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laurenavery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
keishalynwilson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I really loved this one. Esbar and Tunuvas relationship was heartbreaking sometimes but in the end turned beautiful. There was more action than book #1 and a bit less intrigue and plotting but I liked this one better. I do wish that Glorian and Wulf could have figured out a way to be a family but ultimately they didn't love each other.
luvluke's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
nazokoneko's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
moonrisemads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
johnsnowwasright's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Samantha Shannon knows how to write compelling epic fantasy. I really enjoyed seeing how the world of the Priory of the Orange Tree came to be and that the world is so inclusive.
I dearly loved the relationships between Tunuva and Esbar as well as Dumai and Nikeya. They gave this book such warmth and heart.
However, I agree with other reviewers that state that the pacing of this book was not as good as Priory. Priory expertly built the tension and arcs of the three main characters until we had an epic showdown with the Nameless One. With DOFN, the pacing felt more choppy and important scenes were left out (like Wulf learning about the Priory and building a relationship with Tunuva. There should have been more time with Dumai on the ground being the champion of the people during the Great Sorrow). I don't think Glorian's arc got the attention it deserved either. I think parts of the 1/3 of the book could have been trimmed and added to the back 1/3 to even out the pacing.
But all in all, Shannon does it again. I'd write anything this woman writes.
I dearly loved the relationships between Tunuva and Esbar as well as Dumai and Nikeya. They gave this book such warmth and heart.
However, I agree with other reviewers that state that the pacing of this book was not as good as Priory. Priory expertly built the tension and arcs of the three main characters until we had an epic showdown with the Nameless One. With DOFN, the pacing felt more choppy and important scenes were left out (like Wulf learning about the Priory and building a relationship with Tunuva. There should have been more time with Dumai on the ground being the champion of the people during the Great Sorrow). I don't think Glorian's arc got the attention it deserved either. I think parts of the 1/3 of the book could have been trimmed and added to the back 1/3 to even out the pacing.
But all in all, Shannon does it again. I'd write anything this woman writes.
verkeerd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I really liked the book. I hadn't read the priory prior to starting this book, so I came into it as a clean slate. The world was very rich, and learning about it through the characters came very naturally. There was a glossary and timeline included, but I never felt like I needed it. It is beautifully written with strong characters. I think shannon especially excels in painting a feeling with proze and descriptions.
Some books I feel show to much of the mundane. This book, I felt the opposite. I would have loved to see more small scenes between the characters in some periods where a long (and exciting sounding) adventure was desribed in a page or two. However, the book is plenty long already and this style also has a dreamlike flavour, where events sometimes flow over into eachother in someones mind, which feels very close to how I experience stuff, so maybe it is better this way.
I found that the rotation between storylines could have been improved. Many times, a high tension story was interupted by something with next to no tension, which made it hard to care about because you would rather read about the things that are going down. Towards the end of the book, this wasn't an issue for me anymore, as all arcs had roughly he same amount of tension. The last thing I struggled with was the beginning - I felt like the hook of the story was introduced a bit late. Maybe it was because I hadn't read the priory and had no idea what would happen, but waiting untill page 100 until the first hint at shit going down (and then another couple of hundred before it begins), was a bit long for me and I almost didn't continue. I'm really glad I did though.
The true devestation to the world didn't quite land for me as it has in other stories, sometimes it did, likewith the village that Wulf went to in the beginning/middle of the book. but other times, it didn't reach me that much.
One last thing I really enjoyed was the way the story and it stakes built up and go bonkers, outdoing itself in magnitude several times (even tho the end fell a bit flat for me, maybe bc of the large scale and it is difficult to comprehend that).
Some books I feel show to much of the mundane. This book, I felt the opposite. I would have loved to see more small scenes between the characters in some periods where a long (and exciting sounding) adventure was desribed in a page or two. However, the book is plenty long already and this style also has a dreamlike flavour, where events sometimes flow over into eachother in someones mind, which feels very close to how I experience stuff, so maybe it is better this way.
I found that the rotation between storylines could have been improved. Many times, a high tension story was interupted by something with next to no tension, which made it hard to care about because you would rather read about the things that are going down. Towards the end of the book, this wasn't an issue for me anymore, as all arcs had roughly he same amount of tension. The last thing I struggled with was the beginning - I felt like the hook of the story was introduced a bit late. Maybe it was because I hadn't read the priory and had no idea what would happen, but waiting untill page 100 until the first hint at shit going down (and then another couple of hundred before it begins), was a bit long for me and I almost didn't continue. I'm really glad I did though.
The true devestation to the world didn't quite land for me as it has in other stories, sometimes it did, like
One last thing I really enjoyed was the way the story and it stakes built up and go bonkers, outdoing itself in magnitude several times (even tho the end fell a bit flat for me, maybe bc of the large scale and it is difficult to comprehend that).
9klar8's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
krumanda's review against another edition
5.0
Epic! So good. Makes me want to Re read Priory.
A new favorite.
Edit: Want to add how much of an absolute JOY it is to read multiple female characters with diverse dreams, goals, skills, beliefs, etc. being badass in myriad ways. And as a woman who has been pregnant and given birth and parented/mothered... what an experience to read in a fantasy book the many-layered, intersecting, conflicting thoughts/feelings on pregnancy/birth/parenting!
A new favorite.
Edit: Want to add how much of an absolute JOY it is to read multiple female characters with diverse dreams, goals, skills, beliefs, etc. being badass in myriad ways. And as a woman who has been pregnant and given birth and parented/mothered... what an experience to read in a fantasy book the many-layered, intersecting, conflicting thoughts/feelings on pregnancy/birth/parenting!