Some books sweep you off your feet from page one. Others take their time, slowly pulling you into a new world until you look up and realize you are completely hooked. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon is the second kind. It may take a while to settle into the story, but the reward is well worth the patience. With dragons, powerful women, and a world built on myth and magic, this epic fantasy has a lot to offer if you’re willing to let it unfold at its own pace.
Atmosphere Synopsis
A queendom teeters on the edge of collapse. Assassins lurk in palace shadows. Magic whispers beneath silken gowns. And somewhere beyond the sea, a girl dreams of soaring on dragon wings.
In The Priory of the Orange Tree, Samantha Shannon weaves an epic feminist fantasy that’s as lush as it is thrilling. Queen Sabran the Ninth rules Inys with elegance and iron, but with no heir and a prophecy looming, her reign is threatened from within and without. Enter Ead Duryan, a lady-in-waiting whose true loyalty lies not with the court, but with a secret society sworn to protect the realm with forbidden magic.
Far across the ocean, Tané trains to become a dragonrider until one fateful decision ripples across continents and changes everything.
My Review
Let’s be honest. The Priory of the Orange Tree is not a quick weekend read. This is a book that asks you to settle in, give it your full attention, and trust that the payoff is worth the effort. It took me about 250 pages to feel fully grounded in the world, but once that happened, I couldn’t put it down.
Samantha Shannon’s prose is thoughtful and immersive, and her world-building is massive in the best possible way. She blends Eastern and Western mythologies into a rich tapestry of magic, political tension, and ancient lore. This story spans continents, cultures, and belief systems, all while exploring some of the most intimate themes of love, fear, and duty.
There is a romance in the story, and it is one of the most powerful parts of the book. It grows slowly and carefully. It feels real and earned, not rushed or added in just for effect. It is a relationship shaped by politics, secrets, and a quiet kind of bravery. The emotional honesty between these characters lingers long after the last page.
Ead and Sabran are two of the strongest characters. One is a queen under pressure to protect her kingdom. The other is a secret protector, hiding her true identity. Their dynamic is layered with tension, loyalty, and a deep sense of purpose. Both characters are richly drawn, each shaped by duty but defined by the choices they make in the face of fear and tradition.
Tané is another standout. She is a dragonrider whose arc is full of ambition, heartbreak, and resilience. Her bond with her dragon companion, Nayimathun, is something special. Their scenes together were among the most powerful in the entire novel.
I also found myself unexpectedly moved by Niclays, an older character filled with regret, bitterness, and vulnerability. His perspective adds depth to a story that might otherwise lean entirely toward the heroic. And Loth, ever faithful and quietly strong, offers one of the most memorable platonic friendships I’ve read in a long time.
This is a book about queens and rebels, dragons and mages, history and myth. It is also about belief, tradition, and the risks of clinging to the past too tightly. Shannon asks big questions, and she lets her characters wrestle with them in real, human ways.
Yes, the pacing is slow at first. Yes, the cast is large. And yes, the book could probably be a bit shorter. But it is also a beautiful, daring work of fantasy that centers women, redefines heroism, and gives us a world where love is a quiet, persistent form of power.
If you love stories that challenge you and ask you to think, this book belongs on your shelf. It rewards your attention with dragons, romance, and rich emotional payoff.
English (US) · 