meghuff's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
joliendelandsheer's review against another edition
5.0
Review first published on my blog The Fictional Reader
Etched in Bone was probably my most anticipated book of 2017. I have been a massive fan of this series for about 4 years now, and the fact that it was coming to an end was both exciting and terrifying. I mean, she is writing a spin)-off in the same world, but that will feature different characters. So this is the end of stories with Meg and Simon and Tess and Vlad as main characters.
I can’t believe it’s over. I honestly can’t believe it.
I don’t want to say anything about what actually happens in this book, because I don’t want to spoil anything for you all -even if you haven’t read the previous books. This book was not as action-packed as the previous ones were. It didn’t feature as much conflict. It was more the community at Lakeside Courtyard trying to adjust to life after the events in the previous book. At least, for the first while. To some, that may not sound interesting at all. But I’ve always wondered: what happens after the big battle? How does a community just rebuild and adapt after so much has happened? And I think this book gives a great look into that aspect of conflicts and war.
A “villain” does pop up in the story. And I think he was the most despicable person we’ve seen so far. I actually want to kill him myself. He’s the most disgusting villain because he’s so realistic. I know that people like this actually exist, and it makes me want to throw up.
I’m so glad I got to spend another book with all these characters. Although I do feel like I got less of Tess and Henry in this book? And maybe less of Vlad too? I don’t know. I loved seeing the human pack grow and adjust, seeing them integrated in the Courtyard. By the fifth book, the human pack has grown so much, and I was afraid at first I wouldn’t be able to keep up with everyone. But each person was so distinctly realistic, with their own character traits and beliefs, that it was easy to tell them apart. I grew so attached to Twylla, because she’s the most bad-ass grandmother ever.
I can’t leave you all without talking about Meg and Simon. Every time they were on the page together, I wanted to squeal in delight. They are just so cute. I wanted a romance to truly happen, but I wanted the characters to stay true to themselves too. Meg is afraid of romance and sex, after everything that happened to her in the Compound. And Simon doesn’t know how to be with a human, much less a blood prophet, without losing too much Wolf. I feel like Anne Bishop never lost sight of who these people really are, and made their journey actually realistic.
I’m really happy with the way this series ended. I do not think this book let me down in any way, whatsoever. It was such a great conclusion. I’ll be recommending this series to people, forever. And now that this is done, I’ll be starting Anne Bishop’s backlist of books. I want to experience more of her writing. Because I’m going to miss it so much.
Etched in Bone was probably my most anticipated book of 2017. I have been a massive fan of this series for about 4 years now, and the fact that it was coming to an end was both exciting and terrifying. I mean, she is writing a spin)-off in the same world, but that will feature different characters. So this is the end of stories with Meg and Simon and Tess and Vlad as main characters.
I can’t believe it’s over. I honestly can’t believe it.
I don’t want to say anything about what actually happens in this book, because I don’t want to spoil anything for you all -even if you haven’t read the previous books. This book was not as action-packed as the previous ones were. It didn’t feature as much conflict. It was more the community at Lakeside Courtyard trying to adjust to life after the events in the previous book. At least, for the first while. To some, that may not sound interesting at all. But I’ve always wondered: what happens after the big battle? How does a community just rebuild and adapt after so much has happened? And I think this book gives a great look into that aspect of conflicts and war.
A “villain” does pop up in the story. And I think he was the most despicable person we’ve seen so far. I actually want to kill him myself. He’s the most disgusting villain because he’s so realistic. I know that people like this actually exist, and it makes me want to throw up.
I’m so glad I got to spend another book with all these characters. Although I do feel like I got less of Tess and Henry in this book? And maybe less of Vlad too? I don’t know. I loved seeing the human pack grow and adjust, seeing them integrated in the Courtyard. By the fifth book, the human pack has grown so much, and I was afraid at first I wouldn’t be able to keep up with everyone. But each person was so distinctly realistic, with their own character traits and beliefs, that it was easy to tell them apart. I grew so attached to Twylla, because she’s the most bad-ass grandmother ever.
I can’t leave you all without talking about Meg and Simon. Every time they were on the page together, I wanted to squeal in delight. They are just so cute. I wanted a romance to truly happen, but I wanted the characters to stay true to themselves too. Meg is afraid of romance and sex, after everything that happened to her in the Compound. And Simon doesn’t know how to be with a human, much less a blood prophet, without losing too much Wolf. I feel like Anne Bishop never lost sight of who these people really are, and made their journey actually realistic.
