Review - Etched in Bone
Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop

* Read via NetGalley for review

Overall 3 gnomes out of 5 gnomes

4 out of 5 gnomes for characters
3 gnomes and a gnome hat for story
5 gnomes out of 5 for some superb character scenes especially Skippy
2 out of 5 for bad guy this round

I continue to adore the world of the Others. This was a good book with some great moments but kind of felt like a filler book overall. There weren’t as many surprises as there usually are and the villain didn’t really feel up to snuff.

If this is the last book focusing on Meg and the Courtyard then it was an okay but pretty weak ending. Like maybe they should have stopped at the last book kind of ending because that would have been a stronger ending.

Still I look forward to seeing what other characters Bishop sets up in this world next in book six. As Goodreads has the following for the description:

“Bishop’s new novel takes readers to a human village nestled in the terra indigene-controlled
Finger Lakes region of Northeast Thaisia. It stars divorcee Victoria “Vicki” DeVine, owner of
The Jumble — a small, self-sufficient community located on the shore of Lake Silence. Vicki
and the town’s residents soon find themselves caught up in a chilling mystery, after a series
of vicious murders rock the small community.”

Simon and Meg’s relationship has been a plus. Seeing Meg and the other blood prophets grow and change has been a highlight of the series. Not much is left unfinished but I found myself still wanting a lot of answers. I’m secretly hoping for short stories or whole books set in the other communities we’ve heard about in these books. Overall a series well worth checking out just for the world building and characters alone.

The Others have aggressively taken back control and the humans are just realizing that the allowances have come to an end. Some humans still don’t believe the likelihood that human-kind might be wiped from the face of the earth, but the brutal reality is a distinct possibility.

Meg must tread this fragile peace carefully but now it is not just the outside world but the court yard that is at risk.

Total book, what am I saying, complete series HANG OVER! Time and time again, Anne Bishop sucks us deep in with the amazing world building and I for one don't want to leave! Engaging, enthralling and everything you wish every read would be.

My full review will be posted closer to the publication date.

I received this ARC copy of Etched in Bone from Berkley Publishing Group - Roc in exchange for a honest and voluntary review. This book is set for publication March 7, 2017.

My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Anne Bishop
Series: A Novel of the Others
Sequence in Series: Book 5
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Roc
Publication Date: March 7, 2017 TOMORROW
Language: English
ISBN-10: 045147449X
ISBN-13: 978-0451474490
Genre: Scifi | Fantasy

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/etche...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Etched-Bone-No...
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/etch...

Reviewed for:
http://tometender.blogspot.com

Perfection!
Etched in Bone - Anne Bishop

What do I saw about this book? It was mesmerizing, brilliantly written, eerily prophetic, but ultimately hopeful? Yes, it was all those things, but it was also much more. More than I can put into exact words, but I couldn't put it down.

ETCHED IN BONE is the fifth book in the Others series by Anne Bishop and it picks right up where the last one left off. We are considering how much human to keep at this point. Humans have reared their ugly heads once again and a few bigoted jerks are really messing things up for everyone else. Now there's fall out. People are having to start over and the Elders, the really scary Others, are trying to figure out if the humans that remain are worth keeping or not.

So their solution to the problem is to observe the Lakeside Courtyard where Meg, her human pack, Simon, and his Other pack live. They all seem to get along so the Elders want to know what traits they should be looking out for in other humans. Well, a monkey wrench gets thrown into the plan when a new human family comes to town.

This one was so good. There were so many moving parts. I loved the way the author is just able to bring all those moving parts together seamlessly. Even when I don't see how it could possibly be connected, the plot just weaves together in a way that I want to smack myself for ever doubting in the first place.

Meg is trying to adjust to not cutting herself and it has caused her some problems, but she's really coming into her own. But she and Simon's relationship was strained through this one. There's a shift there. They both know it but know exactly what to do about it.

