I had to take some time to sit with this book before writing a full review. Every time I read something by Samantha Shannon, I am in awe by her creativity and writing. Scion London has intrigued me since I picked up book 1 after learning of the series from a friend. Shannon has captured my attention with her words. I feel anxiety when the main character feels it and I feel boiling rage when she is wronged. The pleasure of reading about this dark and gritty world further from London into Paris was immense. 

Shannon as always breaks my heart and leaves me desperate for more. She is still on track of making this book in the series a little different in the sub-genre as she has with the others. I am so excited that there are three more books in the series to which I can look forward. She has paced this series remarkably well so far and I cannot wait for book 5! 

The new characters are fantastic, but my sole focus is always on Paige and Warden. I would never call this book a romance, but their silent passion for another makes my heart beat faster.

Oh no. Here we go. I’m not returning emails or texts promptly, work is suffering, I’m late for everything, the laundry isn’t done, my husband is starving and I’m behind on all my Bravo shows. All because I cannot put down yet another book in The Bone Season Series! 

“The Mask Falling” by Samantha Shannon  does not disappoint. I wish I had re-read the previous three books before starting this so all was fresh in my mind, but not necessary, especially with the handy “Who’s Who” in the back with mini bios of all the characters.

The story starts off just where we left off in book three. It takes us into a different direction than the previous books did. We meet a whole new cast of characters and see some we know. Paige and Warden head off to Paris where things are run quite differently than in London. Many questions are answered, secrets revealed, new storylines are added, and more stuff left unanswered!

These books are a fun read mixing mystic powers, unknown creatures (nice and not so nice), the future world, war, friendship, and tons of emotion. 

Get into these, sit back and have some fun.

Thank you Bloomsbury USA,  Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an ARC version of this book in exchange for my honest review. 
#TheMaskFalling #NetGalley

The Mask Falling is my favorite installment yet in this series and I just loved seeing Paige and Warden in Paris. Okay, I just loved seeing them together. I also loved how this book handled trauma and recovery while also normalizing the inclusion of menstruation in novels. It was also fascinating to see how the world expanded in this book and to learn so much more about the Rephaim. I can’t say much more without spoiling the book but just be prepared (But also know that you’re 100% not prepared). I honestly don’t know how I’m going to wait until the fifth book in the series comes out.

I actually reread the entire series before starting The Mask Falling and I’m so in awe of how Samantha Shannon has developed this fantasy/dystopian world so well. And how each book is a different type of story but how they all fit together perfectly. I’ll always recommend this series to any fantasy fan!

Samantha Shannon has done an excellent job of building out the world of SciLo in her first three books and Mask Falling is an abrupt departure from that world. Scion Paris is a whole new world to meet and Shannon’s worlds are very much characters. Paris is the star of the show here and in many ways this book feels like a reset in the series. There were a few points that felt quite rushed-Domino, Sheol II. However, my initial thought had been that I would miss the relationships and characters left behind in London. Instead the book really developed Paige and Arcturus’ storyline further (and at a cost!). Other than feeling rushed and a bit short my screams of frustration upon finishing the book were just because I’m worried I’ll have to wait four more years for the next.

Another excellent addition to the Bone Season series. This one is simultaneously packed with a TON of action and an abundance of intimate dialogue between Paige and Arcturus. It'd go from calm to chaos in a matter of pages. It's clear the series is ramping up, and Shannon manages to weave even more into the story that now has loose ends to tie. I am so excited to see where the next novel takes us.

Wow! Just when I think this series can't get any better, Shannon does it again! I absolutely loved this follow up. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I love these characters and this world and I'm now dying to know what is coming next. Completely exceeded my expectations!

Big thanks to NetGalley, Bloomsbury and to Ms. Shannon for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. This review was requested but not required and all thoughts are my own.

Despite the long wait for this book and the subsequent small struggles to remember details in the beginning I had no trouble getting back into the swing of things. It's like getting into a hot bath when you're freezing: at first you feel like you're on fire but once you acclimate, OMG, there is just nothing better.

