Review: Wild Country by Anne Bishop

Wild Country by Anne Bishop

The Others #7

In this powerful and exciting fantasy set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Others series, humans and the shape-shifting Others will see whether they can live side by side...without destroying one another.

There are ghost towns in the world—places where the humans were annihilated in retaliation for the slaughter of the shape-shifting Others.

One of those places is Bennett, a town at the northern end of the Elder Hills—a town surrounded by the wild country. Now efforts are being made to resettle Bennett as a community where humans and Others live and work together. A young female police officer has been hired as the deputy to a Wolfgard sheriff. A deadly type of Other wants to run a human-style saloon. And a couple with four foster children—one of whom is a blood prophet—hope to find acceptance.

But as they reopen the stores and the professional offices and start to make lives for themselves, the town of Bennett attracts the attention of other humans looking for profit. And the arrival of the Blackstone Clan, outlaws and gamblers all, will uncover secrets…or bury them.

I always enjoy returning to The Others world, and WILD COUNTRY was no exception. I especially enjoyed this look into a different town with new characters, but a few returning favorites, and that the timeline ran parallel to Meg's last book. Seeing things from a different perspective is always interesting. It added an extra element to getting to know all of the new characters. I particularly loved the dynamic between Jana and Virgil, and their little Wolfguard pack. Seeing Virgil the alpha Wolfguard trying to figure out how to navigate and deal with a female human member of his police pack was nothing short of hilarious. It definitely added the perfect amount of levity to tense situations in this plot.

It is fascinating just how incredibly stupid some people are in this world. The Others have proven time and time again they are top of the food chain, and yet so many idiots think they can run the show. While sometimes this series at a first glance may seem formulaic with new idiots trying to take things over each book, each new set of "idiots" brought an entirely new element to the series. I have to say the villains of this book may just take the cake in the stupidity, greediness, and absolute arrogance department. The world surely doesn't suffer fools. It was like a train wreck I could see coming a mile away, but I enjoyed every minute of seeing it unfurl.

Anne Bishop has done it once again, and WILD COUNTRY is another fantastic installment in The Others series that is not to be missed!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     All Things Urban Fantasy
     Between Dreams and Reality
     a GREAT read

Previous Books:
     1. Written in Red
     2. Murder of Crows
     3. Vision in Silver
     4. Marked in Flesh
     5. Etched in Bone
     6. Lake Silence

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Release Day Review: Lake Silence by Anne Bishop

Lake Silence by Anne Bishop

The Others #6

Human laws do not apply in the territory controlled by the Others–vampires, shapeshifters, and paranormal beings even more deadly. And this is a fact that humans should never, ever forget . . .

After her divorce, Vicki DeVine took over a rustic resort near Lake Silence, in a human town that is not human controlled. Towns like Vicki’s have no distance from the Others, the dominant predators that rule most of the land and all of the water throughout the world. And when a place has no boundaries, you never really know what’s out there watching you.

Vicki was hoping to find a new career and a new life. But when her lodger, Aggie Crowe–one of the shapeshifting Others–discovers a dead body, Vicki finds trouble instead. The detectives want to pin the man’s death on her, despite the evidence that nothing human could have killed the victim. As Vicki and her friends search for answers, things get dangerous–and it’ll take everything they have to stay alive.

While reading LAKE SILENCE I felt just a bit of deja vu, but in the best possible way. Many elements of the story felt similar to the first set up in the Others world. Everything was different, don't get me wrong, but similar feeling all the same with each setting bringing something different to the table. I had worried a bit that I would miss Meg and Simon and the Courtyard immensely, but these new characters and the Jumble pulled me in right from the start, making it feel like coming home again.

Just like in previous books in the series the main characters are fantastic, but the supporting cast is just as three dimensional and enjoyable. Our caretaker of the Jumble is Vicki. Like Meg, she's rather damaged, but very strong inside, and endears all of the Others two her. It put a huge smile on my face to see just how quickly the Others adopted her as well. Then of course you have all of the various humans and their shops on the good side of things. Plus a gruff but great cop named Wayne, and a seeing Intuit, Julian Farrow thrown in the mix that I really adored. Then getting into the Others, both large and small, they added a rich depth to the book. I particularly enjoyed the Sanquinati, Ilya, and the role he played in this book. He's scary but noble all at the same time, and I loved the juxtaposition. Add in the larger role the mysterious Elders play, and the Lady of the Lake, and LAKE SILENCE had one heck of a cast.

Then you have the plot, and oh boy was it a doozy. Vicki's claim on the Jumble is threatened, and to put it mildly, the Others do not take this well. You would think by now humans in general would know better, but I guess there's no limit to some people's greed. Their idiocy and shenanigans made for an interesting read, just seeing how bad things could get. 

All in all LAKE SILENCE was an incredibly enjoyable read. Fans of the first books in this series will be more than pleased with this new direction. I can't wait to see where things go next. 

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     Between Dreams and Reality
     Gizmo's Reviews
     Slapdash & Sunday

Previous Books:
     1. Written in Red
     2. Murder of Crows
     3. Vision in Silver
     4. Marked in Flesh
     5. Etched in Bone

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Review: Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop

Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop

The Others #5

After a human uprising was brutally put down by the Elders—a primitive and lethal form of the Others—the few cities left under human control are far-flung. And the people within them now know to fear the no-man’s-land beyond their borders—and the darkness…

As some communities struggle to rebuild, Lakeside Courtyard has emerged relatively unscathed, though Simon Wolfgard, its wolf shifter leader, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn must work with the human pack to maintain the fragile peace. But all their efforts are threatened when Lieutenant Montgomery’s shady brother arrives, looking for a free ride and easy pickings.

With the humans on guard against one of their own, tensions rise, drawing the attention of the Elders, who are curious about the effect such an insignificant predator can have on a pack. But Meg knows the dangers, for she has seen in the cards how it will all end—with her standing beside a grave.

ETCHED IN BONE was an utter treat. I have to admit while all the happenings in previous books centering around the major changes in the world were interesting and gripping, I missed the lesser focus on the Courtyard and Meg/Simon. They've had a very slow burn building up in a romance and I really appreciate how it was all woven together in ETCHED IN BONE. The slower pacing allowed for much more character focus this time around and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Don't get me wrong, there's no massive movement in said romance department, but enough that it satisfied my inner romantic, while still staying true to the characters. Very well done!

The first half of this book felt like the aftermath of a storm, a storm in the name of claw and teeth. So while the first half doesn't have much action, it paves the way for how everyone is going to adjust to the new ways, and it was enjoyable to watch them all trying and figure things out. Even more interesting, we get a more personal look into the claws and teeth. You can imagine how well their direct interaction with the courtyard turned out, leading to both some very tense moments and also strangely hilarious ones as well. 

That being said, while the first half or so of the book was about new beginnings, the second half took off with a massive bang. Things literally hit the fan, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I found the balance between the various pacings to be incredibly well done, with just the right amount of character focus, yet also adding in intense plot points to thrill. 

All in all this was a very good somewhat ending to a much loved series. The author has announced she'll be back to this world in the future. But for now, I'm more than satisfied with how everything played out. It was a perfectly fitting goodbye, and I know I'll be back to re-read this series again!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     Between Dreams and Reality
     My Guilty Obsession
     Just Read

Previous Books:
     1. Written in Red
     2. Murder of Crows
     3. Vision in Silver
     4. Marked in Flesh

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Kirsten Reviews: Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop

Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop

The Others #4

For centuries, the Others and humans have lived side by side in uneasy peace. But when humankind oversteps its bounds, the Others will have to decide how much humanity they’re willing to tolerate—both within themselves and within their community...

Since the Others allied themselves with the cassandra sangue, the fragile yet powerful human blood prophets who were being exploited by their own kind, the delicate dynamic between humans and Others changed. Some, like Simon Wolfgard, wolf shifter and leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn, see the new, closer companionship as beneficial—both personally and practically.

But not everyone is convinced. A group of radical humans is seeking to usurp land through a series of violent attacks on the Others. What they don’t realize is that there are older and more dangerous forces than shifters and vampires protecting the land that belongs to the Others—and those forces are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect what is theirs…

Marked in Flesh, the fourth book in Anne Bishop's The Others series continues the set in Namid, a world very much like our own, but one where humans are not the dominant form of life on the planet and are prey for the Others. As things stand, the Others have allowed humans to settle many parts of the planet, but have given them strict boundaries and control all natural resources that humans need to survive. The arrangement has worked, more or less for centuries, but every so often a group of humans radicalizes and begins stirring up trouble. In this case, the Humans First League have been attempting to provoke the Others with a series of attacks which break the treaty between the races and have awakened the Elders, Others so powerful that they are only whispers and unfortunately, these humans don’t believe the old stories.

Placed squarely in the middle of this conflict are the Others and humans of the Lakeside Courtyard. Simon Wolfguard, Wolf and leader of the Courtyard and blood prophet Meg Corbyn see the benefits in maintaining peaceful relations between the races, but must now contend with humans who see the Others and anyone associated with them as pests to be eliminated. However, these humans have no idea what sort of forces they have disturbed with their greed for the planet’s resources, and the time for talking has passed, war has arrived and while the Elders did not strike first, their wrath will leave scars on the entire world.

This series has a richly imagined world as well as a premise that can be seen as a bit of a cautionary tale, given the current misuse of natural resources, and there are many times in the book where readers will find themselves cheering on the forces of nature pushing back against human encroachment.

There are also plenty of interesting characters, with the focus being largely on the Lakeside Courtyard Others, humans associated with them, as well as several groups aligned with Lakeside. Bonds between the human law enforcement are strengthened, new characters enter the Courtyard, and some notable steps are taken by both Simon and Meg who are navigating the intricacies between humans and Others with some awkward and sweet moments.

The war has come, and its impact will not only determine the fate of many, but also very future of humanity's survival on Namid.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     Between Dreams and Reality
     Rabid Reads
     Hot Listens

Previous Books:
     1. Written in Red
     2. Murder of Crows
     3. Vision in Silver
     4. Marked in Flesh (Katie's Review)

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Review: Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop

Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop

The Others #4

For centuries, the Others and humans have lived side by side in uneasy peace. But when humankind oversteps its bounds, the Others will have to decide how much humanity they’re willing to tolerate—both within themselves and within their community...

Since the Others allied themselves with the cassandra sangue, the fragile yet powerful human blood prophets who were being exploited by their own kind, the delicate dynamic between humans and Others changed. Some, like Simon Wolfgard, wolf shifter and leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn, see the new, closer companionship as beneficial—both personally and practically.

But not everyone is convinced. A group of radical humans is seeking to usurp land through a series of violent attacks on the Others. What they don’t realize is that there are older and more dangerous forces than shifters and vampires protecting the land that belongs to the Others—and those forces are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect what is theirs…

I have to admit I may have danced a victory jig when I got my hands on this book. I absolutely love this series and wish the books would come faster. Each book blows me away and this one was no exception. At first the frequent shifting point of views were rather jarring and took a little while to get used to the flow. However, once I did I really appreciated all those multiple character angles as it allowed the suspense and pace to feel all the more widespread. Sure it didn't allow for quite as much character development in as in previous installments, but the action and horror of this book  would have out-shadowed any large growth anyway. That being said, Meg still continued to grow and for the first time I felt like real progress was made towards a long term solution to save her life. The thousand cut expiration has felt like a looming axe, and while nothing is certain, that hope makes me a very happy reader. I also really enjoyed the small progression in the hints of romance with Simon and Meg. Again it was more hope than anything certain, but it's that hope that keeps me sucked in.

The ramifications of all the Humans First and Last terrible actions ripple throughout making MARKED IN FLESH feel like a turning point in the series. With the things between human finally coming fully to a head, nothing will be the same. I can't tell you how many times while reading this book that I was blown away by the majority of the human's stupidity, audacity, and utter cruelty. And yet they call the Others, "monsters." Anne Bishop did an incredible job at making those stakes feel so real. I was horrified at the humans, and utterly terrified of the Elders. She crafted them in a way that they were fully fleshed, and yet still mysterious at the same time, making them all the more terrifying for it.

