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The Bone Season #5
The Dark Mirror
Everything is about to change.
Paige Mahoney is outside the Republic of Scion for the first time in more than a decade – but she has no idea how she got to the free world. Half a year has been wiped from her memory.
As she makes her way back to the revolution, her journey takes her to Venice, where she learns a dangerous secret – one that could change the face of the war between humans and immortals. Before she can return to London, she must help the Domino Programme unravel the sinister Operation Ventriloquist.
And it soon becomes clear that the one person who could recover her memories – Arcturus Mesarthim – might also hold the key to saving Italy.
Lyrical, touching and action-packed, The Dark Mirror drives the Bone Season series forward, showing Samantha Shannon at the height of her powers.
Paige Mahoney is outside the Republic of Scion for the first time in more than a decade – but she has no idea how she got to the free world. Half a year has been wiped from her memory.
As she makes her way back to the revolution, her journey takes her to Venice, where she learns a dangerous secret – one that could change the face of the war between humans and immortals. Before she can return to London, she must help the Domino Programme unravel the sinister Operation Ventriloquist.
And it soon becomes clear that the one person who could recover her memories – Arcturus Mesarthim – might also hold the key to saving Italy.
Lyrical, touching and action-packed, The Dark Mirror drives the Bone Season series forward, showing Samantha Shannon at the height of her powers.
577 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2025
570 people are currently reading
35737 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Shannon
35 books29.1k followersSamantha Shannon is the New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Bone Season series. From 2010 to 2013 she studied English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford. Her fourth novel, The Priory of the Orange Tree (2019), was her first outside of the series. It has sold over a million copies in English alone, and was a finalist in the Lambda Literary Awards 2020. Its standalone prequel, A Day of Fallen Night (2023), won the gold medal in the Fantasy category at the Ippy Awards 2024.
Samantha's work has been translated into twenty-seven languages. Her most recent book is The Dark Mirror (2025), the fifth instalment in the Bone Season series.
Samantha's work has been translated into twenty-seven languages. Her most recent book is The Dark Mirror (2025), the fifth instalment in the Bone Season series.
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October 28, 2024Hello, Goodreads:
Thank you, as ever, for your immense patience in waiting for each instalment of the Bone Season series. I really can't believe I'm finally drafting Book 5 – this one has felt so far away, for such a long time.
As with The Mask Falling, I will keep you updated on my progress. I will, of course, aim to get it to you as soon as humanly possible – I know I left you on a brutal cliffhanger.
I can't wait to take you on Paige's next journey.
Love,
Samantha
PS: I made a tiny early playlist.
PPS: You may be aware that I revised the first four instalments of the Bone Season series this year, creating the Author's Preferred Texts. You don't need to read these to understand The Dark Mirror, but if you do plan to re-read the series to refresh your memory, the Author's Preferred Texts are the version I would strongly recommend you choose. I cover the changes in a quick guide here, and you can read my essay about why I chose to revise the earlier books here.
Updates
31 July 2023: You'll be very happy to know I've now returned to full-time drafting of TBS5. My deadline is 6 September.
11 August 2023: I've just finished Chapter 23, titled Martlet, which has turned out to be one of my favourites in the entire series. This deadline is very nerve-racking, as I'm going on tour from the 21st August and I'd like most of the book to be done by then (though I will have a few days to round it off after I come back), but the words are really flowing now. This is shaping up to be the longest instalment of the series so far.
8 September 2023: I'm delighted to say that the first complete draft of TBS5 is now complete at a whopping 175,784 words. This book is perhaps the most ambitious in the series, and I'm so pleased with how it's turned out, after more than two years of work.
19 December 2023: Just got my edit letter back, and I'm so relieved – my editor loved the first draft of Book 5, and while she has lots of insightful and helpful suggestions (as always), it doesn't look as if the edit will be too brutal on a structural level. I'm excited to get back to work on it over Christmas.
15 March 2024: The structural edit on TBS5 is complete! I'm so relieved to finally be at this point. The manuscript is currently sitting at the same approximate word count as the first draft, so around 176K. (I did suspect it would shrink, but the finale was in a skeletal form when I handed it in, so I needed to bulk that up.) It’s the big roadtrip I always wanted it to be, unfolding across multiple countries and cities, and I'm so proud of how much growth Paige undergoes. I've finalised a title and blurb with Bloomsbury, and hope to be able to reveal both soon. Once again, thank you for your extraordinary patience with me since The Mask Falling came out in 2021.
26 March 2024: Delighted to finally be able to say that the title of Book 5 is The Dark Mirror (more insight into the title here), coming February 2025. I will be starting Book 6 as soon as possible in an effort to avoid another long delay in the series, but for now, I'm continuing the edit on Book 5 to make it the best it can possibly be for you.
2 April 2024: Just handed the next draft back to Bloomsbury, to be sent on to my incredible copyeditor, Sharona. The Dark Mirror is now hovering at 166K, so I've shaved off around 10K, but it's still the longest instalment of the Bone Season series so far. I'm really thrilled with how it's shaping up.
10 July 2024: The Dark Mirror is copyedited and has been through one round of proofreading, and should now be going out to its first readers on Edelweiss!
28 July 2024: I will be doing my final proofread on The Dark Mirror in early September, at which point it will officially be finished, so I am wrapping up this update diary here, as I prepare to finally pass the book to you in February 2025. I'm so sorry again for the long wait for this instalment of the Bone Season series, which was primarily due to my work on A Day of Fallen Night – a very long and complex project, as you'll know if you've read it! Please be assured that TBS6 is my priority for next year, so you should hopefully get it in 2026, a year after The Dark Mirror is published. Thank you for your patience – I hope you love Paige's next adventure as much as I do.
