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Parents' Guide to

The Mime Order: The Bone Season, Book 2

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Clairvoyant quest stalls before intense finish.

Book Samantha Shannon Fantasy 2015
The Mime Order: The Bone Season, Book 2 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

lostintomes
lostintomes Parent of 2-year-old
December 4, 2018
age 15+

Wow! A great book but a little stronger language than the first.

Wow that ending! Only reason I didn't rate this as high as the first one is that it just took me so long to get into. That being said, it's still very well written. I love the mystery and slow burning plot. She leaves these very subtle clues for the reader to try and figure out. It's so fun to read and be constantly guessing and thinking about what's going to happen next. Very masterfully done. Paige's character and relationship developments were wonderful. She really blossoms in this book and I'm excited to see how she continues to change throughout the series. I should note that there is a lot more strong language in this than the first one. While Paige herself has pretty clean speech she deals with a lot of gritty characters and I feel like the language added something to their authenticity so it didn't bother me. But it's worth noting for those that are put-off by that sort of thing. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed getting into the gang culture and futuristic London. We really get to experience some more different types of Clairvoyance in this one. The world Shannon has created is so tangible yet fantastical at the same time. Its easy to lose yourself in and I love it. This is setting up to be a powerful, complex series and I am happy to be along for the ride. CONTENT NOTES: Strong language, and use of (fictional) drugs is mentioned by side characters not strong a focus of the story or endorsed by any means.
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What's the Story?

Having escaped from the Sheol I, the penal colony run by the mysterious, otherworldly Rephaim, 19-year-old "dreamwalker" Paige Mahoney finds herself suddenly the most-wanted fugitive in London. She depends on the assistance of her manipulative mentor, Jaxson Hall, but the deadly intrigues that roil through the city's criminal gangs threaten to eclipse an even more pressing danger. Paige finds herself accused of murder, and she must turn to her former Rephaim captor, Warden, for help before considering the ultimate sacrifice.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Picking up directly from the aftermath of The Bone Season, Book 2 gets off to an action-packed start, as Paige returns to London and tries to reassemble the pieces of her life. She interacts with a colorful cast of characters with conflicting, often deadly agendas, and faces constant danger.

Gradually, however, the pace of the novel slackens, and much time is spent on heated conversations that seem to lead nowhere. Everything falls into place in the final chapters, however, when Paige and her enemies confront each other, with surprising results. This series makes significant demands on its readers, but many will find the effort worthwhile.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about dystopian fiction and why it's so popular. Why do you think author Samantha Shannon chose to depict a disaster with a supernatural origin rather than a scientific one?

  • What makes a good mentor? How much do you owe someone who has taught you important lessons about life?

  • Why are readers fascinated by the notion of psychic powers? Would it be a good thing if people were able to read each other's thoughts?

Book Details

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