Scan barcode
A review by zoroco
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
the first time i heard about this book, it was being hyped as a feminist re-telling of the myth of st. george and the dragon - and it was huge on booktok. i don't really like tales of old being repackaged, and for me booktok is where good taste can be found hung, drawn and quartered.
still, my curiosity persisted; until one day i saw this on sale and thought fuck it. anyway it does slay! ead i love you. loth i love you. tané i love you. niclays i'll let you off the hook i guess. the worldbuilding is incredible, and i am a slut for fictional religions and political systems. the action sequences are great, and the big showdown at the end did genuinely give me chills. it's not just a re-telling of old georgie boy and the dragon: it touches on lots of myth and folklore along the way. the arthurian vibes are strong.
is ms shannon going to win awards for her sex scenes? no. did this book need a slightly firmer editorial hand? possibly. did a bizarrely large number of chapters end with the POV character being rendered unconscious? if in doubt knock 'em out! but i really enjoyed it nonetheless. fantasy doesn't have to be white and heterosexual. what a ride.
still, my curiosity persisted; until one day i saw this on sale and thought fuck it. anyway it does slay! ead i love you. loth i love you. tané i love you. niclays i'll let you off the hook i guess. the worldbuilding is incredible, and i am a slut for fictional religions and political systems. the action sequences are great, and the big showdown at the end did genuinely give me chills. it's not just a re-telling of old georgie boy and the dragon: it touches on lots of myth and folklore along the way. the arthurian vibes are strong.
is ms shannon going to win awards for her sex scenes? no. did this book need a slightly firmer editorial hand? possibly. did a bizarrely large number of chapters end with the POV character being rendered unconscious? if in doubt knock 'em out! but i really enjoyed it nonetheless. fantasy doesn't have to be white and heterosexual. what a ride.