imontambourine's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
logarithm's review against another edition
3.0
I had my eyes on the series for a long while, but as it is a bit outside my usual genre...
Writing
The writing is good. That’s literally all I have to say about it.
Story
The story was well balanced between action bits and flash-backs (with an actual justification for said flashbacks, which is a huge plus for me). I have high expectations for the rest of the series!
World
I was not expecting that world at all. I thought it was urban fantasy, but the story is set in a dystopian future while staying really fantasy-ish. It’s an awesome mix of genres and I found the world building really good! It’s not filled with unbearable info-dumps, but the given information are sufficient to get a good understanding of what’s going on and of the stakes of each scene.
Characters
I loved Paige. She’s relatable (which, to me, is always really important in first person pov) and witty. Most of the other characters are well fleshed out, even though I’d have liked to know a bit more of what was going on inside the main antagonist’s (Nashira) head.
Conclusion
I’m going to give a rating a tinsy bit lower than I would have for a stand alone. But that’s because I genuinely believe in the potential of the series, and I don’t want to be stuck for later books (does that make sense? ) I really liked the book, and I’ll get to the Mime Order as soon as I can! :D
Writing
The writing is good. That’s literally all I have to say about it.
Story
The story was well balanced between action bits and flash-backs (with an actual justification for said flashbacks, which is a huge plus for me). I have high expectations for the rest of the series!
World
I was not expecting that world at all. I thought it was urban fantasy, but the story is set in a dystopian future while staying really fantasy-ish. It’s an awesome mix of genres and I found the world building really good! It’s not filled with unbearable info-dumps, but the given information are sufficient to get a good understanding of what’s going on and of the stakes of each scene.
Characters
I loved Paige. She’s relatable (which, to me, is always really important in first person pov) and witty. Most of the other characters are well fleshed out, even though I’d have liked to know a bit more of what was going on inside the main antagonist’s (Nashira) head.
Conclusion
I’m going to give a rating a tinsy bit lower than I would have for a stand alone. But that’s because I genuinely believe in the potential of the series, and I don’t want to be stuck for later books (does that make sense? ) I really liked the book, and I’ll get to the Mime Order as soon as I can! :D
katieejayne's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved the premise of this novel, clairvoyants existing and by simply existing they commit treason. We experience this persecution through the main character Paige Mahoney who works in the criminal underworld of Scion London. She is known as the Pale Dreamer by those in her gang and feared by those in rival gangs. Her task is to collect information by breaking into people minds. Then everything goes wrong. She is captured and sent to a kind of work camp located in Oxford which is where the plot really takes a turn.
First of all I loved the different types of Voyants. It really intrigued me how the hierarchy of them worked and how they differed but it did take an awful long time to wrap my head around them all. Theres a chart int he front of the book that suggests the complexity before you've read a word of the story.
I hated the chap who created this hierarchy, Page's boss Jax. The way he used Paige and treated the other members of his gang. I detested him even more in further novels.
I liked Paige a narrator but some things that she did and allowed were a little uncomfortable to read.
The plot was a little confusing at times but I enjoyed the twists and turns nevertheless. I can't wait for the next books in this series to come out.
First of all I loved the different types of Voyants. It really intrigued me how the hierarchy of them worked and how they differed but it did take an awful long time to wrap my head around them all. Theres a chart int he front of the book that suggests the complexity before you've read a word of the story.
I hated the chap who created this hierarchy, Page's boss Jax. The way he used Paige and treated the other members of his gang. I detested him even more in further novels.
I liked Paige a narrator but some things that she did and allowed were a little uncomfortable to read.
