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lararosemary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
hmmm, where to start? First of all I enjoyed the concept of the world and the ‘magic’ system, however, it is introduced way too dry and theoretically. I would have liked to see many more examples of actual clairvoyants in action instead of just name-dropping types and never getting to see how their powers actually work… also, this whole time I was worried about Emim being a massive problem but they hardly mattered in the end .
The main character makes crazy decisions, her survival instincts are all over the place. Are you telling me she has a gift that allows her to sense other dreamscapes and she STILL gets ambushed and surprised a billion times? Everyone thinks she is a prodigy and special but she needs to be saved all the time. Her BEST FRIEND dies and 10 minutes later she is worrying about potentially being out of a job .
I get that this is supposed to be a book in a series and therefore some foreshadowing needs to be done in advance but I don’t think I care enough to continue this series. There were very few characters that I cared about and I found the main character especially annoying.
Overall I liked the writing and I think that it’s impressive that the author was so young when she wrote it. For the most part I enjoyed reading the book and, though I found it predictable, I was curious throughout. The last part was really tedious though. I got this book as a gift and therefore I will treasure it. However, for me it was just too long for the story it was trying to tell and it didn’t manage to hook me. The prequel ‘the Pale Dreamer’ gave me some hope for insights in Paige’s character but these were quickly squashed, though I really liked the ‘side quest’ and more insights into the syndicate business (I still don’t get the value of buying a bound spirit however?).
The main character makes crazy decisions, her survival instincts are all over the place. Are you telling me she has a gift that allows her to sense other dreamscapes and she STILL gets ambushed and surprised a billion times? Everyone thinks she is a prodigy and special but she needs to be saved all the time. Her
I get that this is supposed to be a book in a series and therefore some foreshadowing needs to be done in advance but I don’t think I care enough to continue this series. There were very few characters that I cared about and I found the main character especially annoying.
Overall I liked the writing and I think that it’s impressive that the author was so young when she wrote it. For the most part I enjoyed reading the book and, though I found it predictable, I was curious throughout. The last part was really tedious though. I got this book as a gift and therefore I will treasure it. However, for me it was just too long for the story it was trying to tell and it didn’t manage to hook me. The prequel ‘the Pale Dreamer’ gave me some hope for insights in Paige’s character but these were quickly squashed, though I really liked the ‘side quest’ and more insights into the syndicate business (I still don’t get the value of buying a bound spirit however?).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse
shingekiyes's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
Samantha Shannon is a god. i worship at the altar of her writing. i will read anything she puts out—i’m honestly angry at myself for not reading this sooner.
The Bone Season does not apply to any of my tastes as a reader. i do not like paranormal. i do not like magical boarding school/training. i do not particularly likesize difference, immortal being + human mortal romances. i do not like overly British books. (lol) and yet, i fucking loved this book.
after 50 pages—the typical slow, world-building rising action that Shannon is known for—i was absolutely hooked. thank god for the glossary, because i had a lot of questions, but i probably still would have survived without it. the world is so intricate, complicated, and structured. there is room for expansion, twists & turns, but limited enough to feel secure as a new reader. i loved that in this book, the reader was thrown into the magic without feeling too vulnerable OR belittled by the text. Paige, though an expert in her own world, was new to Oxford and was the perfect stand-in for the audience as she learned more and more about the Rephs, the politics of Scion, and about her own power.
Paige is an extremely compelling protagonist. she’s almost morally gray in that she is driven by a need to survive and to protect her own circle, but is willing to do whatever it takes. i loved the balance of selfishness and selflessness she held within her. she is cunning, but not arrogant. she is determined, but not ambitious. she is willing to step outside her comfort zone/expertise to do what needed to be done. she felt very realistic to me—her immediate rage and reactionary actions, and her later slow and methodical examination of her feelings (and the facts). i love her and i cannot wait to see how thisescape from Oxford and severing of ties with Jaxon impacts her life in London.
