Urban Fantasy Review: Lake Silence by Anne Bishop

Lake Silence by Anne Bishop (The World of The Others #1)

bought

Synopsis from Goodreads
In this thrilling and suspenseful fantasy, set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Others series, Vicki DeVine and her lodger, the shapeshifter Aggie Crowe, stumble onto a dead body . . . and find themselves enmeshed in danger and dark secrets.

Human laws do not apply in the territory controlled by the Others–vampires, shapeshifters, and paranormal beings even more deadly. And this is a fact that humans should never, ever forget . . .

After her divorce, Vicki DeVine took over a rustic resort near Lake Silence, in a human town that is not human controlled. Towns like Vicki’s have no distance from the Others, the dominant predators that rule most of the land and all of the water throughout the world. And when a place has no boundaries, you never really know what’s out there watching you.

Vicki was hoping to find a new career and a new life. But when her lodger, Aggie Crowe–one of the shapeshifting Others–discovers a dead body, Vicki finds trouble instead. The detectives want to pin the man’s death on her, despite the evidence that nothing human could have killed the victim. As Vicki and her friends search for answers, things get dangerous–and it’ll take everything they have to stay alive.

Audible US/UK | Amazon US/UK | Book Depository

9/10

* * *

 Oh my god, soooo goood!

I loved The Others, and this spin-off does not disappoint with its intensity and amazing atmosphere.

The plot centers around The Jumble, a dilapidated retreat with a new caretaker, Vicki, who received it in a divorce settlement. The Jumble is very similar to a Courtyard in its essence: it serves as a learning ground for terra indigene as to how to communicate with humans and how to understand them.

Vicki is a timid, shy woman with very low self-esteem and extreme panic attacks which come and go due to years of abuse by her ex-husband. In the words of her watcher, Ilya Sanguinati, she is like a wounded animal who hides her wounds at all costs, which only lets them fester.

She also accepts The Others in stride and they, in turn, try to protect her. Aggie, a young Crowguard, her suave vampire attorney, Ilya, whom she calls Mr. Yummy, even some of the Elders, all take up her cause. And don't forget the Sproingers! So creepy with their happy faces...

The book starts with a murder and slowly unravels a convoluted plot to take The Jumble away from Vicki and turn it into something terra indigene will never allow. It underlines again and again that extreme arrogance and superiority complex of humans which makes us so self-destructive.

Anne Bishop's villains are always superbly written. They are just so full of themselves and so revolting that watching them is like a trainwreck. You know what's going to happen, but you can't look away. Of course, there are good humans fighting for humanity's chance to survive as well, - police chief Grimshaw, a lovely owner of Lettuce Read, a kick-butt owner of a boarding house, - Ineke. Honestly, they were pretty amazing characters.

The pace feels very fast and the atmosphere is so tense, you are on the edge of your seat most of the time. The ending is explosive, violent and dark, but I don't expect anything less from The Others. It's also satisfying in the way it carries justice. I am very much looking forward to Wild Country, a second instalment which is out March this year.

Hell yeah, highly recommended.

* * *

 Боже мой, как же хорошо написано!

Мне серия Другие вся безумно нравится, и в этом отношении, Мир Других, ее спин-офф, от нее не отстает по интенсивности и атмосфере.

Сюжет крутится вокруг Джамбл, заброшенного санатория на земле терра индидженэ, который переходит к новой владелице, Вики, в качестве компансации после развода. Джамбл всегда служил школой для Других, учащей их как понимать людей и как с ними общаться, и терра индидженэ заинтересованы в его восстановлении.

Вики запуганная, кроткая женщина с очень низкой самооценкой и большими паническими атаками после многих лет унижения бывшим мужем. По словам вампира Ильи Сангвинати, она как раненное животное - прячет свои раны, чтобы не покать слабости, но от этого их только запускает. Она тяжело доверяется людям, однако гораздо легче ладит с Другими, которые постепенно сплачиваются в ее защиту.

Злодеи у Анн Бишоп всегда получаются превосходные, полные гордыни, чувства собственного превосходства и с полнейшим отсутствием эмпатии. Вот и в этот раз группа, пытающаяся отобрать Джамбл у Вики, совершенно слепа к тому, что того, во что они хотят превратить санаторий терра индидженэ никогда не допустит.

Короче, книга - как поезд, несущийся к обрыву. Понимаешь, что добром не закончится, а оторвать глаз невозможно. Злодеям противостоят полицейский Гримшоу, владелец книжного магазина и его бывший партнер, крутая хозяйка пансионата, Инэке и множество превосходно выписанных Других. Чего стоит одни Спройнгеры - мистические существа, улыбающиеся, хрустящие морковками и шпионящие за всей деревушкой!

Книга держит в напряжении до самого конца, который оказывается яростным, кровавым и беспощадным. Я читала с огромным удовольствием и жду продолжения с большим нетерпением, благо дело, оно выходит в следующем месяце.

Короче, читайте! Полный кайф.