For What It's Worth


Thursday, March 13, 2014

Review: Murder of Crows (The Others, #2) by Anne Bishop

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After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.

The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murders of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard—Lakeside's shape-shifting leader—wonders whether their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or of a future threat.

As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet—and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.

Goodreads | Author | Amazon

Source: Purchased

Review:
Murder of Crows (The Others, #2), was my most anticipated read for 2014 and I was not disappointed. I am completely enthralled with the world Bishop has created and with The Others. 

This isn’t a series where you jump in with the second book. You need to read Book #1, Written in Red first. This is such an amazing series. Dark, magical, complex and with wonderful characters and development. She writes shifters, political strife and relationships in a way that leaves me begging for more. Waiting a year between these books is a form of torture.

I love how Bishop explores the animalistic ways and barely leashed brutality of The Others, instead of humanizing them. Yet, with Meg – their Meg – they soften somewhat and the exchanges between human and Other, as they try to understand and help each other, are beautiful, and sometimes humorous to watch. I was surprised by how much humor – and sweetness was in this story.

That is mostly thanks to the slow (epically slooooow) brewing romance between Meg and Simon. OMG I LOVE them. LOVE. Simon is the alpha and leader of the Courtyard Others, but with Meg, he’s just a bumbling male. These two could not be more adorable. The innocence of their romance is just too much to take. I love watching how they play and cuddle with Simon in his wolf form and how they long for each other when they’re apart. Every one can see what is happening, except them. I love how this is unfolding and the time and care Bishop is putting into it – but if they don’t get together soon I will explode.

Which leads to the one thing that I didn’t love about this book. The multiple POV’s continue and even expand in this book. I will say that every point of view adds to the story but I just don’t care if it’s not Meg, Simon or one of The Others. Monty and Burke (the human policemen) are giving too much page time IMO. I think I’m supposed to be concerned about The Others brand of justice towards the humans who wrong them and have some kind of moral conflict but I pick The Others every time. I get it. The humans are the bad guys to me.

I’m also not a fan of criminal investigation, so that aspect just didn’t work for me, but I do see how it’s necessary to the overall plot line.

I don’t know how many books Anne Bishop has planned for this series. I’m torn between wanting it finished in the next book so Simone and Meg will get their HEA and wanting to stay in this world for years to come. There is still so much of this world and it's inhabitants left to explore.

This series could so easily spiral out of control. There are the incredibly complex interpersonal relationships in the courtyard, the looming war, the prophesies of the cassandra sangue, yet Bishop keeps a tight reign on it all, amping up the tension and drawing you in deeper to her deliciously dark world.

For more detailed reviews, check out The Midnight garden, Smexy Books, Red Hot Books

24 comments:

  1. I keep seeing this book pop up and it sounds good! I thinking I need to add the first one to my tbr.

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    1. IT's an excellent series. Especially if you like UF.

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  2. You have me so interested and so close to giving this series a try. When you describe the Others as animalistic, yet caring for Meg, I am dying. And I must know about this slow-brewing romance!

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    1. It has a lot of POV's, like the BDB series. That would be my only complaint although they are relevant to the story, unlike The Lessers lol

      Oh the romance Andrea!!! swoon - thud.

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  3. Argh...I can't read this because I haven't started the series and I really, really want to because EVERYONE seems to be talking about how wonderful it is. Gah. Gotta bump this series way up on my tbr!

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    1. It's REALLY well written. I adore everyone and the world it's set in.

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  4. For some reason I did like book 1, but did not rush to get book 2...hm

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    1. You're probably better off. Now I have to wait a whole year for book #3 lol

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  5. This is another reason I have to get on reading the first book. I have that one but have to have some time to read it! I can't wait to dive into this book. Yep, must get book 2 as well!

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    1. You would really like this series! I'm like 99% sure of it.

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  6. I LOVE the slow burn between Simon and Meg!!! OMG. I have such love for this series and wish that it were farther along so I could start at the beginning and have plenty of books ahead of me, rather than having to wait another year for the next one. *sigh* Life is hard for us book readers.

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    1. The wait is killer. So much happens yet not enough ya know??

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  7. IDK -- I downloaded the first book and ... I'm just not sure. But so many people love it...

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    1. I think the multiple pov's will bug you but I also think you would love the characters and world building.

      You would have to be in the mood for it.

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  8. Hmm, I have bad luck with shifter type books, but this one almost sounds interesting enough to tempt me to try another. While I'm undecided on trying this series, I really liked your review for it.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one. =)

    Orchid The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia

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    1. I would give this a try. I've never read shifters like this before. Also, there is romance but it's not about the romance. No sex.

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  9. Absolutely love the sound of the epically slow burning romance and think I would devour it

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    1. I think you would like this Brandi. It seems a little different from what I've seen you review but character wise I still think you would like it.

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  10. This sounds like a really unique series, I think I just forgot about all the positive reviews of book one last year. I love the sound of the slow romance too, I'm a big fan of those ;)

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    1. It's ok - probably better to read them back to back instead of waiting a loooong year lol

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  11. hhhhmmmm, romance-awesome!!! crime stuff--not so much. i'll keep it in mind though!

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    1. You would LOVE this romance. I'm not sure how you would feel about some of the gorier stuff though.

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  12. I do this series on audio, and it is so freaking good. I think that probably helped me with all of those perspectives, too. This series is so amazing...and that slow-burning romance...*sigh*. I was kind of sad to see that it's only planned as a trilogy because I could live in this world for several more books.

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    1. Where did you see that it will be a trilogy? That's a bummer.

      I can't imagine how she'll wrap it all up in only one more book and I would love to stay int he world longer too.

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