The World of the Others Series - Bishop [Jan 15, 2022]

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

A series read of The World of the Others by Anne Bishop.
Requested by Narilka.



Lake of Silence - January 15, 2022.
Wild Country - February 15, 2022.
Crowbones - March 15, 2022.

[Narilka]

Thanks Jenna!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

The new world covers, after the end of the main series, definitely have a motif... Wild Country and Crowbones almost look TOO similar...

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Narilka wrote: "Thanks Jenna!"

You're welcome 😊

[Narilka]

I started Lake Silence. 7 chapters in and it's like I never left this world. I do miss Meg and the Lakeside Courtyard though. (view spoiler)[The little sproingers read as being similar to wallabys. Anyone else think similar? (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

Sproingers (view spoiler)[ I think they're a bit smaller than wallabys-- described as looking as rats, but more expressive? Maybe a rat-wallaby combo with expressive faces. Oh no, I just made them rather terrifying in my head xD (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

The world still feels very familiar. Different characters, but I think we have a lot of the same roles filled (view spoiler)[ Vulnerable woman gathering protectors around her, but more humans in the mix this time I think. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[opening on a Crowguard trying to microwave (wave cook) an eyeball had me chuckling a little (hide spoiler)]
The part in chapter 10Edit chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ When the sproingers made a.. sproinger pyramid was great. I would want an 1 <3 Sproingers T-shirt too lol (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Emily wrote: "The world still feels very familiar. Different characters, but I think we have a lot of the same roles filled

Yes, agreed, there's a similar feel. I like it :) I didn't realize how much I was missing this world. It's almost making me want to go reread Meg's story.

About your Ch 9 (view spoiler)[I totally want one of those tshirts too!! The sproingers sound adorable even if they could rip your face off lol (hide spoiler)]

I read a bit today and am through Ch 22 now. Your point about hte same roles is very astute. (view spoiler)[I like a lot how Vicki has her own muscle in the form of a Bear and Panther :D And so very sweet their first Reading time!

At this point even though the human part of the mystery is making me cringe, I'm pretty confident the Others will keep Vicki safe. They might even get a chance to eat well if that slimy Detective keeps things up. Can't say I'd be sad about that. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Now through Ch 39. Some of these chapters are pretty short. I do like how they start off by listing who's point of view we're getting. (view spoiler)[Hehehe they played a game of Clue Murder :) Interesting how it triggered Julian. I'm sure his visions are a hint of what's to come. I'm also thinking that Vicki is going to end up with an Elder on her side saving the day. Pulling that card during the game wasn't coincidence. (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

Narilka wrote: "Now through Ch 39. Some of these chapters are pretty short. I do like how they start off by listing who's point of view we're getting. [spoilers removed]"

Yeah I like how Bishop included things similar to our world, but named them differently haha
Short chapters are great for me, it helps me to read faster.

Intuit question- (should be safe to read if your through Ch 19) (view spoiler)[So Julian has feelings about places, specifically. I can't remember if it works this way for other intuits, or if they each have like specializations that they sense? (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Re your Intuit question (view spoiler)[From what I remember of the first series and the things mentioned in this one, I think the Intuits can have their gift manifest differently based on the person. It's like a much stronger and more focused version of intuition. (hide spoiler)]

I finished and liked this a lot. Bishop has a formula and it works. (view spoiler)[I like that we're getting even more variety of Others as well as more glimpses in the Elders. Vicki was a decent stand in for Meg, though I wish she'd had a slightly stronger personality to differentiate her more. Even with the abusive background, i think that could have worked. (hide spoiler)] Looking forward to starting the second book in a month.

[Tonari no Emily]

That's what I was thinking regarding the Intuits.

Vicki (view spoiler)[ Totally agree there. She was very similar if a bit less naive. But she was protective towards her friends, even if she didn't stand up for herself. Hopefully we see some character development in that direction. Unless the next book isn't about Vicki still, I haven't really looked into it. Also the vigorous appendage thing was weird and funny lol (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'm not a big fan of Vicki...

Bishop seems to really like writing Vicki/Meg style characters... they appear in other series like Black Jewels, too... and they generally make sense...

I think Vicki seems weird because she's a divorcee and sounds as sheltered and almost childlike as Meg...

