By Samantha Shannon, published by Bloomsbury.
Goodreads synopsis: 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.
My Review: As soon as I’d heard about this book, I knew it would be a brilliant read from a fresh new author writing in the YA genre. And I was right. I got totally hooked into The Bone Season! I was thrown into the story, confused, at the beginning, where we’re introduced to Paige. It took me a little while to understand what she was and why she was committing crimes for a guy named Jaxon… but that just propelled me on and made me want to read more. The whole idea was so imaginative… 2059 London, where cities are run by Scion and Clairvoyants (people with supernatural abilities like Paige) are hated… and every year a few are ‘harvested’ by the new inhabitants of Oxford, now called Sheol I. It was a really great idea, and really interested and excited me. It was Urban Fantasy to the extreme, and I loved it so much!
The plot was an action-packed roller-coaster, and I actually found it hard to put the book down. It was so well structured; with lots of genius plot twists and unexpected events. The story gripped me like a vice and practically demanded me to not put it down. There was a great build-up to the ending, too. The story was actually quite emotional, with insights into Paige’s past and into the poor lives of some living in Sheol I. In one word, the plot was just thrilling.
Paige was a hardcore, kick-butt heroine- one of my favourite protagonists I’ve read about this year. She had a well explained past. I got a really good insight into her background, and understood her really well through the author’s flawless writing. Paige was a very three-dimensional character, with raw emotions that made me really feel for her. She was independent, mostly, and could fight her own battles brilliantly. I can’t really put into words how much I loved her character. Paige Mahoney was strong, and never gave up. Think Katniss Everdeen meets Lara Croft. Yeah, that awesome.
Another character I loved: WARDEN! At first, for some reason, I actually imagined him as some old dude. But then, um, (deletes a spoilerish sentence), an event took place, and I realised that he was actually kind of young in looks. He maintained this air of mystery and grace around him, and reminded me a little bit of the Darkling in Shadow and Bone. I really loved his role in the story.
Overall, The Bone Season was a read I devoured and adored. I loved the characters, and the setting, and above all the writing. Samantha Shannon’s writing is just stunning- with powerful imagery and beautiful descriptive passages. The Bone Season is a fresh new read from a very talented new YA author, that I’d love to read more from. I think this author is destined to have her books as famous as The Mortal Instruments series- honestly. Also, a movie studio has optioned The Bone Season for a future film! How awesome! So… I don’t know what to do with my life now. Maybe I’ll just sit in a darkened corner, rereading The Bone Season until book two is released. Bye.
My Rating:
I received a copy of The Bone Season via the publisher, in exchange for a review. In no way at all did this affect my thoughts.
Goodreads synopsis: Gadzooks! It’s another term at Dother Hall for Tallulah and her mates. But can they keep their minds on the arts with all those boys about…
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Goodreads synopsis: Bluebell Gadsby is 13 but that’s the least of her problems. Both her parents seem more interested in their careers than the family, leaving Blue and her three siblings as well as their three pet rats (who may or may not be pregnant), in the care of Zoran the au pair. The enigmatic Joss moves in next door and Blue thinks she might be falling in love, until he takes out her older sister Flora instead (who, incidentally, is trying to make a statement by dying her hair bright pink but no one takes the blindest bit of notice). Blue thinks and feels very deeply about life but can’t really talk to anyone about it, because no one in the Gadsby family wants to address the real problem – that Blue’s twin sister, Iris, died a year ago, and they are all just trying to hide their grief in busyness…
A massive THANK YOU to everyone who entered the giveaway for a copy of Half Lives by Sara Grant! I wasn’t expecting that many entries, seeing as it’s my first giveaway, but I got quite a few! Maybe I’ll run some more in the future.
Goodreads synopsis: 1910. A cabin north of the Arctic Circle. Fifteen-year-old Sig Andersson is alone. Alone, except for the corpse of his father, who died earlier that day after falling through a weak spot on the ice-covered lake. His sister, Anna, and step-mother, Nadya, have gone to the local town for help. Then comes a knock at the door. It’s a man, the flash of a revolver’s butt at his hip, and a mean glare in his eyes. Sig has never seen him before but Wolff claims to have unfinished business with his father. As Sig gradually learns the awful truth about Wolff’s connection to his father, Sig finds his thoughts drawn to a certain box hidden on a shelf in the storeroom, in which lies his father’s prized possession – a revolver. When Anna returns alone, and Wolff begins to close in, Sigs choice is pulled into sharp focus. Should he use the gun, or not?
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