The Others series is simply put, one of the best urban fantasy series that I have ever read. Considering just how many books I've read in the genre, trust me when I say that this is the one to read. MARKED IN FLESH proved once again that this series is an utter powerhouse in the genre that I hope will continue on for many books to come. Run, do not walk to get your hands on this one.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     Between Dreams and Reality
     Rabid Reads
     Hot Listens

Previous Books:
     1. Written in Red
     2. Murder of Crows
     3. Vision in Silver

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Early Review: Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

The Others #3

The Others freed the cassandra sangue to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.

Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.

For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…

Frankly I'm not sure I can do this book and this series justice in this review, but I'm going to try. Sometimes, it amazes me just how much I love this series. I'm an unashamed romance addict and considering these have barely a hit of romance, you wouldn't think they would top my all time favorites list. But they do. They are simply that good, and VISION IN SILVER is no exception. From the moment I picked it up, I couldn't put it down, winding up reading until the wee hours of the morning just to find out how everything turned out. I cannot think of a single negative thing to say about this book, and that's a rare feat. Even when I love something, there still will be at least one part that wasn't the best for me, but that's not the case here. Serious kudos.

I really love how the world is ever expanding in this series, and yet it never looses focus on the characters that drew me in the first place. Meg has a new dimension added to her character as she realizes that she has reached her limit as her coping mechanisms start to fail. It frankly couldn't have come at a better time as this realization leads them to finding how to help her, and in turn the rest of the Sangue. She really is a pioneer and I adored her for it even as I had to watch her brutally struggle. On other expanding aspects, the political ramification have stepped up a notch, and the ending left me on the edge of my seat. I don't know how I'm going to wait until the next book to see where things go next.

I hope I've given this book and series the justice they deserve. Simply put this series, and VISION IN SILVER in particular is an absolute must buy for fans of Urban Fantasy. If you haven't tried this series yet, you just don't know what you are missing!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     Rabid Reads
     Between Dreams and Reality

Previous Books:
     1. Written in Red
     2. Murder of Crows

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Release Day Review: Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

The Others #2

After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.

The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murders of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard—Lakeside's shape-shifting leader—wonders whether their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or of a future threat.

As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet—and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.

One of my favorite things introduced in the previous book was that the monsters were well and truly monsters. They weren't romanticized beings, and would just as soon eat humans than tolerate them. I think that's what made them allowing Meg into their fold so captivating. The fierceness that they protect her with is astounding, which more than carried over into this installment. However, unlike the last book, these monsters are starting to seem a little less, well monster-like. But that's okay because it is handled in a way that they are not becoming humanized as so often seems to happen in books, but more towards evolving. They aren't losing that core of being uncivilized that I loved about them, but learning to temper certain things and grow. I really enjoyed seeing this small progression of change without them changing at the core. It was handle very well, and I couldn't be happier for it. 

While I'm normally more of a romantic fan even in the Urban Fantasy genre, as I like at least a little love in my books, this one is so incredibly good that I didn't feel a lack at all. That being said, there does seem to be a potential hint of romance in the future between Meg and Simon, but it's an honest one that will not be forced, nor should it be. Considering the two very different lives they come from, it just wouldn't work any other way. But I have to admit to enjoying seeing the two of them dance around this completely new territory for both, and it's more than a little fun to see Simon all flustered at times. I can't tell you how many times the antics between those two had me laughing out loud.

Written in Red was one of those books that just came out of nowhere, but wound up knocking me completely off my feet. In fact it probably was my top read for 2013, if not close to it. So, to say that I had been highly anticipating MURDER OF CROWS would be a slight understatement. That being said, I do have to admit that I was just a bit nervous to dive into this book as it had an incredible amount to live up to and and I was afraid it might let me down. I should have known better. MURDER OF CROWS was every bit as good as its predecessor, if not better. This is truly Urban Fantasy at its finest, and once I picked it up, I just could not put it down. If you read nothing else in this genre, this is the one you absolutely cannot miss. A resounding five stars and then some, MURDER OF CROWS is an absolute winner!

(Received a copy from the Publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     litslut
     The Social Potato Reviews

Previous Books:
     1. Written in Red

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Review: Written in Red by Anne Bishop

Written in Red by Anne Bishop

The Others #1

No one creates realms like New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop. Now in a thrilling new fantasy series, enter a world inhabited by the Others, unearthly entities—vampires and shape-shifters among them—who rule the Earth and whose prey are humans.As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others.

Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.

In a world very different than our own, where monsters known as the terra indigene, or Others rule, one woman seeks to change her fate. Meg Corbyn has the ability to see the future whenever her skin is broken, but once a spot it scarred it can never be used again. At least not without severe pain and consequences. All her life, she's been kept in captivity, kept ignorant by people who use her visions for profit. But they made a mistake when they double cut her skin to punish her for disobedience, as the vision she saw gave her the tools she needed to escape. The only safe place to go, is where human law doesn't apply, the Courtyard occupied by the Others. But she may have just jumped from the frying pan to the fire as the Others are more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.

The monsters in WRITTEN IN RED are exactly that, monsters. They call humans monkeys and see them as little more than meat. I think this quote more than anything shows what kind of Urban Fantasy this is:

Most of the terra indigene didn't want to love humans; they wanted to eat them. Why did humans have such a hard time understanding that?

Don't get me wrong, this isn't one of those horror books where the monsters are mindless beasts, living only for the kill. They just really aren't human, and no amount of wishful romanticizing on any human's part will change that. I mean humans "smelling like prey" played a huge part in this book. This may sound funny coming from a romance fan such as myself, but I really loved seeing the monsters without the romantic labels being shoved on them that has been so prevalent in the genre. It always seems like the monsters in urban fantasy are either completely incapable of rational thought and only induce terror, or they become almost diminished as they fall for a human. There was just something completely "other" about the terra indigene and it made for a very refreshing change of pace.

I absolutely adored Meg's character. She is the shining innocence and softness to the harsh reality that is the terra indigene. There's just something so childlike, yet strong that draws the rest of them in despite their gut reaction to want to rend humans. She was able to get away with things that no other human could have. Of course she isn't really quite human either, but she's not a monster either, so her standing up to them really endeared her to me. In turn, all of the Others in the courtyard turned their own antics up just to get a rise out of her, which was rather amusing. But more importantly, they also quickly formed a fierce protectiveness of her that was really surprising. It's like they were all momma bears and she was their cub, and they would rend anyone who even thought to look at her crosseyed. Of course they didn't really need any excuse to rend normally, but it still was endearing that they were so protective of her. I really enjoyed seeing that dynamic grow between her and the Others, but there was one dynamic that really stuck out to me. Now this may sound odd considering the fact that in the previous paragraph I had praised the fact that WRITTEN IN RED'S monsters weren't romanticized, but I did also notice the potential for stirrings between Meg and Simon. Which, due to Meg's "not prey" smell actually holds true to the world Anne Bishop has created, and won't lessen Simon a bit even if he falls for her. Let's face it, Meg isn't human, so the rules really don't apply to her. And like I said, there was potential, not that anything happened, and I think that really helped things stay true to the tone of the book. If anything happens, it will be with a solid foundation first.

I enjoyed WRITTEN IN RED so much that I'm ashamed to admit that I almost didn't read it. I had received it on my doorstep for review, but the blurb just didn't "grab" me. So since my review pile is pretty large, I put it aside and figured I would get to it if I had time. Then I read an early review from Abigail over at All Things Urban Fantasy that had me instantly excited about it. I picked it up that same night, and wound up being up past 3 am reading it. I paid for it the next day, but it was absolutely worth it. This book is everything an Urban Fantasy should be, and I cannot stress enough just how incredible it is. An absolute delight that deserves to be savored, WRITTEN IN RED is by far the best book I've read all year.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:

• All Things Urban Fantasy
• Red Hot Books
• The Midnight Garden

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