This is book three in The Others series, which is one of my absolute favourite paranormal fantasy series at the moment. While you are given enough information to start with this one, you’ll get the most enjoyment if you start at the beginning, with the excellent Written in Red. There will also be minor spoilers for the earlier books in the series here, so if you don’t like that sort of thing, skip the review until you’re caught up.
In a world where humans are in a minority, and frequently considered legitimate prey by the supernatural races who control the land, tensions are mounting. Many of the cassandra sangue, the female blood prophets who see visions when their skin is cut, have been rescued and the Others have placed “the sweet blood” as they call them, under their protection. Most of the women and girls have lived their entire lives in monitored captivity, however, and a lot of them can’t handle their new-found freedom, causing mental breakdowns or even suicides. It falls to Meg Corbyn, the woman who first managed to escape and has been making a life for herself with the Others of the Lakeside Courtyard to provide guidance. Aided by her human friends, she attempts to write down what she’s learned is important for her to feel safe and comfortable.
The Humans First and Last movement is growing, and it’s becoming clear that a lot of the humans who are on friendly terms with the shapeshifters and other creatures in Lakeside are experiencing discrimination and prejudice. “Wolf lovers” might find themselves losing their jobs or even homes. Simon Wolfgard and the other prominent Others in the Courtyard have to consider what to do to aid these humans who have so important to their Meg and shown themselves to be useful and friendly, not just prey. The news reports speak of food shortages all over Thaisia (think North America), which none of the Others can understand, and the strained relationship between humans and Others is getting worse in many places on the continent. Possible insight into the cause of the food shortages comes with the arrival of Officer Montgomery’s daughter, alone on a train, with a blood-stained teddy bear, containing a small fortune in gem stones. Her mother, Montgomery’s ex, was dating one of the most outspoken HFL spokesmen, and it’s clear something has triggered her sending their daughter unaccompanied across the country to her father.
I don’t know how many books Anne Bishop is planning in this series, but she’s fleshing out the world building and the tense political situation with every book. More on my blog.
Oooh, I hadn’t realized that the third one came out! Great review and thanks for letting me know!
You’re welcome. Being immensely fond of making lists for all manner of things (especially books), I have list of when all the books I’m interested are going to be released. This book was one of my most anticipated in the first half of the year and I’m glad to say it didn’t disappoint.
Adding The Others to TBR!!
I had no idea this was out! Yay for good surprises!
I’ll be heading out to my favorite bookstore and getting this today. Thanks!
I got solidly stuck 2/3rd of the way through book #1. There was so no real peril (at no time did I believe one of the wolves was actually going to eat her) and if I had to read another paragraph detailing how she was filing paperwork I was going to fall asleep with my head on my Kindle. But you (highly trusted book reviewer) adore this series! Do they get better? Is book #1 just the weak installment? It felt like chapter after chapter of her walking the puppy, filing paper, buying groceries, feeding puppy, chatting with friendly vampire, more paperwork, etc.
Such a beloved series, why am I struggling to hard to get into it?
See, I can’t even properly put into words what grabbed me so much about Written in Red, which I think may still be my favourite of the series. I just REALLY liked Meg, and the very different feel to the series, with the supernatural creatures being so dominant in society and the real sense of danger to humanity, which is so rarely there in most paranormal/urban fantasy. I liked reading about Meg getting used to mundane things like walking the puppy, filing, tentatively exploring the Courtyard and allowing us to learn about the power dynamics of that world alongside her. If you didn’t like book 1, I’m not sure you’re going to like the series – as I said, I loved it, it was one of my favourite books of 2013.
Not all books and authors are for everyone. From what I can gather from the reviews of book 2 and 3, you are given enough information to pick each of those books up as your first entry into the world. You may want to give Murder of Crows, book 2, a try instead. Meg is a lot more settled and it’s probably the most action-packed of the books so far. If you don’t like that one, I think this series may be a lost cause for you.