The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon

Publication date: 7th March 2017

Published by: Bloomsbury
Genre: Sci-fi/Dystopia (YA)

Publisher's Synopsis

Following a bloody battle against foes on every side, Paige Mahoney has risen to the dangerous position of Underqueen, ruling over London's criminal population.

But, having turned her back on Jaxon Hall and with vengeful enemies still at large, the task of stabilising the fractured underworld has never seemed so challenging.

Little does Paige know that her reign may be cut short by the introduction of Senshield, a deadly technology that spells doom for the clairvoyant community and the world as they know it…

I started writing this review in 2017 and have edited it before posting in 2021.  

I am a huge fan of this series and I did my best to contain my excitement when this one came out (to avoid disappointment).  It didn't work.  I ordered my copy in advance and started reading it the day it came out! Was it as good as I had hoped?  

So far, all three installments have read quite differently than the previous one.  In my review of book 1, The Bone Season, I had commented on how complex the story was and quite a reading challenge.  In my review of book 2, The Mime Order, the longest one so far, I mentioned that it was quite descriptive with Paige explaining the history and backstory to us.  This one is shorter than the first two and reads much like its contemporaries (i.e. other well known YA Fantasy).  In that sense I would say that The Song Rising is the most 'reader-friendly' of the series so far.  Personally, I enjoyed the first one best because I liked the challenge and got the most out of that reading experience.

The upside: I would say this one focuses on 'holding up a mirror' [to humanity], as I was more aware of the parallels with history.  For example, the drive to take over Scion by the Raphaim, with Nashira as their leader, mirrors the creation of the British Empire.  They use the same tactics to achieve this, such as 'divide and conquer' to colonise nations. The Scion invasion of Ireland mirrors that country's true experience (and many others who were invaded by countries such as Britain, France and Spain). The grey market mirrors the slave trade.  The fear of clairvoyants by 'amaurotics' and their discrimination towards them mirrors the treatment of people in Britain who came to settle there from the colonies, and  people seeking asylum in richer & safer countries than their own. - Brilliant!

One thing I have always found lacking in most of the sci-fi/fantasy fiction I have read is that the stories tend to be very insular.  There is very little (and sometimes no) reference to a world beyond the bubble in the story.  Samantha Shannon has considered a world beyond Scion's Great Britain and Ireland.  From the very beginning (book 1) there has been reference to the rest of the world - 'the free world'.  I was thrilled that in The Song Rising the story stretches and expands geographically - Fantastic!

The downside:  Despite how dismissive many are about romance in fiction, it is not easy to write [well].  The difficulty is the level of sentiment: a sickly sweet romance can leave the reader nauseous, while one completely lacking in emotion can leave the reader disengaged.  It is not obligatory to have a love story in YA fantasy, but if you are going to, it has to be done with commitment and conviction.  I have been critical of the relationship between Paige and Warden in previous reviews of the series.  My view was reinforced when an event occurs in this book that should have triggered an emotional response from me, but did not because I am not emotionally engaged enough.  That said, there is greater effort to show intimacy and romance between them - an improvement! 

The verdict: The Song Rising was worth the wait.  I loved it!

The Bone Season series truly is shaping into something very special.  The literary world, as a place for both entertainment and intellectual stimulation, is certainly a better one since their publication.  My copies are prized possessions.

The Mask Falling, book 4, came out in January this year.  To be reviewed in the not too distant future.

More Reviews on The Bone Season Series 

The Bone Season (Book 1)

The Mime Order (Book 2)

The Pale Dreamer (Book 0.5)

 


 

The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa

Publication date: 4th Feb 2020

Published by: Avon
Genre: Contemporary Fiction (Rom-Com)

Publisher's synopsis

A wedding planner left at the altar. Yeah, the irony isn’t lost on Carolina Santos, either. But despite that embarrassing blip from her past, Lina’s managed to make other people’s dreams come true as a top-tier wedding coordinator in DC. After impressing an influential guest, she’s offered an opportunity that could change her life. There’s just one hitch… she has to collaborate with the best (make that worst) man from her own failed nuptials.

Tired of living in his older brother’s shadow, marketing expert Max Hartley is determined to make his mark with a coveted hotel client looking to expand its brand. Then he learns he’ll be working with his brother’s whip-smart, stunning —absolutely off-limits — ex-fiancée. And she loathes him.

If they can survive the next few weeks and nail their presentation without killing each other, they’ll both come out ahead. Except Max has been public enemy number one ever since he encouraged his brother to jilt the bride, and Lina’s ready to dish out a little payback of her own.

But even the best laid plans can go awry, and soon Lina and Max discover animosity may not be the only emotion creating sparks between them. Still, this star-crossed couple can never be more than temporary playmates because Lina isn’t interested in falling in love and Max refuses to play runner-up to his brother ever again...

My Review

First impression: The cover screams nauseating chick lit to me, which would usually put me off, instantly.  However, as it turns out, it was refreshing to read this romantic comedy that has a female character of Brazilian heritage.  The reader is given a taste of Brazilian culture, which I found informative and interesting. 

The upside: There is a lot of good stuff in this book, especially the development of both characters, which I found insightful.  The observations on human behaviour are very good, particularly, how both Max and Lina react to the negative experiences they have had to face, the impact those experiences have had on them (their personal demons), the conflict that results, and how they navigate through it.  

I also liked the way the reader is given an insight into both Lina’s and Max’s professional roles, and how they worked together.  The author really did her homework!  You can see how they managed to achieve the outcome they did.  I enjoyed that aspect more than the romance!

There were laugh out loud moments.

I am always happy to discover a book which has a main character that is under-represented in fiction. This one is absent of annoying stereotypes (Praise the Lord! 🙌). 

The downside: I was not keen on the style of writing: in particular, the romance was too sweet for my taste - sickly sweet, in parts, and their sexual exploits made me cringe.  

It took too long to reach the conflict (about 80% into the story), and the resolution was rushed and lacked Wow! factor.

The verdict: I liked it.  Okay, it may not be a great work of fiction, but it is good escapism, which is welcome during a global pandemic.