8 August: Just one more update – COVER REVEAL, at last! I've been working on this book in some capacity since about 2020, so I'm so delighted to finally have this stunning nocturnal cover, designed by Carmen R. Balit and illustrated by Ivan Belikov, with art direction by David Mann. As you can see, we're going to Venice and Prague.
Thank you, as ever, for your immense patience in waiting for each instalment of the Bone Season series. I really can't believe I'm finally drafting Book 5 – this one has felt so far away, for such a long time.
As with The Mask Falling, I will keep you updated on my progress. I will, of course, aim to get it to you as soon as humanly possible – I know I left you on a brutal cliffhanger.
I can't wait to take you on Paige's next journey.
Love,
Samantha
PS: I made a tiny early playlist.
PPS: You may be aware that I revised the first four instalments of the Bone Season series this year, creating the Author's Preferred Texts. You don't need to read these to understand The Dark Mirror, but if you do plan to re-read the series to refresh your memory, the Author's Preferred Texts are the version I would strongly recommend you choose. I cover the changes in a quick guide here, and you can read my essay about why I chose to revise the earlier books here.
Updates
31 July 2023: You'll be very happy to know I've now returned to full-time drafting of TBS5. My deadline is 6 September.
11 August 2023: I've just finished Chapter 23, titled Martlet, which has turned out to be one of my favourites in the entire series. This deadline is very nerve-racking, as I'm going on tour from the 21st August and I'd like most of the book to be done by then (though I will have a few days to round it off after I come back), but the words are really flowing now. This is shaping up to be the longest instalment of the series so far.
8 September 2023: I'm delighted to say that the first complete draft of TBS5 is now complete at a whopping 175,784 words. This book is perhaps the most ambitious in the series, and I'm so pleased with how it's turned out, after more than two years of work.
19 December 2023: Just got my edit letter back, and I'm so relieved – my editor loved the first draft of Book 5, and while she has lots of insightful and helpful suggestions (as always), it doesn't look as if the edit will be too brutal on a structural level. I'm excited to get back to work on it over Christmas.
15 March 2024: The structural edit on TBS5 is complete! I'm so relieved to finally be at this point. The manuscript is currently sitting at the same approximate word count as the first draft, so around 176K. (I did suspect it would shrink, but the finale was in a skeletal form when I handed it in, so I needed to bulk that up.) It’s the big roadtrip I always wanted it to be, unfolding across multiple countries and cities, and I'm so proud of how much growth Paige undergoes. I've finalised a title and blurb with Bloomsbury, and hope to be able to reveal both soon. Once again, thank you for your extraordinary patience with me since The Mask Falling came out in 2021.
26 March 2024: Delighted to finally be able to say that the title of Book 5 is The Dark Mirror (more insight into the title here), coming February 2025. I will be starting Book 6 as soon as possible in an effort to avoid another long delay in the series, but for now, I'm continuing the edit on Book 5 to make it the best it can possibly be for you.
2 April 2024: Just handed the next draft back to Bloomsbury, to be sent on to my incredible copyeditor, Sharona. The Dark Mirror is now hovering at 166K, so I've shaved off around 10K, but it's still the longest instalment of the Bone Season series so far. I'm really thrilled with how it's shaping up.
10 July 2024: The Dark Mirror is copyedited and has been through one round of proofreading, and should now be going out to its first readers on Edelweiss!
28 July 2024: I will be doing my final proofread on The Dark Mirror in early September, at which point it will officially be finished, so I am wrapping up this update diary here, as I prepare to finally pass the book to you in February 2025. I'm so sorry again for the long wait for this instalment of the Bone Season series, which was primarily due to my work on A Day of Fallen Night – a very long and complex project, as you'll know if you've read it! Please be assured that TBS6 is my priority for next year, so you should hopefully get it in 2026, a year after The Dark Mirror is published. Thank you for your patience – I hope you love Paige's next adventure as much as I do.
8 August: Just one more update – COVER REVEAL, at last! I've been working on this book in some capacity since about 2020, so I'm so delighted to finally have this stunning nocturnal cover, designed by Carmen R. Balit and illustrated by Ivan Belikov, with art direction by David Mann. As you can see, we're going to Venice and Prague.
March 20, 2025
you don’t understand how over it had to be before we could be this back
Read my full review (not entirely spoiler free!!)
With so many emotional reconciliations, confessed feelings, near misses, and epic confrontations it’s no wonder i spent most of this book being stressed as hell and waiting for the other shoe to drop (basically the bone season experience amiright?)
the dark mirror is certainly a long awaited sequel but it’s heartrending and masterfully plotted and deserves to be read over and over again
i already cried my eyes out to chapter 13 (samantha shannon when i catch you…when i catch you samantha shannon) ch 23 - 25 you are beloved by me
also maria channeling frodo baggins was so hehe
thank you to edelweiss and macmillan for the arc:)
Bookstagram | Blog
Read my full review (not entirely spoiler free!!)
With so many emotional reconciliations, confessed feelings, near misses, and epic confrontations it’s no wonder i spent most of this book being stressed as hell and waiting for the other shoe to drop (basically the bone season experience amiright?)
the dark mirror is certainly a long awaited sequel but it’s heartrending and masterfully plotted and deserves to be read over and over again
i already cried my eyes out to chapter 13 (samantha shannon when i catch you…when i catch you samantha shannon) ch 23 - 25 you are beloved by me
also maria channeling frodo baggins was so hehe
thank you to edelweiss and macmillan for the arc:)
Bookstagram | Blog
June 24, 2025
Po tym tomie widać jak bardzo Samantha dorosła jako pisarka. Uwielbiam jej powieści od „Czasu żniw”, ale z każdym kolejnym utwierdzam się w przekonaniu, że do końca życia będę piszczała jak dziecko na każdą jej książkę. (A tej dodatkowo patronuje GOALS)
November 8, 2024
This is, without a doubt, one of the easiest 5 stars I’ve given.
