Written in Red

A Novel of the Others

By: Anne Bishop

Narrated by: Alexandra Harris

Length: 18 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

No one creates realms like New York Times best-selling author Anne Bishop. Now in a thrilling new fantasy series, enter a world inhabited by the Others, unearthly entities - vampires and shape-shifters among them - who rule the Earth and whose prey are humans.

As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut - a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg's Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard - a business district operated by the Others.

Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she's keeping a secret, and second, she doesn't smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she's wanted by the government, he'll have to decide if she's worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.

©2013 Anne Bishop (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Amazing...A compelling story set in a seamlessly crafted universe.” (Fresh Fiction)

“A stunningly original yarn, deeply imagined, beautifully articulated, and set forth in clean, limpid, sensual prose.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Bishop has a way of making your heart wrench with joy and pain within a breath.” (Fantasy Book Critic)

I really liked the premise of this story.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes but it would depend on the friend. This book has a very different, yet, interesting story line. I was pleasantly surprised.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the characters. It was different and suspenseful. The take on shifters and things are different. It is an alternate lifetime/universe thing. Like, not really the United States... it's different. That's all I can say.

Which character – as performed by Alexandra Harris – was your favorite?

Simon.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending.

Any additional comments?

I can see people either loving or hating this book. But I felt very pleasantly surprised and will be glad to see what happens next.

FINALLY another great series

I truly enjoyed my first book in weeks. I rank this book with the first Mercy Thompson and Lois Bujold's Shards of Honor for sheer enjoyment of a new series. Thank God there are 3 out and one coming in a month. I was dying in a drought.

The narration was excellent and the characters (I actually like them all equally) well constructed but the twists on the background world created is the best.

Great surprise

Where does Written in Red rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best stories I've listened to in awhile. Anne Bishop has created a new world for us and Harris has brought that to life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Written in Red?

I think what is most memorable about Written in Red is the twist Bishop has taken with the relationship between humans and the others. The others (vampires, weres, elementals, etc.) are not hiding in secret or unknown to humans. Yes, there are some other books out there with this take as well but I guess Bishop's story just feels different...fresh.

GREAT BOOK!

I don’t want to give any parts of the story away. So all I will say is that I enjoyed reading this book so much more than any other in a very long time! I could hardly put it down. Can’t wait to read more.

Love The Others!

This is a world I don’t want to leave. Reality be damned! I’ve read the series but just wasn’t ready to move on so I’m now listening to the audiobooks. They are great! The narrator does a fantastic job putting a voice to each of these characters. Fantastic!

3 ½ stars. Enjoyable story

but I had a major problem with the audiobook narrator. Do the physical book.

The ideas are creative and different – like vampires traveling as smoke, seasons and weather as beings. When humans arrived on Thaisia (similar to the North American continent) they had to be submissive to the Others – natives already there. The Others have power over the humans – a nice change from the American Indians’ history. The Others include animal shifters, elementals, and weather creatures.

This story does not have a romantic relationship. This is book #1 in a five book series. It’s possible that a romance may develop later. Book #1 is about Meg, a human with psychic abilities. Meg is on the run and asks for help from Simon the leader of a group of Others. He allows her to stay with them. There is a happy ending for this book.

MINOR PROBLEMS:
1. I’m nervous about this author. I don’t know if I can trust her. She killed the heroine at the end of another series. I’m hoping she won’t do that here.

2. A few times when good guys thwarted or stopped the bad guys, I wanted to see the bad guys suffer, be angry, or be hurt. Instead the bad guys acted happy and said something like “this is good because now we have proof that such and such...” I felt unsatisfied each time something stopped a bad guy.

3. Heroine does stupid things during the ending climax which put her in danger.

4. Meg has a psychic vision which tells her the food is poisoned but she does not say who put the poison there. I’m not a fan of psychic visions that give me half answers. This is often done by authors. It’s an easy contrivance.

AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
Alexandra Harris has a lovely, pleasant and soothing voice. Her pacing and character interpretations were good. BUT I couldn’t stand her accent. It’s a harsh twang. I think it’s Oklahoma area. I’ve enjoyed other narrators with southern accents, but I can’t take this southwest twang. As an actress I think she should learn to speak the generic TV anchor accent. I would love to hear her read other books without the accent.

Below are examples of her accent. The written word is in parentheses.
pitcher (picture), propietor (proprietor), figer (figure), cusedy (custody), prolem (problem)
dayown (down) tayown (town)
She does not say the “n” in contractions. They sounded like coulded, woulded

My second problem was hearing her BREATHS. During the first half I didn’t notice any. But in the last half they were frequent. I don’t know if the editor was at fault or something else. I wish she would solve that problem in her future recordings.

Narrative mode: 3rd person.
Genre: paranormal fiction.

Awesome take on urban fantasy

This book was a surprising treat and a unique take on supernatural - human relations. I look forward to the rest of the series. It felt in no way formulaic.

Enthralling

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. The story is riveting. The character of Meg and her interactions with the predators surrounding her are particularly engaging. The narrator's performance feels unforced and makes this the kind of audiobook experience that showcases the medium.

What other book might you compare Written in Red to and why?

The Daughter of the Blood has a similar predator-interaction bent.

Have you listened to any of Alexandra Harris’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me tear up once or twice, but I don't remember truly crying. I know I smiled a great deal.

Any additional comments?

It kept me up at night and I listened clandestinely at work. This book is addictive.

Should Have Read The Reviews

This book is about a woman who transforms herself from an outsider into a beloved member of the community. It’s also about shape shifters and the women who love them. I am not a fan of interspecies dating and I lean towards adventure versus self-discovery.

Loved this book

Would you listen to Written in Red again? Why?

I have listened to this story 4 times so far. This is a good story, with a wonderful Narrator whose voice is a pleasure to listen to. I have been an audio-book fan for years and I must say this is up there as a favorites.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Written in Red?

The retribution at the end, bravo!

Have you listened to any of Alexandra Harris’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Don't think I have heard any of Alexandra's performances before, but definitely will be checking out more.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Right from the beginning this book had me.

Any additional comments?

If you are sick of mega violence and sex in a book than this will be a nice simple fresh breath of air, there is violence but not the all encompassing of other books of late.