Early Review: Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

7:00 am 2 March 2015

Vision in Silver
Author: Anne Bishop
Series: The Others #3
Publisher: Roc
Published on: March 3rd, 2015
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Werewolves
Format: 416 pages, eARC
Provided by: Edelweiss
Amazon | Kobo | B&N | Book Depo | GoodReads

The New York Times bestselling author of The Black Jewels Trilogy transports readers to a world of magic and political unrest—where the only chance at peace requires a deadly price…

The Others freed the cassandra sangue to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.

Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.

For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…

Let it be known that this series is peerless; Anne Bishop’s world-building is innovative, her characters are exceptional, and the story is obsession inducing. I picked-up WRITTEN IN RED on a whim in 2013, and was wowed beyond measure. My fixation with all things THE OTHERS is so profound that it should be a bona fide medical condition. No joke! I listened to the previous two installments, so I did have some concerns that switching to hard copy might diminish my enjoyment of VISION IN SILVER, but that clearly didn’t happen because for the third time in a row 5-stars just isn’t enough. In this book we learn a lot more about the cassandra sangue, gain perspective on Simon Wolfgard, and get a glimpse of the terra indigene that live beyond the courtyards.

The blood prophets were the main plot focal point; free of their keepers, these girls are ill-equipped for life outside the compounds, and now it’s up to Meg to set them on the correct path. She and the other members of her human pack are attempting to write a sweet blood 101 guide of sorts. Little is known about the cassandra sangue, so a lot of it came down to trial & error with Corbyn as the lab rat. I liked how the author approached this aspect of the story, the progression was gradual, and each new discovery felt as though it could be the key to their very survival. Meg’s triumphs became mine, and her setbacks were absolutely devastating. Most were small things, but when experienced from such an innocent POV as this series’ protagonist, they became monumental.

Most stories that feature shifters put emphasis on the humanness of the characters while as Bishop does the total opposite. Her various gards don people flesh out of necessity, but it’s evident that they prefer fur, and view mankind as ‘clever meat.’ This is part of what makes THE OTHERS universe so original because misunderstandings between the two species occur frequently from common expressions being taken literally to every day gestures being grossly misinterpreted. I enjoyed gaining perspective on how the terra indigene see the world through Simon because he’s the most progressive leader among them which makes his outlook fabulously unique. He’s tasked with a huge decision at the end of this novel, and the outcome could be… scary.

This leads me to this book’s second main plot thread. Tension between THE OTHERS and humans has reached a boiling point, the Humans First and Last movement is gaining momentum and people are being forced to choose a side. You’re either a Wolf lover or a delusional HFL supporter who believes that mankind actually has a chance at being the dominant species. Bishop has succeeded in making me hate my own kind by illustrating the barbaric nature of Thaisia’s citizens, and highlighting the underlying prejudice that exists in all societies. The author makes it impossible not to cheer for the terra indigene, and eagerly anticipate the fast approaching day of reckoning when the wild country finally shows its teeth, and establishes once and for all who’s predator and who’s prey.

There’s only one cure for a VISION IN SILVER book hangover, and it’s more Meg & Simon!