I’m really happy with the way this series ended. I do not think this book let me down in any way, whatsoever. It was such a great conclusion. I’ll be recommending this series to people, forever. And now that this is done, I’ll be starting Anne Bishop’s backlist of books. I want to experience more of her writing. Because I’m going to miss it so much.
maggiekms's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
bookwife's review against another edition
5.0
*****Spoilers.. obvious ones but they are in here*****
I am heartbroken. I had no idea that this was the last book of Meg and Simon's story. So I went into this book all "tra la la la" and I finished it and I was like "Anne girl. You gave me a small little kiss. The next book better have some serious passion" And then I got on here to rate the book and shelf the next one and BAM! I find out that, that was the ending for their story.. and then I got kind of rage-y.
Now I have calmed down a little. Because eh what can you do? But I am still really sad over how their story ended. I have given Meg and Simon 5 books.. 5 books I read and they kiss once in the last paragraph of this book. Yes it's clear Meg has some issues but come on! Did it have to take 5 whole freaking books? And I hate hate how they became "official". Simon asking Meg if they are mates. That's just disappointing.
But again whatever. The books have all been fantastic and I haven't been able to put any of them down. I loved everything about the story and about the courtyard and the howling not wolf. I am just sad that it's over.
I am heartbroken. I had no idea that this was the last book of Meg and Simon's story. So I went into this book all "tra la la la" and I finished it and I was like "Anne girl. You gave me a small little kiss. The next book better have some serious passion" And then I got on here to rate the book and shelf the next one and BAM! I find out that, that was the ending for their story.. and then I got kind of rage-y.
Now I have calmed down a little. Because eh what can you do? But I am still really sad over how their story ended. I have given Meg and Simon 5 books.. 5 books I read and they kiss once in the last paragraph of this book. Yes it's clear Meg has some issues but come on! Did it have to take 5 whole freaking books? And I hate hate how they became "official". Simon asking Meg if they are mates. That's just disappointing.
But again whatever. The books have all been fantastic and I haven't been able to put any of them down. I loved everything about the story and about the courtyard and the howling not wolf. I am just sad that it's over.
monica_c's review against another edition
2.0
This one wasnt as good as the rest of the series. I felt like it wasn't necessary to the story of the Lakeland pack and to the characters as plot. The slow slow burn between Meg and Simon was also weak- Meg is too innocent and Simon is scared of hurting her (and of accepting her human-ness as love). Yet, we're on book 5 and there are a few sweet kisses. Not much romance at all- but a lot of love. They care for one another, but not on a romantic level until the end this book. I dont think it should have taken 5 books for that. So, the book was okay. Good story and writing, but nothing to swoon over.
sweetdreams_sunshine's review against another edition
4.0
This is only getting this high of a rating because of how much I love these characters.
There was just something lacking in this book. It was almost boring. Also for being the last book in Lakeside it was highly disappointing because I don't feel like we got the closure we deserved. This was not a bad story but I feel like Bishop had a lot of lost potential here.
3.5 stars
There was just something lacking in this book. It was almost boring. Also for being the last book in Lakeside it was highly disappointing because I don't feel like we got the closure we deserved.
Spoiler
I mean Meg and Simon got their closure, but that's about it.3.5 stars
vaniaasantos's review against another edition
4.0
A continuação da série Os Outros conseguiu, uma vez mais, prender-me. Apesar de ter criado um ódio terrível desde o início por Jimmy (e desejar que desaparece-se desde o início - um desejo mau, eu sei) por ser uma pessoa mimada e esperar que todos se rendessem à sua vontade, finalmente existe algo mais de romance entre Meg e Simon, algo que desejei desde que se conheceram. Porque os romances de Anne Bishop, apesar de serem romances, não têm tanta exposição de cenas românticas, o que deixa a ansiedade para essas cenas (isto se forem uma romântica incurável como eu) e deixa à imaginação do leitor para cenas mais românticas entre as personagens, mesmo que não estejam descritas.
A todos os amantes de fantasia, aconselho a leitura desta autora que, para mim, é uma das minhas favoritas.
A todos os amantes de fantasia, aconselho a leitura desta autora que, para mim, é uma das minhas favoritas.
ndoenowu's review against another edition
4.0
I can't with this series, it's so ridicolous and yet it had a hold over me to finish the series so that says something. I never thought I would be invested in figuring out what happens to a whole Courtyard of interesting creatures who lick each other (cringe) but here we are haha. The ending wrapped up things for me, however I am frustrated we never got a resolution on Meg being the one who was supposed to change everything. Meg started a whole book about how to support people like her that was completely forgotten in this last book. Meg was supposed to be there hero, however I don't believe Meg really lived up to her status in the end of providing helpful knowledge. A perfect place to add Meg in was when the doctors realized they couldn't be helpful to the blood prophets - Meg's here with a book about them to help out! But noooo nothing with that. That's one thing that bothered me