Written in Red (The Others, #1)

by Anne Bishop

Enter the world of the Others in the first novel in New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s thrilling fantasy series: a place where unearthly entities—vampires and shape-shifters among them—rule the Earth and prey on the human race.

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.

• ISBN10: 0451464966
• ISBN13: 9780451464965
• Publish Date: 5 March 2013 (first published 1 March 2013)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Books Australia
• Imprint: Signet
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 433
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

Bishop introduces us to the Others (terra indigene) and humans who live in Thasia. The terra indigenes live separately from the humans and govern themselves. I imagined a compound similar to a military base allowing limited access to humans. Here human law does not apply, and their laws are pretty straight forward. Humans referred to by the others as “monkeys” only have access to the restaurants and a few stores. The compound is filled with others which include Wolves, Sanguinati (vampires), shifters, Elementals and so much more. While in the public area of the compound, they take human form to interact with the monkeys. To make interaction easier especially for trade they hire a human liaison. Keeping one is difficult that is until Megan Corbyn comes into the main store, half-frozen and smelling of fear and determination. She asks Simon Wolfgaurd for the job of liaison. This liaison intrigues him. He knows she is running, and she doesn’t smell like food. Megan is hiding a secret. She is human, but a rare type called; Cassandra Sangue or blood prophet. She fears being found, but human law doesn’t apply in the compound and here she might be safe. The tale that unfolds left me breathless as I slipped into the world of Thasia and watched Meg change the world.

In Written in Red, Anne Bishop spun a tale that unfolded before my eyes, and I quickly became immersed in this world, with its brilliantly fleshed out characters, suspenseful plot, humor, and tender moments. The residents within the compound are all supernatural characters we are familiar with, but Bishop portrays them in a refreshing way. She gave me a small-town story that quite frankly I never wanted to end. Each character was fleshed out from the humans to the elements. There were moments of discovery, laughter, fear and magic. We had villains to loathe and the overall danger that was a threaded throughout the tale was slowly revealed to us. The more I learned, the harder it was to stop listening. These characters especially the terra indigene became my friends. I cared for them, felt their emotions and wanted to bop them on the head occasionally.

Alexandria Harris is the narrator, and once I settled in with her voice I began to appreciate how she gave each character their own unique tone, the subtle way her tone changed as the tension built. Her ability to capture and convey the characters emotions was effortless. Written in Blood is the kind of story that is almost impossible to put down. Be wary of just one more chapter, as you will soon find yourself lost within this world, unable to pull yourself back to reality.

Originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Melanie]

Listened to audiobook.

This is a book unlike anything else I've ever read. It starts off with Meg running in the cold, almost dying from exposure. She stumbles into the courtyard of Lakeside. She decides that she is safer with the human-eating others than with the people chasing her,so she applies for a job as the human liaison of the others.

In this world the shifters are nothing like the shifters you read about in other books. They are way more animal than human, but they are really neither. They are a completely different creature which is mimicking the predators to best suit their needs. They think of humans as “creative meat”. Once Meg stumbles into their lives, she starts to change their perspective on humans. She is unlike any human they ever met before. She is what is known as a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet. She was raised to do nothing but be bleed to to see the future. She is only taught enough to understand the prophecies. She is so innocent, she wins over everyone in the courtyard.

Simon is the leader of this town and he is a wolf shifter. He is the one who decides to hire Meg, because he is in desperate need of a liaison and she is the only person who applied that he didn't despise on the spot. He is also very confused be she doesn't smell like prey and all humans smell like prey to him.

There are tons of secondary characters in this story and they are all wonderful. I can't wait to learn more about them. Each group of shifters takes on some of the personalities of the animals that they mimic. My favorite group are probably the crows. They are very inquisitive and like to get into trouble. They also like everything shiny. At one point, one of the crows is helping Meg in the office, keeps taking her pens because he is building something, though we never find out what. Meg outsmarts the crows by purchasing something along the lines of Tinkertoys and trading pieces for the pens back.

There is also a group of ponies that help Meg deliver the mail. I'm also big fan of them. At first they are reluctant to help, but Meg wins them over with treat, especially sugarlumps. There is also a grizzly, coyote, owls, hawks, vampires and the elementals. All the others are scared of the elementals because they can change the weather with their anger.

Lastly, my other favorite secondary character is Sam. Sam is a young wolf pup, whose mother was killed. Sam regresses to the point that he is a danger to himself. Simon, who is his uncle and is extremely worried for his safety, locks him in cage. This really offends the wolves, but Simon doesn't know what else to do with the boy. Of course, Meg finds a way with the boy. I love this boy. He is great.

I can't say enough about this book. It isn't a short book and looking back, there are parts you would think that would have drug on and on, but it didn't seem that way. I didn't want to stop listening. You can tell I enjoy a book and I start looking for housework to do so I have a reason to keep listening.

For the narration, at first, I didn't like it. I thought it was a little bland and some the characters could've sounded a little older. However, as I got drawn into the story, the narration grew on me. I don't think it was bad, though, there is room for improvement.