The Bone Season

Thank you so much to Bloomsbury, Samantha Shannon, and Netgalley for this ARC! I have so, so much to say about this book, and I am so grateful to have gotten the chance to review this prior to its release this fall.

First of all- The Bone Season is an incredibly unique series. For me, this is absolutely a five-star series, and this edited/updated version of the first book has reignited my love for Paige Mahoney. This is the kind of series that I initially struggled to understand, but by the time I had finished the first book and moved on to the next, I was completely intrigued. Because of it's completely unique nature, I almost struggle to recommend it, because I truly believe this is the kind of book, where "if you get it, you get it". Once I finished this series for the first time, it lingered in my brain for months. I have thought about it many, many times since my first read-through. I think this is the kind of sci-fi book that is completely worth giving it a shot, but keep in mind- there is a LOT going on, and it is understandable if a person does not resonate with it the first time. I, however, am so glad I stuck with it.

Samantha Shannon has redesigned this book in such a beautiful, tasteful, and considerable way- although I enjoyed the original version, this 10th Anniversary Edit has made the plot so much more palatable, smooth, and understandable. I am consistently in awe of Paige's character attributes, and I am so excited to see this series get re-published. I can see the care and attention that Shannon has put into this edit, and I am really looking forward to its revitalization. This book is so gut wrenching, and I adore it.

The Bone Season releases this August, and if you have not yet read it & think it might be up your alley, I highly recommend looking into it then!

Oh my gosh this book was full of amazing world building and I absolutely loved it! It kept me hooked right off the bat!

This book was great to begin with but I love the tweaks that were made to show her growth as an author. Can't wait for the next in the series.

Samantha Shannon has outdone herself with this epic retelling of THE BONE SEASON. Already a masterpiece, THE BONE SEASON 10th Anniversary Edition is somehow even more magnificent than its predecessor. It follows the story of Paige Mahoney who is a dreamwalker, a special type of clairvoyant. There are many clairvoyants living in Scion London in the year 2059, although their strange abilities make them unwelcome by the government and non-gifted locals. After accidentally killing a man with her mind, Paige is kidnapped by masked strangers and taken to a penal colony named Sheol, far away from her beloved Seven Seals gang in London. THE BONE SEASON will have you on the edge of your chair, desperately hoping that Paige will master her dreamwalking abilities and escape the dreaded Sheol. Samantha Shannon has clearly edited THE BONE SEASON 10th Anniversary Edition to deepen the reader's understanding of Paige's character and her motivations. This is a must-read for readers of all kind.

I'm very, very delighted I got to read the newest version of this book. I originally read it back in 2020, and coming back to this world was amazing. There are definitely some differences in this book versus the original, at some point I would like to go through and highlight where some of the things have changed -- I feel it would be a nice experience.

This book was much tighter in plot than the original, and you can also tell how much more well written it is. Ten years made a lot of difference in skill, and I loved this book just as much now -- if not more.

Paige remains a favorite of mine, as does Arcturus. There were some parts I don't remember as well as I would have liked, and honestly, I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. Because this version is so much more solid.

Also, I feel like it was easier to understand in some ways, I wouldn't say there was less jargon, but it was presented differently, so it worked for me. Instead of the original four stars I gave this book, I would now give it a five. I'm eager to see how these changes make a difference in the future books.

An absolutely amazing book, and I am so excited for all the future ones!

Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for the e-arc!

I must advise that this will not be an objective review as I cannot stop thinking about this book since I first read the arc.

I discovered Samantha Shannon this year and reading her has been one of the best literary journeys I’ve ever been. I thought Priory was my 2023 comfort book…..that’s until I read The Bone Season.

I’ve had the original edition on my kindle for a while, but when I saw that she was revising it, I decided to wait. Now, I feel like I have missed on loving a favourite for years. I am a very easy 5-star giver, but rarely are there books that make me feel as if they were written for me. And this one feels like so.

