Welcome to the Irish Banana Review stop for the blog tour of The Bone Season. Going into BEA we heard a ton of buzz surrounding this book and even had the chance to meet Samantha Shannon (who is beyond sweet!). Here's Gabrielle's review of this stunning debut:
Title: The
Bone Season
Author: Samantha
Shannon
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date:
8.20.2013
Pages: 480
Genre: Fantasy,
Dystopian
Series: The Bone Season #1
Source: ARC
from BEA
Rating: A
Summary (from Goodreads):
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.
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.
Review:
Don't you love it when you read the summary of a book and think "Meh, this looks pretty
good," and then you read it and your like "Why didn't I read this
sooner?!" That was exactly how it went with this book.
Samantha Shannon is absolutely phenomenal in the way she has created a world that is exciting, mysterious, and full of secrets.
It is hard to believe a world such as Scion doesn't actually exist. The amount of planning, layouts, language, everything seems to have required so much thought I can't believe something so amazing isn't real. I was not left asking myself to try and picture something. It was always there. Literally watching a movie in my head.
Paige, Warden, the Seals, and even the Rephaim had enough history and detail that you weren't questioning their presence. You understand them and their motives, their hardships and lack of restraint. I loved these characters. Shannon gave you more then enough to love them, enough to understand, and just enough to say " Ok, and they next isn't coming out 'til when?!"
My only reserve about this book is that it's going to sit alone on the shelf until the rest follow. I cannot wait until I can read more of Scion, Paige, and what happens to it all. Samantha Shannon is amazing, brilliant, and truly has a talent. The Bone Season is most definitely a must read!
Samantha Shannon is absolutely phenomenal in the way she has created a world that is exciting, mysterious, and full of secrets.
It is hard to believe a world such as Scion doesn't actually exist. The amount of planning, layouts, language, everything seems to have required so much thought I can't believe something so amazing isn't real. I was not left asking myself to try and picture something. It was always there. Literally watching a movie in my head.
Paige, Warden, the Seals, and even the Rephaim had enough history and detail that you weren't questioning their presence. You understand them and their motives, their hardships and lack of restraint. I loved these characters. Shannon gave you more then enough to love them, enough to understand, and just enough to say " Ok, and they next isn't coming out 'til when?!"
My only reserve about this book is that it's going to sit alone on the shelf until the rest follow. I cannot wait until I can read more of Scion, Paige, and what happens to it all. Samantha Shannon is amazing, brilliant, and truly has a talent. The Bone Season is most definitely a must read!
Buy: Amazon
I highly enjoyed this one (it wasn't the second coming of HP but it was good). The worldbuilding was solid and I'm definitely intrigued by everything that's going on in the world (what's with that dying flower, btw?!?). Looking forward to book 2!
ReplyDeleteYeah, this was definitely one of the more popular books at BEA. I had discovered just a pile of them for the taking at their booth with no one around. I was actually surprised there wasn't a swarm. I do plan on reading it and am excited when I get to. :)
ReplyDeleteI love when a book is so detailed (without being boring!) that I can see it unfold in my head like a movie. The summary does sound good, but you're right, it's nothing to make me rush out and get it- but your review is exactly why I love to follow bloggers, to get the feelings behind the book summary. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh yay I'm glad you loved this one! I think I'm like the only person who didn't really like it, but I can definitely see your points about the world-building! She definitely really worked on the world, and I'm glad that The Bone Season turned out to be one of those reads that you thought you would just like and then ended up LOVING. :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic review, Gabrielle! <33
I got this one at BEA, after this review, I guess I have to read it soon :)
ReplyDeleteAll thanks to Mr Anderson for helping with my profits and making my fifth withdrawal possible. I'm here to share an amazing life changing opportunity with you. its called Bitcoin / Forex trading options. it is a highly lucrative business which can earn you as much as $8,070 in a week from an initial investment of just $500. I am living proof of this great business opportunity. If anyone is interested in trading on bitcoin or any cryptocurrency and want a successful trade without losing notify Mr Anderson now.
ReplyDeleteWhatsapp: +447883246472
Email: tdameritrade077@gmail.com