Title: The Bone Season
Author: Samantha Shannon
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Format: Hardcover, 480 pages
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

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It is the year 2059. Several major world cities are under the control of a security force called Scion. Paige Mahoney works in the criminal underworld of Scion London, part of a secret cell known as the Seven Seals. The work she does is unusual: scouting for information by breaking into others’ minds. Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare kind of clairvoyant, and in this world, the voyants commit treason simply by breathing.

But when Paige is captured and arrested, she encounters a power more sinister even than Scion. The voyant prison is a separate city—Oxford, erased from the map two centuries ago and now controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. These creatures, the Rephaim, value the voyants highly—as soldiers in their army.

Paige is assigned to a Rephaite keeper, Warden, who will be in charge of her care and training. He is her master. Her natural enemy. But if she wants to regain her freedom, Paige will have to learn something of his mind and his own mysterious motives.

The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine—a young woman learning to harness her powers in a world where everything has been taken from her. It also introduces an extraordinary young writer, with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut.


I am always weary when it comes to hype, if a book is called "brilliant" "outstanding" etc. I always think, "well it should blow my mind then," and then I get disappointed when it doesn't. So when I was told by many people at the Penguin Canada office to read The Bone Season because its the best thing they have ever read, I was hesitant but excited. And I will tell you right now, the hype was well deserved.

The Bone Season is hard to categorize for many reasons, many people think it should be YA, others think it should be Adult. To me it is in between. Although the main character is young, she is not young enough to be a young adult. Also, the subject matter is little intense, and honestly the writing style is above the young adult genre. Samantha Shannon has a extraordinary way with words and she has the ability to suck you into her world full of amazing powers and characters.

What I loved most about this novel was its originality and the way the world built upon itself the more you read. This is not a one sitting read, although I did finish it quite quickly. It is quite complex and deserves your full attention from beginning to end. The characters are well developed and the conflict was heart pounding, especially at the end. Although many are comparing this new series to Harry Potter, I find that quite wrong. With Harry potter the world grew with every book, and the characters grew with it. But in The Bone Season I think it is the way a series should start; strong and powerful. It is full of energy and action that will leave you turning the ages faster than you can read.

Now, I cannot write this review with mentioning Warden because he is seriously A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Anyone who has already read this book will attest to my love for this man. He is complicated, tender, and incredibly sweet. I loved him from the moment him and Paige met. Their sexual tension was amazing and well built throughout the novel, and I won't say what happens but I can tell you I would love for Shannon to write the next book ASAP.

The Bone Season is for hardcore lovers of Fantasy who love a well built world full of fantastical things and characters. It is for people who want to read something that will take the world by storm and create a new set of obsessions for a new generation. This book is a must read for 2013. You will not be disappointed.