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A review by ezwolf
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
Well it took me nearly a year from the first day I cracked it open, but I've finished it!
I will admit that the beginning is a bit slow but I put that on the sheer amount of world building that's needed and once you're past that it really picks up speed and off we go.
Ead and Sabran's stories (and story as a couple) and Tane's were really what interested me the most. I enjoyed Loth's POV as well but honestly was not interested in Niclays at all and every time we circled back to him I was ready to move on again. I am not usually a fan of alternating POVs but the way they all worked to tell the story was really fun to watch knit together at the end.
The way Shannon handles having a matriarchy, religious bigotry, politics all in a fantasy setting was beautifully done.
I will also admit that the way this ends is not the way I like my (mostly) stand alone books to end, but this really only applies to Sabran and Ead. This is only a spoiler for anyone who has seen The Untamed, but it reminded me of the way that the show ends for Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji and I just like a bit more of a solid "and they lived happily ever after" for my couples and would love to see if we ever get anymore with them.
I eagerly await A Day of Fallen Night even though we'll be going backwards in time, it will be interesting to read about events already knowing how the future plays out.
I will admit that the beginning is a bit slow but I put that on the sheer amount of world building that's needed and once you're past that it really picks up speed and off we go.
Ead and Sabran's stories (and story as a couple) and Tane's were really what interested me the most. I enjoyed Loth's POV as well but honestly was not interested in Niclays at all and every time we circled back to him I was ready to move on again. I am not usually a fan of alternating POVs but the way they all worked to tell the story was really fun to watch knit together at the end.
The way Shannon handles having a matriarchy, religious bigotry, politics all in a fantasy setting was beautifully done.
I will also admit that the way this ends is not the way I like my (mostly) stand alone books to end, but this really only applies to Sabran and Ead. This is only a spoiler for anyone who has seen The Untamed, but it reminded me of the way that the show ends for Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji and I just like a bit more of a solid "and they lived happily ever after" for my couples and would love to see if we ever get anymore with them.
I eagerly await A Day of Fallen Night even though we'll be going backwards in time, it will be interesting to read about events already knowing how the future plays out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and War
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Infertility, Sexual content, Grief, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death, Miscarriage, and Death of parent