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charfield's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
**3.5 stars, rounded up
Will I read the next book: NO?
Half of this rating isn't the books fault. I picked up this book since it was on clearance, my friend and I had just finished buddy reading ADOFN and PotOT, and I figured, what the hell? We know we like Samantha Shannon, so might as well go for it. Anyone who pays particular attention to what I read knows that I almost NEVER read YA or romance books anymore. I just find that I'm over them and honestly, had I known Shannon's Bone Season series was a YA fantasy romance, I likely would have never picked it up.
Was the plot predictable? Yes. By the first couple of chapters, I knew And once you factor in those things, I've just explained like 80% of the plot of this book without having really needed to read any of it. Classic YA fantasy novel shit.
On the main character, I do have some qualms.
Despite all this complaining I'm doing, one of the things that I've always admired about Shannon is her ability to world build, and The Bone Season is no different. The reason it's rounded up is because it is truly one of the most unique hierarchical magic systems I've ever read, and I can practically feel the hours upon hours that went into developing everything that went into this. And despite the fact I was just complaining about Paige, the magic system is such that I don't feel like she's particularly overpowered.
Plus, this is her debut novel, and clearly she has only gotten better with the years. On a second, edited thought, I think I'm going to leave it here. YA and romance don't really jive with me anymore, and I don't really feel a need to see this through.
Will I read the next book: NO?
Half of this rating isn't the books fault. I picked up this book since it was on clearance, my friend and I had just finished buddy reading ADOFN and PotOT, and I figured, what the hell? We know we like Samantha Shannon, so might as well go for it. Anyone who pays particular attention to what I read knows that I almost NEVER read YA or romance books anymore. I just find that I'm over them and honestly, had I known Shannon's Bone Season series was a YA fantasy romance, I likely would have never picked it up.
Was the plot predictable? Yes. By the first couple of chapters, I knew
Spoiler
that Warden and Paige were going to end up in a romantic relationship by the end of it, and I didn't love that aspect of the book because it's very Stockholm, WILD age gap sort of activities I have given up on caring about. I knew that eventually they would force her to fight the syndicate. I knew from the moment Jaxon got screentime he was going to end up being an abusive asshole and everyone was going to turn on him, because he had too many controlling red flags going on.On the main character, I do have some qualms.
Spoiler
In a memory in chapter 25, we learn that Paige hesitates to speak up against Jaxon, and one of the characters even calls her a mouse and a coward. This is nothing like the Paige we have known, who, since arriving into Warden's arms, has been nothing but sassy and totally reckless with her opinion. I would have LOVED for the novel to develop Paige from that meek girl into the sassy woman that she is, because as of right now, I really don't think she does a lot of character developing, other than she learns to hold her tongue a little bit instead of mouthing off all the time. She also, towards the beginning especially, was giving off MS, 'I'm so special and not like other girls', although I do think this gets rectified.Despite all this complaining I'm doing, one of the things that I've always admired about Shannon is her ability to world build, and The Bone Season is no different. The reason it's rounded up is because it is truly one of the most unique hierarchical magic systems I've ever read, and I can practically feel the hours upon hours that went into developing everything that went into this. And despite the fact I was just complaining about Paige, the magic system is such that I don't feel like she's particularly overpowered.
Plus, this is her debut novel, and clearly she has only gotten better with the years. On a second, edited thought, I think I'm going to leave it here. YA and romance don't really jive with me anymore, and I don't really feel a need to see this through.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
literarydumpling's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is technically a reread, as I read the original copy back in 2017, however my memory is shocking so I'd largely forgotten some of the finer details, but I have REALLY enjoyed my reread.
The book is more polished, and the world is still as rich as ever. The map's glow-up is amazing, the little flower illustrations each chapter, perfect; and not to mention there is an extended section for a glossary, people of interest, and orders of clairvoyance that you can refer to throughout the book that (I think) doesn't give away any spoilers.
I was enthralled throughout this book. The pacing was perfect and I couldn't stop reading as each chapter had so much happening. There is, granted, a lot of world building initially but once you get through a large chunk of it, things start falling into place a lot more, and you can see the thought and care Samantha Shannon has put into the revised edition.
I really enjoy reading sci-fi/fantasy/speculative fiction and this is no different. What's better is that because the book is in a distant-slash-not-so-distant future, Paige has some KILLER lines and slang that you can understand and give you a bit of a laugh! She's unrelenting, she's sassy, she's all kinds of her own person, and you can see how this is an asset and a flaw to her.
