It was wonderful to return to the world that Samantha Shannon has created. I loved that we got to spend more time with old friends of Paige's too. The author's pre-planning is astounding, occurrences in book one are only now beginning to bear fruit, it is fascinating to see all these separate elements being slowly stitched together.

My only disappointment was that the relationship between Paige and Arcturus didn't seem to move anywhere, and some elements felt repetitious from previous books. That said I'm still hugely invested in the series and can't wait for the next book.

Samantha Shannon just keeps getting better and better! The Dark Mirror immediately throws you back into the world of Scion (and outside of it...) and it's a privilege to be back with Paige.
This was without a doubt the best installment of the series so far - Shannon masterfully gives you answers to long asked questions, whilst still leaving you desperate to learn more.
I need book 6 now!

Urgh this series is killing me! I just binged the whole thing and it's huge... but the story isn't complete and it feels far from it.

Paige wakes realising she has been captured but with no memories from the past six months and makes her escape. She grieves Acturus's capture and feels for the golden cord with no reaction. Paige has to rebuild herself, heal and find her place as Underqueen outwith London. Would it even be The Bone Season if there was not shock betrayals, extensive plots, poetic reunions, and gut-wrenching fear?

'Now to be the clever mouse that sprang the trap and lived.'

Honourable mention must go to Maria, the best fire starter and all round hilarious character kept me laughing whenever she popped up.

'She possesses the loyalty of a beagle and the chaotic abandon of a headless chicken,' Maria said, 'It's a dangerous marriage.'
'Simmer down, chrome dome.'

Like every book in the Bone Season this one is full of non-stop action, unsurmountable heaps of stress and a huge amount of World building... if Paige was told one more time to not jump into things ... and then did exactly that i was going to scream. She wouldn't be Paige if she didn't I suppose!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. I am looking forward to the next in the series!

Thank you for giving me a chance to review this title! I have been reading this serious for many years, and each new release I must get my hands on it as fast as I can!

Rich, luscious and muscular super-sequel
—
Trying to review the fifth book in a series with such dense and lush world-building is almost impossible. To keep things spoiler free, Paige Mahoney again faces the might of her enemies from the Republic of Scion, as well as trials and tribulations in the free world. The expected magnificent world-building aside, the author’s adept skills of description and place-making, alongside rich and multi-faceted characters that are human in their flaws, excesses and triumphs, eases you into another immersive tome from Shannon. And a tome it is, as we expect from this brilliant author. if I could say more, it would be so much more, so all I need say is:

Another rousing five stars.

3.5 ⭐️

I need to start by saying I adore this series... but this one just wasn't for me & that makes me so sad. It took me forever to read & I normally smash through these in a couple of days. The last third was fantastic & exactly what I'd expect from this series & if I'd read that alone, this would have been an easy 5 stars from me. However, the beginning was too slow for me. I felt there was a lot of setup & miscommunication (which I hate) between some of my favourite characters.

I will continue to rave about this series as I do love the characters & I'll definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out.

An absolutely amazing continuation of one of my favourite series. I highly recommend this series to older students looking for a dystopian fantasy.
The way the series delves into such huge themes of subjugation and prejudice in a fictional setting which is easy to apply to our own world and starts thoughts and conversations about equality and justice.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

This book was everything I wanted and needed it to be. I can't wait for the rest of this series.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am very behind, but if you haven’t read this book by now and you’re doubting to do so because of the sheer size? Wrong. Read it. If you’ve come all this way in the series this book will not disappoint. And if you’re afraid of starting the series? I get it, they’re chonky but my dear lord, don’t starve on this. I nEED more!!!

The dark mirror is one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. After THAT ending, I was desperate to know what would happen to Paige and Arcturus and I was over the moon when I got the chance to read this arc. I screamed so loud I freaked out my neighbors!

The dark mirror starts six months after the ending of The Mask Falling and, for the first time in years, Paige fimds herself in the free world...but without any clue of why, how and what, after being dosed with white aster. And what about Arcturus? What happened to him and how to get it back?
Scion in continuing its expansion, with a new operation called Ventriloquist. Paige will have to do anything necessary to protect her loved ones.
This book expands the world we got to know, bringing us to the Alps, Czechia and in Italy, where it's mainly based. It was such a pleasure seeing the free world and learn more about the organization against Scion (Hi, Ducos!). Mostly, I was over the moon to see both Maria and Nick and to see finally Paige leaning on someone. She still our reckless leader, but she's learning to trust, give herself space and time to recover, without throwing herself into danger. I found her really grown up and I'm proud of her. I love her relationship with Nick and Maria. I love how they support and love each other. Veronica was also a wonderful addition to the gang and I adored learning more about Domino and its power.

