laurenjodi's review
4.0
Murder of Crows
4.5 Stars
After escaping the clutches of the Controller and finding refuge with the Terra Indigene, Meg Corbyn is settling into her new life when a series of deadly attacks aimed at the Others threatens to destroy their fragile peace with the humans in the Courtyard.
Developments in Simon and Meg’s romance together with new and interesting details on the origins of the Cassandra Sangue as well as plenty of action-packed scenes make Murder of Crows a heart-pounding sequel.
The dynamic between Simon and Meg is one of the highlights of the story. Meg is growing as a person and Simon is trying to find a balance between his need to protect Meg and his attraction to her. Their scenes together are sweet, and the reactions of the other characters in the Courtyard to their relationship lead to some laugh-out-loud moments.
The world-building goes from strength to strength as more is revealed about the Cassandra Sangue and their “wondrous” yet “terrible” natures. The conflict between the humans and Others takes another giant step toward all-out war and it seems that the police in Lakeside will have to pull out all the stops if they are to avoid a fate worse than death.
The riddles surrounding Meg’s prophecies are another strong point, and it is fun trying to work out what they mean. I do hope that as Meg learns to cope with the world, she will not need to cut as often.
The climax and resolution of the Controller storyline is exciting although it is a pity that.
All in all, this series is shaping into something truly spectacular perhaps even on a par with Kate Daniels.
4.5 Stars
After escaping the clutches of the Controller and finding refuge with the Terra Indigene, Meg Corbyn is settling into her new life when a series of deadly attacks aimed at the Others threatens to destroy their fragile peace with the humans in the Courtyard.
Developments in Simon and Meg’s romance together with new and interesting details on the origins of the Cassandra Sangue as well as plenty of action-packed scenes make Murder of Crows a heart-pounding sequel.
The dynamic between Simon and Meg is one of the highlights of the story. Meg is growing as a person and Simon is trying to find a balance between his need to protect Meg and his attraction to her. Their scenes together are sweet, and the reactions of the other characters in the Courtyard to their relationship lead to some laugh-out-loud moments.
The world-building goes from strength to strength as more is revealed about the Cassandra Sangue and their “wondrous” yet “terrible” natures. The conflict between the humans and Others takes another giant step toward all-out war and it seems that the police in Lakeside will have to pull out all the stops if they are to avoid a fate worse than death.
The riddles surrounding Meg’s prophecies are another strong point, and it is fun trying to work out what they mean. I do hope that as Meg learns to cope with the world, she will not need to cut as often.
The climax and resolution of the Controller storyline is exciting although it is a pity that
Spoiler
Meg and Simon weren’t more hands-on with this and there could have been more resistance in the final battle sceneAll in all, this series is shaping into something truly spectacular perhaps even on a par with Kate Daniels.
sophiarose1816's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The first book, Written in Red, introduced me to the fantastic world of The Others and that big ending and the threads left open had me in high anticipation for Murder of Crows. While it took its time building in tension, it did not disappoint and I was utterly riveted for the last quarter of the book. And, the cycle continues with me back to highly anticipating the next installment.
Murder of Crows is book two of The Others series. It is an ongoing story that carries over from book one so doesn't make a good place to jump in or grab as a standalone.
The dust has barely settled from the last big confrontation between certain humans who haven't gotten the memo on who is the big bad scary in the world, when the folk at the Lakeside Courtyard and the surrounding city hear disturbing news of a People First and Last movement kicking up its heels and revving up humans to close their businesses to the Terra Ingene and to bully any humans who are cooperating or friends with the non-humans. But, worse, there are potent drugs being passed around that make people act like beasts and go after the Terra Ingene non-humans. Then there is retaliation and war is a distinct possibility.
Meg is the key. Her visions are critical now as is her place as a human who draws a human pack around her. Another critical human is Monty a cop and go between. There is a core group of humans who make the predatory and powerful Others choose to try to hold the shaky peace rather than wipe every human off the map.
Meanwhile, Meg is still the focus of her old controller who is determined to get her back, Monty's ex is now neck deep in the dangerous human's first movement and has his daughter with her, Meg and Simon hit a snag in their friendship when attraction rears up and confuses the pair of them, and a few others are introduced and become key players as matters build until someone has to die.
I enjoyed the first book a great deal and loved finally getting my chance to sink into the world of The Others, but there were a little thing or two about the heroine, Meg, that I was hoping would clear up by the time I started on book two. I was relieved to see that my instinct was right. Those were first book issues and no longer relevant in Murder of Crows.
The characters are so easy to enjoy and so fascinating with this author's grittier, darker version of supernaturals who don't even pretend to be human. That said, they have their lighter and whimsical sides and they have their humorous moments when human behavior baffles them.
As with most Urban Fantasy, this one built on what came before both by adding some new details or fleshing out better what was there with world building and also with the characters and relationships. This one paced out slow at first and swapped a lot of scenes and perspectives, but I also found it a more engaging read in many ways. I like where things are going for Meg and Simon and I'm curious about several things as the series progresses into the next installment.
