"Vision in Silver (The Others #3)" by Anne Bishop

This review features a book that is the third in The Others series, and may have spoilers for those who have not read Written in Red and Murder of Crows. My review of the first book can be found here.

During the last book, I felt that all of the action was very anti-climactic- I knew Meg and Simon would be safe, so it wasn't a very interesting read for me. With this book, that certainty of safety was whisked away, and in its place doubts began to grow. Ultimately, this was a much better book for me due to the presence of those doubts.

I've been waiting (and waiting, and waiting) to get this book at a decent price so I could read it- and it doesn't disappoint. Usually I build my expectations up so much during the anticipation of waiting for it (and salivating as I stroke the cover with my cursor while watching someone else read it on Goodreads), that the book can't ever reach the heights I've predicted. This one took me by surprise on several occasions- maybe because I've forgotten some of the plot points of the previous books (though I never forget the Wolf puppies), or maybe because the characters are becoming more dynamic in their roles.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'The Others freed the cassandra sangue to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.
'Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.
'For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…'

The cassandra sangue have been freed, but they haven't been freed from their addiction. Where things seem to come much easier for Meg, they struggle- and so it becomes Meg's job to be their role model, and help find ways to help them cope. Meg as a character doesn't feel like leader material- over the past few books, she's evolved to be stronger, but by no means is she completely well-adjusted. I think that's why she's such a remarkable heroine- where many authors choose to make their protagonists invulnerable, Meg isn't that type of woman. It's easy for me to see pieces of my younger (and much less confident) self in her.

Beyond the characters, this book has the continuing darker undertones of the series. It's difficult to describe without spoiling, but things are even worse than they seemed in the previous book. Sometimes you get fooled into a false sense of security with authors' foreshadowing and perspective changes, and I feel that may be what is happening with this book.... but then again, I've been played a fool by authors' conniving plot twists before.

Vision in Silver is much better than Murder of Crows, but it doesn't quite hit the heights of the first book for me (still not enough Wolf puppies). I enjoyed the evolving relationship of Meg and Simon, but let's be honest: in which book haven't I enjoyed that??? Anne Bishop has done a spectacular job with a slow-building relationship, which contributes to a large part of my love of this series. All I know is, I can't wait to read the next book, Marked in the Flesh.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for a third book that exceeds the sequel!

Content: Ages 16+ for violence, cutting, and inhumanity.

Page Count: 493 pages in my mass market paperback edition.