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    Murder of Crows
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    Murder of Crows
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    Murder of Crows
    Audiobook14 hours

    Murder of Crows

    Written by Anne Bishop

    Narrated by Alexandra Harris

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Return to New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop's "phenomenal" (Urban Fantasy Investigations) world of the Others-where supernatural entities and humans struggle to co-exist, and one woman has begun to change all the rules…

    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 murder 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 if their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or 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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMar 4, 2014
    ISBN9780698149489
    Unavailable
    Murder of Crows
    Author

    Anne Bishop

    Anne Bishop is the bestselling author of the Black Jewels series, the Tir Alainn Trilogy and the Landscapes of Ephemera series. Her novels are published in Australia, Germany, the UK and Portugal, as well as the United States. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading and music.

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    Reviews for Murder of Crows

    4.5/5

    533 ratings48 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Reviewed by: Rabid ReadsNormally I’m not one to turn all fan girl in my reviews. In fact, I pride myself on writing cohesive, thorough feedback with actual words instead of squeals of delight and captioned screencaps. But in this case, I could use all of the above and more, and still not manage to do this series justice. It’s that good. Anne Bishop’s world-building is without parallel; she explores sensitive issues with tact and fineness, and makes you see them in an entirely different light. THE OTHERS’ universe manages to be dark, scary and magical all at the same time—I wouldn’t want to live there, but it sure makes for an absorbing listen! I finished MURDER OF CROWS in record time, and now I find myself unable to start my next listen because all I want to do is go back to the beginning and do it all over again!I’m surprised by how much I like Meg because she’s not your typical Urban Fantasy heroine; sure she has her fair share of strengths, but she doesn’t mow down bad guys and physically, she’s incredibly vulnerable. I gained a whole new appreciation for her fragility in this installment. Cassandra sangue aren’t known for their longevity, and when every cut has the potential to be her last, it makes each bump and scrape feel life-threatening. I loved watching the dynamics between Corbyn and Wolfgard evolve, and this novel helped give a whole new meaning to “mixed signals.” The romance between them continues to be minimal, but I’m really enjoying just exploring the mere possibility of more.I expected the world-building to slow down a bit in book 2, so imagine my delight when Bishop introduces even more awesomeness into her already overflowing universe. In the earlier chapters, I had some concerns about the HFL (Humans First and Last) movement having encountered similar plot lines in the past, but the author does such a fabulous job of putting her own spin on it that you never get a sense of déjà vu. Intuits, Skippy and a “snake charmer” type character were interesting additions to this series’ already all-star cast of supernaturals, and I enjoyed delving deeper into Meg’s prophecies too. Despite the story’s somber tone, there continues to be a darkly humorous side to Anne Bishop’s writing; from the terra indigene movies, to people shaped wolf cookies, to wielding a tea kettle & broom as weapons.Alexandra Harris threw me through a bit of a loop with her change in narration. In WRITTEN IN RED, it was box on wheels or B-O-W and cassandra sangue, but in this installment those terms became BOW and cassandra sang—not major differences, but still noticeable. She reads at a slower pace than I’m accustomed to, although I think her style is well-suited to Bishop’s writing. It really adds a palatable element of danger to the story line, and helps keep listeners invested in the plot. The innocence of Meg Corbyn’s character really comes through in her narration and her wolf sound effects aren’t too shabby either!Anne Bishop has quite possibly just ruined the next five books on my to-be-read pile because there’s nothing that can conceivably live up to MURDER OF CROWS. This novel is without equal, and the series itself remains unmatched—it’s quite simply, the best audiobook of 2014. 5++ ∞ stars.
    • 4/5
      I had book 1 of this series in paperback for quite awhile. Once I started reading it, however, I got 2/3 of the way through in pretty much a single sitting and interrupted my reading to come online to buy books 2 and 3 from Audible.Book 2 is actually a little better than book 1, has some more story movement and less "set-up". I think if you liked book 1, you probably already have book 2... and likely the rest of the series too. I will be finishing this series. There is no swearing or graphic material.
    • 5/5
      What can I say, but just another spectacularly awesome installment of The Others series from Anne Bishop. It was amazing and much more fast paced. More fantastic characters were introduced and we get to see some of the usual. It was even funnier this time around, especially being in Simon's head as he tries to decipher the female species, make that the human female species. Speaking of Simon, this time we spend more time in his head and see his struggles with being more human or not and how human is too much for someone of his kind. It was also interesting to see his and Meg's internal battles with defining their relationship and what are the others expectations for said relationship. I was so happy that when a moment of confusion arose about their friendship or rather relationship, they sorted it out quickly and it didn't drag on forever. I also appreciated that the unfinished business from the previous book was also put to rest, well at least for the most part. Murder of Crows was an exhilarating read and I really hate that I have to wait forever for the next book but at least I have something to look forward to.
    • 4/5
      I am so into this series!!! I am DYING for more development between Simon and Meg, though. How long must I wait??
    • 3/5
      Again, not positive why I got a kick from this series - slightly different premise, perhaps? The natives - shape shifters - grant humans permission to live on lands in exchange for manufactured (raw mat'ls from the Others).
      Only a matter of time before ther's (another?) uprising. Good news is the Cop Who's Trying and the Escaped Damsel has an interesting twist.
      Not bad, I'll finished the series (within reason).
    • 5/5
