Bookmarked: ‘The Bone Season’ Delves Into Dystopian London

The Republic of Scion was established in London to control the rising population of clairvoyants — humans who can communicate with the aether, or the spirit realm.

The alleged danger of clairvoyants spurred leaders of Scion to make their very existence illegal. Forced to live underground, clairvoyants formed a hidden syndicate to live and work covertly. 

Paige Mahoney — an illegal clairvoyant living in the heart of Scion London — spends her life working with the criminal syndicate, where she’s known as the Pale Dreamer. 

First released in 2013, Samantha Shannon’s debut novel “The Bone Season” is a riveting start to a saga set to span seven books. “The Mime Order,” “The Song Rising” and “The Mask Falling” continue the series. The fifth book will be released 2025, the sixth in 2026 and the seventh anticipates a 2027 release. 

Set in dystopian England in 2059, Shannon writes a sordid story of danger, rebellion and — with enough searching — romance. 

The book starts slowly while introducing readers to the new world, but Shannon’s attention to detail and knack for worldbuilding makes it a breeze to fly through all 495 pages. 

When Paige gets arrested for murdering two clairvoyant police officers, she’s taken to the presumably abandoned city of Oxford. Run by the ruling force known as the Rephaim, they train Paige and other clairvoyants to help take over England. 

“I blinked at the sight of an old paraffin lamp,” Shannon wrote as Paige meets the Rephaim. “Holding it was a statuesque woman, with polished bronze skin, impeccable posture, and black hair tumbling in loose curls to her waist. Her eyes were yellow, tinged with green, and glowed like candle flames.”

Shannon’s words jump off the page, painting a detailed portrait in the reader’s mind. 

For Paige to survive Oxford, she must obey her keeper Arcturus Mesarthim and pass a series of tests to prove her mettle. 

Shannon’s bold twists and thoughtful plot structure allow the reader to sink into the world of Scion. Her message of rebellion shines through Paige’s words and actions.

“Let the storm into you,” Shannon wrote. “Hold it inside. See yourself as a force of nature, vast enough to defeat a god, and carry that image for all of your days.”

When Paige discovers Arcturus is working against Scion, the two join together to incite a rebellion on the night of Paige’s expected execution. When their plan goes awry, Paige has no choice but to return to London without Arcturus. The fate of the rebellion falls on her shoulders. 

Spanning the last three chapters, Shannon’s words of revolt sink their hooks into the reader’s mind as she spins a tale with no choice but to end poorly. Shannon turns the celebration of the founding of Scion into a brutal scene of Paige’s start to the revolution.

However, Shannon’s writing suffers from overzealous worldbuilding. Because of the vastness of the universe and characters, Shannon’s diction is difficult to take in. 

While the novel provides maps and a glossary of terms, it sometimes takes several rereads to understand how the world and character connections function.

Paige, in contrast, is an incredibly well-rounded and coherent character. Her backstory is slowly revealed throughout the book, helping the reader better understand her thoughts and actions. While Paige has a tough exterior, Shannon allows her to be a vulnerable, empathetic and loveable character. 

Despite her independence and leadership, Paige’s fears and insecurities are palpable. From her perspective, the reader witnesses the grisly and chilling horrors in the world Paige lives in.

Beginning a seven-book series is daunting for any reader, but with Shannon’s imagination and knack for expressive characters, “The Bone Season” proves itself to be a delightful introductory book to the world of Scion.

“The Bone Season,” along with the “The Mime Order,” “The Song Rising” and “The Mask Falling,” are available in all major bookstores.

“The Dark Mirror” — the fifth installation of the series — was released in bookstores Feb. 25.