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A review by rowingrabbit
Written in Red by Anne Bishop
4.0
4.5 stars
I'd never read this author before & after finishing this, the first thing I'll say is wow...what a great read. It hooked me from the beginning & I just wanted to plunk myself down on the couch 'til I was done.
In a brief but helpful prologue we are told how the world we are about to enter came to be. There are humans & Others, in conflict since the beginning of time as they fight for territory & supremacy. Settlements belong to humans with the exception of the Courtyard, a large enclosed tract inhabited by Others who watch over the humans & enforce agreements. Vast areas outside of cities are the domain of the Others & no human in their right mind would venture off the grid.
The Others (terra indigene) are comprised of several types of supernaturals. Shifters are wolves, crows, coyotes & bears. Sanguinate are similar to vampires who can appear as black smoke. Elementals evoke the power of rain, wind, snow & fire. All can assume human forms except for the ponies who are grouchy & funny (most of the time...no spoilers here!). And then there's Tess. Not even the rest of the Others know what she is but take my word for it...she's freaking scary.
The story begins with a young woman running for her life in a snow storm. We know from the start she's a human with a "gift" & so desperate to hide she's willing to apply for a job with the Others as a human liaison.
The city is Lakeside, where the relationship between the two groups is slightly more progressive. Leader of the Others in its Courtyard is Simon Wolfgard & he's working to encourage a society where they can coexist within the strict rules outlined in a agreement. One of the few humans allowed inside the Courtyard is the liaison. It's their job to run the mailroom & accept deliveries from truck drivers who wouldn't go near the place if they had to deal with Others. Because even with the agreement in place, make no mistake. On any Other property the biggest rule is "HRDNA"...human rules do not apply. Meaning if you're human & you screw up, you're dinner. Or if you attempt to shoplift at Howling Good Reads, Simon's bookstore, be prepared to forfeit a hand.
This is where our heroine, Meg, applies for the job. Simon knows right away she doesn't smell right. She's human but doesn't evoke his prey response like the rest of her race. But he's desperate to fill the position & it's not like there's a stack of applicants. Meg is hired on the spot.
And so begins a tale that is fast pace, strange, violent, wonderful & highly original. We slowly learn about Meg's chilling background, what she is & why she's running. She's a compelling character with a foot in both worlds & as much to learn about Others as she does about being human.
Her arrival also heralds great change for the inhabitants of the Courtyard. They aren't quite sure what to make of her & as the story progresses, their initial reserved tolerance becomes something more. It's soon evident a powerful individual will stop at nothing to retrieve her & the Others have to decide whether to give her back or risk all out war by protecting her.
The main human protagonist is Lt. Crispin Montgomery (Monty), a compassionate & dedicated cop trying to keep the peace. He's determined to forge a working relationship with Simon in an effort to prevent more humans from becoming snack food. He's smart & ethical with some personal issues that drive him to overcome the absolute terror he feels when dealing with Others.
There is so much more to this story with multiple storylines & characters that are fascinating & original. The plot includes threats to both sides & there is a sustained tension throughout. Violent encounters lead to the final battle with no guarantees of who will be left standing. The author does a great job of portraying the subtle evolution of many of the characters. We watch the gradual shifting of prejudices as they get to know each other, something we can relate to in our own world.
Meg & Simon are at the heart of the story & it's entertaining to follow their relationship. Meg's character in particular undergoes huge change. She is on a journey of self discovery & finds happiness & betrayal. Her encounters with Jake (a crow) & the ponies provide moments of comic relief between those of great danger. It also reinforces the idea that no matter how different we are, you can always find common ground if you're willing to look hard enough.
I really recommend this book to fans of paranormals. It can be tricky to find good ones in this crowded genre that don't rehash similar plot devices & characterizations. The world created here is highly imaginative yet believable & I quickly became invested in the characters & their lives. The plot is intricate, smart & well paced. It's the kind of book where you're torn between turning the pages as fast as you can & slowing down because you don't want it to end.
It is at times sad, scary, hopeful & funny, leaving me waiting impatiently for the sequel, "Murder of Crows".
