The Voice

Ephemera #2.5

by Anne Bishop

An original Ephemera novella from the New York Times bestselling author of the Novels of the Others.In a small village outside the city of Vision, the people know no sorrow or grief. But this seemingly idyllic community is hiding a terrible secret. As a young child, Nalah did not know why she was told to bring a cake to the mute girl known as the Voice whenever she was upset, only that doing so made her feel better. Now grown, Nalah understands the dark truth, and yearns to escape from the oppressive village that has been her life-long home. But it is only after visiting the city of Vision and discovering the Temple of Sorrow that Nalah understands what she must do to be free...  Includes a letter from the author and an excerpt of the Ephemera novel Bridge of Dreams

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Novella, Short Stories, Magic, Romance, Ebooks

49 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 6, 2012

About the author

Anne Bishop lives in upstate New York where she enjoys gardening, music, and writing dark, romantic stories. She is the author of over twenty novels, including the award-winning Black Jewels Trilogy. She has written a new series, the Others, which is an urban dark fantasy with a bit of a twist.

Crawford Award (2000)




Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[K.W. McCabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Voice by Anne Bishop: 5 out of 5 stars

There are very few times when I find a story so engrossing, so moving, that it urges me to emotion even after turning the last page. The Voice is one of those stories. I purchased The Voice on Amazon for $2.99 and, even though it was a short read- no longer than hour- it was worth every penny. I would purchase it again.

Anne Bishop's story is set in the world of Ephemera and tells the tale of Nalah and a mysterious figure in her town called The Voice. Nalah grows up in her small, isolated town not completely understanding why every time she has a "Moody Day," she must take a small cake to The Voice who eats it in front of her.

As she grows older, she discovers horrendous acts taken out on The Voice and her heart is moved to the point where she takes a journey to discover answers to the bitter secret her town holds. The answers she finds are the catalyst which pushes her to the brink of making the most important decision of her existence.

This tale is not a story for the weak of heart. Anne Bishop has a knack for tales which weave darkness and light; good and evil. This story brought me to the edge of my seat and beyond.

I highly recommend this story. If I had to buy this story all over again, I would.

[Patrícia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opinião do Blogue Chaise Longue: http://girlinchaiselongue.blogspot.pt...

Efémera é possivelmente o mundo menos amado de Anne mas não é de certeza, inferior ou menor que qualquer um dos outros. Pontes levam-nos onde o nosso coração pertence, mundos mudam de lugar, coisas surpreendentes podem aparecer quando menos esperámos e ao longo do caminho a nossa vontade pode ser decisiva para chegarmos onde queremos.
Sebastian e Belladonna são os livros onde podem encontrar este mundo. Livros independentes entre si mas que acabam por se entrelaçar pelas ligações das personagens e do passado e presente, os livros de Efémera trazem-nos um mundo diferente do das Jóias Negras mas não deixam de transmitir a obscuridade, a beleza e a profundidade que marcam a escrita de Bishop. Publicados em 2006 e 2007, respectivamente, aguardaram até ao ano passado para verem a sua história continuada nesta prequela, prequela que antecede o terceiro livro que continua as vidas de Sebastian, Belladonna e Lee.
Bridge of Dreams, que será publicado ainda este ano em Portugal, continua os acontecimentos de Belladonna e este conto A Voz é um antecedente para o que iremos encontrar no livro sobre Lee, o irmão da poderosa e incompreendida Belladonna, preparando-nos para futuras personagens e locais que iremos de certeza encontrar neste terceiro livro.
E se todas as mágoas e ansiedades podem ser apagadas com um gesto? E se oferecer um bolo a alguém nos fizesse ser felizes e esquecer tudo? Em Visão , uma aldeia perdida, uma jovem recebe oferendas diárias, oferendas que poupam ao ofertante maus dias e maus sentimentos mas nunca ninguém questionou a razão até que uma menina descobre o segredo tenebroso que vai mudar toda a sua vida. Nalah cresce com medo e apreensão, cresce a ver o verdadeiro interior dos que a rodeiam, cresce a sentir a raiva a aumentar dentro de si até que um dia sabe que pode fazer algo para mudar a sua vida, algo que a libertará do falso paraíso em que vive, que soltará das amarras de segredos doentios e sorrisos falsos.
Mesmo escrevendo um conto, Anne Bishop consegue esmerar-se e ultrapassar tudo o que já tenham lido, criando em poucas páginas algo que vos marca, que vos faz parar, algo que mais uma vez vos irá surpreender. A sua escrita continua igual, um misto de negritude com beleza, uma complexidade inata às suas histórias, uma violência escondida por um sorriso, uma doce aparência que esconde uma alma profunda. Pegando em algo simples, a autora cria um início cheio de tudo o que ela já nos habitou, um conto que todos podem ler mesmo os que não conhecem o mundo em que a história se insere.
Numa paisagem idílica, o seu fundo é podre, negro e todos fingem não ver os abusos que todos os dias são feitos em nome de todos, todos fingem não ver a dor e o sofrimento que um simples gesto provoca, todos fingem que nada há de errado. A hipocrisia que leva toda uma aldeia a causar mal é desculpada, diminuída até alguém se levantar e dos sonhos há muito quebrados e espezinhados surgir uma nova luz de esperança que poderá salvar as magoadas, as que vêem a verdade, as que sofrem pela ganância e sentimento de bem adulterado. Aqui fala-se de poupar a dor causando-a a outro mais fraco, sozinho, esquecido. Aqui fala-se da importância da aparência, de virar à cara aos gestos errados porque aquele é o melhor da aldeia. Aqui, encontrarão as verdades esquecidas das suas vestes e tiaras, aqui podemos ver o fundo sujo das almas simples.
Com personagens tão profundas como as que já nos habitou, Anne reconta mais uma vez temas que lhe são caros e mais uma vez é soberba no que escreve. Apesar do tamanho minúsculo do livro depois de o terminarem sentirão uma satisfação, uma calma que só autores assim conseguem construir. As dívidas são sempre pagas, e os males um dia podem encontrar uma força maior.
Mais um conto onde o talento de Bishop se esmera e assalta os nossos sentidos deixando a vontade de voltar àquele mundo e reencontrar algumas personagens, de as conhecer melhor, de saber o que lhes foi feito. Um conto que se lê numa hora e nos deixa fechar a última página com um sorriso de prazer.

