Written In Red (The Others #1) by Anne Bishop

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 1410 KB
Print Length: 448 pages
Publisher: Roc; 1 edition (5 Mar 2013)

Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
The Others #1

No one creates realms like New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop. Now in a thrilling new fantasy series, enter a world inhabited by the Others, unearthly entities—vampires and shape-shifters among them—who rule the Earth and whose prey are humans.

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.

Cover:  When I first saw this cover, I wasn't keen on it, but since reading it, I like it a lot more.  Not my favourite cover ever, but I like it.

I'm so glad my friend pestered me into reading this because I absolutely fell in love with this book.
It's fast paced, thrilling, and quite dark and bloody.  A hidden gem.
It revolves around shape-shifters and humans, the history of conflict between them, and bloodprophets.
Meg is a bloodprophet- a valuable commodity to the man or 'Controller' that owns her like property. Her blood can reveal prophecies people will pay a lot of money for, making him very wealthy, and making Meg a prisoner.
To reveal the prophecies, Meg's skin has to be cut, so that it will scar.
Immediately that's a pretty dark theme right there.
One night she escapes and seeks shelter with the terra indigiene- the shapeshifters. Their 'courtyard' is their territory and human law doesn't apply there- so Meg takes the Human Liason job, accepting mail and deliveries for the courtyard, so she's safe there- if she's not eaten first.
All of the different shifters were great- crows, hawks, wolves and more. At first they're wary of Meg, but it was amazing to see her win them all over and form friendships.
Simon Wolfgard is the leader of the courtyard. He hires Meg and is confused when she doesn't smell like prey. After a rocky start, a fledgling friendship is formed- especially after she helps bring his nephew Sam out of his shell. Sam was just so freaking adorable.
Simon was so interesting- he's never liked humans, even more so after his sister was murdered by them, but Meg starts to change his standpoint.
Meg was such a sweet character, but she had a backbone and had no worries about standing up to Simon.
I loved all the characters in this- even the bad guys in that love-to-hate-you-way.
Romance wise, there isn't any. But, I hope that there's something brewing between Meg and Simon. Fingers crossed.
Highly-HIGHLY- recommend this one. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I can't wait for book 2.
5/5 stars!