Author: Anne Bishop
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: The Others #1
Hardcover, 433 pages
Publication: March 5, 2013 by ROC
Source: Personal Library
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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.
Too many books, not enough time. We’ve all heard of this sentiment time and time again, amiright? Every time I look there’s a new series popping up left and right. But one series I consistently heard about over the years was The Others Series by Anne Bishop. It’s extremely popular, is compared, and said to be in the same vein as Andrews’s Kate Daniels series, which is my all-time favorite series and Brigg’s Mercy Thompson series, which comes in a close second in term of favorite Urban Fantasy series. After many, many years I finally picked up Written in Red and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
Written in Red follows Meg Corbyn, a blood prophet on the run. Meg ends up acquiring a job as Human Liaison to The Others, a sect of supernatural beings that comprises of shifters, vampires, and elementals. I very much enjoyed Written in Red but it was absolutely nothing like the other Urban Fantasies I’ve read. Meg is definitely no Kate, Mercy or October. The aforementioned ladies are what I’d described as your typical kick-ass heroines; they’re independent, strong-willed, smart and have no qualms about getting their hands dirty…or bloody. Meg on the other hand was the complete opposite. Grandpa Erebus, the head leader of the Sanguinetti refers to Meg as ‘The Sweet Blood’, blood that is both wonderous and deadly. But his meaning is that Meg is essentially childlike and innocent which is pretty spot on and accurate. Meg has been held a prisoner all her life and the outside world is foreign to her. Everything she knows about the world was through what her handlers showed her which were selective. I’m not a fan of plain Janes and was a bit confused why The Others took to Meg so quickly. In my opinion there was nothing remotely ‘special’ about Meg but she fell into the ‘special snowflakes’ category we’ve all encountered in other stories. It also didn’t help that Meg spoke and acted like a seven-year-old.
Despite it all, I found myself fully wrapped up into the story. Like The Others, I too was entertained and amused by Meg’s mundane tasks. Why? I'm not quite sure. Now that I’ve finished the novel, I must admit…the book was 80% full of long, detailed description of Meg’s tasks as a Human Liaison. From checking in deliveries from human drivers, delivering mail to the complexes or managing the front store to Howling Good Reads. I credit bishop’s masterful writing to make the most ordinary task exciting.
I like Written in Red, not as action-packed as I wanted but good nonetheless. The story was a bit slow for my liking but ultimately, it’s the characters that had me following through till the end. I enjoyed seeing Meg grow as she learned about herself, The Others and the world around her. Her naïve and childlike manner was a surprisingly breath of fresh air, teaching us that things don’t ever have to be overly complicated and that kindness does really go a long way.
Title: The Last Harvest
Author: Kim Liggett
Genre: Horror, Young Adult
Series: N/A
Hardcover, 352 Pages
Publication: January 10, 2017 by Tor Teen
Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
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“I plead the blood.”
Those were the last words seventeen-year-old golden boy quarterback Clay Tate heard rattling from his dad's throat when he discovered him dying on the barn floor of the Neely Cattle Ranch, clutching a crucifix to his chest.
Now, on the first anniversary of the Midland, Oklahoma slaughter, the whole town's looking at Clay like he might be next to go over the edge. Clay wants to forget the past, but the sons and daughters of the Preservation Society—a group of prominent farmers his dad accused of devil worship—won't leave him alone. Including Ali, his longtime crush, who suddenly wants to reignite their romance after a year of silence, and hated rival Tyler Neely, who’s behaving like they’re old friends.
Even as Clay tries to reassure himself, creepy glances turn to sinister stares and strange coincidences build to gruesome rituals—but when he can never prove that any of it happened, Clay worries he might be following his dad down the path to insanity...or that something far more terrifying lies in wait around the corner.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a good horror story, and The Last Harvest fit the bill perfectly. The Last Harvest takes place in a small town in Oklahoma involving teens, a secret society, nightmares and visions, and a prophecy…which happens to be everything I like in a story! Liggett hooked me in within the first chapter, building on the creep factor as we flashback briefly to the night Clay’s dad died. The Last Harvest paid homage to old school horror, classic horror where we get a sense of something ominous coming, it’s a steady and gradual build, like the perfect slow burn before the big reveal. Liggett nailed everything about this book, from the plot, the setting, to the realistic and relatable characters.
If you’re the squeamish type, then this book might not be for you. Liggett spectacularly details all the horrible and gory things that happened to the people around Clay and it’s pretty graphic at time. Liggett also did an amazing job crafting and incorporating the religious aspects to the story. Although, at first I thought that it sounded too preachy but as the story progressed, I realized that she wasn’t being preachy at all; that this is exactly what the story needed and in my opinion all the better for it.
There was a lot to like about Clay. Before his father’s death he had it all, the girl, popularity, a football star, basically the town’s favorite. But the year after his dad died, it was as if everything was stripped from him. He and his family became outcasts, the black sheeps of the town. I admired Clay for stepping up and putting everything aside to support his family; even going as far as saving all his money to put his youngest sister through a private school. The other 6th generation of the Preservation Society were all very well fleshed out and developed. Although, readers will only come to know a little more than what’s on the surface when it comes to Clay, Ali and Tyler. I still thought Liggett made every one uniquely their own and most importantly still memorable enough in terms of secondary/tertiary characters.
The Last Harvest exceeded all my expectations. It is the best horror story I’ve read in a long time and the best, most shocking twisted endings I’ve read in years! Liggett throws readers in for a loop, with twist after twist and just when you thought you knew everything…she proves you wrong. Oh so wrong. I never would have guessed that ending if you gave me a bunch of chances. It completely surprised me, and to me, those are the best story, the best kind of endings. I know I used the word ‘best’ about 5 times in a paragraph…but it’s just that kind of book! I highly recommend checking out The Last Harvest, you won’t be disappointed!
