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A review by sofiefarmer
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
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
4.0
This book is an incredibly memorable work. The worldbuilding absolutely blew me away. It was so delicately and believably crafted. I thought the characters were super interesting and I loved the way they were flawed and developed throughout. The plot itself was super engaging. I was really drawn into and immersed in the story in ways I am not typically. It was a really phenomenal story.
My biggest issue was pacing. I thought the first half was well-paced, but the ending felt rushed. There were several times where I wished Shannon would have gone more into depth with a plot point. I found myself saying "Okay, I guess," when things became a little too convenient or a character blacked out for a whole section.
Also, I occasionally felt like the distribution of POVs left me wanting more from certain characters. There were times when I felt like we had completely abandoned a character only to find things neatly wrapped up as time had passed and we returned to them a few chapters later.
My last issue was how this book was marketed to me. I was told it was about lesbians that ride dragons. That is not what this story is about. I am not disappointed because the story was excellent, but I definitely came in with a much different picture of what this book than the reality.
My biggest issue was pacing. I thought the first half was well-paced, but the ending felt rushed. There were several times where I wished Shannon would have gone more into depth with a plot point. I found myself saying "Okay, I guess," when things became a little too convenient or a character blacked out for a whole section.
Also, I occasionally felt like the distribution of POVs left me wanting more from certain characters. There were times when I felt like we had completely abandoned a character only to find things neatly wrapped up as time had passed and we returned to them a few chapters later.
My last issue was how this book was marketed to me. I was told it was about lesbians that ride dragons. That is not what this story is about. I am not disappointed because the story was excellent, but I definitely came in with a much different picture of what this book than the reality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Miscarriage, and Torture
Minor: Death of parent