Hey Friends!
I have a mini review for you today! A mini review is my short and sweet analysis of a book. You'll know in 350 words or less if this is a book I recommend.
I have a mini review for you today! A mini review is my short and sweet analysis of a book. You'll know in 350 words or less if this is a book I recommend.
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 466
Source: Library Borrow
Genre: YA Dystopian, YA Fantasy
Review Date: April 28, 2014
Rating: 2 bookmarks
Synopsis: 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.
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 466
Source: Library Borrow
Genre: YA Dystopian, YA Fantasy
Review Date: April 28, 2014
Rating: 2 bookmarks
Synopsis: 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.
Pros: I liked the premise of this story; a dystopian world combined with fantasy. It intrigued me. The story takes place in 2059, in a London society where being clairvoyant is against the law, yet clairvoyants aren't all that rare. I can a appreciate Samantha Shannon's imagination. To be able to construct an entirely new world is no small task. Everything was different, the currency, the government, the country’s history, the various levels of clairvoyant abilities, and more. In regards to the technical part of her writing, I had no problems there.
Cons: My main issue was the slow pacing. I also felt that at times the story was a bit wordy. Some of the history was either repetitively explained or gave too much information. When the story took deviation to focus on world building, those passages seem to slow down the story even more. I think that's due to the information being told in a let me teach you a new history sort of way, instead of describing things passively behind the plot of the story.
Unfortunately I didn't connect with any of the characters, which is never a good thing. Even the implied romantic interest between Warden and Paige was weak at best and didn't interest me very much. While it's clear that Paige is a strong heroine, her personality didn't do anything for me. In addition, I was annoyed that we never found out exactly what the Rephaites (Warden’s people) are! We know they're not vampires. We know they're not human. We've been lead to believe they may be some sort of alien being, but not exactly. We know that they connect to a place described as a dreams-cape in one’s mind. We know that they feed on human essence, but it wasn't explained how or why. Who knows? It’s possible that it was explained and I fell asleep on that part.
Final Thoughts: While the book didn't rate highly with me, some may enjoy it. If you curious about The Bone Season check it out. If you've already read it, please share what you thought!
Happy Reading,
~Tamara
Cons: My main issue was the slow pacing. I also felt that at times the story was a bit wordy. Some of the history was either repetitively explained or gave too much information. When the story took deviation to focus on world building, those passages seem to slow down the story even more. I think that's due to the information being told in a let me teach you a new history sort of way, instead of describing things passively behind the plot of the story.
Unfortunately I didn't connect with any of the characters, which is never a good thing. Even the implied romantic interest between Warden and Paige was weak at best and didn't interest me very much. While it's clear that Paige is a strong heroine, her personality didn't do anything for me. In addition, I was annoyed that we never found out exactly what the Rephaites (Warden’s people) are! We know they're not vampires. We know they're not human. We've been lead to believe they may be some sort of alien being, but not exactly. We know that they connect to a place described as a dreams-cape in one’s mind. We know that they feed on human essence, but it wasn't explained how or why. Who knows? It’s possible that it was explained and I fell asleep on that part.
Final Thoughts: While the book didn't rate highly with me, some may enjoy it. If you curious about The Bone Season check it out. If you've already read it, please share what you thought!
Happy Reading,
~Tamara