[Chrissy Olinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a blatant Anne Bishop fangirl. The Voice was a mixed experience for me.

I very much liked that Bishop was making a commentary on voicelessness, abuse, subjection of women and others, and the subtle darkness hiding in the underbelly of even the most idyllic society. Hints of her Briarwood, from the Black Jewels novels, are definitely sprinkled here and there.

Bishop does shorts. In some cases brilliantly.

In this short I got a good dose of her voice and was quick to embrace her message. Where The Voice failed, at least for me, was in a tighter focus for the characters. I think if I had been able to stay zoned in on one protagonist without little side-trips-- or, perhaps, simply focused very much on the VOICE character and the young woman who brings her to us-- I would have been happy. I feel as though the narration would have felt more natural, as well.

As a result, I liked The Voice, but didn't love it.

[Vanessa Montês · Rating 5 out of 5]

(...)

Este é um livro que fala sobre a crueldade humana. Sobre a necessidade que temos de ser felizes e como por vezes fazemos outras pessoas infelizes para não sermos nós os azarentos. É um conto que acaba por ser como uma chapada na cara, pois a escrita crua mas ao mesmo tempo brilhante da autora não nos deixa largar esta história por mais cruel que ela seja. Temos um pouco de tudo na narrativa, desde infelicidade, crueldade e individualismo, a sentimentos mais positivos, como amor, apoio e aceitação. É um conto muito completo e que adorei. É sem dúvida uma premissa que teria pano para mangas, mas admito que gostei da forma como a autora deu um início, meio e fim à história sem adição de pormenores inúteis que não serviriam para nada. Centramos-nos mais na história e na verdadeira mensagem que a autora quer passar.

Um pequeno conto que me surpreendeu e que adorei!

Opinião completa em http://blocodedevaneios.blogspot.pt/2...

[Adeselna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review: http://illusionarypleasure.blogspot.p...

A Voz pode ser talvez um pouco underrated por parte dos leitores por ser um conto e não um romance, onde muitos julgam que o tema estaria mais desenvolvido, mas, na realidade, Bishop não precisava de mais espaço para o fazer. Nas 128 páginas que compõe a história, sentimos o sofrimento das personagens e a sua luta pela liberdade. Com os seus temas feministas, uma capacidade de contar história fantástica, "A Voz" é um convite maravilhoso de estreia ao resto do mundo de Ephémera do qual fazem parte "Belladonna" e Sebastian".

[Katrina]

At last, we see what became of one girl "Who Walked Away from Omelas." A touching allegory in the world of Ephemera that is simple yet powerful in the telling.

