Friday, February 01, 2013

Psy/Changeling #12 Cover & Title Reveal!!


HEART OF OBSIDIAN
JUNE 2013
Cover Art: Tony Mauro
Hand Lettering: Ron Zinn
Jacket Design: George Long (Art Director)

How much do I love this cover? Oh, let me count the ways!! Love, love, LOVE!!! Huge thanks to the brilliant people behind it!



_____________________


Don't forget, the next Psy/Changeling relelease is WILD INVITATION in March! Excerpts from all four novellas now available on the website.




130 comments :

punzel said...

Love it!

Elenariel said...

Wonderful! I love the colors, the text font, the title, the rain!

azteclady said...

Back cover blurb??????


aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh

KT Grant said...

Now the main question... is it my man in black that I adore? I think so ;)

Amber said...

OOOHHH! So pretty! I Love, love, love!

Annoyed said...

Best cover yet!!

Shiloh Walker said...

as always, tony knocks it out of the park

Anonymous said...

i want!!!

Anonymous said...

Okay, okay... I LOVE this cover, it's so sexy, but I'm dying with curiosity... what or who is is about?

A Weber said...

Definitely my favorite cover so far! BUT WHOSE BOOK IS IT?!?!

Marie's Salon du Livre said...

and the question

WHO??? is it about :)

DhesiX said...

HOLY SH*T!! This is soooooo badass!!! Love it! My favorite for sure!

Tracy said...

Beautiful! Love it. :)

Wendy said...

Yes, back cover blurb!!!!! When ToN came out I almost broke the next page button on my Kindle! But I'm hopeful. Obsidian makes me think of someone like Kaleb or Vasic. Kind of ominous if you look at the background. Buildings on fire, cars overturned, power lines down. Some major TK, perhaps????

Unknown said...

Oh man, this is gorgeous! Can't wait to read it.

fishgirl182 said...

nice! i have my theories on who this is about...

Una said...

Love it!!! Stunning, beautiful and has my mind running a mile a minute trying to gleen information! Way to go!!

azteclady said...

I'm not sure I'm gonna make it until release day--the suspense, bad for the blood pressure!

Unknown said...

LOVE it! I can not wait for this book! :)

~ Anna @ BLM

MRM said...

Wicked Hott!

-Mistie

Anonymous said...

Love, Love, Love it!!! Can't wait...I'm with the others...WHO is it about, hmmm??? June can't get here fast enough! Thank you for all of the wonderful stories you write, Nalini, I have each one and can't wait for more!
Kristi Whynott

Anonymous said...

OMG, it's GORGEOUS !!!! O.O
When do we get the back cover blurb??

~Jana

Heather said...

LOVE the cover!!!! Tony Mauro did a great job making your name and the title pop out of the image. Cant wait for this book

Clovera said...

OMG! That's a fantastic cover!!!
I love it!!!!
... but... a back cover blurb?
A name?
something...?
Pleeeeease!!! I'm dying of curiosity!!
Alessandra (Italy)

Michelle Santiago said...

LOVE it. :D

Anonymous said...

The German Covers are the best.... Sorry Ladies ;)

Jackie (Literary Escapism) said...

Love it! So can't wait for June now.

Anonymous said...

Love it! Can't wait!

lia said...

erm. Why was this cover kept secret?! It doesn't reveal anything.

Anonymous said...

LOVE <3 so excited now! :D

Anonymous said...

Great!
I do have a suspicion - long black coat!!!

Whitney said...

LOVE it! As does everyone on the goodreads.com thread. : ) We're raving about it. Best cover yet!

Anonymous said...

Mrs. Nalini the alpha author! - How true:-).

Smart Woman - Where is the back cover blurb?

Katy said...

I love the cover so mysterious and warm !!! <3

Anonymous said...

Love it!! Hopefully is the Ghost's history. Or maybe Kaleb's? If it's not, Aden's or Vasic's will do!

Regina said...

Beautiful cover!!!! Now I want to know who the hero is...

Nanik said...

This one is definitely my favourite!! I love the colors, the mystery of this man... But please... Who is it??

Heart of Obsidian? Sounds great!! I can't wait!!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous! Looking forward to the synopsis

Beth said...

The cover is absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to read it

Anonymous said...

Oh poor San Fran...did you set afire again?

Nalini Singh said...

So glad you all love the cover! We're giving you approx a month to discuss / speculate / come up with conspiracy theories &/or chocolate bribes, before posting the blurb March 5th :-)

(And yes, there is a clue in the cover.)

Anonymous said...

