The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – Thoughts and Review
Queen Sabran is in need of a marriage and a daughter to keep the House of Berethnet’s ruling in Inys. There’s a lot more at play in the kingdom than just Sabran needing to find a husband and make an alliance, as assassins attempt to end her life and her family’s line. Ead is a lady of the court but a secret mage, sent to court to protect Sabran from the assassins.
“‘Remember why we wear blades as well as jewels.’”
As the East and the West stay divided as those living in each disagree on religion, there are forces stirring that will have these individuals question their religion and the divisions.
I loved this book so much; Samantha Shannon may be a new favorite fantasy author of mine from this century.
Shannon wrote with such depth and wisdom, I kept thinking of George RR Martin’s storytelling the entire time. While, in my opinion, Priory had less appeal than A Song of Ice and Fire, Shannon still has my full attention with the world she has created.
‘Only ignorant men do not ask questions.’
Character rant (with Spoilers!!!):
- I thought that Tane was the David Goggins of this book, which made me like her even more.
- I Niclays after he hurt Nayimathun
- I want to see Loth get together with the Donmata Marosa eventually
I also thought Loth’s growth in understanding other religions was astounding and I think that’s an extremely teachable moment that the adults reading this should consider. All of those who read this should consider Loth’s maturation.
“They had avoided any more conversation about religion. Likely they would never agree on the matter. For now, however, they had the same desire to see Virtudom survive.”
“Seeing that the creature was capable of compassion towards a human made Loth doubt his religion all over again.”
I had difficulty remembering everything at the very beginning. But then I found if I wrote notes about the key plot points and who had died at the end of each section that I was less stressed about remembering everything. Which was such a good skill for me to use with this book – it’s something I’m definitely going to carry over to other books, definitely longer works. Maybe that was why I’d had trouble with Great Expectations last year. As I’m thinking of using this skill, I think I’ll do fairly well with War & Peace now that I know how helpful it would be to keep track of what’s going on.
I must say, I’m surprised that I enjoyed this so much because of my previous experience with popular books – I normally think it’s a regrettable waste of my time *cough* House in the Cerulean Sea *cough*. I’m definitely looking forward to the prequel, A Day of Fallen Night, whenever I get to it.
Read on.
Alessandra is reading... 
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