[keikii Eats Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

90 points/100 (4.75 stars/5)
Warning: Abuse!

Nalah's town has a mute orphan. An orphan everyone bakes cakes full of sorrow for her to eat and make their troubles go away. When Nalah is young, she learns the horrifying truth, and her life is never the same again.

Well, that was a truly horrifying tale. It shows the absolute depths humans will go in order to make themselves a tiny bit happy. It may also just show how horrible they become when they have nothing but happiness.

This was truly worth reading. While it is a part of the Ephemera series, you don't have to have read Ephemera. It is truly standalone. It has minimised the amount of the worldbuilding you have to know to just the basics. Yet, it is still introduced, and this could be read as an introduction to the series.

This is not a happy tale. This is a horrifying tale. And it is a great read.

To read more reviews in this series and others, check out keikii eats books!

[Holly Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I have ever read by this author, and it is a between the novels novella in the Ephemera series. I am looking forward to reading more both in this series and from this author. A quick short read about a girl who makes her own hope when everything in her village life seems hopeless.

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting little novella, haven't read anything else by Anne Bishop, and I realised that this novella fits into a larger series. I still enjoyed her writing style, and this particular story reminded me a bit of The Grace Year (a book I actually hated), but I still enjoyed this story because the adversary was real.

[TinaMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't a pretty story, it speaks of a girl who discovers someone is being abused and finding a way to save those she can. There is sexual abuse in this story for those who are sensitive to those things.

[Debrac2014 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful short story!

[Kateblue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story set in a fantasy world that sucked me in immediately and would not let me go. A young girl becomes aware of a great injustice in her small village.

[Alice - Sombra dos Livros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta foi uma das minhas primeiras leituras no meu Kobo e foi, tenho que confessar, a primeira coisa que consegui ler de fio a pavio em inglês. Na verdade, tinha algum medo de não conseguir alcançar o objectivo mas decidi comprar e tentar (afinal custou menos de 3€ na fnac!!) e valeu a pena. Tinha medo que a escrita da autora não fosse tão fácil ou fluída no original mas estava enganada. Foi fácil, muito agradável e rápido.

The Voice é uma noveleta do mundo de Efémera que pode perfeitamente ser lida por quem não está totalmente familiarizado com aquele mundo que muda consoante os desejos dos corações ou de acordo com aquilo que cada um merece. Na verdade, só já numa fase final desta noveleta nos deparamos com esse peculiar aspecto.

A maior parte desta narrativa é passada numa aldeia onde tudo parece idílico e os problemas se resolvem com um simples bolo. Quem nunca quis viver sem tristezas nem desgostos? Quem nunca sonhou ter apenas dias plenos de alegria, ou pelo menos de normalidade, dias agradáveis na sua vida? Pois nesta aldeia a solução para estes tão humanos e mundanos problemas foi encontrada. Cada vez que alguém esta a ter um dia mau ou é assaltado por uma súbita ansiedade ou problema, basta-lhe fazer um bolinho seguindo a receita e dirigir-se à casa da Voz que o comerá depois de sorrir. No fim, todos se levantam muito mais leves e felizes, prontos para continuar com os afazeres do dia. Mas será mesmo assim? Será que todos são felizes?

Aos dez anos, Nalah assiste a um episódio nada feliz - alguns rapazes correm atrás da Voz, molestando-a. No meio da confusão, o lenço que sempre lhe cobre a cabeça e o pescoço cai e o que está por baixo não são memórias felizes. Desde esse dia, Nalah evita levar bolinhos à Voz. Questiona-se sobre as origens da rapariga (origens que ninguém parece conhecer), sobre o passado e sobre a ética e rectidão da atitude geral de (literalmente) encher uma jovem com os problemas alheios, servindo-lhos num embrulho doce. Sim... Nalah acaba por descobrir como funcionam os bolinhos. Também descobre dúzias de segredos que não são assim tão secretos. Cada dia que passa faz com que se torne mais simples ver a hipocrisia que rege a sua aldeia e a verdadeira natureza de todos os seus habitantes, bem como dos anciãos que a regem. Todos estão dispostos a tudo para viver num lugar idílico e sem problemas de monta, dispostos a destruir completamente qualquer comportamento, ou pensamento, que não se encaixe nos padrões estipulados.

