Urban Fantasy Early Review: Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop

Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop (The Others #4)

Egalley thanks to Penguin/Roc

Synopsis from Goodreads
For centuries, the Others and humans have lived side by side in uneasy peace. But when humankind oversteps its bounds, the Others will have to decide how much humanity they’re willing to tolerate—both within themselves and within their community...

Since the Others allied themselves with the cassandra sangue, the fragile yet powerful human blood prophets who were being exploited by their own kind, the delicate dynamic between humans and Others changed. Some, like Simon Wolfgard, wolf shifter and leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn, see the new, closer companionship as beneficial—both personally and practically.

But not everyone is convinced. A group of radical humans is seeking to usurp land through a series of violent attacks on the Others. What they don’t realize is that there are older and more dangerous forces than shifters and vampires protecting the land that belongs to the Others—and those forces are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect what is theirs…

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9.5/10

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  Why am I even surprised that Marked in Flesh was an exceptional read? The thing is, my dear reader, that ever since I've picked my first Anne Bishop book I've always had an extraordinary experience with this author no matter what she writes, - urban fantasy or fantasy.


Marked in Flesh is no exception. In fact, after I devoured the book and read to the last sentence in my kindle, my hands were shaking, my heart was racing and I desperately needed a cigarette *metaphorically speaking, of course, as I don't smoke* *maybe a shot of honey and chili vodka was more appropriate*.

Bishop creates a sense of urgency, of some huge impending doom like no one else I know. You sit there and bite your nails, and the tension is building and building, until it's a huge tidal wave, and then BAM! It all crushes down. In a nutshell, Marked in Flesh is that tidal wave rushing towards us.

While Humans First continue to spread destruction and hatred towards Others and their human friends, they don't realise that The Elders of The Others have already decided that the land needs cleansing. Now it's up to Lakeside Courtyard to decide who lives and who dies as their model working with humans is the one which worked to the most benefit to the land. Meg is desperately trying to minimise the damage, help other cassandras sangue and reach all the communities friendly to terra indigine in time to warn and prepare them. Meg and other girls also come up with a safer way to read the prophecies. 

Don't expect much playfulness from this book. There is simply no time for it as the Courtyard and The Intuit communities have to battle against this huge prejudice and hatred towards them. What feels great is the sense of unity between them. They find ways to communicate and work together because of the prophecy girls living amongst them. 

On the other hand, the casual evil is written so well in Marked in Flesh it was giving me chills. It's the face of bigotry and prejudice, and feeling that you are entitled to everything while someone else has to be persecuted for the colour of their skin or just simply for who they are. We know it well. It happens all over the world every day. I love how superbly Miss Bishop underlines it in her every novel. 

There are a lot of horrible, dark things happening in this book. It's a scary read, but it also talks about hope and new beginnings in the end. Simon and Meg take the next step in their relationship, which feels very sweet, and we sense that there will be some other unusual couples in the future. I loved Marked in Flesh to bits and I desperately hope the series continues even after this grand finale. Hugely recommended.

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Почему я до сих пор удивляюсь насколько сильно меня потрясает каждая книга от Энн Бишоп? Она - экстраординарный автор, что мне было понятно ещё пару лет назад когда я взяла в руки её первую книгу. В этом плане, Помеченые в Плоти - не исключение.

 Когда я закончила эту книгу у меня тряслись руки и колотилось сердце, и мне хотелось закурить (так как я не курю, то в моём случае: хлопнуть водочки). Бишоп умеет держать читателя в напряжении как никто другой, пока действие наконец-то не взрывается на смывает всех и вся на своём пути волной цунами.

Помеченые в Плоти - как раз такая волна. Терпение терра индиджене закончилось, и старейшины Других приказывают Двору Вулфгарда решить кто выживет а кто нет в одной большой чистке континента. Мег лихорадочно работает вместе с остальными пророчицами -  кассандрами санг, чтобы уменьшить ущерб общинам Интуитов и другим Дворам, которые подвергаются нападениям группы фанатиков "Люди Первые и Последние". Она и другие 
кассандры также неожиданно находят метод вершить пророчества без надрезов на коже.

 Расизм, слепая, нелепая ненависть и предубеждение к Другим и людям, их поддерживающим, выписаны настолько превосходно, что от обыденного злодейства группы "Люди Первые" пробегает холодок по коже. Нам они очень хорошо знакомы, так как человечество с готовностью делит себя на своих и других испокон веков, обвиняя последних во всех грехах и всевозможных неприятностях, и в этом плане мы никак не продвинулись в эволюции.

Не ожидайте от этой книги игривых, весёлых сцен. На них просто нет времени. Это книга темная и местами страшноватая. Однако отношения Саймона и Мег выходят на новый уровень, и он неожиданно очень мил. Я не знаю чего ожидать от этой серии после такого гранд-финала, но отчаянно надеюсь, что продолжение будет, так как с этим великолепным миром я расставаться никак не готова. От всей души рекомендую! Читайте!