'The Mime Order': Critics say fans won't be able to put Samantha Shannon's latest down
'Order' is the second in a planned seven-part fantasy series by Shannon.
'Order' is the second in a planned seven-part fantasy series by Shannon.
Critics seem to agree that readers will find it hard to put down 鈥淭he Mime Order,鈥� writer Samantha Shannon鈥檚 sequel to her bestseller 鈥淭he Bone Season.鈥澛�
鈥淭he Bone Season鈥� was released in 2013 and follows a girl named Paige Mahoney, who鈥檚 living in a future version of London. Seven books are planned in the series and 鈥淪eason鈥� drew 鈥淗arry Potter鈥� comparisons as well as earning some critical praise, with USA Today critic Brian Truitt writing that it had 鈥渇resh ideas, excellent original concepts and, best of all, an impressive new voice for fantasy literature.鈥�
鈥淢ime鈥� was released on Jan. 27 and NPR writer Jane Ciabattari was one critic who was won over by the sequel. She called the series as a whole 鈥渋ntoxicating鈥� and wrote, 鈥淪hannon's haunting dystopian universe is rich in detail, consistent鈥�. Like Paige Mahoney, Shannon now has proven staying power. Her fans will be calling for more.鈥�
Publishers Weekly noted that readers should pick up 鈥淏one鈥� before 鈥淢ime鈥� but said that the book is 鈥渋ntricate 鈥� though the story starts slowly, it quickly picks up speed, racing toward broadly telegraphed plot points in unexpected ways. Shannon鈥檚 world-building is original and intriguing, especially the complex, almost mythic voyant underground.鈥�
Max Wallis of The Independent wrote of the book, 鈥淚f there is a criticism across the half-thousand pages it is for a lack of action. What one might think would happen, after the events of book one, probably doesn鈥檛. But there is enough here to be stuck to the page like a book binder鈥檚 glue. Shannon鈥檚 ability to take classic tropes, such as forbidden love and dystopian societies, and give them a well-knuckled twist is to be admired 鈥� books one and two have demonstrated that she looks set to become a trailblazer for young talent.鈥� He noted that the 鈥渃onclusion that will certainly make everyone crave book three.鈥澛�
Kirkus Reviews also agreed that the book鈥檚 events will keep readers turning pages.聽
鈥淸The book鈥檚] world 鈥� is arcane, complex, multilayered and at times almost incomprehensible,鈥� the publication wrote. 鈥淪hannon's prose style is serviceable, but her legion of fans will once again be here for the propulsive plot rather than lyricism.鈥