This story wasn't pretty, in fact there were times it was down right brutal. But it was true to the story arc and to the characters. It couldn't have been any other way. And the ending. WOW, all I can say is that I'm going to die waiting another year to get the next book.

ETCHED IN BONE is a just altogether perfect. I love this series and this book was no exception. Anne Bishop does such an amazing job with this story and these characters. I'm hooked and there's no way I'm going to stop with this series now. I think we're just skimming the surface now. There's lot more we've got to uncover with Lakeside and the Others.

*Advanced Reader's Copy provided by NetGalley and Publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Another five star review for The Others series! Now is a perfect time to jump in because ETCHED IN BONE is the last book to focus on Meg Corban.

Meg is once again in danger and it comes in the form of Lieutenant Montgomery brother. This guy was a huge piece of work and it's clear from the moment he steps into the Lakeside Courtyard that he is trouble. He had no clue who he was messing with and he deserved everything that came his way in the end.

I really loved the progression of Meg and Simon's relationship. Things moved slowly for them, but it fits with both of their personalities and it wouldn't have seemed real for it to move any faster than it did.

One of the great things about this series is that it isn't only the main characters that drive it. The secondary characters are just as developed and integral to the storyline. The Elders continue to be surprised by the howling not wolf, the female pack integrates even further into the Courtyard and a few other characters throw us some surprises in ETCHED IN BONE.

I can't believe that there are five books in this series and I have absolutely loved them all. It is so rare to find a series like this and I am so sad that this is the last book to focus on Meg. I really hope that we aren't leaving the Lakeside Courtyard for good as I would miss everyone way too much and there is so much story left to be told about them. No matter what, I won't stop reading about this world until the author gives me a reason not to and I just don't see that happening.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

For those unfamiliar with the series:
I listened to the audiobook for Written in Red, the first book in this series, a year ago last month. I had purchased a second hand copy of of the actual book months prior but after it being recommended to me so many times I decided to get the audiobook so I could get to it sooner. I instantly fell in love with it and the unique world Anne Bishop has created for us.

The Others books follow Meg Corbyn, a cassandra sangue (AKA blood prophet) who sees the future when her skin is cut, escapes the horror that most of her kind live in. They are basically used a prostitutes - nasty people pay for their future to be told to them and sex if they are willing to pay enough. The girls are kept very sheltered because exposure to too many things will overload them, so they are taught things a little at a time and only what they may need to know to give a prophecy. If they speak the prophecy they forget it immediately and experience a euphoria. If they do not speak it they remember it but experience an awful pain in place of the euphoria.

Meg finds sanctuary in the Lakeside Courtyard, a special community run by the terra indigene (they are the "Others:" werewolves, vampires, werecrows, elementals, and so much more). History has shown that humans and the terra indigene do not get along but Meg finds a place in the Courtyard and a special place in everyone's lives. For the first time in their history, she brings terra indigene and humans together to genuinely care for each other.

I think what I like most about this series is that it explores relationships in the most unlikely ways. It is similar to a squirrel and a goose falling in love with each other, but neither one knows anything about the customs of relationships so they're creating a new path for themselves. I don't want to give too much away, but read the books! They're great!

My review:
Etched in Bone was so exciting to read that half of the time I couldn't read fast enough and the other half I wanted to read so slowly that the book would never end. I feel like this is the first book in this series where we see how the relationship between the humans and terra indigene may pan out, and also a real glimpse at what everyday life in the Courtyard is like. The big upset comes from Monty's brother, Jimmy, rather than from within the courtyard or an organization against the Others.

One of the most interesting parts to me is Meg learning more about using the tarot cards to give prophecy rather than by cutting. She has inspired other cassandra sangue that she's in contact with to try to express them in other ways, such as by drawing.

There are several really funny parts that made me laugh out loud (cukkies, anyone?). So many of the characters are dear to me. I love the crows that are obsessed with shiny things, the pony elementals that are SO dangerous and powerful but love Meg because she gives them treats every afternoon, and Skippy, the little wolf who mentally "skips" and can't turn into his human form. And the fact that the wolves really love dog treats but everyone has to call them wolf cookies because they can't have anything to do with dogs. I really enjoy this unique world and seeing all of these interesting relationships play out. I believe that this is the last book with this story line, but there should be more in the same world just in a different part of the country.