Murder of Crows wrapped up one big plot arc, but there are still a few others that are building now and taking things to a bigger more intense situation. I have a feeling it will keep getting better and better. Urban Fantasy lovers are the target readers for these.
For my re-read, I chose the audiobook version and find Alexandra Harris' portrayal of the story and characters to be abso-fab.
Murder of Crows is book two of The Others series. It is an ongoing story that carries over from book one so doesn't make a good place to jump in or grab as a standalone.
The dust has barely settled from the last big confrontation between certain humans who haven't gotten the memo on who is the big bad scary in the world, when the folk at the Lakeside Courtyard and the surrounding city hear disturbing news of a People First and Last movement kicking up its heels and revving up humans to close their businesses to the Terra Ingene and to bully any humans who are cooperating or friends with the non-humans. But, worse, there are potent drugs being passed around that make people act like beasts and go after the Terra Ingene non-humans. Then there is retaliation and war is a distinct possibility.
Meg is the key. Her visions are critical now as is her place as a human who draws a human pack around her. Another critical human is Monty a cop and go between. There is a core group of humans who make the predatory and powerful Others choose to try to hold the shaky peace rather than wipe every human off the map.
Meanwhile, Meg is still the focus of her old controller who is determined to get her back, Monty's ex is now neck deep in the dangerous human's first movement and has his daughter with her, Meg and Simon hit a snag in their friendship when attraction rears up and confuses the pair of them, and a few others are introduced and become key players as matters build until someone has to die.
I enjoyed the first book a great deal and loved finally getting my chance to sink into the world of The Others, but there were a little thing or two about the heroine, Meg, that I was hoping would clear up by the time I started on book two. I was relieved to see that my instinct was right. Those were first book issues and no longer relevant in Murder of Crows.
The characters are so easy to enjoy and so fascinating with this author's grittier, darker version of supernaturals who don't even pretend to be human. That said, they have their lighter and whimsical sides and they have their humorous moments when human behavior baffles them.
As with most Urban Fantasy, this one built on what came before both by adding some new details or fleshing out better what was there with world building and also with the characters and relationships. This one paced out slow at first and swapped a lot of scenes and perspectives, but I also found it a more engaging read in many ways. I like where things are going for Meg and Simon and I'm curious about several things as the series progresses into the next installment.
Murder of Crows wrapped up one big plot arc, but there are still a few others that are building now and taking things to a bigger more intense situation. I have a feeling it will keep getting better and better. Urban Fantasy lovers are the target readers for these.
For my re-read, I chose the audiobook version and find Alexandra Harris' portrayal of the story and characters to be abso-fab.
nannasa16's review
5.0
4.75!
Review to come because my phone is going crazy and I can't write more than a few lines..
Review to come because my phone is going crazy and I can't write more than a few lines..
diaryofthebookdragon's review
4.0
If you have read my review of Written in Red, first book in The Others series by Anne Bishop, then you know that crow-shifters were one of my favorite characters. So I hoped that the murder of the crows in the title was figurative. Alas, no such luck.
Despite the fact that Anne Bishop decided to mess with my favorite type of shifters, I liked Murder of Crows. So, what GOT BETTER?
* More tension. The conflict between humans and the Others is getting more and more intense. And murder of crows is just one of the things that will happen. Honestly, I don’t know how humans didn’t learn not to mess with the Others, especially after what happened at the end of Written in Red. Police officers and Simon will be busy trying to prevent full-out war.
* Romance suspense vibe is gone. I complained how Written in Red was too similar to romantic suspense novels, but thankfully I didn’t have that problem with Murder of Crows.
* Meg is becoming bolder. She is conquering her fears and trying to find out how to live in the everyday world as blood prophet. It’s tough when you know the limit to your life – a thousand cuts. Meg is a strange combination of fear and courage that I do not understand, but I do like the fact that she never gives up.
* Relationship between human female and wolf-shifter is described extremely well. Anne Bishop never lets us forget that Simon is also a wolf, not only human, and that Meg will have to accept both sides of his personality. Not surprisingly, Meg is having less trouble with fluffy, playful wolf then with grumpy human male.
Simon stood there in Wolf form, holding one of those lengths of soft braided rope the Wolves used as a toy. He looked at her and wagged his tail once.
“Oh, no,” she said. “I know this game. It’s all ‘we’ll just take a walk,’ and then it’s ‘hold my rope for a minute,’ and then you’re chasing me all over the place because the person holding the rope gets chased.”
He cocked his head as if to say, Of course. Why are you standing there? Get your coat!
* Stakes between Meg and Simon got higher. They both need to decide do they want to be friends or something more. Is Meg ready for sex? Will Simon be able to not succumb and become human? But don’t worry, the attraction is still a slow burn.
The one thing I MISSED is lightness and humor. Don’t get me wrong, humor is still present, but is much more subdued than in Written in Red. There are still cute ponies and quirky crows present, but there are less funny conflicts and situations.
