Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

66 reviews

dancers_and_dragons's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

An epic of a book where the very balance of the world is changing, Priory of the Orange Tree tells the story of several main characters whose fates are intertwined. Samantha Shannon does a masterful job of weaving threads that are joined to others later, forming a wide tapestry of fantasy kingdoms and powers who realize the flaws in their morality, and that nothing is truly black and white. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Colonisation

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Terminal illness, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Fantasy Racism that is explored and challenged, fantasy religious bigotry that is explored and challenged, brief and non-graphic sexual content description in two scenes, with fade to black elsewhere

omarickman's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Cursing, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

li_reading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Infidelity, Torture, Dementia, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship

deereadsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

4.5/5 Stars. 

The Priory of the Orange Tree checks off all the boxes that a High Fantasy book should cross off. There is great historical backstories, complex characters, an amazingly descriptive new world, and interestingly combined politics. This book has probably been one of the most entertaining books I have read this year, however, the ending of the story, along with a few other minor details didn’t make this the 5 star read I was expecting. 

First off, the main villain of the story. Called the Nameless One. I was pretty underwhelmed with the battle that took place, and I was expecting more of this creature that has been looking for a return for so long. It almost seemed as if gathering information was more difficult than the actual exertion of battle to the death combat with a ridiculously large wyrm. Either way, I wasn’t exactly thrilled with this final battle. 

Now, the ending. I definitely felt like Tané was underused. I felt as if she could have contributed more to the overall story, and I was disappointed to not see more of her. Also Niclays… I don’t know where to start with him without giving any spoilers, but I’m very indifferent about his character overall. 

Thirdly, abrupt ending to the battle? Like, the battle is over, and then all of a sudden they are back in their homelands again. I didn’t really think that this story ended in the way that it should have. But I don’t really want to get into spoiler grounds. 

There are many positive things about this book that I loved as well. The sapphic relationship that was included as a minor sub plot was really nice, and I liked to see the character growth from those characters. I loved the world as well. I liked how each of the kingdoms had their own systems, and the divide between the West and East was very interesting. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to High Fantasy lovers like myself 🥰

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Alcohol

nefariousbee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

it takes some time to get into - one, it's 800 pages and that's kind of intimidating, two, it's high fantasy and the story building can be quite overwhelming, three, it takes at least 150 pages, maybe 200, when you start enjoying yourself because until then you were too confused by everything. but it's so worth it. if you like fantasy, and dragons, and royalty setting, and fight scenes, pirates, fleshed out and complicated characters, morally grey characters... you will like it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Religious bigotry

Minor: Animal death, Incest, Infidelity, Violence, and Alcohol

oliviafaye's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol