HEART OF OBSIDIAN: Psy-Changeling #12 - June 4, 2013!

From the publisher’s site on Psy-Changeling #12…

Get ready for a major event in the smash-hit New York Times bestselling series—a secret finally revealed, and fans are guaranteed an epic surprise.

In 2006, Nalini Singh introduced the beguiling and sensual Psy/Changeling world in Slave to Sensation, which spawned a series that has had readers and critics cheering. Througout the incredible 11-book run there has been one question that has tantalized Nalini’s legion of fans. Now, in the eagerly-awaited twelfth book in the series, Nalini Singh finally reveals the answer to the biggest Psy/Changeling mystery—an answer so surprising we wouldn’t dare spoil it. Even if we knew.

Features a secret so shocking, the title can’t be revealed until publication.

The title can't be revealed until publication? I can't see that actually being kept a secret until June. Somebody is going to slip and publish it somewhere. The title must obviously be significant though in some way.

hmm, ja, you´re right...it´s obvious that there is something to reveal, something special...otherwise they would tell the title officially...

I have a feeling that the title is going to feature the word 'Ghost' in it, as in 'Ghost of [insert word here]', hence why they can't reveal the title......and probably not who the main characters are either now that I think about it...

OMG really! I cannot wait that long.
I guess it will reveal who the Ghost is and be Kaleb and Sahara's story.

Let's bet Alice and Kaleb hook up and the Ghost is revealed as Kalebs Twinbrother (would be awesome if "he" was a "she" and "she" just fooled us all the time ).

Good Twin/Evil Twin? In that case, Judd would think he knew who the Ghost was but didn't really.

Hmmm...a confirmation that either Kaleb or Vasic is the Ghost isn't going to shock anyone methinks.

Now, if we're talking of something outlandish, like...the Ghost isn't really a person at all but an astral projection of that person Kaleb has been searching for...lol. now, that would be something that would surprise me.

Now that's a fun theory!

You're right that neither Kaleb or Vasic would be particularly shocking. I hope that Nalini and her publisher aren't hyping this too much. I remember how Christine Feehan made a big deal out of keeping the heroine of Dark Predator a secret up until release last year, and it turned out to be the most obvious candidate so she had readers rolling their eyes.

OMFG!

I wanna know like... NOW!

Ok, no, I don´t, but... ugh!

My Guess ist:

It will be Kaleb´s book... but he isn´t the Ghost ^^

Scratch that!

In the Q&A I did with her in berlin, she said, we didn´t have to wait for long, to see, if Vasic would make it.
As in.. we don´t have to wait very long.
*jaw drops*

Oh my god, my sweet, sweet baby... It might be Vasic's book....

*goes to curl up and cry from happiness*



Alright, let me flesh out my theory. See above, why I think it might be Vasic (Oh god, please, let it be Vasic...)
Anyhow...

After ToN, she said, the 2nd half of the story arc would span 2-4 more books and she already had parts of the next books written.
IF I remember correctly, it was said, the Ghost's book would be the last in the series.

So, we have two conflicting things here:

Both Kaleb and Vasic have had a major build up in the last book.

With Vasic stepping ever closer to the edge of no return, to the point, where Aden says, he can´t be left alone anymore and Kaleb finally finding his elusive prey.

Might be both. The Setup for either one is there.

Vasic's surely would be the more urgent story. While Kaleb would absolutely be the more breathlessly anticipated one. (except by me, of course... yeah, yeah, I know... but I´ve been waiting for it, since the first time he appeared on a page. Sue me!)

But then... add that comment from above.
Added it below for better reference.

And will Vasic get his own book dammit... or at least survive?

Wait and see. Wont have to wait very long,though (enter wild fangirl squee here... I´m not quite sure if I should be terrified...)

We still might find out, who the Ghost is, or Kaleb's mysterious lady.
Or If Vasic is truly a decendant of Said Adelaja or...

Everybody thinks, there aren´t many secrets left to explore. Oh boy, I can´t even express how wrong that statement is

Thanks, Fluff! Interesting stuff. I'm just as excited about Vasic's book as Kaleb's. Vasic is a great, tortured character and I so want him to find peace and happiness like Judd.

Hmm, maybe it's Vasic and Kaleb that are twins lol.

Ran out of cans.

Pat, you lost me here

Me too lol!

Just a quick update.
I asked Nalini on FB if we would find out who the main characters are, or if that is also too much of a reveal since the title is being kept hidden and she responded with:

Alas, I'm afraid I can't answer any questions about the book as yet. You'll have to wait and see.

...which is pretty much a non-answer. I wouldn't be surprised if she's midst discussion with her publisher(s) about how much she can reveal to the fan base.

TheFLuff wrote:Pat, you lost me here

Lulu2011 wrote:Me too lol!

Sorry. Argh! >_< I spend too much time on tumblr when I'm sick.. I meant, "I can't even", which led to "I lost the ability to can", and that to "I ran out of cans". All as in, I don't really know what to say about this, and I'm not sure I can even properly talk or comment on the whole thing, because daaaamn.

Like..



It's really hard behaving like a normal person once you spent 30 hours on tumblr and haven't properly eaten for days because yo're sick.

I know if there won't be any spoilers or hints ... I simply will get bored and stop reading the next books. I also thinkg that they HAVE to say something, for promotion and stuff.

I have to agree. Even if we don't get an excerpt and teasers like we usually do they have to release the title at least. How will the book sellers make the book available for preorder and stuff if they don't? To keep fans interested they have to do something besides say its so big that they can't say anything about it.

that´s a very good point, hmmpf, can´t wait....

Didn't someone mention another author doing something similiar? How did that work back then?

(Just some theories.. Not saying I actually, really believe all of that, but it *might* be.)

As for the rest.. I think Nalini has a strong enough fandom to actually be "allowed" to do something as eccentric as not telling anyone what the book is about and so on. It will probably slip out a week or so before, because of how ordering books works, but it might be possible that apart from that, they'll manage to keep it a secret. - And there are many titles where no review copies get sent out at all or where reviewers have to sign a contract about not spilling the goods.

And.. well, promotion. Sure, if she wanted new readers, and I suppose she wants, but most new readers start with the first, or pick a book up when they see it in the stores, meaning that THEN the title will already be revealed. (As goes for browing through whereever and stumbling upon #12) Whereas the fans will all be somewhat excited enough to be like, "Whatever, Arrows, Ghosts, Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

It's not that risky a move, because she has a very loyal readership, plus the next Guild Hunter novel and the anthology/collection coming out the same year.

It´s actually pretty easy to pull this off.

You have a dedicated fanbase, that is invested in the characters and the storyline and knows the mysteries, still unanswered.
You drop the hints... and watch how speculation runs wild.

If the hype dies down a little, you drop another tiny tidbit and so on.

^^

It´s basically: let the fans do the promo.

Bad move.
I mean, I'm interested in what's going to happen further in the plot but after Kiss of Snow ... my hyper-fanism stopped a little. I mean, okay, I really wanna know what's Kaleb all about but still ... not that much that I would buy the new book right away.
But in case there are some spoilers ... why not? Usually I read the reviews before I buy a book (kept me from buying Fifty Shades).

It can be a good tactic to excite established fans, but it can also backfire. With Christine Feehan's Dark Predator, they did not release the name of the heroine until like a month or so before the release date I think. And the thing was, it was just so completely obvious who she was! If you read Dark Peril then you could totally tell!

Also, I have got to say I really, really want to know about the next book. That cliff hanger from TON was just cruel.

I honestly can't see how the secrecy would fire up the established fans, I mean we've been speculating for so long, we really don't need encouragement.

But like I said before, the only thing would shock me is if neither Vasic nor Kaleb is the Ghost. :3

As for new fans...wouldn't recommend starting with book 12.^^ though to be honest, I was only hooked after CbI. The first two books were OK, but nothing I would rave about.

As far as shifters stories goes, Lucas and Vaughn weren't "something new". And sorry to say this, but as Psy, Sascha and Faith's abilities are 'meh'.
I've asked Nalini if we'll have a female Arrow for a heroine, but it seems the current political climate won't allow for it, her words, if memory serves right. Bah! There's only Sienna and that Psy in Venice. the distribution of 'psy gifts' is very lopsided, I say we go on mutiny!