Written in Red: A Novel of the Others Audiobook [Free Download by Trial]

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Silas Thayer
•October 30, 2023 at 3:19 am
Ever had that dream where you worked a full day, only to wake up and realize you had to work another full day? That's how I felt about this story. They laid out events so far in advance and in such detail that you pretty much knew what was going to happen, which made the actual events less enjoyable. The concept of "others" coexisting with humans in the same world was intriguing, but there were so many inconsistencies that it became a bit annoying. The "others" devoured human books, yet seemed clueless about basic human behavior and reactions. If I were suddenly dropped into Middle Earth, I wouldn't be questioning why hobbits don't wear shoes or why werewolves are surprised by human reactions all the time. I don't usually write reviews, but when all the reviews are overwhelmingly positive for a book that doesn't live up to the hype, I feel the need for some perspective. I bought this book during a sale after meticulously reading descriptions and reviews of over 200 books, and it made it into my final 20 purchases. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be about a person with an easy job and a pleasant personality. These two traits, which a majority of people possess, somehow made the "others" love her to the point of being willing to destroy a city for her. And the opposition? Complete idiots, even by idiot standards. I've never encountered such stupidity, and even if I thought for a moment they could've accomplished their mission, it would still be a poorly constructed novel. My guess is the author either worked for the postal service or had a fascination with supernatural beings, because they seemed to believe that delivering mail was so vital to the world that everyone adored the protagonist and would go to great lengths to protect her. Seriously? I'm sure this review will get buried, and I don't mean any harm to the author. I'm sure they put a lot of effort into world-building, but I'm not even sure what the story was truly about. Naive girl lucks into a job, performs it adequately, super beings are incredibly impressed, idiots try to capture her, super beings almost destroy a city for someone they just met... Is it a good plot or merely a daydream? Oh, and there's some drug subplot thrown in, probably to generate more book sales. If you have plenty of money and time to spare, go ahead and give the audiobook a listen. But if not, I'd recommend reading a few more reviews before making the purchase. And if you do end up buying it, I suggest listening at 1.25 or 1.5 speed. There's no way I could've made it through at regular speed.
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Bobbie Husak
•October 27, 2023 at 6:17 am
I was really intrigued by the plot, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to salvage this book for me. I couldn't make it past the first couple of chapters because I found the narrator's voice reminiscent of a kindergarten teacher reading from a textbook.
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Maryellen Crispin
•October 20, 2023 at 8:53 am
The main character, Meg, spends her days sorting mail in great detail, which is described extensively throughout the book. The author's obsession with winter and the constant action of taking off and putting on boots and wiping the floors is noticeable. The book delves into discussions about the weather, books from the library, and boxed lunches. While these details have a certain charm, they don't contribute much to the overall story and make it feel mundane and dull. The narrator's soothing voice initially creates a fairy tale-like atmosphere that is enjoyable in the first half of the book. However, as you progress, you start to wonder why nothing significant is happening and why the characters are not growing. Both the protagonist, Meg, and the "Other" characters lack depth and emotion, except for fear (Meg) and gruffness (wolves). The only character that evokes any feelings is a wolf cub named Sam, who shows some affection but not enough. The author's attempt to create innocence in the characters leaves them without any sense of leadership and results in an emotional stagnation in the story. The world-building is poorly executed, particularly when the Big Bad attacks at the end. The wolves, who are depicted as incredibly strong, are easily killed by bullets, raising questions about why other characters wouldn't arm themselves and wipe them out. Ultimately, the lack of character development and emotional depth left me feeling unsatisfied. I had hoped for some growth and a stronger connection, but it was not enough to convince me to continue with the series. If I'm going to spend time sorting mail, I'd prefer to be compensated for it.
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Signe M.
•October 17, 2023 at 9:47 am
What could have improved Written in Red?
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Dagmar Crolley
•October 11, 2023 at 6:22 pm
I only have one minor complaint, and that is I had to increase the speed of the narrator's voice. However, once I made that adjustment, everything was just fine. The story immediately captivates you and doesn't let go. Even after finishing the book, I can't stop thinking about the story and all the events that unfolded. I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the next book, and none of the other books I've listened to during the wait even come close in comparison. This is one audiobook you definitely won't regret.
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Valentine Rensing
•September 26, 2023 at 4:36 pm
