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    Shield of Winter
    Shield of Winter
    Shield of Winter
    Audiobook15 hours

    Shield of Winter

    Written by Nalini Singh

    Narrated by Angela Dawe

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Assassin. Soldier. Arrow. That is who Vasic is, who he will always be. His soul drenched in blood, his conscience heavy with the weight of all he's done, he exists in the shadows, far from the hope his people can almost touch-if only they do not first drown in the murderous insanity of a lethal contagion. To stop the wave of death, Vasic must complete the simplest and most difficult mission of his life.

    For if the Psy race is to survive, the empaths must wake...

    Having rebuilt her life after medical "treatment" that violated her mind and sought to suffocate her abilities, Ivy should have run from the black-clad Arrow with eyes of winter frost. But Ivy Jane has never done what she should. Now, she'll fight for her people, and for this Arrow who stands as her living shield, yet believes he is beyond redemption. But as the world turns to screaming crimson, even Ivy's fierce will may not be enough to save Vasic from the cold darkness.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateJun 3, 2014
    ISBN9781452678399
    Shield of Winter
    Author

    Nalini Singh

    Die internationale Bestsellerautorin verbrachte ihre Kindheit in Neuseeland. Drei Jahre lebte und arbeitete sie unter anderem in Japan und bereiste in dieser Zeit wiederholt den Fernen Osten. Bislang hat sie als Anwältin, Bibliothekarin, in einer Süßwarenfabrik und in einer Bank gearbeitet -- eine Quelle von Erfahrungen, aus der Nalini Singh reichlich schöpft.

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    Reviews for Shield of Winter

    4.5/5

    183 ratings17 reviews

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    • 5/5
      asic, is a Arrow, trained since he was four years old to be a assasin for his people, to take orders and execute with no hesitation. The Psy are changing, with silence no longer existing, a new leader for their people, times are changing. When Kaleb Krychek, requests that he finds a group of empaths, and stop the wave of death that is sweeping across their people. Ivy, is a Empath, and when she meets Vasic, she is fearful of his intentions, but he proves to be trustworthy, and she starts to see him as more than just a Arrow, she starts to see him as a man with a soul. Ivy feels a emotional bond to Vasic, but his exterior shield is like ice, impenetrable, but like ice, it can also be weakened by heat. Ivy is determined to show Vasic the power of love and emotion and the healing they can do for each other. That she can be his greatest strength in a time when their people need it most...I have adored this author for so long, ever since I read the first book a few years back, when I started getting more into paranormal...and Singh changed my view on that genre. And I still adore her books, and Shield of Winter is no different. After reading Kaleb's book, I was hoping that in Shield of Winter we would see more of him and Sahara, and we see the other couples as well. We the Psy and Changelings combine forces to get to the bottom of what is killing of the Psy. There are many instances in this story that can be painful to see. But what I really loved was seeing Vasic get his story and find his mate. And Ivy was just wonderful, I loved having these two be a pair and they complimented each other so well. Vasic doesn't know emotion or feeling of any kind. Ivy is Psy but being a Empath her talents are so different from Vasic. Even though Ivy hasn't been conditioned like Vasic has been, she has her own demons from her past. The characters in this story were just phenomenal, and I really enjoyed seeing the personal growth...seeing Ivy and Vasic learn together and they are put through some vigorous tests that will prove them and the love that they share.The story as a whole is pretty intense and thrilling, it just kept me on edge the whole time. With Singh at the helm, you just know that every time you read her, you know you will enjoy yourself...but I feel like her stories go way deeper than that. Its very dynamic and full of steamy action to keep you entertained for quite a while. You can never go wrong with Nalini Singh, and this book is proof of that. I would recommend if you are new to this author and series, you start at the beginning. The series of events that take place in this story may seem a bit confusing if you haven't read previous books.Overall I found Shield Of Winter a exciting addition to the series. A story that is guaranteed to take you on a wild ride of a paranormal world where shape shifter and pysic powers are real and intense. Of a world that will carry you away in a story that is compelling and highly sensual and will thrill you down to your toes!! Be ready for a story to make your blood pound like never before!! THRILLING!
    • 5/5
      I had not read a Psy-Changling book in a long time, so this one took me a while to get into the story. However, once I did it was very difficult to put down. I think rereading the series (as I usually do) would have made the difference - I will likely do that soon.

