Lac argent

The World of the Others #1

by Anne Bishop, Sophie Barthélémy (Translator)

Le territoire contrôlé par les Autres – vampires, élémentaires et autres créatures surnaturelles encore plus redoutables – n'est pas soumis aux lois humaines, et nul ne devrait jamais l'oublier...

Après son divorce, Vicki DeVine a repris un vieil hôtel abandonné sur les rives du lac du Silence, dans un village où rien ne sépare les humains des Autres, les grands prédateurs qui règnent sur la majeure partie des terres émergées et des eaux de la planète. Dans un endroit dépourvu de frontières, nul n’est jamais sûr de qui l’observe, tapi dans l'ombre.

Vicki espérait reconstruire sa vie et démarrer une nouvelle carrière. Mais quand sa cliente, Aggie Crowe, découvre un homme assassiné, les ennuis commencent. Les policiers voient en Vicki une coupable idéale en dépit des indices montrant qu'aucun humain n'a pu commettre le crime. Tandis que Vicki et ses amis cherchent à découvrir la vérité, des forces anciennes s'éveillent, dérangées par l'agitation qui règne sur leur domaine. Elles ont édicté des règles, et ont tous les pouvoirs dévastateurs de la nature à leur disposition pour les faire respecter...

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Vampires, Audiobook, Shapeshifters, Fiction

428 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2018

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

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure that I would read this book because I was sorely disappointed in how Meg and Simon's story ended. We waited 5 books and only got a kiss? That pissed me off. Of course, one of the people who commented on my review of that book pretty much called me a sick pervert for wanting there to have been wolfy sex, so that was a bit of a consolation. I do love it when I can get people to hate on me when I write silly reviews as a hobby. Of course, I don't respond to trolls, because my sons would be disappointed in me (I guess it's an internet rule?), but I DO enjoy getting trolled. It always makes me laugh. I recently was told that I was an uneducated child. I like that. Made me feel young again.



When I decided to go ahead and read this one, I just went in with the expectation of NO romance. Then, I wouldn't be disappointed. And, it worked! I was able to just enjoy this world that I always find so charming. I don't know if it's the adorable animal critters, or the fact that they are also vicious killing machines, but the whole thing just makes me happy.



In this book we have Vicky, a human woman, who owns a campground with cabins on Lake Silence. She got this as a divorce settlement with her ex husband who verbally abused her. She's super damaged by her ex and can't stand the thought of ever having sex again, so Anne Bishop just immediately took that off the table. Even though Vicky is 30, divorced, and a business owner, she comes across as pretty naive. Like, where the hell has she been, under a rock somewhere? She even uses the expression "Golly" a lot. The last time I heard someone say "Golly" was when I stole that time-machine and went back to the black-and-white television days.



So, Vicky has definite vibes of Meg, who had actually never been outside before, which left me wondering at times if Vicky was a little slow. No judgement. But, well, okay, there was a little judgement.

And, well, you know how smart animals always seem to protect and help the "special" kids? Vicky has that going for her. The many shifters and other scary creatures around her feel protective of her. And, that means that when the bad guys show up to mess with her, they get hurt in new and interesting ways.


Fuck you, snail! My mom was just being friendly. Don't you dare slut-shame her!

Another POV is from a cop who has just been transferred to the town after Vicky finds a dead body. He is a good guy and trying to keep the peace between the others and the humans. He's a good character. He seems to have a slight interest in a boardinghouse owner who has multi-colored hair.

The guy who is interested in Vicky is a bookstore owner named Simon Julian. He is an intuit, meaning he's a psychic dude. He likes Vicky, but knows she is damaged.

Then, we have a gorgeous vampire guy named Ilya. He's a lawyer and you will love him. Much like you loved the vampire in the other books.

So, yeah, okay, maybe this isn't all that new and original compared to the first five books, but I liked it anyway. It had the familiarity of the first books with new things happening and new characters (well, new names at least). So, if you liked the first couple of books in this series, you will probably like this one too.

[carol. · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know how you feel when you eat too much candy? That’s how I felt reading this book. A blip of satisfaction followed by feeling really gross, and that I disappointed my brain.



This is a ridiculous, cheap knock-off of Written in Red, including inept heroine with abused background. However, instead of the developmental age-appropriate Meg, we get one adult divorced woman whose emotional insights are somewhat less profound: "He certainly was dishy, and I liked him a lot, like talking to him about books. Except for Ineke, he was the only close friend I had in Sproing, but I didn't want more than friendship from anyone who had a vigorous appendage, no matter how dishy he might be."

In a sign of devolving author finesse, we have a flagrant admission that men are the actors in this play: "He raised a hand. 'You eat and listen. I'll get this settled. And then we'll go back to the Jumble and take a look at the paperwork.
I noticed Julian took up a position behind me and a little to one side when the other men walked into the station. Officer Grimshaw took up a position at the far corner of the desk. And Ilya Sanguinati stood in front of the desk. It was like having a force field made out of male bodies."

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

But the writing! That's gotten even worse: "I wobbled my way to the bathroom. I had a low-grade headache and my stomach felt a little swoopy. Those might be symptoms of setting off the ow around my eye.
Remind me again: is she an adult?

Then there's the miles-wide plot hole that humanity just can't learn its lesson. Despite over half the continent being wiped out by the Elders, a group of human men (natch) have hatched a business scheme to take over some lakefront property and turn it into a ballin' resort. Just because the property is part of an agreement with the Others/Elders, why should they care? Why, there's millionaires everywhere you look, just dying to find some lakefront resort to while away the leisure hours in our strangely post-industrial society. Let's all pop into the local bank and check our safety deposit box for the deed, shall we?

My name is carol., and I am an Anne Bishop addict. I admit I am powerless over the world of the Others, even though it causes harm to my brain and my pocketbook.

[Nafeeza]

So there is going to be crossovers from my beloved characters right? Right!? Because I am not a happy camper if that is the last we will see of them with the way things ended.

[Nina]

February 8th, 2017
Seriously?
We'll only get the end of Meg and Simon...like that? *crying in the corner* Why? Why? I still have questions! It was five years, Ms. Bishop. Five years and still I'm not satisfied with their ending :( And I really thought book six will delve more into Meg and Simon. And the end of Meg and Simon couldn't be just like that *curling up and try not to cry*

Well, to be fair, I know Ms. Bishop will be able to make me love the new characters. But.........

[Em Lost In Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new cast and new place from what I have been reading in first five books. I took a lot of time to get used to the characters but Vicki is nowhere near Meg in her innocence. Being oblivious of outside world made story of Meg so excited but here it felt like Vicki was overdoing it. While this book was okayish but I kept thinking about Meghan & Co. Not a good sign.

[Corina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a re-read, and as expected, I ended up with the biggest book hangover after finishing Lake Silence and Crowbones.

I absolutely ADORE this series, and the characters from Sproing—huge love for them! ♡

___________________________________

Ever since binge-reading The Others series last year, I've been a massive fan of Anne Bishop. I’m a huge urban fantasy/fantasy fan, and with authors like Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, and Patricia Briggs already on my shelf, discovering Anne Bishop has been a delightful addition to my go-to list of authors in this genre.

Lake Silence, the 6th book in The Others series, takes place in the same world as books 1-5. It follows Vicki, a divorcee trying to rebuild a rustic resort she inherited as part of her divorce settlement.

At this point, I have to admit: whatever Anne Bishop writes, I’m in. Lake Silence just cemented that for me. It pulled me out of a reading slump and held me in its grip for an entire day. Yep, this was a one-sitting read—no distractions, no interruptions. I was in book heaven!

Anne Bishop has this rare ability to create vibrant, multifaceted characters, intricate story arcs, and a world brimming with magic and possibilities. Her writing pulls me in every time, and I can’t get enough. I’m not sure if Lake Silence is a standalone or the start of a new arc, but either way, I’m hooked.

Vicki felt so relatable—she’s just like you or me. A regular person who made the mistake of marrying the wrong guy. But what really stood out was how she handled life after her divorce. She’s open-minded, friendly, non-judgmental, and genuinely cares about the people she meets—human or not. That willingness to accept others is what sets her apart from the rest of the town, and the terra indigene definitely noticed.

As is typical in Anne Bishop’s novels, Vicki doesn’t get to choose her role. The terra indigene select her as their middlewoman, and that’s that. But it works. Her easygoing personality and hardworking nature make her the perfect bridge between humans and the terra indigene.

The interactions between Vicki, the humans, and the terra indigene are a perfect blend of humor, heart, and the kind of charm only Anne Bishop can deliver. Her storytelling is unique, enchanting, and completely immersive—every character feels alive, and you’ll find yourself coming back to these books year after year.

If you enjoy a captivating story where the dynamics between different species are at the heart of the plot, where characters do the right thing even if it might get them killed, and where the world is filled with creatures far more powerful—and far more dangerous—than you can imagine, then you’ll love this book. It’s a world where you’re at the mercy of forces that are as fierce as they are chilling, yet still capable of kindness. It’s a place where people trying to make a better life can find their place, and where that effort is nothing short of magical.

I could go on and on about this book, this series, and this author. But to sum it up: if you haven’t tried Anne Bishop yet, you absolutely should.

Her writing is top-notch, her storytelling is out of this world, and her characters will steal your heart from the very first page. Lake Silence is a tale of monsters, good and evil, greed, hope, and perseverance—what’s not to love?

___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

[Choko · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 4.25 ***

A buddy read with my Family @ BB&B Wednesday UF Group! Because we love The Others!!!

Another chapter in the tale of the World of The Others starts with this sixth book in the series. This time it is a mostly human settlement on the Lake Silence, and the recently divorced 30 year old Vicky DeVine. She has become the caregiver of a rustic resort on the lake, The Jumble, and her one and only lodger is the shapshifitng Crow -Guard Aggie Crowe. Although all humans in the aria are aware they share their land with The Others, most of them believe they have never seen one of Them around ever. The big happenings all over the continent of last year, when the Elders, the scariest and most secretive creatures of the local Others, had flexed some muscle and reminded everyone who is the boss, humans with their innate ability to minimize the important things and rely on their self-importance and arrogance once again try to establish a position of power in the most sneaky ways they could, since an all out confrontation would only end up badly...

"... “Talking about us and them is part of what caused the trouble and got a lot of people killed in the past year.” ..."

Until the morning Vicky finds Aggie trying to microwave a human eye for breakfast, she had had no idea Aggie was one of the Others. She has to put her surprise aside and call the authorities, since the aforementioned eye is apparently a part of a dead body. A very good-looking human Highway Patrol officer and temporary Chief of Police for the Sproing community, Wayne Grimshaw is a very cool player, quickly establishing that they are dealing with something that is upsetting the local monsters. This is never good for the human citizens and he can only hope a swift solution could be found. Fortunately, an old buddy of his rookie police years is the owner of the "LetUs Read" book store on the main street. Julian Farrow is a retired cop, dew to being beaten within inch of his life while on duty. He is slightly intuitive and after the trauma of his experience he found this small town and stayed so he could be far away from the troubles of the bigger cities. Vicky is his friend and it seems that the trouble is somehow connected with her and some buddies of her ex-husband. The stress of it all gets to both of them and they have to find strength in themselves and each-other in order to get through it. Lucky for them, the community of Others likes them and takes their side, so all those who might think them ill had better beware!!!

Aggie and Ilya Sanguinaty, Vicky's vampire attorney and owner of most of the property in the town, we had met in the first five books, but here they pop-out and make themselves well known and loved by the reader. Aggie and the little Sproinger creatures, after whom the town is named, give the soul and charm to the story. However, AB is a very natural and sensitive storyteller and I think if you like her style of writing, you would not be disappointed. Another very pleasant and enticing story by an already proven to be a great author! I did not miss Meg and the Wolfs, because I was comfortable with the way their story was completed. I am very happy to be in the same world but with a different settlement and new characters to love and hate!

