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

I bought the first publication run of this book from a book fair, and found the newer edition when I came back to the series 10 years later. This newer edition does have significant differences from the first publication run, best seen when reading both books side to side. If you're coming to this series anew, read the newer editions. Samantha Shannon has created a world that I can't stop exploring and asking questions about. Truly, the world building in this series has been unparalleled for me. The detail given to every character (not just the "main" characters) is astounding and speaks to a complexly woven story that is just beginning. So excited for the new book coming out 😁

Felt like there was a lot of scrambled thinking or steps being jumped without a lot of explanation. I couldn't connect with the characters. 

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!

This is was such an unexpected good story. I went into the story blind and it just became one the best book I have read so far this year.

Diversity: An #ownvoices book with notable diversity, given that the main character is queer and Irish (although her queerness has not been explicitly revealed in this book of the series), and two major characters are gay.  Additionally, the series so far as book four has also included a Deaf signing character, a character who uses they/them pronouns, strong LOTE (language other than English) inclusion, and an increasingly ethnically diverse range of characters. The author has publicly identified as a queer person with a disability.

Paige is a rare type of clairvoyant, living under a repressive regime that actively hunts down people like her, with special abilities stemming from an intimate connection with the aether. For protection, she has joined a criminal underworld of clairvoyants and has worked her way up to being the heir of a powerful mime lord, Jaxon Hall. A simple ride on the London underground leads to her being detected by night vigiles, and soon she is captured and sent off to a concentration camp in the abandoned city of Oxford. Her captivity leads to discoveries about the true nature of Scion, and the otherworldly race that lingers in the shadows. Her escape becomes contingent on a rebellion.

I first bought this book as a signed copy when it was first released in stores as a paperback, drawn in by its vibrant cover and its promise of a fast-paced fantasy adventure. I was living at home at the time, and my mum had called my teenage self out on my slobby housework in my room. True to the nature of a strict parent, I was not going to be in her good graces until it was clean. My ADHD brain rebelled, and all I know is come sunset, I was turning the last pages of a book I'd started early that morning to avoid cleaning (the room wasn't cleaned that day, go figure). Paige, the clairvoyant criminal underworld, the strange futuristic London she lived in, and diving into a mystery that was fanning the flames of a rebellion had swept me away and left me reeling. I may have been sucked in for a day, but I would have to wait two years for the next book, a few more for the next two, and the wait continues.

It goes without saying that a book (or series) that has held my attention (poor as it often is) for almost a decade and counting would sit amongst my favourites. Naturally, it seemed a wonderful choice for fulfilling one of the prompts for the Reading Women Challenge 2021 to "reread a favourite", and the reread of this and the second and third instalments proved to be vital revision for the release of book four earlier this year. I personally love it. I've been sitting here working myself into a headache trying to decide its flaws so that I can write a balanced review, but based on my experience, I reckon its bloody perfect. With that said, I gave a copy of this book to one of my closest bookish friends, and she's almost finished it. I asked for her impression to aid with the writing of this review, and she felt that it is worth noting that the world building and characters are quite complicated, and the set up required at the start to explain everything from the authoritarian republic of Scion and its history, the underworld, the orders of clairvoyance, and Sheol I are substantial. I would agree with this assessment. If the reader is able to be patient as this information is revealed, and hold onto these different threads as the story unfolds, it will come together. It does, however, remove it as a candidate for relaxing and breezy fantastical fiction lists. Another warning is that this book, and increasingly so in the series, is quite violent, and I have advised of a number of content warnings. Overall, as a dystopian fantasy novel set in real world locations and from an author becoming increasingly comfortable expressing her queer identity in her writing, The Bone Season is a highly original and excellently written contribution to the genre. It will have you cheering, holding your breath, crying, and screaming through a roller coaster ride of a mystery where nothing will turn out quite as you expect.

Recommended for: Dystopian lovers, those who want an inventive alternative to tired fantasy tropes, readers on board for an unpredictable adventure, and older teens and adults who value a queer-friendly story set-up.