The Others by Anne Bishop: This Series Will Be The Death of Me

*WARNING: Each review may contain a little spoiler about the previous book. Nothing big, I just don’t want to catch you unaware.*

Murder of Crows

Series: The Others #2

Published: March 14th 2014

Publisher: Roc

Genres: Adult Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Format: Library ebook

My Rating: 5 Stars

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I was very excited to jump back into this series after finishing Written In Red back in April. When I saw that they were all available to borrow from the library, I quickly took action. I’ll still be buying physical copies for my shelf, because I know I’ll be rereading this series a lot over the years; but for now, the ebooks will have to do. I devoured all three last weekend, and by the time I finished late Sunday night, I had a migraine of epic proportions. That’ll teach me to stare at the screen of my Kindle nonstop for 3 days. 

Being back in this amazing world of Bishop’s is great, but also kind of frightening. After the revelations about the blood of the cassandra sangue in the first book, I expected trouble. And the title speaks for itself. This sequel is about Meg, her visions, her skin, her blood, her everything. Simon and crew have to learn how to care for Meg, and Meg has to learn how to differentiate between a prophecy itch, and an itch from being overwhelmed with the people around her and her environment. The Controller is still out there, and he wants Meg back. A human pack is forming in the Lakeside Courtyard, and Simon and the other terra indigene are trying to make it work. There’s a bigoted group on the rise, and the Others have more to worry about. First things first: save as many as they can. And Simon and Meg’s situation is getting out of hand. I love seeing Simon’s jealous side. He doesn’t realize he’s being jealous, but I wish they’d figure it out already!

I just love these characters and this world. Bishop has taken paranormal and supernatural elements, added the dark side of humanity, and turned this series into something totally unique. I am so glad that I purchased that first book after procrastinating for so long. This sequel does not disappoint, and I can’t wait to read the final book next year. There’s a lot of growth for all the characters, because they learn more as the days and weeks go on. How much human is too much human? That seems to be the question for the whole series.

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Vision in Silver

Series: The Others #3

Published: March 3rd 2015

Publisher: Roc

Genres: Adult-Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Format: Library ebook

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

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Now that the cassandra sangue have been freed, and they aren’t a dirty secret, even the Humans First and Last movement won’t back down and keep putting the idiot humans’ focus on the terra indigene. In addition to all the troubles amounting throughout Thaisia, Meg is truly struggling to control her cutting. She’s addicted to the euphoria, and there may be another way to speak prophecy without having to cut. In the mean time, I can think of many ways that Meg can experience that one thing she craves. *cough cough* Simon Wolfgard *cough* 

God, I can’t be upset about this slow burn of a romance because it is so important not to force it. There are so many unknowns when it comes to Meg and Simon, and I’m glad that they haven’t figured it out yet. But, yeah….this is sweet torture. 

This one involves more than Lakeside. There are characters from other settlements throughout Thaisia, and it really brings the tension up a notch. And as you know, there are more than one form of terra indigene on Namid. Of course, the humans want what is not theirs. Nothing surprising about it. I just feel bad for the decent humans who do try to work with the others and not against them. 

Overall, another solid installment. Be aware that this series gets more intense with each book, and there will be deaths to both humans and terra indigene. I just really hope my favorites survive when it’s all over.

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Marked in Flesh

Series: The Others #4

Published: March 8th 2016

Publisher: Roc

Genres: Adult-Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Format: Library ebook

My Rating: 5 Stars

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As the tension between the HFL and terra indigene rise, the future of the human population looks bleak. It’s their own fault. I’m team Others and proud of it. Despite the darkness of this installment, I think it’s my favorite of the series, so far. I love getting to know the characters outside of Lakeside. More importantly, I have more admiration for the Sanguinati. I’ve always loved how Mr. Erebus has been team Meg since the first book, but I am truly beginning to understand how much influence the vampires have on every settlement. They are dangerous, as all the terra indigene are, but I get scared and excited whenever I’m reading Vlad’s or another vampire’s POV. Though, no terra indigene is more dangerous than the Elders. So much death and destruction, that I’m not sure how this will end. Bishop, I’m begging you, please don’t kill Simon, Vlad, Henry, Nathan, Nyx, Tess, Meg, Monty………. I think I’ll be a not-wolf human and howl if one of my favorite characters don’t live through this. I’m more interested in how the meeting between the Elders and Meg will go. They did say they would return. *shudders*

Meg is the Trailblazer, so there’s a lot of pressure to figure out how to keep the other cassandra sangue alive. And as Bishop teases us with these feels between Simon and Meg, it seems that everyone has a clue but the two in question. What will happen if Simon and Meg mate? With all of this teasing, I sure hope it’s something great and beneficial for everyone – humans, intuits, terra indigene – alike. This is a no holds barred fight, and the terra indigene have had enough of the humans not upholding their end of the deal. I do not blame them one bit. The Others may be animals, but they don’t kill without provocation. I wonder how the humans will move forward after everything that happened in this installment? 

This series will be the death of me. It’s filled to the brim with suspense, action, mystery, complex characters, and dynamic world building. There is never a moment where I’m bored reading. As soon as the book ends, I want to reread it immediately. If you have been hesitant about starting this series, then I’m here to say give it a try. If the first book doesn’t sell you, try the second one. I’m wholly convinced that this is a series that needs to be read. It’s different from anything I’ve ever read, in terms of the premise. Sure, you can find shifters and vampires in any UF/PNR series, but you won’t find ones with the origin of these characters. I love what Bishop has created with this series, and I can’t wait to read the final book next year. I highly recommend this series to all readers. Even if you aren’t a heavy reader of this genre, I think you’ll still see the uniqueness of this series.

Also In This Series: Written in Red