one of my favorite things about Samantha Shannon is her research. god, this woman is smart. the interwoven threads about Ireland (mirroring actual historical events, i assume) and Paige’s identity as an Irish person were sooooo delicious and fascinating. the pain of her family and how it resonated within her was magnificently depicted, and i know for certain that all of the inclusion of the Molly Riots was very intentional. i am excited to see how she can channel this revolutionary spirit in the next books.
also… damn, this book must have been born from a deep dive into paranormal and occult practices. i loved the familiar details of the tarot cards, scrying, ley lines, and the different orders of psychics and -mancers. the numa were particularly intriguing to me, and again, i was grateful for the glossary AND for the inclusion of the excerpt from Jaxon’s pamphlet. for once in my ENTIRE life i was interested in the communication between spirits and the spirit realm.
speaking of Jaxon! what a character. he reminds me of Niclays from Priory—a tough pill to swallow, but believable and compelling all the same. i am lowkey obsessed with this horrible man, and i can only imagine how he will be a wrench in Paige’s future plans. between Nick and Jaxon, i feel we have a Magneto and Professor X situation on our hands. time will tell. (sidenote: the whole seven orders thing is CRAZY AS HELL and the propaganda element was so believable to human nature. i want the full pamphlet NOW!)
Liss, Julian, Nadine, Zeke, Eliza, and Terebell are probably some of my favorite characters so far. i am totally entranced when i see them on the page. i love their gifts and how they all vary so widely despite feeling very similar in real-world terms. again, i look forward to seeing what lies ahead for each of them.
finally, i must touch on my favorite character: Arcturus Mesarthim. Warden. my beloved. as soon as Paige called himterrible and beautiful i knew i was personally done for. beyond the Beauty and the Beast-type romantic sub-plot, he is absolutely fascinating as a character. scarred and haunted, uniquely gifted, curious, gentle, quietly dangerous. he is exactly my type. we only got to see a glimpse of what he is capable of, and i wonder how Shannon will further establish and expand his oneiromancy in the future. i honestly can’t stop thinking about him and his collared tunics and his gloves and his golden eyes and his gramophone…. ugh
overall, 10/10 read. i will be immediately starting the rest of the series in anticipation of The Dark Mirror’s release in February 2025. now that I know Paige and Arcturus, i will not be letting them go!!!
The Bone Season does not apply to any of my tastes as a reader. i do not like paranormal. i do not like magical boarding school/training. i do not particularly like
after 50 pages—the typical slow, world-building rising action that Shannon is known for—i was absolutely hooked. thank god for the glossary, because i had a lot of questions, but i probably still would have survived without it. the world is so intricate, complicated, and structured. there is room for expansion, twists & turns, but limited enough to feel secure as a new reader. i loved that in this book, the reader was thrown into the magic without feeling too vulnerable OR belittled by the text. Paige, though an expert in her own world, was new to Oxford and was the perfect stand-in for the audience as she learned more and more about the Rephs, the politics of Scion, and about her own power.
Paige is an extremely compelling protagonist. she’s almost morally gray in that she is driven by a need to survive and to protect her own circle, but is willing to do whatever it takes. i loved the balance of selfishness and selflessness she held within her. she is cunning, but not arrogant. she is determined, but not ambitious. she is willing to step outside her comfort zone/expertise to do what needed to be done. she felt very realistic to me—her immediate rage and reactionary actions, and her later slow and methodical examination of her feelings (and the facts). i love her and i cannot wait to see how this
one of my favorite things about Samantha Shannon is her research. god, this woman is smart. the interwoven threads about Ireland (mirroring actual historical events, i assume) and Paige’s identity as an Irish person were sooooo delicious and fascinating. the pain of her family and how it resonated within her was magnificently depicted, and i know for certain that all of the inclusion of the Molly Riots was very intentional. i am excited to see how she can channel this revolutionary spirit in the next books.
also… damn, this book must have been born from a deep dive into paranormal and occult practices. i loved the familiar details of the tarot cards, scrying, ley lines, and the different orders of psychics and -mancers. the numa were particularly intriguing to me, and again, i was grateful for the glossary AND for the inclusion of the excerpt from Jaxon’s pamphlet. for once in my ENTIRE life i was interested in the communication between spirits and the spirit realm.
speaking of Jaxon! what a character. he reminds me of Niclays from Priory—a tough pill to swallow, but believable and compelling all the same. i am lowkey obsessed with this horrible man, and i can only imagine how he will be a wrench in Paige’s future plans. between Nick and Jaxon, i feel we have a Magneto and Professor X situation on our hands. time will tell. (sidenote: the whole seven orders thing is CRAZY AS HELL and the propaganda element was so believable to human nature. i want the full pamphlet NOW!)
