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A review by jaclynder
Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop
4.0
Etched in Bone is the final installment of Anne Bishop's The Others series. And as a final book, I do think it delivers on a satisfying ending as it builds upon events from the previous book.
While Bishop provides a compelling conclusion to the tension between the humans and the Others its the continuation of Meg's development that continues to fascinate me as does the reaction others have to Meg (both human and Other). Meg started this series as a blank slate and it's clear that in this final book she's changed greatly and embraced a more independent nature. Meg's tentative relationship with Simon is of particular note, since fans of the series have been shipping their romance from the start. While there is nothing traditional about their relationship, I think fans will be pleased by the authentic approach the author takes with their "romance".
The atmosphere of tension is also particularly well done in the final book. Some pretty significant things when down in the previous book, and the final book has many moments fraught with tension. One misstep on the part of the humans could mean the end of humanity, and that razor's edge suspense is continued throughout the book. What is appealing about this tension is the fact that it is easily correlated to contemporary issues, which I personally found compelling and thought provoking. Fans of the atmosphere of the previous books will not be disappointed with the direction Bishop takes them. The suspense was high but it was balanced with lighter moments as well.
Etched in Bone is a damned fine ending to a brilliant series. If you're a fan of deconstructing humanity and asking big questions in your fiction AND you still like an entertaining story, this is a must-read series. Seriously, go read book one.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
While Bishop provides a compelling conclusion to the tension between the humans and the Others its the continuation of Meg's development that continues to fascinate me as does the reaction others have to Meg (both human and Other). Meg started this series as a blank slate and it's clear that in this final book she's changed greatly and embraced a more independent nature. Meg's tentative relationship with Simon is of particular note, since fans of the series have been shipping their romance from the start. While there is nothing traditional about their relationship, I think fans will be pleased by the authentic approach the author takes with their "romance".
The atmosphere of tension is also particularly well done in the final book. Some pretty significant things when down in the previous book, and the final book has many moments fraught with tension. One misstep on the part of the humans could mean the end of humanity, and that razor's edge suspense is continued throughout the book. What is appealing about this tension is the fact that it is easily correlated to contemporary issues, which I personally found compelling and thought provoking. Fans of the atmosphere of the previous books will not be disappointed with the direction Bishop takes them. The suspense was high but it was balanced with lighter moments as well.
Etched in Bone is a damned fine ending to a brilliant series. If you're a fan of deconstructing humanity and asking big questions in your fiction AND you still like an entertaining story, this is a must-read series. Seriously, go read book one.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.