The Bone Season Series by Samantha Shannon – A Read Along discussion

Now that we've caught up on the series as a whole, I want to hear what you all expect going into The Song Rising. Do you have any theories? Any expectations on what you would like to see? This can be as broad as "More Warden, please!" or as specific as a really niche fanfic scenario.

For instance, I know when I finished The Mime Order I desperately wanted more of Kickbutt Underqueen Paige yanking the stragglers into line and consolidating power. I also had theories about things that I shan't mention, since I've already read The Song Rising and don't want to spoil anything. ;-)

More Warden :))))

As I've read it, I'm not going to say anything in case it come across spoiler-y xD haha but I'm looking forward to the whole book xD

Definitely more Jaxon! O, my lovely <3

I want to see how Paige gets the syndicate reorganized and what she does about Sensishield. I would also really like to see her interact with her father again, and I want to know what happens next to Zeke (and Nick). I'm curious if we'll learn, in TSR or ever, about why Nadine is so....Nadine. Since Jaxon makes a cruel comment about her having panic disorder, and Paige mentions her dreamscape is full of spectres, I can't help but feel a bit sorry for her. She is another person Jaxon's duped into thinking he gives a damn.
I also want more Ranthen drama, more Lucida Sargas, and more Ongena Maria. And more Warden, obviously!

I love and agree with ALL of these comments. Keep them coming!

Also, I posted this in the Extra Information thread, but I'll mention it again here, The Bone Season Tumblr account has posted a new Venn diagram and character list for The Mime Order, which may be helpful going into The Song Rising. :) http://www.boneseasonbooks.com/post/1...

I can't believe I forgot to say this earlier, but I really want to see Michael again, I can't help worrying about him. Also, more than one steamy scene per book would be awesome. ;)

Alix wrote: "I can't believe I forgot to say this earlier, but I really want to see Michael again, I can't help worrying about him. Also, more than one steamy scene per book would be awesome. ;)"

Oh my goodness, YES. Michael, my poor darling, come back to us.

I got the new book, The Song Rising, this morning!!! So excited to start reading it!!! Got both the kindle and audible editions!!!

Markie wrote: "I got the new book, The Song Rising, this morning!!! So excited to start reading it!!! Got both the kindle and audible editions!!!"

WOOOOO! Happy reading!

So I’m getting the discussion/geeking out started! Let’s hope I do this spoiler cut thing correctly…

(view spoiler)[ So wow, where to begin. I feel like I’m sure I missed things, between being so eager to find out what happened next, and reading all the very stressful, painful parts of the book where I just couldn’t even, such as the end of part one. I got why Paige felt she needed to call things off with Warden, but I was also so frustrated with her, she certainly likes to punish herself as much as possible. All her commanders were like “dude, don’t address the Assembly right now, take a break”, but according to Paige everything hit the fan because she was kind of happy for a couple hours. Thank goodness that foolishness was only temporary.
Speaking of those couple hours, Shannon really writes those steamy scenes well. Paige’s panic and anxiety filled thought process in the first section of the book I also felt was really well-crafted and true to life (I already gushed about that to her tumblr).
I thought Tom the Rhymer’s death was going to be the difficult one, and then...Paige’s dad. It was pretty brutal and I was in denial about it for a few pages. I suspected Paige’s dad wasn’t long for the world, but I was somehow convinced they’d at least speak once more beforehand. There’s so much I still want to know! Paige’s childhood memory of her father was also pretty heartbreaking. Colin, dude, what’s wrong with you? Who acts that way to their five year old? I think a lot of Paige’s trust issues go back to feeling rejected by her father. When you feel like your own parents, who are supposed to be the ones that love you unconditionally, don’t love or accept you, it probably makes you feel both that you are unlovable, and that no one can be trusted.
I’m full of admiration for Paige’s plan to allow herself to be captured for a chance to destroy Senshield. What to make of Jaxon? I think he’s definitely a lot of the awful things he seems to be, but just may have some actual affection for Paige. I’ll miss Alsafi, who turned out to be pretty stand-up, despite seeming like an a-hole through most of TBS. *District 12 salutes Alsafi*. Burnish being a double-agent completely took my by surprise! It was pretty awesome and I’m looking forward to seeing more of her (I like anyone who has no problem with cussing out Rephaim and ordering them around).
Some final (for now) thoughts are that I have a feeling that Nick is not going to survive this series, which makes me very sad. I’m also squeeing that Paige and Warden will be in Paris together (at the moment, I’m choosing to ignore the fact that all kinds of suffering and torment are still in store for them).
One of the most amusing passages in the book to me was after Paige “discovers” that trap door in Scotland, and from the bottom unleashes a stream of curses. Warden’s reply to a panicking Nick: “It would seem that she is still alive”. (hide spoiler)]

Finished TSR last night! OMG, what a page turner! So many twists and so much growth to Paige! The Warden relationship was expanded and Burnish was a shocker! A wonderful installment to the series!!!! Cannot wait for book 4!