"... “The other thing I realized by the end of the evening was that humans and the Others did have one thing in common—we both had a love for, and fascination with, stories. I learned that every form of terra indigene had its own teaching stories as well as stories that were the repository of their history and connection to the world. And they all had stories that were told for the fun of it.”..."

Now I wish you all Happy Reading and many more wonderful books to come!!!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vicki DeVine took one thing away from her divorce, the Jumble a resort on Lake Silence. Unused for years, Vicki renovates it and opens its cabins for rent. Her first resident is Aggie Crowe, an Other.

When Aggie finds a dead body, Vicki calls the human authorities. This brings the human authorities onto the Jumble, were Vicki quickly learns is an Other’s domain. Someone is after the Jumble and Vicki will do whatever she can to keep the Jumble and the inhabitants (the Others) safe. With her actions she quickly secures the respect and devotion of the Others.

Veering away from a story based in the Lakeside Courtyard with Meg, Cassandra Sangue, and Simon Wolfgard, as leads, Bishop delves in with a collection of fresh new characters, a few unfamiliar Other species we haven’t seen before and a riveting tale that will have you mystified. Don’t fret, Vicki, coming out of an abusive marriage and learning to stand on her own, is an outstanding, warm-hearted, and as genuine as the come; a lead you can really get behind. I have to admit I'm loving this new direction.

There is something about Anne Bishop's writing and The Others world that she has created that completely captivates me! Utterly Enthralling! It is one of the reads that you want to lock yourself away from the real world so nothing can distract you from immersing yourself deep into the story-telling.

When I finished Lake Silence, I immediately re-read the entire series ending with a second reading of Lake Silence, YES, it is that GOOD!

I received this ARC copy of Lake Silence from Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review. Lake Silence is set for publication Mar. 6, 2018.

My Rating: 5 stars FAVORITE
Written by: Anne Bishop
Series: World of the Others, The
Sequence in Series: Book 1
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Ace
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
Genre: Dark Fantasy | Paranormal

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lake Silence was surprisingly good. Not that I didn’t think Anne Bishop could write another great book. But I was surprised how much I liked it after spending 5 books with other characters and then completely shifting to an entirely new cast. The reason was that everything felt familiar if slightly different, like a trip to your favorite store in a different state.



Vicky is working on bringing a run down resort next to the wild back into being a viable business. It was the only thing she got out of the mess of a marriage she used to be in and she is beyond determined to make it work. The only problem is the girl heating up an eyeball in the microwave and the dead body it came from. Now there are all kinds of people in town asking questions and some are trying to push Vicky of the cottages so they can move their own people in.

As is usual for the Others series this involves a few good Humans, lot of bad ones and The Others who will need to remind the bad humans again that they are not the top predators of the land.

I liked spreading out into this world to meet a few new characters and some new Others as well. Vicky is broken in a lot of ways but it is great to see her be brave, to protect those around her and to try and reforge her life. She has been told for so long that she is worthless and ugly that she has believed it and I like that part of her isn’t fixed all at once but is a gradual transition as she becomes more confident in herself.

The other main human players are Julian and intuit that runs the bookstore in town and Grimshaw the loner good cop that gets pulled into the murder mess and is trying to make sure no one takes advantage of the sleepy little town so close to the wild. I appreciated that Julian’s character is a mirror to Vicky’s in some ways. She is scarred on the inside and Julian is scarred on the outside.

Then Julian stepped forward and looked at Vicki. “We are among friends who don’t judge us by how we look but by who we are, right?” He didn’t wait for an answer. He shrugged out of the shirt, tossed it toward blankets spread out on the sand, and walked into the water—knees, thighs, waist. Then he dove under.

Both of them have their own demons to conquer from their pasts and they have a good friendship that I’m hoping with grow into more with some time to heal. Julian being and intuit should help that, he seems to know just how far Vicky is ready to go right now and he seems like a patient man who will wait for the right time.

The Others of this area were pretty cool, the Lady of the Lake especially and I loved how she was described. Of coarse the members of the Crowguard were fantastic as per usual and just as much help getting into trouble as out of it. The fire elemental we meet is also a very cool addition to the story and a reminder why we should always play nice with the elementals. The Sproingers (in my head they are like a smaller fluffier kangaroo) were adorable and I loved how they are probably the gossipmongers of the sleepy little town and have their paws on the pulse of everything.

There are a few references to the characters we know from the first five books of the series but not direct contact in the story. I miss Meg, Simon and Sam so hopefully we see them again in some other books of the series. This is not a story you can go into without spending some time in this world even thought the character list is new. This is definitely a continuation of the prior books and should be read in order for the more enjoyment of it.

[ELLIAS (elliasreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

REREAD DECEMBER 2020

THIS WAS STILL SO FUCKING FUNNY!!

4.5 STARS

_______

READ MARCH 2018

NOT TO BE DRAMATIC OR ANYTHING BUT THIS BOOK WAS A GODDAMN WELCOME BACK PRESENT TO ME AND I LOVED EVERY SINGLE DELICIOUS BIT OF IT.

Lake Silence is the sixth book in, The Others series, but an almost completely different book with a whole new cast of characters-- a spinoff.

The fifth book in the series, Etched in Bone, left a little to be desired, especially when I wanted more of the world and characters after being invested in them for like FIVE FUCKING BOOKS AND FIVE YEARS.

But even though I wanted to go back to the familiar faces and places I fell in love with, Lake Silence was a great addition to the family. What I wasn't expecting, however, was the fucking humor; it was amazing and great and I loved it so, so much.

I hope this isn't the last we see of these characters; they're too important to easily forget about and I don't want to let go of this dangerous and terrible world, just yet.

4 WICKED STARS
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube |


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Do you know this feeling: when another book unexpectedly comes out in a series you thought ended? And a cover has already been revealed?? And a blurb???

AN ACTUAL BOOK COMING OUT NEXT YEAR??????!

Well that so called 'FEELING', is ME. MEEEEEEEE.

