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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
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
chasinggrace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
3.0
Wait because I’m so sad that I am giving this book a three star rating. I absolutely loved Priory, and I had such high hopes for the beginning of this series. However, it’s the writing that ruined the story for me. There was SO. MUCH. telling instead of showing. I also don’t think the first person POV worked to the story’s advantage here. Unfortunately, there were many obvious statements, convenient jumps back in time, and sloppy character-building. I think the magic system and world is so interesting, but the descriptors of what is what and who is who were not weaved into the story well. At many times, it felt like info dump after info dump.
Particularly, the jump from “I will lead this rebellion” to the Bicentennial or whatever was CRAZY. We spend 400 pages watching Paige suffer and fight against the system as a stubborn individual and are so ready to follow her through the intricate steps of sowing a rebellion amongst prisoners, just for the book to…skip 2 months of scheming? That would have been INTERESTING. Instead, I now have to read 20 pages of “a few weeks ago we did this, and Jules handled this, and I planted bombs here, and shoutout to the performers who helped me do this.” Like, I would have liked to SEE ALL OF THAT, not just be told about it. Or at least go over the plans through dialogue, not just Paige telling the reader everything that’s been done point-blank. The writing took me out of the story more times than I can count, which made me so frustrated because the story is interesting.
Other than the frustrating prose - and the choppy world/character building that went along with it - I was enamored by the story. I found the interactions and banter between Paige and Warden to actually be done quite well. His personality and speaking style was distinct, and their interactions kept me interested without them being overly obvious or corny.
As stubborn as she can be, I did enjoy how Paige’s past in the syndicate helped her in the lost city. She’s not a bulletproof FMC but she’s also not hopeless. Can she be dumb and rash? Yes. And a little too “let’s save everyone even though that’s illogical.” But overall, I was rooting for her and wanted to read about her more.
My favorite aspects of this story were the dialogue between Paige and Warden, the setting within Magdalen, and the relationships Paige had between the Seven Dials and the other humans in the lost city. I also loved the ending, but didn’t want it to be the end! It ends in a way that really makes you want to read the next book, despite this one’s flaws.
Other than the frustrating prose - and the choppy world/character building that went along with it - I was enamored by the story. I found the interactions and banter between Paige and Warden to actually be done quite well. His personality and speaking style was distinct, and their interactions kept me interested without them being overly obvious or corny.
As stubborn as she can be, I did enjoy how Paige’s past in the syndicate helped her in the lost city. She’s not a bulletproof FMC but she’s also not hopeless. Can she be dumb and rash? Yes. And a little too “let’s save everyone even though that’s illogical.” But overall, I was rooting for her and wanted to read about her more.
My favorite aspects of this story were the dialogue between Paige and Warden, the setting within Magdalen, and the relationships Paige had between the Seven Dials and the other humans in the lost city. I also loved the ending, but didn’t want it to be the end! It ends in a way that really makes you want to read the next book, despite this one’s flaws.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism
audelidou's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
C'est un livre qui a de gros défauts, mais qui reste une lecture très plaisante !
Je pense que je plus gros point négatif est la temporalité. Elle n'est pas très claire et ça m'a un peu mélangée au fil de ma lecture. Par exemple, Paige, le personnage principal, affirme que ça fait plusieurs jours, voire plusieurs semaines qu'elle est captive, mais l'écriture me donnait l'impression qu'elle l'était depuis peu. 3 jours au maximum. Puis elle parle de toutes ses séances d'entraînement avec Warden, des vestes qu'elle gagne, etc. mais on ne voit que comme 3-4 séances d'entraînement. Bref, il y a beaucoup de temps et d'action qui se passent sans que ça ne soit clair, ce que je trouve étrange. Aussi, plusieurs faits sont simplement dits sans être réellement expliqués, ce qui fait que le world building est moins cohérent, surtout en ce qui a trait au fonctionnement de la société rephaim et à la famille Sargas (qui sont les Sargas, vraiment ? Pourquoi sont-ils au pouvoir ? Combien sont-ils ? Pourquoi introduire le personnage de Kraz s'il meurt genre 2 pages plus loin et qu'il ne sert pas à grand chose dans l'histoire ? ) Je pense que Shannon voulait mettre trop d'informations, d'éléments et de rebondissements dans un tome, ce qui rend le tout un peu confus, mais prévisible. C'était assez facile d'anticiper ce qui allait se passer malgré tout.
Par contre, le système de magie / voyance est très intéressant ! Il est détaillé, bien construit et plutôt unique. Ça donne envie d'en découvrir plus et de plonger dans l'univers du livre et de la série. Les personnages sont intéressants eux aussi, humains avec leurs qualités et leurs défauts, leurs secrets et la confiance qu'ils s'accordent plus ou moins facilement. Ces éléments sont vraiment ce qui ont gardé mon intérêt tout au long de la lecture !
Je vais lire le deuxième tome, me disant que même si ce n'est pas la série du siècle, je vais passer un moment agréable à lire la suite.
Je pense que je plus gros point négatif est la temporalité. Elle n'est pas très claire et ça m'a un peu mélangée au fil de ma lecture. Par exemple, Paige, le personnage principal, affirme que ça fait plusieurs jours, voire plusieurs semaines qu'elle est captive, mais l'écriture me donnait l'impression qu'elle l'était depuis peu. 3 jours au maximum. Puis elle parle de toutes ses séances d'entraînement avec Warden, des vestes qu'elle gagne, etc. mais on ne voit que comme 3-4 séances d'entraînement. Bref, il y a beaucoup de temps et d'action qui se passent sans que ça ne soit clair, ce que je trouve étrange. Aussi, plusieurs faits sont simplement dits sans être réellement expliqués, ce qui fait que le world building est moins cohérent, surtout en ce qui a trait au fonctionnement de la société rephaim et à la famille Sargas (qui sont les Sargas, vraiment ? Pourquoi sont-ils au pouvoir ? Combien sont-ils ?
Par contre, le système de magie / voyance est très intéressant ! Il est détaillé, bien construit et plutôt unique. Ça donne envie d'en découvrir plus et de plonger dans l'univers du livre et de la série. Les personnages sont intéressants eux aussi, humains avec leurs qualités et leurs défauts, leurs secrets et la confiance qu'ils s'accordent plus ou moins facilement. Ces éléments sont vraiment ce qui ont gardé mon intérêt tout au long de la lecture !
Je vais lire le deuxième tome, me disant que même si ce n'est pas la série du siècle, je vais passer un moment agréable à lire la suite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Drug use, Rape, 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
cpratreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I liked this book, but the pacing was so so strange. It was hard to grasp the depth of the story, relationships, and characters sometimes because it was always hard to tell how much time had passed. That being said, I hit a point in the book where I couldn't really put it down so I will read the next few in the series for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual assault
julienicole1106's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
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