Kate's Closet: Book review - The priory of the Orange Tree

The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon is a book that spans many genres from Adult fiction, Epic fantasy and LGBT.
It is a mammoth book, which I admit I did find daunting and sometimes struggled with ( I'm used to books I can race through in a few days not one that takes over 3 weeks to complete) Saying that it's also an Epic story set in a fantasy world, divided by religion yet united in a mutual Enemy, The Nameless one, A fire breathing dragon.

The house of Berenthet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. still unwed Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction - but assassins are creeping closer to her door.

The East and the West are divided, the hold different beliefs and worship a different God. In fact the East worship Dragons, Dragons that can talk, I know right? Any story that has dragons in is a good thing and this has its share from the serene Dragons of the East, feared by the West to the fire breathing Dragons, who's leader the Nameless one is set to rise again, that is feared and hated by all, except a few Draconic worshipers.

The details of the East and West are amazing and the places become almost characters themselves. The story is told from four main perspectives Ead and Loth in the West and Tane and Niclays in the East. Although much of the story centres around Queen Sabran, in the Queendom of Inys, in the West. Her desire to remain unwed but the duty to produce an heir, in order to keep the Nameless one at bay and continue the 1000 year rule of her family. Her story is told from the point of view of those around her. I love how Samantha has turned tradition on its head with A Queendom, a female ruler with female heirs, and how the characters are both diverse in their ethnicity, and sexualty.

" No women should be made to fear she is not enough

This story has everything you could want from a Epic fantasy story, Fantastical lands, diverse and dangerous, Dragons and dragon riders, Mage women, (women with magical powers) and powerful rulers divided by a religion that is little more than a fantasy itself.

This story was although for me sometimes hard to follow, mainly to do with the number of characters, and the unfamiliar prouncenations, was an Epic masterpiece that had depth in its details and characters, drawing you into their struggles making you empathise with the characters, many of which were as flawed as we all are.

If you like fantasy novels and tales of heroiens, dragons, forbidden love, fear and death, then The Priory of the Orange Tree is a must read for you.