Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop – Review, Interview & Giveaway
Etched in Bone
The Others series – Book #5
by Anne Bishop
Release Date: March 7, 2017
Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository
Description:
After a human uprising was brutally put down by the Elders—a primitive and lethal form of the Others—the few cities left under human control are far-flung. And the people within them now know to fear the no-man’s-land beyond their borders—and the darkness…
As some communities struggle to rebuild, Lakeside Courtyard has emerged relatively unscathed, though Simon Wolfgard, its wolf shifter leader, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn must work with the human pack to maintain the fragile peace. But all their efforts are threatened when Lieutenant Montgomery’s shady brother arrives, looking for a free ride and easy pickings.
With the humans on guard against one of their own, tensions rise, drawing the attention of the Elders, who are curious about the effect such an insignificant predator can have on a pack. But Meg knows the dangers, for she has seen in the cards how it will all end—with her standing beside a grave.
Review:
Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop is the 5th book in her wonderful The Others series. Anne Bishop is one of the authors that are always on the top of my list. She never ever fails in giving us another fantastic story in each of everyone of her series. Etched in Bone ends the Meg/Simon story arc, and it was a fabulous and exciting ending. I know Anne will continue The Others world in a different arc that will come next year, but I will miss the wonderful characters in Lakeside.
At the end of the last book (Marked in Flesh), the feared Elders (old time powerful Others) and Elementals eliminated the humans who plotted and brutally killed many of the terra indigene (the Others) throughout the world. A refresher: The Others are non humans, such as wolves, crows, vampires, elementals, grizzlies, etc), who control most of the world. The series revolves around Meg Corbyn, a human, who is also a blood prophet. Since Meg has arrived in Lakeside Courtyard, the terra indigene have protected her and learned to change their ways to live with humans.
In Etched in Bone. Lakeside and other communities, who have survived the mass destruction work toward returning things to normal. Bishop does a wonderful job allowing us to see how Meg has helped changed both human and others perspectives. The police play a big part in this story, with Monty in the middle, since his brother has come to live in Lakeside. Jimmy Montgomery is bad to the bone, and upon arrival has expected to live freely, taking whatever he wants; but soon, the Others begin to see that he is trouble. When Simon and his group want to evict Jimmy immediately, they are stopped by two Elders, who want to learn more how humans and the others get along; they want to see how Jimmy is different than other humans.
Jimmy was one of those nasty people who will use his own family to benefit him. A few of times during the story, he plots to take what doesn’t belong to him, and even with the dire result on the first attempt, he continues to plot again. Monty and Twyla (their mother) have to separate themselves from him, so not to be in the middle of the eventual fallout; and throughout the story, we kept hoping for nasty Jimmy to be thrown out of Lakeside.
The last third of the book was extremely exciting, with pulse pounding action that had us on the edge of our seat. Meg’s life was in danger, and they all knew, if anything happens to our Meg, poor Simon would leave Lakeside heartbroken. It will take the police, the Elders and the rest of the terra indigene to work together to try and save Meg. Will Meg survive? Will Simon and Meg finally find a way to be together?
What I loved the most about Etched in Bone was spending time, and probably our last with these wonderful fantastic characters Anne Bishop has given us….Meg, Simon, Vlad, Tess, Sam, Nathan, Henry, Merri Lee, Monty, Burke,Skippy, & the Elementals, just to name a few. I for one will sorely miss them . I also love that Anne has given us a satisfactory conclusion to Simon & Meg (and Sam). Bravo Anne Bishop for another fantastic book, and series that no one should miss. I wholly recommend you read The Others series by starting with the first book, Written in Red.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
Hi, Anne. We are excited to have you back with us again at The Reading Cafe, to discuss your new release “Etched in Bone”, as well as to give us an update as to what else you may be working on.
TRC: For those of our members who have not read this series, can you please give us a description of the premise of The Others?
Anne: The Others novels take place on an alternate Earth where the earth natives, the supernatural beings known as the Others, have always been the dominant predators, evolving with the world. Humans, while inventive and clever, are nowhere near the top of the food chain and have to deal with the Others for all the natural resources they need. The appearance of Meg Corbyn, a blood prophet who has run away from her controller, adds to the ever-present tension between species in the city of Lakeside. Meg’s presence is the pebble that starts the avalanche of changes in Lakeside, and the question, more and more, becomes who is going to survive those changes.
