Title: The Song Rising
Author: Samantha Shannon
First published March 7, 2017
384 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781632866240 (ISBN10: 1632866242)
Rating: 4.18
Overview
Samantha Shannon’s Bone Season series continues with The Song Rising, the highly-anticipated third installment. Paige Mahoney, now the Underqueen of London’s criminal underworld, faces new challenges as she tries to stabilize the fractured city.
With enemies on every side and the introduction of a new technology that threatens the clairvoyant community, Paige’s reign may come to a deadly end. Shannon’s extraordinary imagination and dystopian world-building are at their best in this gripping and thrilling addition to the Bone Season series.
About the Author
Samantha Shannon attended St. Anne’s College in Oxford where she studied English Language and Literature. Her debut novel, The Bone Season, was a huge success, reaching the top of The New York Times bestseller list and becoming the inaugural selection for Today Book Club.
Following this achievement, she released her next book, The Priory of the Orange Tree, in February 2019, which also became a bestseller. Her writing has been translated into an impressive twenty-six languages.
Currently, she resides in London.
Editoral Review
Samantha Shannon’s latest addition to her Bone Season series, The Song Rising, continues to captivate readers with its unique blend of dystopian and fantastical elements. First published on March 7, 2017, Shannon’s writing style is eloquent and suspenseful, making the novel an entertaining page-turner.
The Song Rising opens with protagonist, Paige Mahoney, fighting for her life as the Scion, a powerful government, threatens to destroy the clairvoyant community. Singled out as a notorious criminal, Paige must rise up against the oppressive regime by utilizing her supernatural abilities and leading a rebellion.
Along the way, readers are introduced to memorable characters such as Warden, the enigmatic ruler of a hidden clairvoyant colony, and Jaxon, a charismatic leader of the Seven Seals, the revolutionary group that Paige joins. Through its exhilarating plot, The Song Rising touches on a variety of themes such as power, identity, and the price of freedom.
Shannon explores the human condition as Paige and the other characters grapple with seemingly insurmountable challenges. The author’s intricate world-building also adds depth to the novel, as readers are transported to a dystopian London complete with supernatural beings and clairvoyant empires.
Shannon’s writing style is fluid and electric, with vivid descriptions and skillful pacing. She builds upon the momentum of her previous books in the series, delivering an exciting and thrilling installment.
While the novel can be read as a standalone, readers who have followed the series since its inception will find it to be a satisfying continuation. One of the strengths of The Song Rising is the development of its characters.
Shannon effectively creates nuanced and complex characters, each with their own motives and desires that drive the plot forward. Paige, in particular, is a well-crafted protagonist who rises to the occasion despite overwhelming odds.
One potential limitation of the book is the large cast of characters which may be difficult to keep track of for some readers. Additionally, the complex world-building and intricate plot may be overwhelming for those who are new to the series.
Overall, The Song Rising is a must-read for fans of dystopian and fantasy literature. It is a gripping and exhilarating read that will keep readers up late into the night.
Shannon’s writing is nuanced and skillful, making her one of the most exciting young adult authors of today. I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to anyone looking for an adventure through a fantastical rendition of London.
