A Book Obsession..: Release Day Review: Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

Release Day Review: Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

, by Kt Clapsadl

Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

The Others #2

After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.

The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murders of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard—Lakeside's shape-shifting leader—wonders whether their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or of a future threat.

As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet—and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.

One of my favorite things introduced in the previous book was that the monsters were well and truly monsters. They weren't romanticized beings, and would just as soon eat humans than tolerate them. I think that's what made them allowing Meg into their fold so captivating. The fierceness that they protect her with is astounding, which more than carried over into this installment. However, unlike the last book, these monsters are starting to seem a little less, well monster-like. But that's okay because it is handled in a way that they are not becoming humanized as so often seems to happen in books, but more towards evolving. They aren't losing that core of being uncivilized that I loved about them, but learning to temper certain things and grow. I really enjoyed seeing this small progression of change without them changing at the core. It was handle very well, and I couldn't be happier for it.

While I'm normally more of a romantic fan even in the Urban Fantasy genre, as I like at least a little love in my books, this one is so incredibly good that I didn't feel a lack at all. That being said, there does seem to be a potential hint of romance in the future between Meg and Simon, but it's an honest one that will not be forced, nor should it be. Considering the two very different lives they come from, it just wouldn't work any other way. But I have to admit to enjoying seeing the two of them dance around this completely new territory for both, and it's more than a little fun to see Simon all flustered at times. I can't tell you how many times the antics between those two had me laughing out loud.

Written in Red was one of those books that just came out of nowhere, but wound up knocking me completely off my feet. In fact it probably was my top read for 2013, if not close to it. So, to say that I had been highly anticipating MURDER OF CROWS would be a slight understatement. That being said, I do have to admit that I was just a bit nervous to dive into this book as it had an incredible amount to live up to and and I was afraid it might let me down. I should have known better. MURDER OF CROWS was every bit as good as its predecessor, if not better. This is truly Urban Fantasy at its finest, and once I picked it up, I just could not put it down. If you read nothing else in this genre, this is the one you absolutely cannot miss. A resounding five stars and then some, MURDER OF CROWS is an absolute winner!

(Received a copy from the Publisher)

Rating: