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.
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
Reading updates
-
Started reading
-
28 February, 2014:
Finished reading
-
28 February, 2014:
Reviewed
-
Started reading
-
28 February, 2014:
Finished reading
-
28 February, 2014:
Reviewed