Wow! what an instalment of the Bone Season series! Samantha Shannon's writing style is second to none and her ability to weave deep stories and rich characters in to her novels is amazing! I absolutely loved this instalment and it has left me wanting more -- so I have to now re-read all the previous books and add this one to my pre-orders!

A very easy five stars - I love this entire series and this instalment was no exception. The world is vast and incredibly detailed and with this instillment we got to see eve more, with additional factions and agendas entering the picture. The characters are also incredibly well fleshed out - even smaller side characters have agency and feel distinct. I also love The ongoing consequences Paige suffers from her pervious exploits - often these types of books breeze past that and it is pretty jarring- no such issue here. The romantic angst was almost painful at times but very real as both Paige and Arcturus tried to deal with the horror around them and were desperate not to hurt each other. The ending was explosive, could not put the book down (trying to avoid spoilers!) and now I am desperate for the next book in the series.

TDM is just as good as the other book in this series. Although it goes even further, and gets even bigger!!

Samantha Shannon doesn't slow down. She doesn't do "second book syndrome" books. She constantly delivers the same excellent quality, if not better. Her writing is always beautiful and clever, her pacing always spot on - you will never ever get bored while reading these books. The plot is always so well developed; I can only imagine how much planning it takes to have every single detail fit in perfectly, often together with miniscule details from several books before. It's precision like no other.

But truly, it's the characters that make TBS series for what it is. They are painfully real, raw and honest and terribly flawed in every possible way. They could be me, and they could be you. Once you get to know them, they stay with you. At the back of your mind, like a golden cord...

EXCELLENT!!!

THE DARK MIRROR is a fifth instalment that brings a vibe shift as the series enters its second - and final - half.

Having read this right on the back on a re-read of the previous instalments (using the updated editions), I noticed how different this book felt in terms of tone and setting to the other books. It is still clearly in the same series with the same core cast and powers, but this is also the first book where the descriptor "dystopia" feels more apt than "fantasy."

Where previously, there had been only a few distinct groups playing for power - Scion, the Ranthem, and the Syndicate - there are a lot more in this book. While THE MASK FALLING does expose cracks within Scion itself and introduced Domino, they were smaller players in the overall battle.

In THE DARK MIRROR, we find ourselves in the free world in the midst of a battle between Scion and the free world, which is split into factions. Domino is the obvious one , but there is a second organisation at play. By contrast, there isn't an organisation of voyants in the same way as in the Scion cities (the one that is introduced late in the book feels very different to these as it's not criminal, and also somehow so much less sympathetic an organisation. I disliked them more than Domino!)

Voyants are, of course, still the focus of this series but it definitely felt different having so many "rotties" in the book - and not just as the odd secondary villain. Here they are much less black and white - potential allies or potential enemies, and pretty much all unreliable either because of uncertain allegiances or because they're spies (and often both.)

I did rather enjoy this change of tone. It took me a while to get used to how different the free world and situations (and Paige's position within it all) were compared to previous books, but once I had, it felt like the book was setting the series up for the race towards the end. It's a seven book series and, being on book five, we're now firmly in the final section. As such, THE DARK MIRROR is reflecting that by flinging to world and players and stakes wider.

There are a few big reveals in this book but it felt more like there were new questions being posed. The reader is now familiar enough with the world to learn more - and to have that learning shaken. This also adds to the sense that the end is coming on apace. To match this, the finale is the biggest battle yet, for the first time combining voyants, Rephs, buzzers and conventional weaponry. It's a pretty epic, with a high cost, and gives hints of what more could be to come.

The book has been described as the most romantic instalment yet, and that is true. It is certainly not the biggest part of the book - or anywhere near that - but Paige and Arcturus have a lot of stuff to work out (and decisions to make) in the wake of THE MASK FALLING. That gives the book a strong emotional throughline as they deal with their own demons and work out what they want from their relationship going forward.