Liss, Julian, Nadine, Zeke, Eliza, and Terebell are probably some of my favorite characters so far. i am totally entranced when i see them on the page. i love their gifts and how they all vary so widely despite feeling very similar in real-world terms. again, i look forward to seeing what lies ahead for each of them.
finally, i must touch on my favorite character: Arcturus Mesarthim. Warden. my beloved. as soon as Paige called him
overall, 10/10 read. i will be immediately starting the rest of the series in anticipation of The Dark Mirror’s release in February 2025. now that I know Paige and Arcturus, i will not be letting them go!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, and Colonisation
Minor: Slavery, Trafficking, and Fire/Fire injury
gillian_aftanas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Torture, Xenophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol
lamianoctalis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Fabelhafte, mitreißende Geschichte, die eine alternative Geschichte der Welt mithilfe liebevoll kreiierter, gut ausgearbeiteter Figuren erzählt.
Tolle Erzählerin
Empfehlung an alle Fantasy-/Mystery-Liebhaber
Tolle Erzählerin
Empfehlung an alle Fantasy-/Mystery-Liebhaber
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, and Classism
Moderate: Hate crime, Racism, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Torture, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
faehistory's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Excellent book, really enjoyed it and highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Racial slurs, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
ceruleanshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
"Go to hell."
"I already exist on a level of hell."
"Exist on one that isn’t near mine."
this was lit. 2010s ya dystopian vibes of red queen + shatter me with early 1900s SOC + peaky blinders and some macabre fantasy horror elements and more intricate worldbuilding of the locked tomb.
i know throwing all those titles out there sounds like this might be a pale imitation of some of them or a trope-built book, but it's not. it firmly stands on its own feet.
But there was no normal. There never had been. Normal and natural were the greatest lies we had ever created – we humans, with our little minds.
while this is a bit slower paced and there can be some cumbersome worldbuilding, i found myself really intrigued and invested in paige's story and this world. there's an interesting blend of real history and cultural references into this, and i found the blending of the above mentioned elements to be very creative in making a unique setting.
i love the idea of the mime crime and i can't wait to see those politics play out more in the future, as well as the mysterious and elusive origins of the rephaim and their enemies, the emim.
and ARCTURUS. I NEED MORE ARCTURUS 😩
‘Run, little dreamer.’
this is the first time in a WHILE that i've gotten to get into an established series with 0 info or spoilers, and i'm definitely keeping it that way while i catch up. seeing as it's going to be 7 books i'm soooo excited to see what the overall journey for paige and this world will be!
"I want to remind them that if you leave one spark aglow, it can still burn everything down."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement and Xenophobia
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Gore, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
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
brotestantethic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Magical!! Fantasy readers who loved Harry Potter as children, but who now want something more grown (and unproblematic) will absolutely love this book. Shannon is a master of world building and story telling. I fell in love with the characters of this book, and despite its size and wordiness, it is a quick read. This certainly makes fantasy reading less daunting and more accessible. I wasn’t expecting to root for the main love interests, but I couldn’t help myself by the end. Only knocked half a star for some clunkiness and convenient solutions which at times drew me away from the story. Other than that this is a stunning first installment, and I have already ordered the rest of the series!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Slavery and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual assault
mmidi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition
4.75
Samantha Shannon never ceases to disappoint! In this gripping dystopian fantasy about a futuristic London where clairvoyant Paige Mahoney known as the Pale Dreamer, must come to grips that the world she has always known isn’t what it seems and learn to control her powers if she wants to survive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Xenophobia, Police brutality, and Murder