Hmmm.. my guess is Aden or Vasic. Kaleb's won't be for a few books yet is my bet. Although I would LOVE his story next :)

Anonymous said...

i had a closer look on the cover and believe that the man holds something in his right hand. Maybe a charm?

Seiyuuki said...

I love the cover!
It's a great artwork!!!

But let's look for the clue...
look at his right hand, what could that be?
Any suggestions?

Everything else (as far as I can see) you have already mentioned.

So maybe that is the clue?


I can't wait to read it!!!

Anonymous said...

In Kiss of Snow the Ghost went into the obsidian archives to look for info on Alice. Sure looks like a star in his hand. Voila Kalebs book about the person he found and he's the ghost.

Unknown said...

I still think Vaasic is the ghost.
but maybe it really is Kaleb. Either way I'm really excited :D

Nanik said...

It could be Kaleb (he might be Ghost), but this man doesn't look like a Psi. Or does he? At least I feel so many emotions, when I look at this cover :)

Hmm.. The Arrows wear black, I believe.

Anonymous said...

Love it!!

Anonymous said...

Oh PLEASE let it be about my favorite Kaleb. I remember he had access to the Obsidian Archives!

Anonymous said...

AAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!! I am now sat doing an autopsy of the cover to find clues as to WHO is the GHOST!!!

taurus said...

Gorgeous cover - can't wait to read it!

Sherri L. said...

Love the cover can't wait to find out who he is. Like everyone else have some ideas but have to wait and see. Thanks for the preview Nalini.

Cynthia said...

It is KALEB. He has a charm & he can search the archives. He also can connect with the Darkmind. Finally, no one, including Judd has seen the face of the Ghost. Who is Kaleb searching for....?

Lege Artis said...

Beautiful cover. And it doesn't reveal anything.
I have an idea for clue. I found this:
Obsidian was valued in Stone Age cultures because, like flint, it could be fractured to produce sharp blades or arrowheads.
Can it be Vasic?

Christine P. said...

According to wikipedia...
the breakdown of obsidian can be accelerated by rain!!!!
I can't wait for June!

bookeateer said...

gorgeous, sexiest, Mysterious.. i love it!! can´t wait!!

azteclady said...

Are we even sure it's set in San Francisco?

And I agree that it's a gorgeous cover, but honestly, the suspense is killing me here!

Diane said...

Love it and when can we have a small blurb???

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love this.... its my one bright spot for the year!!!!
Baking some cookies and cakes in anticipation of the blurb.... Would you like some cookies Ms Singh :D maybe even a piece of cake?? A whole cake?? just for you??? and maybe we can trade the blurb for the cake and cookies :D

Anonymous said...

I do like the cover, it reveals much more about the series than the earlier covers. I was wondering if you knew when the British/Australian/New Zealand cover will be out and the release date :)

Anonymous said...

This is random and out of topic...but is there ever going to be a Nikita book? I don't know why I thought of that...

Mel said...

Love, love, love it!!! Now all I need is the blurb. Well, what I really need is to read this book already, but since that won't be possible until June I'll be happy with the blurb (for now).

I know that everyone is thinking that the book will feature either the Ghost, or Kaleb or Vasik. However, I have my fingers crossed for Nikita; after all, she is the only character every changeling keeps saying that has a black heart or heart of stone =D

Unknown said...

Hmmm - I'd love Vasic to have a happy ending myself.

Angela said...

I can not even begin to say how happy seeing this made me this morning! I'm so excited :)

Anonymous said...

Maybe Nikita is the Ghost. I don't think she's exactly who she appeared to be in the first books. I could see her with a secret identity.

Sofia said...

The word Obsidian has to be the biggest clue!!! I believe it relates to the Dark Mind which Kaleb/Ghost has an infinity to, also the face is hidden which leads me to believe the story is about Kaleb as the Ghost.

Love the cover and the title of the book, awaiting impatiently for the release date

Anonymous said...

It rocks!

Now I just need a time machine to June please! Can't wait!!!

Anonymous said...

That´s sneaky Nalini... and v-e-r-y frustrating... - But I´ve to admit, that´s one of the things I don´t want to miss:-).

Hm... San Francisco is a possibility... looks like rails on the street. And it looks like he´s holding something in his hand...

Soooo..whom do we see here?

azteclady said...

The Ghost is male--remember those scenes in Tangle of Needs told from the Ghost's point of view? Male pronouns.

With that said, I would love to know more about Nikita--and having her story would be fantastic--but I just can't see her breaking Silence so I doubt she would make a good main heroine.

Anthony, on the other hand...