I'M SCREAMING.

F YES.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Berkley/Ace/Daw and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'd like to start with a cheer! I am SO glad that Anne Bishop was able to continue writing in the world of the Others. The first five books are stories surrounding Lakeside and involving Simon Wolfgard and Meg Corbyn, cassandra sangue. And they're fantastic. Book six, Lake Silence, picks up with a new set of characters in a new area of the world. This time, we're following a regular human, Vicki DeVine, who just happens to get thrust into the limelight in the small town she moved to in order to start over. Her abusive ex-husband left her some seemingly worthless property in the small town of Sproing as part of the divorce, and she has moved to the Jumble to fix up the cabins and get it ready for visitors. Little does she know, she's about to be embroiled in a battle for the future of the town between the Others and a shady group of sociopathic ambitious business people.

The cast of characters was great, but it did take some getting used to after five books of Lakeside and falling in love with that cast.

I won't spoil any more, but it's a great expansion of the world we've experienced for five prior books, and the characters are entertaining. A few of them felt a little like carbon copies of some of the first series' characters, but as they go along, they get more fleshed out.

All in all, I'm excited about reading more in this world, and can't wait for what comes next for Vicki and friends.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review to come.

Previous thoughts:
6/21/17 edit- oh hey look, a cover.

3/11/17 edit- so there's a description now. After Etched in Bone I'm not all that excited for this. I'll give it a chance though.



I thought #5 was the last one in this series? Maybe it's just the last of Meg's story ... ?

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting addition to the world of the Others. It had a lonely feel of not quite a mystery, not quite literary fiction, just of a woman alone out in a wooded community. A bit different from her previous books in the series, although we do get to experience the Others, which is always a treat. Greedily hoping to see a teeny bit of Meg and Simon in the next books :)

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full review is here on my blog.

I really, really like the world of The Others, so naturally when this popped up on NetGalley, I was more than happy to send in a request for it. This one is a spin-off of the first five books in the series. It takes place in the same world but a different part of it with different characters.

We start out meeting Vicki, a woman who recently went through a very nasty divorce after 10 years of terrible marriage. She has taken over control of a camping resort in the Finger Lakes, specifically on Lake Silence, called the Jumble which used to belong to her ex-husband’s family and was left to her in the divorce. When her one lodger, a woman named Aggie Crowe, finds a dead body, all kinds of shenanigans start.

Now, just to warn you… This might be mildly spoilery. I’m not usually spoilery, but to really illustrate why this is a 2 star book for me, I’m going to explain a bit.

I’m not sure if I can put my thoughts together adequately about this one, but there was a lot of stuff about this book that disappointed me. It certainly kept me reading, and I continue to love the world of the Others, but I didn’t really latch on to this one like I was hoping I would. The terra indigine are a really interesting part of this world, and that hasn’t changed, with them being both the ‘good guys’ (usually, in some fashion) and also terrifying. I am especially a fan of the Sanguinati, this world’s version of vampires. They’re very old world, but often the most relatable of the Others, and Ilya Sanguinati, this novel’s best example, was fun to read about.

Vicki DeVine, a woman with an eye-rollingly terrible name who comments more than once about how she is nothing like what her name implies she would be, wasn’t my favorite character. Not least favorite, but just sort of meh. I kind of wanted her to succeed after learning about how she was treated by her husband for ten years, but at the same time, I think I expected her to be something she really wasn’t. She very much comes across as being a fairly standard archetype of the ‘dark and troubled past’ trope.

Vicki’s past has left her pretty broken, and she suffers from some legit anxieties because of it (which I can relate to – in fact it was rather difficult for me to get through some of the anxiety-laden parts because the symptoms were described in a way that I can really relate to). Even despite that, humans are prey in this world, and despite being very, very vulnerable at times, Vicki is an exception to that, and for nearly half this book, the reason why (and at least there is a reason for it) isn’t really apparent. So, all you know from the beginning is that Vicki isn’t cassandra sangue, but regardless, the Others don’t consider her prey, and they just take a shine to her from the very beginning, despite not really knowing who she is. Suddenly, she’s got vampire lawyers and accountants, Bear and Cougar bodyguards, a host of Others who want her to read them stories, and watery ponies eating from her refrigerator. In this respect, she very much seemed like ‘Not-Meg-but-actually-really-Meg’ to me.

Vicki seemed off the get-go to be very ‘vulnerable female main character with sobby backstory full of physical and emotional abuse from male character who is obviously the bad guy here blahdiblah’, and as a character, she seemed rather… like Meg but with a different name and slightly different backstory. I had a hard time staying engaged with her parts of the story because of it. Especially given the fact that she really only gets her anxiety around men who she considers to have – and I quote – a ‘vigorous appendage.’ Given the history, I understand the fear, and the anxiety, but really? Vigorous appendage? Gods above and below. Past the obvious, whatever that is supposed to really mean was inconsequential, as it made me roll my eyes every time, which was counterproductive to feeling for the character I was supposed to feel for in the way I was probably expected to feel for her.

Every antagonist in this book is so over-the-top sleazy that it’s comical at times. The Tie Clip Club. A secret society so ridiculous that the people investigating them named them the Tie Clip Club in lieu of whatever they’re actually named, only to have us find out that they’re actually named the Tie Clip Club. Really? Sigh… okay, I’ll roll with it, I guess. >.> So, we have a group of shady businessmen who either verbally abuse, grope, or fat-shame every protagonist at every opportunity… who then they start trying to undermine the rules placed by the terra indigine. Despite being warned. Repeatedly. And then are totally taken aback when things start going crazy. Okay, I’m reaching my level of believing motivations here. You guys lived through the events of the first five books. You know what happened. You’re supposed to be clever, and this is just idiocy at this point. These guys are clearly just bad for the sake of badness and do only bad things because they’re bad. Ugh. The antagonist of Etched in Bone was bad for the sake of bad in this same way, and it was annoying and ruined much that book for me, but even despite that happening again, can I please just have Meg and Simon back? PLEASE?!

