THE BONE SEASON
The year is 2059. For two centuries, the Republic of Scion has led an oppressive campaign against clairvoyants in Europe.
When Paige Mahoney 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, she must use every skill at her disposal – and put her trust in someone who ought to be her enemy.
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A grand re-imagining of the Greek myth of Prometheus and Pandora, blending dystopia with epic fantasy, this seven-book saga began with The Bone Season – an instant New York Times bestseller when it came out in 2013.
Ten years later, Samantha has revised the published books in the series, including both novellas. The Author’s Preferred Texts are a complete stylistic overhaul, with fresh content. If you haven’t yet started the Bone Season series, start with these editions.
Book 5, The Dark Mirror, will be published on 25 February 2025.
MAIN SERIES
THE BONE SEASON
THE MIME ORDER
THE SONG RISING
THE MASK FALLING
THE DARK MIRROR
NOVELLAS
THE PALE DREAMER
A standalone prequel to the series, which can be read at any point.
THE DAWN CHORUS
Should be read between The Song Rising and The Mask Falling.
REVISED EditionS
• French by De Saxus, translated by Benjamin Kuntzer – coming soon
• Italian by Oscar Vault, translated by Egle Costantino – coming October 2024
• Polish by Wydawnictwo SQN, translated by Maciej Pawlak – coming soon
• Ukrainian by Vivat – coming soon
PRAISE FOR THE SERIES
THE BONE SEASON
'A dazzlingly witty, brainy, and bewitching tale of outrageous courage, heroic compassion, transcendent love, and the quest for freedom' – Booklist ★
‘Truly extraordinary and thrilling' – Andy Serkis
Epic, surprising, and impeccably imagined, The Bone Season seamlessly melds a near-future dystopian world, with high fantasy stakes, and a truly unique brand of magic. Perfect for those who enjoy intricate plots and eclectic casts of nuanced characters. Ten years on from its original release, Shannon's debut remains one of the most accomplished and original SFF novels I've ever read’ – Kate Dylan, author of Mindwalker
‘A dark and exquisitely rendered fantasy unlike anything out there. The Bone Season is a must-read' – Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Beautiful Creatures and author of Unbreakable
‘A richly dramatic and unadulterated pleasure, filled with horrors, wonders and charm’ – Justina Robson, author of the Quantum Gravity series
‘The Bone Season is why fantasy exists. This is a hypnotic journey that crackles with dreamlike energy [...] I would linger in the æther forever if it meant spending longer with Paige Mahoney and Arcturus Mesarthim. Darkly thrilling, and dense with inventive detail, this lyrical dreamscape demands your presence. Come, dreamers – I dare you to lose yourselves in this one’ – London Shah, award-winning author of the Light the Abyss series
The original version of The Bone Season was brilliant – but the new Author’s Preferred Text is incredible. Samantha Shannon is a master storyteller and wordsmith, and the care she has taken in the revision shines through on every page. It is a richly rewarding reading experience’ – Katherine Webber, bestselling co-author of Twin Crowns
'Slick and vivid . . . Gives the fantasy genre a refreshing lease of life. The Bone Season is enough to transport even hardened sceptics of the fantasy genre into its imaginative realm' – Metro
'A rapid-fire wonder of a book' – Marie Claire
'Dark, embattled, highly wrought fantasy' – Observer
'Had me gripped as if in a vice, keeping me hostage among the 452 pages until the end, when I was left eager for the next book’ – Stylist
'Dynamic and direct . . . There is an exciting breadth to Shannon's world' – Evening Standard
'Intelligent, inventive, dark, and engrossing enough to keep me up late to finish' – NPR.org
'A dystopian thriller that delivers' – Salon
'Fabulous, epic fantasy thriller' – Times
'A massive, intricate story ... in [a] blisteringly paced plot' – New York Magazine
THe MIME ORDER
‘Shannon creates vividly dilapidated, macabre, and mysterious worlds [...] The motley, elaborately costumed characters are compelling; the nonstop, often eerie action is riveting’ – Booklist ★
‘An amazingly rich and unruly underworld [...] Paige makes great strides as a memorable character’ – USA Today
‘Shannon’s world-building is original and intriguing, especially the complex, almost mythic voyant underground’ – Publisher's Weekly
‘Shannon has continued to build on this imagined world with intricacy, and Paige’s voice comes through to deliver a suspenseful story’ – Washington Post
‘language as rich as a figgy pudding, the best terminology in the genre and gripping, edge-of-the-seat plotting to boot […] a deliciously reconfigured London’ – Daily Mail
‘More accomplished and imaginative than The Bone Season [...] A satisfyingly “a-ha” denoument, and some of the best fight scenes I've read in donkey’s years’ – Scotland on Sunday
‘London becomes the main setting of the novel, and it assumes various guises, some comforting but most harrowing [...] propulsive plot’ – Kirkus
‘The world is so carefully constructed [...] weaved with lies and deceit and impossible to predict’ – Guardian
‘With a unique plot, impeccable world-building and important character connections, The Mime Order outshines its predecessor and becomes and intelligent, adventurous read’ – Deseret News
‘Those eager to continue Paige's story will not be disappointed by Shannon's sophomore showing, which boasts all of the suspense, intrigue and mystery of the first volume as well as an addictive storyline [...] will solidify the series' rightful place among the best of fantasy, sci-fi and dystopian fiction’ – Shelf Awareness
‘it goes hell-for-leather, all poltergeists and grisly murders and pitched battles in the catacombs of Camden’ – Sunday Times
‘Shannon has created a series trifecta: a unique world, complex characters, and pulse-pounding action’ – Readerly
THE SONG RISING
‘Evocative, smart, and exciting [...] Shannon vividly and purposefully realizes each meticulously detailed setting, from London's underground to outposts in Scotland, while infusing her imaginative, passionate, and gripping saga with profound insights into humankind's long, bloody history of tyranny and the radiant ones who zealously fight for freedom and justice’ – Booklist
‘Never less than captivating. A tantalising, otherworldly adventure with imagination that burns like fire – Kirkus Reviews
‘[E]ffectively mirror[s] current debates on immigration, violence, and equality. It is within the descriptions of this clairvoyant world that Shannon's writing shines [...] This is a solid addition to the series’ – Library Journal
‘Shannon’s exploration of a futuristic, perilous Europe remains engaging and evocative [...] The narrative is fueled by a constant sense of tension, as well as both internal and external conflict’ – Publisher's Weekly
‘Easily the most politically engaged of any of the dystopian fantasies’ – Scotsman
‘High-stakes play often ends catastrophically. The many-armed Scion monster receives further detail, growing into a fully formed evil empire with hints of conquests soon to be attempted.’ –Shelf Awareness
‘A story of strength, determination and the painful choices that must be made in order to secure their independence. The Song Rising continues the arc in the Bone Season series perfectly, setting the scene for a revolution in this dramatic world of magic. Fans of the series certainly won't be disappointed, it's an enthralling read that's full of surprises, and a gripping read from beginning to end’ – Starburst Magazine
‘This is an ebullient, gloriously complicated fantasy [...] the characters feel grippingly real. Shannon unravels her tangled tale in galloping prose, which will carry even the reluctant readers to the very satisfying end.’ – Telegraph ✮✮✮✮✮
THE MASK FALLING
‘Keenly imagined [...] Atmospheric and unnerving [...] Once again, the predicaments are complicated and suspenseful, the new and returning characters are intriguing [...] For all its superbly choreographed action and paranormal inventiveness, this is, at heart, a gripping tale of trust and love, valour and sacrifice, and equality and justice’ – Booklist
‘Thrilling [...] A tantalising, strategic setup for the next instalment, which has all the ingredients to be a knockout’ – Kirkus Reviews
‘Shannon expertly blends genres to create a story that is at once a political thriller, a dystopian epic, and a paranormal adventure. This bold series installment will leave fans eager for more’ – Publishers Weekly
‘With each new novel Shannon continues to prove that she is a formidable voice in the fantasy genre. Her writing style is intimate but the gritty realism that both her worlds and characters embody are filled with razor sharp teeth. This book bites and refuses to let go. Filled with an amazing range of introspection, this quiet tension hurtles the reader through constantly evolving problems with higher and higher stakes towards an ending that’s as explosive as it is devastating’ – Nerd Daily
‘I can only stress how intricately plotted and thoroughly planned out this series is [...] Part political thriller, part paranormal epic, with some dark, dystopian bite tossed on top, The Mask Falling is Samantha Shannon at the top of her game’ – Culturess
‘An unputdownable continuation of the saga’ – Waterstones
‘Thoroughly satisfying at the plot level and a fascinating, relentlessly empathetic portrayal of trauma and recovery’ – Mint Lounge
‘The narrative exerts the same vice-like grip as before, with danger, deception, hair's-breadth escapes and new revelations coming thick and fast’ – Guardian
Aquaphobia, death, emotional abuse, hibernophobia, human trafficking, loss of freedom, massacre, needles, panic attacks, parental death, pregnancy, torture, trauma, tyranny, violence, vomiting