Etched in Bone is the last book in a series that is ETCHED IN MY HEART! Anne Bishop created a world like none I have seen and populated it with creatures both terrible and wondrous. I have come to love these characters as each individual has a part to play in the increasingly fragile peace of the Lakeside Courtyard. This book picks up immediately where the Marked in Flesh left off. This book shows us the aftermath of destruction as humans and Others begin rebuilding in Thaisia, it shows us how fragile peace can be and how even a tiny seed of malice can grow and become an insidious evil. These books have quickly become all-time favorites of mine and Etched in Bone is a fitting end to the series. Despite a house with increasingly limited shelf space, I tell you know that this book is a keeper!

I always enjoy Anne Bishop's books but for whatever reason it took me until the 3rd book came out in this series to start reading this series. I do not know why I waited because it is now one of my favorites the characters are fascinating and its a fresh twist on what is a somewhat overdone storyline of shapeshifters. I never quite know where the story is headed but I enjoy it no matter what.

I am reviewing this book based on an ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

Etched in Bone marks the end of the Lakeside story. I heard the author is making a side series based in the same invented world, but it will involve new characters.

One of the discouragements about the third and fourth books was I thought the author spent far too much time outside the main Lakeside courtyard to explore around the world where the disasters were happening. While interesting and pertinent to the story and where the disaster was heading, I was more involved with staying with the series regulars I'd already grown attached to. The main story-line was resolved in the fourth book, so for this fifth we get to thankfully stay in Lakeside and see the progressions for the characters themselves. A big win there.

As the main character, Meg has progressed a lot. We don't get any frantic cutting moments thankfully, and the author has dialed back from her existence tying into the other blood prophets. They're mentioned some but we don't get any more points of views though them. Anne's picture is helpful and Jean's letter wanted, but it's all about Meg, the police and Lakeside again.

Even though Lakeside is the focus, we have new elders to contend with while they're still evaluating what should happen with surviving humans. A horrendous man, Jimmy, is given permission to stay in town and stir trouble. Honestly he's a little unrealistic - sure, he's a bad seed all the way, but almost a carbon cut-out of one. The man has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, really. We're in his demented head a few times too. Thankfully Jimmy gives the plot conflict but he isn't the main focus. It would be cool to say that was Anne and Simon's relationship, but we all know romance isn't the main focus of these stories, so we get what we get. Some readers may not get everything they want on that front with detailed moments, but we do get a very satisfying ending and outcome as expected.

The world-building for The Others is detailed and dark, but it's the characters I really love. Humor comes through Vlad's interaction with the human pack and bookstore, Simon's misunderstandings as he can't figure people out, (the beginning play chase scene on the bike was SO funny), and the town's small nuances that make them so memorable. Tess is around but she plays a smaller role this time. We see a bit more of Nyx but I missed Erebus - would have loved hearing his thoughts more on the Wolfguard and Meg. Skippy has a major breakthrough - love Skippy. Grrr bear and children abound. I'll miss Winter, my favorite of the elemental seasons. The crows again play an important part of the story, and again it's interesting how they work together to find and protect those they consider valuable.

Overall the plot is a bit milder this time but of that I'm actually glad because I was rearing up for more character-driven moments. I just love this community and how protective they are of "our Meg", how they come together into a working relationship despite how different they are from each other. It's both adorable and twisted. Such a dark series that came to the best conclusion it could. A lot of series end with the last book wrapping up the overall arching plotline - I'm so happy the author this time did that in book four, and spent the last book showing the outcome for all the main characters in such an extended resolution.

Awesome.