I am astounded by this book. I’ve always hyped up the complexity of Samantha Shannon’s worlds, but this book truly just amps it up to another level, if such a thing is possible. Never before have I found myself almost sobbing because of how CLEVER a book is, but the absolute riot of emotions this book wrought from me was almost overwhelming. Samantha just knows how to write the most manipulative, scheming, heart wrenching, intimate, and tense moments that ring true to their core. Half the time I don’t know whether to love or hate the entire cast of characters. It’s just…a perpetual limbo, not knowing who or what to trust. And my god did I eat it up.
This is one I’ll be thinking about for years to come. I barely feel like this review even touches upon the overwhelming love I have for this book, but trust that if you’ve read this far into the series, you’re about to experience an absolute ride with this one.
I am astounded by this book. I’ve always hyped up the complexity of Samantha Shannon’s worlds, but this book truly just amps it up to another level, if such a thing is possible. Never before have I found myself almost sobbing because of how CLEVER a book is, but the absolute riot of emotions this book wrought from me was almost overwhelming. Samantha just knows how to write the most manipulative, scheming, heart wrenching, intimate, and tense moments that ring true to their core. Half the time I don’t know whether to love or hate the entire cast of characters. It’s just…a perpetual limbo, not knowing who or what to trust. And my god did I eat it up.
This is one I’ll be thinking about for years to come. I barely feel like this review even touches upon the overwhelming love I have for this book, but trust that if you’ve read this far into the series, you’re about to experience an absolute ride with this one.
April 24, 2025
update:
Jak pisałam wcześniej, to jest zupełnie inna książka niż poprzednie tomy TBS. Jeśli czuliście się dziwnie już poza Londynem i Anglią w Końcu maskarady, tu będzie jeszcze dziwniej, bo zostawiamy syndykat za sobą. Paige interesują teraz inne wątki.
To nadal bardzo solidna powieść, wydaje się o wiele bardziej "osobista" niż poprzednie tomy. Mocno koresponduje z nowelkami, tym kim jest Paige, kogo dopuszcza do siebie, jak kształtują się jej relacje przyjacielskie i romantyczne. To z kolei sprawia, że TDM nie jest tak efektowne jak Koniec maskarady czy Zakon mimów, które po czasie uznaję za najlepsze części serii.
Dociera do mnie powoli, że zostały nam jeszcze tylko dwie książki do końca i o rany... Aż dziwnie z tą myślą.
24/04/2025
Ta ocena to jedynie formalność
Jak pisałam wcześniej, to jest zupełnie inna książka niż poprzednie tomy TBS. Jeśli czuliście się dziwnie już poza Londynem i Anglią w Końcu maskarady, tu będzie jeszcze dziwniej, bo zostawiamy syndykat za sobą. Paige interesują teraz inne wątki.
To nadal bardzo solidna powieść, wydaje się o wiele bardziej "osobista" niż poprzednie tomy. Mocno koresponduje z nowelkami, tym kim jest Paige, kogo dopuszcza do siebie, jak kształtują się jej relacje przyjacielskie i romantyczne. To z kolei sprawia, że TDM nie jest tak efektowne jak Koniec maskarady czy Zakon mimów, które po czasie uznaję za najlepsze części serii.
Dociera do mnie powoli, że zostały nam jeszcze tylko dwie książki do końca i o rany... Aż dziwnie z tą myślą.
24/04/2025
Ta ocena to jedynie formalność
May 17, 2025
(2025)
unbelievable to have finally read this after such a long wait...
this book kinda went in completely different directions than i expected based on the blurb we had and i suppose my own expectations which piled up over the years but i still thoroughly enjoyed it, i still love the characters and on top of that i was honoured to see one of my most beloved series partially be set in my own city... thank you samantha shannon for doing this for me specifically it was well done
hopefully the wait for next book will be shorter but, as always, i'm willing to wait... thankfully i have my best buddy reader anouk to wait with me <3
(2021)
y'all dont understand how many times a week i open this page and cry over the "2024*" expected publication date
*2025 😭😭😭😭😭
UPDATE (2/04/24) WE HAVE A TITLE??? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
unbelievable to have finally read this after such a long wait...
this book kinda went in completely different directions than i expected based on the blurb we had and i suppose my own expectations which piled up over the years but i still thoroughly enjoyed it, i still love the characters and on top of that i was honoured to see one of my most beloved series partially be set in my own city... thank you samantha shannon for doing this for me specifically it was well done
hopefully the wait for next book will be shorter but, as always, i'm willing to wait... thankfully i have my best buddy reader anouk to wait with me <3
(2021)
y'all dont understand how many times a week i open this page and cry over the "2024*" expected publication date
*2025 😭😭😭😭😭
UPDATE (2/04/24) WE HAVE A TITLE??? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Read
March 9, 2025Hahahaha… sooooo what exactly am I meant to do until book 6 comes out!?
Want to read
January 31, 2021Huh 2024??!! Please no....