Wild Country isn't about Vicki, from what I remember, but I think Vicki appears in Crowbones?...

You guys are definitely tempting me into a re-read... I've been doing alot of those this year... 50/50 with new reads, it seems...

[Tonari no Emily]

Yeah, not sure how she still seemed so sheltered.
Heh, it might just be that kind of year :D

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Started my reread… these books are so easy to listen to, even with my complaints…

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Not much more to say... except I wish Bishop stuck to writing this series, instead of resurrecting the Black Jewels series... she kinda wrote herself into a corner, when she originally ended the BJ series by having the important characters grow old and die, instead of staying basically immortal...

[Narilka]

I agree. Or it's time for her to find a new world to write in. I still have the latest Black Jewels to finish. Other things were more interesting...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Yea... I'm not very enthralled about the new BJ book... been collecting dust for awhile...

Not sure I really want her to start a new series, either... there's only so many ways to write believable childlike female leads and gruff men, right?... BJ and Others are already kinda samey...

I love Others/Bishop, but I've also grown kinda jaded to the whole premise...

[Tonari no Emily]

Yeah, I would love for her to write more in the Others, but with different character archetypes. I means there's so much to explore I feel like in this world.

[Narilka]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Yea... I'm not very enthralled about the new BJ book... been collecting dust for awhile...

Not sure I really want her to start a new series, either... there's only so many ways to write believable..."

Yeah, that's why she needs a new series with a whole new idea for characters.

I agree with Emily. A different character archetype story in the Others world would be cool too :)

[Narilka]

I'll be starting Wild Country tonight.

[Tonari no Emily]

I think I'll be a couple days for the next one.

[Narilka]

Wild Country, through Ch 5 (view spoiler)[Nice his this has more direct ties back to the main series. Also it appears that some intuits are pulling cons. Talk about making it an unfair advantage. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Joining in for Wild Country & Crowbones. Probably start in a few days. :)

Enjoyed reading all of y'all's thoughts on Lake of Silence! I agree on Bishop having an archetype of main character--though I did like the body positivity aspects of Lake Silence, which was different from her other novels.

And no one does comeuppance like Anne Bishop. OMG how I love to hate her bad guys and pump my fist in the air when they get mauled to death in grisly ways by Others. Or whatever the magic of the day is in her books.

re: the new Black Jewels books...I read both Queen's Bargain and Queen's Weapons. Bargain was really disappointing, but it did set things up for Weapons, which was ... better. Still, nothing reaching the levels of her first books...

I wouldn't mind seeing either a new world series from her or more in the Others world. I don't go into an Anne Bishop book expecting a lot of character variety. I go in with more of a mac-and-cheese mindset. The only times I get disappointed is when she focuses on the less appealing characters and they don't grow, or backslide.

[Narilka]

Nirkatze wrote: "And no one does comeuppance like Anne Bishop. OMG how I love to hate her bad guys and pump my fist in the air when they get mauled to death in grisly ways by Others. Or whatever the magic of the day is in her books.."

This! It's what I look forward to the most in the Others books lol The bad guys getting eaten at the end :) And how great a job she does of making the Others feel so alien.

Good to have you along for the read.

[Tonari no Emily]

Yes, so much that! So satisfying to see bad guys get what they deserve :D

[Narilka]

Wild Country, through Ch 10 (view spoiler)[SQUEEE!! They have a harvester :D :D I love that her name is Scythe. (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

Through chapter 8 (I think? Overdrive has some wonky structures/chapters sometimes)

I'm pretty excited for this one so far! Ties back to the original like Narilka said, and so far (view spoiler)[ we're getting more on intuits, and how not all of them live in villages and such. (hide spoiler)]

Abigail I think is (view spoiler)[ also intuit and her focus is on stones? If I'm not mistaken, I think that was trained into her by her father. Who sounds like a piece of work. I'm a bit torn on Abigail as a character right now because on the one hand she sounds like she's had a tough childhood. But on the other she's still actively trying to con people. Maybe we'll get some character development here though! (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

Narilka wrote: "Wild Country, through Ch 10 [spoilers removed]"

Yes! So excited. I'm hoping we get other types of Terra Indigine too

[Narilka]

@Emily, re Abigail (view spoiler)[I took it exactly as you described, an intuit who knows about stones. I don't like her though I can sympathize with her situation. Perhaps she will be more likable in the future. (hide spoiler)]

Wild Country, through Ch 18 (view spoiler)[The part where the wolves recognize the skippy girl made me tear up. I love how Bishop treats autistic characters and the Others recognize them as needing to be protected. I wish the real world would take that point of view more often.

