Helpful Score: 2
This is the third book in The Others series by Bishop. I got a copy of this book to review through NetGalley. To be honest this book was probably the weakest of The Others series so far. However, I am having a hard time pinpointing why I had so much trouble engaging in this book.
The Others freed the cassandra sangue but they didnt realize the full implications of their actions. The cassandra sangue are having trouble surviving outside of their captivity and it is up to Meg to help figure out the best way to help them cope. In addition to that the Humans First and Last leader, Nicholas Scratch, is stirring up trouble and blaming the others for the suicides and deaths of the cassandra sangue. To make matters worse Humans First and Last (HFL) is gaining momentum and those humans who associate with the Others are being targeted. Everyone is on edge and, with a food shortage adding to the other issues, it looks like war could be brewing between the Others and HFL.
The first half or so of this book is pretty boring, a lot of small things happen but the story is a bit scattered and we don't actually read from Meg's point of view much. The second half of the book is much better as things start to come together. I also really like Simon and Meg as characters and we hear a lot more from them in the second half of the book.
This book was told from way too many points of view and a lot of the points of view are from characters I don't really care for all that much (the various police officers and such). I actually almost stopped reading this book 40% of the way through because I was having such a hard time engaging with the story. I have really loved all the books in this series so I am not sure why I had so much trouble getting engaged in this one. I think the main reason is that you dont get to spend a ton of time with Meg and Simon and they are kind of the highlight of this series for me.
However, I really loved the first two books in this series so I decided to finish it and I am glad I did. The last part of the book was amazing. We get to see a lot more of the elementals. I also liked how the humans and the Others are really entwining their societies together more in an effort to stand up against HFL. I kept shaking my head at the mentality of HFL, dont they realize that the Others control the elements? How stupid would you have to be to think you can beat the Earth, the Air, and Fire?
I still have really been enjoying the Others and their efforts to understand humans and interact with humans. There are a number of humorous scenes throughout with Simon and/or Meg as they both struggle to figure out who to be normal humans. Simon in particular can be pretty funny. I also really enjoy the comprehensive world-building in this series, it is very well done.
Overall although I think this was the weakest book in the series, I will still read future book in this series. Hopefully future books will be more focused, don't jump around so much, and actually have more of the story from Meg's perspective. I would recommend this series to fans of urban fantasy.
The Others freed the cassandra sangue but they didnt realize the full implications of their actions. The cassandra sangue are having trouble surviving outside of their captivity and it is up to Meg to help figure out the best way to help them cope. In addition to that the Humans First and Last leader, Nicholas Scratch, is stirring up trouble and blaming the others for the suicides and deaths of the cassandra sangue. To make matters worse Humans First and Last (HFL) is gaining momentum and those humans who associate with the Others are being targeted. Everyone is on edge and, with a food shortage adding to the other issues, it looks like war could be brewing between the Others and HFL.
The first half or so of this book is pretty boring, a lot of small things happen but the story is a bit scattered and we don't actually read from Meg's point of view much. The second half of the book is much better as things start to come together. I also really like Simon and Meg as characters and we hear a lot more from them in the second half of the book.
This book was told from way too many points of view and a lot of the points of view are from characters I don't really care for all that much (the various police officers and such). I actually almost stopped reading this book 40% of the way through because I was having such a hard time engaging with the story. I have really loved all the books in this series so I am not sure why I had so much trouble getting engaged in this one. I think the main reason is that you dont get to spend a ton of time with Meg and Simon and they are kind of the highlight of this series for me.
However, I really loved the first two books in this series so I decided to finish it and I am glad I did. The last part of the book was amazing. We get to see a lot more of the elementals. I also liked how the humans and the Others are really entwining their societies together more in an effort to stand up against HFL. I kept shaking my head at the mentality of HFL, dont they realize that the Others control the elements? How stupid would you have to be to think you can beat the Earth, the Air, and Fire?
I still have really been enjoying the Others and their efforts to understand humans and interact with humans. There are a number of humorous scenes throughout with Simon and/or Meg as they both struggle to figure out who to be normal humans. Simon in particular can be pretty funny. I also really enjoy the comprehensive world-building in this series, it is very well done.
Overall although I think this was the weakest book in the series, I will still read future book in this series. Hopefully future books will be more focused, don't jump around so much, and actually have more of the story from Meg's perspective. I would recommend this series to fans of urban fantasy.
Helpful Score: 1
Meg Corbyn entered the bathroom in the Human Liaison's Office and laid out the items she'd labeled the tools of prophecy: antiseptic ointment, bandages, and the silver folding razor decorated with pretty leaves and flowers on one side of the handle.
Meg has learned to do controlled cuts to speak the prophecies. Merri Lee is learning to document the sessions. Meg NEEDS to cut and does not want to wait for Simon to be present. The vision disturbs Merri Lee enough to report to Vlad. It involves the cassandra sangue that were freed from the Controller.