It also didn’t help all of this that out of multiple POVs, only Vicki’s POV is told in first person, while everyone else’s is third person. Not a huge deal, but still, something I noticed as kind of weird and out of place.

So, with all that said, the background characters are what kept me reading this one. Other characters in this book are, at times, pretty interesting. Ilya Sanguinati and his suave vampiric attorney Otherness being just a part of it. He’s obviously a bit over the top himself (and Vicki makes sure we know it by mentally swooning over her ‘yummy attorney’ at every opportunity), but is awfully endearing, just like Vlad was. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Sanguinati, I guess.

Aggie Crowe, the lodger of the Jumble, is a pretty fun character. I have always quite liked the idea of the Crowgard. Jenni Crowgard was one of my favorite background characters from the first five books. We start out the book with Vicki finding out Aggie’s true nature as one of the Others because Aggie is attempting to microwave an eyeball (they get squooshy when they’re cold, apparently). Vicki is quite surprised at at the revelation, which (again) made my eyes roll slightly because… well, she lives in a world where people have been known to change into Crows. The Crowgard seem pretty common, actually. Are you that surprised that someone with the word Crow in their name is Crowgard? Really? I’d be suspicious AF of anyone with any animal in their name, just on principle. Perhaps that’s just me? But, anyway, Aggie herself was a fun character to read about. I think having a Crowgard as a friend would be awesome. Well, any terra indigine friend would probably be pretty badass if we’re honest here.

There’s also Julian Farrow, who is a former cop, owner of the local book store (there has to be one, obviously, and I’m okay with it) and an Intuit (people in this world who have sort of a sixth sense.). He was pretty interesting, as was Wayne Grimshaw, the local cop who gets called into the dead body situation and sticks around after that to serve as the village’s police chief. Grimshaw and Julian knew each other while they were in police academy, so there’s a bit of history there too, and their relationship was actually one of my favorite things about this book.

So, to sum this all up, while I thought it was a decent enough read to finish it, there were a lot of things about the story and its main character that either made my eyes roll or made me stop with a ‘wait, what?’. While it wasn’t a constant feeling, it happened often enough to make me disappointed in the whole thing, if I’m honest. It almost felt like a hastily put together plan to revisit Thaisia that ended up being mostly fluff. A completely fluffy side-story for the fans of the Others, but with little substance. There are references to characters from the first books, but no real cameos (which is fine, because I have moved on). This one doesn’t go into any more detail about Meg and Simon’s relationship either, so, sorry to everyone looking forward to this one just for the hope of that, lol. It honestly just fell flat for me, which is a shame. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t really like it either. I won’t give up on the Others though. Perhaps this was just a one-off. I will not give up on you, terra indigine!

I’d like to thank the author as well as Berkley via NetGalley for the review copy.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review now posted!

I love this series so much. And this installment didn't disappoint.

I can’t even tell you how long it’s been since a book legitimately caused me to lose sleep, or consumed my thoughts to such extremes that I became poor company because literally all I wanted to do was read and read and read some more. That used to be my standard mode of operation when reading anything, but for the past several months even the best of books haven’t been able to elicit this type of response. I’ve been reading responsibly, able to put a book down to hold a discussion or do work, for far too long. I missed being completely absorbed by and addicted to a book.

But guess what?! I finally succumbed to book addiction again, and I enjoyed every second of it. I absolutely loved The Others series by Anne Bishop, and was sad when it came to an end. Imagine my delight upon hearing that she was working on more stories in that world, just with a different cast of characters. I was incredibly excited to revisit a world I love, but also hesitant to venture back into it without the cast of characters I had embraced. I needn’t have worried. If anything, being introduced to a new cast of characters was refreshing, and I came to love them as much as the original cast. We get more of the terra indigene, more of the Sanguinati, more of the Elementals and Elders. We see life in a small lake town instead of in the heart of a city. We see a normal human woman working to overcome her demons and build a new life for herself in the midst of the Others. And it was all absolutely wonderful.

Anne Bishop does a good job of creating main characters who are strong women and good men, as I saw mentioned in an article about this series. But she also does a great job with her villains. Unlike a lot of popular fiction now, Bishop’s good guys and bad guys are always clearly cast in black and white instead of gray, which is honestly kind of a nice break from the moral ambiguity that defines so much modern fiction. But my favorite aspect of this series remains the Others, in all their various forms. I love how their presence changes how humans live their lives.

My second favorite thing about this series is the writing. It’s incredibly simplistic, but purposefully so. The simple prose lends a childlikeness to the characters, which is both appropriate in regard to how the Others live and define the interaction of humans, and an interesting contrast to the brutality inflicted upon those who cross the Others. There is something about the counterbalance of the innocent tone of the prose and the brutal violence often found in the pages that just works incredibly well.

To the best of my knowledge, these new novels in The Others series will be standalones in other locations in this world, taking place after the events of Etched in Bone (book 5). I don’t know how often characters will cross over, or how often places will be revisited, but I honestly am okay with however Bishop decides to carry on. The world she created is rich in lore and possibilities, and I can’t wait to see where she takes us next!

Original review can be found at Booknest.

[P.C. Cast · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another installment in Bishop's brilliant world of The Others. This one doesn't follow Meg and Simon (though they are mentioned), but you will love the new characters (Vicki! Aggie!) and the new types of Elders are intriguing. Bishop world builds like the expert she is - every detail is in perfect place. You do not need to read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one, but you'll definitely be enticed to pick them up as well. Highly recommend!!

[Deborah Obida · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it! The only thing I don’t like about this book is the protagonist’s similarities to Meg, she is the worse version of Meg, fat, anxiety issues, no confidence and a host of other issues.

Apart from the above, this book is as good as the previous in the series. Good writing, the usual multiple POVs, amazing characters and the like.

Am not surprise, Anne Bishop is yet to disappoint me, I can’t wait for the next book in the series, I wish it could feature Simon and Meg in a few pages.

I like all the Others in this book, Aggie a Crowgard, Conan a Beargard, Cougar a Panthergard, Ilya and Natasha, both Sanguinati, some Elementals and Elders.