March 4, 2025
“If I had this, I might yet lose everything. If I had this, I thought I could survive.”
the way that i devoured this book, i am always in awe of samantha shannon's mind. how she manages to craft such detailed world building will never fail to impress me.
after an INSANE cliffhanger from the mask falling, we finally catch back up with our girl paige (who can never catch a damn break). in addition to domino, we meet new players on this convoluted chessboard that's quickly becoming crowded with many new enemies as well as allies.
i thankfully was not as devastated as the last book, but there is certainly much turmoil in the dark mirror. we finally get a look at the free world and it's quite fascinating to see how it's changed in contrast to scion.
i was also really happy to have maria back because she was such great comic relief throughout the book.
“You really do meet the most deranged people, Paige.”
“Oh, Paige has done bolder things in her time. She possesses the loyalty of a beagle and the chaotic abandon of a headless chicken,” Maria said. “It’s a dangerous marriage.”
and of course i can't go without mentioning our star crossed lovers. shannon once again masters the pining and yearning of a war torn, forbidden love. arcturus will always rank at the top of my book boyfriend list.
“Whatever part of my existence you have touched,” Arcturus said, “is the best of me, Paige Mahoney.”
“For some, there is safety in stillness, in certainty. But you have ruined me for stillness, Paige Mahoney.”
And now i must impatiently wait for the next installment of this epic story.
“I'm not just a dreamwalker,” I said, my voice straining. “I'm a professional fucking lowlife.”
the way that i devoured this book, i am always in awe of samantha shannon's mind. how she manages to craft such detailed world building will never fail to impress me.
after an INSANE cliffhanger from the mask falling, we finally catch back up with our girl paige (who can never catch a damn break). in addition to domino, we meet new players on this convoluted chessboard that's quickly becoming crowded with many new enemies as well as allies.
i thankfully was not as devastated as the last book, but there is certainly much turmoil in the dark mirror. we finally get a look at the free world and it's quite fascinating to see how it's changed in contrast to scion.
i was also really happy to have maria back because she was such great comic relief throughout the book.
“You really do meet the most deranged people, Paige.”
“Oh, Paige has done bolder things in her time. She possesses the loyalty of a beagle and the chaotic abandon of a headless chicken,” Maria said. “It’s a dangerous marriage.”
and of course i can't go without mentioning our star crossed lovers. shannon once again masters the pining and yearning of a war torn, forbidden love. arcturus will always rank at the top of my book boyfriend list.
“Whatever part of my existence you have touched,” Arcturus said, “is the best of me, Paige Mahoney.”
“For some, there is safety in stillness, in certainty. But you have ruined me for stillness, Paige Mahoney.”
And now i must impatiently wait for the next installment of this epic story.
“I'm not just a dreamwalker,” I said, my voice straining. “I'm a professional fucking lowlife.”
June 24, 2025
4.75 ⭐️
Bardzo dopracowany tom, a scena w rozdziale „Duet” OMG THAT WAS SO GOOD 🔥
Bardzo dopracowany tom, a scena w rozdziale „Duet” OMG THAT WAS SO GOOD 🔥
Read
September 12, 2022if i die before this gets released im gonna be pissed
April 11, 2025
It's been a long four year wait for the newest installment of The Bone Season. Paige Mahoney is well worth waiting for, along with this collection of supporting characters, both good and evil and some in between. We are now out of Scion and in the free world in Prague and Italy. Lots going on, many different characters, but Paige is one of my favourite characters in any fantasy series ever. Well worth the wait.
I haven't enjoyed Ms Shannon's other series nearly as much, but then Paige is not in it. Can't wait for the next installment.
"My coffee soon went cold, but nothing else in that room did." 70%
I haven't enjoyed Ms Shannon's other series nearly as much, but then Paige is not in it. Can't wait for the next installment.
"My coffee soon went cold, but nothing else in that room did." 70%
June 23, 2025
Z tomu na tom coraz bardziej lubię tę serię. Podoba mi się jak warsztat pisarski autorki dojrzał wraz z bohaterami.
Natomiast mam zasadnicze pytanie - gdzie jest kolejny tom??
——————————————————
[ współpraca reklamowa @sqn_imaginatio ]
Recenzja może zawierać spoilery do poprzednich tomów.
“Mroczne lustro” to piąty tom cyklu “Czas żniw” i już tylko dwa tomy dzielą nas od wielkiego finału. Tym razem Paige budzi się w tej części świata, do której Sajon jeszcze nie dotarł. Będzie zmuszona uciekać przed poszukującymi ją ludźmi i współpracując z Programem Domino rozwikłać tajemniczą zagadkę.
“Czas żniw” to taki cykl, w którym czuć jak warsztat pisarski autorki dojrzewa wraz z bohaterami. Jest to jedna z nielicznych serii, w których każdy kolejny tom podoba mi się coraz bardziej. I mogę śmiało rzec, że tom piąty jest dokładnie tym, czego od autorki potrzebowałam.
Dostajemy tutaj solidną porcję polityki, w którą znacznie mieszają się tajne organizacje. I to właśnie polityka stanowi mój ulubiony wątek całej serii. Jednocześnie jest on na tyle przystępnie napisany, że nie miałam trudności z przypomnieniem sobie wydarzeń z poprzednich tomów.
Żeby za bardzo nie spoilerować nie napiszę zbyt wiele o wątku romantycznym, jednak bardzo podoba mi się jakie zmiany wprowadziła autorka w poprawionej wersji. Uważam, że wpłynęły bardzo korzystnie na fabułę i odebrały jej nieco wcześniejszej infantylności. Jeśli nie czytaliście wersji autorskiej, a chcielibyście sięgnąć po “Mroczne lustro”, Samantha Shannon przygotowała listę zmian, jakie wprowadziła do serii (znajdziecie ją tutaj: https://www.samanthashannon.co.uk/mor...).