The world Ms. Shannon has created is so unique, so complex, and so purposeful. Bits and pieces you thought fell by the wayside a book or two ago have a sneaky way of surfacing again much later. This book does pick up right where the previous one left off, with Paige and Warden/Arcturus being smuggled into Paris. Some very interesting questions are posed about who is actually running things (Scion, the anchor, Domino, etc) and how, and why. Not all of these are answered and I think that's something we'll see more answers to down the line in future books. 
I struggled a little bit with Paige's decision-making; she seems to trust the wrong people too easily and the right people too little. I had to try to keep in mind that Paige was not only terribly ill but struggling with - and frankly, succumbing to - PTSD and her decision-making process wasn't at its best. I think one thing that Paige definitely frustrated me with was refusing to admit that she (personally, not her Mime Order) needed help. It was almost too late when her physical condition was finally diagnosed. 
The Parisian "anormales" were awesome; the scenery underground really felt authentic. It was a nice change from London. 
Overall I saw some definite character development coming from Paige and Warden/Arcturus both, which was very welcome. Not so much decision-making-wise, since Paige continued to make very rash, impulsive and reckless decisions almost consistently. Sometimes those worked out but more frequently she was only saved by the preparedness (and bravery) of others. No, I'd say Paige matured emotionally. She finally gave thought to her father, and obviously to her situation with Warden. And then there was that scene with Jaxon... x_X

I was worried that this would seem like a bridge book, seeing as how there are some 3 more projected books in the series, but it really didn't; it was almost non-stop action. And somehow STILL ended on a cliffhanger *shakes head*. I won't say more because this is a pre-pub review, but I was really left VERY concerned ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING that the next book won't be out for years. Sigh. Let me just say, if you've been waiting patiently (or not so patiently) for The Mask Falling, you will not be disappointed. It is one heck of a ride.

What the hell, Samantha!!! Can't we get like 2 fucking seconds to breathe?!?!
What am I supposed to do with my life for the next 2 to 3 years?
Everything is different. Expect the unexpected and side-eye everyone. Everyone.
I'm so distraught.

I loved this book! What an exciting new ARC in the bone season series!! I always hate getting galleys because it reminds me of how LONG I have to wait for the next one!

"I had no idea what would befall me in this new theatre of war. What names and faces I would wear. Who I might become.
If I had, I might have turned back."

I liked it, it just dragged for me a little. At times it felt slow and chock full of description; however it sets up the field for future books as it is the middle book of the series.

A LOT happened--a lot of truths were revealed. A lot of friends/enemies made. Still don't know what to do about Jaxon, but at least we don't get as many repetitive "Oh my lovely" phrases. The thing about the characters in The Bone Season series (and I just re-read the entire series in anticipation of The Mask Falling) is that the books feel a lot more plot driven than character driven; I don't feel a close connection to any of the characters aside from Paige and Warden. If any of them died I wouldn't bat an eye, but don't you get your grubby hands on Arcturus or we going to war.

It took me a long time to get through-the book is a beast! A lot of times I felt like we were relying too much on things that have already been done (Paige being captured for example), and a lot of others things seemed too convenient. Paige's powers fluctuate in effectiveness; She should be a power house but most of the time she still feels like Paige from book one in how her powers aren't reliable.

The addition of the "spy" network felt weird, but I got used to it. I hope in future novels we branch out into different scenarios--I have no idea what is going to happen in this series that can fill up three more books, but kind of curious to see how it develops.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 5 Stars

Let me preface this by saying that The Bone Season series is an all time favorite of mine. I’m talking top five of all time. The overall world building, the heart pounding action, the romance…it all works for me. That being said, I do let people know when they start the series that the first book was written a while ago and was Samantha Shannon’s first book. There are a few info-dumps and the pacing of book one does suffer a bit as a result. However, one of my absolute favorite things about this series is watching her develop and grow as a writer. Each book gets better and better, and the plot gets more and more convoluted and twisted. There are so many unknowns and so many individual elements for her to keep track of that I am absolutely blown away every time I delve back into this world.

The Mask Falling is without a doubt, unequivocally, the best book in the series. Once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down, honestly. Paige’s struggles and development as a character, her relationship with Warden, and the war she continues to wage on Scion kept me hooked from the first page to the last. In this book, Paige and Warden travel to my absolute favorite city in the world, Paris. Somehow, Samantha Shannon captured the magic of Paris all while changing bits of it to fit this new version of Earth that she has created. I would also like to applaud the way she captured grief, trauma and recovery.

There were near constant twists, turns and surprises as well as scenes that made me ugly cry, scream at my book (my poor neighbors), and swoon. I made many predictions throughout the book, and was right about one thing. One. I love being taken completely by surprise by books, but it rarely happens. I am beyond thrilled with the pacing and overall intrigue of The Mask Falling. I look forward to learning more about new characters as well as revisiting old ones that I missed in this book. (I would like to formally petition for the return of Nick, immediately)

At this point I feel like my review is an incoherent ramble as I attempt to form some kind of literate review of what will surely be one of my favorites, if not my favorite read of 2021. If you have made it this far into the series, I have to assume that you love it as well and am happy to say that you will absolutely devour and adore this newest installment. If you are reading this review despite the fact that you’ve never read any books in the series, I hope that my gushing has convinced you to start a series that continues to astound me more and more with each new release.