Ainda que toda a narrativa seja feita por Nalah, ficamos a conhecer as suas duas melhores amigas (e a vida delas) e outros personagens que vão ser cruciais no desfecho da estória. Não posso escrever muito sobre isso sem revelar o final e sem termos aqui grandes spoilers. Posso, isso sim, adiantar que a jovem vai desafiar as ideias impostas e confrontar o mundo que sempre conheceu. Nas personagens de Nalah, Kobrah e Tahnee vamos conhecer a personificação da revolta e de um espírito combativo que não aceita que lhe seja imposta uma realidade com a qual não concordam. O mundo lá fora rege-se por outras regras e ninguém deixa de ser quem é por carregar nos ombros um sentimento menos feliz.

The Voice é uma história de injustiça, de sonhos quebrados e concretizados, de ganância e hipocrisia mas também de amor e amizade que nada pede em troca; uma narrativa especial recheada de personagens fortes e com uma moral, uma ideia subjacente, que nos deixa a pensar no rumo do mundo e das nossas próprias vidas. Além disso, com Nalah e os segredos que ela descobre, Anne Bishop introduz, uma vez mais, temas que parecem ser-lhe caros - o abuso de jovens e mulheres, a violação, as dificuldades das vitimas em livrar-se dos seus opressores/agressores... Neste aspecto, a aldeia fez-me lembrar Briarwood do mundo das Jóias Negras.



Não posso publicar o post sem deixar de dizer o contente que fiquei com o destino dado ao vilão da trama. Bishop consegue sempre fazê-los sofrer na medida certa... :)

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting little short that takes us to a new part of Ephemera. I felt for the Voice and what she must have been suffering because of superstition/religion in a small town. I appreciated Nalah's growing awareness and how that affected her choices in life. This was a solid short that contains a really complete story introducing us to an area that will figure prominently in the third book in the series.

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Życie pełne smutku…

To, że uwielbiam twórczość Anne Bishop chyba już kiedyś pisałam, ale dla pewności przypominam. Właśnie z tego powodu pewnie nikogo nie zdziwię, że poniższa recenzja będzie daleka od narzekania, a bliższa do krótkiego hymnu pochwalnego. Dlaczego krótkiego? Ano dlatego, że sama recenzowana książka (właściwie to opowiadanie) ma niewiele ponad 60 stron. Mowa oczywiście o Głosie.

„W małej wiosce opodal miasta Wizja ludzie nie znają smutku ani rozpaczy. Ale ta na pozór idylliczna społeczność skrywa okropną tajemnicę. W dzieciństwie Nalah nie rozumiała, dlaczego zawsze gdy jest smutna, rodzice każą jej zanosić ciastka niemej dziewczynce nazywanej Głosem. Wiedziała tylko, że potem smutki znikają. Dopiero kiedy dorosła, odkryła mroczną prawdę, a wtedy zapragnęła uciec z wioski, która stała się dla niej więzieniem. Jednak dopiero po wizycie w Wizji, gdzie trafiła do Świątyni Smutku, pojęła, co musi uczynić, by w pełni odzyskać wolność…”

Opowiadanie zostało osadzone w uniwersum, które czytelnicy mogli poznać w powieściach wchodzących w skład trylogii Efemera. Początkowo miało zostać wydane jedynie w formie elektronicznej, jednak już pod pierwszymi zapowiedziami zaczęły pojawiać się komentarze od osób, które z chęcią poszerzyłyby swoją kolekcję powieści Bishop, także o Głos. Właśnie z tego powodu wydawnictwo Initium postanowiło jednak wyjść naprzeciw prośbom swoim odbiorcą, dzięki czemu teraz mogą się oni cieszyć papierowym wydaniem opowiadania, które zostało dodatkowo poszerzone o dwa pierwsze rozdziały najnowszej książki autorki – Pisane szkarłatem.

Muszę uczciwie powiedzieć, że autorka bardzo mnie zaskoczyła tym opowiadaniem. Można w nim znaleźć wszystko to co typowe w książkach autorki, ale jednocześnie Głos jest zupełnie inny niż pozostałe, dłuższe formy „popełnione” przez autorkę. Tym razem Bishop zrezygnowała ze znaczącego wątku miłosnego, który zawsze szedł w parze lub był konsekwencją wszystkimi wydarzeń rozgrywających się w opowiadanej historii. Tym razem postawiła na coś zupełnie innego, a mianowicie na tym jak ludzie potrafią zgnębić inną osobę aby tylko samemu wyratować się z opresji. Z całej krótkiej, acz treściwej historii przez cały czas jej trwania głównymi uczuciami wybijającymi się na wierzch jest żal, smutek i niemoc. Zresztą sami się o wszystkim przekonacie gdy sięgniecie po Głos.

Podsumowując. Autorka nawet w tak niewielkiej objętości pokazuje cały swój kunszt literacki. Bishop udowadnia, że nie ilość ale jakość jest najważniejsza. Polecam nie tylko fanom autorki, ale każdemu z osobna. Naprawdę warto.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loaded an epub reading app onto my phone in order to show it to a friend who is considering a new phone of her own and wants to make sure she has a good reading app. I needed to download something off my ebook collection in Dropbox as a demonstration. This one, being a short story and by an author close to the beginning of the alphabet, was the one I chose.

Of course, I needed to read some of the book to give an honest opinion on the app. And once I'd started, I kept on going and going. This was a really great little story and I'm sorry I left it so long. The premise turns out to be kind a nasty-creepy without the story being totally dragged down by it. Instead, it's about moving out of that bad place and trying for something better. Bishop excels at doing this, moving from one depth of grey to a lighter one, rather that being at such extremes at either end that the transition isn't believable.

I have the last Ephemera book on my Kindle, and while I don't know when I'll get to it, I certainly hope I do, as I expect I'll have the same surprise feeling of "oh, this is great, why didn't I read it sooner". But I've still got other things lined up to read first, so I don't know what'll actually happen.

Oh, it's a stand alone too. You don't need to have read Sebastian or Belladonna to enjoy this one. But those a good books too, so I'd suggest seriously considering it. You could even read this one first to get an introduction to the feel of the stories (the tale and locations are different, the mood and feel is the same) before deciding to read the others.

[Susana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Não posso mudar a minha aldeia. Mas salvei quem pude salvar.

Uma história que decorre no mundo Efémera, mais especificamente numa aldeia em que todas as mágoas de todos os habitantes são canalizadas _ por magia _ e "devoradas" por uma jovem.
Chamam-lhe a Voz, e retiraram-lhe quase tudo. A sua voz, aparência, liberdade...

Com este pequeno conto, Bishop relembra-nos que não é preciso salvar o mundo.
Basta salvar uma pessoa, para nos salvarmos a nós próprios.

No entanto, a caracterização das personagens neste conto é praticamente inexistente. Temos os "bons" e os "maus".
E depois, temos a "Voz". Uma de muitas...mas quem começou com tal barbárie? Quem teve poder para fazer tal coisa?
Para um conto tão pequeno, ficam muitas questões por responder, daí as minhas três estrelas.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bridge of Dreams introduced us to a group of fascinating new faces, including Shaman Danyal & Kobrah. The Voice gives us a little insight into their backstory. Reading Bridge of Dreams, you know Kobrah's history is bad. The Voice shows just how bad. We also get to know Danyal's niece, a truly brave and remarkable young woman who chooses to stand up for what's right and save those she can from the injustice a city has placed on them.

This novella is a good companion to the Ephemera stories and I hope Anne Bishop will allow us to learn more.

[Cátia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este pequeno livro leva-nos de novo ao mundo de Efémera, onde pontes nos levam até onde o nosso coração anseia estar.
Nalah vive numa pequena aldeia com uma tradição, sempre que alguém sente mágoa ou angústia confecciona um bolo azedo para levar à menina a quem chamam de "A Voz".
É mais um belo conto com os requintes a que Bishop já nos habituou.

[E_bookpushers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really need to learn not to read Anne Bishop at work. Her writing always gets me. Even when I am doing a re-read and the preview to Bridge of Dreams *shivers* I will need my lights on when I read that one.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but it ended really abruptly. It was like sleeping with a guy who is awesome at foreplay but rolls out of bed, gets dressed and leaves immediately post-climax.

[Tânia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting and dark novel set in the Ephemera world. It shares a very powerful message.

Tânia @MyLovelySecret

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this short story, and I can't wait to see how much of these character's we'll see in Bridge of Souls!