“Mroczne lustro” to jeden z bardziej akcyjnych tomów, który trzyma w napięciu do samego końca. Wspaniale było wrócić do tego świata i wprost nie mogę się doczekać kolejnej części!
P.S. Część akcji “Mrocznego lustra” dzieje się w Polsce ;)
Natomiast mam zasadnicze pytanie - gdzie jest kolejny tom??
——————————————————
[ współpraca reklamowa @sqn_imaginatio ]
Recenzja może zawierać spoilery do poprzednich tomów.
“Mroczne lustro” to piąty tom cyklu “Czas żniw” i już tylko dwa tomy dzielą nas od wielkiego finału. Tym razem Paige budzi się w tej części świata, do której Sajon jeszcze nie dotarł. Będzie zmuszona uciekać przed poszukującymi ją ludźmi i współpracując z Programem Domino rozwikłać tajemniczą zagadkę.
“Czas żniw” to taki cykl, w którym czuć jak warsztat pisarski autorki dojrzewa wraz z bohaterami. Jest to jedna z nielicznych serii, w których każdy kolejny tom podoba mi się coraz bardziej. I mogę śmiało rzec, że tom piąty jest dokładnie tym, czego od autorki potrzebowałam.
Dostajemy tutaj solidną porcję polityki, w którą znacznie mieszają się tajne organizacje. I to właśnie polityka stanowi mój ulubiony wątek całej serii. Jednocześnie jest on na tyle przystępnie napisany, że nie miałam trudności z przypomnieniem sobie wydarzeń z poprzednich tomów.
Żeby za bardzo nie spoilerować nie napiszę zbyt wiele o wątku romantycznym, jednak bardzo podoba mi się jakie zmiany wprowadziła autorka w poprawionej wersji. Uważam, że wpłynęły bardzo korzystnie na fabułę i odebrały jej nieco wcześniejszej infantylności. Jeśli nie czytaliście wersji autorskiej, a chcielibyście sięgnąć po “Mroczne lustro”, Samantha Shannon przygotowała listę zmian, jakie wprowadziła do serii (znajdziecie ją tutaj: https://www.samanthashannon.co.uk/mor...).
“Mroczne lustro” to jeden z bardziej akcyjnych tomów, który trzyma w napięciu do samego końca. Wspaniale było wrócić do tego świata i wprost nie mogę się doczekać kolejnej części!
P.S. Część akcji “Mrocznego lustra” dzieje się w Polsce ;)
December 17, 2024
Thank you so much to Bloomsbury for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Once again Samantha Shannon has done it! I am continuously in awe of her genius as a writer with each new book that I read by her, especially where The Bone Season series is concerned. I've been reading this series since 2013 and I've had the joy of seeing it grow and expand beautifully into a series that I hold as a standard for what a fantasy, dystopia (with an incredible slow-burn romance mixed in) series should be.
The Dark Mirror in particular, I feel like, took this series to a whole new level. I said it after I read The Mask Falling and I'll say it again; Shannon has seamlessly grown and expanded the complexity of the world in these books. It's become such a far reaching world that truely answers the questions most dystopias leave unanswered and that is - "What's happening in other parts of this world? How are other parts of this world reacting or how will they react? What will the consequences be?" And I can't wait to see the cumulative of this as it comes to even more of a crescendo in the last two books.
Beyond that, The Dark Mirror is one giant emotional roller coaster (because of course it wouldn't be a Samantha Shannon book if it wasn't) that will have you going from rage, to heart-wrenching sadness, to happiness, to swooning so quickly you won't even know which way is up or down. You'll just have to hold on for the wild ride that is Paige Mahoney's life. And you'll be cheering for her perseverance every single step of the way.
And, of course, thrown into the mixture of very high stakes (and trauma) there's romance, character reunions, and a reminder that The Bone Season has one of the best, if not slightly dysfunctional, found families that I have ever read. There's a huge expansion of characters in this installment and you may or may not meet someone we've all been wondering about since the first book.
I don't feel like I can go into much more detail without accidentally spoiling something as The Dark Mirror is the 5th book in this series. Just know, you're in for a wild ride and if you're like me you won't want to put this book down for anything. As always, it was worth the wait and I can't wait to see what is in store for us in the next book. I'll be sending you my therapy bill, Samantha!
And if anyone is interested you should definitely check out my Bone Season Playlist… 👀 I’ve been listening to Fire Meet Gasoline by Sia nonstop while reading The Dark Mirror. 🙃
----------
1/31/2021
Alas, we're here again! A book hangover with many questions and the wait for the next one. Time to rewrite my old theories and come up with new ones while I wait.
3/26/2024
THE. DARK. MIRROR. Don’t mind me I’ll just be freaking out and obsessively checking Edelweiss for an advanced reader from here on out! 😱😍
7/8/2024
The ARC dropped on Edelweiss! You can best bet I am diving into this book ASAP. I CAN'T WAIT!
Once again Samantha Shannon has done it! I am continuously in awe of her genius as a writer with each new book that I read by her, especially where The Bone Season series is concerned. I've been reading this series since 2013 and I've had the joy of seeing it grow and expand beautifully into a series that I hold as a standard for what a fantasy, dystopia (with an incredible slow-burn romance mixed in) series should be.
The Dark Mirror in particular, I feel like, took this series to a whole new level. I said it after I read The Mask Falling and I'll say it again; Shannon has seamlessly grown and expanded the complexity of the world in these books. It's become such a far reaching world that truely answers the questions most dystopias leave unanswered and that is - "What's happening in other parts of this world? How are other parts of this world reacting or how will they react? What will the consequences be?" And I can't wait to see the cumulative of this as it comes to even more of a crescendo in the last two books.
Beyond that, The Dark Mirror is one giant emotional roller coaster (because of course it wouldn't be a Samantha Shannon book if it wasn't) that will have you going from rage, to heart-wrenching sadness, to happiness, to swooning so quickly you won't even know which way is up or down. You'll just have to hold on for the wild ride that is Paige Mahoney's life. And you'll be cheering for her perseverance every single step of the way.
And, of course, thrown into the mixture of very high stakes (and trauma) there's romance, character reunions, and a reminder that The Bone Season has one of the best, if not slightly dysfunctional, found families that I have ever read. There's a huge expansion of characters in this installment and you may or may not meet someone we've all been wondering about since the first book.
I don't feel like I can go into much more detail without accidentally spoiling something as The Dark Mirror is the 5th book in this series. Just know, you're in for a wild ride and if you're like me you won't want to put this book down for anything. As always, it was worth the wait and I can't wait to see what is in store for us in the next book. I'll be sending you my therapy bill, Samantha!
And if anyone is interested you should definitely check out my Bone Season Playlist… 👀 I’ve been listening to Fire Meet Gasoline by Sia nonstop while reading The Dark Mirror. 🙃
----------
1/31/2021
Alas, we're here again! A book hangover with many questions and the wait for the next one. Time to rewrite my old theories and come up with new ones while I wait.
3/26/2024
THE. DARK. MIRROR. Don’t mind me I’ll just be freaking out and obsessively checking Edelweiss for an advanced reader from here on out! 😱😍
7/8/2024
The ARC dropped on Edelweiss! You can best bet I am diving into this book ASAP. I CAN'T WAIT!
February 26, 2025
Kolejna część bedzie za tydzień, tak?
August 18, 2025
j’ai TELLEMENT besoin du tome 6 purée cette saga est incroyable
April 15, 2025
I’ve really enjoyed this series, but it’s starting to feel repetitive. The MC keeps rushing into traps, despite everyone warning her and, as expected, everyone is shocked when she somehow miraculously escapes (cue the Pikachu meme). To make matters worse, it’s always for Warden, who has the personality of a rock. The stakes don’t feel as high anymore, and the political maneuvering has become overly cumbersome. It’s time to wrap this shit up.
March 19, 2025
I CAN´T STOP THINKING BOUT YOUUUU.
I can´t, I really can´t, cheers for the wait until 2024?!?!?!?
I WOULD SELL MY SOUL FOR THIS.
I SEE IT, I LIKE IT, I WANT IT, DONT HAVE IT.
I can´t, I really can´t, cheers for the wait until 2024?!?!?!?
I WOULD SELL MY SOUL FOR THIS.
I SEE IT, I LIKE IT, I WANT IT, DONT HAVE IT.
August 22, 2025
Coś pięknego, zapłaczę się zanim powstanie szósty tom
December 31, 2024
Advance Reading Copy Review of The Dark Mirror
The Dark Mirror, A Bone Season Novel #5 will be published in February 2025
The Bone Season #1 Awards & Nominations:
The 2013 Goodreads recipient of the Best Fantasy Award
The 2014 Bounds Award for Best Newcomer
The First book in NBC's Today show's monthly book club
***Subsequent installments have received similar accolades.
Just when I can't imagine this series intensifying more, installment #5 comes along and blows my mind. Each new addition to this series proves to me all over again that this is the most innovative, original, beautifully written, most thoroughly researched, provocative fantasy series currently running. Yes, I love these books--all of them. But The Dark Mirror is one of the most satisfying of the lot. Fans, you are in for a riveting ride.
Basic Premise:
Paige Mahoney, currently the Underqueen of London, hasn't been home to tend to the Mime Order in many long months. Unfortunately, that is not going to change any time soon. First, she must escape her abductors, recover from physical and psychological aliments, and find Warden Arcturus who has also been MIA. These tasks alone seem insurmountable given one quite large obstacle--Paige has lost her memory. Complicating things further, there's the matter of her ongoing contract with Domino, a resistance group which Paige needs as much as they need her. To fulfill her contract with Domino, Paige makes her way to their headquarters in Venice, Italy. In this all new setting of gorgeous imagery and intrigue, Paige finds some valuable new allies and gains extremely concerning new intelligence. It seems that Scion plans to invade yet another part of Europe. Domino knows that this must not happen at all costs. But how can Paige be any help to Domino, any help in finding Arcturus, any help to The Mime Order or even to herself if she can't remember anything that happened during her abduction?
A Scattering of Thoughts:
Oh my goodness it is difficult to write about this book without writing spoilers. SO MUCH HAPPENS! Fans of this series will go into shock at least four times. I had to temporarily skip forward multiple times because I couldn't stand the suspense of not knowing. Multiple times I feared the worst for multiple characters--this one is extremely exciting. Fans can also look forward to many revelations to coming to light!
I will say once again that I am stunned by Ms. Shannon's gorgeous prose and perfect pacing. Her characters ring so authentically with readers because she always seems to know exactly how much to develop their motivations to support their interactions. Her writing is consistently, exactly balanced. There's a new character, Verca, whom I especially loved getting to know. It's so impressive to me that all of Shannon's characters are so vastly unique. They are always so vivid to me that I never need to refer to the glossary included at the end (though I appreciate having it).
I have so much respect for the massive amounts of research which must go into each book--Shannon's depictions of Venice and Rome both physically and culturally are fascinating and so natural. She writes as though she must have lived in Italy--exactly the feeling I had when we were reading about Paige in Paris.
