Scan barcode
A review by klosterphobia
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I picked up The Bone Season because I wanted to read something by Samantha Shannon, but The Priory of the Orange Tree felt a little too intimidating in length. I read the 10th anniversary rewrite, and while I can see the potential in Shannon’s writing, this one left me with mixed feelings.
On one hand, the world is unique, but on the other, it’s overly complicated. There are so many terms and classifications - just look at the length of the glossary. While I eventually got a grasp on how the magic system functions, the source of the magic goes largely unexplored. There’s a lot of what but not a lot of why. Granted, this is the first book in a series, so maybe that gets fleshed out later.
The plot, unfortunately, leans heavily on overused dystopian tropes: an orphaned heroine with rare, special abilities, an oppressive regime, a rebellion symbolized by song, a love interest who is essentially an immortal vampire (except he eats souls, not blood), and side characters who exist mostly to be sacrificed for emotional impact. Paige, our protagonist, is supposed to be a street smart enforcer for a criminal gang, but she often feels too inherently good to fit that role convincingly. Her decisions frequently frustrated me. there were moments when the better choice seemed so obvious, yet she always took the most difficult path.
The romance was so slow-burn it almost felt like a plot twist. Knowing this revision was meant to reduce the Stockholm Syndrome-esque aspects of Paige and Warden’s dynamic, I was actually disappointed. A more morally gray take on their relationship could have been far more interesting than simply softening it to be more socially acceptable.
One of the book’s most compelling aspects is its clear inspiration from real-world ethnic conflicts in the ‘90s, particularly in Ireland and the Balkans. I wish Shannon had leaned into that more.
Since this was a debut and Shannon was so young when she wrote it, I could see the series improving over time. But with how trope heavy and frustratingly predictable this first book was, I’m unsure whether I’ll continue.
On one hand, the world is unique, but on the other, it’s overly complicated. There are so many terms and classifications - just look at the length of the glossary. While I eventually got a grasp on how the magic system functions, the source of the magic goes largely unexplored. There’s a lot of what but not a lot of why. Granted, this is the first book in a series, so maybe that gets fleshed out later.
The plot, unfortunately, leans heavily on overused dystopian tropes: an orphaned heroine with rare, special abilities, an oppressive regime, a rebellion symbolized by song, a love interest who is essentially an immortal vampire (except he eats souls, not blood), and side characters who exist mostly to be sacrificed for emotional impact. Paige, our protagonist, is supposed to be a street smart enforcer for a criminal gang, but she often feels too inherently good to fit that role convincingly. Her decisions frequently frustrated me. there were moments when the better choice seemed so obvious, yet she always took the most difficult path.
The romance was so slow-burn it almost felt like a plot twist. Knowing this revision was meant to reduce the Stockholm Syndrome-esque aspects of Paige and Warden’s dynamic, I was actually disappointed. A more morally gray take on their relationship could have been far more interesting than simply softening it to be more socially acceptable.
One of the book’s most compelling aspects is its clear inspiration from real-world ethnic conflicts in the ‘90s, particularly in Ireland and the Balkans. I wish Shannon had leaned into that more.
Since this was a debut and Shannon was so young when she wrote it, I could see the series improving over time. But with how trope heavy and frustratingly predictable this first book was, I’m unsure whether I’ll continue.