The Bone Season (The Bone Season, #1)

by Samantha Shannon

[Kelly]

★★★★☆
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/09/the-bone-season-by-samantha-shannon.html

Oh good lord. Why did I wait so long to immerse myself in Samantha Shannon's world of The Bone Season? It was absolutely incredible, so intricate and vividly imagined. I adored it. I must admit that I was hesitant to start the series especially seeing I'm not an avid fantasy reader, but within the first few chapters I was completely captivated. It follows the storyline of Paige or The Pale Dreamer as she's known within her sector. Paige is a Dreamwalker, able to access the mind and dreamscape of those around her, making her Jaxon's most prized possession. Jaxon is a flamboyant wolf in the guise of a lamb but seeing her only alternative is to live on the streets and beg, Paige sees her work for the The Binder as the lessor of two evils and works alongside Jaxon as his heir. Scion London is segregated into two groups, Amaurotics who are natural and solely human and the Voyant community, those with Clairvoyant abilities who are deemed as illegal by a ruthless and oppressive government. The Voyants pay with their lives or in a new revelation, sent into slavery with a race of dangerous and cruel captors

It was so refreshing to see a fantasy series not based on kingdoms but rather feature a syndicate or organised crime rivalry throughout the districts of London. There are varying levels of clairvoyance among the Voyant community, from tarot readers to those who can bind spirits of the dead to use as weapons and none more revered than Paige. The hierarchy between the characters is delicious. I really enjoyed seeing the personalities beyond their abilities, with each character not only distinctive but wonderfully crafted.

Paige isn't your average heroine. She doesn't harbour feelings of grandeur or self importance, nor does she live in luxury with material possessions and given her rare gift, she certainly could be living the high life. She's insecure, in love with man who doesn't reciprocate her feelings and works for a man she is beginning to despise. The barely there romance was slow burning, yet incredibly intense similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Warden is an unusual love interest. Distant and gruff, Paige may be able to forgive his past deeds but the streetwise girl is reluctant to trust the Rephaim that keeps her captive. Although Warden shows signs of redemption, I can't help but wonder if Paige's interest is little more than a form of Stockholm Syndrome.

The characters, the world building and the vividly imagined London were breathtaking. Not since Throne of Glass has a series captured, enthralled and enchanted me so. I simply adored it. Samantha Shannon is a phenomenal author who's has crafted one of the best fantasy fusion series I've read to date.