Anne Bishop is absolutely one of my favourite authors, and she doesn’t disappoint with the Others series!
I’m such a huge fan of her Black Jewels series, that it actually took me a while to get to this series. With this series, as well as her others, she introduced a different world. More similar to our modern day than Black Jewels would be; they have computers and technology etc. The politics of this world is just as intricate, as we settled on the land, but we aren’t the top of the food chain. We are monitored by the Others – shapeshifting Earth Natives of varying degree.
We’re introduced to Meg, a blood prophet, who can see visions and prophecies and the future when her blood is spilt. She’s on the run, and finds Simon, a Wolfgard shapeshifter, who takes her in and from there their story is intertwined. It’s interesting, because the buildup of the storyline (and climax) is very gradual, taking part over the 4 books, but it flows so easily that it doesn’t seem like it takes that long to get there.
I think one of the things I love the most about Bishop’s writing is the way her hierarchy is structured. It’s fascinating to read how she sets them up, and they are so detailed. Plus, who wouldn’t want to be a shapeshifter, or an Elemental? The way she connects everyday items to the magical is just fantastic.
While the romance part of the story is fairly non-existent in The Others than her previous novels, it doesn’t affect how the story flows. While you see the romance there, it’s almost better without it somehow? The fourth novel wraps everything happening up quite nicely, but leaves a teaser for a more in-depth look at the relationship between Meg and Simon.
While I’m not sure that this series will turn into one that I constantly re-read like the Black Jewels, it’s definitely one that I would look at purchasing for my book shelf. The fifth book comes out in March 2017, and I can’t wait. I’m going to have to re-read them all before it comes out again.
But this series does leave me wondering – if I were part of that world, what animal would I shift into?
