The Bone Season

Author Samantha Shannon
Narrator Alana Kerr Collins
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing
Run Time 18 hours and 38 minutes
Format Audio
Genre Clairvoyance and precognition, Dark fantasy, Dystopian and utopian fiction, Fantasy, Mind, body, spirit, Urban fantasy.

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Bloomsbury presents The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, read by Alana Kerr Collins.

THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION, FULLY UPDATED WITH NEW MATERIAL

A lavishly reimagined tenth anniversary edition of the first novel in the sensational Bone Season series, by the Sunday Times and New York Times-bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree.

'A fabulous, epic fantasy thriller ... Lavish, ebullient, escapist' The Times

________________________________________________

Welcome to Scion. No safer place.

The year is 2059. For two centuries, the Republic of Scion has led an oppressive campaign against unnaturalness in Europe.

In London, Paige Mahoney holds a high rank in the criminal underworld. The right hand of the ruthless White Binder, Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare and formidable kind of clairvoyant. Under Scion law, she commits treason simply by breathing.

When Paige 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, Paige must use every skill at her disposal – and put her trust in someone who ought to be her enemy.

The Bone Season 10th Anniversary Edition ranked #6 in Sunday Times bestseller chart week ending 03/09/2023

Critics Review

Don’t just suspend your disbelief – send it to the pictures and sink into this fabulous, epic fantasy thriller … Lavish, ebullient, escapist

The Times

An original and enjoyable escapist fictional world…. The ending certainly gripped me to the marrow

Daily Telegraph

The Bone Season plots out a criminal underworld in a future where clairvoyancy exists; part fantasy, part dystopia, all intrigue. It’s a world of impressive scope, accompanied by Tolkienesque appendices, glossaries, maps and all

Vogue

Plenty for readers to get absorbed in

Wall Street Journal

Frightening and well-imagined … fascinating

Washington Post

A rapid-fire wonder of a book

Marie Claire

A dark, embattled, highly wrought fantasy

Observer

Dynamic and direct … There is an exciting breadth to Shannon’s world

Evening Standard

In this special edition of her critically acclaimed debut, Samantha Shannon performs the remarkable feat of improving upon the original beloved text. The story is impossibly richer and more insightful, assuringly accessible, more moving than ever, and glitters with exclusive content

London Shah, award-winning author of the Light the Abyss series

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

The original version of The Bone Season was brilliant – but the new ‘Author’s Preferred Text’ edition 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 author of Twin Crowns

User Reviews

Book 5.0

Narration 4.7

5.0

4.0

ellereadsbookslike 03/09/2024

5.0

abisummers 02/01/2025

5.0

Adored this! Such an immersive world with incredible narration. All the different voices and accents really made it come alive

lynnreads 10/01/2025

4.0

5.0

u2b50ufe0fu2b50ufe0fu2b50ufe0fu2b50ufe0fu2728 (4.5)

This book has been on my TBR for what feels like forever, so I was thrilled when someone recommended it as one of my u201c25 in 2025u201d picksu2014and even more excited when Bloomsbury generously provided me with an advanced listener copy of the audiobook! With The Dark Mirror (book five in the series) coming out on February 25th, now is the perfect time to dive into this dark, intricately crafted world.

The audiobook, narrated by Alana Kerr Collins, was absolutely phenomenal. Her performance brought Paige Mahoneyu2019s journey to life in a way that kept me captivated, even through the denser parts of the story. And trust me, there is a lot of world-building packed into this book. The first few chapters were overwhelming with terms, politics, and abilities to wrap my head around, but listening to the audiobook helped me push through that learning curve.

That said, I was a little bummed to learn after finishing that the physical copy includes a glossary, maps, and charts explaining the different abilities. Those extras wouldu2019ve been really helpful early on, and I wish they had been included with the audiobook for reference.

Once I found my footing, though, I was fully immersed. Shannonu2019s character development is top-tier, with even minor characters feeling vivid and authentic. Warden, in particular, was such a fascinating figure, and I found myself eager to learn more about him. The story builds beautifully toward a gripping ending that left me desperate to know where things are headed nextu2014and maybe even rooting for a hint of romance.

While I probably wonu2019t catch up with the entire series before the fifth book releases, Iu2019m absolutely continuing this journey. If youu2019re a fan of massive, immersive world-building and dark fantasy narratives, The Bone Season is worth the effort!

mollified 29/01/2025

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