Eva, I see the rails on the street, but as iconic as they are, there are other cities in the world that have them. Is the skyline distinctive enough to tell, though? Not sure here.

Anonymous said...

I see your point azteclady, but we`ve now one month to dream.
(And I like the thought of Nalini rolling her eyes:-). I think we should give her the pleasure.).

Wendy said...

I can't tell what's in his hand, no matter how much I enlarge the picture :( But on Goodreads there's a blurb from the publisher that says the mystery everyone's been wondering about will be answered, and there will be an epic surprise. So I think we'll find out who the Ghost is! I still think it's Kaleb, though that almost seems too obvious. Remember at the end of KoS when Judd was talking to Aden at the church? Aden tells Judd that he's been sent to kill him, and Judd says Kaleb didn't give that order? Judd seems awfully sure of that....

Wendy said...

Love the cover: nice not to have so much flesh on display! But it is a terrible tease (why do I think you are grinning, Nalini Singh?). I hope it's not the Ghost. I think he should be the last one in the story arc. I'm hoping for Vasic.

Anonymous said...

The German cover of book 12 shows a man with a falcon tattoo on his back. So I thought that maybe it's about Adam, the leader of "Windhaven"?! What do you think, guys?

Wendy D said...

Ooh! Adam would be exciting, too. A new changeling pack!

Anonymous said...

Born and raised in San Francisco, the rails are for the trolley car and the buildings are the correct skyline - see the beveled top on the highrise to the right. That is home.

azteclady said...

Anonymous, born and raised in Mexico City, there are areas there where the trolleys still run, hence my question. Thanks for IDing the setting for us.

Mera said...

Love the cover. I wonder how will be the french one?
One more thing to say: June is too far!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Great cover. From this cover I'm thinking it's an arrow Phy and also the Ghost.

Can't wait!

Rosenkreuz said...


Cover is so coool and mysterious....so excited to find out who the protagonist is on this book...hope he's one of my favorite Psy....can't wait!!!!!!

Bev said...

Love it. I think its about Kaleb who I think is also the Ghost.

Anonymous said...

Love the title! I think it's Kaleb the Ghost story.

Lege Artis said...

I think it's Vasic. Obsidian is also known as traveler's stone. And Vasic is called a Traveler.

bookeateer said...

OMG!! I need a Microscope because i can´t to find a clue!! is he Kaleb, is Kaleb the Ghost? is Vasic? is San Francisco??? is Aden?? awaiting impatiently for the release date!!

Anonymous said...

The German back cover blurb for HoO:

"Vergessen Sie alles, was Sie bislang zu wissen glaubten! Ãœber Geheimnisse. Ãœber Rache. Ãœber
Verlust und Schmerz. Der Tag der Abrechnung ist gekommen! Ein Roman, der die Welt der Gestaltwandler erschüttern wird - mit der schockierenden Antwort auf eine explosive Frage, die schon jetzt die Leserinnen in aller Welt in Atem hält. Die sensationelle Fortsetzung von Nalini Singhs Gestaltwandlerserie ist ein Muss für jeden Fan!"

It has to be Kaleb!!

Anonymous said...

I translated the German backcover blurb so that people who don't understand German know what it says.
"Forget everything you think you know about secrets, about revenge and about pain and loss. The day of reckoning has come! A novel that will shake the world of the psy-changelings- shoking answers to an explosive question that even now keeps readers from all over the world on their toes. The sensational continuation of Nalini Singh's psy-changelings series is a must have for every fan."

Nita* said...

First: LOOOOOOOOOVE
Second: Hum......I'm really hoping for one of my favorite Arrows.
when does the countdown for the back cover blurb start?!?! ;) ;)

Anonymous said...

... I think it`s Kalebs book.

azteclady said...

Well, way up thread, Nalini said that the blurb will be posted on March 5th so...


Oh good lord, this is torture--and I still can't figure out the clue, unless the clue is that it takes place in San Francisco?

Lady Heather said...

This title and this cover are better as the german version. My favorit for the ghost is ... Vasic. He is powerful and he is lonesome. Kaleb is not lonesome enough and Aden was Walker Laurens student. He have hope.

Nanik said...

Vasic as Ghost? I like this idea. I'm counting down the days...

Sarah Jane said...

I've been pondering this for days. Going back and forth between Kaleb and the Arrows. But I have now totally changed my mind.

It's Adam, Wingleader of Windhaven.