      I liked this book just as much, if not more, than the first book in the series. I love all of the wonderful characters in this book but I also was really drawn to the story. Meg has really sparked a lot of change in Simon and her world. I now completely understand why so many people love this series.Meg speaks prophecies but she doesn't just come out and say what is going to happen. It takes some work to put everything together. The Others seem to be very good at piecing together her warnings and they don't hesitate to act upon them. There has been an outbreak of strange behavior in both humans and the Others caused by a new drug that has resulted in a lot of deaths.There is another group in danger. The other blood prophets, like Meg, are not being cared for in the manner that everyone believes. They are used for profit and really live in a prison. Once the Others learn how things really are for this group they intervene. There are some truly heartbreaking scenes involving this group of peopleI love the characters in this book. We met nearly all of the characters in this book in the first book but the more time we spend with them the more I like them. Simon is just awesome. He confused himself but he knows that he wants to be around Meg and considers her to be his. Henry is another favorite character. He is always so peaceful and has a really gentle strength. Tess, Vlad, Jenni, and the rest of the individuals in the Courtyard are all a lot of fun.I would highly recommend this series to others. This is a second book in a series that really does need to be read in order since each book builds on the last. I can't wait to read more of this exciting world.
    • 5/5
      The opening scene was hilarious and drew the reader in. Meg and Simon find themselves in that awkward relationship stage between boys and girls...leaves some great comedy. New characters are introduced while the greatest foe gets brought down. Good book.
    • 4/5
      A fun continuation of the series. Written in Red should be read beforehand, as this is a direct continuation of the consequences of choices made there. Meg has become accustomed to life in the Courtyard, with Simon the alpha Wolf as a friend and frequent furry blanket. However as blood spills she becomes aware that groups of Crows are being killed (title pun). And that this is a deliberate use of the soothsayer's blood. Someone is trying to ferment war between the Others and Humans, and she knows only too well how badly the humans will lose. But she and the Courtyard have a few friends among the Lakeside humans too now, and so it might be possible to avert outright destruction.This worked much better for me than the first episode. Simon is much more of a single character in two shapes than the confused doglike half of each that was the previous case. Meg as coped far too readily with her change in circumstances, but the story is better for her more active persona. The rest of the world and interactions remain fun and inventive. I'll read more of this.
    • 5/5
      MURDER OF CROWS was just as awesome as WRITTEN IN RED! It was such a long wait until I got my hands on my very own copy of MURDER OF CROWS but it was beyond worth it. Meg and her friends are back for round 2 as the humans rebel, more people attempt to take Meg, and Crows are poisoned.The world of The Others was already phenomenal but Anne builds off of it and shows us even more of the world they live in and the politics between the Others and Humans. It's complex yet simple to understand and with so many different characters and rules involved keeping it understandable is always a plus.Everyone loves Meg. There has not been one character introduced (besides the bad guys that is) that has not loved her and wanted to take care of her. There is something about seeing these scary creatures be so gentle and caring towards her that pulls you in. We learned a lot about what being a Cassandra Sangue entails in WRITTEN IN RED but book 2 continues to play on that. Meg has to deal with the issues of her addiction to cutting and the additional information we learn is pretty important to the overall storyline of the book. We also get some interaction with a friend of hers that is still being held captive. It was really hard reading but it helps us understand more about what Megs life has been like. My only real complaint (that isn't really a complaint) is that I couldn't take all the hints of the tension and hints of romance, or not, or maybe, or no not really, between Meg and Simon. I just love them and want there to be more between them. YES I know and understand the delay but I still can't help hoping it will happen sooner rather than later with all the hints, talks and frustrations they are putting each other through.My warning from my review of book 1 stands. Be careful when you pick up MURDER OF CROWS, you might just get stuck between the pages with no way out!! I really can not imagine anyone not loving the world, characters, and storyline that Anne has created with this series. Oh Anne, why can't you write faster, why must I suffer through the wait to book 3?!* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Listened for Review (Penguin Audio)Overall Rating: 5.00Story Rating: 5.00Character Rating: 5.00Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop was freaking AMAZING!Read It File It: I could pretty much sum up Murder of Crows as an adrenaline ride that kept me biting my nails, screaming at the book, and not wanting to turn off the audiobook till it was all over. The end had me both smiling and crying. Overall I just couldn't have asked for a better ride.Audio Thoughts: Narrated by: Alexandra Harris /Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins Alexandra nailed it! The pacing and emotion fit the story perfectly. She just doesn't quite get Simon for me but that is just that I want him growly deep. She does his part quite well otherwise.Final Thoughts: Get thee to the store but don't read out of order!
    • 3/5
      Second in the series. Would be best for more mature teen readers mostly due to the slow pace than because of the content.
    • 4/5
      The second installment of Bishop's new series. Set in the heart of what might have been the US, on this Earth humanity is so much smart meat, living at the mercy of the Others. Preternatural powers are the norm for the Others - shapeshifters, elementals, vampires and other creatures even more exotic and dangerous. Humanity survives on sufferance and our ability to create clever items the Others find entertaining. but a new movement to put humanity first is threatening the the fragile balance. Romance, political intrigue, suspense - the first book had me counting the days to the next release. For me, part two is a solid entry to the series, but not quite as good as Written in Red.
    • 5/5
      Murder of Crows, how you could you make me love The Others more than I already do? With strong themes, necessary violence and tension that makes my heart ache - oh yes, Anne Bishop you hurt me so good. Plus the title is a double entendre. *smirk*

      Every little cut I make brings me closer to you...
      - Have you ever heard of a 'cutter'? If you haven't then go watch that movie The Secretary (a favorite of mine) and you'll learn about what it means to be a cutter. Essentially its a disorder where a person cuts themselves, it isn't suicidal attempts. So take that disorder and combine and twist it for the purposes of urban fantasy and you have the Cassandra sangue aka blood prophet. Never before have I run across a blood prophet in fiction I've read. So the fact that this fresh new series gives me something new mixed with something I already love (urban fantasy) made both Written in Red and Murder of Crows un-put-down-able! These girls see the future when their skin is cut, as they speak their visions they are given orgasmic type ecstasy, but if they don't speak them they are wracked with extreme bodily pain. One can see why these girls would become addicted to the cutting euphoria.

      We humans are strange...
      - Come, come now, you know it's true! Humans overall are destructive creatures. For as much as we invent and create we also reek havoc on the world and destroy it's resources. I only wish there were such a race of Others in existence that would keep humanity in check from destroying the planet. There are some harsh things that happen in these books and I think by reading from the perspective of Simon Worlfgard (the wolf Other) you really come to sympathize with the harsh methods they have in place over humans. Then it makes you wonder who is really the enemy - because I know whose side I was on in these books. That's right I'm a wolf lover.

      We women are even stranger...
      - Women, bah, we complicate thing, misunderstand things, read too much into things. Ladies don't tell me I'm alone in this! But hey that is what makes things all the more interesting. Men can't live with us and certainly don't want to live without us. Alright they really couldn't live without us - who would make sure everything got done? Anyways, Meg Corbyn is even more confusing because she grew up locked in an institution with only the images and people there that she was exposed to. Simple social interactions are new to her, so imagine how she might react to possibly intimate ones? There is a whole lot of tension in Murder of Crows due to Meg's and Simon's confusion and I loved it. The feelings that are growing between these two cannot be denied even if they both fight it.

