Etched in Bone is book five in The Others series. While this is the last Meg Corbyn story, it isn't the last in this world. We'll have a new leading character and town in the next installment which is set to release in 2018. I'm happy to report that this novel is focused a bit more on the Lakeside Courtyard compared to the previous book. That means we get more face time with our favorite cassandra sangue, Meg Corbyn and the Courtyard's leader, Simon Wolfgard.

We start off with the Lakeside Courtyard still recovering from the Elders attack in the previous book and the humans are trying to see if the terra indigene plan on letting them stay. Throughout this series Meg has changed how the terra indigene looks at humans, they're not just meat anymore. There's a very uneasy alliance happening but the order must be maintained. The Lakeside Courtyard is doing well compared to other towns but it still has its own issues. A good portion of the book is about Cyrus Montgomery aka Jimmy who comes into town to mooch and con his way into an easy life. He thinks because his family is there that he'll be able to get a free ride, he didn't count on the fact that the terra indigene will not tolerate his behavior.

The rest of the book we have Meg who is trying her best to figure out if the prophecy cards will work for the cassandra sangue girls that were rescued from compounds. It's looking promising since she's getting used to telling the future with them instead of having to cut herself. But when a future undecided prophecy continues to show up and Lieutenant Montgomery's brother Jimmy comes to town looking for handouts, trouble is sure to follow. If that isn't enough, the Elders decide now is a good time to go to Lakeside and get to know more about the humans. It's a bad situation all around and you don't need to wait long before drama unfolds.

Etched in Bone is an excellent conclusion to a series I adore. I'm hoping we get to see glimpses into Meg and Simon's life in the future books though since I will miss their characters. ABishop weaves an enthralling story and the series is a must read. For the readers wanting Meg and Simon in a relationship like I have this entire time, I can say don't get your hopes up too high. Meg is still trying to figure out her feelings for Simon and the duo are closer than ever but both are slow movers which is understandable. If you're a fan of Urban Fantasy with little to no romance I highly recommend this series, you'll get hooked from book one.

Etched in Bone is the last novel that focuses on Meg Corban, but don't be sad Bishop is writing a spin-off series so while these characters' story might be over the world will continue and with any hope we will get sneak peeks at what citizens of Lakeside is doing.

Etched in Bone takes up where Marked in Flesh left off. All of Thaisia is dealing with the aftermath of the events after the Elders cleansed the Earth of the humans causing trouble. The few humans that are left are learning their place in the new world living with the Others and the Others are learning which humans they could/should keep around.

While everyone else is figuring things out in their new world, Meg and Simon are slowing figuring out their relationship and how it is changing. It was sweet to see how all everyone else (humans and Others) could see these two love each other and would/should be mates.

Etched in Bone wrapped up most issues in the world but left a few things hanging which is fine because not everything needs an answer, plus there is the spin-off series that could answer a few more things.

Alexandra Harris was the prefect narrator to tell Meg's story with the Others.

Alexandra Harris continues to entertain me with her performance of the characters. Some of my blogger/reader friends have said that she is too slow, but I love her pacing and voices for the characters. I can’t picture anyone else doing a better job with the series than Harris did. I'm on the fence though if I want her to be the narrator for the spin-off. I have Harris in my head as Meg so I think we need a new voice to go with the new main character(s).

Outstanding story-telling! Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop continues to delight! Bishop has such a unique way of introducing the already familiar in an abstract and new manner. Meg and Simon continue to intrigue readers as they once again work as a united force to save those near and dear to them. The enemy gets closer and closer with every book, keeping those that live in the courtyard on high alert. Absorbing! Etched in Bone is another fantastic addition to The Others collection of riveting! A must read!

As we've heard there's more coming from Anne Bishop in this series I'm happy to say while this would have been a strong conclusion to this series we're at least going to get more from the world! I loved this fifth instalment, it had action and adventure - if anything the only complaint I might give was that the villain was almost too evil to be believable. My only further comment - I loved the ending!

NOTE: I have tried to limit my superlatives but I am probably writing a review that sounds more like some gushing fan instead of a top level reviewer, so be it .......
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There are books you read that you hate, there are some you read that you love but there is that very rare group of books that just leave you awestruck that such a book can be written, some author's imagination could be so amazing and at the same time have the skill to make it into a true work of art. That is where this series has taken me each time but this one just lifted me into that place where only a small handful of books can even be considered in the same class.

