The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

Some stories stick with you and live in the memory. They are compelling and, if they are a part of a series, they demand to be finished. The Bone Season series is a little like that for me. The biggest criticism I had of the first book was that it had such a steep learning curve. That is a result of such a densely imagined and layered world. Shannon drops her readers into the middle of her world without preamble or lifeline beyond a chart or two. However, once I got my feet under me (so to speak) it was an entrancing read.

The Mime Order was similarly entrancing, but without the learning curve. Paige is back in London and in hiding from Scion. The escapees from Sheol I have scattered and gone to ground. Paige is also avoiding her old Mime-Lord, Jaxon Hall, who wants her to come back to work as his mollisher.

Paige, however, remains disillusioned with Jaxon and his intentions. She wants to bring down Scion and the Rephaim but has no money and little power to do that. She soon finds herself forced back into working for Jaxon who blocks her every attempt to spread words about the alien corruption of Scion. Amidst her frustration, Paige worries about the enigmatic Warden who she last saw during the break out.

The voyant syndicate (think supernatural mob) has always been corrupt, but something more is going on in the shadows and Paige keeps tripping into it. When the Underlord is slaughtered in his own den, Paige is the first person to discover it making her a prime suspect.

The Bone Season was really an escape story. There was some intrigue involved in laying the plans for escape but overall with was pretty straight forward. The Mime Order operates on a completely different level. There's plenty of action but the story hinges entirely on political intrigue. The whole thing is about trust and betrayal. While I anticipated many of the twists and turns, the last twist took me by surprise.

Excellent read. I'm seriously considering buying the last book new. I'm not sure I have the patience to wait for a used copy.