by Anne Bishop
Series: The World of the Others #2, The Others #7
Narrator: Alexandra Harris
Length: 17 hours and 57 minutes
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.3x
In this powerful and exciting fantasy set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Others series, humans and the shape-shifting Others will see whether they can live side by side...without destroying one another.
There are ghost towns in the world—places where the humans were annihilated in retaliation for the slaughter of the shape-shifting Others.
One of those places is Bennett, a town at the northern end of the Elder Hills—a town surrounded by the wild country. Now efforts are being made to resettle Bennett as a community where humans and Others live and work together. A young female police officer has been hired as the deputy to a Wolfgard sheriff. A deadly type of Other wants to run a human-style saloon. And a couple with four foster children—one of whom is a blood prophet—hope to find acceptance.
But as they reopen the stores and the professional offices and start to make lives for themselves, the town of Bennett attracts the attention of other humans looking for profit. And the arrival of the Blackstone Clan, outlaws and gamblers all, will uncover secrets…or bury them.
You know a book/series is a winner when you finish an eighteen hour audio and feel depressed because it’s over! Such was the case with Wild Country by Ann Bishop, the second book in the World of Others and seventh in the Others series.
I listen first, but grab the hardcover edition and proudly display my fandom. It is also one of a handful I regularly pick up and read again and again.
Narrated by Alexandra Harris, Bishop takes us to the town of Bennett, set at the base of the Elder Hills. Once a robust human occupied town along the railway, it is now (almost) abandoned after the Teeth and Claw annihilated the humans in retribution for the slaughter of shapeshifters. (mostly the Wolfguard) It is now being resettled as a mixed community for Others and Humans.
Jana Paniccia recently graduated from the police academy and is hoping to secure a job. In the human world acceptance of female officers isn’t welcome, something she can attest to during her training, but Jana is determined and more than qualified. When one of the Intuit, tells Tolya, the Sanguinati leader of Bennett that they need more humans to fill jobs, he puts out a call to the Lakeside community. They send a call out far and wide as they begin pre-screening candidates to send on the train. Jana get’s a mysterious phone call about a job in the Bennet police department. With nothing to lose, she heads to Lakeside. She soon finds herself with papers and headed to Bennett.
I loved the previous book, but this story reminded me of the Lakeside community. The timeline for this tale overlaps with Etched in Bone from the Others series and there will be scenes and moments you recognize.
Virgil Wolfguard is Sheriff of Bennett and will bite anyone who misbehaves. He has a chip on his shoulder and collects orphans. He doesn’t know how to react to Jana and I loved the snarls, barbs, and friendship that developed. We meet different residences of the town, including an LGBT couple, a blood prophet, intuits, elementals and more.
Bishop’s world building is fantastic from settings to characters. Combined with Harris’ narration I could settle into this world for a long spell.
I tried to savior Wild Country, but suspense, lies, darkness and more kept me listening into the wee hours. The sleep deprivation and extra cups of coffee was worth it!
Delivered from multiple POVs we really get a sense of all sides from the terra indigene to the criminal elements that work their way towards the town. The climactic scenes had me holding my breath and feeling a mix of emotions. The climatic scene at the end was hard, and I played the scene, reactions and actions out in my head changing the scenario each time. While, I hated the losses I think Bishop stayed true to the series.
Brilliant, Bishop once again pulled me in. As readers we often ask each other what famous author we’d like to have dinner with. Anne Bishop is definitely someone I’d love to break bread with.
I tried to savior Wild Country by Anne Bishop, but suspense, lies, darkness and more kept me listening into the wee hours. The sleep deprivation and extra cups of coffee was worth it! #iloveaudiobooks #NewRelease Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Mary @StackingMyBookShelves!
Another series I want to start!
Olivia Roach
If it’s a reread worthy book, and one that you buy a physical copy of after reading then you know it is a winner. I actually really want to try this series because I have heard nothing bad about Anne Bishop’s books at all!
