Written in Red
Anne Bishop
Published: Penguin Audio
Date: 2013
Format: Audiobook
Length: 18hrs and 32min
Narrator: Alexandra Harris
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Own book
As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut - a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg's Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard - a business district operated by the Others.
Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she's keeping a secret, and second, she doesn't smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she's wanted by the government, he'll have to decide if she's worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.
Written in Red is #1 in The Others series. I have seen this book reviewed a number of times, and in the end I tentatively decided to get involved and listen to the audiobook. It is quite lengthy and I finished it in three days. Unheard of for me, I just became swept away by the story, left my usual reading aside and every opportunity I had - I listened.
Meg got the job working as the human liaison person at the The Others compound. In essence it was a postal job, accepting deliveries from the humans and then sorting and delivering them around to the various Others. When she takes up the job, it is in disarray but with a little help she soon has it working smoothly. She is a kind, thoughtful person and has soon gathered a number of friends about her, normally individuals who would be very scary to humans, but Meg has a knack with her thoughtful, innocent ways.
When she arrives she is somewhat nervous and unsure, as she has escaped from a place where they have used her for her gift of prophecy, and treated her like a chattel. She is valuable to her 'owners' and they will go to great lengths to find and bring her back.
However Simon, the other wolves, crows, vampires and many others soon see Meg as one of them. They protect her and go into battle for her. Meg also forms a wonderful relationship with a young wolf cub - Sam. Damaged by seeing his mother killed, Sam has not developed and hides away in a cage in his Uncle Simon's apartment.
Alexandra Harris narrated the story very well and it was easy to listen to her as with the words she weaved her own magic. I am now really peeved because the next two in this series are not released in audio to my part of the world. I am devastated. Sure I can read them on kindle or paperback, but I loved this audio version and I don't want to turn to them. I hate when publishers don't bother with world rights.
Bummer you can't read the next two books as audiobooks :( It blows when they only make one book available in a particular format. maybe they will release them if enough readers complain! I Written in Read sitting on my library shelf on my Nook and I am super glad to delve into it. Don't think I've read one negative review of this book!
ReplyDeleteSarah, the next two are in audio, but not for my part of the world. Often happens, that publishers don't do "world rights" for certain formats or indeed books. Not sure why, must be money is only thing I can think of. I don't think I have seen one negative review of this series either!
DeleteLOVE getting swept away like that. That's quite the long narrative too! Longest I've listened to was 8ish hours so far. One day I'm going to have to try hers. Everyone says such amazing things.
ReplyDeleteWow I love it when an audio sweeps you away like that and 18 hours just whizzes by. So frustrating when "world rights" makes it impossible to continue with the series in the same format!!
ReplyDeleteOnly you would appreciate "world rights", it confuses the US readers no end!! I even looked up buying the CD's but were around $100. So ebook it will be. It is as good as all the other readers have been saying.
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