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elizaveta_reads 's review for:
The Bone Season
by Samantha Shannon
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