Author: Anne Bishop
Narrator(s): Alexandra Harris
Series: The Others, book #3
Length: 16 hrs 9 mins
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: March 3, 2015
Source: received from publisher via Edelweiss, purchased audiobook
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
The Others freed the cassandra sangue to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.
Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.
For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…
I had a review copy of this novel, but I just love the narrator for this series so much, that I decided to wait until the audiobook was released. And it was worth the wait! I just love where Bishop is taking this story and how slow she is to introduce the swoons -- though I wouldn't mind those coming sooner rather than later as the series progresses -- but it feels genuine to the story and makes my reader heart happy.
I mean, seriously...this is probably the sloooowest burning romance I think I've ever read. And most of the time that doesn't bother me, except when I want to smoosh Meg and Simon together and make them kiss already. They are sooo close now, too...I can feel it. I think every other terra indigene -- and some of the humans, too -- can see it. Simon and Meg seem to be the only ones who haven't clued in yet. But even if they were aware of what's building between them, they'd still take their time because Simon would never push his Meg and Meg is still fragile and child-like right now.
Though, she is growing out of that a bit. Meg is more direct, and maybe a little more confrontational, when it comes to the terra indigene, and it's served her well. She's also more attuned to her gift as a cassandra sangue, though it scares her counterparts at the Courtyard because she's taken to handling the prophecies herself at times.
The large cast of characters in this series continues to impress, especially in the manner that they treat Meg and in their attempts to be civil -- and sometimes helpful -- when it comes to humans outside of the Courtyard. Some new faces are making an impact in this installment, too, when war seems imminent between humans and the Others.
If the narrator for this series weren't so fabulous, I might need a chart of characters to keep them all straight. As it is, Alexandra Harris performs each character deftly, lending an accent for Vlad, gruffness for Henry Beargard and Simon Wolfgard, and a gentle sweetness for Meg. The audio was sixteen hours long, but even at that length, I wasn't ready for the story or the audio to be over. It seems I never am, though, when it comes to this series.
I can't believe I was ever hesitant to start reading these books. I read very little in the way of adult novels these days, but with series like this, I see that changing in the future. I am utterly in love with these books and how the story has progressed over the first three installments, and I can't wait to see where Bishop takes the story next. (But please let there be a kiss in the very near future for Meg and Simon! Pretty please?!?)
GIF it to me straight:
A howling good read!
(Ha, see what I did there?!? :D)
About the author:
Anne Bishop lives in upstate New York where she enjoys gardening, music, and writing dark, romantic stories. She is the author of fourteen novels, including the award-winning Black Jewels Trilogy. Her most recent novel, Twilight’s Dawn, made the New York Times bestsellers list. She is currently working on a new series, which is an urban dark fantasy with a bit of a twist.
Find Anne:
Website | Facebook | Goodreads
Great review! I absolutely adore these books, and like you, I love the narrator so much that I waited for the audiobook to "read" it. I personally really love the slow-burn in this one, particularly because it's entertaining to watch the terra indigene exploring this idea. Especially when the humans go to talk to Vlad and he says he doesn't want to talk about Meg & Simon. Or even just Simon. The fact that all of the terra indigene are very nearly afraid of this idea of "an intervention" never ceases to entertain me :)
ReplyDeleteI just reviewed this one recently as well: Vision in Silver & I wrote a Letter to Hope, if you're interested in comparing thoughts ;)
~ Liza @ Classy Cat Books