“Do the Sanguinati have trouble with mosquitoes?”
“You mean, do the big bloodsuckers get pestered by the little bloodsuckers?”

The Human characters ain’t bad either, except Vicki the protagonist, Julian, Grimshaw, even the villains are cool.

[Douglas Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find it hard to review the books of this series because I have fallen in love with this world and the people that populate it to the point where I am not sure I am writing an unbiased review anymore. It still feels like I am reading a genre that is only populated by this series.

The writing alone is so exceptional that it pulls you in from the first page, I was addicted by the 15% mark and the story was revealed a bit at a time so you got to know the good, the bad and the Others a bit more intimately than before since in this book you are introduced to a new host of characters to love.

I have to say I was disappointed when I heard we were leaving the Lakeside community behind and all the wonderful characters we had come to know and was sure it would not be a good series without them ……. I was wrong.

In Sproing (no that is not mis-spelled and named after rabbit looking creatures that are probably NOT what they seem) we have an almost clear landscape for Ms Bishop to paint new stories in words and she gives us a bevy of new characters to root for or hate and the ever-present Others and we get to meet a few Elders (sort of) and our first male Elemental that we get just enough page time of to make me wonder if we shall see more of him in future books.

One of the few complaints I heard about the previous books was the romance or to be more exact, the lack thereof, this book is much the same, she plays with the reader to the point you are not sure if there is a small love triangle or just 3 people who become good friends as the story progresses. It worked wonderfully for me since I am curious to see if anything happens in that area in future books (assuming we stay in this locality for future novels). NOTE: As with Simon Wolfgard in Lakeside I get the vibe that perhaps down the road Ilya Sanguinati may be more involved with our heroine than at present but that is just my own imagination possibly but he is a true enigma in this novel as a bit Hannible Lector and White Knight wrapped up together with a positive result.

There are many mysteries and twists that you don’t see coming and I loved it all, but since I am a confirmed revenge-junkie, justice is served in a manner that put me into my happy dance.

Just for basic info we have a fairly large cast of characters but the plot revolves around these 4 mainly (bad guys not included):

Victoria “Vicky” DeVine – The slightly plump and mentally abused by her ex-husband for over a decade before getting a divorce and moving to Sproing to rebuild/manage The Jumble, a bit of a vacation cabin establishment.

Officer Wayne Grimshaw – Highway Patrol and temporary Chief of Police for Sproing (friend to almost everyone and really believes the “Serve & Protect” mantra)

Julian Farrow – Former cop, current owner of the local bookstore and keeper of a lot of secrets about himself.

Ilya Sanguinati – “Other” Attorney and seemingly mover and shaker for everything that goes on if he wishes to be. Only answers to the “Elders”

And as always, when I finished that line came to mind:

“So good I needed a cigarette when I finished”

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this was disappointing.
I was excited to get this. I've been waiting for it for months.
It finally arrives.
And it's basically fan service.
It's a victory lap.

It was moderately entertaining in the same way playing Solitaire on the computer is moderately entertaining. I mean you wouldn't give up dinner with friends for it but it beats working. I'll read book two and hope for the best.

(edit)

Upped my rating from 2 Stars to 3 Stars. Maybe because I waited so long for this book I lifted my expectations and when it turned out to be OK but not great that manifested itself in the low rating.

[Scottsdale Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vicki has moved to a small town and dedicated her life to renovating an inn formerly owned by her husband’s family in an effort to forget her abusive marriage. A dead body that turns up soon shows that Vicki is much more important than she thinks, especially in her ability to get along with the terre indigene, the shapeshifters whose connection to humans is fragile and frequently marked with bloodshed.

This is the 6th book in The Others series and introduces many new characters along with a few peripheral characters from the earlier 5 novels. Bishop is excellent at world building and building suspense as we slowly learn the truth about the body, Vicki’s former marriage, her new role at the inn and the very high costs of disturbing the locals.

The best part of these novels is always learning more about the terre indigene and their relationship with the various humans they interact with. They are fully realized individuals and range from the cute local creatures called sproingers to the terrifying Elders and Elementals.
It is not necessary to read the first 5 novels to enjoy this one as there is enough explanation to determine what is going on.

I highly recommend them, though, if you’d like to read more about the Others and their world after finishing this novel. – Lynn H.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book and it was a good entry into a new series with The Others.

[★Tinja★✮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this but I hate the lack of romance in these books. Ugh why !!!?


I need some kissy kissy in my books damnit

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thrilled to visit the world of The Others again with Lake Silence, but was a little unsure if I’d like it as much as the previous books that centered on Meg and Simon, and the Lakeside Courtyard residents. I will say that Meg and Simon continue to be my favorite, because, hello, romance junkie here, but Lake Silence was captivating! And there is a hint of a romance to come. Wasn’t sure if this was going to be a standalone, but I just checked and there’s another book coming, so yay! Maybe I will get my romance after all.

So the story centers on Vicki, a recent divorcee who acquired a lakeside lodge in her divorce settlement, The Jumble. Along with The Jumble, she has access to a prime lakeside beach on Lake Silence. The Jumble is located in the Wild Country, smack in the middle of The Others’ territory. Vicki’s very respectful of the terms of the land lease, and building restrictions while renovating, which is something that’s noticed and appreciated by The Others who live all around her. Not that she realizes all this at first.

Vicki’s ex-husband is a real piece of work with nefarious plans and he starts to set these in motion. Also, Vicki’s lodger, Aggie Crow, finds a dead body on the property, and this really sets the story into motion.

Officer Wayne Grimshaw, a highway patrolman, is sent up to The Jumble to investigate and becomes embroiled in the whole mess, and temporarily stationed in Sproing, the little town adjacent to The Jumble. There’s also Julian, an Intuit, and previous policeman who worked with Grimshaw, and several other interesting and fun characters. Aggie, Vicki’s lodger and member of the Crowgard. Ineke, the boardinghouse owner, and kick-ass friend of Vicki; Ilya Sanguinati, a scary, but “yummy” attorney, and many more. All play a vital role in Vicki’s new exciting life.

