Audiobook: Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop

Marked in Flesh
Author: Anne Bishop
Narrator: Alexandra Harris
Publication: Penguin Audio (March 8, 2016)
Length: 15 hours and 21 minutes

Description: For centuries, the Others and humans have lived side by side in uneasy peace. But when humankind oversteps its bounds, the Others will have to decide how much humanity they're willing to tolerate - both within themselves and within their community....

Since the Others allied themselves with the cassandra sangue, the fragile yet powerful human blood prophets who were being exploited by their own kind, the delicate dynamic between humans and Others changed. Some, like Simon Wolfgard, wolf shifter and leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn see the new closer companionship as beneficial - both personally and practically.

But not everyone is convinced. A group of radical humans is seeking to usurp land through a series of violent attacks on the Others. What they don't realize is that there are older and more dangerous forces than shifters and vampires protecting the land that belongs to the Others - and those forces are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect what is theirs....

My Thoughts: This is the story which bring the ongoing plot thread having to do with the Humans First and Last movement to its conclusion. Humans First and Last have begun attacks on the Terra Indigene - especially the Wolfgard. What they don't seem to realize is that the Others who live in the Wild Country are very close to exterminating all the pesky humans.

In the Lakeside Courtyard, things are better. Meg and Simon are working together to build better relations between humans and the Others. Lieutenant Montgomery and his officers are tying very hard to keep the peace.

After the Wolfgard are attacked throughout Thasia, Simon brings the human pack into the Courtyard to protect them from the retaliation that the Elementals and Elders plan for the humans in Thasia. These humans include Montgomery's mother Twyla and his sister Sierra and her two young daughters who managed to get out of Toland before the Elementals hit it.

We also see what is happening in Cel Romano as the Humans First and Last use the events in Thasia as a distraction for their massive land grab and slaughter of the Others.

This story was darker than earlier books in the series with its killing of The Others including Simon's friend Joe Wolfgard and the battles in Cel Romano. But Simon and Meg's relationship is growing closer and Meg is learning to use prophecy cards instead of cutting her skin to reveal the prophecies that buzz under her skin.

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of this story this time. I like the way Alexandra Harris narrates the events.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.