The Song Rising (The Bone Season Book 3)

The Song Rising is the third book in Samantha Shannon’s epic seven part fantasy about Paige Mahoney and Scion. This series has quickly become one of my favorites right up there with Harry Potter. There is just so much attention to detail and vastness to the world that I love putting myself in the story and watching the story unfold. It also has such an intriguing “magic” system with the different orders of Clairvoyants and I love learning more about them as we delve deeper into this world.

Samantha has always said Book 3 was the end of one arc of Paige’s story and this book would set up the next story arc. This is completely true in that it sets up the next part of the series while also tying up certain aspects from the beginning. I also think having this end of one story arc is helpful in what will be a seven book series. It helps break up the epic story and give you some sense of conclusion even as the plot expands and you learn more about what they are up against.

One of the things I love about this series is how great Samantha Shannon is at getting you involved in the story and keeping you entertained from the start. The books have this constant action where you are on the edge of your seat waiting to see what Paige and Co. will get up to next. While we only get to see things from Paige’s perspective, her unique gift gives us more insight into many aspects of the world and those against Paige.

This book also features so many of the characters I have come to love but also gave us time to meet new characters and fall in love with them. I think the ending of this book was perfect in the sense it left me feeling optimistic and content with where things stood for our characters but it also left the door wide open for what is to come. So while this book was the end of one story arc, I still hate that I have to wait over a year now for the next installment. Hopefully Book 4 is in our hands sooner rather than later and we get to be back with Paige and Co. soon.

Copy provided by Bloomsbury via NetGalley for review

The Song Rising is an elaborate and well thought out continuation after The Mime Order. It picks up right where the previous book left off, where Paige Mahoney is now the Underqueen of the syndicate. Fresh from her scrimmage fight win that put that hefty title and responsibility on her shoulders, Paige is still reeling from the betrayal of her ex-mime lord Jaxon Hall and the fact that she had to go against him.

Paige's new role as Underqueen begins with a very tumultuous start and she finds that her leadership capabilities are questioned at every turn. Not only must she prove herself to the syndicate, but she also must prove herself to Terebell and the other Ranthen, the Rephaim who have turned against Nashira and her lust for power. The Ranthen question Paige's connection to Jaxon Hall, considering he's the reason their uprising against Nashira all those years ago went up in flames due to him revealing what they had planned against her. Paige begins to rebuild what's left of the syndicate with the help of the Ranthen, but they come face to face with a major problem. Scion with the help of Nashira, now are creating weapons called Senshield, a technology that has the ability to detect clairvoyance. This impending threat has the power to destroy the voiyant community at it's roots. Paige Mahoney has some huge shoes to fill and is up against some really tough enemies.

What I loved most about this book was it's pacing. The Mime Order was a book that dragged and desperately needed more editing. Samantha Shannon rectified her mistake in The Song Rising and her book flows so well. I feel there is just the right about of action within the book to keep me on edge, as well as just the right amount of backstory and story-telling that ties up some loose ends. Paige has changed so much since Bone Season and she has truly grown into a character worthy of a revolution. Not only has her power as the Pale Dreamer improved vastly, but her cunning mind has developed into a force to be reckoned with. We see a new villainous character arise in this book by the name of Vance. She's basically the head of Scion and Nashira's puppet. Vance is a hardcore battle strategist and one of the most brilliant minds in the series, and we get some amazing strategists bouts between Vance and Paige. It becomes a cat and mouse game of who can outthink and outmaneuver the other first. This plays out brilliant on page and adds a great crescendo to the arc of the story.

The other thing I think Samantha has done well in this book along with the two previous installments is the slow burning romance she has built up between Warden and Paige. She gives us just enough to tease us, but never truly allows them to fully blossom. I deeply appreciate a slow burn romance because it's something I feel is more based in reality than in other YA books that give you that "love-at-first-sight" shpiel. They definitely have a few intense scenes together, ones that I cherished a lot.

Overall, The Song Rising is many steps above the previous installment and focuses on developing more of a backstory and also its characters. Each character is firm in their convictions and they all have distinct voices. I look forward to seeing Paige's new role within the revolution she has sparked. A definite must-read for old and new fans. Please check out book one Bone Season and book two The Mime Order before reading this one first. You won't be disappointed.

It’s no secret that I am a HUGE fan of The Bone Season. So, you can imagine, after over a two year wait, how thrilled I was to finally dive into the third installment. Now that I’ve turned the final page of the book I'm a bit speechless. I had some high expectations going into this after the whirlwind that was the first two books. Guess what? Samantha Shannon took those high expectations and blew the roof completely off of them! The Song Rising left me breathless and wanting more. It’s quite possible that I’ve already found my top read of 2017.