How much "human" does a terra indigene need to retain in order to fit in? That's the question Simon Wolfgard is tasked with by the Elders.  On a more personal note he needs to figure out how much human Meg needs him to be in order to foster a strong long lasting relationship between them.
With her skillful pen and masterful writing, Ms. Bishop brings alive the good, bad and ugly in human behaviors. Each progressive book in the series pulls a reader deeper and deeper into this fascinating world of the others.  After reading these books, you'll never view the world around you in the same way as you did before you opened the first page of a book in the series.
Meg Corbyn's arrival at the Lakeside courtyard with her desire to make a difference has created an atmosphere where different species of terra indigene and humans all co-exist as a community. While the need to cut remains strong in Meg she has become a trail blazer; a beacon for others of her own kind seeking alternate methods of releasing prophecy.  Her relationship with Simon has a future as depicted by a prophecy card with a picture of a big moon and a heart with a couple kissing.  Unfortunately before they can get to making it come true they'll both but more particularly Meg have to survive trials that will challenge her in ways she hasn't been challenged in a long time.
All seems to be going well at the courtyard in the aftermath of the culling of the herds. two elders have come to observe and report on the functioning of the courtyard and the spirit of cooperation and camaraderie between the various species.   The arrival of Lieutenant Montgomery's brother is marked by an explosion; a silent one as depicted on the prophecy card that Meg pulls.   Simon can feel his hackles rise and the atmosphere in the courtyard changes but where he would have refused courtyard hospitality he's forced by the elders to invite Jimmy Cyrus into the human pack so the elders can observe how a predator like Jimmy can disrupt a well functioning unit.

I enjoyed all the excitement of the thanksgiving like feast that the humans prepare and invite the key terra indigene from the courtyard to participate in. In true Ms. Bishop fashion she adds the Skippy element as a young wolf desperate to fit in tries his best to turn human and is in turn welcomed to the table despite his difference. Makes a reader wonder how a firm, compassionate, commanding woman like Twyla ended up with no good Jimmy Cyrus as a son. My other personal favorite tidbit in the book is courting tips for Simon as the others in the courtyard watch the blossoming relationship between him and Meg. How does a wolf reconcile looking his lady love in the eyes after consuming a human heart? Is a gift of meat from a courting wolf akin to a bouquet of flowers from a human suitor? I enjoyed these light moments in the book which balanced out the dark and ugly which goes along with dysfunctional human behavior. The Elders definitely learned a lot from the experiment that they conducted repercussions from which will be far reaching.
I can't wait to see where the author will take the series next.

The Others is one of my favorite series of all time. I have talked extensively about this in all of my previous reviews. I know this is dramatic, but every year I practically make myself sick with anticipation each time another installment is released. And this is the last one, so what will I do with myself now?! *insert sobbing* Thank goodness this is a series end to get excited about.

For those of you who have read the previous four books and are eagerly anticipating this finale, I don't think there's anything I can say besides READ THIS and enjoy the conclusion of Meg and Simon and their courtyard's story (at least for now - I know there will be more books in this world, I don't know if we'll see these characters again, though I can hope).

For those of you who are new to this series, I cannot recommend these books enough. From the complex characters to the world that expands further and further in each installment, to the small details about Meg's daily life that are a part of each book, this word building is some of the most intense and immersive I've ever experienced. The best advice I can give as you start is - this series is one to be savored. As someone who is typically very goal oriented, who likes to Get To The End, the wonder of this series is in its rich details. Don't miss them by becoming anxious to get to the next part of the story.

All the things I love about this series are present again in this book. The Others' world comes to life in vivid color and detail, and each time I step back into it, I feel like I'm returning to a familiar, comfortable place. Albeit one that's vicious and dangerous in a way that reminds humans to always stay alert, because they are nowhere near the top of the food chain. I could spend forever reading about Meg and Simon and Sam and Henry and Vlad and Tess and and and - all of whom I've gotten to know intimately through five books. Another thing I've loved about this series is that large scale, world changing events are happening, but the story remains centered though the eyes of this one courtyard, it's inhabitants and the few humans they've come to trust and work with along the way. Meg has been the catalyst for everything from the beginning and she is again at the center of this tale.