Those of us that have been following this story since the inception when Meg stumbled into Simon's store rain soaked and looking for a job to this pinnacle of the story hate to even think about an ending but I understand this will be the last book that revolves around Simon and Meg but i hope we don't leave Lakeside Courtyard behind completely since we have a whole family of characters to love.

It is SO hard to write a review for this book since like others I just want to scream "IT WAS SO AWESOME, BUY IT NOW!!!" but I am guessing that is not a professional review. This book as pretty much all the others just weaves itself into a story that is addicting, stressful, while a touch of humor is slipped in randomly along with a touch of romance and warmth.

In addition to everything else the Elders want to observe the Lakeside community to help decide if they should "remove" more humans from the world so almost everything becomes important.

These books are filled with secondary characters who all have a story and become more than just another faceless character to fill up pages, you care about these people, you love the interaction of how everyone grows to care about those who they once saw as an enemy, this book is the culmination of those stories.

Meg is no longer cutting herself, Simon can't decide what his relationship is with Meg but before the book ends he has to make some decisions and events will force him to see that she is more than just "a friend".

I won't be providing any spoilers but this was just such a great book to bring us to the point where the series can move on to other characters while hopefully not leaving us without at least an occasional glimpse at Meg and Simon as the series moves along since we hate to even think of there being no more bits of their story.

The big thing here is that the main plot about Meg and Simon is only a part of what makes these books exceptional beyond description, the interaction of the whole cast of characters and their desire to help each other is what this is all about and just leaves you breathless and almost depressed that the book ended and you have to wait another year for more.

Bottom Line: I will save all the mountains of superlatives since they still would not be able to convey how much this series is in an elite class that is outside of normal reading entertainment. I rate this book only because they don't have a rating for a separate Elite Class of books so all I can do is give it 5 Stars and an acknowledgment that some books are just so far outside of a normal rating that it becomes almost meaningless.

Explore a world where the earth itself has teen and claws and the spirits of the wild have evolved to look like the humans they see as prey. In the fifth book of The Others series, Bishop returns to Lakeside where blood prophet Meg is finally feeling more settled even though she's still trying to figure out her relationship with Simon Wolfguard. The central conflict in this book will revolve around the arrival of Lieutenant Montgomery's brother Cyrus, a con man looking to take what he can from the people of Lakeside.

What I love about this series is the continuous character development. When Meg first arrived in the Courtyard, she was running scared and completely sheltered from the world. She's grown into someone to be reckoned with, and even the Elders see it. The Others are also growing and learning from the human pack. It's was especially fun to see Sam and Skippy (two of the young wolves) coming into their own. If you haven't read the rest of the series, I wouldn't recommend starting with this book as you will loose the building plot lines, but please check out the first book - Written in Red.

I thoroughly enjoy this series and Etched in Bone was no exception. I love how Meg is developing and I'm eagerly awaiting to see what happens next in the Courtyard and beyond.

It is no secret that The Others series is one of my absolute favorites and anyone that has ever picked up one of the books, doesn't have to question why. With it's unique take on supernaturals and Bishop's unique voice, it didn't take very long for this series to win me over and steal my heart.

This is a series that I pretty much drop everything for when I start it. Laundry doesn’t get done, calls get ignored and the world (okay maybe just my family) knows to leave me alone until the very last page is done because I will be useless until then anyways. I get completely immersed in the world, in the story, and in the very characters themselves and this latest installment was maybe even more so.

With knowing that this very well be the very last one, I savored it, devoured it and the whole way through, read it with a sort of bitter sweetness to it. It was hard to put down but at the same time I wanted it to last forever.

I will say that if this is the very last one, I am completely happy with the way it all came together. With the way things were answered and the way things were left with an air of expectation and lots and lots of hope.

I can't even describe all the emotions I had while reading this. There were characters I wanted to hold tight and give a hug to and others that I seriously wanted the Elders to get a hold of and all the while, I still couldn’t get enough or love the series any more than I was.

This has been such an adventure, such a journey and one that was worth every single minute and undone laundry and housework and all.

I have really enjoyed The Other Series. I have been so looking forward to this book and was excited to get an ARC of this. I'm sure it is just me but this fell a little flat for me. It had a hard time keeping my attention and just felt like it was a whole bunch of filler plots tied in with the main plot.

I wanted to see more of Meg and Simon and I know it's UF so romance isn't the focus of the story but I wanted to see more of it. Just my own personal thoughts and opinions on how I wish there was more development with them. I wanted more and their story left me unsatisfied.

Overall this series is so different and that is what I love most about this series. This series is a must read I feel especially for anyone looking for something out of the ordinary.

A Recommended Read/5 Hearts
SJ for Romance Junkies

ETCHED IN BONE by Anne Bishop is the fifth book in her A Novel of the Others series. Oh. My. God. This series is phenomenal, and Bishop continues to take the characters to deeper, darker places while giving them hope and growth in a world constantly changing. Kudos to Anne Bishop for making this a 5 Heart book top her 5 Heart series! If I could, I'd rate this book an 11!

The story continues where MARKED IN FLESH, book 4, stopped. The humans are still encroaching and testing the Others, so much so that the Elders are not sure how many more humans to keep around. As in, keep alive. The Others rule the world, and the humans live on their lands only because the Others have granted them permission. After the war in the previous books, it's not a sure thing that humanity will survive their own stupidity. So the Others send out a pair of Elders to study the Lakeside Courtyard, where a small "pack" of humans lives in harmony with the Others there.

Led by Simon Wolfgard, the terra indigene (Others) in the Courtyard have not only embraced their small human pack, but they've definitely added Meg Corbyn, a blood prophet, to their enlarged family. Meg is integral to those who live in Lakeside. From the wolves to the Elementals to the Sanguinati. She protects them through her visions, and they in turn protect her innocence from those who would try to take her away.

But a human arrives who manages to stir up everything, and if they're not careful, the Courtyard in Lakeside might have to give up their humans. Permanently.

Bishop manages to draw the tension to a tight snap as events unfold. One nasty human being does so much damage, even though Simon and the Others know he's bad, they can do nothing because the Elders want to watch how a small, seemingly insignificant human can upset the peace.

The author does a fantastic job of continuing to show how those in the Courtyard interact and enrich each other's lives. The relationship between Meg and Simon deepens, and I was over-the-moon thrilled at how the story ended.

I so hope she pens many, many more stories of the Others in the Lakeside Courtyard. The world Bishop has created resonates long after the story ends. Now I'm going to go back and reread the series (thus far) from beginning to end. ETCHED IN BONE is a fabulous book not to be missed. Urban fantasy at its finest!

A RECOMMENDED READ!

A Novels of the Others series in order:

WRITTEN IN RED
MURDER OF CROWS
VISION IN SILVER
MARKED IN FLESH
ETCHED IN BONE

The Elders, the bigger, more lethal for of others, are on the march. What, if any humans will they allow to live on their continents? Lakeside Courtyard becomes a source of research for them as they observe how Simon Wolfgard governs and deals with the human pack Meg Corbyn has drawn around them. Then Lieutenant Montgomery’s brother Jimmy arrives and threatens the life of every human in Thaisia...

When I originally started reading this I thought this was the 5th of 6 books about Simon and Meg, that colored my thoughts the entire time reading the book and then it totally threw a bomb in my review to learn this is in fact the final chapter of the Lakeside Courtyard's story. Expectations play a huge part in how we feel as we walk away from a book, amped too high and you can't help but feel disappointed and no expectations make an okay book stellar. If this were the 5th of 6 books this is a big resounding 10 stars, but as the final book in the series I can't give it more than 4 stars... as I was asked to rate the book itself and not the series I have left my original 5 star rating.

It's time to lay it all out there...

I thought Jimmy was a fascinating problem for the Lakeside Courtyard and was paired perfectly with the watching Elders. It was like dropping a torch on a keg of light fluid where a barrel of water normally sits. He should have been dealt with quickly, silently and without a fuss but that was not possible. This series has always included this undertone of politics and that doesn't quit now despite the human governments willingness to start playing ball with the others.

