5 Stars
Anne Bishop is an author who constantly creates these worlds in which I find myself just in awe of. They are perfectly unique and new and just change the dynamic of books into something that treads on an unforeseen territory. My first series with Anne Bishop was The Black Jewels Series, which has become one of my favorite go-to reads and is a constant companion on my nook which I take with me to any place I go. So coming from that series, I had high expectations and what I thought was a good understanding of Anne Bishop's writing style. Let's just say that you can never have expectations going into a novel by Anne Bishop because she always succeeds the expected and reaches realms past one's imagination.
Written in Red is a story surrounding the journey of Meg Corbyn, a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet who escapes her owners and finds herself within the territory of the Others. Meg lead a restricted, which might be an understatement, life where everything was controlled by her owner and her skin was cut for profit. After living life with limited touches with the outside world, coming to the Lakeside Courtyard becomes an overwhelming experience which sets in place a boulder of new events that changes not only how the humans see the Others, but more importantly, how the Others see humans.
The things about Anne Bishop is that she creates worlds which are rich and dark, worlds that aren't mainstream because they hit on the darker side of humanity. The Others aren't these adorable shape-shifters which appear in mainstream novels, instead, they are animals hiding in human skin ready to be released at the slightest insult. These are beasts and monsters in the truest sense of the world as they feast on not only the flesh of other animals but also the flesh of humans who are declared as their enemies. I loved this take on what might otherwise be the usual paranormal dystopian fantasy novel as these characters were dark and real yet balanced by Meg who still holds on to this trueness of spirit and honesty which becomes quite rare in not only the world presented in this novel but outside of it too.
Meg Corbyn is a really interesting character for me because she has that purity of spirit which causes her to have a unique perspective on some of the things that I find a little different and the humans in the book see as a little different. Becuase she was kept from the outside world, she forms her own conclusions on the world and thses conclusions cause her to come under the protection of the Others and the courtyard leader Simon Wolfgard. Even though Meg is a little naieve about the way her world works, she's a fast learner and becomes a vital part of not only the courtyard, but what it means to be human and the relationship between humans and the Others.
The reason Meg becomes such a vital part to her new world is becuase of Simmon Wolfgard. What I think is so interesting about this book is the fact that Simmon is not supposed to naturally like humans yet works really hard to try and change the way the Others and humans interact. Also, the main reason Simmon saves Meg is this completely interesting, valid and ironic reason which sets up this book for not only the characters but the events that will follow later in the series. Simmon is both hard to like and yet there's a reason people are drawn to shape-shifter novels. Simmon is wolf, not human, yet the fact that he holds a human's body and interacts with humans to learn more about them creates the humanistic qualities which allow the tennative relatioship between Simmon and Meg to form, a vital relationship.
Overall, I would say that this is another genius creation by Anne Bishop which defy the ordinary and create an entire world which speaks to the darker nature of the usual fantasy novel. I would put a heads up for those that like a little romance in thier novels that not only is this book a more "happily ever after for now" kind of book, but also the romance that builds between the main characters is at a slower pace than most novels on the market. While I don't personally mind the nature of the romance because the novel doesn't revolve around teh romance, others might find fault in a novel which doesn't experience a fast love and an even faster relationship. Otherwise, this book is truly amazing and completely worth the cost!
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.
“Whether you’re beaten or pampered, fed the best foods or starved, kept in filth or kept clean, a cage is still a cage,”
Written in Red is a story surrounding the journey of Meg Corbyn, a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet who escapes her owners and finds herself within the territory of the Others. Meg lead a restricted, which might be an understatement, life where everything was controlled by her owner and her skin was cut for profit. After living life with limited touches with the outside world, coming to the Lakeside Courtyard becomes an overwhelming experience which sets in place a boulder of new events that changes not only how the humans see the Others, but more importantly, how the Others see humans.
The things about Anne Bishop is that she creates worlds which are rich and dark, worlds that aren't mainstream because they hit on the darker side of humanity. The Others aren't these adorable shape-shifters which appear in mainstream novels, instead, they are animals hiding in human skin ready to be released at the slightest insult. These are beasts and monsters in the truest sense of the world as they feast on not only the flesh of other animals but also the flesh of humans who are declared as their enemies. I loved this take on what might otherwise be the usual paranormal dystopian fantasy novel as these characters were dark and real yet balanced by Meg who still holds on to this trueness of spirit and honesty which becomes quite rare in not only the world presented in this novel but outside of it too.
“It was easier when all we wanted to do was eat them and take their stuff,” he grumbled.
And it had been easier when he hadn’t cared if he made any of them cry.”
Meg Corbyn is a really interesting character for me because she has that purity of spirit which causes her to have a unique perspective on some of the things that I find a little different and the humans in the book see as a little different. Becuase she was kept from the outside world, she forms her own conclusions on the world and thses conclusions cause her to come under the protection of the Others and the courtyard leader Simon Wolfgard. Even though Meg is a little naieve about the way her world works, she's a fast learner and becomes a vital part of not only the courtyard, but what it means to be human and the relationship between humans and the Others.
The reason Meg becomes such a vital part to her new world is becuase of Simmon Wolfgard. What I think is so interesting about this book is the fact that Simmon is not supposed to naturally like humans yet works really hard to try and change the way the Others and humans interact. Also, the main reason Simmon saves Meg is this completely interesting, valid and ironic reason which sets up this book for not only the characters but the events that will follow later in the series. Simmon is both hard to like and yet there's a reason people are drawn to shape-shifter novels. Simmon is wolf, not human, yet the fact that he holds a human's body and interacts with humans to learn more about them creates the humanistic qualities which allow the tennative relatioship between Simmon and Meg to form, a vital relationship.
Overall, I would say that this is another genius creation by Anne Bishop which defy the ordinary and create an entire world which speaks to the darker nature of the usual fantasy novel. I would put a heads up for those that like a little romance in thier novels that not only is this book a more "happily ever after for now" kind of book, but also the romance that builds between the main characters is at a slower pace than most novels on the market. While I don't personally mind the nature of the romance because the novel doesn't revolve around teh romance, others might find fault in a novel which doesn't experience a fast love and an even faster relationship. Otherwise, this book is truly amazing and completely worth the cost!
“Vlad hated doing the paperwork as much as he did when a human employee quit, which was why they'd both made a promise not to eat quitters just to avoid the paperwork. As Tess had pointed out, eating the staff was bad for marale and made it so much harder to find new employees.”
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blurb
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.