TRC: Etched in Bone is being released tomorrow. Can you please give us a brief description of the book?
Anne: It’s the post-war story. Communication between regions is broken, so no one really knows how many human cities and towns in Thaisia still exist. Thanks to Simon, Meg, and Monty, Lakeside is in pretty good shape, but there is a sense of isolation and uncertainty. And the thinning of the human herd isn’t done. Two Elders return to Lakeside to observe the humans and Others interacting. When Monty’s brother, Jimmy, arrives in Lakeside, the Elders have a chance to observe something else—how one human’s actions can break the trust and balance in a pack made of humans and Others.
TRC: How did you come up with the idea of The Others?
Anne: It wasn’t one idea but a lot of little ideas that clicked together in the right way. The “ah-ha” moment was when I wondered what the world would be like if the Others weren’t humans that became something else but were a different species altogether, supreme predators that had the ability to take another shape in order to mimic and study other predators. That meant that even when they took the shape of a human, they wouldn’t think like a human. That collision of world views intrigued me. Once I added the idea of the blood prophets, and Meg, who becomes the catalyst for those world views colliding, the story began to tell itself.
TRC: Etched in Bone is the final book in The Others series. How hard was it writing the finale of Meg, Simon, Sam and the others in Lakeside? I know I will miss them.
Anne: I don’t feel like I left them behind. They just stepped off the stage to let other characters have a chance to stand in the spotlight. They told the story of world-shattering changes, and their work is done. I picture them all heading to a beach on the shores of Lake Etu. Meg and the female pack will build sand castles. Simon and Sam will dig the moats and chase the seagulls. Everybody will have a good time.
TRC: We know you are continuing with a new series, Lake Silence, in the same world as The Others. What can you tell us about the new series coming in 2018?
Anne: I don’t know yet if it’s a new series or a standalone book in the Others’ world. I started the story as a “Crowgard cozy”—a kind of story that would be sold in Howling Good Reads. When I started it, I wasn’t sure if it would be a short story or a novella or a novel. I just wrote to see what would happen with these characters. Then, because my stories always change from simple to layered, “cozy” turned into “suspense” and grew into a novel.
TRC: How many books are you planning for your new series?
Anne: That will depend on whether or not Vicki and Aggie find more bodies.
TRC: When you are not writing, what other interests or hobbies do you have?
Anne: That depends on the season. In the winter, I read, watch movies, and spend time with friends. From spring through fall, I putter in the garden instead of watching movies.
TRC: What is your writing process? Do you like to outline your story before you start? Do you have a specific place you like to write? Is there a special time of day that works best for you?
Anne: I don’t outline. I think a lot—sometimes for years—before I begin writing the story. I make notes as characters begin to take shape and the place comes into sharper and sharper focus. I have a general idea of the storyline but the fun is discovering how the characters get from that first meeting and problem to be solved to the end of the story. I have a little space in my house that is the writing corner. That’s where I go to meet the Muse. I start after breakfast and work until I reach my word quota for the day. Then I take care of email and paperwork for a couple of hours. I do that five days a week. The other two days I spend on the mundane things that keep the household running.
TRC: Would you like to add anything else?
Anne: Etched in Bone is my twentieth novel. In 2018, I’ll celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the publication of my first novel, Daughter of the Blood. Some of you have been sharing these worlds and stories with me from the beginning. Some of you are just discovering the Others and the Blood and the other worlds I’ve created. Thank you. It’s a joy to share the people and their stories with you.
TRC: Thank you, Anne for giving us an update on Etched in Bone, as well as what we can look forward to with your new series. It was a pleasure having you visit us again.
To learn more about Anne, you can find her at the following links
Website / Facebook / Courtyard / Goodreads
Anne is graciously offering TWO (2) giveaways.
– A Hardcover copy of ETCHED IN BONE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe
– Paper copy of the first Four book in The Others series to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.
1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.
NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging in, please refresh the page at the top of your computer
2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.
3. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS
4. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.
5. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.
6. Please follow The Reading Cafe on Tumblr
7. Follow ANNE BISHOP on Facebook.
8. Giveaway is open to USA only.
9. Giveaway runs from March 6 -10, 2017
Save
Save
Save
Save
Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub
