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

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

this is the best book i have read all year. the minute i picked it up, i couldn’t put it down. i don’t normally enjoy long-winded, epic fantasy. but the complex and relatable characters, the intricate mythos, and the gorgeous prose had me hooked. i devoured this book, all 800 pages, in a matter of days — and i’m a SLOW reader. 
this book has plenty of LGBT characters (and no, there is no “bury your gays here” do not worry!) and incorporates elements of lore and culture from the real world. the plot is slow, and largely based on religion, but the stakes are immediately high and it is easy to become invested in each character’s individual participation in the story.  

though i gave it 5 stars, i have two minor critiques. first, i would have loved more Tané, though i realize this may not have been possible. second, there were a few times when the solution to problems came relatively easily. i wished for some more detective work/struggle, but again, i realize there was a lot of story and i’m certain many cuts had to be made. 

i love this book. i will absolutely be re-reading this as soon as i catch up on my TBRs. 
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