Let me be clear - I'm not much of a critic. I read and write purely for fun, so I tend not to notice inconsistencies unless they're glaring. I have an easier time enjoying stories that way. ;)
Like most readers, my interest in Samantha Shannon was peaked when I heard the golden words the next J.K. Rowling. While I had my doubts, I was excited to finally get my hands on this book. I tend to read young adult fantasy/sci-fi novels, so I'm always looking for new books in the genre.
The story began with a lot of "info dumping" - all sorts of new terms and characters were crammed in the first two chapters. It was a lot to absorb and I was worried it would continue throughout the book, but once I was able to wrap my head around the storyline I fell in love. If you're feeling overwhelmed at the start of the book, hang in there! You'll be glad you did. I found myself referencing the glossary of terms every once and while, but it was nice to see one included.
The Bone Season moved along quickly and was packed with action scenes. I was impressed by how well they were written, and I found myself literally holding my breath and scanning paragraphs to see how it all turned out. I stayed up late three nights in a row to finish the book because I couldn't help wondering what was going to happen next!
While I don't think The Bone Season has the wide spread appeal needed to scratch Rowling's record, I believe the series has will be a huge hit nonetheless. Like Rowling, Shannon is incredibly skilled at world building and finding ways to keep the reader turning the pages. I loved the book and I can't wait for the next six. :D
~Panda
**I tweeted Samantha about how much I enjoyed her book and she answered, which I thought was really neat. :)
