The Priory of the Orange Tree: Where World-Building and Character Development Shine

Five Stars, Obviously

This was the first book I’ve read in a few months, and while I used to be a voracious reader, I have to admit I was a bit scared of this behemoth. However, from the first few pages onward, this multi-pound motherf*cker was absolutely glued to my hands. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon is one of those books that looks stunning on your shelf, and you think to yourself, “I’ll get to that someday.”

And when you finally get to it, you can’t stop thinking about it in the weeks to come. Of course, I finished this bad boy up about a week ago, although I’m almost certain it’s going to continue to plague my mind for at least a month.

First and foremost, I can’t give this book anything other than five stars. I would maybe even give it six if I could. Both the character creation and development and world-building were absolutely amazing. My heart connected immediately with multiple different characters, and unlike other books written in the third person with character-specific chapters, I relished every chapter, never wanting to skip over one to get to another character’s perspective. That’s rare.

But let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon is about a world divided and a powerful villain set to return. Of course, it’s so much more than that, but it’s also one of those books that you need to read to understand.

Strong Female Leads

Priory is marketed as a “feminist” novel, but the feminism of it all really sneaks up on you, leaving you with that “oh, sh*t” moment when everything comes to a close. Not only does Priory carefully craft characters that “don’t need no man,” but she showcases their individual strengths and lets them overcome obstacles in their life without having to ask the age-old question, “well, what do we do now?”

Ead, Tané, and Sabran dominate this story. While they’re all strong in their own way, they each have their own weaknesses. Shannon shows us that there’s more than one way to be a woman, and even the strongest ones like to lay in bed and cry sometimes. And that’s okay.

And while, of course, there’s romance woven throughout Priory, it doesn’t take away from the main point of the story, and the love interests often make sacrifices that you wouldn’t ever catch the lead female in a Hallmark movie making. I see you giving up your dream job for a man you just met a few weeks ago, nuh-uh, not in this novel.

World-Building at its Finest

This is the first epic fantasy I’ve ever read, and I went into it feeling like the extensive world-building might confuse me. I mean, come on, the map fills three pages! However, Shannon does a great job of introducing all aspects of the world without making it feel boring or over exposition-y. Sure, I had to reference the map a few times within the first few chapters, but after that, it was smooth sailing.

I think that’s another one of Shannon’s big strong suits within Priory. She weaves in concepts that should be confusing and paints a world that we’ve never seen before. It should require more exposition. It should be a little confusing. But somehow, it isn’t. It flows perfectly, and everything is easy to digest easy to comprehend. The way she pulls you headfirst into this world works perfectly in a way I haven’t experienced before.

Yes, You Should Read This Book

In the past week, I’ve recommended this book to pretty much everyone in my entire life. Usually, I’ll read a book and think to myself, “oh, this person would like this.” But Priory really has something for absolutely everyone. This review doesn’t even begin to touch on the multitudes that this book holds. Pick it up, glue it to your hands, and get started. I promise you’re not going to want to do anything else until it’s finished.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon: 5/5 Stars