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4.4 AVERAGE
4.4 AVERAGE
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
I really enjoyed this! It also made me immediately start Priory again. I think it’d be such a good entry point for people who want to read Priory of DoFN but feel intimidated. However, I kept wishing for the length of her other books! I love the depth of her writing and this felt so compact that I really wanted more.
adventurous
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was afraid that I wouldn't enjoy this as much as I did her previous full-lenght novels, but it's such a clever introduction to Priory (and its world in general). You get glimpse of people and stories, and get left with an urge to go ahead and read more. I would definitely recommend this as an introduction before starting with the very intimidating novel that Priory is.
I must say that every woman-protagonist that Samantha Shannon writes gets all my love from the moment they appear on the page. They always have a very romantic and melancholic feel to them that I absolutely love!
I must say that every woman-protagonist that Samantha Shannon writes gets all my love from the moment they appear on the page. They always have a very romantic and melancholic feel to them that I absolutely love!
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love that Samantha Shannon not only builds worlds and crafts epics on a scale rarely seen in fantasy, she also never fails to write complex characters that grip me. Despite its [relative] brevity, Among the Burning Flowers is no exception. Even though I knew where the novella had to end, I was deeply invested in Marosa’s struggles to protect her people despite her lack of autonomy. Highly recommended for both longtime Priory fans and those looking for a less intimidating introduction to the Roots of Chaos series!
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
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
@bloomsburypublishing @say_shannon 🚨ARC ALERT🚨 I was overjoyed to receive an advanced readers copy of “Among the Burning Flowers,” the latest novella in the epic “Roots of Chaos,” series. This short but powerful novella focuses on the Fall of Yscalin and the young woman in the center of it all. It is explosive and tender, absolutely stunning works-building and expands even further on the lore established in the previous two books. Once again Shannon delivers on my personal favorite things about this series, sapphics and dragons. This is a MUST READ for anyone who’s either a long time fan and/or perfect for those looking to start reading this enigmatic series! Comes out September 16 2025
I'm eternally hoping Samantha Shannon will deliver me a story full of whimsy and hope. But she never ceases to make me feel delighted when she blasts a hole straight through my chest instead. Prior reread it is, then!
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
🌸 Amongst the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Bloomsbury, and the author for the arc!
Stepping back into the world of The Priory of the Orange Tree felt like returning to something grand, sweeping, and so beautifully dangerous - and Amongst the Burning Flowers does not disappoint.
This prequel novella gives us a closer look at the world before it all fell apart, and I’m so delighted it centred on Marosa Vetalda! She was one character I desperately wanted more of in Priory, and this story gave her the nuance, depth, and agency she truly deserved. From palace walls to political games, her quiet strength absolutely shines here.
We also get the prickly, loyal Estina (dragon hunter extraordinaire!) and the ever-intriguing Aubrecht - both adding layers of complexity to this tension-laced tale. And of course, the ever-present, slow-burning threat of wyrms rising again… 🔥
Samantha Shannon continues to weave queerness, world-building, and emotion into her storytelling so naturally. Her prose is rich and atmospheric, and while this was shorter than a full novel, the stakes felt epic.
A gripping glimpse into the calm before the storm - equal parts tragic and beautiful. If you loved Priory, this will make the world feel even bigger, and more heartbreakingly real.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Bloomsbury, and the author for the arc!
Stepping back into the world of The Priory of the Orange Tree felt like returning to something grand, sweeping, and so beautifully dangerous - and Amongst the Burning Flowers does not disappoint.
This prequel novella gives us a closer look at the world before it all fell apart, and I’m so delighted it centred on Marosa Vetalda! She was one character I desperately wanted more of in Priory, and this story gave her the nuance, depth, and agency she truly deserved. From palace walls to political games, her quiet strength absolutely shines here.
We also get the prickly, loyal Estina (dragon hunter extraordinaire!) and the ever-intriguing Aubrecht - both adding layers of complexity to this tension-laced tale. And of course, the ever-present, slow-burning threat of wyrms rising again… 🔥
Samantha Shannon continues to weave queerness, world-building, and emotion into her storytelling so naturally. Her prose is rich and atmospheric, and while this was shorter than a full novel, the stakes felt epic.
A gripping glimpse into the calm before the storm - equal parts tragic and beautiful. If you loved Priory, this will make the world feel even bigger, and more heartbreakingly real.
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well written and all the richness of Samantha Shannon's other books in the Roots of Chaos, but really the story is just filling out some of the events already covered in The Priory of the Orange Tree - the reader doesn't learn anything new which I found a bit disappointing.
Please let us have a new story in the same world!
Please let us have a new story in the same world!
adventurous
emotional
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
dark
emotional
tense
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:
Yes