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-

This series keeps getting better and better. This was a hell of a ride. I honestly didn't know what was gonna happen from one chapter to the next and I could not stop reading. It started surprising me in chapter one and never stopped. I loved it so much, I love Paige and the side characters and this was just too good. This series keeps going in new directions and they're all more exciting than the last. I couldn't recommend it more and I cannot wait for book 6!

Probably my favourite book of the year, and also the one that will ruin most fantasies that I’ve yet to read.

The previous books in this series have all been 4.5 or 5 stars for me (except for the song rising, solid 4). So you can imagine, my expectations were high for this one. And boy, this book made them all come true and did even so much more! The plot, the characters, the travelling, the twists and betrayal, all these layers upon layers creating a complex whole. Loved every second of it. I’ve been laughing, smiling, holding my breath, screaming, almost crying even. The writing style is superb and keeps you glued to this book. The pacing was perfect, I’ve never lost focus, nor gotten bored while reading. On top of all that, this book, and the series as a whole, is unique and original in ways I haven’t seen before.

There are 3 things that I’d like to highlight in my review:

The found family in this book is a masterpiece. I love all these characters, both as individuals and as a group. How they interact with each other, complement each other, yet are completely different. I’d sell a kidney to be part of this crew (although I’m not sure I would survive in a Scion-ruled London…)

Jaxon: I don’t know whether to hate him or love him… maybe I can love to hate him? He’s one of the most complex characters I’ve ever read, and I’m in awe. Don’t get me wrong, I still disagree with most of his actions and reasoning… But he keeps surprising me in different ways, yet none of this feels out of character for him. It just… fits…

I’m still silently daydreaming about certain scenes (plural, not just one) Samantha Shannon has written in this book. I won’t tell which but I think you’ll know when I tell you I’m a sucker for duets. How she captures all the emotions, how she phrases certain things, and leaves other things to be read between the lines, … *sigh*

While some of my questions have been answered in this book, and some fears were subdued, a lot of angst and questions remain. I honestly can’t wait to find out what the next two books will bring (even when I know that they will possibly break me). I’d do anything for an advanced reader copy, just saying…

If you’ve read my review, and you’ve already read the Mask Falling: stop stalling and go get yourself a copy of the Dark Mirror, you won’t regret it (be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions).
If you haven’t read any books of this series yet: welcome and please join us, this is one of the best fantasy/dystopian books I’ve ever read. But beware, once you’ve read the Bone Season, I won’t be held responsible for the consequences…

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This book is everything I could have possibly wanted and more. Ever since finishing The Mask Falling, I’ve desperately wanted to know what comes next for the characters that have buried themselves in my heart and mind. I never had any doubt but somehow Samantha has taken this series to another level!

‘Everything is about to change’ so perfectly captures the fifth instalment of The Bone Season. The Dark Mirror feels like a step into the final part of this series. Many seeds have been planted early in the series and we see these come to fruition in The Dark Mirror alongside hints of what’s to come.

As the blurb suggests, Paige finds herself outside of Scion for the first time since she was a young girl. Moving the plot into the free world allows for an expansion of the series in ways that Paige doesn’t expect. There’s even more strategy, political intrigue and action in this instalment.

The emotions felt by the characters are so visceral. I felt every ounce of their anger, fear, fury, sadness and heartbreak. My emotions were all over the place for most of this book but there were particular chapters where my stress levels were through the roof (you’ll know which ones I’m talking about).

Samantha herself said this book isn’t as soul-destroying as The Mask Falling but I respectfully disagree. There were some truly heartbreaking and devastating scenes but scenes that will also mend your heart.

I felt there was a real shift and growth in Paige’s character. Her determination to get things done has often come at a cost to her own wellbeing. In The Dark Mirror, we see Paige reflect on the last year and her limits. She has endured so much and puts an incredible amount of pressure on herself. I loved to see Paige allow herself to have the things she wants in life.

I would truly urge anyone who has yet to start this series to do it. You will absolutely not regret it!

In The Dark Mirror, the fifth installment of The Bone Season series, Paige Mahoney awakens to find herself captured and far from Scion-controlled territory for the first time since childhood. Suffering from memory loss induced by the White Aster plant, Paige must fight to regain her identity and uncover the events of the past six months. Escaping captivity, she travels to Venice, where she reunites with allies who believed her dead and confronts the betrayal of Arcturus Mesarthim.

As Paige and her clairvoyant companions unravel Scion’s new plot, Operation Ventriloquist, they face a desperate struggle to prevent Scion from seizing control of Europe. Along the way, Paige must also confront the trauma of her past, her complicated bond with Arcturus, and the lingering effects of her torture and memory suppression.

Set across Italy, the novel dives deep into themes of identity, trauma, and resistance, with Paige’s journey reflecting her personal growth and unwavering determination. The story culminates in a climactic battle in Rome, as Paige and her allies confront new enemies and unearth shocking revelations about the Rephaim and Scion’s plans.

The Dark Mirror is an emotionally charged, action-packed continuation of Shannon’s groundbreaking series. It masterfully blends character development, intense relationships, and thrilling confrontations, making it the most powerful and mature installment yet.

I love The Bone Season series and was very excited to receive an ARC of The Dark Mirror. This is the fifth installment and as always Samantha created an intriguing, complex story with relatable characters. It was also interesting to see more of the outside world. Plus, Paige and Arcturus own my heart, I just love them so much! It will be very hard to wait for the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to read.

This action packed 4th installment in this series is just as enthralling and entertaining as the books that came before it.

I always love returning to a series where you already love so many of the characters and get to meet new ones. The series is brilliant in the way it builds the worlds and characters. I was hooked from the start of this book and found that I couldn't put it down. I raced through the chapters to find out where it was going to end.

I am already waiting desperately for the next installment now!