I re-read some of the comments and a couple were focusing on what was in his hand.... but to me it didn't look like there was anything in his hand, it looked like it might be a prosthetic or injured somehow. I then followed a comment leading to the German cover which has a picture of a man with an eagle tattoo.....then I remembered that Adam shattered his wing in Branded by Fire.

Anonymous said...

What if Kaleb has a (secret) tattoo?

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone. I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid or not, but I think I see a face among the smoke. It looks like a woman's face. Her head is tilted and she seems to be staring back at you. Her face is right under the letter "G". Does anyone see this?

Lady Heather said...

@Nanik:
Thank you!

@Sarah Jane:
On the german cover wie can see an eagle-tattoo. I don`t like the message in this picture. I want to read about Kaleb Krychek in June not about Adam. I like to read about the Windhavens, but not in June.

@Eva:
I hope so.

Alexa Davis said...

OMIGOD!!! IS THAT VASIC????

Casee said...

That's one hot cover!

Kelsey said...

Does anyone else see the very faint shape of an arrow below the G...to the right of the man by his elbow? Or am I just going crazy?

haz said...

I can't see anything, no arrow, no woman's face, no bracelet.
This is gonna drive me crazy for the next few weeks.

Unknown said...

I don't see the face or arrow that some of you are seeing, or anything is his hand and I downloaded both covers and increased the size so I could zoom in and get a better look.
I do think this is about Vasic though and that he is the ghost. Vasic hinted in the last book that he was reaching the end of his ability to hold back his powers, and we know what happens to those people when that happens. I think he is going to end up in San Fran and he will get hooked up with a changling.
I can't wait till the blurb comes out to see if I am close :)

Unknown said...

This cover is awesome. I downloaded it so I could zoom in looking for the stuff people were talking about but couldn't see anything in his hand, no face in the smoke and no arrow by is right elbow.
I do however think this is about Vasic, and I would be tickled pink if so. He was getting depressed as a Psy in silence can last book because he was loosing control. I can totally see him as the ghost. I am so excited about this book.

Unknown said...

This is a great cover. The setting, the colors, the angle of the view. Everything!

Anonymous said...

So, I'm not posting any speculation (here) about the book contents, but a question: I can preorder the hardcover on Amazon, but there's no Kindle version available for preorder. Is the ebook being released later? I'd rather have a hardcover in an ideal world, but, in this one, I have a toddler. He's already indicated that the Psy-Changeling books are especially tasty, but he's not so interested in eating my Kindle.

Nalini Singh said...

The ebook will release the same time as the hardcover. The Kindle pre-order link usually shows up a little after the hardcover link. Just keep an eye out :)

azteclady said...

Nalini,

Have pity on us, put us out of our mysery...

WHO THE H... IS IT ABOUT????

Pretty pretty please with lotsa love on top?

Anonymous said...

Maybe the ghost and a woman from the windhavens?

Anonymous said...

Maybe the ghost and a woman from the windhavens

Anonymous said...

I think I see the face. It is right under the letter g. It's only part of a face though. I can see an eye, a nose, and the other eye is quite blurry. The face is tilted at a 45 degree angle. Does anyone see this?

Wendy said...

Looking at the German cover, I have to say Adam. But then, while I think Kaleb is the Ghost, I don't think he is who everybody thinks he is. I don't think he is really an unexpected cardinal born to two low gradients. So who knows? Maybe he has a falcon tattoo that we don't know about.

Anonymous said...

Kaleb has a "brand" on his forearm. It's mentioned in the Clay/Tally book (Mine to Possess?) as something that has changed the course of his life and would endanger his careful plans if people knew what it meant. I once wondered if it was the star, but he carries the platinum charm, so it probably isn't.

(That's also the book which indicates the Ghost can't be Aden or Vasic; neither would be in a public meeting in a NY bar as an alibi. Also, the Ghost doesn't care enough about children to be Vasic.)

I would *absolutely* agree with your interpretation that Kaleb isn't who everyone thinks he is. One might suspect he's part changeling-- perhaps the mythical changeling shark. :) Okay, it doesn't fit with a bird brand, but fits in nicely with what we've seen of his personality...


Oops; sorry. I said no speculation here. Very glad to hear that the ebook will be available.

I really need to look at the German cover, apparently.

Unknown said...

GAWD im soooo freaking xcited! going to re-read!! arrrggggghhhhhhh

Wendy said...

Anonymous

I wondered about part Changeling, too. And the star charm I wondered if it was connected to NightStar? When Kaleb said should be able to find the woman he was looking for, my first thoughts were a mate (which indicates a changeling, but why would a changeling have shields stripped and be so hidden?) or a twin. Hmmm. So many theories, so little time....