Without going on and on, the fantastical elements are well-executed, and have engaging and curious characters that you want to keep track of. You can tell there is a greater and richer world beyond this first book and I cannot wait to read The Mime Order. After all, Scion: there's no safer place.
The book is more polished, and the world is still as rich as ever. The map's glow-up is amazing, the little flower illustrations each chapter, perfect; and not to mention there is an extended section for a glossary, people of interest, and orders of clairvoyance that you can refer to throughout the book that (I think) doesn't give away any spoilers.
I was enthralled throughout this book. The pacing was perfect and I couldn't stop reading as each chapter had so much happening. There is, granted, a lot of world building initially but once you get through a large chunk of it, things start falling into place a lot more, and you can see the thought and care Samantha Shannon has put into the revised edition.
I really enjoy reading sci-fi/fantasy/speculative fiction and this is no different. What's better is that because the book is in a distant-slash-not-so-distant future, Paige has some KILLER lines and slang that you can understand and give you a bit of a laugh! She's unrelenting, she's sassy, she's all kinds of her own person, and you can see how this is an asset and a flaw to her.
Without going on and on, the fantastical elements are well-executed, and have engaging and curious characters that you want to keep track of. You can tell there is a greater and richer world beyond this first book and I cannot wait to read The Mime Order. After all, Scion: there's no safer place.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Confinement
limeta's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Honestly this book will always have my heart. The main female character Paige is so similar to me. I understand her in the way that ablot people don't.
When I was little I also didn't know where I belonged, because I was different from other kids, now that I'm older I embrase it and I turned it into something good.
I can't wait to pick up the second book, and this book will be rereaded again, again and again.
When I was little I also didn't know where I belonged, because I was different from other kids, now that I'm older I embrase it and I turned it into something good.
I can't wait to pick up the second book, and this book will be rereaded again, again and again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
hayreading's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Another great work by Samantha Shannon. The middle was admittedly a bit slow, but I was always interested in what was happening. Very different from Priory, but a great read nonetheless. Can't wait to read the next book in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
nerdybookqueen's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
TW for holocaust mention, racism mention
The only reason I didn't DNF this is I had nothing else to read.
I remember mostly enjoying Priory, so I thought I would try the author's other series. I regret doing so.
There is something...very icky about a white woman writing a narrative of other white people becoming slaves/having segregation, combined with, as I saw one other reviewer point out, the fact their "masters" were POC. Gross. One of the rare times I wish I could say "no" to there being a diverse cast.
Combine that with the whole "striped of a name and replaced with a number that is branded into her, where she and others like her have to work to survive until they die or are killed?" That sounds an awful lot like a historical event that maybe shouldn't be copied as a plot point by a Christian (or at least raised Christian) author. (She mentions this in response to an anon on her tumblr)
Added to this mess is the fact that her two love interest options are a human man who was an adult when she was like 6, or the man who OWNS her, invades her mind and manipulates the shit out of her, so we have some stunning love interest options here. But clearly it's okay because he calls her by her name and feeds her. The bar is in hell. And maybe it was just because I was so skeeved out but the options, but the romance was also just suddenly there?
Beyond that, the plot was really not that exciting, the writing was a bit too dense, with a lot of info dumping and a lot of jumping back and forth in time without clear distinction which drives me nuts. I had trouble tracking what was going on, there were several times I had to reread parts and figure out what was happening.
I will not be reading the rest of the series, and I may need to reread and reassess Priory as well.
The only reason I didn't DNF this is I had nothing else to read.
I remember mostly enjoying Priory, so I thought I would try the author's other series. I regret doing so.
There is something...very icky about a white woman writing a narrative of other white people becoming slaves/having segregation, combined with, as I saw one other reviewer point out, the fact their "masters" were POC. Gross. One of the rare times I wish I could say "no" to there being a diverse cast.
Combine that with the whole "striped of a name and replaced with a number that is branded into her, where she and others like her have to work to survive until they die or are killed?" That sounds an awful lot like a historical event that maybe shouldn't be copied as a plot point by a Christian (or at least raised Christian) author. (She mentions this in response to an anon on her tumblr)
Added to this mess is the fact that her two love interest options are a human man who was an adult when she was like 6, or the man who OWNS her, invades her mind and manipulates the shit out of her, so we have some stunning love interest options here. But clearly it's okay because he calls her by her name and feeds her. The bar is in hell. And maybe it was just because I was so skeeved out but the options, but the romance was also just suddenly there?
