Reviews

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

caitlin_sf's review against another edition

adventurous medium-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? Yes

4.5

lariamne's review against another edition

adventurous challenging slow-paced

3.25

documentno_is's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense 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? It's complicated

2.75

This book is an interesting case, where a well loved and very popular fantasy series fails to connect with me. Honestly, it rarely happens- this genre is one of the ones I’m easiest on. Something of note is that the book series I found this one similar to was the other series that failed to ever really grab me- Game of Thrones. Maybe I’m stymied by my lack of familiarity of the source material as I’ve never read Saint George and the Dragon to need a feminist retelling of it. This novel had all the trappings of a well-loved fantasy universe, good myth, language, religion, geo-politics. 

This book is told in alternating perspectives in 4 different simultaneous narratives- within those separate narratives there are also separate focus points and characters depending on the portion of the timeline you’re in. The novel is clearly meant to convey an epic world and history and that is why I hate this method of storytelling-close third, as a method to accomplish that. 

You always remain in some way detached from what the characters are truly thinking because in one character’s chapter you can also be privy to another character’s true thoughts on the situation. I think the element of disconnect is better captured when the reader also isn’t aware. Flipping constantly between separate character’s stories is also jarring because just as you get invested in one character’s tale you are switched to the next and lose the connection that was just beginning to form. A lot of the world-building is lost in having so many different character’s stories. Why focus on the minutiae of climbing onto the dragon instead of the real history of why dragon’s are helping these humans in the first place. Some of the character naming never really connected with me- “The Nameless One” being a convenient stand in for “The Dark One” or “He Who Must Not Be Named” or whatever other unspeakable evil with no real motivations an author decides to throw in. 

On the positive side, I do love having perspective on the characters that are not seen as “good” and end up on the wrong side of things and understanding Roo’s motivations help curb your disdain for him even in the end- it also ensures I can never really connect with Queen Sabran and I’m not sure if this is the author’s intentions because then why spend this time building her up as a positive character

(one of the main character’s love interests at that.) 

I came around to the novel a little in its finale, there was a rather gratifying conclusion and I appreciate Shannon’s insistence on not making this an easy love story for our main characters. Honestly the most interesting character story in this novel was Nicolas Roo’s, so I’m glad we received somewhat of a

conclusion for his harrowing coward’s tale.

Lastly, I just cannot for the life of me discern why this is isn’t two books when there’s such a clear logical split. Both novels would still be on the long side even cut in half. This book tackled so much and yet felt like it accomplished very little. It's in no way the worst book I've ever read and yet consistently failed to live up to my expectations for it. If I hadn't started the novel on a 10hr plane ride I likely would not have finished it. 

 

ricekristatreat's review

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

catcooper01's review against another edition

2.0

even 848 pages were not enough to flesh out the many many characters and the three different belief systems and cultures

almags_'s review against another edition

4.0

es como leer a sanderson pero con lesbianas

karamajka's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

literaturefaerie's review against another edition

I have to DNF this one. I think I’m way to stupid for it lol. I don’t understand a lick of what’s going on, and honestly I just keep zoning out and I’m not soaking in anything. I don’t feel excited to pick it up, and if I’m going to read an 800 page book, I need to know I’m gonna love it, and I just....don’t.

silverlotus's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.75

lindsbell's review

emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5