I think Vicki’s story sort of echoed bits of Meg’s story in the first books, where a human settles in with The Others and because of her courage, acceptance of The Others, kindness, and lack of prejudice, is taken under the wing (s) of The Others she comes in contact with.

Vicki finds herself in a heap of trouble and bullied by a group of men, that include her dirtbag of an ex-husband, who want to take over her property. I was so thrilled when The Others took up for her, much to the surprise of the horrible, scheming men, who’ll stop at nothing to get there way. Gotta say, I was so very nervous for Vicki on more than one occasion!

The story took a little bit to get into, but that wasn’t surprising with a new cast of characters and new location, but reading the previous books made it easy to slide in and get comfortable. I didn’t want to put the book down, not even when driving on some windy roads. I was on vacation, visiting wineries while reading, and didn’t want to get car sick, so I purchased the audio version, so I didn’t have to stop the story! My husband also became riveted to the story while I had it playing in the car.

Loved Lake Silence and I can’t wait to continue with another adventure in the next book!

A copy was kindly provided by Ace via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review is also posted at The Readers Den.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

I have been in love with Simon, Meg, Vlad, Tessa and all the vanguard in the Others series since the very first book and when Simon and Meg's journey ended at book five, I wasn't ready to say goodbye to them. I don't think anyone that has read the magical, slightly horrifying world that Bishop has created in the Others, was. How can one ever be ready to say goodbye to beloved characters?
Finding out book six would be a spin off of this amazing world was both a delight, elating and a bit terrifying.

How could I possible relinquish control of this amazing world to a different set of characters in a different part of the world that Bishop had us all both fearing and loving?

To say I was a little scared was an understatement.

With trepidation I opened Lake Silence and with a deep breath, a bag of chocolate near me and a blanket to snuggle up with, I took the plunge...slowly. A toe at first and then, yep, I was hooked and I jumped right in the rest of the way. All the apprehension and fear gone as I was once again immersed in this utterly terrifying and yet fascinating world.

I loved seeing some old faces and getting a lot of new ones. Even after my initial reaction of wanting this to be about the Others I already knew and loved, it really was so nice to see some fresh faces and more importantly to learn more about the Elders! I'm so glad that we really get to see these glimpses of more of what the Others are and how they think and feel about each other and humans. This was by far one of the more detailed and maybe even more interesting looks into how their hierarchy works and functions.

All in all, I am once again hooked and can't wait for more.


*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Yodamom · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5- audiobook
Excellent narration
I didn't expect to enjoy this spin off. I thought the series would fall into dullsville without Meg and the pack. I was wrong! I didn't even miss her I was so wrapped up in these newish characters (a few came from the original series)and their section of the world. There are so many new beings, my favorite had to be the Sproings I pictured them as a Porg (Star Wars) like beastie, so cute. The vampire, who happened to be a lawyer, a double blood sucker was acknowledged as yummy. Finally they get some love. Vicki, is the main character, she moved to Sproing after a nasty divorce from a total tool of a semi man. She got a piece of land form the divorce decree with some cabins on it she rebuilt and rents for a living. Everything is going well till her ex tool husband and some of his greedy non environmental friends try to take it away from her. There is the easy way death, but there is also a lot of sneaky excellence going on with twists and turns that had me cheering loudly. The rules were simple, but some humans just can't follow the rules even to save their own greedy useless lives.

[Mitticus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread agosto 2021

2021 3.7 stars
2018 3 stars

I'm sorry carol, but this made laugh (always, always a plus) 3 times , so I'm rising this to 3.7 stars.


Don't mind me , I just here for the slaughter ;)


I ♥ SPROINGERS





De todos los libros de la serie The Others, este era del que menos me acordaba, de hecho se me habia borrado virtualmente todo. Pero principalmente, y aparte de mostrar una vez más la estupidez humana, es de una mujer que lidia con el trauma del maltrato mental y emocional de su marido, y aunque no nombra a su padres, lo más probable es que venga de un hogar asi, por su baja estima. Viene de un mal divorcio

The fact that it took him a decade to realize I was five foot four and plump instead of a five-foot-ten pole dancer with big tits was confusing. But once he made that discovery, he decided that he needed someone who would stand by him, and that would not be me.


y el marido le deja The Jumble, que es una patata caliente que ha estado en la familia de él por generaciones, lo que no le cuenta es que es tierra de los terra indegena (aunque eso sale en los documentos), los edificios son de la familia /caretaker , pero no se puede aumentar terrenos ni agrandarlos los edificios ni hacer el super spa con que sueñan los inversores que vienen despues queriendo deshacer el trato y hacerse con un terrenito en uno de los lagos .

When a place has no boundaries, you never really know what’s out there watching you.
[...] but even though the village lost about a quarter of its residents because of last summer’s Great Predation, everyone still wanted to believe that the Others were Out There and didn’t find us interesting enough — or bothersome enough — to hunt down and have as snacks.
---
[...]that made me wonder if everyone had missed the obvious when stores ran out of condiments like ketchup and hot sauce some weekends — and whether a run on ketchup and hot sauce coincided with people disappearing.

Tambien trato un poco del PSTD de un expolicia, que tiene que ver con sus compañeros queriendo matarlo por no ser corrupto.

Estoy de acuerdo en que se favorecen las heroinas simples o inocentonas hasta ingenuotas, pero parece que su cerebro es más apto para aceptar a los Otros, que necesitan de alguien que las cuide, de preferencia un abogado yummy sanguinetti (aunque no haya romantico ni sexual en el asunto), pero en este momento esto no me importa . De hecho lo que más quisiera es tomar prestado varios de los elders y elementales para darles una leccion a los politicos de aca

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiack...



asi que debo confirmar que , en efecto, los humanos nunca aprenden.