What makes it totally possible for Jimmy to pose such a threat to the courtyard is that each and every characters stands out as a genuine personality. I don't feel like any of the characters are fake or redundant. They each have a part to play and go about interacting with Jimmy and the world as if they are living their lives. This feeling of genuineness has been a serious plus for the series as a whole but no more important than this book where the threat isn't what the humans will do to the Others but what the elders will do to the humans. For example, Miss Twyla frankly told Elliot all about about Sierra & Cyrus, warning him and the Others in general. Her personality caused her to do this and not because the story needed to go this way.

The plethora of characters has always been something I enjoyed about the series, especially now where we have so many different people we can check up on. Up to now these minor characters have made the world feel real and legitimate and given us a sense of the larger world. Now we see that they are all trying to adjust to the world with Elders in it and so we see what has been threatened by Jimmy. I liked the letters being sent and the people who send back to Lakeside and so we get a glimpse of them, but these characters have always been used to build anticipation about the relationship between Meg and Simon.

While I love and adore the interactions between our MCs like Meg licking Simon and the bike prey play I think its safe to say everyone wants to see these two take their relationship to the next level. About midway there is this dialogue about the future of Simon and Meg that hints at different options. This would be fine for a 5th of 6 books story, but for the final story this is not enough. I would say we are pointed in the right direction but we've always been pointed correctly, there has never been a love triangle in sight! We wanted so see these two seal the deal and what happens while conclusive in a way does not exactly satisfy... this is when you wish there is less of these minor characters and more Meg and Simon. This is what caused my discrepancy between being a 5th book and a final book.

Otherwise this is plotted perhaps the best of all the Others books, it is dense, well developed, arises naturally from character and motivations. I mean writing and plot wise it is beautiful! Every single big event is spot on and I love the conflict and challenge implicit in this plot particularly for both Simon and Meg but as well as all the Others and the human pack. The writing quality is the best it's ever been:

"With Blair’s jaws clamped around the base of its neck, the turkey’s head swung like a metronome and the turkey toes bumped along on the sidewalk. Blair reached the corner. He looked at a woman standing near the crosswalk, then pointed a front paw at the “walk” button on the pole and made a sound. Meg wasn’t sure what the sound was supposed to mean, since Blair had a mouthful of turkey neck, but the woman pushed the crosswalk button and received a milder sound in response."


This is what I love about this series! The climax of Jimmy's story is so spot on from the meat to Meg's vision. The tension is right where it should be and readers will ride the wave until the end. The author seemed to really make a huge effort on this one and it certainly paid off. If I never anticipated Simon and Meg as a couple that ending scene would totally work for me, but my expectations were much higher than that...

Don't think though that this isn't a book well worth picking up and picking up ASAP!! It totally is! What are you waiting for? Go order it!!
BOTTOM LINE: The end to my favorite paranormal series of all time!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was absolutely brilliant and I am so lucky I had to opportunity to read this in advance. This is not a book that someone could just pick up, it is very much a part of the series. If you have not read The Other series, I highly recommend reading it, because this series is insane and Bishop's work get stronger and stronger with each new installment. 10/10 because five stars just isn't enough!

5 Stars

When a truly excellent series comes to an end, readers and the author alike feel the stress of expectations, hopes, and fervent wishes for the final book. In this book, the last of Meg and Simon’s story arc in The Others series, ECTHED IN BONE, much is riding on whether the Elders, a “primal and lethal form” of the terra indigene who rule the world, feel they should continue to allow some humans to live in Thaisia. The blood prophet, Meg, and Simon Wolfgard’s relationship as well as her connection to the terra indigene in the Courtyard of Lakeside balances the future of humans on the edge of a knife. The Others essentially wiped out the nation of Cel-Romano for bringing war by attacking the shifters in an effort to be a human-only part of the world. Lakeside was largely spared and because of the unique relationships between some humans and the terra indigene there, the Elders have decided to closely observe humans connected with the earth natives to figure out who are bad ones. The affected parts of Thaisia still remaining and those areas that were mostly destroyed are trying to rebuild under the deadly watchful eyes of the Elders. Tensions are high and people are stressed for what happens in the Lakeside Courtyard, the Intuit, Simple Life communities and other shifter controlled places in Thaisia connected to the Courtyard will determine its fate.

