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A review by rharriskay
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
4.25
It is very very rare for epic fantasy to contain itself to a single novel, and for succeeding in doing that The Priory of the Orange Tree gets major points. The first half of the novel was fantastic, with many unique characters of differing but well realized backgrounds, origins, beliefs, drives, and cultures. Like any good epic fantasy work, there were a variety of well realized culture I really enjoyed, and the benefit of containing everything within a single novel is that nearly all elements of the world are revealed in a satisfying manner. I particularly enjoyed Ead's struggles to adapt at court and the alchemist Niclays' exile. The novel also contains a truly great slow burn romance from someone who normally is indifferent to these things.
However, I do think the confinement to a single novel does end up weakening the back half and ending, both of which were still satisfying but I felt could've been just a bit better. Some aspects of potential conflict, like language barriers, are very conveniently avoided in ways that didn't feel foreshadowed and the resolution to one major character's arc felt unsatisfactory in that the emotional climax seemed a bit limp after so much build up.
That being said, these are ultimately minor gripes and this is still a really great novel and an easy recommend
However, I do think the confinement to a single novel does end up weakening the back half and ending, both of which were still satisfying but I felt could've been just a bit better. Some aspects of potential conflict, like language barriers, are very conveniently avoided in ways that didn't feel foreshadowed and the resolution to one major character's arc felt unsatisfactory in that the emotional climax seemed a bit limp after so much build up.
That being said, these are ultimately minor gripes and this is still a really great novel and an easy recommend