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selimhannah's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Abortion, Alcohol, and Colonisation
chatdombre's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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? No
3.0
The first half was really good and very emotional, possibly the most I’ve ever cried while reading a book. In the second half, the pacing got really weird. It was fast at times it could have been slower and slow at times it could’ve been faster.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
sshaw86's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
shaylnm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book was much more enjoyable to read. I love chronological order so I would have read this book first before The Priory of the Orange Tree. I think it would also help with understanding and caring about the characters in the first book more by reading in chronological order. I only cared about 3 of the POVs until about half way through the book and then I was interested in all POVs and distraught by having to constantly switch which character I was reading. Similar to the first book, I felt the ending was rushed and too easy, but it at least it made more sense to be easy than in the first book. I was confused by some deaths that turned out to not be deaths . I love how much love and family and support this book was filled with no matter the POV being read
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Child death and Fire/Fire injury
scoutgreimel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.25
Is this book as amazing as its predecessor? No. However, that does not stop it from being an amazing book in its own right. In fact, in regards to overall story arc pacing, I do think that this one is a bit of an improvement.
I do not usually find that I have trouble with books that have a slow narrative that jumps between many points of view, but this one was truly a slog at many times. Yet, that did not hinder me from becoming deeply attached to the characters. So attached that I am still sobbing as I write this review.
While this book does not answer every question you’re left with during Priory, if you are a true lover of the lore and world building of the original book (and a freak about remembering details like me), many of the plot and character reveals that come later in the book are not that surprising, but still incredibly satisfying, like Shannon is rewarding you for being so invested in the world she has carefully crafted.
The parallels and foils go crazy (as usual), and just… I don’t know how else to say it, Shannon has made a beautiful, epic, sweeping story that sticks with you forever. AGAIN!
I do not usually find that I have trouble with books that have a slow narrative that jumps between many points of view, but this one was truly a slog at many times. Yet, that did not hinder me from becoming deeply attached to the characters. So attached that I am still sobbing as I write this review.
While this book does not answer every question you’re left with during Priory, if you are a true lover of the lore and world building of the original book (and a freak about remembering details like me), many of the plot and character reveals that come later in the book are not that surprising, but still incredibly satisfying, like Shannon is rewarding you for being so invested in the world she has carefully crafted.
The parallels and foils go crazy (as usual), and just… I don’t know how else to say it, Shannon has made a beautiful, epic, sweeping story that sticks with you forever. AGAIN!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
beebeewin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
4.5
Another great novel by Samantha Shannon within the world of the Priory of the Orange Tree! While I don't think this is my favorite fantasy book, I do like it better than Priory of the Orange Tree. I think Shannon's world building, character writing, and battles in this novel were fantastic. She really provided us deep character moments that made them feel so human and real. Especially, in a world so uncertain and full of natural disasters and disease, much like ours, Shannon made the characters and behaviors feel so true to life. As with her other books, I appreciate the queerness of the book and appreciated getting to see all kinds of relationships and sexualities represented. She pulled no punches and the ending destroyed me a little. I would say in comparison to the other book in this series, because everything was out in the open for every character in the beginning we got to spend more time with all of them and learn about their worlds. My only complaint is similar to the other book in the series, is that the ending felt a little rushed. I wanted to more in the battle and get to see the emotions and thoughts of all of our characters! I honestly might recommend this book more than Priory of the Orange Tree, especially of you are a little bisexual like me as there is plenty of cute love and intense emotionally wrecking action to go around!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, and Pregnancy
101mayas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
A slow burn for sure, but the last ~55% had me so hooked I was reading every chance I got! 100% recommend if you enjoyed Priory
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Pregnancy, and War
ryssabean's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
priory of the orange tree set the world up beautifully and a day of fallen night built on that, even though we see 200 years into the past! the intertwining with priory’s future was really well done, and the inclusion of lgbtq+ folks into more of the story was incredible. TWO wlw relationship! TWO!!!! and one of them was comprised of OLDER WOMEN! it was fantastic.
the pacing was excellent, easing a person into the world again before taking off. relationships were complex and interesting, and a lot of anxieties the characters experience are so real and relatable.
anyhow! i loved this book!!!!!!!
the pacing was excellent, easing a person into the world again before taking off. relationships were complex and interesting, and a lot of anxieties the characters experience are so real and relatable.
anyhow! i loved this book!!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Violence
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, and War
There is a pretty graphic description of childbirth._persephone's review against another edition
emotional
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, and War
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
latida94's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Death of parent