Written in Red (The Others #1) by Anne Bishop

The Others rule the world; werewolves, vampires and more police the humans – and if the humans break the rules, the Elementals let rip. Entire cities have been wiped off the map when the Others have felt humans have stepped over the line. Humanity lives in a precious balance, maintained only by placating the Others

Meg is human and a fugitive. Hunted for her unique abilities she finds refuge in the one place humans have to tread carefully – a Courtyard, an Other’s community. Settling into the role as human Liaison she has a lot to learn from her sheltered life while she and Simon, the community leader, try to work together and she learns how to live with the savage and strange Others

But the ones hunting Meg are willing to risk everything to get her back – including the apocalyptic wrath of the Others

This is going to be one of those reviews where I keep having to come back to it to describe something else that is awesome, like a kind of highly excited monkey with attention deficit disorder – all the while smiling that very silly wide grin I get when a book turned out to be unexpectedly awesome

And it was, awesome – in so many ways.

Firstly, the concept. There are many books out there with mankind and the supernatural at war. Many with the supernatural hiding from mankind. Many with the supernatural being seen as dark and evil or scary. But this is the first book I’ve read where the supernatural unabashedly rules mankind! The Others control the world, humanity exists on sufferance. If humanity screws up, it gets eaten. If humanity hurts the Others, they get exterminated. If humanity is too much of a nuisance, they will be rendered extinct. The Others more than have the power to do it. The Others are also more than willing to do it – and humanity knows this.

This creates a fascinatingly unique world with appeasement as a constant worry for humanity. It’s reflected in the Others as well – humans are meat to them. Food. An irritant. Several times it seems they’re looking for an excuse and they definitely have little to no compassion for humanity and no tolerance or mercy for any who break their rules. They’re ruthless, they’re lethal, they’re terrifying – and the idea of them being romantic is pretty laughable. The whole world is dark, always on the edge of massive destruction with a constant pall of fear cast over everything.

Over this excellent new world we have some truly awesome characters – including making savage monsters thoroughly likeable, immensely relatable and great fun. While at the same time never losing sight of the fact they ARE savage monsters who are happy to wipe out entire cities if they are suitably provoked.

Revolution, Season Two, Episode Twelve: Captain Trips

The crew has arrived back at Willoughby to discover that Charlie and Gene are missing. Connor is quick to snark about the humble surroundings he now finds himself in.  Miles notes that Charlie and Gene's things are missing. They all head out and stumble across the tent city which has been created to deal with outbreak. When they see Gene chatting with Truman, Monroe snarks about how quick Gene switched sides.  Miles looks through binoculars and spots Charlie.   Rachel notices that the tents are quarantine tents and the people are wearing masks.  As they continue to watch, a wagon rushes in with a new patient and Gene and Charlie run to help.  The patient is taken into a tent and Gene starts to initiate medical care.  The man quickly dies, as Gene works furiously to save him.

Gene heads out to see Truman and demands to know when the medicine is getting there.  Truman says three days and Gene is not at all pleased.  Truman says that they are in this together because his men might possibly die alongside the residents.

On the hill, Rachel says that they have to get down there.  Miles is quick to offer up Connor because know one knows him but Connor makes it clear that he is not walking into a plague.  Rachel says that because charlie and Gene are at risk, she is the one who is going to go.  Rachel puts on a mask and slips in with a group of residents to enter the camp.  For someone so highly recognizable, she is able to slip in awfully easily.  Rachel makes her way to Charlie and Gene and Gene confirms that they are in the middle of an outbreak which is just getting started.  Rachel asks about Aaron but before either Gene or Charlie can respond, Truman approaches.  Truman immediately demands to know where Miles and Aaron are and Rachel lies and says that she came alone.  Gene tells Truman that if he really wants to stop the outbreak that he needs Rachel's help, then he reminds Truman that they are in this together.  Truman consents but promises Rachel that when this is over, they are going to have a chat. 

Julia and Neville meet at the Washington memorial. Neville tells Julia that her new husband has Jason in captivity.  Julia asks where but Neville does not know.  Neville says that if Jason breaks, he will tell the patriots everything about them.  Julia makes it clear that she does not care about any of that and is only interested in freeing their son.  Neville tells Julia that she is the best chance they have because her husband is pulling the strings and then leaves.

We get a flashback to two years after the blackout.  Jason is very sick and Neville promises to find some food.  Julia makes it clear that if he isn't successful, Jason will die.  Neville makes his way to a campsite where two men are roasting meat and are surrouned by canned goods.  Neville explains that his son is sick and starving but the men declare that they only have enough food for themselves.  Neville argues that people used to help people and then he draws a knife on the men.  He is quickly overpowered and then beaten by the both of them for his trouble.

In present day,  Gene walks into a tent where Rachel asks him when he slept last.  Rachel and Gene talk about the disease being typhus.  Gene explains that the symptoms match but that the disease is not running the way it should. Gene adds that they are losing people by the hour and that this is exactly like how he lost his wife.  Rachel comforts her father and promises that they will figure this out.

Aaron looks for Grace only to discover that she left him and Priscilla a Dear John letter.  When Aaron turns he discovers that the nanos have appeared to him in the form of Cynthia.  The nanos tell him that he has to face it.  Aaron tells the nanos that they don't get to look like Cynthia.  The nanos then ask if Aaron has ever been to Lubbock Texas, which has the largest concrete cowboy. Aaron asks where the nanos went and they claim that they didn't go anywhere because they are in everything.  The nanos tells Aaron that all of his questions will be answered in Lubbock Texas and that if he doesn't leave, Aaron and Priscilla will be in danger. Aaron asks from who but the nano does not answer. Priscilla appears and asks who Aaron was talking to.

Charlie walks into the morgue tent and draws a sample of blood from one of the dead.   Charlie gives the sample to Rachel, who immediately begins to work with it.   Rachel heads outside to find Gene and tells him that blood tests reveals that this is not a naturally occurring typhus and that it was made in a lab. Rachel suggests that the Patriots started this outbreak on purpose.  They walk through the camp and Gene has doubts about Truman wanting to wipe out the town.  Gene asks how they stop it and Rachel suggests that the Patriots have a cure and a vaccine.  Gene says that he thinks he knows where they would keep it.  Rachel hangs white sheets which signals the cavalry that she has left them a note.

Dracula, Season One, Episode Ten: Let There Be Light

Mina hears a man announcing that Grayson will have a display of clean wireless electricity.  She pauses to look down at her own personal invitation.

Greyson is staring at the criptic when Renfield intrudes to tell him that Van Helsing is there for his shot.  They meet down in the cellar and begin to discuss the drop in the price of  oil when their experiment is proven.  They bicker about the plan and Greyson declares he is the reason the plan is back on track.  Greyson then brings up Brownings children and Van Helsing does not give a direct answer.

Lucy has taken to her bed and when the shutters are opened, she demands that they are closed.  Her mother offers to call a doctor but Lucy begs that no doctor be called.  She is already very pale and clearly in the throes of transition.

Mina heads to Harker's house to return the necklace he gave her.  Harker refuses it saying that he could never bare to see it on anyone else.  Harker brings up Greyson and warns that he made him do things.  Harker begs Mina to swear that she does not love Grayson, but she does not answer.

Greyson and Renfield arrive with all pomp and circumstance at the demonstration.  Greyson asks about Harker and Renfield says that they have not been able to locate him. Greyson demands that when Harker is found, he is to be brought directly to him.

Lady Jane introduces the new seer Loiza Scaverra to her fellow huntsmen.  The huntsmen quickly gather around Scaverra, as he unpacks the blood of Christ - the most sacred weapon in Christendom. Lady Jane announces that Scaverra will use the blood to locate the nests and then the huntsmen will split up and systematically hunt the vampires.  They are to fire one flare to indicate a kill.  Lady Jane does a great job of rallying her fellow huntsmen.

Harker arrives at the demonstration and is confronted by Grayson.  Harker admits to killing Davenport saying he didn't know what came over him.  Grayson orders Harker to pull himself together and tells him to put everything else aside and trust him completely.  Grayson says that Harker must act completely normal.  Harker agrees to follow Grayson's lead.  Grayson tells Harker that if he can get through this day, then he will be fine. Grayson then sends Harker off to work.

Loiza Scaverra is deep in a trance and announces that there are so many vampires.  Lady Jane gets an address and sends off a team of huntsmen to do the deed.  The huntsmen arrive at an older building, kick in the door and quickly kill two vampires.   They fire off two flares as a signal for Lady Jane.

Browning gets a message and announces that he has to leave, just as Lady Jane is informed of the death of two vampires.

Greyson if off to himself deep in thought, when Renfield approaches to ask if something is wrong.  Greyson replies tht death is coming. Harker interrupts with men from the press asking to photograph the resonator. Greyson quickly agrees to their request.  When they leave, Greyson tells Harker that he is not pleased with his behaviour and orders him to pull himself together.  The moment Harker leaves, Greyson demands that Renfield track down Van Helsing because apparently something doesn't feel right.

Browing returns home and is informed by his maid that he has received a package. It seems that  Mrs. Browning opened a ransom letter which came with a finger and a threat to cut off something new each day until the demands are met.  Mrs.Browning screams, blaming her husband and demanding that he find their children.

Van Helsing is at work burning papers.  He quickly  moves from that to trashing his own lab. Renfield walks in and sees the destruction.  Renfield demands to know what is going on and Van Helsing blows him off at first, then stabs Renfield in the stomach. Renfield grabs Van Helsing by the throat and Van Helsing stabs him several times announcing that he has no more need for Grayson now and therefore; like Grayson, Renfield will never walk in the sun again.

While Grayson is busy giving an interview to the press, someone is inside tampering with the equipment.  Kowalski walks around he factory for a final inspection and finds the saboteur. Harker runs interference for them saying that they're photographers.  Harker walks the men out and learns that they have set up the machine to explode.  Harker is shocked because he had expected a simple malfunction.  I don't know why Harker is shocked by this because Browning made his intentions more than clear. Harker realises that this will put Mina in jeopardy and quickly rushes to her home, only to find her gone. Mina is arriving at the factory.

Browning arrives alone with a bag at the cottage where Van Helsing is keeping his children captive. He enters and calls out for his children and is quickly attacked from behind by Van Helsing.  Van Helsing holds a knife to Brownings throat and disarms him.  Van Helsing lights a hurricane lamp and asks Browning if he recognizes him.  It seems that Browning has no memory of him, so Van Helsing introduces himself and reminds Browning of the fact that he slaughtered his entire family. This does not jog Browning's memory as he has apparently been guilty of a lot of slaughter. Van Helsing calls Browning a monster more vile than Dracula. Van Helsing releases a trap door and Browning falls through the floor swearing that Van Helsing will pay for this.  Van Helsing dumps the money down, as Browning calls out for his daughter to join him.  Rose is quickly joined by her brother William who claims, "it itches."  The two children then show Browning their fangs and quickly jump on him to feed.  Van Helsing tells Browning that he fed the children Dracula's blood and then dumps accelerant into the hold.  When Van Helsing heads outside and the cabin is a flame.  Suddenly he hears screaming and so Van Helsing grabs his head and falls to the ground screaming in turn.

Fangs for the Fantasy Book of the Week

It's another Monday which means it's time for our next podcast - episode 3 of 2014 where we will talk about all of the shows we've been following this week (or as many as we can get to), our book of the week and whether Renee is plagued by weremoose in Canada or not - all through our social justice lens. Feel free to join us, listen, ask questions or make suggestions

Like all  the Fangs for the Fantasy podcasts (archives here) we read a book and discuss it on the show. 

To give people a chance to read along with us, especially over the holidays, we include a list of our planned books of the week for the next few shows, so people can get the books, read them and join in the conversation.

 Our podcast will be at 7:00pm EST tonight 

20th January - 27th January: Written in Blood by Anne Bishop

27th January - 3rd February: Under Attack by Hannah Jayne

3rd February - 10th February: Wild Things by Chloe Neil

10th February - 17th February: Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

17th February - 24th February: Blood Passage by Connie Suttle

Helix, Season 1, Episode 4: Single Strand

Day 4

We see scenes of destruction, blood stains, ichor and damage including around the phone that Julia tried to use to contact Alan last week.

Julia is in a room full of the assumed infected and one of the scientists, Dmitri, talks about fighting because he assumes they’ve been left to die (yes, it’s another scientist who doesn’t understand the concept of quarantine). He wants to sabotage the air supply to the rest of the base – giving the rest of the base only 6 hours of breathable air.

Hey, I would like to interrupt this recap to mention that I Told You So when I said that putting goo zombies and shockingly unstable scientists prone to rioting at the drop of a hat on the same level as your life support is a bad idea.

When Julia protests to the whole “let’s kill ‘em all, that’ll show ‘em” tactic, she gets kicked out of the room. Outside she sees someone in an elaborate haz-mat suit who gestures to her – she follows them to a corner where they managed to disappear.

Upstairs, Alan and Hiroshi discuss their communications being blown up; well Alan getting all excitable and accusatory at Hiroshi while he is calm and collected and reasonably dealing with the situation as it is.

To Sarah who is taking pills in her bathroom and loses half of them down the sink – she seems nervy about her pill taking. She gets a visit from one of the scientists, Dr. Rae Van Eigan, she’s worried because she has a skin lesion that may be indicative of infection, despite testing negative on Sarah’s useless test (why doesn’t Sarah remember Julia testing negative?). Sarah uses the useless test again and reassures Rae that she’s absolutely fine. Rae isn’t convinced and begs not to be sent down to quarantine to die; Sarah protests it would never happen (Alan would never allow it – that sealed quarantine that he set up) but Rae believes Hiroshi would.

