Etched in Bone (The Others, #5) in Around the Year in 52 Books

Mar 08, 2020 Katerina rated it really liked it

4/5
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Wow...what a ride this series was. Since there are still somethings I didn't like about this book, but I already covered in my past reviews with the other books in this series. I am just going to list out what I really loved about this series and in particular this book.

1.The wrapping up of the plot
There was so much that was wrapped up in this book that my mind is still trying to comprehend what just happened. It was such a fast paced plot in this book. We were given so much more b 4/5
BOOKSTAGRAM

Wow...what a ride this series was. Since there are still somethings I didn't like about this book, but I already covered in my past reviews with the other books in this series. I am just going to list out what I really loved about this series and in particular this book.

1.The wrapping up of the plot
There was so much that was wrapped up in this book that my mind is still trying to comprehend what just happened. It was such a fast paced plot in this book. We were given so much more background history on the Elders, the land that they lived, and wrapping up the dramatic events of the town. I was simply blown away.

2.That slow burn romance
Oh my god guys...I have never read a book that had such a realistic romance. Are all Adult Fantasy/fiction books this realistic when it comes to their relationships? Because if so count me in. I absolutely loved how slow the romance part of Meg and Simon's relationship was. Yes sometimes it got annoying but guess what it was REAL. Meg not only has never had good contact with any man in general. She in her own way is still innocent and can sometimes be childlike. So a slow burn relationship was necessary. I also loved how Simon dealt with her character type and that she needed a protector and not a human man.

3.Character wrap-ups
Anne Bishop did such an amazing job when it came to wrapping up character plots in this story. I especially loved the background history into CJ Montgomery and his horrible older brother. I mean it's pretty amazing. While she did introduce a few new characters into this last book of this part of the series, she did an amazing job at quickly wrapping up their character plot. While we aren't given a full in depth description about these new characters, we know enough to either like them or hate them.

4.Overall series dynamics
Honestly, this book was slow in some areas with a lot of day to day lifestyle. However, with what this series is about and how it is written...this writing style really works out well. And how the author wrapped up each book with the drama and then tied it into the next book - absolutely brilliant. I loved this series enough that I went and bought my own copy of all the books. That says something right?

Anne Bishop delivered a realistic fantasy with a slow burn romance so perfectly that my heart exploded every time I picked up the book. I definitely recommend picking up this series and this book if you have the time. ...more

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Oct 01, 2016 CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Disappointing. After how much I loved the first books in the Others series, I was looking forward to the conclusion of the series. I was a little intimidated by the length, but thought it would just mean more of what I love.
Not really. This book could probably have been condensed into one novella or short story, with the final conflict as the action. Much of the rest of what happened in the story was perhaps interesting from a fandom perspective--what kind of meat does Meg like best?! How many d Disappointing. After how much I loved the first books in the Others series, I was looking forward to the conclusion of the series. I was a little intimidated by the length, but thought it would just mean more of what I love.
Not really. This book could probably have been condensed into one novella or short story, with the final conflict as the action. Much of the rest of what happened in the story was perhaps interesting from a fandom perspective--what kind of meat does Meg like best?! How many dishes can (only the) women cook for a sorta-Thanksgiving meal between Others and humans? Will Skippy learn some manners? Can anyone keep the multitude of various supporting characters separate? How many new named (but irrelevant to this story) side characters can be introduced? There really wasn't even much movement in Simon and Meg's relationship, although I did like the ending of the story.
What I DID NOT like was the extensive amount of the story dedicated to the POV of Montgomery's brother Cyrus/ Jimmy. jimmy was a cardboard cut out of a stereotypical villain (or, given his race, a "thug"). His character and POV were drawn in the crudest of crayon-simple strokes, full of curse words and insults (bitch, ho, freak, etc), desire for illicit substances, domestic violence, rape, and theft. There was absolutely zero redeemable features about him that could help him pass for a realistically nuanced character. His drug-addicted prostitute wife Sandee was no better, nor was his young son Clarence. Considering the prejudice and violence against young black men and boys in our country already, presenting the child Clarence as an irredeemable carbon copy of his father who abuses and tries to pimp out his little sister, steals, picks fights with other children, and uses crude curse words like b*&^% and p@#$% as regular vocabulary, just feels irresponsible and really disappointing. Considering that Monty has been one of the strong and consistent human characters in the story, this is especially disappointing. Miss Twyla helps to make up for it, by being a strong, intelligence, no nonsense matriarch. But she's almost too perfect. So we get a magical black person as well as some stereotyically criminal ones? The stereotypes didn't sit well with me.
The gender stereotypes and limited gender roles in this story didn't sit well with me either. I was excited to see some of the (irrelevant to this story) minor female characters that were introduced be women who wanted to use their skills and intelligence in male-dominated fields. It felt like, perhaps, a nod from the author that the gender stereotypes of this world were unacceptable. But then we spent the rest of the book with the primary female characters, women who were often referred to as "exploding fluffballs" or little bunnies, doing stereotypically feminine tasks, like cooking, baking, running shops, nursing, massage, teaching and/or minding children, etc. Once again, the theme of this book for me, disappointing.
I know that there is going to be another series set in this world, and I remain oddly hopeful that it will be a chance for the author, with new characters and a new primary setting, to shake off some of the stereotypes of this series and present a more equable world for all her characters. There is so much promise in her world, charm in many of the primary characters, and memory of previous enjoyment that I cannot give up hope that I'll like Bishop's next book in this setting better. ...more

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Aug 01, 2017 Jacqie rated it it was ok

Shelves: didnt-finish, netgalley

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've been with this series all the way, but I thought it faltered here at the end. After the world-altering events of the previous book, the plot in this seemed out of whack. Most of the book centers around a no-good brother to policeman Monty. Jimmy brings his family (wife and two kids) to Lakeside in hopes that he can mooch off of his sister and mother and maybe make some money from shady dealings.

After the Others reached th I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've been with this series all the way, but I thought it faltered here at the end. After the world-altering events of the previous book, the plot in this seemed out of whack. Most of the book centers around a no-good brother to policeman Monty. Jimmy brings his family (wife and two kids) to Lakeside in hopes that he can mooch off of his sister and mother and maybe make some money from shady dealings.

After the Others reached the end of their patience with humans in the last book, it stretches credulity to the breaking point that they'd allow this jerk to stay. There's some hand-waving about the more powerful Others wanting to figure out human behavior and figuring this guy can be sort of a experiment to see what humans do, but honestly? I think he'd have been wolf chow long before he tries half the stuff he does if the characters were true to their previous characterization.

And that's pretty much all the book is about. This piece of crap terrorizes his sister, uses his children as cover for his crimes, works deals with whatever criminals he can find in town, and is generally a waste of flesh. Plus, he seems utterly unaware of the nature of the Others and that he is treading on dangerous ground. I just couldn't understand this. Several cities have just been DESTROYED and this guy just calls the Others "freaks" and thinks that they will just put up with whatever he does???? This is not consistent with the world that's been developed, where all humans are aware that they exist on sufferance of the Others and have seen over and over again that they are considered prey.

Naturally, Meg is put in danger by this guy by the end of the book in a rather disturbing sequence of events.

I haven't really shipped Simon and Meg. It's clear that they are different species and while a wolf and a human could certainly bond, I'd never be rooting for them to actually mate. But... it's that kind of series in the end. Although it's all pretty G-rated, thank god.

I think the series should have ended with the previous book. ...more

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Apr 16, 2017 Meera rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, hive2017

I enjoyed this one as I have liked the others in the series. I was disappointed to find out afterwards this is the last one that focuses on Simon and Meg. I've enjoyed being part of the world and their developing relationship. ...more

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Jul 23, 2021 Jessica (BookRockGoddess) Bolton rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-on-cd, tbr, 2021-reads

I love this series so much! There is not just one thing I can pinpoint. The writing, the character development and even the setting is just a lot of fun.

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