The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
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If I have to be honest, I have no idea how to start this review BUT I will say one thing: this book is the first in a 7-book fantasy series. There is a lot of world-building terms that go around and it might get slightly confusing but it gets better and makes more sense later so, just bear with it. In addition, there is a chart at the beginning and a glossary at the end! Now onto my actual review!
Here is the synopsis:
The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people’s minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.
It is raining the day her life changes forever. Attacked, drugged and kidnapped, Paige is transported to Oxford – a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die.
Okay first off: the world-building. I have read The Priory of the Orange Tree and my main genre is fantasy and science-fiction so, I tend to be used to the whole world-building info. Shannon has created an incredibly interesting world and honestly, I really want more and I will obviously be continuing the series. Ever since the Percy Jackson books have come to an end (specifically an end with the Trials of Apollo), I have been avoiding long series’ like the plague because I didn’t want to grow to love another series just to see it end (although I could just re-read it, but then it’s not the same. ya know?). Anywho, the world-building and magic system was super cool. To rephrase the synopsis: we are in future London and Scions (sort of like the leaders who have special police to track down the clairvoyants) are in power. Paige is part of a group and helps a man named Jaxon Hall. She then is captured, in a fleeting turn of events, transported to Oxford (supposedly off-limits to the rest of the world, especially the humans) and Paige, being an incredibly rare type of clairvoyant is assigned to the Warden who, naturally is her enemy. Nashira, the leader of the Rephaite’s is engaged to the Warden and wants to find the dreamwalker that is supposedly in London to get the dreamwalker to work for them (to say it without spoilers). Let’s just say that I don’t like Nashira.
Secondly, the characters. Paige is such a badass! I love how when she gets to Oxford, she goes to find allies. I really like how her relationship with the Warden develops, specifically on the tentative alliance side. I do understand why people might be put off because of a supposed romance between Paige and the Warden but it’s fairly clear that Paige is actually very wary of the Warden at the beginning. Sure, she describes him and judging from the description, he is fairly attractive but Paige doesn’t seem super-duper into him (no insta love here, people!) and honestly, IT’S ABOUT TIME we have a character that doesn’t fall in love with the first brooding guy she meets (well, she does develop feelings for him but that’s after actually getting to know him, hence her being demisexual.) I really like the overall dynamic of the members of the Seven Dials, they clearly care about each other (Nick and Paige’s friendship, my heart) but I definitely do not like Jaxon Hall. He just seems so controlling and does not seem like the great guy that Paige makes him out to be.
In conclusion, I think this is a fairly solid book, especially it being the first book in the series. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building and characters and can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Rating 5/5 stars
Love,
Mila