Despite the harsh violence in this series, Simon and Meg’s tentative relationship has a sweet innocence which is the heart of the story. Everyone around them realizes they are mates, but since that kind of relationship has not been seen or understood in Thaisia’s memory, no one is sure what that means for them and the Others. They have taken tentative steps towards each other throughout the series. Simon and Meg are both changing and evolving; their relationship brings something new to the world which gives hope for the future. Meg has once again seen some chilling prophecies as she continues to try figuring out how to make a prophecy card deck for herself and the other cassandra sangues so they can live a life unshackled by the need to cut. The human “pack” becomes more intertwined with Courtyard life always aware that one wrong move can swiftly end in death by Namid’s teeth and claws. Monty, as the police liaison, has perhaps worked harder than anyone else to form the bonds of trust and a functioning relationship with The Others, so when his criminally-minded, abysmal brother, Jimmy, shows up looking for opportunities, he knows strong potential for disaster exists.

When two Elders arrive in the Courtyard to observe the human pack in order to learn how to determine which humans are enemies, the leaders of the Courtyard are very unhappy because they recognize a serious threat, but the Elders, like many kinds of rulers, do not heed their people’s warnings. Because they are also fascinated by Meg, the “howling not-Wolf,” Lakeside becomes their test case.
This is truly one of the best Urban Fantasy series; I have enjoyed it immensely. Anne Bishop has created a world where readers root for the terra indigene who consider most humans “clever meat” which shows the writer’s skill. While Meg and her kind are not prey and those in her “human pack” are people who want to be good neighbors to the earth natives, it’s easy to feel that the humans who make war simply to conquer, or are prejudiced against the Others for being different get their just rewards. And it’s not pretty.

Anne Bishop’s prose strikes at the heart revealing deep emotions whether of joy or wounded places. The world she has created is fascinating, thrilling and, sometimes, very chilling and somehow disturbingly beautiful and calls me back long after I have finished reading.

I must say 'The Others' is one of the best series I've ever read in my life. The story is very well-thought out, the world building is fantastic. I believe the strongest quality of this series are the characters. There are a lot of characters but they're all very original and unforgettable. I also love the romance, it's subtle yet so powerful and addicting. There are also hilarious moments in between chapters, I always find myself laughing out loud! Anne Bishop never disappoints! I highly recommend this series and this book!

This is a must read spellbinding series. Etched in Bone is the fifth in the series. Whilst it can be read as a standalone it is so much better read in the order written. This tale kicks off after the Elders have made their displeasure known to the humans. I loved this book so much that I have already re-read it about ten times. Each time, I find more nuances I appreciate and wish to bookmark for re-reading.

Meg, the blood prophet is doing her best to learn how to see prophecies without having to cut herself. With the cards she's received, it could be that she no longer needs to slice. Instead the cards help her see the immediate future. This allows her to warn the Lakeside Courtyard and their allies of impending danger. All Meg needs is a little peace and quiet to experiment. Unfortunately for her and the Courtyard, there is still much unrest and a lot of rebuilding to do.

Storylines with rebuilding and starting over are a favourite of mine. It could be, because I yearn for the opportunity to be in at ground zero to start rebuilding. It is something that excites and motivates me. Ms. Bishop does a wonderful job of showing how animals in human skin try to rebuild a better world than the one destroyed. There are still many human behaviours they do not understand. One of them is sexism. Human females are prevented from certain jobs because of their gender. The residents in the Courtyard do not understand this concept and their puzzlement is fascinating to watch. Ms. Bishop writes in several social issues in her books. I find that in this series, it is more powerful because she removes it one step away through using the different Others. In some senses, the Others are like children before they are taught hatred, racism and all the other negative categorizations. And this is why I enjoy this series so much. It shows a possible way of life where we can be less judgmental and work together. This is not to say the Others are perfect. There are a couple who display behaviours which are not conducive to the whole group. The respected leaders of each group immediately nip this in the bud. It is an utopian type of society interaction which makes me want to be in this world.

