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  • Written in Red

  • A Novel of the Others
  • By: Anne Bishop
  • Narrated by: Alexandra Harris
  • Length: 18 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (335 ratings)
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Written in Red cover art

Written in Red

By: Anne Bishop
Narrated by: Alexandra Harris
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Summary

No one creates realms like New York Times best-selling 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.

©2013 Anne Bishop (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Amazing...A compelling story set in a seamlessly crafted universe.” (Fresh Fiction)

“A stunningly original yarn, deeply imagined, beautifully articulated, and set forth in clean, limpid, sensual prose.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Bishop has a way of making your heart wrench with joy and pain within a breath.” (Fantasy Book Critic)

What listeners say about Written in Red

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

As `credit-worthy' as Audible suggested.

Where does Written in Red rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I bought this after seeing it recommended on a list of credit-worthy listens by Audible and was not disappointed. It is hard to find a fantasy story where both the author and narrator are as good as the standard here. I would personally class this story as a fantasy romance but don't be put off by that if you are not a romance fan because the romance is mild, while the story and characters are strong. I wasn't board once in eighteen and a half hours and will be buying the squeal if it also comes to Audible.

There are many things I like about this story. The fantasy universe is well realized. The author has merged aspects of quite dark subjects and characters, with aspects of almost child like wish fulfillment, providing something new and interesting for her readers. There are several interesting plot's converging in the book and the writing is of a good standard in all the things that are most important to me as a reader: characterization, imagery and plot.

The narrator is also excellent. Time and again I am put of wonderful stories by the grating and robotic tones of a narrator. Alexandra Harris on the other hand, tells the story in a lively and engaging manner, voicing the different parts for the characters. She is one of the few American narrators of a fantasy book that I would recommend and I only wish there where more like her.

Why isn't it a five? Partly it's a four because I'm comparing against my favorite authors like Terry Pratchett, Patrick Rothfuss and Anne McCaffrey and if I give this a five, I have nowhere to go for them.

DO NOT READ IF YOU WANT TO READ THIS STORY UNSPOILED.

Another reason I haven't given it a five star rating, is that there is a vast and interesting background plot which, if given more focus in this novel, would have greatly improved the story. Instead the author appears to have chosen to tell it over a series and the story looses a bit of momentum and potential because of that. Also, it has to be said that the heroine is the typical outcast who quickly brings anyone of importance round to caring for her, sacrificing some credibility and potentially interesting plot developments because of this.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Endearing story. Dreadful narration

An alternate Earth where shape shifting 'Earth Natives' tolerate humans - barely - until a special human with prophetic gifts stumbles into their lives.

The story has glaring gaps and is never going to win any literary prizes but the story is novel, if a bit predictable.

It's easy to love the characters and watching an impossible love story unfold will have you desperate for book 2.

The narration is dreadful. It spoils a lovely story. She pauses in the wrong places, puts emphases incorrectly so that the meaning becomes unclear. It also undermines the building of atmosphere and tension.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely Surprise

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this calm and smooth book - totally involving invented world. I didn't expect to like it but I loved it. I will now search for any other books I hope it's a series.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A YA book that works for older ones!

This is a YA book - that's not to say it isn't listenable to and enjoyable for a less than young adults, but it isn't a complex story, and can get a bit girly, with talk early on of "ponies tummies", and rather a lot of hot chocolate and cookie consumption, but these are minor complaints.
I was surprised to learn, a couple of hours or so in, that our heroine Meg is 25 (or maybe 24 - can't remember now) and not the 16 or 17 I'd assumed her to be. She is "read" very young by the narrator, and as the story progresses this apparent youth becomes understandable, but one of the "baddies" came over to me as about 18, while they were probably meant to be Meg's age or more, and they didn't have any reason to some across as a petulant teenager. So I grumbled my way through the first few hours of listening, feeling slightly misled over who the target audience for this book is, however... things got better!
This may be a straightforward and pretty predictable story, but it's also quite compelling once you get going. The world building is interesting and different, Meg is a good, kind, brave soul who grows on you - I was really rooting for her. The development of the relationship between her and the Others is allowed to progress slowly, showing the Others utter bewilderment at how to deal with humans, and Meg's complete lack of knowledge about human life in the real world. There's a host of supporting characters - decent human policemen, shifters of various species, vampires, elementals, the ponies (who have a darker side so aren't so cute after all) and Tess - and nobody knows what she is... The baddies are credible, and potentially quite nasty, although they stay mostly as shadowy background figures.
There are quite a few smile-out-loud moments, and I found myself impatient to get back to listening when I was otherwise engaged.
There's some swearing (the Others find swearing one of the few good things humans have thought up), some mention of sex, but nothing explicit and its all so vague you could easily miss it ("I'll let you do that thing you wanted to do last night" - if you have an adult take you fill in the gaps one way, if you don't ,you fill 'em another!), some violence and death - but again, nothing overt or nasty.
Well read, with the narrator managing to populate a wide cast. She gets a bit gruff when doing angry wolves, but what else could she do? There are a few jarring American pronunciations to my English ears, but not many.
The end leaves several (quite big) issues unresolved, so I imagine there's a sequel or two to come, and if the nasty, rather brutal Others become a tad nice and civilised rather quickly - responding to threats to withhold their cookies for heaven's sake - it doens't detract from what is a good, imaginative yarn about how plain honest-to-goodness decency wins through! I really enjoyed it and will look out for the sequel.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hooked already

What made the experience of listening to Written in Red the most enjoyable?

This is a fascinating story with twists and turns that keep you interested all the way through. Strong characters for you to identify with, looking forward to listening to the next book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hard to pick a favourite as they are all unique.

Which character – as performed by Alexandra Harris – was your favourite?

All of them

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Lives entwined

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • E
  • 07-12-14

A brave new take on the recent trend.

Where does Written in Red rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This has to be one of my favourite audiobooks so far.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The way Meg looks at the world around her is totally fresh. A child's innocence inside the body of an increasingly strong woman.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I must confess to a fear of small scurrying things but the reaction of Meg combined with the Others was hysterical.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Sam emerged in defence of Meg's use of the harness followed by Simon's joy at hearing his nephew's voice,

Any additional comments?

I had to purchase book two at full price because I was unable to wait three days for my new credits to arrive. I can't think of a greater recommendation.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

What made the experience of listening to Written in Red the most enjoyable?

The narrator fits the personality of the main character really well.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Written in Red?

When Meg stands her ground

What about Alexandra Harris’s performance did you like?

The narrator's voice is quite calming but it fits well with the main character and I got used to it.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I didn't find it massively emotional but I did enjoy it.

Any additional comments?

It was really nice to have a good urban fantasy where the romance takes a back seat.

I have also listened to the next in the series.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story and great narration

read the book and now have listen to the audio. The best book I ever read/listen to.

narration was great and the story was unique. it didn't move too fast or too slow.

love the characters and each of their personalities.

Definitely will recommend it for everyone to l
listen to this book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

loved it

I loved this and have listened to it repeatedly since I purchased it. I highly recommend the series so far.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

just brilliant

such a new and original . Good writing with excellent narration. hope more from the others will be coming soon

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