The Others by Anne Bishop / one of my all time favorite series

The Others by Anne Bishop

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The Others by Anne Bishop

THE OTHERS | SERIES REVIEW

I’ve read The Others series by Anne Bishop three times so far, and it never gets old.

The first time, I was on a two week road-trip through the mid west and listened to the first three audiobooks in one go. I devoured them, if I’m honest. Loved them from the very first moment, and since then my love for this series has only grown.

The second and third time I read the books the regular way, since audiobooks take so much longer and I was impatient. Also, I wanted to see if I would enjoy the books as much as I did listening to them, because the audiobooks hold a very special place in my heart.

The Others is an urban fantasy series, since the plot is mostly located in a Courtyard in the town of Lakeside. The world is fictional to a degree, the US map is similar but also a bit different. But the background of what we know the world to be is utterly different. The land is ruled by The Others. Creatures that have teeth and claws and roam the wild country. For them, humans are meat on two legs – nothing more.

Besides fantastic world building, Anne Bishop wrote some of the most endearing characters. Especially the main couple.

MEG & SIMON

Meg is as innocent as you can get. She grew up in a compound, a captive since childhood, used as a source of prophecy by being cut with a scalpel. Each cut brings a prophecy. Because of a friend and a prophecy she is able to escape and finds shelter at the Courtyard. And thanks to the Courtyard’s leader Simon, she gets a chance of a normal life.

Simon is a wolf. A wolf who can change into a human, but like all other shifters prefers the fur. He is one of the Others, more animal than human, and someone who has no scruple to eat humans if they trespass on Courtyard land.

But when Meg arrives at the Courtyard, it changes everything. She makes mistakes, doesn’t know the rules, changes the status quo just by being who she is, and her friendships with Simon, with his nephew Sam, and with all the other creatures at the Courtyard is what makes this series so amazing.

THE COURTYARD RESIDENTS

The Ponies, the Elementals, and the other shifters make these books so entertaining. I just love how they all work together to protect Meg. She is different, and by being part of the Courtyard she changes how the Others think and feel about humans. Instead of being just meat, they become part of the fabric of a community that is one of a kind.

The change, although slow, comes naturally and it just warms my heart. I love seeing Simon make adjustments because of Meg and the human pack. And I love seeing the human pack grow bigger and stronger. And as with every community, they all have their role to play.

THE PLOT

Of course each book has a plot, some plots span multiple books, others are being resolved in one. It’s pretty much abut good vs evil – Others vs humans.

That’s probably why I love these books so much. Although there is always someone rotten who threatens the Courtyard and the survival of humanity, but the overall plot is up-lifting. The good will prevail. Not everything is lost.

THE ROMANCE

Another reason why I love this series so much is because of the romance. It’s a SLOW burn. Meg and Simon’s relationship is gentle. A slow building of trust, getting to know each other, and feeling safe in each other’s company. And that is important to both, Meg and Simon. And it makes sense. Meg coming out of a situation where she has been held captive and abused her entire life, and Simon would rather eat humans than have sex with them. Nevertheless their story is definitely a love-story and it’s one of the main reasons why I re-read these books so often.

Their connection is just so pure. Makes me swoon every time when Simon gets all protective of Meg, growls, and snaps and is this scary Courtyard leader. And she gets all brave and calls him a BAD WOLF when he misbehaves.

THE WRITING

I just love Anne Bishop’s writing. These books make me laugh and smile. There is so much fun in reading the dialogues between the characters and their interactions. The Others is full of many wonderful friendships that are heartfelt and heartwarming.

So, if you love fantasy. If you love a gentle love story. Great characters. Wonderful world building and fantastic plots. This series is for you!!!!

All in all there are five books, which concludes the seers, but there might be more coming. And for me Anne Bishop, Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews make my most favorite UF writers.

GET THE BOOKS

WRITTEN IN RED
MURDER OF CROWS
VISION IN SILVER
MARKED IN FLESH
ETCHED IN BONE

FIND THE SERIES ON GOODREADS

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The Others by Anne Bishop