The inspirations from mythology are also a lot more explicit in this one, including a summary of the key myth. As someone who's struggled to see this series as a retelling/reimagining, no matter how loose (I think it's just too big a series for it to be clear as there's so much other stuff going on that feels a lot more important to what the overall story is!), it was nice to see this inspiration the author's talked about being referenced. Perhaps it will become clear how it is a retelling when it's all concluded?

In all, I very much enjoyed this instalment - and having now read the re-edited previous books, would say I'm now firmly a fan of the series overall.

Another stunning offering from Samantha Shannon. Waiting between books, I lose interest a bit but wham, a new book comes out and I am in love again. The story develops well and takes you in new directions but is ultimately very satisfying.

5 Stars

Another banger.

I just want to talk about the structure of this series for a second, because it's so well done. In The Bone Season we are predominantly in Oxford, in one of the Scion prisons for voyants, though we also get a taste of Scion London and the syndicate at the beginning and in flashbacks. In terms of genre, it's a paranormal dystopian, with dark academia vibes. The Mime Order takes place entirely in London, fully immersing us in the Syndicate, and it's both a thrilling mystery and a revolutionary tale, with steampunk-esque vibes, that delicious mix of futuristic and Victorian aesthetics. Then we have The Song Rising, which introduces us to other parts of the UK in this world, and is a heist novel with an industrial revolution-y kind of aesthetic. In The Mask Falling we venture out of the UK into Scion France, and suddenly we're in an espionage novel, which is also a romance, and everything glitters like Versailles. We get to learn about the French counterpart to the Syndicate/Mime Order and French politics and how they differ to what's going on in Scion England (the UK).

So, naturally, The Dark Mirror is the first novel to take us to the free world outside of Scion. It also has its own flavour genre-wise - though all the books feature political intrigue, this is very much the political intrigue novel, with many international factions playing a role in how the story unfolds. It's also the Grand Tour novel, because while Paige is mostly in Italy, she does get to visit a few other European countries too!

The thing about this series is, that while each book clearly has its distinct flavour, the elements of the previous books are not dropped, only built upon. The Dark Mirror is the most political novel to date, but it maintains the espionage romance of The Mask Falling, the travelling and heist elements of The Song Rising, the gang drama of The Mime Order (Paige and Jaxon will knock heads in any country) and the paranormal dystopian vibes we've had since the start of The Bone Season. There is so much going on but it is done seamlessly, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Five books in, The Mime Order is my confirmed favourite of the series so far. Not because it's necessarily better than the other books (I mean, we get more Ognena Maria in the later books, always a win) but because its vibe is my personal favourite, and I just love the London setting so much it literally made me cry. But The Dark Mirror might be my second favourite, purely because of the last 30% of the story.

Oh my god, that last 30%. It's a wild ride, that's all I'll say.

My favourite character in this series is Jaxon. He's awful. I laugh at him when he fails. I also laugh sometimes when he succeeds, because I love a character that just refuses to die. I also love his and Paige's dynamic, because they despise each other, and know they should have killed each other by now, but they're also deeply attached and have this twisted father-daughter relationship which is both very amusing and weirdly endearing. The scenes between the two of them in this book are some of my favourites in the series.

My other favourite characters other than Paige and Jaxon are...well, everyone else. But especially Nick and Maria, who also get a lot of page-time in this book! This series very much has a revolving cast of characters, which means you never know who's going to turn up when. It was great to see more of Maria and Nick after they didn't really feature in The Mask Falling at all. The vibes were immaculate.

I also think this is the book where Arcturus became a favourite of mine too. The first time I read The Bone Season books, I didn't like him until The Mask Falling, but this time round (reading the revised versions) I liked him from the beginning, he just wasn't a fave. In The Dark Mirror, my feelings for Arcturus can be best described as the 🥺 or 🥹 emoji depending on the chapter. Someone wrap the gentle giant up in a blanket and let him be a big burrito until he feels better, okay?

If books 6 & 7 are just as good as the previous books, this might officially be my all-time favourite book series. But even if they aren't, five 5* books in a row plus two 5* novellas makes this a favourite series regardless. I'd say I can't wait for the sequel, but actually I can. Art takes time and I want this series to be the best it can be!

Whoa did this book take me on a wild and emotional ride. Shannon really knows how to put her characters, and through that her readers through the ringer, and although I was sat on the edge of my seat for most of the book, I also enjoyed the moments of lightness that Shannon allowed to shine through. Please note that this review will contain spoilers for the previous books.

I felt as broken as Paige reading this book. She is someone who has lived through so much hardship. From watching her home Country destroyed by the Rephaim, to her multiple tortures at the hands of Nashira and other Sargas. It’s hard not to want her to succeed, not to hate the people she hates, love the people she loves. We spend so much time in her head, viewing this world through her eyes it’s hard not to, despite her not being wholly good. In fact none of the characters are simply good or bad, they are all grey in some way. Only shown as heroes or villains by the side they are fighting for. There were a few moments in this book, ok maybe more than a few, that had me in tears, and that’s all thanks to Shannon’s ability to make Paige an empathetic character, one with aggressive tendencies I’ll grant you, but one that you want to get their happy ending, in whatever way that will occur.

One of the strengths of this series for me is the relationships Paige forms. Be they friendships, romances, unlikely and tense alliances or enemies, each alliance adds a little something else to the story. We do have a few returning faces in this book, ones that I desperately missed in the last and these allowed Shannon to add a little lightness to Paige that I think was missing in the previous book. But we also see her most complicated relationship rearing it's head, that between her and Jax. Jaxon is one of those characters that you hate, whilst also not being able to help respecting in a way. His desperate need to survive has lead him to make some truly terrible decisions, ones that put Paige and the people she loves at risk, but he is also the closest thing she has ever had to a father, to someone who loves her for her power, someone who isn't scared of her. It's a relationship I have both dreaded and eagerly anticipated rearing it's head, and I thought Shannon did a truly brilliant job of showing the complexities of it through this book.

The perfect blend of urban and dystopian fantasy. Shannon creates a terrifying version of our future world, but makes it one you can visit. I’ve been lucky enough to travel Europe a few times in my life, and you cannot deny that Shannon puts the work into creating these cities on the page. The Dark Mirror transported me to Venice with its canals and streets you can get lost in, to Rome and even Orvietto, a lesser known town I was lucky enough to visit. Even without this prior knowledge Shannon makes it hard not to feel transported there, which really allows you to just lose yourself in the story. And it's not just the locations she brings to life effortlessly, it's her characters, and the magic system she created. I mentioned the intricacy of the characters above, and that's absolutely true, but Shannon gets you so invested in these stories by making characters that you will love, and others you will hate. Her descriptive writing also lends itself to the voyant magic system she brings to life, everything from the epic battles, to the smallest use of power is written so it plays like a movie in your head, and that's just one of the reasons why these books keep me hooked.

Normally it would be hard for a series like this to keep its readership. Not only for how intricate it is, but for the wait in between books, I think it was 4 years between this and the previous book, but Shannon makes every single installment worth the wait. Yes, I absolutely benefited from re-reading previous book, but I think even going straight into this I would have been able to get my bearings fairly easily. For me, this was largely in thanks to the strength of Paige, as well as the rest of the cast of characters. It’s a complicated story in so many ways. The magic system, the characters, the history of the world and the Rephaim themselves are all elaborately woven through but, and this shows the true strength of Shannon’s writing, never in a way that overwhelms you. And it should, there is so much information fed to us, so many pivotal details, so many characters to keep track of, but Shannon writes her stories in a way that ingrain all of these things into your brain, hard wires them into the plot itself until all the pieces fit together effortlessly.

