Tangle of Need

Psy-Changeling Series, Book 11

By: Nalini Singh

Narrated by: Angela Dawe

Length: 15 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Adria, wolf changeling and resilient soldier, has made a break with the past - one as unpredictable in love as it was in war. Now comes a new territory, and a devastating new complication: Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant already sworn to a desperate woman who belongs to another.

For Riaz, the primal attraction he feels for Adria is a staggering betrayal. For Adria, his dangerous lone wolf appeal is beyond sexual. It consumes her. It terrifies her. It threatens to undermine everything she has built of her new life. But fighting their wild attraction proves a losing battle.

Their coming together is an inferno.... and a melding of two wounded souls who promise each other no commitment, no ties, no bonds. Only pleasure. Too late, they realize that they have more to lose than they ever imagined. Drawn into a cataclysmic Psy war that may alter the fate of the world itself, they must make a decision that might just break them both.

©2012 Nalini Singh (P)2012 Tantor

Most authentic piece out of the series

I have been binge listening to the entire Psy-Changeling Series books, one after the other, for the last month. I knew what I was getting into. I spent the last couple decades reading Twilight and Harry Potter and got hooked on science fiction, magic, and romance. I went into this expecting Ms. Singh to cater to an audience of Twi-hards who are ready for something a little lemon-ier, if you get my drift.

You notice right away, that the author develops a formula and sticks with it. The underlying plot is relatively interesting, if you don't dig too deep, kind of on the level of a soap opera. Nothing to really tax you mentally. All of the good guys are very good. Even the "bad" boys all seem to have strong straightforward moral compasses. No real character flaws, no annoying habits, even though everyone "thrusts their hands into their hair" and "chuckles" a lot. Kind of want to make a drinking game out of it, taking a shot every time the author uses these terms.

The romances are mostly all quite similar. Very alpha male who knows who he is all about and what he wants, and he wants his special lady. Each lady is special in different regards. In each book, they all seem to have an overwhelming obstacle that keeps them apart. They absolutely, one-hundred percent, cannot be togeth... wait! They worked it out! HEA! These two super hot people are mated and bam. Worked it out. Meant to be. Insta-love.

I felt like this book took a big step forward, from the cover art on.

ONE: This is probably not within the author's control, but have been disappointed that the cover art couples literally NEVER look like the incredibly diverse world that Nalini Singh has created. This cover is great. The model actually looks like a representation of Riaz. AWESOME.

TWO: I know some have expressed disappointment that the main pairing did not involve a mating bond, but I actually found it incredibly refreshing and relate-able. I have enjoyed, on a very surface, "ear-candy" level, all of the previous novels, but rarely did have a real human connection with the relationship struggles. They felt like, well, storybook characters. Something idealized, but not real, with their "too perfect" mate bonding love that they need never question.

This is part of the reason that this story resonated so well for me. These are two scarred and damaged people, and the time and effort the author put in to build their story felt very...personal and intimate. I know some reviewers feel disappointed that they don't get that picture perfect mate bond at the end, but I love that they don't. They have to nurture it and choose each other every day just like the rest of us mere mortals. It makes the story more real, balanced, and emotionally honest.

I know we will go right back to the fantasy with the next uber Alpha male and his perfectly brilliant and hot woman he will do anything to possess, and that is cool. I need the escape just as much as anyone and I want to hear how the drama of the overarching story plays out too. But this book gave me a little extra authenticity that I wasn't expecting and I just want to say, "thanks!".

P.S.? I am not sure, but I am almost positive a character "stroked their fingers through" their hair instead of thrusting. I almost had to pull the car over. COULD. NOT. HANDLE.

Addictive

I was about to give this four stars because of the slow start with Adria and Riaz’s pairing and it was looking more like an extension of Sienna and Hawke’s story and then bam! Interesting multiethnic characters are introduced, villains are disposed of, events happened, and Kaleb’s upcoming book is teased. Nice touch with the nonmating, new species of changelings, and absolutely adored Lisette’s accent.

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This earned 4 stars more for all the extras we get in this book and less about the actual couple. It took me a long time to start liking this couple. I did end up loving them towards the end. I’m not one who likes a lot of rejection or pushing away so it’s mostly personal preference.

The different plots going on in the same book

That, for once it wasn’t all about the meeting ritual and becoming mated it was the fact that everybody has choices. Just make the choice.

Love conquers

This one was deep with a lot of emotional healing. I’m seeing a new trend where there’s one main couple but we get more of the side characters and I don’t think I mind that. Wish I could see more of the Dark River pack but I’m not mad about how things are going. Also anxiously waiting for some others to get their stories. There was less action in this but still enjoyable. Let’s see what’s next!