Etched in Bone is in many ways about rebuilding and finding a balance of peace after the climaxes of other books. But we've seen all along that threats, even on a relatively small scale, can have very real and very lasting consequences, and these characters must once again do what they do best and come together to face a danger that threatens their Meg. Although this book features a very specific, individualized danger, in this story we get to see what can be accomplished when humans and Others work together to solve a problem.

This series begins and ends with Meg and also Simon. These books have the slowest of slowest burn romances, but I've loved every second of it. Although greedy me wishes it had come with an epilogue, romance fans will not be disappointed in this final installment of Simon and Meg's journey, which began when a cold, frightened girl stumbled into a bookshop on a winter night.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Series End/solid conclusion :)

3.5 of 5 stars

So, another one of my favorite urban fantasy series has come to a close. Finding out that Anne Bishop will soon be following up with a spinoff series did soften the blow somewhat, but I won’t lie; when I picked up this final chapter of The Others starring Meg Corbyn and Co., my heart was filled with excitement but also a lot of bittersweet feelings. I’m definitely going to miss spending time in Lakeside Courtyard and reading about its colorful residents.

Since Etched in Bone is the fifth and final installment of the series though, please beware this review may contain spoilers for the previous books. Marked in Flesh saw the Humans First and Last movement violently crushed by the Elders, and the repercussions of that event have been widely and deeply felt across the land. Pro-human groups have lost much of their power, and many of their remaining cities are now cut off from resources and protection. The thriving community of Lakeside Courtyard, having emerged from the Elders’ wrath largely unscathed, now finds itself in the position to offer help to those in need. Its wolf-shifter leader Simon Wolfgard is seen as one the more sympathetic Others, and word soon spreads that they are offering jobs and shelter to human refugees who are willing to work hard and won’t cause trouble.

Everything seems to be running smoothly, until the arrival of Cyrus James “Jimmy” Montgomery. Against his better instincts, Simon decides to let Jimmy stay in part because he is the brother of Lieutenant Montgomery, a well-respected man in Lakeside Courtyard, but also because Jimmy is the brother and son of two other current residents. That decision to show compassion ultimately turns out to be a huge mistake, for Jimmy is a con artist, seeing this opportunity not as the blessing it is but as an easy meal ticket and a way to scam money. Not realizing that the Terra Indigene reserve the worst kinds of punishment for his sort, Jimmy continues to emotionally blackmail his sister and abuse his privileges at Lakeside Courtyard, until it’s only a matter of time before he takes things too far.

I’m going to be honest here. I thought Etched in Bone ended up being another fantastic installment, but as an ending, it was somewhat disappointing. I think Bishop might have overplayed her hand when it came to the resolution of the HPL storyline in the previous book, because let’s face it, anything coming up on the heels of that epic conclusion in Marked in Flesh would be hard-pressed to rival that that act. And indeed, the conflict in Etched in Bone felt rather tame in comparison. For example, if this had been just another book in the series, I think Jimmy Montgomery would have made a pretty decent villain. For a series conclusion though? A small bit conman felt too low-key and insignificant to be the story’s main focal point, especially since we’d just seen the likes of Nicholas Scratch, leader of the Thaisian HFL who had the power of an entire movement behind him.

Then, there’s Simon and Meg. I’ve never made it a secret how I feel about these two. Their romance, if you could even call it that, has always weirded me out. I don’t care much for Meg either, and my enjoyment for this series has always been carried by my love for some of the other characters. Other than being able to tell the future by cutting herself (which the Others actually want her to stop doing), Meg brings absolutely no valuable skills to Lakeside Courtyard, and yet the Others all bend over backwards to treat this helpless little woman-child like a queen. To me, Simon’s attraction to Meg has always felt more like a loyal guard dog’s devotion to his master, like she’s something fragile to be protected and kept safe because she’s too weak to look after herself, and in turn she treats the wolf-shifter like he’s her big fuzzy pet. Bishop had this one last chance to finally set their relationship on the right course, and I was a little surprised that she didn’t take it. Simon still bends to “his Meg’s” every whim, while she continues to be portrayed a meek character who requires constant sheltering and protection.