Finally, the love of all loves, Arcturus and Paige and their golden cord--I would love to scream my thoughts about this from the highest building, but then I'd spoil the book. I'll just say--fans, you are in for the best rollercoaster ride of the series to date.
The ending is extremely satisfying. Unlike The Mask Falling (#4), there is far less of a cliffhanger, and I appreciate that. I'm still already in withdraw and eagerly awaiting book 6, but the ending of book 4 caused physical pain. So thank you Ms. Shannon for the small reprieve.
If any fantasy series could ever be perfect, it's this one. Now for the long wait until book 6. Luckily, this is one of the few series I love to reread--I always find something new to think about...something I missed the first time. It's one of the perks of truly great, layered writing.
The Dark Mirror, A Bone Season Novel #5 will be published in February 2025
The Bone Season #1 Awards & Nominations:
The 2013 Goodreads recipient of the Best Fantasy Award
The 2014 Bounds Award for Best Newcomer
The First book in NBC's Today show's monthly book club
***Subsequent installments have received similar accolades.
Just when I can't imagine this series intensifying more, installment #5 comes along and blows my mind. Each new addition to this series proves to me all over again that this is the most innovative, original, beautifully written, most thoroughly researched, provocative fantasy series currently running. Yes, I love these books--all of them. But The Dark Mirror is one of the most satisfying of the lot. Fans, you are in for a riveting ride.
Basic Premise:
Paige Mahoney, currently the Underqueen of London, hasn't been home to tend to the Mime Order in many long months. Unfortunately, that is not going to change any time soon. First, she must escape her abductors, recover from physical and psychological aliments, and find Warden Arcturus who has also been MIA. These tasks alone seem insurmountable given one quite large obstacle--Paige has lost her memory. Complicating things further, there's the matter of her ongoing contract with Domino, a resistance group which Paige needs as much as they need her. To fulfill her contract with Domino, Paige makes her way to their headquarters in Venice, Italy. In this all new setting of gorgeous imagery and intrigue, Paige finds some valuable new allies and gains extremely concerning new intelligence. It seems that Scion plans to invade yet another part of Europe. Domino knows that this must not happen at all costs. But how can Paige be any help to Domino, any help in finding Arcturus, any help to The Mime Order or even to herself if she can't remember anything that happened during her abduction?
A Scattering of Thoughts:
Oh my goodness it is difficult to write about this book without writing spoilers. SO MUCH HAPPENS! Fans of this series will go into shock at least four times. I had to temporarily skip forward multiple times because I couldn't stand the suspense of not knowing. Multiple times I feared the worst for multiple characters--this one is extremely exciting. Fans can also look forward to many revelations to coming to light!
I will say once again that I am stunned by Ms. Shannon's gorgeous prose and perfect pacing. Her characters ring so authentically with readers because she always seems to know exactly how much to develop their motivations to support their interactions. Her writing is consistently, exactly balanced. There's a new character, Verca, whom I especially loved getting to know. It's so impressive to me that all of Shannon's characters are so vastly unique. They are always so vivid to me that I never need to refer to the glossary included at the end (though I appreciate having it).
I have so much respect for the massive amounts of research which must go into each book--Shannon's depictions of Venice and Rome both physically and culturally are fascinating and so natural. She writes as though she must have lived in Italy--exactly the feeling I had when we were reading about Paige in Paris.
Finally, the love of all loves, Arcturus and Paige and their golden cord--I would love to scream my thoughts about this from the highest building, but then I'd spoil the book. I'll just say--fans, you are in for the best rollercoaster ride of the series to date.
The ending is extremely satisfying. Unlike The Mask Falling (#4), there is far less of a cliffhanger, and I appreciate that. I'm still already in withdraw and eagerly awaiting book 6, but the ending of book 4 caused physical pain. So thank you Ms. Shannon for the small reprieve.
If any fantasy series could ever be perfect, it's this one. Now for the long wait until book 6. Luckily, this is one of the few series I love to reread--I always find something new to think about...something I missed the first time. It's one of the perks of truly great, layered writing.
November 10, 2024
The most stressful but desperately necessary experiences of my entire existence.
August 12, 2025
"fly, little dreamer"
wdym there's no next book 🫠🫠🫠
wdym there's no next book 🫠🫠🫠
January 23, 2025
I entered into this book being a little worried I’d of forgotten too much from the previous four books in the series to fully appreciate it, but I was so wrong. 1, a handy recap from a friend helped and 2, Samantha Shannon has written in subtle reminders too that were really handy.
This book honestly blew me away.
The writing moves the story along so well, the pacing is perfect. This series is more focused on dialogue than description, though certainly not lacking in beautiful descriptions too, but I really enjoy the focus on character to progress the plot. It’s always fun and exciting and tense and the characters feel incredibly real, I felt very invested in them.
This story had everything I wanted, big action moments, the shock factor, loads of amazing settings across Europe, sole romance, characters with heart and a really cool urban fantasy magic system.
Special shoutout to Maria and Verča who I absolutely loved!
I adored it and, now it’s finished, I don’t quite know what to do with myself.
This book honestly blew me away.
The writing moves the story along so well, the pacing is perfect. This series is more focused on dialogue than description, though certainly not lacking in beautiful descriptions too, but I really enjoy the focus on character to progress the plot. It’s always fun and exciting and tense and the characters feel incredibly real, I felt very invested in them.
This story had everything I wanted, big action moments, the shock factor, loads of amazing settings across Europe, sole romance, characters with heart and a really cool urban fantasy magic system.
Special shoutout to Maria and Verča who I absolutely loved!
I adored it and, now it’s finished, I don’t quite know what to do with myself.
March 24, 2025
Ganz großes Kino! Diese Emotionen, diese Epik.. Und die beste Slow-Burn-Romance ever??! Paige hat so eine Entwicklung durchlaufen, sie ist so viel gefestigter und weniger impulsiv. Die neuen Bündnisse sind total vielversprechend und die Ausgangssituation für die noch beiden folgenden Bände unglaublich spannend. Nun heißt es warten..
March 2, 2025
My goodness, Samantha Shannon, you did it again.
BRB, I’m going to check my blood pressure. 😅
RTC after Buddy Read.
BRB, I’m going to check my blood pressure. 😅
RTC after Buddy Read.
February 28, 2025
Thank you to LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.
WORTH THE WAIT.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
Do you ever start a new book and immediately know it’s going to be a five star? Because that’s this series for me. I’m obsessed with Samantha Shannon’s writing and crafting of this complicated dystopian novel. While dystopian I appreciate how fantasy it feels (because I don’t love dystopian books typically) and all of the magical points that make this series thrive.
It’s a beautiful continuation of the series that has me in a chokehold. The years waiting for this one delivered. THANK GOODNESS. Everything is still heavily action packed with mixes of political dynamics combined with a romance that I am HOOKED UPON. I had the best time listening to this audiobook. I am heavily invested in this series y’all and I need more to read it!!!
Overall audience notes:
- Dystopian fantasy
- Language: mild
- Romance: 1-2 open door (the focus is more on the emotional aspects)
- Violence: high
- Content Warnings: torture, loss of life, large scale bombings, war themes
WORTH THE WAIT.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
Do you ever start a new book and immediately know it’s going to be a five star? Because that’s this series for me. I’m obsessed with Samantha Shannon’s writing and crafting of this complicated dystopian novel. While dystopian I appreciate how fantasy it feels (because I don’t love dystopian books typically) and all of the magical points that make this series thrive.
It’s a beautiful continuation of the series that has me in a chokehold. The years waiting for this one delivered. THANK GOODNESS. Everything is still heavily action packed with mixes of political dynamics combined with a romance that I am HOOKED UPON. I had the best time listening to this audiobook. I am heavily invested in this series y’all and I need more to read it!!!
Overall audience notes:
- Dystopian fantasy
- Language: mild
- Romance: 1-2 open door (the focus is more on the emotional aspects)
- Violence: high
- Content Warnings: torture, loss of life, large scale bombings, war themes
March 1, 2025
I'm realllly fortunate to get to read this book this early. All the waiting I did for it was worth it. Definitely the strongest entry in the series!
My thoughts are all still jumbled right now because of the roller coaster ride that is The Dark Mirror. Everything about it is well thought out. The world building and the characters are especially well fleshed out. Paige Mahoney you're the best! Arcturus Mesarthim you're the best!
And now I am back to waiting for the last 2 books. I can't believe we're down to the last 2??! I seriously can't wait for TBS6 and what happens next. Samantha, good job and thank you for Chapter 25!
My thoughts are all still jumbled right now because of the roller coaster ride that is The Dark Mirror. Everything about it is well thought out. The world building and the characters are especially well fleshed out. Paige Mahoney you're the best! Arcturus Mesarthim you're the best!
And now I am back to waiting for the last 2 books. I can't believe we're down to the last 2??! I seriously can't wait for TBS6 and what happens next. Samantha, good job and thank you for Chapter 25!
August 24, 2024
I am so beyond fortunate to have been able to read a copy of this. There are many reasons why I feel so connected to these characters and this story, and Paige is such a central pillar. She is everything you could dream of in a protagonist, she’s not perfect, she’s reckless, she’s pushing so hard against her fears and yet she remains kind and bold and oh my god i can’t say anything else.
Paige I love you so soooo much.
It’s incredibly satisfying and interesting to continue seeing the world building and what the discrepancies and the relationship between the scion voyants and the free world voyants are like in action.
GODDDD I cannot wait for the next installment….
Paige I love you so soooo much.
It’s incredibly satisfying and interesting to continue seeing the world building and what the discrepancies and the relationship between the scion voyants and the free world voyants are like in action.
GODDDD I cannot wait for the next installment….
March 22, 2025
The best series
I can't believe it's been just over 10 years since I read the first one. It was a long and painful wait but well worth it
I can't believe it's been just over 10 years since I read the first one. It was a long and painful wait but well worth it
May 28, 2025
J’ai fini il y a plusieurs heures mais j’avais besoin de digérer ce sentiment de vide et de désespoir face a l’attente de la suite
Il y maintenant plus d’un mois que j’ai commencé cette série et je peux me sentir que reconnaissante envers l’autrice de nous avoir fait découvrir Scion, l’Ordre des Mimes et ces merveilleux personnages (surtout Arcturus lol). J’ai adoré suivre leurs évolutions, leurs découvertes et même si je suis triste que ce soit la fin (pour le moment) je suis contente d’avoir partagé les instants de Paige et Arcturus.
Je reconnais que m’y suis lancée sans même regarder le résumé mais je garderais toujours cette histoire dans mon coeur! je recommande mille fois
Il y maintenant plus d’un mois que j’ai commencé cette série et je peux me sentir que reconnaissante envers l’autrice de nous avoir fait découvrir Scion, l’Ordre des Mimes et ces merveilleux personnages (surtout Arcturus lol). J’ai adoré suivre leurs évolutions, leurs découvertes et même si je suis triste que ce soit la fin (pour le moment) je suis contente d’avoir partagé les instants de Paige et Arcturus.
Je reconnais que m’y suis lancée sans même regarder le résumé mais je garderais toujours cette histoire dans mon coeur! je recommande mille fois
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