The longer they spend together, though, the more it becomes clear that Rae is infected. Sarah realises her test is ineffective but as she leaves to warn people Raw stops her and talks about Sarah’s tumor. She’s an oncologist and diagnosed her by the pills she’s taking - Sarah wants to keep it a secret; Rae suggests they share secrets/doctor patient privilege (except cancer isn’t contagious… nor does it turn you into a goo zombie)

Alan returns to Sergio and Doreen to complain about Hiroshi not supplying the quarantine wing that Alan set up – waiting instead for a “periodic supply drop” to communicate with the outside world. Lots of science follows about treatment and finding a source. Alan goes to his brother Peter and tries to talk Dr. Phillipe DuChamp into using SORDA, his magically cure all (that kills people) on Peter –sure it’s unethical to use untested, highly lethal remedies on people but since Peter is dying it’s better than the alternative. He gives Peter the cure then has a bedside pep talk/reminiscing (about their abusive childhood. I think they’ve mentioned this at least once per episode now).

Grimm, Season 3, Episode 12: The Wild Hunt

“Come back in the evening,

I’ll have the door locked to keep out

the wild huntsmen.”

A car speeds through the city at night, chased by a police car. The cop finally catches the car outside the city and approaches the car. The car with a Wesen inside. One dead policeman. The wesen then slices off the policeman’s scalp saying “you were worthy.”

Nick and Hank visit the scene and then there’s a whole station meeting about the death lead by Renard. The car’s camera shows nothing useful and Renard has information of 2 other scalpings

A soldier gets off a bus and walks home – followed by a man. The man stalks that soldier then attacks – and gets easily beaten to the floor by the soldier (who did warn him). Then the man declares the soldier worthy, woges… and the soldier is dead and scalped.

More investigation and an emerging pattern with extra victims in Mexico as well – of the dead being uniformed (police, army). All evidence they have is the car the man drives. They get a lead on the car though the man notices the police paying attention so packs up his scalps and steals the motel clerk’s truck. He gets away, leaving then gang to find his nasty, stinking scalp tanning remains in the bathroom. Examining them points to a total of 29 victims. Hank suggests Wesen and Nick agrees. Why? A human could do that

Anyway, to the Grimm Trailer for some research and find the Wildesheer – berserker, warrior Wesen with no fear of death who scalp their enemies and turn their scalps into a cloak to claim their power. Hank warns Nick that if the Wildesheer is hunting warriors then Nick is a prime candidate

Monroe and Rosalie are unbelievably cute, going out to dinner at a posh restaurant and discussing their first woge. They go home, Monroe being cute and geeky about clocks – even the point of Rosalie being bored – when he pulls out a talk clock that proposes to Rosalie. Awwww, so sweet – and kind of disturbing and more than a little obsessed - but still sweet. Of course she says yes. Lots of ultra-cute wedding planning follows; including some foreshadowing difficult: Nick and Juliette obviously have to be there but will all their wesen friends be happy with a Grimm being present? Then there’s Monroe’s parents who he has been putting off Rosalie meeting

He calls them and things seem normal despite Monroe’s levels of dread and his dad’s numerous questions. He thinks he’s dodged the bullet – right until his mum calls him to let him know they’re flying over for a visit to meet Rosalie. Monroe is not thrilled. Nor is Rosalie when she realises that they’re going to stay at their house and don’t even know Rosalie and Monroe are living together.

Next storyline! Juliette, worried about Nick’s long silent mother, decides to send Kelley and email. She emails back – she’s hidden the coins but couldn’t get rid of them – and someone’s on to her. She’s joining, presumably, the Laufer (the resistance)

Vampire Diaries, Season 5, Episode 11: 500 Years of Solitude

It seems to be the in thing now to start episodes with a flashback – alas going this far back means more of Katherine’s story which means, alas, she probably isn’t dead.

Bulgaria 1490

Katherine gives birth to her baby daughter – which is then taken away by her father before she even gets to hold her, while she begs to be able to hold the baby at least once.

This is cut in the present by Katherine in the hospital, flatlining and being treated by doctors while Stefan and Nadia wait outside. Even if she pulls through (and her heart starts again), Stefan warns Nadia that Katherine is definitely dying and all they can do is take her home and make her comfortable.

Meanwhile, everyone else is dealing with Damon and Elena breaking up (which happened because of reasons that are so stupid my head actually hurts if I try to contemplate them). Bonnie and Caroline drop in to comfort Elena (well, Caroline is celebrating because she hates Damon and understandably so) while Matt and Jeremy watch Damon drink.

