The magnificent third book in the New York Times bestselling Bone Season series, now updated with the author’s preferred text and a gorgeous new design.

Following a fierce battle for the Rose Crown, Paige Mahoney has risen to the dangerous position of Underqueen, ruling over the clairvoyant syndicate of London. But with vengeful enemies still at large, the task of stabilizing the fractured underworld has never seemed so challenging.

As Paige rallies her army of criminals, she continues to meet in secret with her former enemy, Arcturus Mesarthim. Should they be discovered, the fragile alliance with the Ranthen will fail.

But all bets are off when Scion introduces Senshield, a deadly technology that spells doom for clairvoyants. Now Paige must race against the clock to stop her reign ending in blood.

I am trying to pace myself with this series, but after reading the second book, I couldn’t stop thinking about that ending, and I couldn’t wait any longer to get back to this world. Picking up immediately after “The Mime Order,” this book drops us right where we left off in book two, with Paige now the Underqueen – the head of London’s clairvoyant syndicate – and in even more danger now than before.

As Underqueen, Paige is no longer just a rebel trying to survive – she is now a leader responsible for the lives of thousands, and the weight of that burden is felt throughout the book. She must navigate the ever-present threat of Scion, deal with discontent within her own syndicate, and secretly maintain a fragile alliance with the Ranthen, all while dealing with the introduction of Senshield – a new technology that gives Scion the ability to detect clairvoyants, which ups the stakes and puts Paige and her crew in even more danger since it’s more difficult for them to move undetected.

One thing that I really like about the series is the slow-burn relationship between Paige and Warden. Shannon has avoided the common trope of rushing the romance, and instead, she has allowed it to grow organically over the course of the series. In this book, we see the relationship shift and mature. The tension between them is still there, but the attraction has grown. The progression feels earned, which makes the small steps forward even more satisfying. I also love that we don’t get pages and pages of sex scenes that bog down the forward movement of the story.

Another aspect that stood out to me was the expansion of the world-building. This time, we are taken beyond London, into Manchester and other locations, which helps broaden the scope of the series. It’s always exciting when a fantasy series takes us into new territories. The exploration of other syndicates and their differing structures and challenges added depth to the overall story.

That being said, I did feel that the action, while present, wasn’t quite as gripping as in the first two installments. There were fewer heart-pounding moments, and the story leaned more on strategy, politics, and inner conflict than direct confrontations. While some might view this as a downside, I personally think it was a necessary shift to prepare readers for the larger conflict to come.

While I didn’t find this book to be as intense or as edge-of-your-seat as the first two books, it still held my attention and kept me invested. In many ways, this book feels like a true “middle book” in that it felt like it was tasked with closing the door on the first arc of the story while laying essential groundwork for the next phase of the series.

I did enjoy watching Paige grapple with how the battlefield had changed. She no longer has Jaxon to direct her, so she’s figuring out how to lead while also trying to stay alive. This shift allowed us to see Paige’s vulnerabilities more clearly, making her an even more compelling protagonist. The book ends in a way that leaves no doubt that something monumental is coming, and I am very eager to see how it all unfolds in book four, “The Mask Falling”.

Overall, I enjoyed the book even though I wasn’t as glued to the pages as I was in the first two installments. The stakes are undeniably high, and the introduction of Senshield added a new layer of danger that I’m sure will play a significant role in the books to come. Now, I need to pace myself and not devour the next two installments immediately.