This might be my fifth time reading The Bone Season since its initial publication back in 2013, but it's my first time reading the 10th Anniversary Edition (or, to be more precise, listening to the audiobook for it, which we'll touch upon a little later). It's possible to fall even more in love with a book when you reread it; that's how I feel after having completed this latest reread, which is how I know for sure.

I have been such a big fan of this series from the very start of its time in publication, so it's no surprise to me that I still loved this updated version with my whole heart! Getting to experience a story that I already loved, that already had impressive bones to it in the form of lore, characters and plot, as if it was the first time was a priceless experience. Seeing how Samantha Shannon took the story she'd already shared, using her current skillset as a writer to refine it even further - well, like a fine wine, it certainly aged very well and just made for an even more delicious reading experience, even to an already established fan of the series. 

A lot of what I said in my original glowing review of The Bone Season still remains true about this updated version. I admire Samantha Shannon's ability to weave such an interesting, complex world that combines the fantastical with the real. I loved following the turns the plot takes, how the intense action sequences, calmer introspective moments and conversational exchanges are woven into a narrative that kept me reading. And, of course, I adore our main character Paige Mahoney, with her stubbornness & compassion, her (occasionally reckless) bravery & good heart, and the very real way that she struggles with both her voyant abilities, life circumstances and choices. All of these elements are still very much present, but somehow finessed in a way that had me in awe - I genuinely now can say that I fully appreciate the author's unique opportunity to rework this story given how much stronger it now reads (even though I've always thought it a strong debut novel).

The Bone Season remains one of my all-time favorites. Each time I reread it, I'm reminded just how clever, complex and compelling this series starter is - and this time was clearly no exception. I loved this book so much, and I genuinely would recommend it as something for other readers interested in picking up a dystopian fantasy!

Additionally, on the audiobook, Alana Kerr Collins did an excellent job. I was completely swept up in her narration, and enjoyed the way she brought Paige to life with her voice.

Great world building. Fairly well paced, did hit a bit of a lull in the middle. Well rounded ending but clearly set up for book 2. 

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

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?).

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. 

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. 

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