This book was fantastic. I've been a fan of the Bone Season series from the beginning and this book was worth the long wait. The book starts directly from where the last one left off, so I definitely recommend re-reading the first 3 before reading this one. 

As this book mainly takes place in Paris, we get a whole new host of characters, while also getting to see quite a few characters from the other 3 books. It was great to see how Paige's relationships with these characters evolve, and how Paige evolves herself. I feel like out of all of the books, Paige has the most character development in this book. Although it was hard to read at times, I feel that the author did a great job at showing Paige's struggle with PTSD, and how she uses her struggles to grow as a person. It was also really nice to finally get some answers to some burning questions from the first 3 books. Yet at the same time, some revelations led to even more questions. 

4 stars because while it was fantastic, it did have some pacing issues. I felt like the book was 90% action. I also had issues keeping all of the characters straight, because there were so many new ones in this book, on top of the characters from the first 3 books. I'm also not sure how I feel about some of the decisions the author made (no spoilers!), but it really depends on how those choices affect the rest of the series. I'm already waiting on the next book to come out to see where the story goes!

Wonderfully dense and thrilling to read - I only began reading this series this year, specifically so I could review this book and it's one of the best choices I've made in a while. Great characters, dense worldbuilding and thrilling stakes make this impossible to put down. 

Full review on Culturess.com closer to the release date!

The Mask Falling is the fourth book of the Bone Season series, which started in 2013 with plans for seven novels. It begins immediately where the third volume ended, with Paige and Warden escaping London for Paris. But Paige is reeling from weeks of torture and is surrounded by multiple new factions, each with their own conflicting interests— the mysterious Domino Syndicate currently providing shelter, the Parisian underworld, and the French government. And for the first time, Paige and Warden are something close to equal footing.

The Bone Season originally struck me as an odd novel. It had a ton of backstory, an alternate history to puzzle through, and a dizzying hierarchy of psychic powers that I originally felt detracted from the plot. But all of the careful work built in prior books— the complex personal histories, the mess of assorted secret networks, the mass of psychic powers— comes together magnificently here. The drama, the reveals, the reveals ON TOP of reveals…! I'm rating this 4.5 stars, rounded to 5, for that planning and payoff.

To sum up, this was fantastic, and I am rather traumatized. Not just by this volume, but the prospective wait for the fifth!

Note: I had no issue returning to the series after a lengthy break, but there is a handy guide in the back of the book with character names and summaries.

She’s been called many names: Paige Mahoney, the Pale Dreamer, the Black Moth, dream walker, voyant, Underqueen and revolutionary. In this novel Paige struggles to know who she is anymore because she is broken after enduring brutal torture at the hands of the Sargas. She is rescued by Warden Arcturus from  her captivity and this story begins with them fleeing to Paris. There, Paige tries to rebuild herself and the fight against Scion and the Rephaim. The world of these novels grows vastly in “The Mask Falling”, encompassing much of the globe and so many plots. Shannon sets the stage for an impressive epic battle. 

What I loved was that Paige and Arcturus spent almost the entire story together- I love their story and every time she resists that relationship I just want to scream at her. But, maybe it’s an inevitable part of her journey that she needs to grow into the ability to have a relationship. After all, despite the fact that she’s a queen and warrior, she is also a twenty year girl who has never been in a relationship, let alone, one with an immortal ,otherworldly, gloriously hot being. 

Where I was frustrated was with the bleakness of this part of the story. In every other installment, while there are tragedies and setbacks there are also fist-pumping moments of victory. When I reached the last page of this novel I was literally flipping back and forth looking for more, thinking I must have somehow skipped over something because I couldn’t believe that was how it was ending! I really do love so much about this book and this series but where it stopped this time was painful and unsatisfying to the reader. Also, because of the gap between the last novel and this one, It was difficult at the beginning to get into it and remember what had happened previously. I desperately hope that it is not another four years in between novels. I remain hopeful and look forward to more exciting Bone Season stories. 

Thank you to NetGalley and to Bloomsbury for allowing me to read and review an ARC.

I screwed up and didn’t realize this was in the middle of a series. So confusion aside the writing was well done and I now need to go back to read from the beginning

“Years I had dreamed of leaving England, but never as contraband. Damaged contraband.”

The Mask Falling picks up where Shannon’s previous installment, The Song Rising, left off. Paige Mahoney has escaped the Scion Citadel of London and now finds herself in France, with Arcturus Mesarthim at her side. They are both fugitives, on the run from Scion. In France, Paige is forced to reconcile the after-effects of the torture she endured in The Song Rising. Furthermore, she must also continue her work to strengthen the Mime Order and in order to defeat Scion and the Rephaite. In her quest to defeat Scion, Paige finds herself entwined in the Domino Programme, an active spy ring, and the Court of Miracles, the French equivalent of the Mime Order. 