Kind of bummed. Still really good

If you could sum up Tangle of Need in three words, what would they be?

Wolf Love Drama

What other book might you compare Tangle of Need to and why?

I was definitely reminded of the previous installment, Kiss of Snow, in that the main hang-up between Riaz and Adria seemed awfully similar to Hawk's problem. Not exactly alike, but close enough that I was like, "again?" It didn't detract from my enjoying the story but it would have been nice if she had another book in between.

What three words best describe Angela Dawe’s voice?

Not the worst. (Also not the best, but I was limited to three words.)

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I totally sympathized with Adria when she met "the other woman."

Any additional comments?

Fair Warning! Spoiler Alert: Ok so I get on a broader level why Ms Singh decided that Riaz and Adria were going to commit just like humans, mating bond be damned and all that. It does add a nice twist since, by and large in this series, we are presented with bonds and links that take a certain amount of choice away from the characters. And on one hand I can see how someone could argue theirs is as good a bond, maybe even better than the actual mating bond. Not going to argue with that. HOWEVER, since these are at heart, romance novels, I found it incredibly irritating and kind of sucky that at the end of the day, these poor kids are always going to live with the fact that there is someone else out there who might be their destined mate or whatever. I mean, come on, you couldn't have the mating bond surprise them both in the epilogue? What's up with that? If everything else in these stories can have a silver lining ending I simply don't understand why you couldn't do the same for these two. (Hello you managed to find one for Hawk and Sienna. What, Nalini? You don't like Adria or something?) It's not like it would detract from their commitment to each other. I dunno, maybe it was just me, but I thought that was a total cop-out. It's a romance novel - let us all have a happy ending.

Um, dragged a bit

Two emotionally damaged wolves trying to find love again even though neither of them actually wants to.

In a previous book we learned about Rias's (sorry for the spelling) story, that he found his mate but she was taken, so he is back in Den territory to get his head on straight.

Ardria is Indigo's aunt. She has been in a loveless relationship for 10 years with a less dominant male and it is toxic for both of them...so when she decided it finally needed to end she comes back to the Den to get her head on straight.

From the moment those two saw each other it was hate/love at first site...not a mating, but a primal urge for sure. Neither of them is ready or emotionally healthy, but this thing between them IS happening, ready or not!

This one was a bit too angsty for me..just didn't really resonate, but still a decent addition to the world.

loved it. Hope Nalini Singh will add to the serie

I have read all of the books in this series but feel there isn't enough closure for the series to end
For example, when will Ming get what he deserves?

Various Tangles tighten and loosen

What a tangle of emotions both Adria Morgan and Riaz Delgado are dealing with! Then there’s the added complication of their deep sexual attraction that shouldn’t happen.
While they’re working things out, Ming LeBon plots ways to gain control of Sienna’s power.
The Arrows give their alliance to Kaleb Krychek. They reveal their Venice safe house to Judd.
Riley and Mercy receive their own surprise. I So Wish I knew details of what Faith and Vaughn were laughing about....as of Book 17, the author still hasn’t spilled the beans...and I was grinning, too, when Riley and Hawke were having a celebratory drink to Riley’s prowess.
The Human Alliance has developed a chip to block Psy access to their minds, but Ashiya’s evaluation is not positive.
Henry Scott’s use of PurePsy to destroy parts of the Net seals his death warrant.
It feels good to hear the warmth of the interaction between Hawke and Sienna as they settle into their mating.
Dawe does a good job of narration.

Great Story, could use different narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend the book but not so much the audio. The narrator is too monotone and she does not really do the men's voices justice. It is sometimes difficult to listen to the audio because the narrator's voice, there is no life to the character's voices. Her voice grates on the ears and my nerves. She's like one of those automated voice that you hear when you're calling the bank or something and not even that, some of those automated machines have a little more intonation in the voices.

Not that I don't love the story I just wish someone else tell it with more passion and character. It's hard to get into the story when you've got to listen to her voice, sorry angela but I think you need to have voice lessons before you read anymore books.There are other narrators out there that would do a better job than angela. Others like Joyce Bean, Tanya Eby or Susan Erickson , they would have been the better choices.

Would you be willing to try another one of Angela Dawe’s performances?

NOOOOO!!!! I will think twice or three times or four times before I decide to buy another audio book with this narrator reading it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes I loved the story it's just too hard to get into the audio book with such a monotone reader. I recommend someone else re-tell the books that way it would be a pleasure to listen to it over and over again.