That was one intense read!!! Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop is the fourth book in The Others and picks up almost right where the last book ended. The Elders have declared a breach of trust between the humans and Others, but have asked a question of Simon before they carry out their punish. The question “how much human do we want to keep?” has kept Simon up several nights. Not wanting to worry Meg, he keeps this question to himself. Losing one of the Crowgard and one of the police officers in their “human pack” has left a bad taste in Simon’s mouth. But with the initial anger gone, he fears the wrath of the Elders and the possible extinction of the human race.

Let me be honest for a second. I struggled with this book and I can’t even pinpoint a good reason why. There was a lot going on across the entire continent and the Wolfgard was the key. Meg, Hope (the prophet pup of Jackson’s), and Jean were all seeing the same thing from a different angle. They were all seeing the Humans First and Last movement making stupid decisions that brought the Elder’s wrath. “This is what it means to be human, it said. This is what humans do.”



Yeah the HFL have screwed up big time in this book and the entire human race is going to pay for it. How much human do you want to keep Simon? How about none?! Seriously reading this book I was on the edge of my seat and sick at my stomach. I had to take emotional breaks because it was too much at times. It was dark and gloomy and foreboding, knowing that something big was coming but not what it was. Then Meg’s prophecies *shudders* TOO MUCH!!!

I struggled though. There was a lot of head hopping as the story was told from several different parts of Thaisia. Oh yes and killing….LOTS AND LOTS of killing. Not really necessary Ms. Bishop. Nope!! Not at all!

Overall I liked the book. I was right when I said that book three was a bridge book in that many of the things that went unanswered are answered fully now. If you enjoy a night of no sleep, than I highly suggest you read this book asap. Otherwise be prepared to take lots of breaks and ponder what it is to be human....