Matt said...

Could it be Teijan the alpha of The rats?

Anonymous said...

I think the ghost could be Anthony Kyriakus. I can't wait to find out who it is and who his lady love will be.

taptra said...

The covers for both books are as beautiful as ever....i'm sure as always i'll be burning the engines in my kindle app....then read it several more times....

Anonymous said...

PLEASE GIVE ME MORE INFORMATION ON STORY LINE!!!!! Your teasing is hard to take! Is that the ghost?
Lesa

Anonymous said...

Absolutely love it! I think this book is about Adam from Windhaven

Lady Heather said...

I have locate the clue in the cover, but I don`t understand this little object, so I have nothing ;-)

Devoted said...

Gotta say... Not a fan of the covers on these editions. I like the Australian (think they're Aussie anyway) ones with the black covers and the half faces. Thought they should have made sure the faces bare at lest a similarity to the character in question.

PS. My 2cents on the plot in general;
- Kaleb is the ghost
- Vasic will end up with either Alice or Lily
- Kaleb's prey is probably the swan changeling Enrique made him watch or help torture
- and I'm thinking, at least part of Kaleb's drive to find the swan (who Enrique managed to 'mind evolve' as he has Brenna) is the start of a mating bond.

Not that I'm opinionated or anything . Have just read this series for something like the fifth time and just can't wait for June!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Wendy:

Sahara NightStar (Faith's cousin) has been missing the right amount of time. Henry wondered if Shoshanna had a captive F-Psy.

I wonder about Kaleb and flight: his house has the balcony-without-railing-over-gorge, noted as making sense only for those who fly or teleport. He finds the gorge tempting: perhaps tempting to fly, not end it all? Of course, he does think that it isn't his house, so maybe the person he's found can fly.

It seems like it will trace back to whatever Enrique was doing. We still don't know what he wanted with Sascha, since Sascha's interpretation that he "knew" was clearly wrong. Kaleb thinks that they wouldn't have found DNA, too. Kaleb let Nikita get his training records; I believe he thought something about how she'd draw the wrong conclusions.

Thank heavens there's not much more time to speculate. I, too, can come up with wrong conclusions aplenty.

azteclady said...

Not more much time to speculate? Only if this one is either Kaleb's or the Ghost's story--which we have YET to have confirmed.

The wait is killing me, killing me, I tell you!

Terri said...

These books are now old friends. I've read them so often, I had to get them all electronically, because I was reading them to pieces. :) The series is so wonderfully complex and every ending is so satisfying... and still manages to leave me impatient for the next book! Love, love, LOVE the new cover! As with every book in this series, I sit here with baited breath... Nahlini, you never disappoint. :)

Anonymous said...

Here is the official blurb from Penguin's website:

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.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.

Nanik said...

I went through all books once again and I think either Aden or Vasic is Ghost. Judd spoke with them and short after they left for Belgrad came the Ghost. Judd knows his identity (so knows Hawke), but doesn't want to look at his face.
This book may be about Kaleb (even if he is not the Ghost - I start to think Anthony is the Ghost). Who is his quarry? Her shields were broken, her mind is trapped in Net (could the changelings mind be trapped like this?) “No one knew they had taken what belonged to him.
No one alive anyway.” And she knows Kaleb better than anyone? Is it one of victims of Santano? What has happened six years ago? Is it possible, that… maybe… Kalbeb’s conditioning was broken – for a period of time – because of this woman? The charm he is always carrying with him belonged once to her…
And I wonder about Nikita – there was mentioned, her conditioning is perfect, but she isn’t silent. Maybe she has a E-designation (lower gradient)? Maybe this designation didn’t skipped the generation. But her smell…

azteclady said...

I'm not happy with the little blurb-ette over at amazon/Penguin (quoted a few comments upthread), because it does imply that this book is the Ghost's story, and if the actual blurb names the protagonists, it would be tantamount to revealing who the Ghost is even before cracking it open.

Way to spoil the whole thing.

Unless, of course, it's NOT the Ghost's story, in which case...GAME ON!!!



PS The wait is truly excruciating--I hope you are enjoying the beejeesus out of it, Nalini!

Ayaba said...

The cover is lovely. The wait is killing me. Wondering is the book will be published in electronic format. Been awhilse since i read a paper book

Nanik said...

I thought also about Zie Zen as Ghost...

Anonymous said...

Prefer the more discreet covers that don't tell everyone what you're reading about! UK ones definitely the best from what I've seen and less M&B. ALways ready for another of Nalini's book, however,even with a dodgy cover.

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