When I received an email notifying me that the publisher had granted me access to a digital ARC, I literally jumped for joy. I have been a big fan of the Bone Season books, oftentimes finding myself devouring these books or constantly thinking about the characters, plot, and world when I was not able to read. The Mask Falling is no exception. Once again, I found myself engrossed by Samantha Shannon’s writing and world-building. Shannon continues to develop her robust universe by allowing the reader a glimpse into the Republic of Scion France and the development of Sheol II. 

In addition to continuing to develop a robust world, Shannon also writes some amazing character development for Paige and Arcturus. I love where Shannon took the relationship between Paige and Arcturus in The Mask Falling and I don’t think other fans of the series will be disappointed. Shannon also introduces new characters, who I quickly grew to love (or love-hate). Of course, Shannon also brings back several characters from previous books. Two of those reintroductions were surprising for me, but they blend nicely into the plot of The Mask Falling so they did not feel jarring or out of place.

Ultimately, The Mask Falling is a note-worthy installment in the Bone Season series. The book concludes with a substantial cliff-hanger. Be prepared for an ending that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the next installment hits stores in (what I am assuming will be) several years. However, given Shannon’s skill as a writer, I firmly believe the wait will be worth it.

The Mask Falling is the next installment in The Bone Season series, and probably my favorite one yet. The book picks up following Paige Mahoney's escape to Scion-controlled Paris. Samantha Shannon once again does a brilliant job at world-building, crafting a magnificent dystopian Paris that you have no choice but to be pulled in. While this book mainly follows the journey of Paige and Warden as they continue their path towards the revolution, we are introduced to new characters and see the return of some familiar faces (some that are more welcome than others). This installment provided a rollercoaster of emotions that keep the reader guessing at every turn. Readers will be thrilled to finally receive some much needed moments between Paige and Warden, and revelations that may change their relationship forever. If you have not read the entire Bone Season series recently, I definitely recommend a refresher read as this book really builds on everything we have learned so far.

This book is the much needed (and heartbreakingly so) middle book that has set the pace for the rest of the series. As soon as I finished the book all I could say was - what. just. happened. Plot twists, revelations, betrayals, redemption, love, heartbreak, and uncertainty for the future of Paige, Warden, and the revolution leave us hanging at the end of the book. I can't wait for the next book and I can not BELIEVE that we were left with that ending. I am on the edge of my seat hoping that the next book comes out quickly and answers all of my outstanding questions! Reader beware - there is quite a large glossary at the end of the novel which leads you to believe you are not actually at the end of the book until you suddenly are.

Heart-wrenching. Raw. Quiet. Visceral. Shattering. Tender. An absolute roller coaster of emotions in this brilliant installment of the Bone Season series. For all who have been waiting so patiently for Paige and Warden's story to continue, you will not be disappointed, on the contrary, your dreamscape will be left as cracked as Paige's. The story picks up immediately after Paige & Warden have left England for Paris to hide and recover in a safe house. The rawness  with which Samantha takes you through Paige's journey of trying to heal from not only the physical wounds, but most importantly, the psychological scars of her torture at the hands of Scion, is authentic and heart breaking. With Warden steadfast at her side, Paige struggles to cope with the fear and panic as she works with the Domino Programme as an intelligence agent. The assignments that the Domino Programme sends her on lead her to revelations that will shake her relationship with Warden and her understanding of the greater threat to all of Europe under Scion. The story brings in new characters and allies for Paige while reuniting us with some from the past, all while upping the stakes and danger for Paige and the revolution. The descriptions of the underground world of Paris are remarkable and unsettling all at the same time. 
Throughout the series, the moments between Paige and Warden have always been some of the most anticipated and for those wanting more of the two of them together in those quiet moments, this book delivers in spades. The starts, stops, steps forward, and backwards in their relationship have all lead to the moments of truth. and clarity that pervade the story from the beginning to the end. This book left me absolutely reeling at the end with all the twists, revelations, betrayals and a shattering conclusion that will leave you stunned. What the future now holds for Paige and Warden is so unknown that the wait for the next book will be excruciating  A truly brilliant continuation of this series that I cannot recommend enough.

This might be my favorite of the series so far. As others have mentioned this one has more of a spy novel feel which is super enjoyable. It was great to get to know Paige more as she grows both as an individual and as the Black Moth. The author did a great job of leveraging the deep and vibrant history of Paris and weaving it into this new world of Scion, Rephs and Voyants. My only complaint was every now and then Paige would do something that was so obviously stupid that I wanted to scream at her, but I guess that's the curse of the reader. Overall enjoyed and recommend.