Goodreads Summary:

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.

The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine—a young woman learning to harness her powers in a world where everything has been taken from her. It also introduces an extraordinary young writer, with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut.

I read this right after it came out in 2013, and decided to re-read it in preperation for the sequel, which was supposed to come out tomorrow, but has been delayed until January! I really wish B&N would update the publish dates on my pre-ordered books on the Nook, not just the website . . .

Anyway, I really love this book. It’s a little more grown up, which I appreciate, while still carrying the themes of YA that I love so much – self-exploration, personal growth, questioning of the world around you, etc. This book is also an interesting combination of fantasy, dystopian, and some historic references that I really appreciate. The whole concept is amazing and so intricate. The world building is fantastic, not only are you sucked into the world of clairvoyance, but of otherworldly beings, complicated relationships, and politics.

I absolutely love the relationship between Paige and Warden. It doesn’t start as anything remotely romantic, and you don’t even get the romance until the last couple chapters – and even then it’s not something smothering or immature (which a lot of YA books are, not that I don’t love those relationships just as much!). Warden and Paige grow to trust one another, they slowly show each other their weaknesses, they force themselves to look past the general stereotypes their people have against each other – and they form a solid and undeniable bond. All of this happens before they explore a romantic side of this relationship, and they both know that it’s doomed from the start (which is the most romantic thing ever right?). I also love that these two still part ways, they know the only way to reach their ultimate goal is to fight this war from multiple sides – as there are multiple players. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t wait to see them reunite, they make a great team!

I also really like the relationships between Paige and the other Seals – basically the relationships in this book are amazing. Her bond with Nick is really interesting: guardian, turned first love, turned best friend. I believe Nick truly has Paige’s well being as a top priority, but he also seems to fail to see that she is growing up and becoming her own person – he wants to protect her, but doesn’t really notice that she doesn’t need protection, she needs support. Jax is intriguing, Paige has this unique need to impress him, but he treats her horribly, like something to own, not an independent person – I hope to see Paige escape from under his thumb.

It will also be really interesting to see how all of the threats that were introduced in this book play out in the following ones. We know the Scion is bad, and we know some of the Rephaite are bad, but how do they all play together, and what other factors are going to be introduced? Can’t wait for The Mime Order!