Book 39 - Spooky, Disorienting Ghosteys

Title: The Song Rising Author: Samantha Shannon Genre: spoooooky fantasy / sci-fi

Ughhh Shannon. UGHHHHH.

Ugh in a good way. I have so many emotions over this book - over these books. Mainly I thought this third one would finally wrap up the epic that is this series, only to realize that the story is actually set to take place over seven (SEVEN) books. And Shannon is only 26...the same age as I am...WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE.

Anyways.

Okay, right off the bat: you have to read the first two books, The Bone Season and The Mime Order, to even have a foggy idea of what the heck is going on. As with many fantasy/sci-fi books, the author dives right into the universe, befuddling us with new terms, social mores, and physical settings while giving us just enough context/backstory so we can dig our claws in and hold on for dear life.

Usually when I sink into a series, I feel comfortable enough with the world that I could drop a character of my own making into the mix and they'd fit right in - NOT the case with these books. Shannon's universe is intricate, utterly unique, and constantly evolving. For this reason, when I recommend this book to people (Looking for a dystopian story that breaks the mould? Looking for strong female characters, visceral writing, and an Irish flair? LOOK NO FURTHER.), I always say: it's confusing as fuck, but if you power through, it. is. WORTH IT.

In addition to a rocking plot and fantastically complex characters, Shannon's writing, specifically her descriptions of people, is absolutely stunning. The reader is given enough detail to formulate an image in their mind, but the descriptions aren't merely physical; they evoke emotions and concepts, forcing the reader to conceptualize these characters through our own unique lenses - and making them that more salient.

Rating: 🔫🔫🔫🔫/5