I really enjoyed this book overall. The latter half read much faster and was much stronger then the first half in my opinion. I know that a glossary is provided in the back of the book, but I wish the world building had been a bit clearer, as it took a long time to grasp the intricacies of the clairevoyant world, and as I have never visited London/Oxford, I wanted a clearer description of Paige's world. I feel that the author assumes a lot of knowledge of her readers. I'm still eager to continue the series. 

Been a minute since I read a Samantha Shannon book! Forgot how intense the world-building is (I mean any book that has a glossary and character list...there's levels). This is the only place I have to deduct half a point because there was something I was confused about which seemed fundamental to how this, in reality, alternate timeline of our world functions. I thought I'd missed something, but I think it just wasn't explained until towards the end of the book? Since this is supposed to be a long series maybe that's intentional for the long haul as it were, but it wasn't like a big reveal.

Anyway that aside I really loved this and I am super excited to continue the series!! I really enjoyed Paige as a main character, she's feisty, tough and inquisitive. Can't wait to see where the story takes us...

what was that romanceeeeeee girlll its a choiceeeee /neg

this books pacing is insane - I couldn't put it down bcs shit was happening on every page in every scene and it was almost too intense like girl let me breathe
the writings really gooood
I had to get used to the dark themes of the book and the constant violence - I even had a nightmare after the first day of reading this and I woke up scared of the dark mskdfjdms
I'm interested in reading the second book for sure but I am slightly worried that I'll be less into it bcs I did NOT care for Jaxon Hall - he's a really annoying character and I just don't care if he lives or dies and it seems like in the second book he might appear alot moreeeee so yikes to thattt

There's something so special about a romantic lead the writer came up with at fifteen and has loved ever since, and also tortures constantly. Sam Shannon queen of torturing her characters and I hope she continues !!

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 like

size 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 this

escape 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 him

terrible 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!!! 

Excellent book, really enjoyed it and highly recommend. 

I picked up this book, didn’t read the back & bought it. I just had some feeling that I was going to love this book & I did. The world is intricate and the premise is so different from any other books I’ve come across- and I’m a veteran reader, for my age at least. I have so many more questions and am looking forward to the future books. Now, I didn’t give it the full five stars  because the love subplot really took me by surprise, in a way it shouldn’t have. There was not  much foreshadowing. It didn’t even need to be in obvious (ex. Toes curled in my shoes). Like I thought the romantic interests were into other people! 
Edit:
I look back on this book VERY fondly. It’s one of the most unique worlds a magic systems I’ve ever read. It took a second to find my footing but once I had it- it all was worth it.  the plot is compelling, dark, confusing in the best way & creating more questions to be answered. the world-building is never complete with Samantha Shannon. that’s one of the many reasons why she is in my top 5 favorite authors. 

TBS has been changed to a 5 star read. Possibly even six  because I think about it so often

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.

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 😩

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!

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.