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.
Lesbians and dragons; what more could you ask? Samantha Shannon's The Priory of the Orange Tree is a high fantasy stand-alone set in a world divided. For some, dragons are holy creatures; for others, they're monsters. The truth is, as ever, complex. The climax resolves perhaps a tiny bit quickly, but the journey is incredible; and the courtly love between two of the protagonists is swoon-worthy. This is a great read if you want something that takes its time to really delve into its world.
✨ 4.5 stars
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