The Bone Season book review

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Series: The Bone Season #1
Published by Bloomsbury USA on August 20, 2013
Genres: Fantasy, YA
Pages: 466
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The lavishly reimagined 10th Anniversary Edition of the New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller.
The year is 2059. For two centuries, the Republic of Scion has led an oppressive campaign against unnaturalness in Europe.
In London, Paige Mahoney holds a high rank in the criminal underworld. The right hand of the ruthless White Binder, Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare and formidable kind of clairvoyant. Under Scion law, she commits treason simply by breathing.
When Paige is arrested for murder, she meets the mysterious founders of Scion, who have designs on her uncommon abilities. If she is to survive and escape, Paige must use every skill at her disposal – and put her trust in someone who ought to be her enemy.

[Updated: January 2026]

Yet another reread of The Bone Season and I have to say this book just grows on you. I actually ended up reading the 10th anniversary version which was slightly different to the previous versions but I’m not sure I noticed enough of a difference to make it worthwhile. I understood Shannon’s want to update the text but for me the original was the version I fell in love with, but maybe as I move through the series I’ll realise the need for the rewrite.

The Bone Season follow Paige as she navigates the seedy underworld of London as an illegal voyant with an extremely rare gift. She soon realises that being thrown in the Tower of London is the least of her problems and there is a bigger enemy afoot. Enter Warden and the world of Oxford, Paige very quickly comes to learn that resistance is futile and sometimes it’s better to bide your time.

The world that Shannon creates it bright and wonderful, filled with an underworld full of lovable reprobates and political intrigue on every page. I will die on the hill that the best fantasy books are the ones that combine an oppressor and a fantastic political system to back them up. There is nothing worse than reading a book with a horrendous leader who genuinely has no reason for being in power and no way of holding onto said power other than, oh well.

I still love the world of Oxford and I think I fell more in love with the performers this time around, Liss will always have a special place in my heart. The abandoned city with the decrepit buildings mixed with a vibrant society was so well written it almost felt as though I was there. Warden especially made me love the Reph all the more, I think seeing him become more and more human as the story was really eye opening.

Would still recommend this book and I’m excited to read the rest of the series as part of my 26 in 2026 challenge.

The Bone Season was a reread and I adored this book just as much the second time around. There is something about this book that draws me in and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I always get drawn into the story and lose track of time when I begin reading these books. I love the world and the different voyant systems that Samantha Shannon has built into the story. Everything seems seamless and perfectly well written, something that is underrated at the best of times.

I loved the way The Bone Season arcs it all seems so natural but suspenseful and thrilling all at the same time. Its one of the reasons I love this book so much. You fall in love with the world and the characters gradually and over time, making bonds that will last throughout the books. The relationships that are formed in this book are some of my favourites – you feel a lot for the characters, they are so well rounded and well written that by the end they feel like your friend.

My favourite character is a tie between Paige and Warden. Paige was in danger of becoming part of the ‘strong’ female character trope, and I feared that this book would be another ode to the stereotype. She’s anything but, she could have accepted her fate and lived in perfect harmony as one of the red jackets, but there’s something more to her. I love her as a character, I just hope that one day she finds her feet without relying on others. Warden, on the other hand, is a mystery for this entire book, the psychological warfare he takes on is astounding, I think his story arc was my favourite throughout the entire book.

My least favourite character in The Bone Season was Julian, I was expecting so much more from him and his ending was badly executed and I just wanted more. It was one of those where you didn’t even realise what was happening which was sad. I thought he deserved more than that and was utterly disappointed with what he got in the end.

I would totally recommend this book – it’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time and one that I love rereading over and over again. Bring on the sequel – I’m loving binge reading at the moment and this is a series I would binge read over and over.

Is there a series that holds a special place in your heart? Let me know because as much as I love this series I’m always looking for the next great thing.