      The Shield of Winter focuses on the degradation of the Psy Net, and the unknown connection between the harsh and controlled Arrows to the little known E designation (Empaths).

      Vasic is an arrow of the truest sense. Taken into the harsh training to become an Arrow at the age of 4 due to his Tk-V abilities, he was raised and trained with repetition and pain. He accepts orders without question. His basic nature is to protect. So when ordered to protect an Empath, he does so with all the strength and training behind him. Ice-cold.

      Ivy is the Empath who was fortunate enough to be loved and raised by her parents, and who Vasic is charged with protecting. Ivy can't help seeing Vasic differently than others due to her empathic nature.

      Without giving away the story, the Arrows and Empaths must work together to save the Psy race and stop the malignant degradation of the Psy Net. it is this partnership that becomes their guiding compass.

      Both Ivy and Vasic are strong characters, and a number of other characters stand out as well. Several from prior books, and new ones. Rabbit, Ivy's dog, is the joy throughout.

      This is a book that demands I read the full series again, so that a reread of this book will be that much more fulfilling. Well done, Ms Singh!
    • 3/5
      This one deals with healing the PsyNet using the empaths, the problem with that is waking and training their empathic powers since they have been trained to never use them. And the remnants of Pure Psy are targeting the empaths as a way to fight the breaking of Silence the Arrows have started guarding them on a one on one basis. This is the setup for Ivy and Vasic to meet and have Ivy fall in love with him since her Silence is broken and has been for years. Of course not every path to HEA is smooth sailing since Vasic has just weeks to live due to having experimental tech grafted to his arm and into his brain. Of course the book has a HEA and it seems the problems with the PsyNet are going to get fixed with this solution. There are still several other loose ends left to the series and just checking the writer's blog she states there are lots more. The downside being I am caught up with the books and now have to wait like everyone else.
    • 4/5
      STILL going strong! This was a sweet one. Looking forward to Aden's story - wonder what kind of heroine he'll get??

      Really Kinda hoping for a strong/silent heroine soon, though - I like watching (particularly changling) men help the tough ladies heal!
    • 4/5
      Shield of Winter
      4 Stars

      The infection spreading throughout the PsyNet is more destructive than previously thought and the only thing capable of saving the Psy race is the E designation. However, not everyone is pleased with the fall of Silence and they blame the E for the death and destruction around them. Assigned to protect a group of E Psy, the Arrows find themselves confronting their complete antithesis - Psy who feel everything.

      Trained from childhood to be an Arrow immersed in Silence, Vasic believes that he has lost all vestiges of humanity and that death would be a welcome release. That is until he meets Ivy Jane, an E Psy, who forces him to realize that his life is worth fighting for. But can Ivy's love save Vasic from the dark choices he has made…

      The epidemic in the PsyNet is the main focus of the story with gripping descriptions of the Psy’s psychological deterioration and their descent into violence alongside the investigation into potential solutions. Unfortunately, these are so vivid and compelling that they completely overshadow the romance.

      While both Vasic and Ivy are extremely likable, their relationship lacks the chemistry and intensity that characterizes my favorite books in the series (Kiss of Snow, Heart of Obsidian). Ivy is sweet and caring and Vasic’s brooding stoicism is very sexy, but the ease with which he falls for Ivy and their slow building intimacy simply do not resonate.

      The updates on couples from previous installments, mainly Sasha and Lucas as well as Kaleb and Sahara, are very satisfying and Judd and Vasic’s conversations on dealing with their abilities and their sex lives are hilarious. Nevertheless, these cannot compensate for the rather unimaginative connection between Ivy and Vasic.

      All in all, the world building is still excellent and the ongoing story arc is progressing in interesting directions, but the romance is not as satisfying as it could have been. It will be interesting to see what Singh has in store for us next.
    • 4/5
      This was one long ass book. Sometimes it got a little bit tiring, but I can honestly say that it was very satisfying in the end. I just think that for a book as long as this one, the ending could've been a little bit more polished. It felt a little rushed IMHO.
    • 5/5
      Ivy and Vasic

      Through all the previous 12 Psy-Changeling books I've loved the Changelings but with Shield of Winter Ms Singh has shown that the Psy, minus Silence, can be just as loved.

      Ivy taught Vasic he could feel, that he could love without splintering from breaking Silence. All that while the two of them saved the Psy world!
    • 5/5
      4.5 stars. Great book...not quite as good as HoO though.
    • 5/5
      Assassin. Soldier. Arrow. That is who Vasic is, who he will always be. His soul drenched in blood, his conscience heavy with the weight of all he’s done, he exists in the shadows, far from the hope his people can almost touch—if only they do not first drown in the murderous insanity of a lethal contagion. To stop the wave of death, Vasic must complete the simplest and most difficult mission of his life.For if the Psy race is to survive, the empaths must wake…Having rebuilt her life after medical “treatment” that violated her mind and sought to suffocate her abilities, Ivy should have run from the black-clad Arrow with eyes of winter frost. But Ivy Jane has never done what she should. Now, she’ll fight for her people, and for this Arrow who stands as her living shield, yet believes he is beyond redemption. But as the world turns to screaming crimson, even Ivy’s fierce will may not be enough to save Vasic from the cold darkness…
    • 3/5
      The characters didn't seem too traumatized by getting over their Silence. Singh is doing a little too much "telling" the reader how traumatized they are, but without a little more "showing" it's unconvincing.
    • 5/5
      I love Singh's work. The Psy-Changeling series is wonderful. I have enjoyed reading every book as quickly as it is available. I am always sorry to see the end of the novel.
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Deeply emotional novel set in a dark world with engaging characters. Nalini has another winner with Shield of Winter.Opening Sentence: The silence protocol has been the defining aspect of the Psy race for over a hundred years.The Review:Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series is still going strong with the 13th installment, Shield of Winter. Nalini is an amazing writer and she consistently writes deeply emotional characters and worlds that seem so real that I can immediately get lost in. I have developed a deep appreciation for Nalini’s storytelling with each new novel in this series and I always seem to have a new favorite book of hers.The Psy race are about to become extinct if they keep living with Silence. Their NetMind is infected and on the verge of collapse, if that happens all Psy connected to it will die. Silence was once their only hope to keep their race from the violence of their powers and emotions will now be their downfall. It seems that the Psy really do need to keep their emotions and that the hidden or long thought dead E Psy are needed to anchor that Net.Ivy is an E Psy who kept breaking her Silence and has embraced being a different kind of Psy. As a result, she lives on a compound well away from other Psy who would have her “rehabbed”. She is also hidden on the Net so that it is not visible that she has broken her Silence. The only problem is that Ivy doesn’t quite know what she is so she has been trying to suppress her abilities and because of that she is slowly dying.Kaleb Krychek has come up with a plan to save the Psy race using the E Psy. He hopes that their emotions will help balance the Net but first he has to test his theory. Ivy has been recruited with several other E Psy in an attempt to find a solution.Vasic is a very powerful Psy with the ability to teleport. He is an Arrow. Arrows are trained/tortured at a very young age towards Silence and they do all the hidden dirty work of the Psy race, like hiding the dead bodies of Psy who have broken Silence. Vasic has been assigned to protect Ivy from members of the Psy race who have been hunting down and killing E Psys. Vasic is drawn towards Ivy in a strange way that will have him breaking through his own Silence.Vasic is a quiet and observant Arrow. He will do what is needed of him by his fellow Arrows. He also harbors some deadly secrets but he also secretly remembers everyone he’s killed and victim’s from crime scenes that he has had to “clean up”. I immensely enjoyed his character and how he slowly melted from his tough, hardened exterior to a man who begins to feel emotions and fall in love with Ivy and with life. I really enjoyed Judd’s destruction and Kaleb’s ruthlessness in their stories but there was something about Vasic that had me really falling for his character. He had a vulnerability that I think the others didn’t quite have so I loved reading about him breaking apart and worrying about others.Ivy is Vasic’s total match, while he is quiet and reserved. She is vocal and a little “pushy” but only in the sense that she has no problem showing and telling Vasic how she feels about him. She makes the moves on him. If not for Ivy, Vasic would have sacrificed himself before he broke his own Silence.Shield of Winter is told through many points of view so if you aren’t a fan of multiple POV’s then you may not like reading this series. Although, I did feel that the story didn’t jump around too much. Ivy, Vasic and Kaleb told most of the story. Past stories in this series have really elicited emotions from me (especially crying), I never felt that way with this story. I felt more eagerness and anticipation for Vasic and Ivy’s relationship and hope that everything would turn out alright in the end.Overall, the Psy/Changeling series is a dark and emotional world. Terrible things are happening around these people but they manage to find the light in the dark and make the world a better place.Notable Scene:Nodding, Ivy bit down on her lower lip as she had a habit of doing, her eyes focused on the ground and a vertical line between her eyebrows.What are you thinking? he asked, though he had no right to know.Give me a minute.So close to him that he could reach out and embrace her, she—He paused, worked through all the tiny details he knew about her. Would you like me to hold you? he asked, unsure he was correctly reading the subtle cues.She turned into his body in answer. Wrapping his arms around her, he took care to make certain the gauntlet didn’t dig into her, and cradled her head as he’d done when he’d held her after the nightmare. She seemed not to mind the hold, and he liked the feel of her hair, silky and warm against his skin.This touch didn’t count, either, that starving part of him whispered. Ivy needed this; to deny her the contact would be to hurt her. Cheek pressed to his chest and arms around him, she was a small weight he could feel through her jacket and his combat uniform. He preferred her dressed as she’d been the other time, her clothing thinner, less of a barrier. It made him consider how much more of her he’d feel if he, too, was dressed in light civilian clothing.His mind jabbed a warning down his spinal cord, telling him sensation equaled pain. Fighting the psychological brainwashing, because there was nothing painful about holding Ivy, he lowered his head to speak to her, the words quiet in the intimate space between them. “Should I have been there when you woke?”Ivy stroked his back, and he wanted the armor off, wanted to know what it felt like to be touched by someone who did it for no reason but that she liked him. “It’s all right. I know you have a lot of duties.” Continuing to pet him in the way he’d so often seen humans and changelings do with one another, she said, “Was it bad?”Vasic knew he should break contact, not for his sake but for hers. But if he didn’t hold her, protect her, who would? Yet the brutal fact was he had no right to even ask that question, have that thought.“Not as bad as many other operations,” he said, putting aside the cold truth for this stolen instant. “I found survivors this time.” It hadn’t only been blood and desolation.FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of Shield of Winter. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 4/5
      While I can see that there are moments where the internal logic doesn't really stand up for huge scrutiny but I just love this series.Vasic is a member of the Arrow troupe, he has been an assassin, someone who has been trained from very young to be a tool of the powers that be, but they never really fully broke him, he still has some shreds of humanity left and this is what attracts Ivy Jane. She too was almost broken but her empathic abilities were what was unwanted by the Psy Collective, they are what might be needed to save the race from the terrible plague of murderous insanity that has spread like wildfire through the Psy, making them a target of hate where they were barely tolerated.I love this series, the characters are often so over the top but well drawn and entertaining, I also root for the relationships and this one really spoke to me. I liked Ivy, she was pretty broken but trying her best to be a better person, to shine through the pain and the mess, to embrace herself as a person and to try to see through a different lens when she had been fed pain for so long.
    • 5/5
      When I first heard that Ms Singh's next book (Shield of Winter) was going to be Vasic's story, I was disappointed because I had wanted Aden's story. But was I ever wrong! This was a fantastic book! I can see why we needed Vasic's story first for the Arrows - because he was on the razor edge of slipping into the abyss as a result of the guilt he carries from all the deaths he's meted out on the orders of the leader of the Arrow Squad, Ming Le Bon. Seeing him dragged back from the edge and forming not only a bond, but a family with Ivy gives the other Arrows hope that they too can have a life and belong to someone.I also love the role Rabbit has in thawing these Arrows out. It is such an innocent way of forming a bond. Plus he has lots of character.Ivy broke conditioning at age 16 and voluntarily surrendered herself for reconditioning. The brutal reconditioning left her little more than a zombie until Rabbit entered her life and aroused her empathic abilities once more and brought her back to life.With the fall of Silence, the Net is in chaos, not just because of the fear of those Psy who didn't know how to cope without Silence - but from a pervading infection in the Net that had flourished from all the dark and angry emotions the Psy no longer acknowledge. Kaleb Krychek forms a plan to wake the empaths to try and save the Net.If that fails, he plans much more drastic action. Vasic and a group of arrows are assigned to protect the emapths, and it's not long before the effects of being in close proximity to them is noticeable, not least of all with Vasic.I think this story is a lot about the ties that bind us to others, even seeming invisible ones, having a sense of belonging and working together.We see some of my favourite characters from the earlier books, especially Lucas and Sascha, and Judd Lauren. I loved the little snippet of Kit and Naya - that was lovely.My only complaint with the book (and it's a tiny one) is that in the Cast of Characters at the front of the book, Tamsyn is listed as the Snow Dancer healer. For anyone new to this series, or Ms Singh as an author, I highly recommend this and all of her other books.You really need to read the books in the right order as there is a lot of world-building and storylines that keep developing throughout the series. Can't wait for Aden's story now!
    • 5/5
      SHIELD OF WINTER is Vasic's story. Long a side character of mystery and danger, he gets to find his own romance with Ivy Jane. Ivy is an empath. The Psys have been trying to breed the empaths out of the Psy. Now they find that the PsyNet is falling apart and it might depend on those same empaths to save everyone.I loved Vasic. He was so badly damaged by the various abuses and tortures that made him into a fearsome Arrow that he had given up on himself. He was the perfect warrior who made life safe for everyone but had to stay on the outside himself. The Arrows are the enforcers of the Psy. They are the ones who take care of the Psy who turn serial killers.When this story begins, Silence has fallen and caused all sorts of disruption for the Psys. The PsyNet also seems to have been invaded with a virus that causes Psy to go crazy and become violent. Kaleb Krychek has a plan to awaken the empaths to see if they can find a way to get this virus out of the PsyNet. If they can't, he will take stronger measures.Ivy has been living with a group of other Psy who were also having trouble with their conditioning. She has the strong support of her parents which is unusual for the Psy. She agrees to become part of this experiment to reawaken the empaths and Vasic is assigned as her personal guard. The romance was amazing. I also liked the way the story resolved an on-going plot thread that has been building through the last few books. It was also nice to see some of my favorite characters from earlier stories make appearances in this story too.
    • 5/5
      Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Vivacious Valkyrie - Marta:*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest reviewWell here it is the thirteenth full length book in the amazing Psy-Changeling series. It's a series that just keeps building a world populated with strong characters that will leave readers feeling wrung out and breathless. This particular story centers around two very different Psy, Vasic the cold Arrow and Ivy an Empath. Theirs is a journey of two souls on a collision course with no place to hide and it's going to be a bumpy ride!Vasic is a character who has been dangled by the author in front of her readers for quite some time now and he's possibly one of the most powerful Psy in his unit. He has had a difficult life and being an assasin has taken it's toll . He agrees that now that Silence has fallen his race will need all the help they can get if they are to survive the creeping death that sits within the Net. Vasic accepts the mission of bringing Empaths together in a controlled environment but one Empath in particular Ivy, will quite literally test every shield that Vasic has ever put in place. I was overjoyed when I got my hands on this book but a little afraid if honest as the idea of two cold Psy being the lead characters sounded alarm bells for me. I'm in the minority in that I didn't particularly connect with those in the previous book "Heart of Obsidian" . So I am a very happy bunny when I say this felt more like a complete story to me. It's a book with a relationship that has a beginning a middle and the possibility of a happy ending. In this harsh world nothing is certain but these two characters will fight for what they believe to be right. It's difficult to imagine living without emotions and always being self contained but the author has a knack for revealing those small differences that make it feel real. Just the idea that a simple hug would be out of place brings to life a world so cold that it's not difficult to grasp and I'm not surprised that something is starting to snap. A harsh empty reality and yet it's filled with hope as those who realise the dangers are fighting to save the Psy race.This book is mainly centered around the Psy characters and it's interesting to read about the shy Ivy embracing the possibility that she can thaw out Vasic. She's almost brazen at times and quietly determined to get her man! As for Vasic I think the word honourable is the one that describes him the best. He's also quite amusing at times and his teleporting abilities frequently cause him problems! He clearly is a very passionate guy but has never released that side of himself before but Vasic unabashedly seeks advice from Judd who I know is a favorite amongst many readers.If the Changelings are your favourite characters in this series then rest assured they still appear in this book but it's quite rightly front and center about the Psy race and all the changes they are going through. The Forgotten are also in the background and I suspect we might learn more about them in future books. The Psy race are quite literally fighting for their survival now and everyone will have a part to play. So yes it's a romance and Ms Singh's lush prose just flowed . The heroine Ivy has depths and a unique courage that sees her bravely taking on her lethal Arrow. A slow believable romance but it's the incredible world building and story telling that kept me gripped until the last page. There's clearly so much more to come and please could we see more of Aden? The dynamics of this world just keep changing and it's a fabulous ride! This series is best read in order starting with Slave to Sensation but please whatever you do make sure you find time for these books because you will never regret it!
    • 4/5
      "In the end, they’d all grown up under a regime that attempted to turn them into tools for the use of others—tools meant to be discarded once they passed their use-by date."

      First, I must confess that this is my first Psy-Changeling book. Ms. Singh’s work has been on my “to read” list for quite some time, but I simply haven’t had the opportunity to read any of her works. When Penguin Books gave me the opportunity to read Shield of Winter I literally jumped at the chance. What a great excuse to move it to the top of my reading pile!

      Going into the story I was well aware of the fact that this is Lucky 13 in the Psy-Changeling series, (actually, there are also quite a few “shorts” and novellas extant in this world) so I feared that I couldn’t expect to really understand what was going on. However, I must say, I was wrong about that. Looking at the long list of characters in the front of the book, I worried that I would be lost or confused, but Ms. Singh is such a brilliant writer that before the first chapter was over I was completely riveted.

      This is a deeply layered series, with one of the more unusual premises extant in the UF genre. In the world of the Psy there is no emotion – no love, no hate, only mercilessly unemotional characters, driven a slavish obsession with perfection in all things. There is only The Silence, controlled by the NetMind and DarkMind, the twin entities that know every corner of the vast psychic network that connected all Psy on the planet.

      Now, however, that link is broken, the Silence is no more. But all is not well, as the cold, emotionless Psy struggle to live in a new reality, where emotion is not a crime to be punished by devastating psychic brain wipes. Silence was a deeply flawed construct – but a necessary one, as cruel as it may have been. And now a deadly contagion is whipping through the Psy population with deadly result. In order to save the Psy, changes must be made, and the Empaths, nearly wiped from existence in the past, may be the only beings who can save the world.

      The first step is finding and bringing in Ivy, an Empath who, though she was subjected to the brutality of a mind wipe as a child, gives hope that she may actually be a savior. Sent to find her and bring her back is Vasic, a sort of “super soldier assassin” on a par with the "Terminator."

      Now, I understand that Ms. Singh’s works are based more in the “Paranormal Romance” end of the Contemporary Fantasy genre, and I can work with that. However, I will admit to having an overwhelming problem with Ivy. She was an unpleasant character to my way of thinking. Needy and clinging don’t do it for me in a heroine and Ivy has that in spades. Vasic was a much more empathetic character. He has done horrific things in his life, things he understands to be unforgivable, even though he did these things under the control of a sort of “hive mind. His pain and sense of hopelessness, and his attempts to do the right thing even though he doesn’t feel worthy of living touched me on a visceral level and kept me reading just a much as the amazing world that I was learning.

      Unlike other readers of the series (I have read the reviews) I was not as interested in the “romantic” side of the story, so my problems with Ivy didn’t overwhelm my sheer enjoyment of a well built world, a stunning concept, and great writing. Overall, I am looking forward to starting the series at the first book and learning about how this new situation has come to pass.

      Recommended.