THERE'S A BOOK 4?! I thought this was the last book in a trilogy! So I finally went and bought it today, though I had pre-ordered it from Barnes and Noble in January - apparently there was some warehouse error so I ended up cancelling my order of a signed copy. Bit of a bummer.

I've already raced through the first few chapters and I can't wait to figure out what Paige is going to do about this shields! Also, is this David guy ever going to pop back up? I think that was the guy's name from The Bone Season who was possibly working against/within Scion....

Candace wrote: "THERE'S A BOOK 4?! I thought this was the last book in a trilogy! So I finally went and bought it today, though I had pre-ordered it from Barnes and Noble in January - apparently there was some war..."

According to the author there will be 7 books in The Bone Season series. (That doesn't include additional short publications such as The Pale Dreamer or "On the Merits of ..."

Candace, I'm glad you found out about it being a seven book series before you finished TSR, otherwise you'd be saying "What???? That's it?" at the end! It's a great ending to a book, but not to a series, LOL. Now hurry and read so that we may discuss!
Rhiannon, where art thou? Now we know all you know, we can discuss and theorize (behind spoiler cuts) to our hearts' content. ;)

Excuse me while I go re read, question is just TSR or from.the beginning ...

Danielle wrote: "Excuse me while I go re read, question is just TSR or from.the beginning ... "

LOL right?

My special edition of TSR has been delayed, so while waiting the publisher sent me the ebook - which is great, but I want to finish re-reading TMO first... *sigh* which is hard now that I have TSR in hand....

Really enjoyed the book...there was something that felt too rushed at the end. I have to confess feeling a little disappointed that now that Paige has finally set out what she meant to do and disable Senshield, she is being shipped out of London and away from the Unnatural Assembly that almost all of Book 2 was about.

Lots of information thrown out in this book that I'll never be able to remember all of! Might have to do a re-read before we do another re-read!

Candace, I know what you mean. (view spoiler)[ It kind of sucks that most of her tenure as Underqueen was completely thankless, with most of the Syndicate being difficult and unfair to her and then, when she finally proves herself and really accomplishes something as Underqueen, she's shipped off. Though, her experience seems like a pretty realistic depiction of leadership (an often thankless job during which people blame you for all their problems), and it made sense that not everyone would change their attitudes so quickly. Much as I'll miss London, I'm sure we'll see it again, and it makes sense that, as Nashira's going global, Paige will have to as well. I'll really miss Ognena Maria and Eliza as well as Nick, hope we see them soon.
I agree about all the detail, I was on the edge of my seat and plowed through the book, so I'm sure there's so much I missed. I'm sort of amazed the Ranthen let Warden go with Paige. Terebell was probably in a really good mood after Sensishield was destroyed, and didn't realize Warden would be traveling alone with Paige, mwahaha! (hide spoiler)].

There was a part of me that liked Terebell but I'm afraid I'm experiencing a Team Paige vs Terebell feeling. I already want to go back and read the whole book again to pick up some things I already missed. I remember there being a moment toward the end where Paige gets one of those niggling feelings, and I think it was regarding Terebell, but then it doesn't get addressed the remainder of the book. Part of me wonders if perhaps Terebell is secretly helping Nashira in some backhanded fashion. How else could Vance predict so well where Paige and the rest would be going (Manchester, Edinburgh).

I think Vance could predict Paige so well because she's a very good strategist, studies her enemies well, and doesn't underestimate them. (view spoiler)[ She also figured out from her trap in the beginning that Paige was after Sensishield, and they were catching on to the fact that they had a spy in the Archon, so predicting Paige's movements was possible.
It was revealed that Warden and Terebell we mates a long time ago in the Netherworld, but no long are (for reasons yet unknown), and Paige's isn't really surprised when she finds out. Is that what you meant? Given that Terebell and Nashira are basically rivals for the same position, and Terebell is scarred, I personally doubt they're in cahoots, but anything is possible. I'm also torn between liking her and being ticked off at the way she treats Paige. I often found myself wanting to yell "Hands off, you &!*@#!". She's definitely very suspicious of, and threatened by, Warden's relationship with Paige. Someone must have slipped a lot of Amaranth into her wine before she agreed to let Arcturus go with humans. ;) (hide spoiler)]

Vance may well be one of the Most Villainy Villains I've come across in quite some time - she gives me the chills! It was after the Big Reveal about Warden and Terebell that Paige got a funny feeling. I'll go back and look for it at some point.