Scan barcode
A review by faerietale_princess
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Absolutely phenomenal. Impeccable writing, a complex world, and outstanding themes.
A few things keep this from being a 5-star read, however.
The author uses the “as you know” trope quite a bit. It took me out of the story— if someone knows something, why tell them again? It’s for the audience.
The romance seemed a bit sudden to me.
The characters have amazing character journeys and arcs, especially Niclays and Loth. But for some reason, they seemed a bit generic? Despite this, I really enjoyed their personal journeys.
It’s not secret that this is quite a tome. There were some slower-moving parts, but even those parts are incredibly compelling.
I love how the politics are laid out. This is a dense and fully-packed book, but each story intertwines in a very logical way.
I loved the themes of this book. There’s a lot of discussion of faith and legends, how they intertwine, how they link to culture, and having to confront false beliefs and beliefs you’ve been raised to have since birth. It’s incredibly thought-provoking, and makes me think of parallels to the real world.
I want more from this world and can’t wait to read A Day of Fallen Night.
A few things keep this from being a 5-star read, however.
The author uses the “as you know” trope quite a bit. It took me out of the story— if someone knows something, why tell them again? It’s for the audience.
The romance seemed a bit sudden to me.
The characters have amazing character journeys and arcs, especially Niclays and Loth. But for some reason, they seemed a bit generic? Despite this, I really enjoyed their personal journeys.
It’s not secret that this is quite a tome. There were some slower-moving parts, but even those parts are incredibly compelling.
I love how the politics are laid out. This is a dense and fully-packed book, but each story intertwines in a very logical way.
I loved the themes of this book. There’s a lot of discussion of faith and legends, how they intertwine, how they link to culture, and having to confront false beliefs and beliefs you’ve been raised to have since birth. It’s incredibly thought-provoking, and makes me think of parallels to the real world.
I want more from this world and can’t wait to read A Day of Fallen Night.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage