Set in the near future when people are divided into three, Psy (or psychics), Were and human. Psy decided long ago that emotions were dangerous and any sign of emotion is ruthlessly suppressed and the methods of dealing with it are scary.

In this world Sascha Duncan lives in terror of being found out as having feelings but fears the rehabilitation, it would wipe her our.

Into her world comes Lucas Hunter, a changeling hunting a changeling killer, who is possibly a Psy. The two of them are attracted but can they do anything about it without her being destroyed.

I liked the story. I liked the characters and I really would like to read more in this world. ( )

Singh does a fantastic job of creating her world and drawing you into it. The futuristic world of changlings (better known as "were" peoples) and psy (those with esp abilities) that Singh has created flows so well, I could not find a single flaw in her world building. (Something some paranormal authors have a problem doing.)

Sascha, the heroine, is Psy- a race of humans who years back decided the Vulcans had it right (hee- I couldn't resist) and eliminated all emotions from their psyches.

There's one problem, not all Psy are capable of the transition and it is these who are ruthlessly psychically lobotomized for it. Sascha fears she is well on her way to becoming one of these poor souls, because, though she hides it well and is in the upper echelon of the psynet, she knows she is flawed- she feels.

No one brings her unruly emotions to the forefront like Lucas Hunter, the alpha-changling who recently came into her sphere with a business proposal that the Psy are bewilderingly anxious to make. Lucas has an ulterior motive, of course. Why else would he, a man who heavily relies on his senses, be dealing with the cold Psy race? (A serial killer who the changlings know to be psy is on the prowl and since the psy are covering it up he sends himself in to smoke the killer out.)

The attraction between these two is instant and the pages crackle with their interactions from the get go. The more she tries to deny her helpless attraction, the more her emotions won't let her and Sascha and Lucas's eventual connection is hot stuff to be sure!

I also loved the character development of both these two. By the end, when Sascha finally discovers what she truly is- and how she and her star-crossed lover can have their happily ever after without killing one or both of them- I knew I'd be running out to get the next in the series as soon as my wallet would allow! ( )

Wonderful book! I loved the world building and I can't wait to go back there with the next one. StS is set in an alternate reality Earth with three species: Psy, changeling and human. The Psy are an interesting species of psychics who are all connected through the PsyNet which is sort of like an internet for their minds. Due to serious problems with insanity and serial killings, the Psy have instituted a program of surpressing all emotion from birth. Sascha Duncan is Psy and knows she has been different all of her life because she has emotions and is desperately trying to keep it a secret. She fears 'rehabilitation' if her ability to feel emotion is discovered which would wipe out her mind. But lately she is having a harder time keeping her emotions under control. Lucas Hunter is a changeling who is a member of the DarkRiver pack of panthers. Changelings feel emotions and are proud of it.

The sexual tension between Sascha and Lucas was incredible and the dream scenes set the pages on fire. The characters were all well drawn and the plot fast paced. My only quibble is that I was a bit confused near the end when Sascha 'surfs' the PsyNet searching for clues to help find a serial killer since it was hard to tell what was going on. Other than that I thought the book was nearly perfect and I can't stand the thought of having to wait for the next book. I'll need to keep this one around so I can re-read it before the next one comes out. (Grade: A-) ( )

This hits my "emotional isolated person learns sensual pleasure" button. Wereleopards and pack dynamics and a serial killer. HEA ending.

Wow. Why have I not heard of Nalini Singh before? The cover of Slave to Sensation assures me she's a bestselling author. Somebody's been falling down on the job.

This is a science fiction romance, which accounts for some of my excitement. There are plenty of fantasy romances, but not so many science fiction ones. And the premise is not uncommon in science fiction books: a race of futuristic humans have suppressed emotions in an attempt to eliminate violence, but it goes awry.

But there's more to it than that, and it's all in the way it's written.

Sascha Duncan is a Psy--one of the race with psychic abilities that control this future world. In fact, she's a Cardinal Psy, meaning she has the potential for great power, but she's living far beneath her potential because she's "broken." All Psy have been trained since birth to suppress their emotions, but Sascha's been feeling emotions, and fears that her mind is on the verge of collapse. She's desperate to hide it as long as she can, because the alternative is a "rehabilitiation" that would wipe her mind, leaving no trace of her self.

Lucas Hunter is a Changeling, and leader of the DarkRiver pack of were-leopards. He's working with Sascha on a joint Psy-Changeling construction project, but has a hidden motive: finding a serial killer, a Psy who's been preying on young Changeling women.

Their story is emotionally intense. Sascha's thoughts and reactions are very realistic, as she's feeling emotions more and more, and trying to interpret them and what they mean. Both of them have things they have to hide from each other, and Sascha in addition has to hide her newfound emotional state from the other Psy, particularly from her mother.

The mystery is well done, as are the paths Sascha and Lucas take to unravel it. In the process, they both find out things about themselves and their pasts, and the politics of their world. Which is another reason I liked this story so much: the intrigue.

The future world of Slave to Sensation is a complete one, with a history and complex societies. I can see several directions open to the series, so I hope it goes on a long time.

My only, very minor niggle is the cover and title. My first impression, at a glance, was that it was a BDSM erotic romance. It's not. I wouldn't have minded if it were, but I do fear that some readers will be disappointed, and some readers who'd have liked the sf-romance blend might miss it. Of course, most people probably do read the back of the book before buying, so maybe it's not a problem.

I'll definitely be looking for Nalini Singh's backlist, and watching for her future books. ( )