In a quick-fire review, this for me is a dystopian urban fantasy book that crosses elements of different genres. I was immediately romped in with the opening chapters, imagining the London I walk on a daily basis and relating my favourite locations of the city to the ones in the book. How I love when this happens. *SCREAMS IN SEVEN DIALS *

The story is set in future London, in 2059, in a world divided in Clairvoyants, out-casted from society, and Amaurotics. Due to this division by the republic of Scion, Clairvoyants have been forced to operate in a criminal underworld, dominated by Syndicates. Our protagonist, Paige Mahoney, is an unusual type of voyant, a dreamwalker, operating in the Seven Seals Syndicate. She is potentially the only dreamwalker alive, making her existence a living treason. Paige managed to stay under the radar for a while, even from her amaurotic dad, but this rapidly changes when she has to use her abilities in a dangerous situation. And that’s how much you will get from the plot from me.

Readers, I was having palpitations from the first four chapters. The concept of this story, for me, is tremendously original and intriguing, an intense vivid reading experience from the first sentence. I was daydreaming about reading this book at work, walking, and going to bed.

Samantha Shannon proves that her world building skills are one of her best weapons. Now, the initial chapters might be slightly complex, with a lot of new terms introduced, and sometimes with a bit of info-dumping – I did not mind this at all, as it was necessary for world building and quickly, I started getting into the rhythm of it. A lot of things are thrown at you when you think you grasped it all. I felt like I was doing a complex 10000 pieces puzzle that eventually started to fall into place and blew me away with the final picture.

Just like Roots of Chaos, her imagination should be studied, SERIOUSLY! What a powerhouse. The abilities, the voyants, the auras…..did I understand it all? Absolutely not. And I still loved all about it. I can not stop thinking of the concepts of these aptitudes and concepts, especially the dreamscapes.

I love Paige. She’s an amazing MC, strong, intelligent and her development is perfectly written. Paige is quick in her toes, but also in her thinking, and carries an immense emotional baggage from her past. The flashbacks were so intense and interesting to read and slowly builds to her overall personality and arc. Her wittiness and sarcasm laced her perfectly.

I could talk about Warden, but he’s still too much of a mystery to me, and I feel it will be too spoilery to write my thoughts about him.

I have to say that Nick and Liss are two of the most amazing support characters I’ve ever read and god, how I love them. Liss, so delicate and kind hearted. I wish I could tell you more without spoiling, however I’ll just say……hold tight to your heartstrings. And Nick….oh Nick. The most protective, selfless, big brother figure character. I am so scared for the future books and if they will bring ache surrounding Nick.

There is a tinge of a build up to a romance and I enjoyed the way it was done. You can see a progression through different stages of the relationship, with a slow build of respect and trust, with a sparkle of tension. My favourite type.

I am torn again if I should read the original series as I am itching to get more of the story and I cannot wait for this epic adventure to continue.

I could go on for hours, writing about this book. And I probably will. At the same time, I’m 100% sure this review is not enough for the magnitude of my feelings about it.

I will finish this review by saying that I admire the honesty of the author in revising her debut, whilst keeping her readers updated about it. I appreciate how much she believes in her ideas to this point and I think that also had its weight on my reading experience.

Thank you, Samantha Shannon, for giving me my favourite 2023 reading experience and a book that will stick with me forever. Little Dreamer, I will see you soon.


I will be posting this review on my Instagram, once this is out in the world and I have a beautiful physical copy of it.

Love, love, love.

This story is a drug to me. Yes, it is complicated at moments, but all the best fantasy worlds are.

It’s incredibly written, the pacing is nice and quick despite it being more of an epic fantasy with a complex world. The characters are also complex, diverse, and very very human in the sense that they’re not perfect. Which again, I adore.

It’s a lot to take on and you want to make sure you have the time to focus during this read, but dang is it really worth it. This is a great book to not take yourself too seriously and enjoy the ride. You’re not going to perfectly understand everything the first go around and that is part of the charm.

It will suck you in and leave you scrambling to order the next book.

