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hardcover_hazel's review against another edition
- 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
Going into felt overwhelming - it’s so long, and there’s a million places and characters thrown at you. It is high fantasy after all. And Ms. Shannon definitely knew my weakness (names). Literally ask the people I love how many times a day I say “I forgot the name but” and continue to describe something so obvious 😂
But somehow, the Mother gifted me with enough brainpower to not only remember people (after writing down 7 names) but places too (after writing down 5) and less than a hundred pages in I was remembering everyone and everything and knew exactly what was going on and I was HOOKED.
So, go into it with a mindset of this is your textbook and you’ll be fine 😂
We have dragons, we have magic, we have pirates, we have politics, we have cultures, we have religions, we have POC, we have sapphics, we have gays, we have queers. In a whole ass fantasy world!
And what a world it is.
I understand why this is compared to Game of Thrones. Because I’d be winter if this got turned into a series (coming)
4.5 stars because this was an entire 800 book leading up to this massive battle… that was over in 30 pages. And also because of throwing so many names at me at first that I actually had to write them down without even knowing there was a whole ass glossary of them at the back 😂
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
periodblood's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cursing, Infertility, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest and Sexual content
goldenrodgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Confinement, Miscarriage, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Addiction and Alcohol
thea_elise's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I liked the multiple povs, and my favorite one was Tané’s. At times I found myself irritated over it suddenly switching over to another, but I do understand that it’s an attempt at making the story as linear as possible.
I was a bit hard to get interested and invested in the story, and at time I struggled to keep my focus. But that does not mean that it was a boring book. Not at all. I think it was the most complex book I have any remembrance of. The world building was stunning and at time a bit overwhelming, I often found myself wanting to learn more and more, but that just the history nerd in me.
I mostly listen to the audiobook and the narrator gave both the story the characters a bit more dept. One of the few narrators I’ve heard, whose voice did not irritate me, but more catch my attention.
I did not like the inconclusive ending, mostly because it’s no talk of a second book (as far as I’ve heard), but I do look forward to reading the prequel:)
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Torture, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
sarasbookmark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Torture, Dementia, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
eni_iilorak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Torture, Medical content, Dementia, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, and Sexual content
dreadspawn's review against another edition
- 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? No
2.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Alcoholism, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
cumminsn's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
It would be an understatement to say “this book is long.” It took me months to get through it, but it was worth it. There were sections that I was hoping to get through faster, mainly because by that point there were narratives that interested me more than others and I wanted to get back to them. But, I wouldn’t say there are things that happen that weren’t there for a reason. All of the branching plot points happening between the several different perspectives we see manage to come together very satisfyingly, despite how vastly different each individual’s story was. There are very intricate religious systems made here that tie in to both the magic, the dragons, and in with tales and legends of ancient figures whose importance grows as the story progresses. It was particularly intriguing to learn of our current character’s connections to some of these legendary figures, and what that means for the roles they can expect to fill.
The ending did a great job of wrapping up the current stories of these characters, though the final epic battle did feel slightly rushed compared to the build up it took to get there. Nonetheless, I was very invested in each character’s story, and was pleased to see that their endings, while satisfying, did have a few mysterious threads to them that work well as potential hooks for even more tales to be woven in the future. I’m so curious to see where my favorites go from here!
Samantha Shannon has truly created a very intriguing world with Priory of the Orange Tree and it really is worth reading all 800+ pages of it. I already have the prequel novel in my possession and look forward to diving back in for more!
Graphic: Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Violence, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
thebankofbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Alcohol, and War
iammmartina_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Infidelity, Gaslighting, and Alcohol