      Nothing like a hot splash of blood to get this party started...
      - If you're expecting fairy farts and rainbows this is not the series for you. There are strong themes of rape, sexual abuse, child abuse and no shortage of blood and violence. There isn't a ton of violence, indeed I thought it was just the right amount. Though we see the darker side of human nature we also see some really wonderful things. For me, Murder of Crows toes the perfect line of gritty urban fantasy with marvelous splashes of humor and compassion. Read it and I dare you not to love it!
    • 4/5
      This a good continuation of the Books of the Novels of the Others - not as good as the first, but still very enjoyable.We learn more about the world that humans and the Others live in - Some of the holes in the last volume are filled, but there is still a feeling of "impossible" running throughout it. This world doesn't make sense from a technology standpoint. But thats okay. The characters are fun and not cardboard cutouts. While not as good as the first book, the entire world is a breath of fresh air from the derivative Urban Fantasy Novels out there. And, the author doesn't try to make the Others human - they are what they are, scary, other-worldly, and completely not human.
    • 4/5
      This was a great continuation of a very unique urban fantasy series. I love the direction Meg and Simon's relationship is going and the "awkward innocence" that revolves around them. I continue to be fascinated by the Others and watching them rally to protect Meg (and vice-versa) was exciting. While they searched for the source of a new and dangerous drug, the author introduces us to quite a few new faces and places, including the "Intuits" who live in a small village not far from Lakeside. It was great to see these different entities working together for a common goal.

      There was much to absorb and this book felt more like a "1st in series" than the prequel, but I enjoyed it very much. I did have MANY unanswered questions and hope some of them will be answered in the next book. There is much to learn yet about Meg's abilities and how she will go about living with the visions. I'm also curious about her past. Will we learn about her family, or where she came from before she was held at the compound? I'll be waiting "not so patiently" for Vision in Silver to be released next March.
    • 5/5
      The opening scene was hilarious and drew the reader in. Meg and Simon find themselves in that awkward relationship stage between boys and girls...leaves some great comedy. New characters are introduced while the greatest foe gets brought down. Good book.
    • 5/5
      Thank god that's over! Let me explain: This weekend in Melbourne we had an Indian Summer. (For those of you not familiar with the American term: Indian Summer: a period of unusually dry, warm weather occurring in late autumn.) I know this only in the vaguest sense because honestly, I couldn't freaking put the book down long enough to look outside. Laundry didn't get done. DH was resoundingly ignored. Luckily he cooks or we'd have both gone without eating. I'm not exactly sure what I did eat, come to think of it - he put a plate in front of me and I ate whatever was on it. I do remember chewing... I'm sure it was delicious... Thankfully books like this only come around a couple of times a year. The compulsive need to keep reading is, I think, something that's best enjoyed in small doses. Murder of Crows was just as good as Written in Red. Tess and the Elementals are still my favourites, and I still enjoyed the swift and devastating justice that is consistently delivered by the Others. That sounds blood-thirsty doesn't it? But the world Ms. Bishop has created is a very black and white world in terms of morality. The Others control all the land, all the resources, and where humans are allowed to live and how much of any resource can be used. Clear cut rules exist for other/human interaction, (although the Others prefer no interaction at all). Following the rules brings peace, or at least detente. Breaking the rules means death. No warnings, just death. Meg is what happens when you introduce gray to this black and white world. Human, but not prey, she doesn't judge and treats everyone, Other or Human, with kindness. This book starts to explore just what kind of changes are possible when one person/other, and then another, and another choose shades of gray. The immediate plot of Murder of Crows is the continuation and resolution of one started in Written in Red as well as The Controller's ongoing campaign to bring Meg back to his facility. Instead of a slow build up leading to a final climax, this book is a series of smaller climaxes each bringing the story closer to an end. While I'd rather not wait for the third book, at least the story ended with at least as much satisfaction as anticipation.
    • 5/5
      What can I say, but just another spectacularly awesome installment of The Others series from Anne Bishop. It was amazing and much more fast paced. More fantastic characters were introduced and we get to see some of the usual. It was even funnier this time around, especially being in Simon's head as he tries to decipher the female species, make that the human female species. Speaking of Simon, this time we spend more time in his head and see his struggles with being more human or not and how human is too much for someone of his kind. It was also interesting to see his and Meg's internal battles with defining their relationship and what are the others expectations for said relationship. I was so happy that when a moment of confusion arose about their friendship or rather relationship, they sorted it out quickly and it didn't drag on forever. I also appreciated that the unfinished business from the previous book was also put to rest, well at least for the most part. Murder of Crows was an exhilarating read and I really hate that I have to wait forever for the next book but at least I have something to look forward to.
    • 5/5
      To say I loved this book is an understatement. To say I loved the first book in the series is also an understatement. Ms. Bishop writes dark fantasy like no other author I have read (and I've read a lot). She expertly creates characters that have both a good and bad side as well as plots that make you want to hurl when you learn the twists and avenues the bad guys use to be be even worse than the good guys. This series is amazing...one of the best "shifter" paranormals I have read and I will continue to read them the minute they come out.

      I read this book in one sitting then immediately closed it, opened it again, and restarted. That is how amazing it is.
    • 4/5
      Murder of Crows is an interesting title because if 'A' were added at the beginning, it would be the collective noun for crows. As we know from the first book, the crowgard are the eyes and ears of the Others. Crows are being murdered in an attempt to kill the crowgard. Simon Wolfgard's courtyard may have been endangered because of the Controller's attempt to get Meg back in Written in Red, but they're being amply repaid for taking Meg in now. Without Meg's prophecies, they'd be losing to their own to the twin drugs mentioned before. In this book we find out the source of those drugs. Their manufacture is utterly evil, in keeping with the worst of real-life humanity. The Others are not saints. Their attitude toward humans, seeing us as 'clever meat,' to be eaten if not needed, differs from much (if not most) of humanity's attitude toward humans perceived as 'others' only in that they eat the humans they kill. Let's not forget that eating one's dead enemies has been done by humans, too.There seems to be considerable wish fulfillment here. This earth is not overpopulated because the Others keep the human population in check. This earth is not dying from pollution because the Others force polluters to stop. Humans who commit abominable deeds die in messy and painful ways.Don't be surprised that the big retaliation in the last book hasn't taught the human population of Lakeside not to be nasty to the Others or their human friends. If you read the Biblical ' Exodus,' you'll notice that it doesn't matter how many times God manifests his power, even to killing some of His people. The Israelites still grumble and refuse to listen. If you read chapter 42 of 'Jeremiah,' that poor prophet was approached after his prophecy about the fall of Jerusalem came true. The remnant of the Jews asked him to prophesy again, to let them know what God wanted them to do. He did. Did they obey God's will as they promised? What do you think?As in real life, Lakeside's human citizens are at the 'mercy' of their news outlets, which are misleading them. It's a very good thing for them that they have wise police captain who can get information from more accurate sources. Lakeside humans are even more fortunate in that they have a wise leader for their courtyard, one who wishes to avoid human-Other war. It's a war the humans can't possibly win. The fools think the werewolves and vampires are the strongest enemies they face and that they've found ways to neutralize that threat. As in the first book, the elementals and their steeds prove how wrong those 'Humans First and Last' twits are.If 'Nicholas Scratch,' the man traveling from hamlet to town to city to stir up anti-Other sentiment, knowingly chose his pseudonym, that's very telling. 'Old Nick' and 'Old Scratch' are old nicknames for the Devil. I expect him to play a bigger role in the third book. I feel sorry for Lieutenant Monty, whose selfish and social-climbing ex has placed herself and their daughter in Mr. Scratch's hands. Monty and a human doctor have very hard choices to make in this book. I think Lakeside should be grateful for their choices, but those men are going to carry the mental scars for the rest of their lives.Sweet Meg still isn't the kind of strong, kick-ass heroine usually seen in urban fantasies, but her kind's essential nature prevents that. She has moral courage in plenty. It's not surprising that she doesn't know how to interpret her visions -- the human monsters who control the blood prophets don't train them to do that. Still, I love the way she and human Mary Lou take on a man who would have killed a juvenile wolf. The nickname an Other bestows on those two brave young women made me laugh. We learn more about human-Other relations and their problems in this book. Thanks to Simon's policy of allowing humans to work and shop in his Courtyard, some of those problems may improve. I also liked learning about two kinds of humans who can live in harmony with the Others -- one by their nature and the other by their attitude.I look forward to book three. Even some off Ms. Bishop's sentences can be awkward, her characters and the alternate earth she has created make up for that. Ms. Harris' narration is good. She has some problem with male voices, but I don't recall ever listening to any audio book single narrator who didn't have some problem doing the voices of characters of the sex opposite from his/her own.
