Review: Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

Vision in Silver (The Others #3) by Anne Bishop
Publisher: Penguin Group
Publication date: March 3rd 2015
My rating:  5 stars 
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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… 

My Thoughts:

I’m sad after finishing Visions of Silver because I truly didn’t want the book to end!  I kept thinking “nooooo” as I saw the percentage on my Kindle climbing to 100.  I have to say this is my favorite fantasy series out there to date.  This installment was very much about Monty and his daughter Lizzy, and the changing relationship between terra indigene and humans. 

As we know from the previous books, Elayne, Monty’s former lover, had taken up with Nicolas Scratch, prominent spokesperson of Humans First and Last and this becomes very important to the events that play out in Vision in Silver.  HFL’s movement stirs up much hate towards the terra indigene and forms a divisive line between the humans who are friendly towards terra indigene and those who are not. 

The lines between humans and terra indigene in the Lakeside Courtyard, on the other hand, have become blurred. Now instead of thinking of them as just “clever meat”, they’re viewed as members of their human pack, or Meg’s human pack, affording them consideration and protection.   These changes in attitude are thanks to Meg, she’s the catalyst, “The Trailblazer” in a new friendship forming between the two kinds.

Living outside of an institutionalized situation is also becoming an issue with the rescued Cassandra Sangue girls, as well as Meg.  The outside world can easily overwhelm these girls to a dangerous level.  But because Meg is a little more self-aware and been on the outside longer, she’s able to recognize triggers that set these girls on edge.

There are so many aspects to this series I love to think about, like the “verbal hierarchy” The Others used to indicate the degree of interaction with an individual: they’d use the Lizzy to indicate more of an outsider, or worse that Lizzy to indicate a human they didn’t like. As soon as humans became closer they became just Lizzy or in the case of Meg where there’s special affection and possession assigned, our Meg. The interactions between the humans and terra indigene in the Lakeside Courtyard continue to be fascinating and hilarious at times.

Of course the development of the romance between Simon and Meg continues to be my favorite part of the story.  Simon and Meg are very new to the dynamics of a romantic relationship (not that they actually know they’re in one) and so some of their feelings take a while click.  It’s very entertaining to witness the light coming on.  

Things are coming to a head with the humans and the terra indigene, especially in regards to the powerful, more dangerous, wild forms of terra indigene.  They are for the moment quietly sitting back and watching all the interactions, but could very quickly step in and wipe out all the humans if they become more of a threat. 

It’s hard to properly express how special and unique this series is. All I can say is if you haven’t picked it up, you are definitely missing out!