Vision in Silver (The Others, #3) by Anne Bishop
Urban Fantasy
March 3, 2015
ROC
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: What do you want us to do? Write a Dimwit’s Guide to Blood Prophets?
Simon, Meg, and the collaborated efforts of the Others and sympathetic humans have broken the chains of benevolent ownership over the Cassandra Sangue, not realizing the potential harm in releasing the fragile seers into an unknown and frightening world. Meg tries to help her fellow seers adapt though she too still struggles with her new found freedom.
When rumors of a dark faction rising up again the others, sending whispers of malcontent and violence into the Lakeside Courtyard, Simon is once again forced to use Meg and her prophecies, even though he fears each cut hastens her towards possible death.
When the battlelines are drawn and an innocent is placed in danger due to the coming war, the Others and humans will find themselves unlikely allies against a common enemy who if not defeated, could end up destroying them all.
Anne Bishop reaffirms her title as the Queen of fantasy with the third installment in her epic and utterly captivating Others series,Vision of Silver. This multiplexed Urban Fantasy series takes the sensitive issues of racism, discrimination, and abuse wrapped in the disguise of caring, wrapping them up inside a vibrantly magical world with a realistic core. Teeming with intrigue, suspense, heartbreak, and hints of romance, Ms. Bishop’s literary voice continue to astound and enchant.
Using past and present political situations as inspiration, Bishop continues to build upon her compelling alternative world that takes its base from the first explorers to land on the North American continent and the subsequent ramifications of those who attempted to take what was not given freely. Bishop twists the stories and legends, adding a supernatural element that gives the stories more of a serrated edge and a very different outcome.
The story line reads fast and smooth Bishop continues to build and expand the complex arc and character development. Vivid descriptions and rich detailing draws the reader in effortlessly. A more somber and emotion based installment then the previous two, the underlying tension between the humans and the others explodes into the forefront, giving readers no choice but to acknowledge the darker aspects of humanity. Prior actions in book two are compounded upon as payment comes due and retribution is promised, paving the way for book four.
“Let it come. You monkeys have no idea what’s out there in the wild country. But you’ll find out.”
Friendship is the axis on which this story turns. The humans that have been slowly absorbed into the Lakeside Courtyard are beginning to feel the sting of their choices. Discrimination and bigotry has already shown an ugly face in regards to the Others but now it overflows on to the human who choose to associate with them. They soon find themselves being turned away from housing, employment, and some stores under the guise of a humanity saving faction called the HFL-Humans First and Last. This adds another layer to the already complicated relationship that has been building between the human ‘friends’ and the Others when the Others open their doors even wider to the humans they have chosen to befriend.
Meg Corbyn and Simon Wolfgard’s slowly evolving relationship remains a pivotal aspect with special attention continuing to be paid to their differences. Subtle sexual tension and emotional confusion underscores their struggles and is used to highlight the external conflicts affecting them all. Meg is an experiment, along with the other humans who have become under the protection of the Courtyard. The Others acceptance and ability to bond with her and the other humans may be all that stands between the humans and extinction.
“My cousin thinks humans will soon have the capacity to rise up against the terre indigene and lay claim to every corner of this other world. Do you think that can happen?”
“I think that if we were to visit some parts of the wild country, we would find the remains of great civilizations who once thought the same thing-and were wrong.”
Though Meg is free to live as she chooses now, her time spent in captivity still causes confusion as she struggles to understand how to be free. Especially as she now has other newly freed blood prophets counting on her to help their pave the way into this new and frightening world they have become a part of. Having been taught to crave the euphoria that the cuts produce, Meg finds that her new friends aren’t as understanding about her need to release through blood and chastise her when she inadvertently causes danger to the Courtside and some of its residents. She gradually understands their fears but tries to make them understand that she and the others must never have their choices taken from them again.
“She doesn’t want to die.”
“Neither do I, but I want to be the one who makes the choice.”
Simon continues to tentatively feel his way around his feelings for Meg and humans in general. As part of the Terre Indigene, he views himself an animal with the ability to become human. He must protect his pack foremost yet his feelings for Meg and her needs are beginning to change him and the Others around them; causing shifts in the social climate. Common relationship woes have no bearing on either of them as they have nothing on which to base it, yet as Simon’s concern and need Meg grows, it adds fuel to the possibilities of them.
He wasn’t human. Would never be human. And Meg didn’t expect him to be. But feeling her hand in his, maybe he could be human enough.
A dry and sometimes horrifying humor flows through the storyline, adding a nice reprieve from the overall seriousness. Bishop’s attempts to tease out the misconceptions and general differences between the Others and the humans and their efforts to understand each other are met with laughter.
Humans. Couldn’t be satisfied with being considered not edible, they also wanted to talk to him. And talk. And talk.
Personable secondary characters walk side by side with our protagonists; each more than able to hold their own against the powerful dynamics that make up Meg and Simon. Bishop adds new faces to the already eclectic bunch she has gathered. A group whose personalities and individualism only serve to heighten the appeal as Bishop digs deeper into their relationships with themselves, and those around them. We see more of the Lakeside Courtyard members acting as individuals and making more independent decisions; showcasing the growing humanity in them.
The ending isn’t a dramatic action packed undertaking but more of an emotional one. The lines have been drawn and one false step could spell the end for everyone. Once again Bishop has taken me on a journey that not only entertained but absorbed me to the point where I never want it to end.
RATING: A
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Anne Bishop reigns Queen.
True dat.
This dropped into my Kindle app at 9:00 last night. I’ve already read 1/3 of it. I’d have read more last night, but had to get to bed early.
I really love these books more than the Black Jewels trilogy.
I love them both for different reasons but the Others are an easier read. Not as dark and brutal as the Black Jewels and I hope it stays that way.
Yep… Way less angst and fewer “dark membranous wings.”
We are getting a snow storm tomorrow – this will be the book I read!! Wheeeeeeee
Nice! The book…not the continued bad weather. I’m pulling out our deck furniture because it’s in the 80s here.
Not that far in yet but loving it. Like the sweet moments, puppy fuzz & wanting to scritch behind the ear, and the funny moments, like kid/goat. But still has its darkness and danger. Especially enjoy that the Others are different and see the world different. That their dual nature informs what they do, not just a man that sometimes goes furry.