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A review by orionmerlin
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Characters: 8/10
I’ve got to be honest: Ead was clearly the author’s golden child, and it shows. I adored her—she’s a badass secret agent witch, and she carries the entire book on her magically reinforced shoulders. But I couldn’t help side-eyeing how everyone else got the narrative crumbs. Tané felt like she wandered in from a different novel and was promptly ignored. Loth was basically a human Uber driver whose main function was to deliver messages. Niclays was entertaining in a “grumpy old disaster gay” way, but sometimes he felt like he was there to remind me that not every POV had purpose. I loved a lot of these characters in theory—just wished they’d all been given the same narrative love.
I’ve got to be honest: Ead was clearly the author’s golden child, and it shows. I adored her—she’s a badass secret agent witch, and she carries the entire book on her magically reinforced shoulders. But I couldn’t help side-eyeing how everyone else got the narrative crumbs. Tané felt like she wandered in from a different novel and was promptly ignored. Loth was basically a human Uber driver whose main function was to deliver messages. Niclays was entertaining in a “grumpy old disaster gay” way, but sometimes he felt like he was there to remind me that not every POV had purpose. I loved a lot of these characters in theory—just wished they’d all been given the same narrative love.
Atmosphere/Setting: 9/10
This world is lush as hell, and I was here for it. Dragons that aren’t just scaly taxis? Yes. Giant matriarchal queendom with religious cults? Absolutely. But for all the richness, sometimes it felt like I was reading a beautifully typeset encyclopedia. The East is fascinating—too bad it’s forgotten for half the book. The religious lore is juicy—until it gets dumped on me in a brick of exposition. Still, when it worked, it worked. I was properly swept away in the lore.
This world is lush as hell, and I was here for it. Dragons that aren’t just scaly taxis? Yes. Giant matriarchal queendom with religious cults? Absolutely. But for all the richness, sometimes it felt like I was reading a beautifully typeset encyclopedia. The East is fascinating—too bad it’s forgotten for half the book. The religious lore is juicy—until it gets dumped on me in a brick of exposition. Still, when it worked, it worked. I was properly swept away in the lore.
Writing Style: 7/10
The prose mostly did its job: it got me from point A to point B without making me want to gouge my eyes out. That’s more than I can say for plenty of fantasy doorstoppers. But was it ever beautiful or memorable? Not really. Sometimes it read like a Wikipedia summary with fancier adjectives. And whenever the dialogue got especially stiff, I half-expected someone to declare, “Verily, I have caught feelings.” Not a dealbreaker, but definitely not why I stayed.
The prose mostly did its job: it got me from point A to point B without making me want to gouge my eyes out. That’s more than I can say for plenty of fantasy doorstoppers. But was it ever beautiful or memorable? Not really. Sometimes it read like a Wikipedia summary with fancier adjectives. And whenever the dialogue got especially stiff, I half-expected someone to declare, “Verily, I have caught feelings.” Not a dealbreaker, but definitely not why I stayed.
Plot: 6/10
This story is the definition of “slow burn…sprint finish.” The beginning was so glacial I considered mailing Samantha Shannon a nice little editorial pruning kit. Then suddenly everything exploded into a rushed climax that wrapped up like the last five minutes of a sitcom. It was like watching a chef spend ten hours crafting the world’s most elaborate cake, only to frost it with store-brand canned icing. There are amazing ideas here—but the pacing was a mess.
This story is the definition of “slow burn…sprint finish.” The beginning was so glacial I considered mailing Samantha Shannon a nice little editorial pruning kit. Then suddenly everything exploded into a rushed climax that wrapped up like the last five minutes of a sitcom. It was like watching a chef spend ten hours crafting the world’s most elaborate cake, only to frost it with store-brand canned icing. There are amazing ideas here—but the pacing was a mess.
Intrigue: 7/10
I stayed curious, mostly because I genuinely wanted to see how all these plotlines would crash into each other. And for a while, I was genuinely hooked. But I’d be lying if I said my interest didn’t waver. Some chapters flew by; others felt like homework. By the time the Big Bad showed up to monologue, I was already halfway out the mental door.
I stayed curious, mostly because I genuinely wanted to see how all these plotlines would crash into each other. And for a while, I was genuinely hooked. But I’d be lying if I said my interest didn’t waver. Some chapters flew by; others felt like homework. By the time the Big Bad showed up to monologue, I was already halfway out the mental door.
Logic/Relationships: 7/10
Ead’s plot armor was thicker than dragon hide. Every choice she made turned out to be correct, morally justified, and applauded by the universe. I was desperate for her to screw up in a way that actually mattered. And the romance—look, I wanted to root for it, but it felt more like the author decided it should happen than that the characters earned it. Also, can we talk about the travel logistics? Everyone just conveniently zips around the world like they’re on broomsticks. Sure, okay, fantasy, but I need a little sense of scale.
Ead’s plot armor was thicker than dragon hide. Every choice she made turned out to be correct, morally justified, and applauded by the universe. I was desperate for her to screw up in a way that actually mattered. And the romance—look, I wanted to root for it, but it felt more like the author decided it should happen than that the characters earned it. Also, can we talk about the travel logistics? Everyone just conveniently zips around the world like they’re on broomsticks. Sure, okay, fantasy, but I need a little sense of scale.
Enjoyment: 8/10
Despite all my complaints, I genuinely had a good time. I love big, ambitious fantasy that isn’t afraid to be unabashedly queer, feminist, and earnest. Even when the pacing drove me up the wall and the prose made me roll my eyes, I was still having fun. It’s a beautiful, messy, overstuffed beast of a book—and I’d rather read that than another generic grimdark slog any day.
Despite all my complaints, I genuinely had a good time. I love big, ambitious fantasy that isn’t afraid to be unabashedly queer, feminist, and earnest. Even when the pacing drove me up the wall and the prose made me roll my eyes, I was still having fun. It’s a beautiful, messy, overstuffed beast of a book—and I’d rather read that than another generic grimdark slog any day.
Final Verdict: 7.3/10 – A gorgeous, chaotic buffet of dragons, sapphics, and political intrigue. It’s like being served a five-course meal by someone who forgot which course comes first, but damn if it isn’t delicious anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, War
Minor: Animal death, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Classism
The book is not gratuitously graphic, but it doesn’t shy away from depicting violence, death, and loss. The tone is generally hopeful, but with heavy themes around duty, sacrifice, and the costs of leadership. The queer relationships are treated as normal within the story’s cultures. The most distressing content is probably the miscarriage and some battlefield deaths.