Bottom line, Etched in Bone would have worked perfectly fine as a middle book of a series, but as a series conclusion, I felt it left something to be desired. But while my review probably goes against the grain of the overwhelmingly positive response this book has been getting, I just want to say I still adore The Others, and if nothing else, this was a satisfying and happy ending for everyone involved. I’m beyond excited that Bishop will continue to write stories set in Thaisia because I’ve enjoyed every moment I’ve spent in this world, and even though this novel didn’t exactly end with the bang I’d wanted, it was nonetheless a very good book and a must-read for fans.

Here is a series that I adore and I was really impatient to be able to immerse myself in a new Meg Corbyn volume. I did not realize that it was the last novel in the series while waiting for the spin off but it does not change my feeling about it. I wondered how this volume was going to be staged when we see that the previous one was divided between the different cassandra sangue. But then, we finally return to the original format by mainly following Meg & Simon, which was really very pleasant.

Peace gradually returns after the extermination of the movement against the Others. But the fear inspired by this attack and its repercussions are in everyone’s minds. A question remains « how many humans will they keep? » … while the Elders monitor the Lakeside Courtyard to try to understand the best way to handle future conflicts and newly available cities … But That’s when CJ, the detested brother of Monty arrives in town to enjoy the benefits of the Lakeside Courtyard, the troubles begin again and will only intensify from there. Indeed, after deceiving his sister who only wants the love of her brother, CJ is determined to make money on the back of these monsters. You will tell me that Simon or any other inhabitant has only to ask for him to leave the city, and yet despite his desire, the Elders have decided that they want to understand why humans do not want the presence of one of theirs and they therefore want to understand how they can differentiate the good persons from the bad ones to avoid killing everyone. And yet it is very difficult to accept when Meg’s security is compromised by this unscrupulous man who does not accept to be restricted and tries to take advantage of any situations, even if illegal ones. Yes, this volume revolves around this new arrival, the involvement of new humans in the community, the repopulation of certain cities, and of course Meg and Simon.

I spent once again a great time with the story, the characters evolve as well as their relationships. We discover some new interactions with the Elders and we wait to see what will happen exactly now. I was carried away by the story and the characters as for each novel and although I am a little sad to conclude my story with Meg and Simon, the author presents us a beautiful touching ending. I still have some questions, notably about the evolution of the relationship between Simon and Meg, about the decisions of the elders, but also about all the other prophets who adapt little by little to their new life. Yes, there are still many tracks to follow and I really wonder what we will discover later. In any case, it was a brilliant novel, impossible to put down before finishing it, a new very good story that will delight the fans of the series.

I fell so in love with the first book in this series - and of course with Megan Simon and The Others. It was a must read series for me.

TBH, I've been less then thrilled with the last two books, feeling like things were dragging out and that there was less and less of The Courtyard and Others that I had loved so much. But I was still in love with Meg & Simon and the upcoming epic battle so I persevered.

This is the conclusion of the Others series that feature Meg (there's a spinoff series) and I was once again disappointed.

Bishop added new characters that don't really mean much and Monty's asshole brother that was wholly unnecessary to get the plot where she was trying to go. <spoiler>There were far more sinister forces that could have put Meg in danger and lead to the same place without making this convoluted family drama</spoiler>.

So much of this series hinges on you being torn between the humans trying to maintain their brand of civility and modern trappings while coexisting with the Others more wild ways and terrifying brand of enforcment.

My problem is I don't care one iota about the humans other than Meg and a few of her friends. They are whiny and demanding. There is no need to keep them around. All they do is put a strain on the Courtyard and then ask for more.

On a more technical note - there were long, boring chapters about how to help the humans share washer/dryer time, how to get the fussy humans more beef, the benefits of yogurt. I just can't bring myself to care about these mundane things.

