Genres: Urban Fantasy
Published by Roc
Released on March 4, 2014
Pages: 354
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
The Delight
The first book, Written in Red, introduced me to the fantastic world of The Others and that big ending and the threads left open had me in high anticipation for Murder of Crows. While it took its time building in tension, it did not disappoint and I was utterly riveted for the last quarter of the book. And, the cycle continues with me back to highly anticipating the next installment.
Review
Murder of Crows is book two of The Others series. It is an ongoing story that carries over from book one so doesn’t make a good place to jump in or grab as a standalone.
The dust has barely settled from the last big confrontation between certain humans who haven’t gotten the memo on who is the big bad scary in the world, when the folk at the Lakeside Courtyard and the surrounding city hear disturbing news of a People First and Last movement kicking up its heels and revving up humans to close their businesses to the Terra Ingene and to bully any humans who are cooperating or friends with the non-humans. But, worse, there are potent drugs being passed around that make people act like beasts and go after the Terra Ingene non-humans. Then there is retaliation and war is a distinct possibility.
Meg is the key. Her visions are critical now as is her place as a human who draws a human pack around her. Another critical human is Monty a cop and go between. There is a core group of humans who make the predatory and powerful Others choose to try to hold the shaky peace rather than wipe every human off the map.
Meanwhile, Meg is still the focus of her old controller who is determined to get her back, Monty’s ex is now neck deep in the dangerous human’s first movement and has his daughter with her, Meg and Simon hit a snag in their friendship when attraction rears up and confuses the pair of them, and a few others are introduced and become key players as matters build until someone has to die.
I enjoyed the first book a great deal and loved finally getting my chance to sink into the world of The Others, but there were a little thing or two about the heroine, Meg, that I was hoping would clear up by the time I started on book two. I was relieved to see that my instinct was right. Those were first book issues and no longer relevant in Murder of Crows.
The characters are so easy to enjoy and so fascinating with this author’s grittier, darker version of supernaturals who don’t even pretend to be human. That said, they have their lighter and whimsical sides and they have their humorous moments when human behavior baffles them.
As with most Urban Fantasy, this one built on what came before both by adding some new details or fleshing out better what was there with world building and also with the characters and relationships. This one paced out slow at first and swapped a lot of scenes and perspectives, but I also found it a more engaging read in many ways. I like where things are going for Meg and Simon and I’m curious about several things as the series progresses into the next installment.
Murder of Crows wrapped up one big plot arc, but there are still a few others that are building now and taking things to a bigger more intense situation. I have a feeling it will keep getting better and better. Urban Fantasy lovers are the target readers for these.
Challenges Met
Mt. TBR #33
Literary Pickers #78 pool
Romance-opoly #17 Leather Lane UF
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Can you believe I haven’t read a single Anne Bishop book yet, Sophia? I just got the first one in this series a couple of weeks ago. I need more time. Like, more hours every day 🙂
I’m glad you keep enjoying this!
Haha! I believe you, Lexxie. I only read Written in Red in January. 🙂
I haven’t started reading her books yet but I plan to at some point.
Yes! It will be fun to see what you think.
Good to hear your first book issues about Meg got resolved in this book. It sounds like a great sequel and that does sound good how you were eager for book 2 and end this book being eager for the next one again. Her version of supernaturals also sounds var intriguing and that’s great there are so many great characters. I hope this continues to be a good series for you! I have book 1, so I plan to start it eventually.
Yeah, my issues were about certain first-book things and I was glad to see that they were absent here. Can’t wait to keep going. 🙂 Hope you like it when you get the chance, Lola.
I’m glad that you’re still enjoying this series. It was such a fun series and I enjoy revisiting the series through your reviews. So much fun.
Ha! Yes, I’m definitely hooked. Glad I can give you a revisit. 🙂
I’ve got this series on my TBR to read. Great review!
Yay! Hope you end up loving it, too, Angela. 🙂
I really love this series! I don’t read a lot of urban fantasy, but this series seems to bridge the gap between urban fantasy and fantasy well. Hope you enjoy the rest of them!
I like that description. You’re right about it feeling like a crossover between the two, Nicole. I’m convinced that I’ll be in love with it more and more as I go. 🙂
Yay! So glad you enjoyed this, and that some of your issues with Meg cleared up. Love this series so much! 🙂
Most of it had to do with intro stuff so I had a feeling that ongoing I would be fine. I loved seeing how things are progressing in the plot and with Meg.
I forgot how much I loved this series. I loved watching Meg grow over the course of the 5 books – but also the residents of Lakeside. Such a great series. Thanks for the review.
This dies feel like a series that builds well. I can’t wait for more.
Oh yes I love this series so much!!!!
Each book I fall more in love. 🙂
Well, you know I am a member of this fandom. So glad you are enjoying the series!
Oh yes, your reviews helped kick start my own pressing need to get going on this series. 🙂
I loved this book, loved this series. Glad you are enjoying it too.
It’s fun that I’m getting to experience these finally after getting excited over everyone’s reviews. 🙂
This is one of my favorite all time series. It’s just so unique. I hope you continue to love them as you go. I sure did!
I agree. The unique way the world developed when shifters instead of humans are in charge really wowed me. I look forward to what comes next.
Still haven’t read anything by this author yet. I must…someday
It’s a must! 🙂
I’\m glad that even though you enjoyed book 1, you were able to enjoy this sequel even more! vThis sounds like a really good Urban Fantasy series. I like that despite having darker grittier characters, you also got a whimsical side to them, and humor. It sounds like they were well-balanced!
I was iffy on the way the main character seemed when she was introduced, but that was all gone with this one now that I was past all that. The Others are great the way she wrote them to be wild and scary, but also with their own good parts, too. I can’t wait to read more of the series.