Dani Eide
I love this whole series. I can’t wait to dive into Wild Country. Glad to hear it overlaps Etched in Bone. I really miss Lakeside. Excellent review Kimberly! ❤️❤️
Noel
Definitely added to the TBR!!
Melanie Simmons
I really want more time in Bennett. I really liked the characters here (really, I’ve loved all the characters in all the books). I hope we get more time with these than we did with the ones in Lake Silence.
Kimberly
I agree. I hope we get two more books set there.
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra
Oh wow, another 5 star review for Anne Bishop. She’s on my list of authors to try this year and I can’t wait. Haven’t come across a negative review for any of her books yet!
Carla
What a wonderful endorsement. As I read the length of this one, I thought it better be good, but as I read your review, it obviously is one that you enjoy over and over. Not sure if it is for me, but you never know.
blodeuedd
THis one is amazing! I can not put it down! Well listen down..? lol
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books
Great review, Kim! Man, did I love this one! Such a great entry to the series. I’ll be nabbing the audio soon so I can do a reread using that format at some point. So glad Alexandra Harris is still on board. I loved returning to Bennett and I was so invested in the relationships that formed. Jana and Virgil got off to a rocky start but I was actually moved to tears by the end (Cowboy Bob on the hospital bed!). Now the long wait for the next installment… 🙂
Rachel
I love Alexandra Harris’ narration of this series, but I read the e-book. Maybe I’ll go back and listen some day. I was sad over the losses, too and wonder how it’ll affect the humans/Other relationships that formed before everything came to a head. Great review, Kimberly! 🙂
Debbie S Haupt
I know what you mean Kim I often feel that way when I finish one of JR Ward’s BDB books or like when Nora Roberts’ Year One ended. Great review sadly I have not read this author but she is on my list xo
Tyler H. Jolley
Such an awesome series. Glad you’re loving it!
Stefanie
Okay, because of you as I know you’ve been keeping up with this series, I returned my library, Kindle book and requested Written in Red. I hope it’s a good one.
Jennifer
Can’t wait to dig into this one.
Sophia Rose
Always a good thing when the time with a book flies by and you are still left wanting more. I will get to this one eventually. 🙂
Anne - Books of My Heart
I read this one but it was much better than the previous one. I love this series lots. Outstanding review!
Lorna
I liked this one better than Lake Silence. I love the world Bishop has built and it is still a favorite of mine. I hope she keeps the story in Bennett next time. I want that connection to the characters that I had with the original series. I really miss those characters.
Heidi
I just got my audiobook today. I am ecstatic to be diving back into this world. So happy that you devoured it and loved it! Now the long wait for the next one.
Stephanie Jane (Literary Flits)
You’re supposed to be catching up on your sleep, not depriving yourself of it!! I now have this mental image of you hiding under the duvet with your headphones like child-reader me used to hide with a book and a torch!!
Glad this was such a fab read for you 🙂
Mary Kirkland
Everyone seems to be loving this book. I may have to put this in my wish list.
Jen
Excellent review. I really did enjoy this one. I wish it had come out before Lake Silence, which would have helped me with the timeline a bit better (I get confused easily). I really hope we get more from Bennett because I don’t feel their story is over.
Anna
I hate the feeling of dying-for-more and having to wait. No one wants to see that. hehehe 😉
Anna from elements of emaginette
Melliane
yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it as much as I did
Nick
I love this series and I’m happy to hear this was just as enjoyable! I’m especially glad to hear that you were reminded of the Lakeside community! Can’t wait!!!
kindlemom1
*high fives you* I totally adored this one as well! I really hope we get another from this town!!
Nadene
You know a book is good when it takes priority over sleep. ? The world does sound fantastic.
Ailyn Koay
it does sound fun, where else would you find a human- style saloon right? I recall Anne Bishop does pretty good world building, is that right?