Bueno, algo que debo comentar relevante a este libro es que creo que un superuso del factor "premonicion", o sea, con Meg ella era speshul (de hecho todava lo es para la mayoria de los Otros, más que las otras profetas de sangre), si hasta Vicki tiene sueños que significan algo y ponen sobreaviso que algo malo va a pasar, creo que se sobreutiliza esto paranormal elemento en las novelas.

---------------------
original cuasi review

Don’t let paved streets and storefronts fool you, Wayne. This is the wild country, and all of us are prey.”

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I miss Meg? Did I miss Simon? Nah, just like I predicted: I'm howling with joy!

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled that the author continued writing in the world of the Others because I definitely wasn't ready to say good-bye to the series. This is a different setting within the world and a different cast of characters. I didn't mind that since the author had introduced other settings and characters in the earlier Lakeside series arc. A murder and a plotting group of humans made for an exciting new series story.

Lake Silence is the sixth of The Others series and the first of the World of the Others continuation. It's tricky to say whether it can make a good place to jump in or not. In one sense, its a new story arc, new setting, and new characters so its very much a doable thing to jump in here. However, the reference to other places, the blood prophets, the Humans First and Last, and the war between humans and the Others are what are at the foundation understanding of this next series arc so missing all that means missing some big pieces in understanding.

The story starts out on a gritty amusing note when Vickie's boarder proves she's not human at the same time a murder is discovered. This sets in motion a chain of events for several people: Vickie the downtrodden new owner of a dilapidated resort property on Lake Silence that she got in her divorce, Officer Grimshaw who doesn't want to deal with people though he wants to serve and protect, Julian the mysterious bookstore owner who came to the small village out in the Wild Country for peace, Ilya Sanguinati who is the Others administrator of this village of humans and now has to come forward out of the shadows when human mischief arises to distract the Others' plans, and Aggie, the Crow who moved into the cabin at Vickie's resort and has enjoyed learning human ways from the crime show and thriller book-reading Vickie.

Alongside this group who just want to figure out what is happening and set things straight so they can get on with living, there is a group of greedy humans who have a greedy plan of their own and will stop at nothing to achieve it. They think they can outsmart the Others and they know they can cow the fragile, panic attack ridden resort owner.

Lake Silence, like the rest of the series, builds slowly and had the job of introductions. But, while it got rolling, intense incidents were taking place and building the suspense of the story. Vickie was terribly abused by her ex and never got help for it. He never physically abused, but emotionally and mentally ripped her apart and made her buy into his version of her- an overweight dolt who is incapable and weak. I was angered and sad for her. Her weakened mental state when it comes to fear of men and struggles with self-esteem are extreme, but she had a better support unit of humans and Others around her to help her cope and heal. I did feel that she needed professional help, but there were hints that Ilya was on that for her.

Vickie was the focus, but there were actually a few main characters to add their perspective to the story which I appreciated. It was fun getting to know the Sanguinati and Crowgard better through Ilya and Aggie's points of view. I liked that Julian was Intuit and Grimshaw was fun to me in his gruff, crabby 'I hate dealing with people problems' way.

The villains were properly vile and I was so impatient for the Elders and Elementals and lesser Others to help them meet a bad end. Humans can be so arrogant and obtuse about who are really at the top of the food chain even after empirical proof was given them.

It got exciting and twisting there in the last quarter of the story and I was flipping pages madly. But, in the end, I felt like I do when a book is at the beginning of a series. It finished up all the immediate plot threads with no cliffhangers, but didn't have a standalone feeling either. However, I know that the next book moves to a new setting, new characters, and new plot so I do have a little disappointment in that minor nagging feeling of needing more with the Lake Silence people. On the other hand, I will be simply grateful to be getting more stories in this world. Period.

This is only my second opportunity to listen to the audio of this series and I was just as enamored as ever by Alexandra Harris' fabulous work narrating this story. She had a large cast of characters and several narrators both male and female which he deftly handled. I love what she brings to a story.

So, Lake Silence built and built into a riveting story that I was not ready to put down when it finished. I am still amazed with the Others world and can highly recommend this alternate earth urban fantasy series.

[Paige Bookdragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT WAS SO BLOODY GOOD I CAN'T EVEN

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabolous beginning!

When Meg and Simon's arc was done, I was so sad to see one of my favorite series EVER come to an end. So many of the characters had endeared themselves into my heart but Anne Bishop knew she had gold in her hands (or I should say in her brain) and she was willing to continue the series to the great happiness of this reader.

I have anxiously been waiting for Lake Silence, a continuation of the same world with different main characters. My first shock was that the main character is nothing like I thought she was going to be. Next, the main three characters are all human. So different than life in the Lakeside Courtyard!

When a woman named Vicki DeVine obtains a property, The Jumble in Lake Silence as part of her divorce, she pours all of her energy, resources, and money into fixing the resort to open it up to the public. Now, the property is in a town not controlled by humans but by the Others. Vicki has been careful about following the rules and so far she only has one guest, Aggie Crowe. Soon after, Vicki discovers that Aggie is not human. When a dead body is found close to her place, and detectives come asking questions, Vicki's anxiety and distress escalate. Thankfully, she will get the help of many new friends: humans and non-humans too.

I was completely lost in the story. I loved Vicki, her sense of humor, her innate understanding of how to handle the Others without trying. In a way, she exudes the same innocence that Meg had. As with Meg, the Others take an unusual interest in Vicki and her protection becomes a priority.

"he was so yummy. And really, what's a pint or two of blood between a girl and her attorney when she gets to have her neck nibbled by that mouth."

What was not to like? I enjoyed it all! Love the new characters and the plotline. In the end, Julian Farrow, Officer Wayne Grimshaw, Aiden, Robert "Cougar" Panthera, Conan Bearguard, Ilya and Natasha Sanguinati, Ineke Xavier and her family, The lady of the Lake, the ponies, all contributed to the success of the story.

I wanted the Others to grab the bad humans and destroy them. Yes, I was clamoring for the Terra Indigene type of justice.

"So they're what, the world's hitmen?

I'm dying to read the next book in this series. I hope a year goes by fast.

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs



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