I'd never read this author before & after finishing this, the first thing I'll say is wow...what a great read. It hooked me from the beginning & I just wanted to plunk myself down on the couch 'til I was done.
In a brief but helpful prologue we are told how the world we are about to enter came to be. There are humans & Others, in conflict since the beginning of time as they fight for territory & supremacy. Settlements belong to humans with the exception of the Courtyard, a large enclosed tract inhabited by Others who watch over the humans & enforce agreements. Vast areas outside of cities are the domain of the Others & no human in their right mind would venture off the grid.
The Others (terra indigene) are comprised of several types of supernaturals. Shifters are wolves, crows, coyotes & bears. Sanguinate are similar to vampires who can appear as black smoke. Elementals evoke the power of rain, wind, snow & fire. All can assume human forms except for the ponies who are grouchy & funny (most of the time...no spoilers here!). And then there's Tess. Not even the rest of the Others know what she is but take my word for it...she's freaking scary.
The story begins with a young woman running for her life in a snow storm. We know from the start she's a human with a "gift" & so desperate to hide she's willing to apply for a job with the Others as a human liaison.
The city is Lakeside, where the relationship between the two groups is slightly more progressive. Leader of the Others in its Courtyard is Simon Wolfgard & he's working to encourage a society where they can coexist within the strict rules outlined in a agreement. One of the few humans allowed inside the Courtyard is the liaison. It's their job to run the mailroom & accept deliveries from truck drivers who wouldn't go near the place if they had to deal with Others. Because even with the agreement in place, make no mistake. On any Other property the biggest rule is "HRDNA"...human rules do not apply. Meaning if you're human & you screw up, you're dinner. Or if you attempt to shoplift at Howling Good Reads, Simon's bookstore, be prepared to forfeit a hand.
This is where our heroine, Meg, applies for the job. Simon knows right away she doesn't smell right. She's human but doesn't evoke his prey response like the rest of her race. But he's desperate to fill the position & it's not like there's a stack of applicants. Meg is hired on the spot.
And so begins a tale that is fast pace, strange, violent, wonderful & highly original. We slowly learn about Meg's chilling background, what she is & why she's running. She's a compelling character with a foot in both worlds & as much to learn about Others as she does about being human.
Her arrival also heralds great change for the inhabitants of the Courtyard. They aren't quite sure what to make of her & as the story progresses, their initial reserved tolerance becomes something more. It's soon evident a powerful individual will stop at nothing to retrieve her & the Others have to decide whether to give her back or risk all out war by protecting her.
The main human protagonist is Lt. Crispin Montgomery (Monty), a compassionate & dedicated cop trying to keep the peace. He's determined to forge a working relationship with Simon in an effort to prevent more humans from becoming snack food. He's smart & ethical with some personal issues that drive him to overcome the absolute terror he feels when dealing with Others.
There is so much more to this story with multiple storylines & characters that are fascinating & original. The plot includes threats to both sides & there is a sustained tension throughout. Violent encounters lead to the final battle with no guarantees of who will be left standing. The author does a great job of portraying the subtle evolution of many of the characters. We watch the gradual shifting of prejudices as they get to know each other, something we can relate to in our own world.
Meg & Simon are at the heart of the story & it's entertaining to follow their relationship. Meg's character in particular undergoes huge change. She is on a journey of self discovery & finds happiness & betrayal. Her encounters with Jake (a crow) & the ponies provide moments of comic relief between those of great danger. It also reinforces the idea that no matter how different we are, you can always find common ground if you're willing to look hard enough.
I really recommend this book to fans of paranormals. It can be tricky to find good ones in this crowded genre that don't rehash similar plot devices & characterizations. The world created here is highly imaginative yet believable & I quickly became invested in the characters & their lives. The plot is intricate, smart & well paced. It's the kind of book where you're torn between turning the pages as fast as you can & slowing down because you don't want it to end.
It is at times sad, scary, hopeful & funny, leaving me waiting impatiently for the sequel, "Murder of Crows".