The Mime Order (Bone Season#2) – Samantha Shannon

 Publish Date: January 27, 2015

A while ago I received Samantha Shannon’s teaser for ‘The Mime Order.’ It was fantastic but left off at a rather large cliffhanger. I have to give Shannon accolades because now that I have finished the ARC for the entire book I’m left in exactly the same position – driven to distraction and frustrated that I don’t have the ARC for Bone Season #3.

‘The Bone Season’ was a good book. It had some flaws, but it was enjoyable. The plot is fast paced. It introduces you to unforgettable characters and an alternate totalitarian London that is even more controlled than initially presented. ‘The Bone Season’ starts a revolution with the Rephaim, beings from the other side of the Veil, but ‘The Mime Order’s’ focus is on London.  Specifically, it is on the Criminal Syndicate, the illegal underbelly of the city. The forbidden piece of romance in ‘The Bone Season’ is addressed in this book but it’s not the primary focus. There are bigger problems to deal with.  When you have a revolution on your hands romance isn’t that important. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t take on a new intricate and plot enhancing shape, but it still isn’t the plot driver.  Welcome to the good version of Urban Fantasy.

Paige Mahoney is I-4′ Pale Dreamer.  She is the gangs mollisher (lead fighter/bodyguard to the leader) and second in command to their leader Jaxon. Paige is focused on exposing the Rephaim and London’s corrupt puppet government, but it isn’t that easy. The bulk of London’s population doesn’t know the Rephaim exist. Our escapees of penal colony Sheol 1 are doing everything they can just to survive and survival in London requires a clairvoyant or voyant to be part of one of the syndicate gangs. If they try to go it alone they will end up captured by the government or dead. Fear mongering propaganda is spread through the streets and without Jaxon’s and the syndicates protection Paige would be dead in moments. There is a bounty on her head and every night televised executions are shown to the public of Voyant escapees or unlucky Voyant look-a-likes. It’s pure show. The Rephaim are using the government to flush Paige out. She is the real threat – a figure to rally the syndicate against the Rephaim. Our poor Paige quickly becomes disillusioned.  As long as the Syndicate Mime Lords (Criminal Voyant Gang Leaders) survive and get their cut they are fine to keep the status quo.  The delicate balance can last only so long, however.  It is so much worse than Paige ever thought. London is going to be turned upside down.

This is a favorite series for me. ‘The Bone Season’ was enjoyable but Shannon has found her voice with this book. Paige is an intelligent if impetuous new adult. She’s forced to learn patience. This alone makes it feel real. The world building and language are natural. The villains are worthy. The real villains aren’t the ones we see coming and Shannon sure knows how to handle them. I would reread it immediately but I have other book commitments. The cliffhanger at the end is painful. When will I ever learn? I don’t have this kind of patience/self-control. I think receiving ARC’s is feeding my “need” for immediate gratification. I want to have my cake and eat it too. I “need” the third book already. I got the second book early. I am a greedy bastard.

I received the Mime Order’ from Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA in return for an honest review