The Mime Order concluded with a jaw dropping, gasp worthy cliffhanger. Paige, who had just won the crown for Underqueen, finds out that her ex-mime-lord Jaxon Hall had a little secret up his sleeve. The first Ranthen rebellion that was quenched all those years ago by a human betrayal? That was Jaxon’s doing. The Song Rising begins on the tremulous notes of that shocking reveal and the consequences of Paige’s actions in the scrimmage as well as Jaxon’s betrayal make themselves obvious pretty quickly. Due to the fact that Paige turned against her mime-lord to win the title of Underqueen a lot of the syndicate, London’s voyant criminal underworld, don’t exactly accept her as their leader. Not to mention the fact that the Ranthen, the Rephaim who turned against Nashira, are questioning her loyalty and ability to lead because of her past connection with Jaxon. Paige’s reign as Underqueen is definitely off to a rocky start as she rebuilds the syndicate from the ground up to prepare them to take action against Scion by joining with the Ranthen. However, a threat lies fast approaching as Scion implements Senshield, a technology that can detect clairvoyance, forcing Paige to make the choice of putting her people into hiding to save them. Senshield is the one thing that could not only spell death for all voyants but ruin their revolution before it even begins so it has to be destroyed at any cost. The Song Rising starts with a bang as you dive head first into a story full of uncertainty, suspense, unexpected plot twists, and so much more as new allies are gained and new enemies rise up.

Hands down, one of my favorite things about The Bone Season so far has been the characters. They've become so memorable for me. Samantha Shannon has created these characters with so much depth, they’re not one-dimensional they're complex and flawed. I mean most of the voyants are criminals turned revolutionaries after all (some reluctantly so). And then aside from the voyants there’s the Rephaim who are still shrouded in so much mystery, but that’s what makes them interesting. Both have characters that are working for Scion and Nashira while both also have characters that are working against them. I won’t go into a lot of detail about all of the characters but that’s mainly because certain things are revealed that I don’t want to spoil. I will say that we do learn a bit about both Nick's past as well as Warden's.

From The Bone Season to The Song Rising, Paige has gone through a lot of changes. Seriously, her character development has been on point! One thing I’ve loved is seeing her step out of that role of reluctant leader and into embracing it and how much she wants to change the world she lives in. She’s someone who is headstrong, stubborn, ambitious, and just cares so much for her fellow voyants. She’s willing to sacrifice anything to make sure that there is a day where they don’t have to worry about whether their clairvoyance will lead them to their deaths. Is she perfect? Absolutely not. In fact, Paige can be a bit impulsive at times which almost always turns out bad. But at heart, everything she does is fueled by good intentions. Going into The Song Rising she has a lot of doubt about who she can trust because of Jaxon’s betrayal, which is something she has to overcome. There’s also so much revealed about her past that I won’t even go into. All I’m going to say is that this book has cemented the fact that Paige is my top favorite female character.

Beyond the familiar faces from previous books, The Song Rising brings with it a full introduction to so many other great characters. One of them, Maria, who we see briefly in The Mime Order has quickly become a favorite of mine. I love her.

And don’t even get me started on the romance! I’ve said this in previous reviews so I’m probably becoming repetitive but I love how Samantha Shannon has crafted this incredible, slow burn romance and not made it the main focal point of the books. Warden and Paige, I love them. There’s just something so unique about their connection and with each book I love them more and more. I can’t even really explain it but I can’t get enough of the two of them. The Song Rising definitely played with my emotions where they are concerned. Yes, I'm being purposely vague.

Something else I would like to point out as notable is the fact that almost every single character in power or in a leadership position is female. From the good guys to the enemies it’s the women running the show. The Song Rising, in particular, is rocking some serious girl power! I loved it.

Also, once again, Samantha Shannon has blown me away with her writing and world building! Each book has delved more and more into this horrific and shocking world while peeling away layers that I never saw coming. The Song Rising goes more into the internal workings of Scion, we get to see more of London and other voyant communities outside of London, and there’s so much heartbreaking character backstory revealed. Plus, there is a plot twist that I’m still picking my jaw up off of the floor over.

This book was engaging, suspenseful, and just when I thought I knew what was going to happen the rug was ripped right out from under me. Be prepared to shed some tears and be left on the edge of your seat breathlessly anticipating the fourth book. I for one need said book in my hands right now.

Overall, The Song Rising was not only everything I hoped for but also exactly what I’ve come to expect from this author. It was completely worth the two year wait!

(Originally posted on Alexa Loves Books)

Having escaped Sheol I and defeated all the contenders in the Rose Ring to become the Underqueen of the London Syndicate, in The Song Rising, Paige has now found herself in a powerful position. She is determined to rally her troops to fight for the rights and protection of all voyants, and begins to take the steps in order to make them an army fit to assist the Ranthen in overthrowing Scion and the other Rephaite. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and Paige soon finds that she is responsible for the welfare of her underlings. With Scion dogging her steps at every turn and the military's presence growing, Paige is forced to make some tough decisions as she continues to light the spark of revolution.

I was actually one of the lucky people to receive an early review copy of The Song Rising, thanks to the lovely folk over at Bloomsbury. Since it has been one of my most highly anticipated sequels for ages, I immediately skipped everything on my then TBR in order to reread the first two novels and dive right into this one. Now, even though you're likely seeing this review months from when I'm typing it up, I thought it'd be best to write it while fresh off reading the book.

It was absolutely incredible to be back in the world that Samantha Shannon so carefully crafted in her first two novels, complete with the variety of clairvoyants, the restructured London syndicate and the ever-present threat of Scion and the Rephaite. Since I'd come off of a reread of The Bone Season and The Mime Order, I comfortably transitioned into The Song Rising without any confusion. What is truly impressive, in my humble opinion, is that the world once again expands and introduces us to even more of the world. And while it is obviously sad, bleak and terrifying, it is also so darn interesting to learn about what is going on outside of the London citadel. I love that with every single story, Samantha has been slowly letting readers see the rest of the world in her head, and I absolutely cannot wait for more.

It was also so wonderful to be reunited with Paige, Nick, Eliza, Warden and countless other characters that I've come to know and love (or perhaps revile) in reading the previous novels. For the great majority of the main players that I was familiar with, it felt like deepening a bond with a friend, particularly as we learn more about certain individuals who might not have had center stage (or any stage at all, really) prior to The Song Rising. And for the newer characters who crop up in this story, Samantha does an excellent job of fleshing them out as flawed individuals doing the best they can with the circumstances they are in (in the case of the "good" guys) and psychopaths who are not opposed to death and destruction in order to get their way (in the case of the "bad" guys).

But I need to really take a moment here to appreciate Paige Mahoney, our main gal. She faces a number of challenges in The Song Rising, challenges that would have lesser men and women running like hell, and these challenges are what break her, shape her, make her. She's certainly not perfect, especially considering her youth, and she does make mistakes. But with each mistake, and even each victory, there is growth and there is experience and there is Paige learning to be a strong leader. It really impressive how much Paige grows over the course of this novel, and it is a character arc that felt really organic as well.

So, the world is great. So, the characters are phenomenal. But Lex, you might ask, what about the story? The short answer: it was incredible. The longer answer? Well, it is clear to me that this story was so well-executed. Every scene had a purpose, whether it was to move the plot forward or showcase more of a person's character, and I admired that so much care had gone into the telling of this tale. Each section felt organic and fed right into the next one, and it was hard to stop once I'd started. I was so immersed in the newest chapter of Paige's story, and I devoured the entirety of it in just one afternoon. It was exciting. It was terrifying. It was heartbreaking. It was inspiring. And it was very, very, very good. So, yes, I loved the story as well.

If it isn't obvious from all the gushing, I loved The Song Rising. While it has been a fairly large gap between the second novel and this upcoming one, I can certainly say that the novel (well, the advanced reader's copy) that I held in my hands and read was an insanely good book. Impressive world-building and character development, as well as a compelling story - it's the full package when it comes to the reads I wind up loving, and I cannot wait for more. (Seriously, I need book four now. For reasons. Which you will understand, should you read the third book.)

The Song Rising is the third book in Samantha Shannon’s The Bone Season series. When the first book came out Shannon was compared to JK Rowling and many press releases said that her books would be more popular and influential than The Hunger Games. She was 21. I don’t know about you but at 21 I was hardly mature enough to be allowed into public, no less sign a six figure book deal. When I discovered this series in 2015 I was hooked and have waited for two years for the third installment to be released. Folks, I was not disappointed.

The Song Rising picks up precisely where The Mime Order, the second installment, left off. Paige Mahoney is the newly appointed head of an underground faction of clairvoyants in Scion London. Many among them feel that she unfairly took the title from her previous mentor, Jaxon Hall, and that she doesn’t deserve the crown. Despite the unrest among them, Paige is determined to unite all the clairvoyants of London against Scion and bring the corrupt government to it’s knees. This would free Paige and those like her from their years of being viewed as lesser beings, not worthy of respect, and help lead them to the path to freedom instead of suffocating oppression.

Scion is introducing a new level of that oppression in the form of a portable scanning device that easily allows their foot soldiers to reliably identify four types of clairvoyants. This device could bring Paige and her followers to it’s knees if it is not somehow stopped. Despite the unrest within her Mime Order, Paige and a group of trusted voyants set off out of London in an attempt to stop the scanners from being put into use. No leader within their order has ever left London before and more voyants seem to be losing their trust and patience with Paige’s reign. She has urged them underground, literally into the sewers, in an effort to keep them shielded from the scanners that would quickly end their lives. Despite the fact that she is trying to help them she has become immensely unpopular.

