**The Bone Season** by Samantha Shannon is a dystopian fantasy novel set in a future London where clairvoyants, known as voyants, are persecuted by a totalitarian government called Scion. The story follows Paige Mahoney, a nineteen-year-old dreamwalker who is arrested and imprisoned by Scion. In prison, Paige is assigned to a Rephaite keeper, Warden, who is a member of a powerful race of otherworldly beings.
Paige learns that the Rephaim are secretly preparing for the next Bone Season, a ten-year period during which the veil between the living world and the afterlife is at its thinnest. During the Bone Season, Scion harvests the souls of voyants to power its armies. Paige is determined to escape from prison and join the human resistance, which is fighting to overthrow Scion and liberate the voyants.
**Plot Summary**
The novel begins with Paige working in the criminal underworld of Scion London. She is a member of a secret cell known as the Seven Seals, which is dedicated to protecting voyants from Scion. One night, Paige is attacked and arrested by Scion forces. She is transported to a voyant prison in Oxford, where she is assigned to Warden.
Warden is a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is Paige's master, her trainer, and her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom, she must learn to trust him and allow him to train her in the use of her powers.
Paige soon learns that the Rephaim are secretly preparing for the next Bone Season. She also learns of a human resistance movement that is fighting to overthrow Scion and liberate the voyants. Paige resolves to escape from prison and join the resistance.
With Warden's help, Paige eventually escapes from prison and joins the resistance movement. She uses her dreamwalking abilities to help the resistance gather intelligence on Scion's plans and to rescue other voyants. Paige also begins to develop a romantic relationship with Warden.
In the climax of the novel, Paige and the resistance launch an attack on Scion's headquarters. Paige confronts the leader of Scion, Lord Berkana, and defeats him. With Scion defeated, the voyants are finally free.
**Characters**
* **Paige Mahoney:** A nineteen-year-old dreamwalker who is arrested and imprisoned by Scion. She is determined to escape and join the human resistance.
* **Warden:** A Rephaite keeper who is assigned to Paige. He is mysterious and complex, but he ultimately proves to be a valuable ally.
* **Lord Berkana:** The leader of Scion. He is a cruel and ruthless man who is determined to crush the human resistance and enslave the voyants.
* **Jaxon Hall:** Paige's former employer in the criminal underworld. He is a complex character with his own hidden agenda.
* **Arcturus Mesarthim:** A member of the resistance movement and Paige's love interest.
**Themes**
* The power of love and friendship
* The importance of fighting for freedom
* The resilience of the human spirit
**Details**
* The Bone Season is set in a future London that is divided into two parts: the Upper City, where the Rephaim and the wealthy live, and the Lower City, where the humans and the poor live.
* The Rephaim are a powerful race of otherworldly beings who have ruled London for over two centuries. They are immortal and have a variety of superhuman powers.
* Voyants are humans who have psychic abilities. They are persecuted by Scion because they are seen as a threat to the government's power.
* The Bone Season is a ten-year period during which the veil between the living world and the afterlife is at its thinnest. During the Bone Season, Scion harvests the souls of voyants to power its armies.
**Conclusion**
The Bone Season is a complex and ambitious novel that explores themes of love, loss, freedom, and oppression. It is a well-written and engaging story with a cast of memorable characters. The novel has been praised for its rich world-building and its complex and nuanced portrayal of good and evil.