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wyvy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.75
nlg_id's review against another edition
Just too damn long.
I liked the world building and the character Ead but those wasn’t enough for me to carry on such a long book which could have been condensed or made into separate books.
I liked the world building and the character Ead but those wasn’t enough for me to carry on such a long book which could have been condensed or made into separate books.
thetipsytomes's review against another edition
4.0
I definitely enjoyed the book. It didn't seem like it was 800 pages because I couldn't put it down. I hope Samantha writes a sequel!
smile_bee_93's review against another edition
Not ready to continue reading this book right now. Will try again in the coming weeks/months.
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
lunaswren's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emilyh2606's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
seisha's review against another edition
3.0
The Priory of the Orange Tree is an epic fantasy set in a dichotomous West versus East world with a facsimile of the post-medieval political landscape. It was hailed as the feminist successor to Lord of the Rings, and other reviewers made many other lofty comparisons. Almost inevitably, the story falls short on those accounts, but in itself The Priory of the Orange Tree was a fairly enjoyable story with some minor downsides.
First, let's look at the novel's strengths, and there were certainly a few. The worldbuilding is fascinating, with miles and miles of Western medieval societies, Eastern feudal rulers, bewitched forests, parched deserts and turbulent seas. Dastardly courtiers turn into criminal pirates. The draconian wyrms of the West contrast with the benevolent dragons of the East. I loved that one of the main characters was chosen to be a dragon rider, almost a magic school trope but not quite. Moreover, I also loved that the other main character in the West was a female James Bond-like undercover sorceress tasked with protecting the queen of a strictly pious land, a queen who, according to mythology, is the only reason the Big Bad has not yet returned. Everyone outside the country agrees that this is probably nonsense, but better safe than sorry, right?
Unfortunately, there were also a few downsides, and I'm surprised there are so many five-star reviews that don't mention them. The pacing was slow, too slow at times, especially in the middle of the novel. It seems the novel suffers from mid-book syndrome, where the author has finished setting up the story, there is not much progress, but the author is hesitant to address the final sequence of events. I almost didn't finish reading it and at times had to drag myself through an 800-page book by an author I'd never read anything by. Thankfully another addictive scene eventually came along that sucked me back into the story.
Another downside is the relative blandness of the characters. They're not bad, but they're also not crystal clear. Even now, a few days after reading the novel, I can hardly remember what the characters were like. Sure, there's the kind and naive Loth, the strong and independent Ead, and.... well, Tané, who is almost Ead 2.0. And Niclays Roos, the intelligent man worn down by heartbreak and exile. But what I know of them is very factual, and their character traits don't always jump off the page. Personally, I feel the author could have exaggerated the characters a bit more and given them more dimensions, to make them more realistic.
The final downside was the emotional impact of some scenes. That is, there wasn't much of it. Even when one of the main characters died, I felt... nothing, really. Perhaps this is due to a lack of emotional build-up prior to the scene, perhaps it was due to something else. I'm not entirely sure.
All in all, Shannon has built an immersive and original fantasy world, but the book could have been improved with some extended editing and rewriting. In its current state, the book is not the next fantasy classic, but it offers an enjoyable enough read which is addictive from time to time.
First, let's look at the novel's strengths, and there were certainly a few. The worldbuilding is fascinating, with miles and miles of Western medieval societies, Eastern feudal rulers, bewitched forests, parched deserts and turbulent seas. Dastardly courtiers turn into criminal pirates. The draconian wyrms of the West contrast with the benevolent dragons of the East. I loved that one of the main characters was chosen to be a dragon rider, almost a magic school trope but not quite. Moreover, I also loved that the other main character in the West was a female James Bond-like undercover sorceress tasked with protecting the queen of a strictly pious land, a queen who, according to mythology, is the only reason the Big Bad has not yet returned. Everyone outside the country agrees that this is probably nonsense, but better safe than sorry, right?
Unfortunately, there were also a few downsides, and I'm surprised there are so many five-star reviews that don't mention them. The pacing was slow, too slow at times, especially in the middle of the novel. It seems the novel suffers from mid-book syndrome, where the author has finished setting up the story, there is not much progress, but the author is hesitant to address the final sequence of events. I almost didn't finish reading it and at times had to drag myself through an 800-page book by an author I'd never read anything by. Thankfully another addictive scene eventually came along that sucked me back into the story.
Another downside is the relative blandness of the characters. They're not bad, but they're also not crystal clear. Even now, a few days after reading the novel, I can hardly remember what the characters were like. Sure, there's the kind and naive Loth, the strong and independent Ead, and.... well, Tané, who is almost Ead 2.0. And Niclays Roos, the intelligent man worn down by heartbreak and exile. But what I know of them is very factual, and their character traits don't always jump off the page. Personally, I feel the author could have exaggerated the characters a bit more and given them more dimensions, to make them more realistic.
The final downside was the emotional impact of some scenes. That is, there wasn't much of it. Even when one of the main characters died, I felt... nothing, really. Perhaps this is due to a lack of emotional build-up prior to the scene, perhaps it was due to something else. I'm not entirely sure.
All in all, Shannon has built an immersive and original fantasy world, but the book could have been improved with some extended editing and rewriting. In its current state, the book is not the next fantasy classic, but it offers an enjoyable enough read which is addictive from time to time.
usharb's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t even know what to say. It’s been so long since i was so in love with a book that the thought of finishing it made me sad. 800 pages honestly wasn’t enough for me and I wish i had an infinite amount of time in this world. The story captivated me and i don’t think i’ll ever be able to get this book out of my head. The world building was incredible and intricate without being too complex and the themes, characters, and relationships were so beautifully written and conveyed. I know this book will stay with me and I am so glad I got to experience this incredible story.
karouty's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0