She and her small group depart London with a seemingly impossible task. Their dangerous quest will lead them from London and into Manchester then on to what was formerly Scotland. In true Paige form, nothing goes quite as planned but she never gives up despite the immense weight of what she has to do. As a female lead she is everything I look for. Strong but not without fault. She thinks forward to what the future could be instead of just accepting her circumstances. Paige has a defined goal and set of principles that she isn’t willing to give up. She truly is one of the best leading female characters I have ever read.

Alright, in a nutshell I adored this book. I think it is easily the best of the series out so far. Yes, it is the shortest of the three but there is so much going on, so much action that it is impossible to care about the length. I have never rooted so hard for a group of fictional characters in my life. The end was both painful and optimistic. While the story is obviously ongoing most of the story lines within the book were wrapped up nicely before moving on. I appreciate that. I hate when I get to the end of a book that I know will have a sequel and there are too many plot lines in the wind. Some sense of closure is needed even though the story itself is nowhere at an end. I can’t wait to see what Shannon comes up with next for these characters.

Oh, where to start? This book was just fantastic and well worth the wait. I'll start with the protagonist, Paige. She goes through so much over the course of the first three books and my heart hurts for everything that she will have to go through in the next four books. Paige is a character that has become very precious to me, not because she's a 'strong, female character', but because she's very human. She struggles, she fails, and she is broken. Despite that, she has a fierce love and loyalty to her friends. Her vulnerability and uncertainty with Warden is a breath of fresh air from other romances. I love their connection and the almost inseparable bond that they share. I'm very excited (and nervous) to see how their relationship will progress. I was also very pleased with the character development we saw with Nick and Eliza. I'm glad they had more page time than they did in previous books. I also liked reading about other minor characters, like Tom and Maria. Especially Tom and Maria. Another thing I liked was that this book started right where the last one left off. The whole series has been like that so far and I really appreciate that. The writing in this book also seems to be a notch above the first two. It's beautifully written and there is one scene in particular (near the end) that was written so well it just broke my heart. It was just so good. I liked the end of this book more than the other two. The first two books felt like they ended in the middle of the action, whereas this end felt almost like a beginning. The main focus of the book had been resolved and now the characters are going forth to continue with the overarching story.

There were very few things that I didn't like, the first being that it started rather slow. As excited as I was to read it, it took me a long time to actually get into it. I also wish the Rephaite had featured a little more in this book. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad for the page space given to Warden, but I would have liked to read more about Alsafi and Terebell and even Nashira. The Rephaite fascinate me and I'm eager to know more about them. I also felt like the absence of Zeke and Nadine was told rather than felt. They felt a little like an afterthought. I don't particularly care about Nadine, but I want to know what happened to Zeke, for Nick's sake. Also, I wouldn't have complained if the book was longer...

I was really impressed with this one. I fell in love with the clairvoyant world when I read The Bone Season and it just keeps getting better. Paige and Warden are some of my favorite characters of all time. I would wholeheartedly suggest this series. Please, everyone read it so it can get the love and attention it deserves.

"'You have risen from the ashes before. The only way to survive,' he said, 'is to believe you always will.'" -The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon

This book was enjoyable. I love Warden and Nick and it was great seeing them again, however, I spent most of this book confused or waiting for something big to happen. That being said, I still enjoyed it. It was just lacking a bit.

I am still interested to see how the story unfolds and

SPOILERS BELOW <spoiler> how everyone will do separate from each other and if we will get a multiple point of view 4th book. </spoiler> (75%) <spoiler> I am so sick of this i love you jk we cant jk i love you jk we cant. its driving me nuts! So she wanted to get trapped and sent to the archon does that mean warden is there to help her? Since he got stuck too? </spoiler> oh and <spoiler> I totally feel you about zeke and nick. They talk about them so much I have a feeling something will happen. </spoiler> finished (replying to buddy) <spoiler> yes something is definitely going on with jaxon. He seemed to know she wasn't going to die. "but Paige has gone from Public Enemy #1 to what's more than that?" you crack me up. The last few chapters really confused me, so she isn't queen anymore? and who is this person with the sponsor. "use the Emite blood to obscure their Auras in this book to beat Sensishield, but once that property was mentioned, no one mentioned it again." yes i totally forgot about that until it was mentioned again. and your right, once it was mentioned we hear nothing. And i neeed more love with warden and paige. </spoiler>

Very slow start to the third in this excellent series, found it very hard going and thought Samantha had lost her mojo and Paige was not the same character from the first two books. So many characters seemed lost and out of the narrative. By the end the book grabbed me and I once again look forward to the next episode. Very dark and cold and dismal throughout most of the book though, so you need a bit of perseverance to get into it.