Shannon is one of the most underrated fantasy authors today. I appreciated this next segment in her 7 book series.

When I recieved this book, I did not realize it was part of an ongoing series. That is information I wish was given on every Netgalley book. I had heard many good things about The Bone Season but had never read it. I just got around to making the attempt and I did not enjoy it. My feedback is mainly being given in hopes that future books, as part of a series, are labeled as such. I don't like leaving things undone for so long.

I loved this book so much! I loved the characters and the world! I would and have recommended this book to all my friends! I love this series so much and was so excited to be able to read this!

Such an imaginative series! Samantha Shannon's star is on the rise. Wish I had a read this one sooner.

Not the strongest in the series, but a good developmental stepping stone. Excited to see where the story goes!

So. I had two main thoughts right after I finished this book. First, these books have serious pacing issues. I swear this one was all over the place. Might just be me, but it's something I had an issue with in the last two books. But I'll get to more of that in a bit.

Second, there wasn't enough of a certain Mime Lord. At the end of The Mime Order, that plot twist finally had me hooked on these books. And then... the turncoat that shall not be named is basically non-existent from this book beyond a few mentions here and there. That's what I was excited for! To see the stand-off between them and Paige. But... nothing. There's a scene near the end but it didn't warrant the ending of the previous book.

Alright, so it's three books into the series. I had my issues with The Bone Season and The Mime Order but ultimately the books seemed to be getting better. I can't say that isn't true now having read The Song Rising but I'm thinking that I'm just never going to like this author's writing style. 

Also this is going to be hard while also avoiding as many spoilers from previous books as I can, so keep with me here for a sec.

Paige has taken on a LOT of new responsibilities as Underqueen in London. It's a constant battle for her, with her own emotions and decisions that need to be made, with her "subjects," with the Rephaim she's partnered with. I liked that each of these conflicts is brought out and developed, that Paige has to make the tough calls and face the consequences of her decisions. 

On a lesser note, I am so tired of the Paige/Warden romance-baiting! We have three pretty massive books and now is NOT the time for them to cool their heels. Come on! If this is supposed to lead to some big revelation I will not be happy for being strung along this far. And it wouldn't surprise me if that's what happens based on the last scene.

This book actually reminded me a lot of the Hunger Games trilogy, specifically Mockingjay, in that way. Girl turned revolution symbol must take down the evil government. The darkness, the reality that sets in during the course of The Song Rising makes it very real. Granted, there are far more books coming up in this series so Paige still has a lot of work to do.

Now book 3 here is shorter than the previous installments which was great for me, first, in part, because of the pacing. It just wasn't consistent. For 75% of the book, I saw all of this real stuff going on but it was always written in a way that was either too slow and I became bored or too quick and was gone before the details set in. Now the last 25% was action scenes one after another. Something was always happening, tensions rising, and it was great. The ending? Eh, not sure how I feel about it but that comes in to the other part of the book length.

The world has expanded from London in The Song Rising, and I can see how the series will be shifting directions from the Mime Order out into something bigger that might warrant the 7-book series. Might. We shall see. But while the world grew, the details weren't around. I felt like the books went from drowning the reader in world-building to not including enough. 

I'm just... I don't think "underwhelmed" is quite the right word for this book but I felt like while it improved on some things, it failed on others. This wasn't the continuation I was hoping for but it's the one we got and I'm just wondering where this series is going and if it's getting too big for these characters and this story.

The Song Rising was a really good read with a fascinating world, complex characters, and an engaging plot. It did feel like were some things about the plot development and pacing that I didn't love but I did really enjoy the book. I think on it's own I don't think it's perfect but as part of the series I think it's a good addition.

When I requested this I didnt realize that it was book 3 of a series.
I have purchased the other 2 books and will update this review once i have completed the series.
Thank you for the opportunity.

Mare~Slitsread

A lumbering continuation of the series that leaves us asking, again, what's next that hasn't been drawn out already?

Oh, happy day, Paige Mahoney is back in book three of the Bone Season saga! At the end of The Mime Order she had wrested control of the London clairvoyant syndicate from her boss and mentor, Jaxon, and was now the new Underground Queen. Unfortunately, she had not killed Jaxon in the process and when the novel ended she learned that he was working with their greatest enemy, the Scion. In The Song Rising Paige needs to manage her new role as leader while fighting the increased pressure from Scion to destroy her and everyone like her.

