Etched in Bone, by Anne Bishop

New Anne Bishop novels are long awaited and eagerly consumed. This fifth chapter in the story of the Others focuses on the politics of negotiating a new relationship between humans and the Terra Indigene, following the necessary clearout of radical human first groups. The Lakeside Courtyard provides a unique testing ground that could influence the future of the world, because of its trailblazing culture of tolerance between the species. But the arrival of police officer Montgomery’s brother throws a spanner into the works. Could one bad apple wreck the future of humanity? It has always been clear that Thaisia is an alternate North America, but in this novel the hint is dropped that the setting may actually be the far future, where many large cities have been long depopulated after humans went too far in their destruction of the environment. The glacial pace of the romance between Lakeside leader Simon Wolfgard and prophet Meg Corbyn increases slightly in this outing as her abilities once again put her in extreme danger. The story of the Others may well have concluded with Etched in Bone, which is a little sad, but allows excitement about what new worlds may be created by Ms Bishop.