There is no question over whether or not you should pick up The Mime Order. It is a MUST. In the second novel in the series, Shannon's story well and truly settles itself in your memory, gripping you, demanding a place on your 'favourites' shelf.
The Bone Season ended with Paige, the protagonist, escaping Sheol 1. Book 2 picks up immediately following its events so its beginning straight away hauls you in until your white-knuckled gripping the page. It is a lot easier to slip into the second book than it is the first with The Mime Order you can slip right in and feel comfortable without being info-dumped upon.
After the end of The Bone Season, I was a little concerned about how Shannon would keep the storyline running for her predicted seven books. The first is so jam packed and fast paced, I didn't know how her ideas would stretch out for all those books. Now I have read The Mime Order, I am not at all worried, seven books seems a lot more realistic now. I'm confident in Shannon's amazing writing.
Also, SEVEN BOOKS! Looks like we won't be saying goodbye to Paige for a while yet, yay!
In The Bone Season we got to experience the inside of Sheol 1 with only flashbacks and a little hint of the Cohort Districts, teasing you almost. The Mime Order introduces a whole new range of places in the Cohorts. Shannon's world is so vivid and rich, everything is seen so easily in my mind, and so once you start the book it's very hard to pull yourself back into reality! London in 2059 is so unique, and combined with the idea of clairvoyants, this separated Shannon's book from anything I have ever read which makes it so special for me.
We get to get to know the other members of The Seven Seals a lot more, which is great as there are some wonderfully imagined characters in the group. Jaxon Hall is an especially brilliant character. He seems to walk the fine line of love and love to hate for me. Paige is very much cemented as one of my favourite strong heroines now. I have so much respect and love for her after this book. It's wonderful to read about such an intelligent heroine, you never feel exasperated towards her for being naïve for example.
The cover and chapter headers, of course, like the first book, have a meaning within the book, which is always fun to look out for.
And boys and girls, I would prepare yourself for the ending of this book. 5/5 stars.
• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop.
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