Author Samantha Shannon brings back virtually all of the original cast in The Song Rising but ratchets up the tension by tightening Scion’s noose around London and the voyant population. They’ve produced new technology that, out of the seven levels of supernatural powers, can detect humans with voyant capabilities up to level four. This pushes all voyants deeper into the underground and limits their ability to survive. Paige must work with the Ranthen, immortals who have long been their enemy, to find where Scion’s new weapons are being produced and what fuels their technology. There is no trust between any of the factions meaning every decision made comes at the risk of betrayal and destruction.

Action and the kind of imagination that fuels science fiction is not enough for a long term series to be successful. There needs to be an evolution of the characters and Shannon gets this. In books one and two, Paige was very clearly the underdog, but in The Song Rising her character becomes more nuanced. She is still fighting the good fight, but she’s also faced with personal sacrifices and the growing pains of leadership and making mistakes. Additionally, Shannon uses the novel to continue to fill in the back story of this Great Britain of the future and of who the players have come to be aligned as they are.

By this point, if you haven’t read the first two books it’s worth it to go back and do so before reading The Song Rising. Plus, it’s great escape reading and there are still 4 more books to come. The novel stands on its own, but stepping into the middle of this world of crime, double dealing, the paranormal, and authoritarian regimes is not nearly as much fun as full immersion. As each book ends, my only thought is ‘why can’t I keep reading?’—the hallmark of a skilled storyteller. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Embracing a literary series can be a tricky thing.

Sure, some authors appear capable of turning books out on a fixed schedule, adding to their rich fictional worlds with a comforting degree of consistency. It might not be as fast as a fan might like, but at least it’s coming. However, there are others (*coughcoughGeorgeRRMartincough*) who, well … aren’t.

Thankfully, Samantha Shannon appears to be in the former category. Her latest novel “The Song Rising” – the third in her “Bone Season” series - has arrived. It continues the story of clairvoyant (or “voyant”) Paige Mahoney as she battles against the oppressive government forces that control her home and threaten to wipe her kind out.

Paige, much to her chagrin, has risen to the top of the heap of the voyant underworld in the Scion-controlled London of 2059. She is the new Underqueen, the ruler of the various and sundry gangs of the paranormally powered who strive to stay underground in order to survive. She achieved this post – however reluctantly – by defeating her former superior Jaxon Hall in the arena.

Not all are pleased with Paige’s ascendance, though. That displeasure is compounded by outside factors – namely Paige’s alliance with a faction of the immortal Rephaim in an effort to maintain the Mime Order, a group dedicated to the overthrow of Scion in order to defend reality itself against monstrous creatures from another dimension.

But when word gets out that the Scion Senshield technology – the technology that allows government agents to detect voyants – has evolved from large, clumsy, easily avoided machines into devices that are concealable and potentially portable, Paige knows that it is only a matter of time before Scion has the capability to completely and utterly eradicate the voyant community.

And so, she undertakes a nigh-hopeless mission to track this new technology to the source and – somehow – find a way to destroy it before it destroys her and everything that she cares about. She may have to compromise who she is to achieve that goal, but in a world filled with powers of the spirit, it’s especially dangerous to put one’s soul at risk.

Samantha Shannon has settled into an impressive groove here. She’s playing a long game with regards to the world-building that she’s been doing – and it’s paying dividends. Bits of information are scattered throughout, brief moments that exist amidst the story’s basic structure and offer flashes of insight with regards to the larger universe. Those flashes provide a lovely context and add pieces to the puzzle.

There’s a rich and complex hierarchy at work here, one whose depths are revealed as layer after layer is peeled back. The juxtaposition of the ethereal swirl of spiritual powers amongst the voyants against the militarized quasi-Puritanism of Scion creates a fascinating dynamic – one that has grown more engaging with each installment.

There’s an intensity of focus on Paige, but Shannon utilizes the relatively little developmental space given to the supporting characters quite well. Paige’s compatriots tend to be a bit broadly drawn (with the notable exception of her idiosyncratic and somewhat sad relationship with Warden, the Rephaite who was once her trainer/captor and is now her friend), but they fit nicely into the overall narrative.

