Vision in Silver (The Others, #3) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Oct 25, 2014 Mandapanda rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy

4.5 stars. I love that the author keeps a tight focus on Meg and Simon and the Lakeside Courtyard while at the same time gradually widening the stage and players in this excellent urban fantasy series. In this installment the threat of Humans First and Last seems to attack from all directions. Lakeside, Toland, Tallulah Falls, River's Bend, other places in Thaisia and even the other continent of Cel Romano are all used as settings. We finally hear from the shadowy original terre indigenes who oc 4.5 stars. I love that the author keeps a tight focus on Meg and Simon and the Lakeside Courtyard while at the same time gradually widening the stage and players in this excellent urban fantasy series. In this installment the threat of Humans First and Last seems to attack from all directions. Lakeside, Toland, Tallulah Falls, River's Bend, other places in Thaisia and even the other continent of Cel Romano are all used as settings. We finally hear from the shadowy original terre indigenes who occupy the wild places and are many times more powerful than even the elementals. The story of Detective Monty and his daughter Lizzy is another major storyline which made me very happy because I love Monty. I feel emotionally invested in all the secondary characters in this story actually.

The other cassandra sangue are having fatal reactions to their newfound freedom and most of Meg's time in this book is taken up with how to keep them safe and integrate them into their new communities. Possibly the only point where the book faltered a little for me was where I felt the author was reinterpreting Meg's behaviour when she first arrived in the Courtyard to fit in with the new story of how the other cassandra sangues were behaving. It was an uncomfortable fit at times and was not completely in line with how I remember Meg acting. But that was just a little niggle and didn't stop me from really enjoying this book.

Meg and Simon's relationship continues at a glacially slow (but very enjoyable) pace as they learn to understand each other and the meaning of friendship and family. The sheer innocence and obliviousness of their mutual affection is so adorable. But there's not much time for the kissy-kissy stuff (as the wolves refer to it). There are just so many other things going on. It's a very dense, plotty tale that I know is going to give up even more of its secrets on a reread.

I loved the use of the letters in some parts and (view spoiler) I think this author is a great storyteller and with her background as a fantasy writer I'm looking forward to even more complexity and detail in future volumes in this series.

For an excellent pictorial review of this book that pretty much shows you exactly what you will feel while reading go here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Sep 04, 2014 Daffodil rated it it was amazing

Shelves: shifters, urban-fantasy, vampires, psychics

I love the uniqueness of the world Anne Bishop has created. There are shifters and vampires, but the difference lies in their origins. They are not converted humans. They never were human. They are Others, terra indigene, earth natives who have chosen to take on human guise and aspects in order to interact with humans. Others, therefore, do not think like humans and do not understand human motivations. While Others are definitely the dominant species, making all the laws and barely tolerating hu I love the uniqueness of the world Anne Bishop has created. There are shifters and vampires, but the difference lies in their origins. They are not converted humans. They never were human. They are Others, terra indigene, earth natives who have chosen to take on human guise and aspects in order to interact with humans. Others, therefore, do not think like humans and do not understand human motivations. While Others are definitely the dominant species, making all the laws and barely tolerating human existence as anything other than meat, there are human factions who believe they have an inherent right to rule. Throw greed and intolerance into the mix and you have one mighty conflict on the horizon.

Previous Human Liaisons never made a permanent impact on the residents, but Meg's arrival at the Lakeside Courtyard in the first book marked the beginning of a new relationship between Others and a human. Three books in, and the human "pack" is slowly growing. Simon's conflicted feelings over this and how it will impact the future of the terra indigene make him question the correct path to follow. Meg's also growing, learning to manage her ability and coping with the freedom she fought so hard for. I'm enjoying the slow build of Meg and Simon's relationship. They're still at the friendship phase and may never go beyond that, though I kind of doubt it, but it's still nice to watch as they work on understanding the feelings they have for each other.

I'm a fan of Anne Bishop's and should have known better, but I had some preconceived notions based on the cover blurb of the first book. It's hard for me to detail the nuances that make this a totally different series than I expected, but I've been pleasantly surprised throughout all three books at how wrong I was. In the end, this isn't a series about "poor little humans" surviving in a world ruled by shifters and vampires. Because sadly, while the Others and their propensity for eating humans may appear monstrous to us, it is the human coalitions, motivated by greed and prejudice, that are the real monsters.

...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 14, 2014 Vivian rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio, read-2015, favorites

note to self: audio is not for me. The book is fantastic.

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 12, 2023 Tamara rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015-books

Like

May 23, 2014 Rita Lo rated it it was amazing

Like

Jul 13, 2014 Samina The Story Devourer rated it it was ok

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Like

Sep 13, 2014 Tanya rated it it was amazing

Shelves: urban-fantasy, 2015

Like

Oct 31, 2014 K~Terror rated it really liked it

Shelves: audible, buddy-reads

1 like · Like

Nov 07, 2014 Alyssa Ricks added it

Like

Nov 26, 2014 Vv rated it really liked it

Shelves: werewolves, fantasy

Like

Jan 27, 2015 2mmommy marked it as monica-next-to-be-read

Like

Feb 10, 2015 Naevehsa marked it as to-read

Like

Feb 21, 2015 Vanessa rated it it was amazing

Like

Feb 25, 2015 Chelsea marked it as to-read

Like

Feb 26, 2015 Laura rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Like

Mar 11, 2015 Stacy rated it really liked it

Like

Mar 21, 2015 Sevie rated it really liked it

Like

May 09, 2015 Moondance added it

Like

May 10, 2015 Nici rated it it was amazing

Like

May 20, 2015 Monique marked it as to-read

Like

May 21, 2015 Nichole ~~The Grey Lady~~ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2015

Like

Aug 13, 2015 Melissa Guthrie rated it really liked it

Like

Nov 06, 2015 Courtney rated it really liked it

Shelves: werewolves-and-shifters, magic-and-things, vampires, fae, mythos, alt-reality, humor, favorites, cops-and-other-do-gooders, i-am-woman-hear-me-roar

Like