Published: February 2025
Pages: 576
Summary
Paige Mahoney is outside the Republic of Scion for the first time in more than a decade – but she has no idea how she got to the free world. Half a year has been wiped from her memory.
As she makes her way back to the revolution, her journey takes her to Venice, where she learns a dangerous secret – one that could change the face of the war between humans and immortals. Before she can return to London, she must help the Domino Programme unravel the sinister Operation Ventriloquist.
And it soon becomes clear that the one person who could recover her memories – Arcturus Mesarthim – might also hold the key to saving Italy.
My thoughts
I’m at the point of this series where I don’t even know what to say anymore. I adore Shannon’s writing, I’ve read everything she’s ever published and I am a huge fan of her work and imagination.
This book is the fifth instalment of The Bone Season and it is just as strong – perhaps even stronger – than the first book. So many occassions I find the more books in a series, the plot gets dragged out and I disengage, but that is not the case here.
I was all up in my feelings with this one!
This book didn’t let me go. My poor heart reading through this, Paige does not get a break and my heart was breaking for her. The character development through this series just gets better and better. The friendships that come together, those that turn into family, the alliances made, it really is brilliant. It’s been very gradual but when I look back to book one, they are all very different people.
Fuelled by the dangerous situations and high stakes our characters are pushed to their limits. Their love and mettle is put to the test and when one begins to falter, the others are there to bolster them back up or lend their shoulder. I love this story so much because of the human aspect of our characters. It doesn’t matter who has magic and who doesn’t, its putting your differences aside for the greater good no matter how tiring, difficult and unthankful it is.
“You have risen from the ashes before, the flowers said in a voice I remembered, a voice I both cherished and feared. And then I climbed, and I was there, curling up tight. The only way to survive is to believe you always will.”
This story has a bit more humour to it, there were small moments I was cackling to myself in the dark. It needed a bit more light-heartedness to it and there were certain characters that carry this energy that really lifted up the dark moments.
“Fucking mountains”, she wheezed out. “Nothing but … jumped-up hills.” She clutched her side. “Taking up space for eons, being outrageously hard to climb.”
I gave her a hand. “You all right there, champ?”
“No, I’m dying. Let me expire.”
A moment for a spark of love
The more I read of Paige the more I love her. I love the growth that she’s shown, opening herself up to other possibilities and taking the time to reflect on her feelings and let herself feel them. I’m really glad Shannon spent a bit of time on that. Despite the danger at hand there are still glimpses of joy and it’s important that our characters get a piece of what they can.
I was gushing for Paige and her development made me so happy, I can’t wait to see what else she does and what happens next.
All that aside this book is filled with the usual charm of plot twists and turns that continue to add depth to this story with more stakes at play. This story is a mix of old and new and we get more insight on how the rest of the world are coping, what life looks like for those in the Free Cities and what politicians may have at play. I especially like the moments in the Free Cities. For those characters used to only Scion, the Free Cities are not just a culture shock but they’re terrifying. It’s a glimpse of another life, of hope and ‘what ifs’. It is scary and you could almost forget what is happening just a few borders away.
“You really do meet the most deranged people, Paige.”
Of course, would it be a Bone Season book without Jaxon? I am still on the fence about him. I have no idea how to feel about him. He continuously acts selfishly and I can see his love for London and the position it granted him meant a lot to him. But throughout this series he’s had plenty of opportunity to get rid of Paige but he never crosses that line.. why? I have many questions about his motives. I guess I’ll have to wait and see!
Would I recommend?
Yes! I can’t believe there are only two more books left until this series is over. I need an ending but I am also dreading the day I finish the last page and it’s all over.