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xlivingthroughpagesx 's review for:
The Priory of the Orange Tree
by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
🐉✨The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon✨🐉
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟 (4.5/5)
If you’ve ever looked at a high fantasy map and thought, “Yes, but where are the women with agency, dragons with opinions, and sapphic slow-burn tension?” - this is the epic you’ve been waiting for. 🔥👑🍊
Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree is a brick of a book (yes, you’ll need wrist support), but every page is packed with rich world-building, interwoven histories, and characters that absolutely command your attention.
At its heart:
🍊Queen Sabran, duty-bound and under pressure to produce an heir before ancient evil reawakens.
🍊Ead Duryan, her lady-in-waiting who’s secretly a magic-wielding guardian from a hidden order.
🍊Tané, a dragonrider-in-training who makes one fateful choice that ripples across continents.
Expect: secret societies, courtly intrigue, assassins, dragons (both water and fire varieties), and a queendom on the brink. The women drive the story, and it’s a joy to watch them navigate power, destiny, and desire with grace and ferocity.
A quick note: the book is beautifully detailed - like, scholarly levels of lore and history. At times it can feel a little dense if you’re not in deep fantasy mode, but it’s the kind of richness that rewards patience and makes rereads even better. Think of it as a feast: just pace yourself and enjoy every layered bite.
In short: a sweeping, feminist epic that delivers dragons, depth, and an unforgettable cast. Highly recommended for fantasy lovers ready to get gloriously lost.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟 (4.5/5)
If you’ve ever looked at a high fantasy map and thought, “Yes, but where are the women with agency, dragons with opinions, and sapphic slow-burn tension?” - this is the epic you’ve been waiting for. 🔥👑🍊
Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree is a brick of a book (yes, you’ll need wrist support), but every page is packed with rich world-building, interwoven histories, and characters that absolutely command your attention.
At its heart:
🍊Queen Sabran, duty-bound and under pressure to produce an heir before ancient evil reawakens.
🍊Ead Duryan, her lady-in-waiting who’s secretly a magic-wielding guardian from a hidden order.
🍊Tané, a dragonrider-in-training who makes one fateful choice that ripples across continents.
Expect: secret societies, courtly intrigue, assassins, dragons (both water and fire varieties), and a queendom on the brink. The women drive the story, and it’s a joy to watch them navigate power, destiny, and desire with grace and ferocity.
A quick note: the book is beautifully detailed - like, scholarly levels of lore and history. At times it can feel a little dense if you’re not in deep fantasy mode, but it’s the kind of richness that rewards patience and makes rereads even better. Think of it as a feast: just pace yourself and enjoy every layered bite.
In short: a sweeping, feminist epic that delivers dragons, depth, and an unforgettable cast. Highly recommended for fantasy lovers ready to get gloriously lost.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Miscarriage, Fire/Fire injury