I had a major issue with the audiobook narrator, so I recommend reading the physical book instead. The concepts in this story are innovative and unique, such as vampires transforming into smoke and seasons and weather personified as beings. When humans arrived on Thaisia, similar to North America, they had to submit to the Others, the indigenous inhabitants. The Others possess power over humans, which is a refreshing departure from the history of American Indians. The Others consist of animal shifters, elementals, and weather creatures. This book does not entail a romantic relationship. It is the first installment in a five-book series, and there is a possibility of a romance developing in later books. Book one focuses on Meg, a human with psychic abilities. Meg is on the run and seeks assistance from Simon, the leader of a group of Others. Simon allows her to stay with them, and the book concludes with a satisfying ending. Minor issues: 1. I feel apprehensive about this author because she killed off the heroine in another series. I hope she avoids doing something similar here. 2. There were instances where I wanted to see the bad guys suffer or be hurt when the good guys thwarted or stopped them. However, the bad guys seemed content and even found it advantageous. I found these moments unsatisfying. 3. During the climax of the story, the heroine makes foolish decisions that put her in danger. 4. Meg has a psychic vision that reveals the food is poisoned, but she fails to identify who administered the poison. I'm not fond of psychic visions that provide incomplete answers. Many authors resort to this convenient plot device. As for the audiobook narrator, Alexandra Harris possesses a pleasant and soothing voice. Her pacing and interpretation of characters were commendable. However, I couldn't tolerate her accent, which has a harsh twang reminiscent of the Oklahoma area. While I've enjoyed narrators with Southern accents in the past, this Southwest twang was unbearable. As an actress, I believe she should strive to speak with a more neutral accent. I would be interested in hearing her narrate other books without this accent. Here are some examples of her accent: "pitcher" pronounced as "picture," "propietor" pronounced as "proprietor," "figer" instead of "figure," "cusedy" instead of "custody," and "prolem" instead of "problem." Additionally, words like "dayown" and "tayown" lacked the pronounced "n" in contractions, making them sound like "coulded" and "woulded." Another problem I had was the service breathing, which was absent in the first half of the audiobook but became frequent in the latter half. I don't know if this was an editing issue or something else, but I hope the narrator resolves this problem in future recordings. Overall, the book is written in the third person narrative mode and falls within the paranormal fiction genre.
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Harland Munks
•September 24, 2023 at 7:54 am
I absolutely love this fantasy novel. However, I must say that the audio version doesn't quite live up to my expectations. The book has such a unique voice, but the narrator falls a bit flat. The only time she shows any real energy is when she decides to put some... let's say, interesting emphasis on specific words or syllables. Moreover, the accents she uses for the supporting characters are all over the place, jumping between different regions, and sometimes even changing within the same sentence.
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Faustina Loung
•September 22, 2023 at 10:54 am
Written in Red is a well-crafted urban fantasy set in an alternate universe or planet Earth. While it retains modern elements like cities and cars, it presents a unique cultural perspective and portrays humans in a supernatural world. The protagonist, Megan, manages to escape from the prison where she has been raised her entire life. In this facility, women with the ability to see the future are trained to serve those who profit from their visions. Megan is unaware of the outside world, except for the information her handlers deemed necessary for accurate prophecies. However, she must learn to survive on her own. Eventually, she finds refuge among the Others – werewolves, elementals, vampires, and more – who live in enclaves within human cities, but operate outside of human laws. Gaining their trust becomes crucial, as the powerful men who controlled her view her absence as a significant loss of investment and influence. Anne Bishop skillfully develops strong and consistent characters throughout the story. Rather than relying on common tropes, she introduces Meg as a deliberately uncomplicated character who manages to win over jaded individuals with her simplicity. Meg may lack formal education and life experience outside of her sheltered institution, but Bishop brings her to life with a sense of humanity. The reserved nature of the Others is also depicted effectively, without overwhelming the narrative with repetitive fish-out-of-water scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed this first installment of the series, where the non-action sequences are just as captivating as the thrilling fight scenes. The characters are fully realized, and the world-building is immersive. It is refreshing to encounter multi-dimensional characters who are not mere stereotypes. Additionally, the absence of instant love and the gradual development of a hinted-at romance, to be explored in future volumes, adds to the story's appeal. The narrator's performance in this audiobook is excellent.
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Written in Red: A Novel of the Others Audiobook [Free Download by Trial]

Written in Red: A Novel of the Others by Anne Bishop

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