The freed girls have had a difficult time adjusting to the outside world. After Meg has an uncontrolled cutting, the Others led by Simon see the need to write a guide book of some kind to help all the girls.
The strife between humans and the Others is spiraling out of control. The Human First and Last league is fanning the flames that causes violent episodes.
We learn more about Monty and his daughter, Lizzy in this installment. Lizzy is the center of a huge part of the story line.
I adore this series! I read this book so quickly and now I'm mad at myself because it will be March before the next one is released. The characters feel like old friends. I learn something new about everyone of them in each book. I like that Simon has lessened his view of humans as meat. He proves that he can and does care about the human pack in his life.
I love dear sweet Sam! And quirky little Skippy. Nathan takes his protection of Meg so seriously.
The degree of hate by some humans towards the Others is a very sad statement of where our world is today. There are times that I so desperately want to beg everyone to just get along.
I'm happy to see the growth in Simon and Meg's relationship. I look forward to see where it will take us.
I am eager to see where things will go with the cassandra sangue that can present her visions by drawing rather than cutting.
One of the best series I have ever read!
Meg has learned to do controlled cuts to speak the prophecies. Merri Lee is learning to document the sessions. Meg NEEDS to cut and does not want to wait for Simon to be present. The vision disturbs Merri Lee enough to report to Vlad. It involves the cassandra sangue that were freed from the Controller.
The freed girls have had a difficult time adjusting to the outside world. After Meg has an uncontrolled cutting, the Others led by Simon see the need to write a guide book of some kind to help all the girls.
The strife between humans and the Others is spiraling out of control. The Human First and Last league is fanning the flames that causes violent episodes.
We learn more about Monty and his daughter, Lizzy in this installment. Lizzy is the center of a huge part of the story line.
I adore this series! I read this book so quickly and now I'm mad at myself because it will be March before the next one is released. The characters feel like old friends. I learn something new about everyone of them in each book. I like that Simon has lessened his view of humans as meat. He proves that he can and does care about the human pack in his life.
I love dear sweet Sam! And quirky little Skippy. Nathan takes his protection of Meg so seriously.
The degree of hate by some humans towards the Others is a very sad statement of where our world is today. There are times that I so desperately want to beg everyone to just get along.
I'm happy to see the growth in Simon and Meg's relationship. I look forward to see where it will take us.
I am eager to see where things will go with the cassandra sangue that can present her visions by drawing rather than cutting.
One of the best series I have ever read!
I so enjoy watching the friendship between Meg and Simon flower. Wonderful series.
This series confounds me, but I am absolutely hooked on these books.
From a story perspective It shouldn't work. The Others are so ready to dispose of people who disturb them. They have the right to deal with humans who cause trouble in any way they see fit, and can easily decimate any community they choose to. They may occasionally look human or a reasonable facsimile thereof, but they aren't.
They allow humans to occupy some of their land because humans provide things they like to have. They tolerate people because it is momentarily convenient. But they have the upper hand, and don't give two hoots about humanity.
I would expect beings like that to smash first and not ask questions later. And yet when problems arise Simon's response is usually logical, reasoned, well thought out and geared toward maintaining calm relations with 'the Monkeys'. And the other leaders of the terra indigene - groups who have less contact with humans and who are having much more serious trouble with them are taking their cues from him. WTF? These fearsome creatures who can smash, tear or otherwise rend their way through any resistance keep encountering more and more difficulties with humans, and instead of running with their instincts are behaving LIKE HUMANS. More so than most of the actual humans. When characters don't follow their...for lack of a better word I'll say primary programing it usually interferes with my enjoyment of the story.
And that is my conundrum. Ordinarily inconsistencies like that would drive me right up a tree. But I'm enjoying the so story so much I don't care.
From a story perspective It shouldn't work. The Others are so ready to dispose of people who disturb them. They have the right to deal with humans who cause trouble in any way they see fit, and can easily decimate any community they choose to. They may occasionally look human or a reasonable facsimile thereof, but they aren't.
They allow humans to occupy some of their land because humans provide things they like to have. They tolerate people because it is momentarily convenient. But they have the upper hand, and don't give two hoots about humanity.
I would expect beings like that to smash first and not ask questions later. And yet when problems arise Simon's response is usually logical, reasoned, well thought out and geared toward maintaining calm relations with 'the Monkeys'. And the other leaders of the terra indigene - groups who have less contact with humans and who are having much more serious trouble with them are taking their cues from him. WTF? These fearsome creatures who can smash, tear or otherwise rend their way through any resistance keep encountering more and more difficulties with humans, and instead of running with their instincts are behaving LIKE HUMANS. More so than most of the actual humans. When characters don't follow their...for lack of a better word I'll say primary programing it usually interferes with my enjoyment of the story.
And that is my conundrum. Ordinarily inconsistencies like that would drive me right up a tree. But I'm enjoying the so story so much I don't care.