I've loved the relationship between Paige and Arcturus through this series, not only the romantic aspects, but the strength that they give one another. They are two people who should never have formed a connection as strong as they did, but their shared trauma brought them together in a way few others could understand and, while in the previous book we saw Arcturus watch over Paige after her torture, their positions were almost flipped in The Dark Mirror. It's a romance that started as enemies to something more, but has now become a bond so much deeper than love, one that follows them through good and bad. It's a true slow burner, and the thing I love is how Shannon manages to entwine it into the story, meaning that it never detracts from the plot in anyway, if anything it amplifies it, it adds to the danger and the trauma, whilst also giving us something to look forward too, a glimmer of hope in the darkness, much like they are to each other.

I feel like this series just gets better and better with each book. Shannon has created such an intricate story based on a desolate future world and after 5 books I am so unbelievably invested in it. I know we're not going to get the happy ending I want, but boy am I enjoying the ride and I am eagerly anticipating the next installment.

I adored this just as much as I enjoyed the rest of the series - it's testament to her incredible writing that I understood where we were in the story and remembered what had happened before within the first few chapters! Just as good as the rest of the series so far.

Being honest - as required - I've only got through 10% due to a problem with my arc copy, but I have absolutely loved what I've read so far. The Free World. New characters. Paige's vulnerabilities.
I've pre-ordered the book a d will be reading it straight away, so I will be able to give a full review then.

I will have to come back and write a proper review from this when I’ve recovered from this.

But in the meantime I will say, as a die-hard lover of this series - this one is the best yet. I struggled a little in the first 30%, but after that I was in a complete chokehold. I laughed, I cried, I threw my kindle across the room. There were so many things foreshadowed in previous books that came to pass in this one. It was so masterfully written.

I am reeling. Thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the E-ARC.

This is a fantastic instalment in the Bone Season series and a great continuation of the story. The character development was good and it was interesting to see more of the world. If you haven't started this series yet, I highly recommend it.

e-arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review

how do i gather my thoughts about this. oh my god. hold on stay with me here.

firstly, this was a level of emotional warfare on shannon's part that is previously unseen and very very cruel. i cried and i laughed and i bit my hand quite a lot to keep from yelling and startling my neighbours.

it is incredibly difficult to describe this book without delving into spoilers. as any bone season fan will have come to expect, paige goes through a lot. A Lot. truly unprecedented amounts of A Lot. it seems the aether never lets her catch a break for more than a few days (however, when it does - well, apology accepted). plot-wise, this is less of a 'twists and turns' kind of book and more of a 'deep plunges and high peaks' sort.

i must, of course, commend shannon's writing. even when the content is brutal, the words flow beautifully. and, of course, her sheer devotion to the plot and worldbuilding. i can only wonder how many pieces of the puzzle were laid down in 'the dark mirror' for us to look back at two books later and say, OH.

despite the subject matter, this book was also achingly realistic in its depictions of its characters. as seen in 'the mask falling', shannon is adept at showing the long-lasting consequences of everything paige and co go through, and while my girl does sustain more than her fair share of injuries here, what really put a hook in my heart was her internal dialogue. despite what you may have heard, paige is still, after all, twenty and mortal. five books of chaos will take their toll.

at least the ending wasn't as cruel as last time <3

How is life supposed to go on whilst I wait for the next instalment????

Something that blew my mind when I initially read The Bone Season was that such a young age Samantha Shannon succeeded in creating such a unique, multifaceted fantasy world.

Recently, Shannon chose to republish some of the earlier works from this series and whilst I understood, I guess at the time I wondered why since the original Bone Season was so incredible anyway. Reading The Dark Mirror really showed why. I stand by the fact that Samantha Shannon’s writing was incredible then, but my god has it evolved.

I finished The Dark Mirror all of 20 minutes ago and since I’ve been sat in complete and utter awe that a person could create not only this world, but this specific book. No stone in the plot is left unturned, the storyline is expertly crafted and so clever. Paige is as on form as ever, with more reckless abandon and even more witty remarks that are sure to continue to keep her at the top spot as one of my favourite FMCs.

I’m not exaggerating when I say The Dark Mirror is nothing short of a masterpiece, artfully created and intricately woven, solidifying The Bone Season as one of the best fantasy series out there.

