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)

Looking forward to the binge

Phenomenal world building makes this first book of the series! Interesting characters, abilities and endless future plot possibilities have me looking forward to devouring the rest of the series.

Interesting but long winded

I liked the overall book but it seems like the author just put too many details in just to make it longer. There is just no need to write about each individuals actions step by step throughout the book. The narrator while did speak clearly and change some voice patterns for individuals did not have show or convey a wide range of emotion. Overall it was a good storyline but for the above reason I found it h hard to really get into, I kept loosing my focus and go over parts because I felt lost.

I couldn't stop. I really liked it. 3 days.

performance was a little hard. she made voices for the characters and several were the same. so it was hard to tell if it was 2 people or the same person.

Very entertaining

Loved the range of voices this reader has. Very expressive. Anne Bishop is one of my favorite Authors, her fantasy worlds with comedic interludes is refreshing.

The most original urban fantasy book I've read!

Are you tired of fantasy books that bore your fur off? Tired of plucky women who are cookie cutter badasses, who have some family secret or tradition that you couldn't care less about? Would you give your right fang to read about a world where the intermingling of fantasy races and humans has been thoroughly considered, and isn't added simply for the sake of some lame paranormal romance? Than Written in Red is the Howling Good Read you've been looking for! With a beautiful performance that delivers an interesting world and lively, unique characters, along with an original spin on the fantasy races you know and are at least tolerant of, this is a Penguinguard book to get bloodsucked into!

Take a chance!

Would you listen to Written in Red again? Why?

Yes

What did you like best about this story?

This is an different take on the supernatural series that is engaging. The author manages to endear the characters to the reader very quickly and the story unfolds naturally but not slowly. All in all, a very nice suprise from a new author for me.

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

Simon Wolfguard. She managed to evoke the emotional frustration the character had.

I loved it!

I thought that nothing could beat Anne Bishops Black Jewels Trilogy (my favorite series ever), but the Others series is coming really close. I adore both books in the series so far. They are so well written and narrated that you are completely engrossed in the books while listening to them...I savored every moment of this audiobook.

Not a werewolf romance

Narrator has a little difficulty with male voices. Thank God no romantic involvement between characters. They even make fun of that stereotype.

Unique

Seems so many urban fantasies come from the same mold. Anne Bishop has managed to create a unique world unlike anything else I've read or listened to. The story ranges from charming to horrifying, gradually gaining momentum to a stunning climax. Alexandra Harris gives a fine performance while not quite matching the best I've heard. I would give it a 4.5.

A book I was iffy about. I just finished the 6th.

I was not really sure about how I would like this book, I got it on a whim because of the name and cover art and MAN am I glad that I did.

It is a very good series with pleanty of personality. Violence, blood, gore, a small amount of foul language and usually only from the less savory characters. Later on the books have a tinge of romance but they mainly deal with a "Fish out of water" main character that has no idea what is going on, and neither does the reader for the most part since the book is about what are essentially werewolves, but expanded to crows, bears, coyotes, vampires that turn to mist and physical manifestations of nature aspects like winter, fire and quicksand. They have their own rules and reading along it is interesting as hell and gets even better book by book as you actually grow to like most of the characters and dislike the villains. I would buy this book again and again.