From a world building perspective, it continues to grow and impress. For some, it may seem a little dark. For those who were raised on the original Grimm Fairy Tales, this story is so good. There are consequences for actions and they may end in death. I find this to be so attractive. It is an object lesson which many do not understand nor care. It is clear the majority of humans in this world also struggle with this concept. Their "special snowflake" entitlement and constant demands for free handouts are anathema to the Others and especially the Elders. It is interesting to note, Ms. Bishop writes it in a way that it is not a lecture. Instead, she presents the Others and Elders's confusion because human behaviour does not make logical sense.

This story is more than just rebuilding. It does contain a little bit of love interest as Meg and Simon move at a snail pace towards their sensual kisses. Honestly, the romance in this story is not needed but it does add a sweet adorable element. For me, it is an allegory for interracial relationships. Simon's fear of losing too much of himself to become human for Meg is a struggle I have sometimes, when relating to my non-Chinese husband. There are parts of my culture and traditions that do not make sense to those outside of the culture. Just as it is hard for Simon to explain how some things work as a Wolfguard. And if he becomes too human, does this mean he will no longer be Wolf? Just as my assimilation into a non-Chinese culture could be deemed as becoming less Chinese. Will I still be accepted by the Chinese? Some will not accept my integration and no longer see me as Chinese. Same for Simon, if he loses too much of his Wolf, he is afraid that he can no longer be The Wolfguard. In addition, Meg's attraction to him is because he is Wolf. Simon's dilemma hits close to home for me and pulls me further into this world.

Lastly, Ms. Bishop always adds a bit of humour at the best times. During the tense times, she injects unlikely humour which makes me bust out chuckling. One notable scene which makes me laugh is the demand for "more cukkes". This demand from an Other is unacceptable to Meg. Her response to the demand is hilarious, as is the startlement of the Others at her response. These little light touches brings a fun into this rather dark tale. This paranormal fantasy is highly recommended to all readers.

Really three stars, but Ms. Twyla Montgomery is so amazing that she alone merits the addition of a fourth star.

This has become one of my favorite series. I truly enjoy the discoveries of the world that Meg continues to make as well as the relationships she builds with others. I loved the interactions between Meg and the Elders. The only weakness that I found was in the villain and the slightly predictable events that occur around the finale of the book. All in all, an enjoyable read. Any chance of a story involving Tess or other supporting characters?

This book continues the Other’s series by Anne Bishop. Since the Elders have put down a human rebellion, those left behind are unsure if any humans will be spared. At the Courtyard, Simon continues running a community that blends humans and other’s together. The Elders, particularly curious about how the community works, begins watching. When a potential agitator moves to the Courtyard, the Elder’s demand that he be allowed to stay, so that they can study the agitator’s behavior and influence.

Although I thought this book was better than the last, I still thought the characters were extremely weak. Meg seems to get weaker and needier with every book. Simon seems to lose intelligence, lose understanding of humans and grows more jealous with every book. Although this book was a bust, but Anne Bishop is my favorite author and I will continue to read anything that she publishes.

I'm so sad this is the last book. I've heard there will be another book in the same world, but not centered around the Courtyard we've come to know and love.

There is a lot of emotion in this book. Everything from funny moments (Meg treating an Elder as a naughty puppy), to emotional abuse. There is definitely a case of "some people shouldn't be allowed to have kids" in the book.

The police play a large role in this book, as do the Elders, and of course Meg and Simon. There is more relationship building on all sides, and we come full circle as Meg once again follows prophecy visions.

You would think that by book 5, there wouldn't be much left to world-build with, but there are still a few surprises in store. All the characters have felt so real in every single book, and this final one is no exception. There were a few twists I didn't see coming, as well as ones that I did (and have hoped for, for ages now!) This is definitely a series I will be re-reading for years to come.

If you haven't read this series yet, you are really missing out!

I absolutely enjoyed this book. It was not a quick read in one sitting book. I am a huge fan of her series. I highly encourage you to read the first books before you start this one. I am giving 4 stars to this book because while I did enjoy it and loved seeing the characters continue to grow throughout the story and watch their interactions with each other unfold it didn't hook me as much as the first ones. However, in saying that I must say that I am extremely happy I read this book and finished it because of how she concluded the story. I am already anticipating what is to come next for our characters.

One final note is that the character development in this book is great as always. You can really care for the characters and want what is best for them or really hate them and want them to disappear. I highly encourage you to either try this series if you have not and definitely read this book if you have read her others. It doesn't disappoint.