The dark mirror introduces new and old characters, with their plans and lies, city to explores, new languages (I was laughing so hard when I read the part in Neapolitan!) and everything is so fleshed out, alive and brimming with life.
I loved that Samantha Shannon did, and does, research trip and it was so beautiful imagining her in my city. She is grown up as writer, plotting and revealing, surprising us at every turn with revelations and plans!
Venice and Prague stand out as cities and I fell in love with them like Paige did. The characterizations, the descriptions, everything is perfect and this book is OUTSTANDING.
IT'S A MASTERPIECE AND WAITING HAS BEEN WORTH IT. SO WORTH IT!

I can't not to talk about Paige and Arctururs, because they are my heart and the heart of this book. After the revelation of the last book, they have to face some small incomprensions before finally talk to each other. This is one of the thing I love the most about the saga. There could be misunderstandings, but they are not use to prolong sufferings. The characters here TALK. I love how they talk.
I've always love the relationship between Paige and Arcturus and how, in this book, is more strong and certain than ever. They love each other, they are together, s*** the rest. They are perfect together, I love their complicitiy. I love them so much, how they respect each other's space, how they talk and protect one other. I've read some romantic chapter that will stay Forever in my Heart.
I never though I would have cried and squealed and smiled so much for a book, but here I am.
A MASTERPIECE. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT!

Let me preface this review by saying that I am a huge huge huge Samantha Shannon fan. So much so that I was co-captain of a Samantha Shannon themed team in the Battle of the Five Worlds readathon for Fantasy Fellowship a few years ago. The first time I read The Bone Season, I read it in one sitting and then almost immediately started it again - I am hooked to this series.

I cannot believe that this is the fifth instalment of this series. It really once more feels like the story is just beginning as the stakes continue to grow for the revolution and all those in the free world through this book. Shannon is so good at pacing within this series as throughout all the books, including this one, I never really feel like it drags at all even when there’s not a huge amount of action going on. Even whilst Paige is peacefully (finally!) having coffee or dinner with other members of The Mime Order, the stakes of Scion loom overhead and it feels like danger is never far away.

Samantha Shannon’s writing style feels quiet in a sense, but oh so powerful with themes of mythology running through. The Greek mythology becomes overt in this book with Paige discussing the story of Persephone outwardly. I enjoyed these themes and also the references back to the tarot card reading of the first book which continue to be important to Paige - I love that this is weaved through and the reader finds out reveals as Paige realises what this reading means.

The cast of characters continues to shine in The Dark Mirror, with familiar faces returning and new ones to enjoy. Particular highlights for me were the returns of Nick and Maria who continue to be Paige’s absolute rocks. Paige herself finally gets some downtime despite the high stakes of the story and it’s refreshing to see her learning to live with some freedom.

I just cannot wait for book 6 and can’t quite believe there’s only going to be two more in this story. 5 out of 5 stars.

THE DARK MIRROR is the fifth instalment in The Bone Season series (plus novellas), and it's no mean feat that Samantha Shannon not only managed to keep the series engaging at this point, but increased the stakes even more. This was fantastic, and it's left me desperate for the next book.

There's some major character development --and character tragedy -- in this book, alongside some huge reveals that, in hindsight, have been seeded since the very beginning. The plotting is masterful, with Shannon keeping the heart of the book (Paige and Arcturus, but mostly Paige) balanced alongside the increasing physical scope and stakes (the US and Canada are now involved, and Paige escapes to the free world for the first time in twelve years and we get to experience what life is like outside the anchor, but still within the looming threat of Scion's shadow).

The escalating rebellion Paige started against Scion is now turning into a global revolution, and it's fascinating to see how far she's come since the first book and how much has changed for her. There's now several factions involved and they're all not only aware of her but also want her on side, and people within those factions also have their own ambitions and motivations. Everything has become so much MORE, and part of me is sad that there's only two more books to go.

The relationship between Paige and Arcturus has been the push and pull of the series, and the development and changes in their dynamic in this instalment were a joy to read. Arcturus continues to be a compelling character who is just so kind and thoughtful, and I adore him. I also loved Terebell in this book and really appreciate the new depths revealed in her character (alongside a few funny moments). and I also want to give a shout out to Eliza's brief cameo, who has been my favourite of the Seven Seals since I read the original Bone Season back in 2013. I also love that Ducos returned from THE MASK FALLING, and that she looks set to also be part of the next book: I love a briskly competent character with a dry sense of humour with an outside perspective of Paige shared by few others: that she's absolutely chaotic but somehow always gets the job done.

