Book

The Mime Order

📖 Overview

In a dystopian London controlled by Scion, clairvoyant Paige Mahoney returns from imprisonment to find her criminal underworld in chaos. She must navigate the complex politics of the mime-lord syndicate while evading capture by the authorities. The murder of a powerful criminal leader triggers a competition for control of London's clairvoyant underground. Paige becomes entangled in multiple conspiracies as she attempts to expose the truth about supernatural beings called Rephaim, while being blackmailed into silence by her former boss. Paige forms an uneasy alliance with Warden, a Rephaim rebel, to combat both human and supernatural threats. She faces opposition from multiple factions as she works to prevent the exploitation of clairvoyants and resist the oppressive Scion regime. The novel explores themes of power, trust, and resistance against tyranny, set against the backdrop of a supernatural crime syndicate. It raises questions about the price of freedom and the moral complexities of revolution.

👀 Reviews

Readers describe The Mime Order as a stronger and more focused book than its predecessor, with deeper world-building of Victorian-era London and its criminal underworld. What readers liked: - Complex political intrigue and power dynamics - Character development, particularly Paige's growth - The detailed expansion of clairvoyant society - Fast-paced final third of the book What readers disliked: - Slow pacing in first half - Too much time spent on politics/gang dynamics - Romance subplot feels forced - Confusing terminology and character names Review Scores: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (47,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (650+ reviews) Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (150+ reviews) Common reader comments: "Better than book one but takes time to get going" - Goodreads reviewer "The political maneuvering drags but the ending makes up for it" - Amazon review "Characters and world-building shine despite pacing issues" - Barnes & Noble review

📚 Similar books

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Red Rising by Pierce Brown A member of the lowest caste infiltrates the ruling elite through subterfuge and revolution in a stratified society on Mars.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Two rival magicians pit their students against each other in a mysterious Victorian-era circus that becomes the stage for a complex game of power.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon A clairvoyant woman works in London's criminal underworld while hiding from a government that hunts people with supernatural abilities.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir A slave and a soldier become entangled in rebellion against an empire that suppresses those with magical abilities.

🤔 Interesting facts

🌟 Shannon began writing the first book in The Bone Season series when she was just 19 years old, while studying at Oxford University. 🌟 The criminal underworld hierarchy in The Mime Order was partially inspired by Victorian London's complex criminal networks and gang structures. 🌟 The author created an entire alternative vocabulary and slang system for her clairvoyant characters, drawing inspiration from historical thieves' cant and Victorian criminal argot. 🌟 The series secured a seven-book deal with Bloomsbury Publishing, the same publisher that brought Harry Potter to readers worldwide. 🌟 Shannon extensively researched historical forms of divination and psychic abilities to create the complex system of clairvoyance featured in the series, which includes over 50 different types of supernatural abilities.