Also the gay couple that has adopted/rescued orphaned Other children and a cassandra sanguine! Oh my, the town of Bennett just got complicated.

I am enjoying how Jana is figuring out how to work in a police pack with the wolves :)

I love seeing the slice of life in this town. I am not looking forward to when Abigail's past catches up to her. Though that "family" will make some good food for the Others :D (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

@ Narilka, had the same reaction to (view spoiler)[ the skippy girl. It made me also think of Skippy from the original series, which also had me tear up. (hide spoiler)]

Regarding the "family"(view spoiler)[ I actually really appreciate the "bad guys" so far in this one. They seem at least a bit more capable than the previous run-of-the-mill humans. Very much looking forward to someone being eaten though xD (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Need to stop procrastinating on my comments here, before I forget too much...

The 3 day embargo on notifications really hurt my push to keep track of all discussions :(

Anyway, this one finally gave us more strong female characters, like I was clamoring for in the previous book... but it's also the book that left me the most frustrated with character actions as a result... (view spoiler)[everyone is so boneheaded... even if it's resolved midbook, as Virgil (sheriff if I used the wrong name) gets used to "the Wolverine"... and said Wolverine learns of Virgil's tragic losses and adjusts... (hide spoiler)]

I was right there with "the Wolverine" near the end (view spoiler)[when angry about the mistaken identity car thing... then felt foolish for forgetting how nosy they are all the time... no mistakes made :D (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Narilka wrote: "Wild Country, through Ch 10 [spoilers removed]"

We're as bad as Barb :D (view spoiler)[no proper fear of harvester... go melt some brains, Scythe!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Abigail (view spoiler)[is so CLOSE to being good/likeable... but can't seem to get over that final hump and trust anyone... instead she reverts to her familial ways, even when she doesn't want to do the rest of her family's misdeeds... (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Wild Country, through Ch 30. I went on a reading binge :) (view spoiler)[A lot sure has happened. It wasn't explicit but it was nice to see the "romance" between Jesse and Tolya. I did not expect it.

I'm a bit mad at Jana right now. She's been living with Others her whole life and couldn't possibly think that the couple the swapped cars was in on the scam?? I know she's a rookie and it's a rookie mistake so probably in character. Doesn't make me any less irritated though lol I'm glad Tobias explained it and she realizes her error same day. It's going to be important for Other backup to deal with Blackstone. (hide spoiler)]

Iain, I haven't opened all your spoilers yet. I do agree that it's nice to see strong female characters. I am liking that Bishop avoided yet another child-like main character. Though this one has several mains, you know what I mean.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Narilka wrote: "Wild Country, through Ch 30. I went on a reading binge :) A lot sure has happened. It wasn't explicit but it was nice to see the "romance" between Jesse and Tolya. I did not expect it.

I'm a bit m..."

Most of them are pretty strong-willed, too... the deputy, Jesse from Prairie Landing, etc... exploding fluffballs vs wolverines :D

(view spoiler)[I think Jana's screwup was colored by her already built irritation with Virgil/etc... wasn't thinking straight... neither was I, when I jumped on the Jana bandwagon... (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

I took a slightly longer lunch and finished the book. I think I have a book hangover now :) Really enjoyed this one.

I am team Other all the way!

(view spoiler)[The wolverine thing was just perfect!

I had tears when Kane died. Poor Virgil has lost his whole family now. Glad he's officially "adopted" Jana as his sister.

He has teeth.
She has a gun.
They are the law.

hehehe

A lot of damage done to everyone in Bennett. I hope they can heal as one community. (hide spoiler)]

Crowbones goes back to the characters in Lake Silence right? Hopefully the author comes back to write a follow up. I'd like to spend time these characters again.

[Tonari no Emily]

Yes, I'm very much appreciating the stronger female characters in this one. It's funny/frustrating that all the human women are so alien to the others while the human men aren't really written that way...

About 60% in, I did like there's been a bit more romance in this one so far. Think I'll finish today, I wanna read all of y'alls spoilers :D

[Tonari no Emily]

Liked this one a lot too. Definitely more than the last one and probably more than a lot of the original series. I really like when (view spoiler)[ The Others and humans create their own families. I'm super happy Virgil has a sister in Jana now. He really does need some family, the poor wolf...

Again, happy to see more romance in this one, what with Jesse and Tolya as well as Jane and Tobias..

I want to know why humans keep thinking they can win against the Others though... self destructive tendencies? (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

I wondered that too. I've decided it's humanity's hubris on display. There's always someone who thinks they are exempt and can do what they want.

[Nirkatze]

Jumping in on Wild Country about a week late now. Really happy to see that folks really enjoyed it. I had read something about an unlikable main character in a review somewhere previously, and it kept me from picking it up right after finishing Lake Silence, so I'm glad to see that refuted.

[Nirkatze]

End of Chapter 2, this made me laugh: (view spoiler)[Humans. Couldn’t live with them; couldn’t eat them all.

Jana seems an interesting different character from introduction. Likely to have a chip on her shoulder, but hopefully open to possibilities.

I only vaguely remember the Wolfguard, Tolya, and Jesse from the other Others books...did a little ebook search though Etched in Bone and realized that Tolya, Barbara Ellen, Jesse, and even Jana are all letter writers throughout. I think on my next reread I might slot in Wild Country right with Etched in Bone. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

According to the author in her forward, the books happen about the same time timeline wise. You'll get more of that later on. One that would be a big spoiler for Etched in Bone for a first time reader.

[Nirkatze]

Emily wrote: "Through chapter 8 (I think? Overdrive has some wonky structures/chapters sometimes)"

Just read Narilka's through Chapter 5 too!

(view spoiler)[It's interesting seeing so many different types of Intuits. Jesse feels it in her aches and bones, and has special feelings for people. Parlan gets feelings for places, it seems. Abigail channels her feelings through stones, or cards.

Also the first time in this series that we've gotten "bad" Intuits. So far, they've all been straightforward "good guys." Enough so that when Parlan was introduced, I wasn't sure what side of the fence to push him toward until he mentally referred to his daughter as "that bitch."

And Abigail--I agree with Emily that I'm a bit torn. It seems like she had a horrible childhood--even hints that she might have been abused by her uncle or others in the clan--but will she be able to grow into a person worthy of survival? Or will she be the fault line that brings in more trouble, and try to claim she was innocent the whole time?

Interesting how her acting managed to throw off the reads of the other Intuits--though I think that may have actually had more to do with her safety stones--the dissonance brought in by the stones in the candles knocked her shielding spell off enough that the Intuits could sense her real self. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Narilka wrote: "According to the author in her forward, the books happen about the same time timeline wise. You'll get more of that later on. One that would be a big spoiler for Etched in Bone for a first time rea..."

Thank you for that!

[Nirkatze]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[Interesting to see Simple Life people who are bad too. I like that Bishop is shaking up the stereotypes here--even introducing a male cassandra sangue. I wonder if the "fifth man" who Scythe took out was a serial killer?

Will she ever introduce "evil" terra indigene though, I wonder? (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

The quote comes around again in Chapter 13: (view spoiler)[“Men. You can’t live with them, you can’t feed them to the Wolves.” I get the feeling Candice will get along with Virgil.

Lots of characters being introduced so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

Nirkatze wrote: "Chapter 11 Interesting to see Simple Life..."

(view spoiler)[I don't think he's quite a cassandra sangue himself.. but just a child of one.. As in he's Not Prey, but he doesn't get the visions with cuts.

Ooooh would love to see a truly "evil" Other. That would be super interesting and definitely a more powerful "bad guy" than humans! (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

Also, I loved all the quotes about men, and can't eating them/feeding them to Wolves xD

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

An evil (view spoiler)[cassandra sangue (hide spoiler)]would really turn the world on it's head... (view spoiler)[assuming they still read as Not Prey, and the Others can't risk eating/biting... (hide spoiler)]