Stefan calls with the news of Katherine’s impending death

To which Damon, Matt and Jeremy play an awesome drinking game of listing the worst things Katherine has ever done to them (I think Jeremy wins with the “she fed me to Silas and I died”). Elena, Bonnie and Caroline arrive with apparent outrage – because Elena totally gets to play this game as well (and she, rather laughably, is cutting Jeremy off, ignoring 5 seasons of hard drinking). Bonnie and Caroline add their own lists. They need more booze - just the number of people round the table who have been killed by Katherine or she has tried to kill needs a full bottle.

Of course Stefan is by Katherine’s side reassuring her - and her vanity. Stefan comes down to try and make them move it on but even he takes a drink and remembers some more of the evil she’s done – but then throws in Katherine’s 500 years on the run to point out her motives. Of course it’s also revealed that Stefan has slept with Katherine again for lots of extra questioning of his sudden softening towards her.

And Nadia shows up – telling the whole group she has buried Matt inside the safe and if they want him to live they have to help her save Katherine. She wants them to find a Traveller to teach Katherine how to live in someone else’s body – in Nadia’s body to be exact.

Caroline, meanwhile, is more concerned about all the sex people are having. Because… Caroline. And she runs into Klaus… shouldn’t he be in New Orleans? He whooshes after Caroline who continues to try and whoosh away. He’s arranged for Mat to be rescued by Rebekah so he can flirt with Caroline.

Katherine is having Damon-narrated dreams of Klaus killing her family while the real Damon is stopped from smothering her with a pillow by Liz – completely ruining his fun. Damon reveals the bad thing he didn’t drink to – Katherine taught him how to kill and how to enjoy it, she “ruined him.” Liz is more ok with Damon drugging Katherine when she gets snarky (I kind of love how Sheriff Liz went from “EVIL VAMPIRES AARGH!” in season 1 to giving Damon an “oh you!” look when he tries to kill people).

Witch Hunt (Preternatural Affairs #1) by S. M. Reine

Cesar is a witch, a witch who investigates demons, other witches and any of the other magical things out there doing things they really shouldn’t. He’s doing well and seems to be on the fast track

Until he wakes up one morning to find a dead woman in his apartment – and absolutely no idea how she got there. The mundane, non-magical police naturally think he’s the one who did it. He waits for the magical people he works for to find the truth – only to find out that they, too, suspect him

Escaping  to prove his innocence seems to be the only choice – but as he follows the clues and hones in on the truth it becomes horrendously possible that maybe they’re all right. Maybe he’s guilty.

This book is a classic example of a good book 1. The introduction to a new series set in a world that the reader won’t be very familiar with (in this case, I am familiar because it’s the same world that is carried through all of S.M Reine’s books but this is from an entirely different angle from the previous books I’ve read. I actually love the way the different series come together, you don’t have to have read each series, but in reading them all you expand the world and context of all of them, adding a lot of texture), bringing in the main characters that I have a feeling are going to be with us for the whole series.

Where this book is a good book 1 rather than a merely solid one is that it didn’t let the introduction stand as a replacement for an actual interesting story. Not only that, but we didn’t even get a generic, decent-but-nothing-that-original story in book 1 that we often get (so readers can focus their brain power on the world and characters). This story is involved – it’s a story of investigation but, far more, it’s a story of betrayal and paranoia. Cesar needs to find out who framed him so he can clear his name and he needs to keep one step ahead of the powers that be – both magical and mundane – to remain free in order to do so (especially since the magical forces seem to have written him off and the mundane forces are clearly incapable of proving anything given the circumstances). But both of these vital, involved elements rest on a very shaky foundation – who can Cesar trust? There is, afterall, an apparent agent framing him – who could this be?

And this is where the book excels – because I honestly suspected EVERYONE. Even when Cesar trusted them I didn’t. Everyone was presented as a potential murderer and traitor – and that certainly includes Cesar himself. There are twists upon twists, suspect upon suspect and it’s truly shocking how many people seem to be the ones behind it – then maybe not – then back in the frame again. And yes, that includes Cesar. His memory loss, the witness statements and the very reality of what people claim he has done mean that, yes, there’s a very good chance Cesar may have been the killer himself. His attempts to prove himself innocent may, in fact, be just exposing his actual guilt.

The story is very action heavy, the investigation and cerebral elements rapidly overshot by having to flee another threat, or facing more confusion and danger. It’s very much an action book and it’s well written enough and visual enough to make that work and keep it exciting and flowing, making the story one to pull you in and hold you right to the end.