Fantasy novels take us places other novel can’t. That journey is always different because of how vast the genre is. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon is a wonderful take on a world that is beautiful and in danger.
The Priory of the Orange Tree: Summary
Ead Duryan is sent to court to protect queen Sabran from enemies, inside and out. According to legend, Sabran’s blood is what keeps the world safe from destruction. She has to get close to the Queen and protect her secret. Her friend Loth has been abducted in the middle of the night and sent across the world. Loth finds out a dark secret and must find a way back to hid Queen before it’s too late.
On the opposite end of the Sea, Tane hides an intruder in order to ensure her induction ceremony goes well. She wants to become a dragon rider and has trained for this moment her entire life. Now, Tane has to decide what she really cares about and what she is willing to sacrifice to achieve that goal.
There is a lot going on in the novel and it will take a while to learn all the names and who is doing what and where. A lot of forces are clashing while the battle for the survival of the world comes to fruition. The high wyrns are waking up and causing havoc all over the world that is divided by religious beliefs. They have to decide how to tackle an evil that will spare no one if they don’t stop it.
Conclusion
If you were like me, then the beautiful book cover drew you in. And the novel keeps your attention with great story telling. Shannon hooks you with an interesting plot and gets you invested in the protagonist.
The world Shannon creates in the novel is exciting and she mixes politics and mythology well. She creates puzzles for us that will leave you surprised. I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to people that love fantasy novels and strong female characters.