The Bone Season blew me away. It was a unique take on the dystopian genre that immediately won me over. Paige Mahoney is forcibly taken from her home in Scion and her role as mollisher to The Seven Seals. As she is thrown into extreme conditions, Paige must rely on her powers in a whole new way. Throughout the books we meet several strong characters, and I found myself rooting for each of them. The themes of trust, friendship, and self discovery were interwoven throughout in subtle but beautiful ways. Not only do we get to watch Paige grow in confidence, we also get to see the struggles of fighting for what is right even if it means putting your life on the line. I laughed at Paige's clever barbs, cheered at her bravery, and cried through the misfortune she found along the way. Samantha Shannon nailed the brutal ideals those in power may inflict on those that are "less than" and spun a powerful message through The Bone Season. I read the original, and the tenth anniversary is an amazing improvement on an already solid story. Characters shined brighter, the plot was smoother, and the world building was much more immersive. Overall, the tenth anniversary edition is sure to be a huge success for Samantha Shannon! I cannot wait to recommend this to my students and force it into the hands of my friends and family!

Samantha Shannon has done it once again. I fell in love with her writing with Priory of the Orange Tree and was beyond excited to hear that she was revisiting The Bone Season. I have read it once before and really liked it, but something just did not click all the way. She has managed not only to refine and enhance the story of Paige Mahoney but also brought a whole new dimension to the story. Samantha Shannon has poured all her experience from the last ten years and made an already great story even better. This tenth-anniversary edition is perfect for those who have visited Scion London before or for those who are hearing about Clairvoyants for the first time. I cannot wait to reread the rest of the series after they are revised, Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review,

I first read The Bone Season in my senior year of high school in 2013 and I absolutely adored it. It was my first introduction to Samantha Shannon and I am so, so happy to see how far she has come since The Bone Season first came out. This was such an amazing, fresh take on a book I already loved. I can't wait for more people to discover this series through the anniversary edition. Samantha Shannon has done it again!! If I could give this more than five stars I would.

I had the immense pleasure and honor to be able to read an ARC of this magnificent book. I've been a fan of Samantha Shannon and this series since it came out ten years ago and it's so good and brilliant being able to read its revised edition.

After ten years of writing, Samantha Shannon comes back to her debut and edits it and what's comes out it's a more polished and strong version of the first book. If before there could have been some confusion about the worldbuilding or some info dump, this new edition leads the reader through the complexity of the unnaturalness, the colony, Sheol and a brilliantly layered dystopian London with a criminal underground and amazing and morally gray characters.
As before, Paige Mahoney stands out not only as main character, but for her stubborness, her bantering, courage and loyalty. Comparing the first and the revised edition results in new scenes, more explained and detailed moments, more bantering between Paige and Warden and gives the chance to places, characters and scenes to shine more.
The bones are there, the plot isn't changed much, but the writing, the worldbuilding and characterization are improved and if you loved the first edition you are gonna love this revised too.

I can't wait to hold this book in my hands!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury!
As a lover of Samantha Shannon, I was so happy to see an anniversary edition of the Bone Season! I adored her previous books and couldn't wait to read her revised work. It is such a cool thought to go back and republish the older work in order to make it as amazing as it can be.
As always, she delivered a fantastically detailed world with tons of world-building. The info dump is a bit heavy, but I love that about her books. The lore is detailed and complex but still creative and interesting. I can definitely see this fitting in with the 2010s dystopian novels.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Ms. Shannon is an absolutely unparalleled author, the beginning always has a ton of information, but once you get past the rush of world building given to you, the adventure is unlike anything you've ever read. I did not have the pleasure of reading this series pre-revision, but I am so happy that I get to read it exactly as the author intended. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

With the success of Samantha Shannon’s Priory of the Orange Tree and its prequel A Day of Fallen Night, I was keen to see how this revisited edition of The Bone Season lived up to the success of her later work. And it did!

Having not read The Bone Season in its original state, I haven’t got that to compare to as some readers might, now that we’re getting the 10th anniversary edition - but this was a fresh, exciting introduction to an intriguing and all-too-possible dystopian world, Scion. The story follows Paige Mahoney, a ‘voyant’ dreamwalker who works in a criminal underworld set in 2059 London, under the employ of crime boss Jaxon Hall, and what happens to her when she is captured and taken to a place she never knew existed, and suddenly surrounded by a far-reaching peril.