Filled with action-packed sequences and softer moments of quiet, The Dark Mirror brilliantly picks up from where The Mask Falling ended and puts up the stage for a new phase of Paige’s story.

(full review to come)

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I have this preordered but when the opportunity came to read THE DARK MIRROR on NetGalley I had to jump at the chance... and am I glad I did.

As with the others in the series, Samantha Shannon is back with her action packed, fantasy sci-fi series. Once again the expansive world of Scion and the Free Cities is enlarged around us--in this novel we visit so many different countries and cities both inside the dystopian regime and outside, and it's so lovely to continue the adventure with Paige as we see her exploring the Free World for the first time. Gone are the oppressive blue lighted streets of Scion. I was entirely swept into the story from chapter one... and finished the whole book in 2 days.

Reunited with Paige, Nick, Warden and many other familiar friends it is such a joy to be able to connect the characters over the five books and see how they have grown and changed. Shannon does a brilliant job of reminding her reader who is who through simple exposition that feels entirely right within the voice of the book whilst also being super helpful. With the rewrites the magic of the series is simple to understand and commanding in every element. Each exploration of clairvoyance feels well researched, fresh and exciting.

Parts of the plot made me gasp and grin. The twists and turns kept coming which were enjoyable but also felt effective to the plot; not just added in for shock value. Now is a great time to start THE BONE SEASON series if you have not. Book 5 is an excellent instalment within the series and I am already on tenterhooks for Book 6!

Favourite Quote

'The only way to survive is to believe you always will'
(& anything involving 'little dreamer')

SPOILER FREE Review

Firstly, thank you so much to Bloomsbury Publishing & Netgalley for allowing me to read the ARC of The Dark Mirror in exchange for my honest feedback.

I have been DEMOLISHING the Bone Season series over the last couple of weeks and The Dark Mirror is by far my favourite of the series. The whole book from start to finish is absolutely amazing!! The writing is beautiful, almost like poetry that makes you feel every single word in your soul! The world that Samantha has built is so intricate & I've never come across anything like it. It's truly stunning.

Paige & Warden absolutely have my heart. Their relationship melts me & I always look forward to their interactions. There are SO many characters, but each one has so much substance & a reason for existing.. Don't get me wrong, there are a couple you'd want to throw off a mountain, but it's the sign of an amazing author when you dislike a character so intensely! I'm not naming names but I'm sure you'll know...

I struggled to put The Dark Mirror down!! The drama and tension throughout kept me well & truly hooked, making me feel every emotion - love, rage, sadness, shock - everything! The twists and turns in this series are unreal & it's part of the reason I love it so much - who's going to survive? Who knows?!

I loved it & I'm so grateful to have had the priority to tag this stunning series! I highly recommend it!

I first picked up The Bone Season in 2014, and from that moment, I was hooked. It’s been a long journey, waiting for each installment, but I’ve cherished every moment spent in this world. Samantha Shannon has created a series that has kept me engaged for years, despite the slow release schedule, and I deeply respect an author who takes the time to mature and refine a story rather than rushing to completion.

With The Mask Falling, I felt the depth of Paige’s growth—both as a leader and as a person. This book resonated with me in a way that felt deeply tied to her maturity, her evolving worldview, and the cultural nuances that shape her experiences. Her relationship with Mime Order continues to be a driving force behind her development, especially in her shifting dynamic with Jaxon. Half the time, I want to kill him; the other half, I understand him and his sheer will to survive—even if that understanding makes me uncomfortable.

“I had danced with death for many years. My life had been a tightrope walk. Yet since I was a child, I had maintained an iron will to live.”

“She possesses the loyalty of a beagle and the chaotic abandon of a headless chicken.”

These remain two of my favorite quotes from the series. They perfectly capture Paige’s essence—her resilience, recklessness, and the complicated mess of emotions that make her such a compelling protagonist.

It’s always a delight to return to Shannon’s writing. Every time I read one of her books, I think, Maybe this is my favorite. In The Mask Falling, I loved being back with Paige and the gang—it was comforting to see familiar faces, though some returns were more welcome than others. There were even a few unexpected reappearances that took me by surprise.

One of the aspects I truly enjoyed was how this book built upon the foundations laid in previous installments. Shannon has a talent for expanding her world in ways that challenge what we thought we knew—introducing more voyant types, uncovering hidden histories, and deepening the layers of belief within the world of Scion. And, of course, there’s always that lingering question: Can you trust what you think you know?

Experiencing the free world outside Scion’s grasp was fascinating, especially as we got to see how characters who had spent their lives under Scion’s rule adapted (or struggled) with their newfound freedom.

I had an amusing experience reading this book—I tore through it with an unstoppable hunger… until I reached the end, where I found myself flicking through the glossary, desperately hoping there was more.

Now, all I can do is wait (again) for the next installment, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that a story this well-crafted is always worth the wait.

Please can we have TB6 soon.
---

This was a brilliant addition to the series and kept me on the edge of my seat at parts. I'm so invested in the characters in this series and seeing them navigate these new challenges was great. Some parts (to no one's surprise) had me sobbing, and I cannot wait for the future books in this series

With The Dark Mirror, Samantha Shannon continues to prove why she is one of the brightest voices in fantasy today. The fifth book in the Bone Season series, it delves even deeper into Paige Mahoney’s personal and external struggles, as she faces the daunting challenge of piecing together the year of her life that’s been stolen from her memory. When Paige finds herself outside the Republic of Scion for the first time in over a decade, she is thrust into an even more perilous world where secrets, betrayal, and alliances shape the fragile balance of power between humans and immortals.

The novel kicks off with Paige grappling with the disorienting void left by her lost memories, but as the story progresses, she embarks on a journey that takes her to Venice, where a dangerous secret could change the entire course of the war. With the fate of Italy hanging in the balance, Paige's quest becomes intertwined with the enigmatic Arcturus Mesarthim, the only person who can help her unlock her memories—and who might hold the key to saving a nation.

Shannon’s storytelling is both immersive and thrilling, weaving political intrigue, high stakes, and poignant emotional moments into a powerful narrative. The action scenes are dynamic and filled with heart-pounding suspense, while the quieter moments offer a chance to explore Paige’s inner turmoil and growth. Paige’s evolution as a character continues to captivate, as she faces not just external threats, but the vulnerability and self-doubt that come with her growing understanding of her role in the larger conflict. Her relationships with other key characters, especially Arcturus, remain at the emotional core of the series, adding depth to the action and heightening the stakes.

The world-building in The Dark Mirror is as rich and detailed as ever. Shannon expands the universe of the Bone Season series in exciting ways, offering readers new realms to explore and deeper insight into the war between humans and immortals. The complex layers of this conflict, both on the personal and global scale, create a thrilling backdrop for Paige's personal journey. The introduction of the Domino Programme and Operation Ventriloquist adds yet another dimension to the story, deepening the mystery and increasing the tension.

The Dark Mirror is a captivating and thought-provoking continuation of the Bone Season saga. With its mix of action, mystery, and character-driven storytelling, it’s a must-read for fans of the series and anyone who enjoys epic, intricately crafted fantasy. Samantha Shannon proves once again that she is at the height of her powers, delivering a novel that not only advances the overarching narrative but also deepens the emotional and thematic complexity of the world she has created.

A flawless masterpiece from start to finish. Whilst the wait between book is certainly torturous, the quality of each instalment in this series is certainly a fantastic pay off for it. Listening to SS talk about her writing process you can tell how much she cares about her characters and the world she's created, and the extensive research that goes into each of her projects. Paige and Arcturus have captured my heart right from book one, and whilst I might not ever forgive SS fully for the trauma she's put them through, I will still keep reading everything and anything she ever publishes forever more. Here's me hoping that the wait for book 6 is bearable!