Still, it’s Paige’s story – a truth that the author embraces wholeheartedly. Her journey – her growth – is a large part of what separates these books from standard genre fare. There are plenty of young heroines striding through scores of magical realms out there; the fantasy fiction landscape is littered with them. Paige is … more. Shannon has created a compelling character and set her loose in a fascinating world, and really, what more can you ask from a fantasy series?

“The Song Rising” is a strong continuation of an excellent series. The blend of dystopian future and paranormal power is an intriguing one; I think of it as fantasy fiction with sci-fi elements, but if you called it science fiction with fantasy elements, I wouldn’t argue. Either way, it’s two great tastes that taste great together – another sterling effort from the pen of a gifted young writer.

Shannon continues to amaze readers with her intensive, yet sprawling world building. Paige is a character who keeps her fans on their toes. Great installment. Can't wait for more!

An impeccable sequel that left as many questions as it answered. Made me want more with each chapter.

Song Rising by Samantha Shannon is a direct continuation of The Mime Order. This means the beginning of the book is a bit in recovery mode after the climatic events of the previous book. Though, it does not take all that long for a renewed threat, in the form of the Senshield Sensors (more powerful than before), to appear.

The, now epic, Bone Season series provides a well created world with flawed, dynamic, evolving characters, epitomized by Paige. Things are not easy for her, and as she fights the battles in front of her, you connect with her and the other characters more and deeper than ever before. Every wound is felt, every loss meaningful. Be prepared for the long game though as this is a series that will not be wrapped up in just three books, which just means that we will get to enjoy Paige and all of the characters that much longer.

Overall, Song Rising was a great third book in the series with a growing magical dynamic in a world of complex characters. We are still finding out whose side people are on, and I have a feeling it will take till the last book of the series for all to be revealed. I very much recommend.

(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review.)

Samantha Shannon’s books are a little weird for me. I start off curious but they’re never books that I’ve been dying to read… by the end however, I’m always VERY impressed by how events unfold and how the characters change. Part of what I love the most is how you could never in a million years confuse the plots or mix anything up because each book is very distinct from its predecessors. Each book is a new chapter in Paige’s life- once it’s closed, it’s closed.

The Song Rising begins with Paige having just ascended to the throne as Underqueen. She must simultaneously retain control of the Mime Order and strike a blow at Scion, but this is becoming increasingly difficult as Scion develops technology to identify clairvoyants. The central goal in The Song Rising is the destruction of the SenShield device that detects voyants, leading Paige and her close allies out of London and into the other citadels in England. This provided a nice change in scenery and an opportunity to see what life is like for other, smaller syndicates.

I love the continued growth of all the characters, but Paige in particular continues to shine. She has matured a great deal and taken the foremost role in the syndicate to further her goal of destroying Scion and the people responsible for so much destruction and oppression. She made difficult decisions that many YA heroines would never have made because oftentimes they are weak, insipid creatures and forgo self-sacrifice in favor of remaining with their love interests. There were a number of new people introduced, from other syndicate leaders to one of the many faces of evil in Scion. All the new introductions kept me on my toes!

Overall, The Song Rising was a very good book and after that ending I can see how this series could stretch out into seven books. I like the story but I can’t find it in myself to gush over this series the way I do others- it just doesn’t bring forth any silver-tongued eloquence the way some books do… However, I DO think it’s quality writing and The Song Rising will be a pretty awesome fantasy series once complete.

3.5 stars

I didn't love this as much as the previous ones. It just didn't hook me in the same way and I'd been away from this world for so long that it took a while to get back into the lingo. I quickly remembered why 1/2 of the first book had been a massive info dump of terms you have to know. I'm still not entirely clear on the difference between Ranthem, and Rephaite honest but in kindle format it's not convient to find the terms in the back.

Once I finally read this book consistenly, it clicked better for me. I'm still down for reading the rest of the series but almost feel back for Shannon at this point because I think this entire series was majorly oversold before her first one had even come out. (Oh and what is up with the covers being changed??? Thumbs down on that.)