    • 4/5
      Meg is valuable property and The Controller is determined to claim what he considers his. But Meg is now firmly enmeshed with and claimed as friend and not-prey by The Others, and as such, is under their combined protection. Still, life is not without risks, and Meg takes some risks herself to protect and save the lives of her new friends. The second book in this exciting series expands the world of The Others and The Humans. Maybe not quite as riveting as the first book, it still is a fascinating read as the two worlds collide and select beings on both sides try to work out their differences to exist in peace, even if it is an uneasy truce. A misstep on either side could spell doom for all. Wonderful characters in an intricate plot combine for great urban fantasy.
    • 5/5
      Such a great series! So uniquely different!
    • 5/5
      This middle book in a trilogy was another excellent urban fantasy novel. Blood Prophet Meg Corbyn has escaped to the Courtyard in Lakeside. It is one of the most liberal courtyards and the one that has the closest relationship with humans. Simon Wolfgard is the wolf in charge. But the courtyard also has crowgard, sanguinati, Elementals, and one Other that even the others are afraid of. The plot is this one has to do with the treatment of the other blood prophets. The Controller has spent time, energy and lives to try to recover Meg. But Meg has found a place in the Courtyard and is especially cherished by the sanguinati who call her a sweet blood but who have rules that mean they can't have her blood. Simon confirms that Meg's blood - that is, blood prophet blood - is the source of two drugs - gone over wolf and feel-good - that are causing problems between the humans and the Others.Tensions are as high as they can be between humans and Others but only a few of the humans know how powerless they really are if the Others decide that the humans are no longer useful. Lieutenant Montgomery is a new transfer to Lakeside and he is determined to do what he can to ease tensions. He also wants to develop a better working relationship between humans and Others.I thought the romance was interesting too. Add the fact that Meg and Simon are different species to the usual male-female communication communication issues and you can see why both are confused about just what kind of relationship they have. It doesn't help at all the Meg is just learning to live outside the complete control of everything that was her life before she escaped from the Controller.This was a great story. I can wait to read the next book in this trilogy.
    • 4/5
      It was as good as the first book in the series.
    • 3/5
      The sequel to "Written in Red" this story continues the adventure of Meg Corbyn, a blood prophet. When her skin is cut she experiences a glimpse of the future. When the others are attacked by humans, two new drugs are to blame.Overall, I thought this book was much better than the first. It moved at a quicker pace and seemed to have more of a purpose. Although I am still disappointed in the series, I will continue to read anything Anne Bishop writes.
    • 4/5
      A good sequel to Written in red. I think I enjoyed Written in red a little more, I think mostly because the story is a little smaller. And because Murder of crows looks out of the eyes of the bad guys a bit more. Not that it does that a lot, but it's just not something I enjoy. I want to stick with the characters I like, not spend time with the unsympathetic ones. Other than that, this book had all the good points that the previous one did. Good characters, good world, nice story. I could have done with a few less remarks about 'crazy women during their period', but I'll just write it off as terra indigene vs. humans instead of men vs. women. One of the remarks I meant to make in my review for Written in red, but forgot: I wonder what the logic is behind the terra indigene's way of putting an article in front of names? At first I thought it was just the birds doing it (calling Meg the Meg), but then later I saw that the wolves sometimes do it too, just not with Meg...
    • 1/5
      As the city recovers after the storm, and Meg recovers after her near death, there is a string of deaths that are attributed to some sort of drug. Meg has to deal with her attraction to Simon as well as a burning desire to slice her own skin.

      This book was basically a romance with the very thin illusion of a mystery for plot. Meg and Simon are the stars of this book and their relationship is 80% of this book. Which is great if that's what you're hoping for. Not so great if you were looking for an explanation of Others, more about cassandra sangues, and true action.

      Let me just say, I absolutely despise Meg in this book. She has been relegated to alpha male's female, a mere talking prophecy, and an emotional woman. One telling moment was when she says her prophecies and then mentions she doesn't understand it. The next words said to her is this: "Figuring out what it means is our part of the job, not yours."

      And then she accepts it and gets coddled. Wow. What a worthless main character.
      Like I said in my previous review of the first book, Meg literally has no flaws. It is all the more glaring in this second book where the newness of the world and characters have rubbed off. She doesn't do anything.

      Also, another thing that just does not make sense is the dynamic between Others and humans. This is just crazy mad. How can you ask humans to teach about civilization and still consider them meat? There is something really, really wrong with this world. Either you consider them way beneath your attention and only worth eating, or you consider them sentient and equals.
      And how the hell can this book spout out fake-logic about how humans should just take being prey so easily and not retaliate and kill Others? Instead, all of the characters say, oh no, don't kill the Others, otherwise you deserve to die from their retaliation. What? But they can kill humans without retribution? I don't understand this at all. I feel pissed off as a human being. Humans are degraded to meat, somehow expected to be the pinnacle of civilization, but cannot kill or defend themselves against an attacking Other. What? What??

      And please riddle me this: why are there no evil Others? The only evil beings in this book are humans. You cannot possibly convince me that all Others are good and happy fluffy creatures that only munch on humans occasionally. So why are all the villains humans?

      Argh!!! I am angry on behalf of humanity.

      I wash my hands of this series. It started out with a smidgen of potential and quickly dissolved into a ridiculous romance. Not a romance (because I like romances too), but a RIDICULOUS romance.
      One star. I don't like this book. I don't think there was a single positive I can write about.
    • 4/5
      After reading the first book in this series I would have called myself 'pleasantly surprised' and 'unsure as to why I liked it'. The characterisation and world building was fun but the plot was a little weak.

      This installment brought the series up to a solid "I like this series". I didn't feel the need to justify it anymore. It's not what I'd normally read, in some ways it's tropey, but it's fun and wonderful and I don't care.

      The plot and world building is expanded here, I love how Bishop is slowly opening the world up to her readers. The juxtaposition of the small community Lakeside courtyard and the wider politics of Thaisia is fantastic. I really like the idea's being played with here, too. It's odd being on the side of the beast from a human perspective and even more strange to be on the side of a force oppressing humans and finding them sympathetic. Moreso than the humans who want to be independent! There were a few things I tripped over world-wise. I didn't get the impression from the first book that this alternate world was technologically much different to our own (apart from things like the BOW), and running into rationing and air balloons instead of planes could probably have been done better. It felt like a frying pan to the face and dropped me right out of the story because it broke my understanding of the world I was in. Minor, but important.

      The addition of new characters felt natural and didn't clutter the established cast, which is really why we read these books. Or it's why I read them. I love the Whedon-esque family banter, the teamwork, and the playfulness of the dialogue and interactions between the characters. I also like that while she;s clearly lining up a Simon/Meg romance she's letting it slow burn, it's more fun and enjoyable that way I think.

      The only other thing that stops this from being a five star read for me is the end. This book and the previous one had big, violent climaxes and they both felt rushed and detached. For all the time Bishop spends developing your associations with characters and pressing buttons making you think about who the bad guys are and reminding you of how damn scary the Others actually are the final scenes in this fell flat. And that should have been almost impossible. That level of gore and upfront confrontation of the Others' abilities once they let loose should have floored me. Punched me in the gut and made me hold my breath. It felt like it was done in broad strokes and tacked on at the end, which is not how I want the end of a book to feel.

      Having said that - there's going to be five of these! FIVE! I'm looking forward to the next one, I love these characters.
    • 5/5
      the way she blends the personalities of the characters
    • 5/5
      Bloody brilliant. miss Anne bishop is amazing. This is the most exciting series I've read in a year. Can't wait to read more of Meg and Simon. As well as Little Sam. Fantastic series so far. Keep up the great work!!!