The Song Rising is the third book in the Bone Season series and therefore this review may contain spoilers for the previous books.

The first 70ish pages I wasn’t sure I was going to get into The Song Rising. There seem to be more characters than ever and I couldn’t remember half the information on the heirarchy of the Mime Order or what half the different types of voyant were. Whilst the first book is still vivid in my mind, I struggled to remember the key points of the second, so I would recommend a recap.

When it really picks up is when the Paige and all of the London voyants are forced into hiding, moreso than they were before. Scion have upgraded Senshield so even more “unnaturals” can be detected and there are rumours of handheld scanners, which would mean the end of the Vigiles, and pretty much every other voyant walking on the streets of Scion.

She stood facing London, a metropolis created by centuries of humanity. London, with its secret, folded layers of history and beauty, as perfectly formed as the petals of a rose. The deeper you ventured into its heart, the more there was to peel away.

With the syndicates displeased with their new Underqueen, Paige knows the one thing she must do, both to secure their safety and prove she is worthy of her position. Destroy Senshield. Easier said than done, but she does have one lead, which will take her out of London at a time when her control is slipping.

I enjoyed the fact it explored a little more about Scion ruled Britain, not just London. Keeping with the Victorian feeling, the North is industrial, struggling with pollution created by the factories. Other cities have their own voyant networks and different attitudes to Scion. A little more is learned about what happened in Ireland, and what Paige experienced as a small child.

So after an unsure start, I finished the book desperate to know what happens next. I just hope the fourth book starts off with a bit more of an oompf.

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Book Source: Purchased