saving her life.”
“Do you think she’ll see it that way?”
“No, You’re out of luck.”
Readers are in for a treat with Silver and Val. This story is classic Singh with it’s colorful and dynamic energy exploding off the pages as she brings us more action, romance, humor, and intrigue. Silver Silence reminded me so much of the beginning when we were first introduced to this world through Lucas and Sierra in Slave to Sensation. Two strong-willed people coming together despite the odds. Cold calm rationale meets an emotional hurricane. Sorrow, joy, heartbreak, and hope are the spices that flavor this story as we are intimately reminded that some Psy went silent by choice while others were silent out of necessity.
Silver and Val are remarkably similar in many ways. Both are born alphas who hold their families above all else. Valentin took up the mantle as StoneWater’s alpha after his father and now strives to overcome the terrible legacy his father left behind. A firm but fair alpha, he is a predator first and human second. No one defies or challenges him and lives to tell about it. Except for Silver. He tempers it all down for her, allowing his more playful and romantic side to emerge.
“You have anything but suits in your closet?”
“No, I sleep this way and wake up perfectly pressed.”
Grinning at the cool comment that made him want to kiss her until she melted, he put his hands on his hips. “Tell your babushka to pack jeans or other tough pants, T-shirt, sweaters, stuff suitable for a little rough and tumble.”
“I don’t intend to rough and tumble with anyone.” Those extraordinary eyes, so clear and frosty, pinned him to the spot.
A lesser man, or one who had some sense in his head, might’ve flinched. Good thing Valentin was big enough to take her, and stupid enough to keep banging his head against a wall of Silver Silence.
“No choice in a clan,” he said with a shrug. “Bears are handsy.”
While Silver isn’t running the Mercant clan as of yet, she is the heir apparent. And as Krychek’s administrative assistant and the head of EmNet, she commands hundreds and is respected by thousands. She has proven more than able to hold her own against a pushy bear and his pushy clan. Her fearless nature is the perfect foil for Val’s more gregarious one.
“Because…BEARS.”
The rich narrative more than supports the multi-layered storyline. As the chemistry lauded romance plays out in bold and brilliant manner, heavily laced with laughter and heat, Singh keeps readers informed of what is happening on the sidelines. And there is a lot happening. Allies make strange bedfellows in this new era as enemies storm the gates, threatening the wellbeing of all. The Consortium is gathering in force as more splinter groups emerge and are continuing to push its advantage, causing devastation across the planet. As always, Singh gives readers plenty to cheer and jeer with abundance.
These newly introduced supporting cast of characters are intense, well developed, and intertwine with our protagonists perfectly to give the story depth and volume. Complex and convoluted; we see the good and bad are merely separated by ideology. Everyone in here has an agenda and does not always play by the rules. I loved meeting the members of the StoneWater and Mercant clan. Silver’s family is a force to be reckoned with and I truly hope we see more of Silver’s brother, Arwin, in future stories. Val’s clan are an intelligent and mischievous lot who provide plenty of laughter with their antics and “bear” wisdom.
The romantic conflict was quite intense and Singh plays it close to the vest as I prayed the story would end the way I wanted. Once again, I am left both satisfied and wanting with this latest story and cannot wait to see what Singh has up her sleeve next. Fans of this world will cheer this newest couple and rejoice in the familiar as Singh takes us to a whole new level.
Grade: B+
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I’m looking forward to this! Thanks for the review.
I hope you enjoy. Val is delicious.