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 … 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.
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I loved this world. … Simon & Meg are wonderful characters
I LOVED this series. I have read it multiple times. I almost cried when I found out the author decided to not write about the main characters any longer. I felt she needed to be courageous and continue on with their story. There is so much more to write, and it is such a awe-inspiring story with such great characters. There isn’t anything else out there like this. I want to know what happens next. I feel like we were left hanging… so sad.
Great book. I have actually reread this several times.
My favorite series by Anne Bishop. Everything about this book resonated with me and I have read this as well as the rest many, many times.
Wonderful
An unusual take on the wolf-human-vampire-etc relationship. Page turner!
Anne Bishop takes the whole shapeshifter genre to a whole new level. Humans are not the apex predators in this series, but something new is introduced to turn the human/other relationship in a different direction. I love the whole series enough to buy in hardback.
I have read this book three times. I love it. Anne Bishop does such a wonderful job creating a word where Nature and it’s “creatures” truly are superior .
Anne Bishop created an Earth-like world called Namid, its indigenous population called terra indigena that includes all the supernatural creatures you can imagine (so far vampires, wolf-shifters, bear-shifters, crow-shifters, hawk-shifters, elementals, and so on) and humans who are their prey. This is not your run of the mill shifter books!
The Others (terra indigene) tolerate humans up to a point due to their technical skills and inventive talents. The Others often refer to humans as smart meat, or monkeys and have no qualms about eating trespassers.
That being said, the book starts with a demure, half-frozen human young woman, Meg Corbyn, showing up at Lakeside Courtyard, the business district operated by the Others. We later find out that she’s a cassandra sangue (blood prophet who can see the future when cutting her skin) who has escaped the Controller and seeks refuge in the only place where human law does not apply. No one dared to enter the Courtyard without an invitation. Even Meg noticed, not without humor:
“People who entered the Courtyard without an invitation were just plain crazy! Wolves were big and scary and so fluffy, how could anyone resist hugging one just to feel all that fur?
“Ignore the fluffy,” she muttered. “Remember the part about big and scary.”
The story doesn’t have a romantic subplot but does set the ground for it, perhaps later in the series. I’m glad this doesn’t have an instant romance like so many fantasy books do these days.
“He kissed her forehead and found the act pleasing for its own sake. And, he admitted as he licked his lips, it was enjoyable for other reasons. Meg wasn’t biteable, but he really did like the taste of her.”
Read the full review here: https://www.summonfantasy.com/book-reviews/book-review-written-in-red-by-anne-bishop
This is a great series!!! I love everything about The Others.
Some favorite series I revisit every year or so. Anne Bishop’s Others find me in their neighborhood more often. I listen to the audiobooks in synch with their ebooks. The narrator is a comfortable match with the stories in my opinion. Wonderful. Literally, wonder full. Many whimsical moments to balance what might otherwise be plain horror. There are scenes that make me laugh despite their familiarity, or when remembered. I would highly recommend reading this five book series in order.
Great read! I really liked it. A little different than the typically paranormal story (definitely not a romance) that I’ve been reading for years. I actually liked that this focused completely on the world building and character development with no romance and/or sex with the main characters. Quite the opposite that made for a much more interesting read.
(I read this book a second time in October 2018 and I’m still raving about this book. Check out my original review of the book from 2014 below.)
The very first book I’ve ever read from Anne Bishop and definitely not my last. I have been meaning to read Written in Red since I noticed some of my Goodreads buddies raving about this series. I decided I needed to read a book that wasn’t a review request, so I went to my local library and borrowed it. Let’s just say I am now impatiently waiting for the second book from my library because I had a hard time putting down Written in Red. It took me a while to read it due to life getting in the way, and other books I needed to read but I finished it and now I WANT more.
I wasn’t an avid romance reader back in high school (not until my adult years), so Dark/Urban Fantasy stories became an obsession at a young age. (My mom used to say I would have nightmares over these books, but instead, I found them comforting) Thanks to Written in Red I’m wanting to read this genre more again. I love when authors can create fantasy worlds that have never been done before. First, imagine when we first inhabited North America and instead of Native Americans being there, there were the Others. These Others are shapeshifters, vampires, elementals, etc., which they have power over the humans. They are not your dreamy shapeshifters or vampires…but the scary ones that will make you have nightmares and will eat you without a reason. (Well…technically if you are seen as a threat…then you are food) Anne Bishop has created a Dark Fantasy world that will have any human not wanting to be a part of. In the case of this Book Lovin’ Mama though, I dived into the story without hesitation and had a hard time getting back to reality. I was entranced in the world of the Others, and the main character who has all the Others running with their heads cut off…Meg. Meg ended up in the world of the Others from running away from the world she’s only known. She’s one of the special humans that the Others know little of, but they are intrigued with her and want to protect her from the bad guys that want her back. Simon Wolfgard is the one that allows her access to the Courtyard, where the Others live. He’s hesitant at first, but he knows deep down something is different about her. She doesn’t smell like prey, which confuses him and the Others.
I could go on and on about the story, but I definitely don’t want to give anything away. This is a story that has a lot going on, but it’s easy to follow. Anne Bishop writes in the third person, which enables the reader to follow along with not only Meg, Simon, but several others characters that take the reigns in the story. I loved getting to know the Others, the human police, and the bad guys that were after Meg. There is also another character who is bad, but I definitely don’t want to give that person away. Let’s just say I didn’t like this person and I definitely went with Simon’s instincts on this character. I loved how the person ended up in the end.
I loved everything about this story and how Anne Bishop built this dark world about the Others. They are a fascinating bunch and I can’t wait to read the next book to be a part of their world again. Meg is such a sweet girl and I was glad to get to know her in this story. She played a very important role in this book and grew so much being with the Others. I loved how Anne made me feel for every single one of them. The only character I’m kind of scared of, but also fascinated with is Tess. Holy crap…she’s scary. I want to learn more about her though. If all the Others are scared of her, I’ll be scared of her too.
I give this book 5 full moons and highly recommend it to readers that love the Dark/Urban Fantasy genre. Here’s hoping my hold on the next book at the library doesn’t take too long. Anne Bishop has definitely sucked me into this world she created, and I can’t wait to dive back in again with the second book.
This is such a great series. I have re-read these books so many times as I enjoy the stories so well. Great writing and wonderful characters! Love them!
This book, and all of the following books in the series are terrific. I honestly feel they blow all off her other books away, and I love her other books as well. There are some sad, scary, and gruesome parts. However they really add to the authenticity. I strongly recommend!
Love how this book opens the mind to an entirely new way of viewing our world. A creative combination of every fictional creature imaginable written into the unique role of dominant preditor allows a whole new possibility for how the world could have developed. How human’s uniqueness could be used, and how it can save us from ourselves.
Anne Bishop is one of the best at creating a world. I want MORE MORE MORE
just found these! great reading!!! well written, wonderful plotting and dialog; no dumb stuff at ALL! Amazing. So happy when I find one of these authors.
Simply amazing series. I could not put this book down. Anne Bishop is in a league all her own when it comes to world building and creating characters who just grab you and come to life on the page. Worth the read.
I like the whole series. I recommend all Ann Bisop books.