Also: Maria!! MARIA, my absolute QUEEN. What a gift you are, and your sense of humour is the only thing keeping everyone going in the grimmest of times, including the reader.

To sum up, this was incredible, and I devoured it. If Shannon has managed to pull off something of this magnitude in book five of seven, I genuinely can't wait to see what the final two books have in store.

The only world I can say about this whole series is WOW, this book was by far my favourite, I loved the way it just continued on from the previous. The characters are amazing and the world building fantastic. Could recommend more highly

Another fantastic instalment to The Bone Season series. I loved where this one picks up, with a time jump where we have to piece together at the same time as Paige what happened to her since she has no clue what’s happened to her for the last 6 months.

I loved the progression in worldbuilding this book introduces to the book. It expand the scope of the plot massively and I’m so excited to see how all these factions come into play in future. I enjoyed seeing life outside of Scion and how different counties are reacting to Scion itself - it was so interesting to explore. I also just loved the setting of Italy in this one and also getting to see some of Poland and Czechia.

I also loved Paige’s journey. As with the last book, she’s still dealing with her trauma which I love being explored. I feel like what happens to Paige comes with weight, making it all the more important and that she might not just bounce back from whatever happens to her. I loved the returning characters, particularly the ones who were missing in the last book. I also thought there was great development of some new characters such as Verča.

The plot of this book felt more fast paced than The Mask Falling. In the last book we spent a lot of down time with Paige and Arcturus but here we’re thrown straight in trying to escape then the pace keeps up for the entire novel, with one thing after another coming and so much politics were developed that it blows me away how much Shannon managed to fit in this book. While there is such a fast pace in this book, there are also a lot of moments of downtime too. I felt the pace was expertly balanced.

I’m still sifting through my thoughts but I think this has very high potential to be my favourite book in the series. Bring on book 6!

Oh wow Samantha has done it again!
This book has everything you could ever need in a book! I love the characters, their journeys, I love that i have no idea what's going to happen next . I just love it !

A wonderful read from start to finish, just as I expected from Samantha Shannon. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

paige aiofe mahoney. my moth QUEEN 🧎🏽‍♀️ this book demonstrated beyond belief how essential she is to the revolution, it would fall apart without her and i LOVE it. she has been through the ringer and still come out on top. i will say her ‘amnesia’ trope didn’t play out the way i expected but i did love the way samantha shannon approached it.

arcturus mesarthim. i simply love him, your honor. god my heart ached for him and what he had gone through throughout this book! i can’t wait to see his journey in the next book.

i adored the way he just wanted to protect her from being tortured and she felt guilty for him being tortured— the intrinsic way they care for each other 👀 i fear no one will ever beat them!

seeing nick and maria return had me SQUEALING because god i missed them so bad. them & paige are simply my favourite trio in this universe and i hope we see them reunited in the next book!!!

this book has left me with theories to contemplate as we await the next book!!! i simply cannot wait to see what’s next for paige, how the overarching plot develops and not to mention, how the romance will continue in the next two books! samantha shannon DID NOT let us done in this book because i loved it <3

I don't know what Samantha Shannon is putting in these books but I want more more more. I think it's so clever how Shannon has slowly expanded the world she has been building since book 1 and though I do think it is all getting a bit convoluted I can't deny that I had a great time and I'm sad that it's over. The slow burn romance throughout this whole series has been so expertly done and finally it felt like in The Dark Mirror we get some well-earned relief from the onslaught of horror! The action always had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't put it down, and I'll be on tenterhooks until the next instalment arrives.

A brilliant addition to The Bone Season series, drawing further upon Greek mythology and the history of ancient Rome as the series begins to reach its conclusion. Very well plotted with intricate world building, this story is a bit slower paced than the previous four novels, which allows for more humour and romance as the central characters continue their efforts to overthrow the Republic of Scion. The characters are so complex and vivid, and as always, the reader is left with more questions than what is revealed throughout the course of the novel.

The Bone Season books have been on my tbr for longer than I’d like to admit so when I was approved for an arc of The Dark Mirror I was a little apprehensive at needing to catch up!

I needn’t have worried, I have just raced through all five books in the space of a week and can’t believe I now need to wait for the next instalment! I’m not sure how readers who were up to date before this point have coped with the four year wait since the last book.

In the Dark Mirror Samantha Shannon continues to weave her magic and keep the readers guessing with all the twists and turns in the ongoing story of the fight against Scion. I both love the characters and find them infuriating at the same time and can’t wait to see how they and their relationships develop in the final two books.

I would highly recommend this series-