This review may contain mild spoilers for the previous books in The Bone Season series. 

“I’ve often wondered if my choices shaped my life, or if it was drawn before I existed, spun out for me like thread from a spindle. I’ve wondered if any of us have a fate; if the pattern and flow of time is ordained, or if we can force it to carve a new path. All voyants reckon with the idea.”

Paige Mahoney has had half a year’s worth of memories wiped and now she finds herself waking up in an unfamiliar hotel, in an even unfamiliar country. She’s in the free world, but how did she get here and who has been holding her captive? As Paige escapes and makes her way back to leading the revolution against Scion, she journeys to Venice where she resumes her work as a Domino agent. When she uncovers Operation Ventriloquist Paige knows she must bring it down before it’s too late. With the enemy Rephaim closing in and the free world at stake, it’s time for voyants to step out of the shadows and fight back. 

The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon is the much anticipated fifth novel in The Bone Season series and this is an instalment that takes readers to a whole new enticing level. 

One of my least favourite tropes is that of memory loss and given the way the last book, The Mask Falling, had ended I was worried this instalment would spend a significant portion focused on that. Thankfully, I was wrong. While the book begins with Paige piecing together much of what had happened to her since Paris, what had happened to Arcturus remains hidden from her and finding him becomes her goal. Paige does a fair bit of traveling beginning in Poland, then an escape to Prague and then Venice and Rome. Shannon really brings these countries and places to life with her vivid and rather beautiful descriptions of their architecture, food and fashion. What really struck me was the way she focused on showing how much the free world allowed voyants to live openly, and though this was a daunting prospect and took some adjusting to, it was also a welcome sanctuary for those who had lived under Scion’s rule in London. Paige may still be a fugitive and therefore needed to conceal her identity even in Prague and Venice but she along with other voyants had the freedom to travel during the day, do ordinary simple activities like going to a restaurant for lunch, shopping and taking walks around the city—whereas in Scion London they were restricted to the cover of darkness. This really brought home how important Paige’s rebellion is by punctuating exactly what they fight for. 

The pacing throughout the first half of the novel slows down much more than the previous instalments and is not quite as action packed (although the ending remedies that!). However the break in pace was a welcomed relief because Paige’s character had fallen into making too many rash and impulsive decisions causing some dire consequences for not just herself but others too. Whilst this made for some exciting narrative arcs in previous books it was satisfying to find this time around Paige had matured considerably, she recognised her past mistakes and works to not repeat them as she now realises how significant a role she plays in this revolution. Whilst she’s still at the forefront, she takes the advice of others more seriously and is able to accept help. More importantly there are scenes where Paige actually finds herself happy, she enjoys the company she is with and takes pleasure in visiting the historical sites that places such as Venice and Rome have to offer. Not to mention she allows herself to love and be loved. I absolutely loved those moments because Paige finally realises what life can be like after the rebellion is won. That there can be a life afterwards. 

“Perhaps I could have woken up and lived every day as gently as this, if I had made different choices in life. I was under no illusion that it would last. Orvieto was a dream. A last intake of easy breath before I faced the Devil.”

In this book we also see the return of some familiar faces, most notably two significant members of the Mime Order. I was glad for this not only because they are two of my favourite characters but also because I had missed the Mime Order working together and having even just a few members back was immensely entertaining. This was especially true as we reached the ending and after much political deliberations, an all out battle ensued. Whilst I don’t want to spoil anything I cannot tell you how exciting it was to see voyant against voyant, Rephaim against Ranthen and a fight to contain the Buzzers. 

It’s safe to say The Dark Mirror  delighted me in a myriad of ways. 

Shannon really outdid herself with this gripping cinematic fantasy thriller.

“’We’ve always saved each other. I can’t keep flying without you.’

‘I believe you could. I told you. You are a force of nature, Paige Mahoney.’ He covered my hand. ‘I have rid myself of my poison. Are you ready to ascend?’”

Review Copy provided by Ben at Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy! All quotes used are taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

The Dark Mirror is out 25th February 2025. You can pre-order your copy HERE