The story continues where we left off in Marked in Flesh with the humans trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces of whatever is left in the wake of Namid’s claws and teeth and rebuild their lives.

In Etched in Bone, the Elders (Namid’s claws and teeth) want to observe the humans interact with the Others and learn what these small predators can do to each other. So when Monty’s brother comes to Lakeside, despite his own family’s warning that he’s bad news, Simon agrees to let him stay. Simon is reluctant to have him so close to Meg but concedes to the Elders’ request.

The Elders keep an eye on Meg, the howling not-wolf and develop a taste for the wolf cookies. They leave a note asking Meg for cookies. Meg thinks the note was left by pups and yells (hoping they hear her) that good pups say ‘please’ when asking for things. Everyone is shocked!

“Vlad stared at Simon. “Meg told the Elders they were…”

“Bad puppies,” Simon finished. “Yeah.”

A minute passed before Vlad said, “Why?”

“They didn’t say ‘please’ when they asked for cookies.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

Simon scratched behind an ear that was now Wolf-shaped and furry. “That’s okay. Meg said plenty for all of us.”

Meg gets better at using the prophecy cards, and there’s one pesky little card that keeps showing up. It’s the romance card, and that intrigues her because romance is something she hadn’t experienced and the mere thought scares her. She also predicts that she’ll come close to dying and make a major faux pas – keeps it to herself until the last moment so as not to worry others. Expect a lot of frustration while reading Etched in Bone.

The villain of this novel was Cyrus James Montgomery, Monty’s brother. He’s a con-artist and considers Lakeside as easy pickings. Cyrus is presumptuous, arrogant, and not very smart if he believes that human law can keep his safe from the terra indigene in the Courtyard.

As soon as he discovers what Meg Corbyn is he plans to cash in on her. Needless to say, things don’t go his way, and the punishment fits the crime. Warning! It will be gruesome! But you’ll have to read the book to see what happens.

Something unexpected happens, and it will surprise in a good way – it concerns Skippy. Who doesn’t love Skippy?! I hope this character gets more page time in the next book!

It’s no secret that the Others eat the humans who wrong them. They even have a sign that says ‘the trespassers will be eaten.’ They deliver their own kind of justice and sometimes the Courtyard butcher, Boon hangs the ‘special meat’ sign in the window. But they are considerate to Meg and try to hide that from her.

“Don’t ask, Meg. I won’t lie to you, so don’t ask.

“Tess told us a while ago that there is some mint growing in the Courtyard, so I wondered . . . Do Wolves usually chew on mint?”

“No. Why?” Before coming to see Meg, he’d gone into the bathroom at HGR to use some mouthwash. He’d also examined both sets of teeth to make sure there weren’t any bits of human flesh stuck between them from carrying the backbone.

Did he smell minty from the mouthwash–or was the scent wafting in from the front room?

Meg confirmed that suspicion when she glanced at the Private doorway before leaning toward him and whispering, “When Nathan came back to the office, he smelled like he’d rolled in mint.”

All in all, this was a good book, and I enjoyed reading it. The slow-burning romance is still …slow burning. Things do evolve on the romantic front but very slow. If you blink, you miss it kind of slow. So don’t get your hopes too high, a lingering kiss will have to suffice. Ms. Bishop knows how to keep her audience frustrated! 

After the Elders cleansed and reclaimed many human towns, Lakeside Courtyard has emerged relatively unscathed, though Simon Wolfgard, its wolf-shifter leader, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn must work with the human pack to maintain the fragile peace. But all their efforts are threatened when Lieutenant Montgomery's shady brother arrives, looking for a free ride and easy pickings.

With the humans on guard against one of their own, tensions rise, drawing the attention of the Elders, who are curious about the effect such an insignificant predator can have on a pack. But Meg knows the dangers, for she has seen in the cards how it will all end: with her standing beside a grave. . . .

3 ½ ★

I finished this book last week but I really wasn’t sure what to think of the ending for a while and had to think about it.

Plus this book is hard to review for me for some reason.

I really liked the book but I don’t think it was as great or strong as the previous books.

Once we got to the end I thought a lot of this book could have been spent more towards wrapping things up more for other residents of and around the courtyard.  While things get wrapped up nicely for the most part for Simon and Meg , some of the Others were a bit open ended and not only that but also some of the commutes.

I must admit the whole Elder part.  I was still not a huge fan of the Elders and the whole Jimmy thing. It just seemed weird and way to drawn out. The final battle was once again pretty anti climatic for me like in the last book. Not only that but o teas pretty much off page, which kind off was a letdown ,since  do actual get their POV once a while .

But overall it was a great book, We get to see some of our favorite people/or others prep and fear a common threat of the elders. We also meet some new people, some I liked a lot and hope to see in future spin-off books.

The ending I think was the best outcome we could have hoped for, for Simon and Meg….. it was always clear they never be a regular couple. I just could have gotten this earlier and maybe a bit more and maybe an idea what that will look like.

I also would have liked to see how other things turn out … like Sam and Skippy…. Vlad and Tess. We never really get a conclusion and all is a bit open ended, even some of the humans and other communities around the courtyard, they end was just a tad too focused on Meg and Simon and we not even get a full thing there.

What I liked about the series best, was that all the way to the end the Others always stayed a threat to humans. While some were accepted most stayed clever meat throughout the series.

Overall, while I has some issues and wished for more but I was satisfied with the end. And I will most defiantly read the books that follow.

I rate it 3 ½ ★

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In relation to Meg and Simon, I thought this was a very fitting end to the Others' books that center around the Lakeside Courtyard. (Though, I'd have loved just a bit more with them there at the end. Just a little bit, at least.)

I know the author is continuing the series by setting the following books in different locations, and I am very glad about that. I love the world this author created and look forward to reading more about it. That being said, I am also quite sad because I've become quite attached to the inhabitants of the Lakeside Courtyard and am not ready to move on from them just yet.