Beyond that, the plot was really not that exciting, the writing was a bit too dense, with a lot of info dumping and a lot of jumping back and forth in time without clear distinction which drives me nuts. I had trouble tracking what was going on, there were several times I had to reread parts and figure out what was happening.
I will not be reading the rest of the series, and I may need to reread and reassess Priory as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Racism, Violence, Antisemitism, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Gaslighting
Minor: Addiction, Police brutality, and Fire/Fire injury
banrions's review
i started this after reading the priory of the orange tree by this author and really enjoying it, however, this was not my cup of tea and i gave up once i saw that writing on the wall.
it's one of those books that really needs you to do a lot of listening to the worldbuilding, and not always in a fun way, so it took me ages to get through the first couple of chapters, because it just wasn't grabbing me. but then it started to!
annnnnnd then i saw the writing on the wall of how the central romance and dynamic was about to go down, like, right away as soon as the main girl is basically... kinda? sold into a sort of slavery/subervience role to this powerful dude. and i was like... yeah... nah, i'm good. i don't need to read another hetero romance that tries to make a fucked up dyanmic interesting or romantic. that's... been done to death and i'm simply too over hetero romances to give a shit. (i fully admit that if this had been two women, i might have stuck around, because inevitibly, that one fact inherently changes the power dynamics in a way that you can make something interesting/or different about it if you wanted to. but... this probably isn't gonna be that). at this point in my life, if you want me to read somethingt that's not queer anymore, then it's gotta be worth my while. and this is just not my bag. maybe it is for you! i'm not judging at all, i love me a fucked up dynamic in fiction if it's got something interesting to say/explore, but this one isn't for me.
i enjoyed her priory book though! so i'm not saying this author sucks or anything of the like, i'll be keeping an eye out if she ever gives that a sequel or writes something other than this series, but this one ain't for me.
it's one of those books that really needs you to do a lot of listening to the worldbuilding, and not always in a fun way, so it took me ages to get through the first couple of chapters, because it just wasn't grabbing me. but then it started to!
annnnnnd then i saw the writing on the wall of how the central romance and dynamic was about to go down, like, right away as soon as the main girl is basically... kinda? sold into a sort of slavery/subervience role to this powerful dude. and i was like... yeah... nah, i'm good. i don't need to read another hetero romance that tries to make a fucked up dyanmic interesting or romantic. that's... been done to death and i'm simply too over hetero romances to give a shit. (i fully admit that if this had been two women, i might have stuck around, because inevitibly, that one fact inherently changes the power dynamics in a way that you can make something interesting/or different about it if you wanted to. but... this probably isn't gonna be that). at this point in my life, if you want me to read somethingt that's not queer anymore, then it's gotta be worth my while. and this is just not my bag. maybe it is for you! i'm not judging at all, i love me a fucked up dynamic in fiction if it's got something interesting to say/explore, but this one isn't for me.
i enjoyed her priory book though! so i'm not saying this author sucks or anything of the like, i'll be keeping an eye out if she ever gives that a sequel or writes something other than this series, but this one ain't for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Kidnapping
heera's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I didn't love it, but I liked it. I think Paige was very relatable, at least for me : she was brave, but sometimes scared, she was intelligent but sometimes made dumb choices... The world is quite confusing at first and so is the magic system, and I would have liked to know more about it. One of my major critic about this book is the romance, that I felt really unnecessary : why would Paige (who is literally treated as a slave) fall in love with Warden (her master) ? Not to mention the huge age gap that made me so uncomfortable.
A way better depiction of a master / slave (not romantic) relationship is made in the Fifth Season by NK Jemisin.
Outside from these few critics, I think the book is still worth reading and I had a really good time doing so ! This is clearly a first book, but a promising first book, and I will for sure be continuing with the Bone Season.
A way better depiction of a master / slave (not romantic) relationship is made in the Fifth Season by NK Jemisin.
Outside from these few critics, I think the book is still worth reading and I had a really good time doing so ! This is clearly a first book, but a promising first book, and I will for sure be continuing with the Bone Season.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Slavery
Moderate: Toxic relationship
deerestdoe's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug abuse and Eating disorder
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