The worldbuilding was laid out in a way that, though complex, was clear enough to understand and become immersed in once I adjusted to the terminology. There’s no doubt that Samantha Shannon is a pro when it comes to researching her books and relevant etymology to include, and that’s on display here as ever, but the handy glossary of terms - a new addition for the 10th anniversary edition - came in really useful and allowed for a much quicker immersion into the world. And what a world! Samantha’s imagining of Scion is a tense, brutal world where ‘voyants’ like the MC Paige Mahoney are hunted for their skills because clairvoyance is considered a crime. The Bone Season’s London, where we meet Paige, and in particular the area of Seven Dials is easy to become absorbed in, as too is the Oxford setting where Paige is taken and resides for much of the book. The worldbuilding is smooth, with much of the lush, richly-imagined detail that Samantha is now renowned for, but without the heaviness of ‘info-dumping’ at the beginning that some fantasy/dystopian books can have and that Samantha herself was keenly aware TBS had in its original state, when she announced this revised edition.

Now, the characters are where Samantha Shannon’s writing also shines! She creates a world where characters are not easily categorised into ‘good’ and ‘bad’, there is no two-dimensional goings-on here, and that’s really refreshing within the dystopian genre. There are notable antagonists, sure, but it’s Paige’s relationship with her employer Jaxon Hall and then captor Warden which calls into question who is trustworthy, and who is not. The uncertainty of who to trust, combined with Paige’s self-preserving nature and personality as a result of much of the trauma she’s experienced, makes for a really ambiguous narrative which is so well mixed with the tense world that Shannon has created!

Our first introduction to Paige is one that sets the tone immediately, and she is a fresh, exciting female protagonist who ticks many of the boxes. She’s the embodiment of a complex female MC, with a strong voice and a gutsy attitude required to survive not only in Scion London, but under the constant threat of discovery and death from the powers-that-be in Scion. She’s a heroine I can get behind!

Warden is another character who presents, on the page, a challenge for Paige. He is her natural enemy, belonging to an otherworldly race called Rephaites and one of Paige’s captors in Oxford and in Sheol 1; the uncertain, dangerous prison that Paige finds herself in. Warden and Paige’s relationship brings a unique dynamic to the story, one that fans of slow, slow burn development will adore, for the promise it offers and the tense, snarling conversations that they have as Paige is forced to be tutored and nurtured by her assigned captor if she wants to regain her freedom.

The secondary characters Nick and Eliza are also notable for their complexity, and Samantha’s tertiary characters also don’t suffer that ‘flatness’ that some supporting characters can. Nick and Paige’s relationship in particular is one that really intrigued me, and the characters we meet in Oxford such as Julian and Terrebell, add layer upon layer of complexity to the very real-feeling, perilous world they inhabit. The Bone Season offers a rich cast of individuals who ended up being people I really rooted for, or even loved to hate!

The clairvoyant system of power, and the paranormal, otherworldly elements of the story are also really enjoyable to read and learn about, especially as Paige discovers more about dreamwalking, the race of Rephaites that Warden belongs to, and the far-reaching dangers that surrounds her and the human populations of Scion. I loved the idea of ‘dreamscapes’ and found that Shannon’s imagery, and writing talent, made these scenes really engaging. It’s complex - a lot more so than other YA dystopian-fanasies, but I think that’s part of the charm.

This revised edition is a great introduction to the world of Paige’s Scion! I can’t wait to read the rest…

Title: The Bone Season - 10th Anniversary Edition
Author: Samantha Shannon
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publishing Date: Aug 22, 2023
Pages: 560
Genre: Adult Fiction, Sci-fi, Fantasy
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD.
I am a huge fan of Samantha Shannon, and I am so honoured to read the ARC for the Tenth Anniversary Edition of The Bone Season! It was so amazing and Shannon is SO good at worldbuilding, her writing literally makes me forget about reality.
I loved all the additional information in this edition. I’m a big fan of glossaries and history/lore, and any additional info that really adds to the world building of epic fantasy. Shannon includes all the necessary lore to her books and her worlds and it just completely immerses me!
I love these characters so much, and this amazing world. I would really love to see this on the big screen one day!
HIGHLY recommend to EVERYONE and especially this edition to those who love lore and immersive fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for sending this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

It's very, very obvious just looking at my previous posts on this that The Bone Season is one of my all time favorite books and series. I've reread the original publication actually even more than just four times. So, I am extremely familiar with this book especially, can quote multiple scenes familiar, and was a little hesitant (though optimistically excited) at a new revised anniversary edition being published. I didn't even have to worry because I loved every minute of it.

Diving into this edition was like coming home with a bit of differences and new material added here and there but still very much the same heart and soul of the original. And the majority of my previous review still stands. Though, I will say in comparison to the original you could absolutely tell how much Samantha has grown as a writer and it was one of my favorite aspects about this edition. It made it even better and made me love The Bone Season even more, if that's possible.

I actually struggled with how I would write this as I am a long time fan of the series and have already written a pretty detailed review previously so this review is short and to the point.

If you're looking for a unique mix of dystopia and fantasy, a story with a wide range of incredible female characters (most notably our main character Paige who you will root for time and time again), just an incredibly diverse cast of characters in general, one of the best slow-burn romances ever, a story that will have you on the edge of your seat every single time, and far-reaching historical, political, and futuristic world building that sucks you in then this book and series are for you.

I am a huge fan of Shannon's Roots of Chaos series and have been curious about her other work. I found The Bone Season incredibly impressive. The world-building is top-notch and the story is so meticulously mapped out. I enjoyed it so much!

I am so happy I got a chance to read the newly edited by the author version of this book. It was a longer read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It wasn't crazy confusing as some books are. It is reminiscent of Leigh Bardugo's crow series. Not copying at all, but the same magical feel where I really want to see this book turned into a TV series. I can't wait to read the revised next book.

I can't write a review because I'm too excited to start the next one!! Wow!! Sooo good! Move over ACOTAR!!

I did not have the pleasure of reading this book before it was rewritten and reworked all these years later, but I know this must be a much more accurate representation of Shannon's incredible writing and storytelling talent. This was such an amazing book, and I will be highly recommending it on my socials.

This epic fantasy/dystopian book is filled with forbidden love, found family, mythological references, spirits, enemies to lovers, and a vast world-building setting that involves the criminal underworld and the real underworld.

This was an incredibly interesting book one of a seven book series and I cannot wait for the rest to be released.

Tysm for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this one.

Let me just say it. This book is about as close to perfection as it gets for me. A futuristic dystopian sci-fi/fantasy adventure set in London and Oxford with a fantastic mouthy and violent FMC willing to fight the patriarchy to obtain justice for the oppressed? YES PLEASE. Throw in a hot and grumpy giant and a bunch of ghosts and you have what is one of the best books I’ve ever read.

Reading this book was really an experience - by the time I was just 10% into the book, I knew I had fallen in love. This was my first encounter with this particular series, so I can’t speak to the changes that the author has made since her initial publication, but I thought the writing was superb. The world in which this story takes place is very complex, and the information is given to the reader in such a way that even when it doesn’t exactly all make sense yet, it’s still entertaining and intriguing. And the character development! Paige Mahoney may very well be my favorite protagonist of all time. Yep, I said that. But I loved so many of the other characters as well - I am dying to find out more about a few of them!

I’ve already decided to wait until all the revised editions come out in paperback next year so they can look beautiful on my shelves and I can binge them all without coming up for air. I will absolutely be re-reading this book and recommending it to other readers. If you’ve read Shannon’s other books you know that these aren’t fluffy beach reads. Her books really make you work as a reader and use your brain to put all the pieces together - but the result is an absolute masterpiece.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the opportunity to read the Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review. Hands down the best ARC I have ever read!

In "The Bone Season," Samantha Shannon paints an enthralling dystopian world that transports readers to the year 2059, where clairvoyance isn't a gift but a dangerous curse. Shannon is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors of all time. With a dynamic and resilient heroine at its center, this novel invites readers to question the boundaries of power, identity, and freedom. Shannon's ambition is evident in her creation of a world both extraordinary and eerily plausible, and her imaginative storytelling sets the stage for a promising series that holds the potential for even greater exploration in its subsequent installments.