"The Bone Season" is a genre-defying novel, but that doesn't mean people haven't found a way to compare it with other favorites, like "The Hunger Games." Click through the gallery to learn about Samantha Shannon's inspirations, as well as comparisons from readers.
Comparisons and inspirations —
"The Bone Season" is a genre-defying novel, but that doesn't mean people haven't found a way to compare it with other favorites, like "The Hunger Games." Click through the gallery to learn about Samantha Shannon's inspirations, as well as comparisons from readers.
Author photo/Mark Pringle
The one comparison Shannon would love to escape: J.K. Rowling and the "Harry Potter" novels. But a similar book deal with the same publisher does not a real comparison make. Reviewers across the blogosphere have already said this is nothing like Hogwarts (and perhaps not for the younger readers) -- with the exception that both main characters grow and age over the span of seven books.
Comparisons and inspirations —
The one comparison Shannon would love to escape: J.K. Rowling and the "Harry Potter" novels. But a similar book deal with the same publisher does not a real comparison make. Reviewers across the blogosphere have already said this is nothing like Hogwarts (and perhaps not for the younger readers) -- with the exception that both main characters grow and age over the span of seven books.
Stephen Chernin/Getty Images
The second biggest comparison? Leigh Bardugo's novel, "Shadow and Bone." "The 'Bone Season' is a story I feel like I've read before in various other fantasy-lite novels, the one that first came to mind being 'Shadow and Bone,'" said <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebookgeek.co.uk%2F318.php" target="_blank" target="_blank">The Book Geek</a>.
Comparisons and inspirations —
The second biggest comparison? Leigh Bardugo's novel, "Shadow and Bone." "The 'Bone Season' is a story I feel like I've read before in various other fantasy-lite novels, the one that first came to mind being 'Shadow and Bone,'" said The Book Geek.
Macmillan
A blog compared Paige Mahoney to another well-known character. "Paige, our heroine, reminds me of Katniss in 'The Hunger Games.' Her instinct to survive is very finely tuned, and she has a 'I won't bow down to you' attitude," wrote <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbloodybookaholic.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F07%2Freview-bone-season-by-samantha-shannon.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">Bloody Bookaholic</a>.
Comparisons and inspirations —
A blog compared Paige Mahoney to another well-known character. "Paige, our heroine, reminds me of Katniss in 'The Hunger Games.' Her instinct to survive is very finely tuned, and she has a 'I won't bow down to you' attitude," wrote Bloody Bookaholic.
Lionsgate
Many reviewers have compared Shannon's all-encompassing world-building to author Cassandra Clare and her "Mortal Instruments" series. The first book, "City of Bones," comes to life on the big screen this week.
Comparisons and inspirations —
Many reviewers have compared Shannon's all-encompassing world-building to author Cassandra Clare and her "Mortal Instruments" series. The first book, "City of Bones," comes to life on the big screen this week.
Simon & Schuster
"A friend accurately referred to this as: 'V for Vendetta' crossed with a brutal version of Hogwarts. I'd say, add in a bit of 'Inception' for good measure, too," writes Goodreads reviewer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Freview%2Fshow%2F325931237" target="_blank" target="_blank">Eunice EmperorSupreme</a>.
Comparisons and inspirations —
"A friend accurately referred to this as: 'V for Vendetta' crossed with a brutal version of Hogwarts. I'd say, add in a bit of 'Inception' for good measure, too," writes Goodreads reviewer Eunice EmperorSupreme.
Warner Bros.
Shannon has been asked multiple times if her inspiration comes from Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series. She actually avoided reading them on purpose, but the comparisons, in terms of world-building, have still been drawn.
Comparisons and inspirations —
Shannon has been asked multiple times if her inspiration comes from Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series. She actually avoided reading them on purpose, but the comparisons, in terms of world-building, have still been drawn.
Random House
One of Shannon's biggest inspirations is Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale." It introduced her to dystopia, and then Shannon decided to blend it with fantasy, rather than science fiction.
Comparisons and inspirations —
One of Shannon's biggest inspirations is Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale." It introduced her to dystopia, and then Shannon decided to blend it with fantasy, rather than science fiction.
Random House
Shannon's book combines past and future, mish-mashing the futuristic with 18th- and 19th-century flowery phrases, the latter in her character Jaxon Hall. "I wanted to do that after I read 'A Clockwork Orange,'' she said. "I knew I couldn't sustain that density of slang for a whole book, but I was very inspired to give it a linguistic color that would make the world feel a bit more gritty."
Comparisons and inspirations —
Shannon's book combines past and future, mish-mashing the futuristic with 18th- and 19th-century flowery phrases, the latter in her character Jaxon Hall. "I wanted to do that after I read 'A Clockwork Orange,'' she said. "I knew I couldn't sustain that density of slang for a whole book, but I was very inspired to give it a linguistic color that would make the world feel a bit more gritty."
From Warner Bros.
One of Shannon's favorite series is "The Lord of the Rings." She has always greatly admired Tolkein's gift with creating immersive new worlds.
Comparisons and inspirations —
One of Shannon's favorite series is "The Lord of the Rings." She has always greatly admired Tolkein's gift with creating immersive new worlds.
Getty Images
Shannon's emphasis in school involved the American poet Emily Dickinson and both write in an "economical style."
Comparisons and inspirations —
Shannon's emphasis in school involved the American poet Emily Dickinson and both write in an "economical style."
Three Lions/Getty Images
Charles Dickens is one of Shannon's favorite authors, and she has been largely influenced by his writing.
Comparisons and inspirations —
Charles Dickens is one of Shannon's favorite authors, and she has been largely influenced by his writing.
Charles Dickens Museum