Review: The Priory of the orange tree
Back in July, I was approached by one of my best friends, Ashley, about a fantasy novel she’d just recently heard about called The Priory of the Orange Tree. Written by British author Samantha Shannon in 2019, the book is comprised of a MASSIVE 830 total pages. Ashley wanted to know if I was interested in reading it together, in the style of a book club. Naturally, I said yes.
I must say, I was slightly intimidated by the sheer size of the novel at first. I don’t have “big book fear” but I had never read anything that long before. After reading the first chapter, though, I quickly discovered the length would not be an issue. I could tell the prose had lots of promise from the beginning.
The novel’s “common thread” is the rise of what Shannon has called “The Nameless One,” a evil fire-breathing wyrm (similar to a dragon, but has less limbs) who, for the past 1,000 years, has been held prisoner in the Abyss (think the ocean, but the water is literally black). His rising from the bottom of the sea will bring chaos and certain death to all of humankind. Heavy stuff, I know. Surrounding and supporting this main plot thread are several other subplots that, in my opinion, carry the story. The Queendom of Inys in the West, ruled by the beautiful but heavy-hearted Sabran Berethnet IX, is slowly crumbling from the inside due to fake prophecies and political greed. Ead, a mage of the illusive Priory of the Orange Tree, has been dispatched to Inys from her home country to protect Queen Sabran, but from what is somewhat unclear. Across the Abyss in the East, Tané is about to become a Sea Guardian, where she will be hand picked by the all-honored dragons to defend the land she loves. All of these different plot points stay strategically apart for most of the story. Shannon employs a brilliant use of multiple perspective storytelling to hop between characters and adventures. In the end, all these separate plots intertwine in a very fascinating and epic way.
I would be a neglectant reader/writer if I did not spotlight the worldbuilding in this novel, because I was so genuinely and astoundingly in awe of Samantha Shannon’s talent in this regard (call me a stan). Although the world of Priory is fantastical—complete with knights, dragons, and queens—Shannon roots the places she creates in history and culture. The Queendom of Inys in the West, for example, has uncanny similarites to what we know historically to be Tudor/Elizabethan England. The nations of Seiiki and the Empire of the Twelve Lakes in the East bear striking similarities to Japan, China, and Korea. I think this was so incredibly smart and creative on Shannon’s part, because she is able to build people and places that feel familiar to us in a very unfamiliar way—she reels the reader in while keeping them at arm’s length.
What really impressed me about Shannon’s worldbuilding, though, was how far she took it. This woman literally creates religions, customs, traditions, and languages for this world. Inys is founded in Virtuedom, which is heavily modelled of off Christianity. She does not miss an opportunity to use the downfalls and shortcomings of Virtuedom to critique organized religion in general. It was so interesting to be able to make parallels while reading. It is clear that Shannon did some hardcore research for this novel, and it really pays off. She writes of the traditions of each of these places as if they are real, and she’s just read about them in a history textbook. Then she uses the characters to create a novel-wide theme of questioning tradition and embracing change in order to move society forward in times of chaos. It was stunning, really, and it made a novel full to the brim with magic and imagination feel…real, and tangible. It’s the perfect example of the ways in which fiction tells us lies in order to show us truths.
Let’s talk about representation for a minute. This book has a huge cast of characters, and all of them are beautifully, naturally, diverse. It was beyond refreshing to see in a fantasy novel, and the feminism….OH the feminism *swoon*. As many of you know, I love a good female-centered book. There were several occasions while reading this novel where I was happily surprised to find out characters that I had assumed were men because they held positions of power (thanks but no thanks to the Male Gaze; patriarchy is ancient, crusty, and slimy) were women. It made me really happy, actually. It was refreshing to see women loving women, too. Shannon purposefully subverts a lot of the usual fantasy tropes, and it makes for a novel that feels mythical and modern at the same time.
You might be wondering why I’m giving you so much information while still being insanely vague. It’s because I want you to read the book! I want you to experience for yourself the power and intrigue it holds! If I had to rate Priory of the Orange Tree, I think I’d give it 4.5/5 stars. I loved the worldbuilding, the pacing, and the characters (I got too attached to some of them, actually—looking at you, Sabran. You cute, sad, little bisexual queen). I did think the ending was a bit rushed, though. It wasn’t bad (it was actually epic) but it all happened so fast! I was left with that feeling of, “wait, it’s already over?” That’s also a telltale sign of good storytelling, though, so take from that what you will.
If you’ve already read Priory, or end up reading it, let me know what you think of it! It’s the kind of book I will probably never shut up about :) Thanks for following along, as usual!
Fashionably Yours,
Hanna