At 848 pages, The Priory of the Orange Tree is probably the longest book I’ve read this year. I’ve had it on hold at the library since the Spring, so when the email came in saying it was my turn next I jumped with joy, then realized it’s going to take me forever to read. I’m happy to report – it was worth every second.

About The Book 📚

Title: The Priory of the Orange Tree

Author: Samantha Shannon

Published: February 2019 by Bloomsbury Publishing

Genre: Adult Fantasy

My Review

 › First, can we talk about this cover?! I mean…wow…breath-taking. I definitely want to own a physical copy.

“The stranger came out of the sea like a water ghost, barefoot and wearing the scars of his journey.”

 › Tané wanted to go into the sea one more time before Choosing Day. Her parents and entire village died in a fire when she was a child. She survived because she chased a butterfly to the sea. Believed to be a sign from the gods, Tané was chosen to train the High Sea Guard. On Choosing Day she’ll have two options: a life of learning and prayer on Feather Island or defending Seiiki from sickness and invasion as a High Sea Guard. Twelve of the Sea Guardians will become dragon riders. At the sea, Tané finds an outsider, but can’t tell authorities or they’ll know she left seclusion. Finding a way to hide him until after Choosing Day is the best option. The outsider can’t be allowed to roam in case he has the red sickness, so Tané finds a way to sneak him onto the artificial island called Orisima.

“No woman should be made to fear that she was not enough.”

 › Niclays Roos is an exiled alchemist. When a friend shows up at his door asking him to hide an outsider he promises to keep the man hidden for one night in return for silver, which will allow him the funds he needs to get the necessary ingredients to make the elixir of life. Niclays learns the outsider is Triam Sulyard, a squire for the Queen of Inys, the same Queen who banished Niclays to the Province of Seiiki. Sulyard claims Virtudom is in trouble – the world is in trouble. He wants to tell the Warlord of Seiiki to send the dragons to help Queen Sabran.

“Centuries ago, the First Warlord of Seiki had signed the Great Edict and closed the island to all but the Lacustrine and the Mentish, to protect its people from the Draconic plague.”

 › Arteloth “Loth” Beck is heir to Goldenbirch estate and close friend to the Queen of Inys (Sabran). Lord Combe (the Spymaster) sends Loth to Yscalin to find out if an invasion is being planned. Loth’s friend, Kit, thinks Combe wanted to get rid of Loth to stop the rumours that Loth and the Queen have a romantic relationship. The rumours will make it harder to find a favourable marriage to the Queen. Loth agreed to go on the mission because he wants to find out what happened to Sabran’s father, who moved to Yscalin after Sabran’s mother died and hasn’t been heard from since Yscalin joined the Draconic Kingdom.

“All the world is a cage in a young girl’s eyes.”

 › Inys religion is called The Six Virtues of Knighthood which began when King Galian banished the The Nameless One. The Nameless One has slept for centuries. It’s believed that as long as the bloodline of the Queen of Inys continues then the Nameless One will stay asleep. For as long as she can remember Sabran’s known her duty will be to marry and give an heir.

“You have been away from the tree for too long. You are a root, beloved. You must drink, or you will wither.”

 › Eadaz du Zãla uq-Nãra is a mage of the Priory of the Orange Tree. Posing as one of the Queen’s handmaidens, she’s on a secret mission to protect Sabran. Ead’s magic gives her improved hearing and the ability to move in shadows (plus a few more super cool powers that I’ll leave as a surprise for you). According to Ead, it was Cleolind, the Founder of the Priory of the Orange Tree, who banished the Nameless One.

“They knew nothing of the Orange Tree.”

 › Kalyba is a powerful sorceress known as the Lady of the Woods, witch of Inysca and creator of a magical item called Ascalon. She’s one of my favourite characters and I’d love to read a book or short story all about her.

 › Tané, Niclays, Sulyard, Sabran, Loth, Kit, Combe, and Eadaz come together with the water dragons and other powerful creatures to defeat the Nameless One and his army of dragons.

“It was all she has ever wanted. To be a Red Damsel, a slayer-in-waiting, was the dream of every girl born into the Priory.”

     

› Likes
• The diversity! Female/female and male/male relationships and people from all races. Beautiful queer love story!
• Love the writing style, it took a bit to get into the story and wrap my mind around the scope of the plot, but once I was able to get my mind around the size of this world and story, I couldn’t put it down.
• The settings, world-building, magic rules…flawless.
• Fantastic ending. I can’t believe how quickly I read such a big book.
• The friendships in this book…It’s refreshing to see such loyalty to a friend.

 › Final Thoughts
• With dragons, pirates, magic, myths, The Priory of the Orange Tree is an adventurous story about kingdoms breaking tradition and putting aside their differences to fight a bigger evil.

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