I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

FINAL DECISION: A dark, emotional, and satisfying second-chance romance, ATONEMENT SKY explores pain, guilt, and healing in the way only the Psy-Changeling series can. Eleri and Adam’s story delivers the emotional intensity and character depth that long-time readers crave, while still pushing the series-wide arc forward in meaningful ways.

THE STORY: Justice Psy Eleri Dias knows her time is almost up. Her shields are deteriorating, and psychic burnout is imminent. She travels to Raintree, Arizona, to track a serial killer—but also to confront the one man she’s never been able to forget. Adam Garrett, now wing leader of a group of falcon changelings, was once a teenage boy who opened her heart, and then lost everything. Their reunion is strained, as ten years of pain and misunderstanding sit between them, but the case forces them into close proximity. As they work to uncover a killer, they also unearth long-buried truths about what really happened in the past… and what they still mean to each other.

OPINION: Eleri and Adam had a connection from the start, but were torn apart by events neither could control. A decade later, that connection hasn’t faded, but has only been avoided by both of them. I appreciated that both characters had to change in order to reunite with each other. Adam’s shift from bitterness to open devotion is rewarding. Eleri, meanwhile, learns how to let herself feel again and to choose love, even at great cost.  Adam and Eleri both carry the weight of their past, and I liked that the book allowed them space to work through it. Nothing is easy between them. Adam has to face the consequences of his own assumptions, and Eleri has to reckon with choices she made at a time when she had very little power. I found their journey believable and compelling, especially as they slowly begin to trust each other again. There is real gentleness between them once they move past the anger. Adam and Eleri are sweet together after much pain from their past, and that tenderness gives the story its emotional weight.

The pacing of the book is especially well done. Just when things seem to be going right, the emotional and plot tension ramps up again. The romance unfolds alongside an ongoing murder investigation, and the mystery gives the story momentum. I liked how the case wasn’t just a backdrop. It ties into the broader Psy-Changeling world and ends up providing answers to lingering questions in the series. Singh strikes a strong balance here: the emotional core of the book is the relationship, but the external stakes raise the urgency and keep the story grounded in the larger series arc.

I also really liked that Sasha and Lucas (one of my favorite couples) make significant appearances. For a time, it felt like Singh was using the Trinity arc to move away from the original cast, but I’m glad to see more and more of the original crew returning in meaningful ways. It adds depth, continuity, and emotional weight for longtime readers. That’s especially true of Sophia and Max, whose presence in this book is not just background. They play a critical role, and in many ways, this book gives them a powerful second act. Their story is still unfolding, and I found their scenes just as compelling as the main arc.

WORTH MENTIONING: We finally get an in-depth look at a falcon-shifter clan. Their aerial lifestyle, cultural bonds, and protectiveness add a new dynamic to the changeling world.

CONNECTED BOOKS: ATONEMENT SKY is the ninth book in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series, which continues the overarching Psy-Changeling storyline and is book twenty-four. While this book can be read on its own, readers will get more out of it with some background. BONDS OF JUSTICE (Psy-Changeling #8), which features Sophia as the heroine, offers important context and ties directly into her role here.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE: I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley in order to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.