A lot of things happened in Murder of Crows, but this whole book felt like a buildup for a huge collide that will happen in the next book. I can’t wait for the Vision in Silver!
IN THE END…
Murder of Crows was more serious and intense with less humor. It’s obvious the big clash – war between humans and the Others is coming. Hopefully romance between Simon and Meg too.
The Others is still not one of my favorite urban fantasy series, but it might become one, if the sequels keep getting better at the same rate as Murder of Crows.
This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
Despite the fact that Anne Bishop decided to mess with my favorite type of shifters, I liked Murder of Crows. So, what GOT BETTER?
* More tension. The conflict between humans and the Others is getting more and more intense. And murder of crows is just one of the things that will happen. Honestly, I don’t know how humans didn’t learn not to mess with the Others, especially after what happened at the end of Written in Red. Police officers and Simon will be busy trying to prevent full-out war.
* Romance suspense vibe is gone. I complained how Written in Red was too similar to romantic suspense novels, but thankfully I didn’t have that problem with Murder of Crows.
* Meg is becoming bolder. She is conquering her fears and trying to find out how to live in the everyday world as blood prophet. It’s tough when you know the limit to your life – a thousand cuts. Meg is a strange combination of fear and courage that I do not understand, but I do like the fact that she never gives up.
* Relationship between human female and wolf-shifter is described extremely well. Anne Bishop never lets us forget that Simon is also a wolf, not only human, and that Meg will have to accept both sides of his personality. Not surprisingly, Meg is having less trouble with fluffy, playful wolf then with grumpy human male.
Simon stood there in Wolf form, holding one of those lengths of soft braided rope the Wolves used as a toy. He looked at her and wagged his tail once.
“Oh, no,” she said. “I know this game. It’s all ‘we’ll just take a walk,’ and then it’s ‘hold my rope for a minute,’ and then you’re chasing me all over the place because the person holding the rope gets chased.”
He cocked his head as if to say, Of course. Why are you standing there? Get your coat!
* Stakes between Meg and Simon got higher. They both need to decide do they want to be friends or something more. Is Meg ready for sex? Will Simon be able to not succumb and become human? But don’t worry, the attraction is still a slow burn.
The one thing I MISSED is lightness and humor. Don’t get me wrong, humor is still present, but is much more subdued than in Written in Red. There are still cute ponies and quirky crows present, but there are less funny conflicts and situations.
A lot of things happened in Murder of Crows, but this whole book felt like a buildup for a huge collide that will happen in the next book. I can’t wait for the Vision in Silver!
IN THE END…
Murder of Crows was more serious and intense with less humor. It’s obvious the big clash – war between humans and the Others is coming. Hopefully romance between Simon and Meg too.
The Others is still not one of my favorite urban fantasy series, but it might become one, if the sequels keep getting better at the same rate as Murder of Crows.
This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
cancourtneyread's review
3.0
I wish I wouldn't have read the first book, Written in Red, the day after it came out because now I have to wait a year for Murder of Crows :(
thebigq's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
joliendelandsheer's review against another edition
5.0
re-read: January 22nd, 2017
I still adore this book. I haven't read it as often as the first one, so it still managed to surprise me at times with little details I'd forgotten.
re-read: October 6th, 2014
I really want to read the 3rd book now! This series could exist of 40 books and I would still devour each and every one of them.
First read: March 4th, 2014
I love this series so much. I NEED MORE.
More of Simon Wolfgard, with his lack of knowledge about human females.
More of Meg Corbyn, with her lack of knowledge about human females.
MORE of The Others, who are so fascinating!
EVERYONE SHOULD READ THESE BOOKS.
I still adore this book. I haven't read it as often as the first one, so it still managed to surprise me at times with little details I'd forgotten.
re-read: October 6th, 2014
I really want to read the 3rd book now! This series could exist of 40 books and I would still devour each and every one of them.
First read: March 4th, 2014
I love this series so much. I NEED MORE.
More of Simon Wolfgard, with his lack of knowledge about human females.
More of Meg Corbyn, with her lack of knowledge about human females.
MORE of The Others, who are so fascinating!
EVERYONE SHOULD READ THESE BOOKS.
rosetyper9's review
5.0
To say I loved this book is an understatement. To say I loved the first book in the series is also an understatement. Ms. Bishop writes dark fantasy like no other author I have read (and I've read a lot). She expertly creates characters that have both a good and bad side as well as plots that make you want to hurl when you learn the twists and avenues the bad guys use to be be even worse than the good guys. This series is amazing...one of the best "shifter" paranormals I have read and I will continue to read them the minute they come out.
I read this book in one sitting then immediately closed it, opened it again, and restarted. That is how amazing it is.
Re=read in January 2016 in anticipation of Marked in Flesh.
I read this book in one sitting then immediately closed it, opened it again, and restarted. That is how amazing it is.
Re=read in January 2016 in anticipation of Marked in Flesh.