Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop

Marked in Flesh (The Others, #4)

by Anne Bishop

In the fourth novel in Anne Bishop’s New York Times bestselling series, the Others will need to decide how much humanity they’re willing to tolerate—both within themselves and their community...
 
Since the Others allied themselves with the cassandra sangue, the fragile yet powerful human blood prophets who were being exploited by their own kind, the dynamic between humans and Others has changed. Some, such as Simon Wolfgard, wolf shifter and leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn see the closer companionship as beneficial.
 
But not everyone is convinced. A group of radical humans is seeking to usurp land through a series of violent attacks on the Others. What they don’t realize is that there are older and more dangerous forces than shifters and vampires protecting the land—and those forces are willing to do whatever is necessary to safeguard what is theirs...

Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on

4 of 5 stars

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4.5 Marked in Flesh shares a violate time for those living in Thasia. Tension is high between the Others (terra indigene) and the Humans First and Last movement. Meg and the other Cassandra Sangue (blood profits) are more important than ever as attacks are being made against the Others.

Delivered in multiple POVs, Bishop shared the tension, violence and both sides of the ongoing issue. We are on the brink of war and everyone is on edge. While I love spending time in the Lakeside Courtyard I appreciated the different perspectives from humans to those in different settlements. It allowed me to gain a strong sense of the world, become emotionally connected and feel like I was part of these volatile times. While humans and others do not always understand each other, it is becoming clear they have come to rely on each other. The Cassandra Sangue are adjusting to freedom and looking for alternative options to cutting for their visions. It was dark and fascinating.

We see a little development in the relationship between Meg and Simon, but we did not get nearly enough page time with this adorkable couple. Instead Bishop focused on the divide between Others and humans. The humans who stand with the Others are shunned and denied services. We spent more time with other key characters and I enjoyed getting to know them. A new territory developed for the Others and new faces both human and other are introduced. I have a feeling future books will be divided between different settlements. The Elders and the creatures belonging to Namid both fascinated and scared the ever-lovin’ stuffing out of me. We even spend time inside the head of one of them.

Bishop’s writing is beautiful and well paced allowing me to slip away from the outside world. I have never read an urban fantasy series that compares to the Others series. Unique, and breathtaking Thasia is a world I hope we never stop visiting. There is so much I want to discuss from things that made me cry to banter that had me giggling aloud. However, I do not want to spoil a single word for you. It some ways Marked in Flesh wrapped things up and answered our questions, but this world and story is far from over leaving me hopeful that Bishop and Penguin will give us a sixth, eighth, eighteenth book in this series.

Alexandra Harris has narrated the series since the begin and is the voice of Meg, Simon and the others in my head. This is why I must listen first. I thoroughly enjoy listening and find her pacing and tone enjoyable. It is my hope she continues to narrate all of Bishop's books.

Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 25 February, 2016: Finished reading
  • 25 February, 2016: Reviewed