[K45ia89 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Choć jest to dodatek do cyklu Efemera, to nie trzeba znać serii, żeby go przeczytać. Ja nie znałam, a mimo to nie miałam problemu ze zrozumieniem stworzonego świata i co najważniejsze, pomimo że książka jest króciutka, to bardzo wciągająca.
Główna bohaterka Nalah opowiada nam swoją historię. O życiu w wiosce, gdzie nie zna się smutku, o smutkowych ciasteczkach, które się piecze jeśli ktoś ma gorszy dzień, a potem zanosi do dziewczynki zwanej Głosem, o Głosie która jest sierotą i nie może mówić, i wreszcie o prawdzie którą zaczęła dostrzegać i z czasem również rozumieć. To opowieść o tym jak Nalah zaczyna na nowo rozróżniać dobro od zła. O jej wyborach i decyzjach, niejednokrotnie bardzo odważnych a nawet ryzykownych. O jej niezwykłej sile, o którą chyba nawet ona sama się nie podejrzewała. Czytałam z zapartym tchem współodczuwając poniekąd jej smutek, zdenerwowanie, a w końcu ulgę. Opowiadanie jest krótkie ale poprowadzone w mistrzowski sposób.
Książka zawiera też dwa pierwsze rozdziały serii Inni. Powiem tylko, że choć obiecywałam sobie, że nie sięgnę po tą serię, to po przeczytaniu pierwszych stron już wiedziałam, że mogę swoje postanowienie wrzucić do kosza. Seria zapowiada się tak genialnie, że nie ma szans na wczytanie się w coś innego zanim nie pozna się dalszej części książki "Pisane Szkarłatem". Po prostu pokochałam tych bohaterów.

[Mitticus · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 haunted stars

They called her The Voice because she had none.

This is disturbing novella that inevitably reminds us of the short story The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

Despite being a fan of a good part of Bishop's novels, I was never attracted to this universe of Ephemera, and although I read this short story attracted, I think, by some comments out there, I can say that it is not necessary to have read the other books in the series, as it contains its own horror in itself. tho it ends in a more happy way.

There was no need for such things when a person had been silenced and could not voice her pain, when she had been kept uneducated so she could not give shape to her thoughts. When she was caged within her own flesh so that she couldn’t escape other kinds of cages.

[Josephine Santiago-Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving a voice to more than just sorrow

The first time I read this, I was enthralled, but didn’t really capture the nuances of the story. I absolutely love the Ephemera series, and Bridge Of Dreams is one of my favorites. Having read the whole Ephemera series, and then going back and rereading The Voice, I gasped to recognize Nalah, and, most especially, Kobrah. I understood so much better Kobrah’s trauma, and loved Daniel (the Shaman that is unnamed in The Voice) even more. You don’t need to read the Ephemera series to be able to enjoy The Voice as a stand-alone short story, but it helps you understand the characters better once you do. I absolutely love everything I’ve ever read that Anne Bishop has written. She has a delightfully wonderful way of making worlds.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I go back and read from time to time, and every time I do it is just as engaging as the last. You can feel the growing horror in the main character as she comes to realize what is actually happening in her little slice of "paradise", and can't help but root for her when she decides to make a run for it with those she loves, along with the victim of some of the most outrageous abuse she can even imagine.

Some of the challenges were a little too easy, like finding the horse that could take everyone away that just so happened to be left on its cart in just the right place, but the suspense remained, and seeing the Voice at the end of the book was such a breath of relief that it makes me smile every time.

[shunnaoaddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say I'm impressed. After reading Belladonna I was, like, UGH for Anne Bishop and that's unfortunate because on black friday I bought all of her books, so... But The Voice gave me hope. Much more than hope! It was beautifully written, nothing fanfiction-like about the story. Grown-up, mature.

And very, very triggering.

The story takes place in a small village where patriarchy is good and growing. I hated that place. But everything turns for the best. Girl power is the main focus of the story and it's written beautifully!

I absolutely reccomend, but with a warning. It's not an easy read.

[Lenora Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Voice, when it first came out. I was delighted to find it at the end of The Bridge in my version. Like another reviewer stated, reading it now, at the end, it held a lot more nuance. Meeting Nalah, Kobrah and the trauma she endured, the unnamed Shaman, Danyal who is prominent in Bridge of Dreams, and The Voice. This is a well-crafted, haunting story.

It can probably be read as a stand-alone, but I’d read it either at the beginning or ending of the trilogy, and it fleshes out some of the characters in the books.

Note to Anne Bishop: PLEASE write more Ephemera books. Please, please, please.

[Sarah A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remember that short story you had to read in high school, "Those Who Walk Away From Omelas" by Ursula LeGuin? I think everybody who reads that thinks about being the hero who would save that kid. This story is a very close mirror of the Omelas story, and I thought it was engaging and well written (Bishop has a good rhythm for character voices), but I think it takes away some of the power of that earlier piece. A happy ending isn't always possible, and it would have been a meatier story if it hadn't been tied up so prettily.