Spoiler
(For those that have read the novel- The Warden.) Don't get me wrong I didn't hate him, nor did I have any issue with them together. It was the branding and drugging that really got to me. As a character I really loved reading about The Warden, he had such an interesting background that made me want to know more about him.The plot was a little confusing at times but I enjoyed the twists and turns nevertheless. I can't wait for the next books in this series to come out.
gabyk_lib's review against another edition
3.0
This was a very enjoyable book. I liked the concepts of the world and the way they developed. The chart of different kinds of clairvoyance at the start of the book was the most frustrating thing I've ever had to deal with in a ebook as for some reason it refused to expand to allow proper reading through the app I was using. My other problem was the relationship between two of the major characters. It just did not seem a plausible romance. All the same an exciting and fast paced plot. Worth reading.
sevro_au_barca's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
michebookies's review against another edition
4.0
Shannon really created a complicated and interesting world. I did find the main character kind of annoying but I guess she has to be or things would never happen. I’m in it and will continue to be in it solely for the Warden.
kimberly_b's review against another edition
5.0
There has been a lot of hype surrounding this first of a possible seven books in The Bone Season series. Overall, I would say the hype is deserved. It was clear at times that Shannon isn't a well-seasoned author, but she created a compelling, engrossing, and fairly original story. My biggest complaint with the novel was the intermittent info-dumping. BUT, Shannon needed to do some serious world-building and I don't think there was any other way to do it at certain points. There were several times throughout reading when I felt like I had missed something. It's possible that I really did miss something, but it's also possible that there were some continuity issues in certain passages. I'm thinking it was most likely a bit of both.
Overall, I was intrigued in the world Shannon created and in the characters, particularly Articulus and Paige. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book! TBS ends with a bit of a cliffhanger and I'm eager to find out what the next book will hold.
This wasn't a flawless novel, but I couldn't put it down and the world/characters have huge potential. I'm rating it 4.5 stars, rounded to 5 (as is my custom).
Overall, I was intrigued in the world Shannon created and in the characters, particularly Articulus and Paige. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book! TBS ends with a bit of a cliffhanger and I'm eager to find out what the next book will hold.
This wasn't a flawless novel, but I couldn't put it down and the world/characters have huge potential. I'm rating it 4.5 stars, rounded to 5 (as is my custom).
parrothesis's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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? No
2.5
leasaurusrex's review against another edition
2.0
Well, well, well.
Inutilement compliqué, l’intrigue ne tient pas debout mais est noyée sous un world-building complexe (et pas dans le bon sens du terme), il n’y a aucune émotion, et aucune véritable surprise. J’ai le sentiment que si l’autrice avait pris plus le temps de développer ses personnages et leurs relations, sans s’attarder sur cet univers décourageant, ça aurait été bien meilleur.
La romance... je n'ai même pas envie d'en parler. J'adore la trope ennemies-to-lovers, mais là ça sort littéralement de nulle part. L'évolution est risible, le couple se fréquente à peine et on passe de situation esclavagiste à désir dévorant alors qu'elle a épongé une plaie et qu'il lui a fait les gros yeux et l'a littéralement entraînée UNE fois. On croit rêver.
J’ai quand même été jusqu’au bout, mais avec la désagréable impression d’avoir sauté une dizaine de pages en deux lignes, parfois. Le rythme n’est vraiment pas maîtrisé, et sept tomes, sérieusement ? (je reviens sur la romance, y avait grave moyen de faire les choses bien du coup... NON ??)
Allez, moi je m’arrête là.
Inutilement compliqué, l’intrigue ne tient pas debout mais est noyée sous un world-building complexe (et pas dans le bon sens du terme), il n’y a aucune émotion, et aucune véritable surprise. J’ai le sentiment que si l’autrice avait pris plus le temps de développer ses personnages et leurs relations, sans s’attarder sur cet univers décourageant, ça aurait été bien meilleur.
La romance... je n'ai même pas envie d'en parler. J'adore la trope ennemies-to-lovers, mais là ça sort littéralement de nulle part. L'évolution est risible, le couple se fréquente à peine et on passe de situation esclavagiste à désir dévorant alors qu'elle a épongé une plaie et qu'il lui a fait les gros yeux et l'a littéralement entraînée UNE fois. On croit rêver.
J’ai quand même été jusqu’au bout, mais avec la désagréable impression d’avoir sauté une dizaine de pages en deux lignes, parfois. Le rythme n’est vraiment pas maîtrisé, et sept tomes, sérieusement ? (je reviens sur la romance, y avait grave moyen de faire les choses bien du coup... NON ??)
Allez, moi je m’arrête là.
lauranotlauren's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0