I’m not even surprised. Anne Bishop is a master storyteller who’s written another amazing installment in The Others series.

I haven’t read a book in months, but Anne Bishop’s The Other’s series has proven to be my go-to books to kickstart my love for reading.

 

Honestly, a lot of the things I love about this new installment, I’ve written in my reviews for the the first two books. The most important being the characters. I could read a pile of books on them just doing everyday things because they are just that compelling and well-defined, and human. Despite a large portion of them being supernatural creatures, there are those underlying themes of understanding, connection, and friendship that knit them together, with the Humans First and Last movement representing the antithesis of that. They’re very interesting themes, really. And it’s a testament to Anne Bishop that she’s got me really thinking about the story and even empathasing with the humans who are against the terra idigine.

 

It’s the resulting fear from the refusal to understand and connect that drive the plot. And of course, that primal desire all animals have to survive and claim territory. I found myself thinking about what I would do if there were such things as terra indigine who controlled the land. Would I be swept up in the HFL, or try to help in forging peace with the earth natives? Which side would fear lead me to? The HFL, or the Others?

 

I like to make notes while I read, and here are some of the few I’ve written down that really stood out for me:

• Merri Lee’s patience and empathy really shines in this book. Her role, of essentially being the ears and interpreter for Meg’s visions, expands a little in this novel as she helps Meg understand herself and what it means to be cassandra sangue apart from the cutting involved. When Meg does things that seem strange, Merri Lee never judges. Instead she asks her questions in order to understand why she’s acting the way she’s acting, and when she’s understood, provides anecdotes and facts from her own knowledge and experience to assure Meg that her behaviour isn’t all that strange.
• The dash of humour! It’s always unexpected and it gets me literally laughing out loud. Like Simon knowing not to ask human women about periods and the song of the “Teakettle Woman and Broomstick Girl.”
• The writing is simple, clean, and well-executed. Anne Bishop describes what only needs to be describes, allowing for a great and immersive read. She’s so good that she’s got me feeling things in my bones, especially at the mere mention of the more feared and powerful others, such as the Elementals.
• The relationship between Meg and Simon continues to move slowly, but it’s a natural progression that helps the reader value the two parts as strong and complex individuals in their own right, who just so happen to be strong and complex and formidable together.

 

I enjoyed this book so much that after the first ten pages I decided to order the books from thebookdepository to have on my shelf, and they arrived a few days ago!

 

I’ve also preordered Marked In Flesh because HELL YESSSSSSSSSSS, give me more of that Anne Bishop lovin’.