Review: Murder of Crows (The Others, #2) by Anne Bishop

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.

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Source: Purchased

Review:
Murder of Crows (The Others, #2), was my most anticipated read for 2014 and I was not disappointed. I am completely enthralled with the world Bishop has created and with The Others. 

This isn’t a series where you jump in with the second book. You need to read Book #1, Written in Red first. This is such an amazing series. Dark, magical, complex and with wonderful characters and development. She writes shifters, political strife and relationships in a way that leaves me begging for more. Waiting a year between these books is a form of torture.

I love how Bishop explores the animalistic ways and barely leashed brutality of The Others, instead of humanizing them. Yet, with Meg – their Meg – they soften somewhat and the exchanges between human and Other, as they try to understand and help each other, are beautiful, and sometimes humorous to watch. I was surprised by how much humor – and sweetness was in this story.

That is mostly thanks to the slow (epically slooooow) brewing romance between Meg and Simon. OMG I LOVE them. LOVE. Simon is the alpha and leader of the Courtyard Others, but with Meg, he’s just a bumbling male. These two could not be more adorable. The innocence of their romance is just too much to take. I love watching how they play and cuddle with Simon in his wolf form and how they long for each other when they’re apart. Every one can see what is happening, except them. I love how this is unfolding and the time and care Bishop is putting into it – but if they don’t get together soon I will explode.

Which leads to the one thing that I didn’t love about this book. The multiple POV’s continue and even expand in this book. I will say that every point of view adds to the story but I just don’t care if it’s not Meg, Simon or one of The Others. Monty and Burke (the human policemen) are giving too much page time IMO. I think I’m supposed to be concerned about The Others brand of justice towards the humans who wrong them and have some kind of moral conflict but I pick The Others every time. I get it. The humans are the bad guys to me.

I’m also not a fan of criminal investigation, so that aspect just didn’t work for me, but I do see how it’s necessary to the overall plot line.

I don’t know how many books Anne Bishop has planned for this series. I’m torn between wanting it finished in the next book so Simone and Meg will get their HEA and wanting to stay in this world for years to come. There is still so much of this world and it's inhabitants left to explore.

This series could so easily spiral out of control. There are the incredibly complex interpersonal relationships in the courtyard, the looming war, the prophesies of the cassandra sangue, yet Bishop keeps a tight reign on it all, amping up the tension and drawing you in deeper to her deliciously dark world.

For more detailed reviews, check out The Midnight garden, Smexy Books, Red Hot Books