Things I did like:
Paige came into her own here. She found her own strength apart from everyone else and even when dealing with PTSD she managed to survive.
The branching out from just Sheol I or the Mime Order.
The twist of who is actually working with who.
The decent amount of action sequences.

If you've already gotten into the series, continue. If not, I'd say wait another 10 years until they all come out.

I had a lot of trouble getting into The Song Rising's predecessor, The Mime Order, but this book gripped me right from the start - it really took the series to a whole other level!

In The Song Rising, Paige, now The Mime Order's Underqueen, has a whole new set of problems to deal with: Some members of the syndicate think she's weak or a traitor for turning her back on Jaxon Hall, so she has to prove that she's worthy of her new position; there's the constant threat of Jaxon and the Reshaim coming after her; there's also a host of new enemies, including Vance, the architect behind the Dublin massacre Paige witnessed as an eleven-year-old. However, the most pressing challenge faced by London's Unnatural community is Senshield, which is a piece of technology that enables the Archon to identify Unnaturals. While they originally thought that the technology was in its early stages, and much too bulky to be widely implemented, after a number of disappearances, it becomes apparent that the Senshield technology is much more advanced than they thought. So, in order to protect the Unnaturals in her syndicate, Paige must find and destroy the source of the Senshield's power.

There were so many amazing things about this book. The pacing was absolutely perfect. When I read The Mime Order, I had such a hard time getting through the first half, because it felt like nothing was happening, but I definitely didn't have the same problem with The Song Rising! From the very first page, it was pretty much non-stop excitement. Even though a lot of the book consisted of Paige travelling from one place to the next, in search of Senshield's core, it never once felt boring.

Although I loved the plot, I had mixed feelings about the characters. I think that the only one who really showed any development was Paige. Yes, she's the main character in a first person narrative, so that's to be expected, but I would have liked to see a bit more of the other characters. In addition, none of her relationships with the other characters developed very much at all.

In all, I was completely blown away by this book, and I really hope I don't have to wait over two years for the next one!

The Song Rising is the third book in Samantha Shannon’s epic seven part fantasy about Paige Mahoney and Scion. This series has quickly become one of my favorites right up there with Harry Potter. There is just so much attention to detail and vastness to the world that I love putting myself in the story and watching the story unfold. It also has such an intrigue “magic” system with the different orders of Clairvoyants and I love learning more about them as we delve deeper into this world.

Samantha has always said Book 3 was the end of one arc of Paige’s story and this book would set up the next story arc. This is completely true in that it sets up the next part of the series while also tying up certain aspects from the beginning. I also think having this end of one story arc is helpful in what will be a seven book series. It helps break up the epic story and give you some sense of conclusion even as the plot expands and you learn more about what they are up against.

One of the things I love about this series is how great Samantha Shannon is at getting you involved in the story and keeping you entertained from the start. The books have this constant action where you are on the edge of your seat waiting to see what Paige and Co. will get up to next. While we only get to see things from Paige’s perspective, her unique gift gives us more insight into many aspects of the world and those against Paige.

This book also features so many of the characters I have come to love but also gave us time to meet new characters and fall in love with them. I think the ending of this book was perfect in the sense it left me feeling optimistic and content with where things stood for our characters but it also left the door wide open for what is to come. So while this book was the end of one story arc, I still hate that I have to wait over a year now for the next installment. Hopefully Book 4 is in our hands sooner rather than later and we get to be back with Paige and Co. soon.

*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC*

It’s no secret that I am a HUGE fan of The Bone Season. So, you can imagine, after over a two year wait, how thrilled I was to finally dive into the third installment. Now that I’ve turned the final page of the book I'm a bit speechless. I had some high expectations going into this after the whirlwind that was the first two books. Guess what? Samantha Shannon took those high expectations and blew the roof completely off of them! The Song Rising left me breathless and wanting more. It’s quite possible that I’ve already found my top read of 2017.

The Mime Order concluded with a jaw dropping, gasp worthy cliffhanger. Paige, who had just won the crown for Underqueen, finds out that her ex-mime-lord Jaxon Hall had a little secret up his sleeve. The first Ranthen rebellion that was quenched all those years ago by a human betrayal? That was Jaxon’s doing. The Song Rising begins on the tremulous notes of that shocking reveal and the consequences of Paige’s actions in the scrimmage as well as Jaxon’s betrayal make themselves obvious pretty quickly. Due to the fact that Paige turned against her mime-lord to win the title of Underqueen a lot of the syndicate, London’s voyant criminal underworld, don’t exactly accept her as their leader. Not to mention the fact that the Ranthen, the Rephaim who turned against Nashira, are questioning her loyalty and ability to lead because of her past connection with Jaxon. Paige’s reign as Underqueen is definitely off to a rocky start as she rebuilds the syndicate from the ground up to prepare them to take action against Scion by joining with the Ranthen. However, a threat lies fast approaching as Scion implements Senshield, a technology that can detect clairvoyance, forcing Paige to make the choice of putting her people into hiding to save them. Senshield is the one thing that could not only spell death for all voyants but ruin their revolution before it even begins so it has to be destroyed at any cost. The Song Rising starts with a bang as you dive head first into a story full of uncertainty, suspense, unexpected plot twists, and so much more as new allies are gained and new enemies rise up.

Hands down, one of my favorite things about The Bone Season so far has been the characters. They've become so memorable for me. Samantha Shannon has created these characters with so much depth, they’re not one-dimensional they're complex and flawed. I mean most of the voyants are criminals turned revolutionaries after all (some reluctantly so). And then aside from the voyants there’s the Rephaim who are still shrouded in so much mystery, but that’s what makes them interesting. Both have characters that are working for Scion and Nashira while both also have characters that are working against them. I won’t go into a lot of detail about all of the characters but that’s mainly because certain things are revealed that I don’t want to spoil. I will say that we do learn a bit about both Nick's past as well as Warden's.

From The Bone Season to The Song Rising, Paige has gone through a lot of changes. Seriously, her character development has been on point! One thing I’ve loved is seeing her step out of that role of reluctant leader and into embracing it and how much she wants to change the world she lives in. She’s someone who is headstrong, stubborn, ambitious, and just cares so much for her fellow voyants. She’s willing to sacrifice anything to make sure that there is a day where they don’t have to worry about whether their clairvoyance will lead them to their deaths. Is she perfect? Absolutely not. In fact, Paige can be a bit impulsive at times which almost always turns out bad. But at heart, everything she does is fueled by good intentions. Going into The Song Rising she has a lot of doubt about who she can trust because of Jaxon’s betrayal, which is something she has to overcome. There’s also so much revealed about her past that I won’t even go into. All I’m going to say is that this book has cemented the fact that Paige is my top favorite female character.

Beyond the familiar faces from previous books, The Song Rising brings with it a full introduction to so many other great characters. One of them, Maria, who we see briefly in The Mime Order has quickly become a favorite of mine. I love her.

And don’t even get me started on the romance! I’ve said this in previous reviews so I’m probably becoming repetitive but I love how Samantha Shannon has crafted this incredible, slow burn romance and not made it the main focal point of the books. Warden and Paige, I love them. There’s just something so unique about their connection and with each book I love them more and more. I can’t even really explain it but I can’t get enough of the two of them. The Song Rising definitely played with my emotions where they are concerned. Yes, I'm being purposely vague.

Something else I would like to point out as notable is the fact that almost every single character in power or in a leadership position is female. From the good guys to the enemies it’s the women running the show. The Song Rising, in particular, is rocking some serious girl power! I loved it.

Also, once again, Samantha Shannon has blown me away with her writing and world building! Each book has delved more and more into this horrific and shocking world while peeling away layers that I never saw coming. The Song Rising goes more into the internal workings of Scion, we get to see more of London and other voyant communities outside of London, and there’s so much heartbreaking character backstory revealed. Plus, there is a plot twist that I’m still picking my jaw up off of the floor over.

This book was engaging, suspenseful, and just when I thought I knew what was going to happen the rug was ripped right out from under me. Be prepared to shed some tears and be left on the edge of your seat breathlessly anticipating the fourth book. I for one need said book in my hands right now.

Overall, The Song Rising was not only everything I hoped for but also exactly what I’ve come to expect from this author. It was completely worth the two year wait!