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Written in Red (The Others, #1)

Anne Bishop

Start date: May 1, 2013

Finish date: May 31, 2013

Discussion: Book of the Month

Why we're reading this: Voted as our "Most Popular Books Published in March 2012" May BOM …more
[close] Voted as our "Most Popular Books Published in March 2012" May BOM

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Book of the Month

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* BOM: Group Read History [2025]
By Steph , Serious series addict · 10 posts · 22 views

last updated Sep 27, 2025 10:28PM

* BOM: Comments & Suggestions
By Steph , Serious series addict · 38 posts · 229 views

last updated Mar 15, 2012 06:15PM

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What Members Thought

Apr 10, 2013 Suzanne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own, books-that-i-have-on-audio, library-overdrive-e-book, may-2013-rrrc-pick-it-for-me, audible-book, dhasg-reading-challenge, goodreads-choice-award-2013, read-in-2015, choice-award-nominees-2013-ficti, read-in-2019

OMG I loved this book! I normally tolerate the first book in a series because I know it's a lot of world building, but this has got to be the best first book of an Urban Fantasy series that I've read in a long time! I just freaking loved everything about this book, there was absolutely nothing that I didn't like about it. I now know what all they hype is about with Anne Bishop. This author rocks my socks off!!! ...more

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Oct 03, 2013 Regina rated it liked it

Shelves: dark-gritty-urban-fantasy, listened-to-audio-only, shifter, urban-fantasy-uf, audio-also-listened-to, vamps

3.5 stars. I may bump it up to 4 tomorrow. Review to come.

3 likes · Like · see review

May 30, 2013 Yulia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: vampires, paranormal, werewolves, shape-shifters, magic, urban-fantasy

If you are looking for a pure urban fantasy book without romance in it this book is for you.
I enjoyed it because it had.something different than the usuall UF. Maybe it's that PR that is usually mixed in.
The Others rule the world and are feared by humans. Also loved the additional creature beside the werewolf and vamp, like the elemntals and their ponies, the craws and the medusa like one Tess.
Too bad there wasn't romance between Meg and Simone :( ...more

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Dec 28, 2013 Pyschoprincess rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-fantasy, vampy, wolfy, ebooks, magic

I really enjoyed the unique spin on this book. From our main character being a cutting prophet, the formidable Tess, the Wolves only view humans as meat idea, to the season girls. I was expecting more of a romance and less of an innocent for my heroine. But, I still loved the book and felt like it couldn't have turned out any other way.

-HEA
-Magic (in an elemental, prophet kind of way)
-Wolves
-Vamps (side-lined)
-Non-romance
-$$$ Worth full price

*EDIT*
I was glancing at another persons review and r ...more

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Apr 01, 2013 S H A R O N rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, faves, paranormal, urban-paranormal, 2013, 2018, sword-and-laser-fantasy-challenge, 2021

**Reread in March 2018** I reread this via audiobook as I attempt to freshen up on the series before finishing it out so I can pick up Lake Silence. Anne Bishop is still my favorite author...but I am glad that I first read the print version of this. The audiobook was just ok. I didn't much care for some of the narration choices (weird pseudo-southern accents popped up at times...got a hint of midwestern at other times) and Meg was often portrayed in a whiny, annoying voice. Still an enjoyable st **Reread in March 2018** I reread this via audiobook as I attempt to freshen up on the series before finishing it out so I can pick up Lake Silence. Anne Bishop is still my favorite author...but I am glad that I first read the print version of this. The audiobook was just ok. I didn't much care for some of the narration choices (weird pseudo-southern accents popped up at times...got a hint of midwestern at other times) and Meg was often portrayed in a whiny, annoying voice. Still an enjoyable story...just some of the narration choices were grating. That said - I will still continue my reread via audiobook.

Original review:

[I also reviewed this title on my blog: Ishari's Bookshelf]

Ok, anyone who thinks Anne Bishop can write a fictionalized account of the phonebook/restaurant menu/[insert a boring item here] and make it absolutely fascinating and engrossing, please raise your hand.

I won't lie...when I saw this book on the shelves, I was concerned. There's a lot of crappy Urban Paranormal books out there...and seeing as Anne Bishop is one of my favorite authors, I just couldn't understand why she left the Black Jewels world to enter into the trendy world of Urban Paranormal. Turns out I was worrying for nothing. This book was just awesome.

Awesome. Rad. Totally cool, dude. Tubular. I pity the foo' who doesn't read this book.

I don't really know what other '80s catchphrases I can say about it.

In a spoiler-free nutshell, Meg Corbyn is a "cassandra sangue" - meaning when she is cut and blood is drawn she can see prophecies. As a "blood prophet", she is a highly valuable commodity that people pay large sums of money to utilize. Escaping her captors, Meg finds herself as the Human Liaison for the Others - the original and dominant species in the world. While many humans find the Others dangerous, Meg makes a home among them and relishes in her new found freedom. Her captors, however, are not cowed by the Others' reputations and will do anything they can in order to recover their money making blood prophet.

What I liked about this book was that it was a-typical...it wasn't your typical urban paranormal story. It wasn't your typical lead female character. It was a unique plot that was well developed and engrossing. The characters were vibrant and the world building was phenomenal. One thing I like about all of Anne Bishop's books is that she can develop such amazing worlds and characters that I find myself desperately wanting them to be real. Bishop also sets up the next book subtly...rather than leave critical things out of the first book in order to lure you on to the next, Bishop crafts a full story leaving threads connecting the first book to the second. I guess what I'm getting at is that I didn't feel like this first book was merely a means of getting to the second book in the series.

In a genre that can be stereotypical and cliche, Written in Red is such a refreshing and fascinating read! ...more

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