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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
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:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
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
I have a theory that you can’t have a proper, well-thought out fantasy book that’s a standalone. There’s just no way you can fit all of the worldbuilding and develop the characters in such a short amount of time. I really thought this would be the exception. I thought I would be writing this review with the notion of “this is how you do stand-alone fantasy.” Don’t get me wrong. This is one of the best fantasy books I’ve ever read. But does it work as a stand-alone? I have to say no. I think this world is too intricate and there are too many characters to fully grasp everything in one book. Yes, I know there are prequels but for the sake of this story, I needed more.
I want to bring up the different perspectives/characters. I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion but I LOVE books with multiple povs (but only if every perspective holds equal weight). And, personally, I didn’t see the need for Loth and Niclays to have a perspective. Like we did learn interesting stuff during their chapters but I think those could have been revealed in a different way. I do love Loth as a character, but his perspective felt unnecessary compared to Ead and Tané. And on that note, Tané’s pov slightly disappointed me. Her whole story was built on her dream of being a dragon rider and then we barely spent any time with her dragon.
Also, I want to bring up the topic of romance. This book definitely isn’t a “romantasy” by any means but there is romance in it. The main romance we got felt kind of bland only bc we didn’t get enough time to fully appreciate them as a couple. I loved them as individual characters and I even loved them as a couple. But there were barely any scenes with them together before they were falling for each other and I just wish we had a little more time to fully develop their relationship in the way that they deserve.
I know it seems like I’m hating on this book. I genuinely loved it so much! This is possibly the best fantasy book I’ve ever read. And up until the 85% mark, I was ready to give this book five stars. The first 3/4 of the book was so intricate and was building up to this epic battle… but then the battle scene felt slightly underwhelming. Like it was over too soon. And I understand that the author was probably rushing to finish the story bc it was already super long which brings us back full circle with my point being that you can’t have a perfectly well-rounded fantasy book that’s a standalone.
I want to bring up the different perspectives/characters. I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion but I LOVE books with multiple povs (but only if every perspective holds equal weight). And, personally, I didn’t see the need for Loth and Niclays to have a perspective. Like we did learn interesting stuff during their chapters but I think those could have been revealed in a different way. I do love Loth as a character, but his perspective felt unnecessary compared to Ead and Tané. And on that note, Tané’s pov slightly disappointed me. Her whole story was built on her dream of being a dragon rider and then we barely spent any time with her dragon.
Also, I want to bring up the topic of romance. This book definitely isn’t a “romantasy” by any means but there is romance in it. The main romance we got felt kind of bland only bc we didn’t get enough time to fully appreciate them as a couple. I loved them as individual characters and I even loved them as a couple. But there were barely any scenes with them together before they were falling for each other and I just wish we had a little more time to fully develop their relationship in the way that they deserve.
I know it seems like I’m hating on this book. I genuinely loved it so much! This is possibly the best fantasy book I’ve ever read. And up until the 85% mark, I was ready to give this book five stars. The first 3/4 of the book was so intricate and was building up to this epic battle… but then the battle scene felt slightly underwhelming. Like it was over too soon. And I understand that the author was probably rushing to finish the story bc it was already super long which brings us back full circle with my point being that you can’t have a perfectly well-rounded fantasy book that’s a standalone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Grief, War
Moderate: Child death, Infertility, Pregnancy
Minor: Incest
answers the age old question of ‘what if we wrapped everything up in one book?’ answer being, it gets rushed
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 ⭐️ this beast took me so long to finish. And thattttt is why it’s been sitting in my shelf untouched since 2022. I did not hate this book, but I wouldn’t recommend it and thus the low rating. I enjoyed the world building and overarching plot, but jeez was it slowww. Also the whole thing was wrapped up in the last 40 pages?? Of a book this long? Couldn’t stand Niclays’ chapter god did I actually kind of root for him to die off
so glad i finally got around to priory after its 5 years of collecting dust on my shelf bc this? absolute banger. nothing short of phenomenal. straight up cinematic. putting the epic in epic fantasy. will be thinking about it for some time still.
adventurous
medium-paced
Whatever this book's faults, it was clearly written enthusiastically and in complete earnest, something I always respect and legitimately enjoy no matter the quality of the execution.
By storyline:
- Ead, Sabran, and the general Inysh courtly drama were by far the most interesting part of the book in terms of plot and concept. I'm partial to medieval-flavored nonsense of any variety and I certainly got what I was hoping for; unfortunately this element is diminished as the book progresses and Ead herself is more interesting as a figure in the plot than as a personality. Sabran, however, was a very compelling personality. I would have read an entire book centered around this plot; I won't say it's weakened by the other storylines but it was also probably the author's favorite part to write.
- Loth was enjoyable as a character and his plotline was interesting, but just felt a little underutilized. I would have liked to see his perspective more often, especially as such a true adherent to Virtudom who has his faith challenged.
- Niclays was the most compelling character on the basis of personality; I enjoy when a story gives us a perspective from someone who is both legitimately compelling AND legitimately deeply flawed. His plotline was entertaining although I found some of the puzzle-solving elements underdeveloped.
- Tané was the least remarkable personality of all the primary characters and the dragonriding plotline in general felt incredibly rote and wooden, as if it was there simply because the author felt an epic fantasy SHOULD have dragonriders. A missed opportunity for a more compelling perspective on and from the East.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No