You have this rich world that Bishop built, with wonderfully complex characters and the blood prophets and we're discussing laundry and cheese?

I know everyone is a huge fan of this series and I suppose this review only applies if you had problems with the last few books like I did. If you didn't then you will love this one as well.

As for Simon and Meg <spoiler>You will get a nice, if rushed conclusion</spoiler>

This is the fifth and final book in The Others series by Bishop. Bishop said in her blog that there are plans for future books set in this world, but that this book ties up the storyline involving Meg and the Lakeside Courtyard. Although the story takes a bit to get going; this book did a wonderful job of tying up the series. It ended up being an amazing conclusion to all the elemental events that started happening in the last book.

As I mentioned it took me a bit to get back into the story. In the last couple books the story has gotten so broad, spanned so many areas, and added so many characters that it took me some time to get my head around it all when I started reading this book. However, once the story started focusing a bit more on the Courtyard and the people there I got sucked right back into it.

This book does jump around quite a bit and there are multiple storylines going on. There is the broad storyline about the Elders and their decision on which humans should live and which shouldn’t. Then there is the more localized storyline about Montgomery’s brother coming to Lakeside and causing a boatload of trouble. Of course in between all of this is the story about the blood prophets and how those girls are recovering. The storylines end up coming together well in the end; but much of the book feels a bit scattered.


We meet some new characters in this book which was fun. We also get to see a lot more of the Elders and the Elementals; these creatures are fascinating. Meg goes through a lot in this book, as do all the residents of Lakeside Courtyard.

I love how detailed, unique, and filled out the world in this series is. That is one of the main reasons I kept reading this series; because I loved the world-building so much.

Things are tied up very nicely in the end. I would have liked to see a bit more happen between Simon and Meg; maybe we can get a novella or something about their life after all these events and how it progresses.

Overall this was a wonderful conclusion to this series and was very well done. The story does start out a bit slow and at times seems a bit scattered because it jumps around so much. However, once I got back into the story (after the first 25% or so) I was completely sucked in and engaged in this world again. I would recommend this series to those who enjoy fantasy written in an urban fantasy tone that has intricate world-building and engaging characters. I look forward to seeing what future stories Bishop sets in this world!

Etched in Bone is book five in The Others series. While this is the last Meg Corbyn story, it isn't the last in this world. We'll have a new leading character and town in the next installment which is set to release in 2018. I'm happy to report that this novel is focused a bit more on the Lakeside Courtyard compared to the previous book. That means we get more face time with our favorite cassandra sangue, Meg Corbyn and the Courtyard's leader, Simon Wolfgard.

We start off with the Lakeside Courtyard still recovering from the Elders attack in the previous book and the humans are trying to see if the terra indigene plan on letting them stay. Throughout this series Meg has changed how the terra indigene looks at humans, they're not just meat anymore. There's a very uneasy alliance happening but the order must be maintained. The Lakeside Courtyard is doing well compared to other towns but it still has its own issues. A good portion of the book is about Cyrus Montgomery aka Jimmy who comes into town to mooch and con his way into an easy life. He thinks because his family is there that he'll be able to get a free ride, he didn't count on the fact that the terra indigene will not tolerate his behavior.

The rest of the book we have Meg who is trying her best to figure out if the prophecy cards will work for the cassandra sangue girls that were rescued from compounds. It's looking promising since she's getting used to telling the future with them instead of having to cut herself. But when a future undecided prophecy continues to show up and Lieutenant Montgomery's brother Jimmy comes to town looking for handouts, trouble is sure to follow. If that isn't enough, the Elders decide now is a good time to go to Lakeside and get to know more about the humans. It's a bad situation all around and you don't need to wait long before drama unfolds.

