The Bone Season

The primary conflict in The Bone Season is not just between Paige Mahoney and Nashira or even between human and Rephaim, but on a larger, political scale, it represents a battle between oppressed and oppressor. The conventions of the fantasy genre demand that characters play for the highest possible stakes, where nothing less than the freedom of humanity is at risk. This conflict plays out in large and small ways, sometimes manifesting in explosions and gunfire, but just as often in subtler forms—a defiant look or a passed note. Either way, these gestures represent humanity’s desperate need for autonomy, for people must be able to determine their own destinies free from the fear and control of an overlord. For Paige, the question of whether to rebel is never in doubt, and she defies Warden at every turn until she realizes that he is actually on her side. Even when she seems to comply, it is always part of a broader strategy either to gain trust or to bide her time until the moment is right to strike. For example, she only agrees to train with Warden because further honing her abilities may help her win her freedom.