The Priory of the Orange Tree
- Authors: Samantha Shannon
- Series: Book 1 in the Roots of Chaos series
- Type: Novel
- Genres: Fantasy
- Rank:Top 200 in Best Epic Fantasy Books on AmazonTop 200 in Best Sword & Sorcery Fantasy Books on AmazonTop 500 in Best Coming of Age Fantasy Books on Amazon
- Rating: 4.5 based on 23,549 reviews
- Release Date: February 26, 2019
- Print length: 848 pages (Hardcover)
About the book
The million-copy bestselling 'rich and engaging high fantasy novel that puts women and their stories front and center... will pull you into its magical world from the first page.' (Bustle)
NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY:
- AMAZON (Top 100 Editors Picks and Science Fiction and Fantasy)
- CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY
- BOOKPAGE
- AUTOSTRADDLE
A world divided.
A queendom without an heir.
An ancient enemy awakens.
The House of Berethnet 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 getting closer to her door.
Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.
Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.
Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.
Experience more of this New York Times bestselling series in the Roots of Chaos prequels, A Day of Fallen Night and Among the Burning Flowers.
Praise for The Priory of the Orange Tree
The Priory of the Orange Tree is a brilliant, daring, and devastating jewel. Samantha Shannon has crafted an incredible world full of depth and danger, with characters I would follow to the ends of the earth. It was a privilege to read, and I'm in awe of her talent. I can't wait for the rest of the world to experience this book.
An astonishing achievement. The roots of Shannon's world lie in real history, but its branches stretch far into the imagination. Many authors can paint different names onto familiar concepts; Shannon goes further, building new religions and histories and conflicts, with all the rich detail necessary to bring them to life.
A masterpiece of intricate world-building with the depth, complexity, heart and soul of a timelessly relevant classic. Brilliant, diverse, feminist, subversive, thought-provoking and masterfully told, The Priory of the Orange Tree is epic fantasy at its finest. The scope of the book is staggering, as is Shannon's deft command of language. The Priory of the Orange Tree is an absolute must-read and on my permanent keeper shelf.
This magnificent epic of queens, dragonriders, and badass secret wyrm-slaying priestesses sings straight to the place in my soul that only fantasy can fill. Samantha Shannon has woven together everything I love: a rich world, deep history, vivid characters (bonus for sheer variety of singular women), pathos, sacrifice, stakes, dragons, and lovely, powerful writing. Truly, Priory of the Orange Tree is a tour de force, and my new absolute favorite epic fantasy.
An epic fantasy destined to be a classic.
The Platonic Ideal of a fantasy novel... This story of good and evil, struggle and triumph, love and loss and return is beautifully written: complex but clear, and utterly immersive. I loved this book.
Spellbinding... extraordinary... A well-drawn feminist fantasy with broad appeal for fans of the epic and readers of Zen Cho, Naomi Novik, and V. E. Schwab. Highly recommended.
An epic feminist fantasy perfect for fans of 'Game of Thrones'... A rich and engaging high fantasy novel that puts women and their stories front and center, The Priory of the Orange Tree will pull you into its magical world from the first page.
An intricately realized and feminist fantasy... one might even be tempted to dub Samantha Shannon, 'The female George R.R. Martin.
A celebration of fantasy that melds modern ideology with classic tropes. More of these dragons, please.
A fascinating epic fantasy set in a rich, well-developed world. Shannon has created fertile narrative ground.
Shannon satisfyingly fills this massive standalone epic fantasy with court intrigue, travel through dangerous lands, fantastical religions, blood, love, and rhetoric.
When it comes to female fantasy leads, this book dominates with an all-powerful trio.
Mesmerizing.
About the author