Etched in Bone is an excellent conclusion to a series I adore. I'm hoping we get to see glimpses into Meg and Simon's life in the future books though since I will miss their characters. ABishop weaves an enthralling story and the series is a must read. For the readers wanting Meg and Simon in a relationship like I have this entire time, I can say don't get your hopes up too high. Meg is still trying to figure out her feelings for Simon and the duo are closer than ever but both are slow movers which is understandable. If you're a fan of Urban Fantasy with little to no romance I highly recommend this series, you'll get hooked from book one.

As we've heard there's more coming from Anne Bishop in this series I'm happy to say while this would have been a strong conclusion to this series we're at least going to get more from the world! I loved this fifth instalment, it had action and adventure - if anything the only complaint I might give was that the villain was almost too evil to be believable. My only further comment - I loved the ending!

NOTE: I have tried to limit my superlatives but I am probably writing a review that sounds more like some gushing fan instead of a top level reviewer, so be it .......
-------------------------------------------
There are books you read that you hate, there are some you read that you love but there is that very rare group of books that just leave you awestruck that such a book can be written, some author's imagination could be so amazing and at the same time have the skill to make it into a true work of art. That is where this series has taken me each time but this one just lifted me into that place where only a small handful of books can even be considered in the same class.

Those of us that have been following this story since the inception when Meg stumbled into Simon's store rain soaked and looking for a job to this pinnacle of the story hate to even think about an ending but I understand this will be the last book that revolves around Simon and Meg but i hope we don't leave Lakeside Courtyard behind completely since we have a whole family of characters to love.

It is SO hard to write a review for this book since like others I just want to scream "IT WAS SO AWESOME, BUY IT NOW!!!" but I am guessing that is not a professional review. This book as pretty much all the others just weaves itself into a story that is addicting, stressful, while a touch of humor is slipped in randomly along with a touch of romance and warmth.

In addition to everything else the Elders want to observe the Lakeside community to help decide if they should "remove" more humans from the world so almost everything becomes important.

These books are filled with secondary characters who all have a story and become more than just another faceless character to fill up pages, you care about these people, you love the interaction of how everyone grows to care about those who they once saw as an enemy, this book is the culmination of those stories.

Meg is no longer cutting herself, Simon can't decide what his relationship is with Meg but before the book ends he has to make some decisions and events will force him to see that she is more than just "a friend".

I won't be providing any spoilers but this was just such a great book to bring us to the point where the series can move on to other characters while hopefully not leaving us without at least an occasional glimpse at Meg and Simon as the series moves along since we hate to even think of there being no more bits of their story.

The big thing here is that the main plot about Meg and Simon is only a part of what makes these books exceptional beyond description, the interaction of the whole cast of characters and their desire to help each other is what this is all about and just leaves you breathless and almost depressed that the book ended and you have to wait another year for more.

Bottom Line: I will save all the mountains of superlatives since they still would not be able to convey how much this series is in an elite class that is outside of normal reading entertainment. I rate this book only because they don't have a rating for a separate Elite Class of books so all I can do is give it 5 Stars and an acknowledgment that some books are just so far outside of a normal rating that it becomes almost meaningless.

Explore a world where the earth itself has teen and claws and the spirits of the wild have evolved to look like the humans they see as prey. In the fifth book of The Others series, Bishop returns to Lakeside where blood prophet Meg is finally feeling more settled even though she's still trying to figure out her relationship with Simon Wolfguard. The central conflict in this book will revolve around the arrival of Lieutenant Montgomery's brother Cyrus, a con man looking to take what he can from the people of Lakeside.

What I love about this series is the continuous character development. When Meg first arrived in the Courtyard, she was running scared and completely sheltered from the world. She's grown into someone to be reckoned with, and even the Elders see it. The Others are also growing and learning from the human pack. It's was especially fun to see Sam and Skippy (two of the young wolves) coming into their own. If you haven't read the rest of the series, I wouldn't recommend starting with this book as you will loose the building plot lines, but please check out the first book - Written in Red.

I thoroughly enjoy this series and Etched in Bone was no exception. I love how Meg is developing and I'm eagerly awaiting to see what happens next in the Courtyard and beyond.