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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
medium-paced
The Bone Season 3 stars
I considered a dnf a few times and that might have been the better idea. Though I enjoyed the narrator enough to push through and see how it ended. The world building was so out there that I found it hard to suspend disbelief. The plot was a big mess and the book overall bloated. Add to that a creepy romance with the main character's captor. The ending was interesting enough that I'm glad I finished but I don't feel enough connection with the characters to continue the series.
I considered a dnf a few times and that might have been the better idea. Though I enjoyed the narrator enough to push through and see how it ended. The world building was so out there that I found it hard to suspend disbelief. The plot was a big mess and the book overall bloated. Add to that a creepy romance with the main character's captor. The ending was interesting enough that I'm glad I finished but I don't feel enough connection with the characters to continue the series.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked up the revised edition after falling in love with the Roots of Chaos series and Samantha Shannon’s writing. I knew this book wouldn’t have the same lyrical, poetic style, but I was still a bit disappointed by just how much more direct the language was. The prose felt stripped down, and the scene construction lacked the lushness and intricacy I had come to love in her later work. If you’re considering picking it up because you expect the same kind of writing, I’d manage expectations—it’s a very different experience.
That said, I still really enjoyed the book. I couldn’t put it down—it was completely immersive, pulling me into a parallel universe that felt both familiar and utterly alien. The world-building is one of its strongest points; the way Shannon reimagines ideas about the sixth sense and layers them into an intricate system is truly impressive. There’s a depth to the setting that makes it feel lived-in, and even though some elements were a lot to take in at first, they became second nature as the story progressed.
The tension is palpable throughout, and the relationships between the characters feel real IF one remembers how old Paige is. I feel like most of us are a bit too dramatic and awkward around 19. In general, Paige is an engaging protagonist—determined, intelligent, and flawed in a way that makes her compelling, even when she makes questionable choices. Her dynamic with Warden is intriguing, with a push-and-pull that keeps you hooked, even if certain aspects of their interactions felt a bit predictable and sometimes annoying (but yet again, she's 19 and he's an immortal alien, so). However, there was a big drop of story glue (the sudden "I don't know how it happened, but we are now intimately and profoundly connected through an actual spiritual chain" ) that I really didn't enjoy.
That said, I still really enjoyed the book. I couldn’t put it down—it was completely immersive, pulling me into a parallel universe that felt both familiar and utterly alien. The world-building is one of its strongest points; the way Shannon reimagines ideas about the sixth sense and layers them into an intricate system is truly impressive. There’s a depth to the setting that makes it feel lived-in, and even though some elements were a lot to take in at first, they became second nature as the story progressed.
The tension is palpable throughout, and the relationships between the characters feel real IF one remembers how old Paige is. I feel like most of us are a bit too dramatic and awkward around 19. In general, Paige is an engaging protagonist—determined, intelligent, and flawed in a way that makes her compelling, even when she makes questionable choices. Her dynamic with Warden is intriguing, with a push-and-pull that keeps you hooked, even if certain aspects of their interactions felt a bit predictable and sometimes annoying (but yet again, she's 19 and he's an immortal alien, so). However, there was a big drop of story glue (
The plot and concept are fascinating, but it doesn't read like a standalone: The Bone Season leaves you with so many unanswered questions—and ends on an absolute cliffhanger. If you enjoy intricate world-building, high-stakes tension, and a dystopian-fantasy blend, it’s definitely worth a read—just be ready to commit to the series as a whole.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Grief
Minor: Torture, Death of parent, Alcohol
There are no words to express how I much I LOVED this book!
Everything about it, from the beginning to the end pulled me and complete emerged me in the story.
I realise I truly am a sucker for the ‘mentor’ trope
Everything about it, from the beginning to the end pulled me and complete emerged me in the story.
I realise I truly am a sucker for the ‘mentor’ trope
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Coming to this book quite a while after it's initial publication. I enjoyed it but it definitely has the signs of being an authorial debut. However, the story is compelling and the world Shannon has created is certainly interesting. Although, I must say, if I had been faced with that ending 10+ years ago, with a wait for a sequel, I would have been feeling a lot. Positively criminal to end on such a cliffhanger!
This book started great - loved Paige and her dystopian Britain. Good descriptions and some truly novel ideas. Also liked the characters of Jax and nick. But book got a little dull for me about 2/3 through. I just couldn't find any fear @ the emim ( still actually have no idea what they are) and could not warm up to Paige's love interest. Lots of odd arcane lingo - can someone explain to me why people speak in archaic English a zillion years in the future? I pushed thru til the end but by then I didn't really care much. So 4 stars for the beginning & the idea and 2 for the follow thru.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes