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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
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:
No
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
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:
Complicated
“Some things in the shadows are put there for a reason.”
I feel like this quote accurately sums up the spirit of this book, it's the encapsulation of the history prior to this book taking place, the things that are discovered by the characters during the story, and ultimately, the things that will become "history" for Priory of the Orange Tree. I'm trying to avoid comparing this one to Priory because, while living in the same world, they're totally different books.
A Day of Fallen Night is beautiful, intricate, epic. It feels at the same time both timeless and fresh. Yes, the book is long. But every chapter builds toward something bigger. Absolutely everything that comes before the main storyline is necessary - its density is purposeful because it weaves details into details into details: courtly and societal intrigue, the tenseness of looming war and *actual* war, and the massive impacts only a handful of people have. I think this book digs into themes (identity, motherhood, legacy, morality and the perception of morality) that, while strong throughout the book, aren't slapping you in the face.
This book follows a handful of people, all carrying influence so vast that it spans centuries - often without realizing it. Shannon crafts characters that feel like real people: they're authentic in their desires, complex in their behavior/actions/solutions, and beautiful in their design. And, a perk, this has LGBTQ+ representation without it feeling forced or performative.
A different kind of author would have broken this book into three and I’m glad Samantha Shannon didn’t. Also, has anyone started a petition to have this turned into a TV series? We need to get on that.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Just as with the Priory of the Orange tree, the book had a slow and careful start. However, it took me a long while, a bit too long, to really get into the story and intrigues. The Priory of the Orange tree started better in my opinion, though I really enjoyed the sphere of the world this book brought to me. Whereas the end of the Priory went way too fast in comparison with the slow and well-written start, this prequel hooked me up more and more in the second half of the book, though I missed something at the beginning. I really enjoyed the last part of the Day of Fallen Night and it made me curious about how the world Shannon describes is connected. Overall, I really enjoyed this book!
adventurous
mysterious
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:
No
Everyone in this book is a fucking moron.