Etched in Bone

This is a fifth book in a series but the author did a good job of not confusing the reader introducing characters from past books. I haven't read any other book in “The Others” series and I felt this could be a stand-alone story. Liked the main character, Luc, and the main female lead, Corinne. The book was a fast, easy read. What bothered me was the romance was a big focus through most of the story and the investigative tale took a back seat a lot of the time. The inquiry and search didn't seem very urgent.

After the attacks from Humans First and Last, Lakeside and other communities are trying to get back to a normal life. Easier said than done, with the question “How much human will the terra indigene keep?” hanging over their heads. To find an answer to that question, two of the elders have been sent to Lakeside to observe the interactions between the humans and the Others. Also arriving in Lakeside, Lt. Montgomery's brother Cyrus. The elders will see how one evil human can disrupt or destroy the lives of many. This deserves a lot more than 5 stars!! It is amazing!! I really hope Anne decides to write more of these, because this is one of the best series of all time. I will be really sad if it is ending. I highly recommend this to everyone!!!

On se recentre à nouveau sur l'enclos de Lakeside et les enjeux sont donc plus proches de ses résidents. Malgré une fin assez expéditive, ce tome conclut très bien la saga.

----------------------

We refocus on the Lakeside enclosure again and the stakes are therefore closer to its residents. Despite a rather expeditious ending, this volume concludes the saga very well.

I listened to this entire series as audiobooks on my commutes. This was the final installment in the Lakeside courtyard stuff (Anne Bishop is evidently not done in Thaisia, though). Overall I enjoyed the series best when it got all political and addressed the humans and the terra indigene trying to duke it out for land. This last book felt like a pretty strong narrowing of scope.

Cyrus Montgomery was an awful villain. I mean he was an awful PERSON, first and foremost, but when the series has spent 4 previous books establishing the dangers posed by the terra indigene, a whole book of someone as arrogant and stupid as he was going around completely oblivious to the truth of every idiot scheme he comes up with is REALLY frustrating. At least he got his inevitable comeuppance.

Overall I enjoyed this series a lot but I think the writing has its weaknesses. Dialogue is not Bishop's strong suit; a lot of characters speak really stiffly and the things they say often flow really unnaturally and feel excessively expository. In book 5 of a series like this one it really isn't necessary for every character to call each other by full names and titles. “Steve Ferryman, the mayor of Ferryman's Landing, will be arriving later today to discuss the cassandra sangue, or blood prophets, living in his settlement...” it just feels really clunky. It didn't ruin the story for me or anything but it is definitely a weak point in the series for me.

Really, though, I was here for Meg and Simon all along. I'd happily read another 5 books about the two of them.