A review by hahahaha
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

adventurous challenging inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Someone said Priory of the Orange Tree felt like a feminist Lord of the Rings, and I think this is a pretty solid introduction to the book. I watched the LOTR movies, but I couldn't bring myself to read the books and further immerse myself into that universe because the cast was so obviously and unnecessarily male-dominated. Priory, however, has a substantial female cast, many of whom occupy positions of power. I enjoyed seeing a world with little to no prejudices against different genders and sexualities. I also loved the that Shannon incorporated diverse cultures into the story. I had fun identifying different foods, customs, etc. of communities that Shannon had been inspired by when writing this book. I also enjoyed learning about the religions and political systems in Priory. Clearly a lot of thought and research had gone into building this world.

The plot is riveting—plenty of plot twists, action, and an exciting sapphic romance (that doesn't fetishize the characters or make their sexualities the only part of their personalities!). I know many think Priory is slow-paced, but that only really applies to the beginning when all the world-building occurs. I found myself going through the book fairly quickly (though this may be because I had set a goal to finish it on my week-long vacation). The 800-something pages aren't as daunting as you may think once the book picks up pace.

But I would say that Priory is much more plot-driven than character-driven. I found it difficult to get attached to most of the characters, who, besides the narrators, felt a little two-dimensional. The character deaths didn't hit me as hard as they probably should have. But even as someone who is more of a character person than a plot person, I still thoroughly enjoyed Priory. The plot more than compensates for shortcomings in the characters so it's definitely worth a read :)
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