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daniwantsalibrary 's review for:
Among the Burning Flowers
by Samantha Shannon
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Among the Burning Flowers is Samantha Shannon at her best: lush, evocative, and brimming with emotional depth. As a long-time fan of the Roots of Chaos series, I loved every moment of this novella, and I think it’s a fantastic entry point for new readers. It stands on its own while enriching the larger world with nuance.
One of the strongest themes in AtBF is identity, particularly how we navigate personal choice in a world determined to define us. Shannon explores this with grace, offering characters who struggle, change, and ultimately assert who they are on their own terms.
Marosa was a standout for me. In The Priory of the Orange Tree, her role was more limited, so getting a deeper look into her motivations and inner world was incredibly satisfying. She’s compelling and deeply human, exactly the kind of character who lingers after the final page.
The prose is everything you’d expect from Shannon: rich and immersive, without ever feeling overwrought. The novella structure keeps the pace tight, yet it never loses the emotional resonance that makes her storytelling so memorable.
If you're already a fan of the Roots of Chaos universe, this is a must-read. If you're not yet, Among the Burning Flowers might be the perfect place to start.
One of the strongest themes in AtBF is identity, particularly how we navigate personal choice in a world determined to define us. Shannon explores this with grace, offering characters who struggle, change, and ultimately assert who they are on their own terms.
Marosa was a standout for me. In The Priory of the Orange Tree, her role was more limited, so getting a deeper look into her motivations and inner world was incredibly satisfying. She’s compelling and deeply human, exactly the kind of character who lingers after the final page.
The prose is everything you’d expect from Shannon: rich and immersive, without ever feeling overwrought. The novella structure keeps the pace tight, yet it never loses the emotional resonance that makes her storytelling so memorable.
If you're already a fan of the Roots of Chaos universe, this is a must-read. If you're not yet, Among the Burning Flowers might be the perfect place to start.