The Priory of the Orange Tree – Samantha Shannon

This one earns its space on any captain’s shelf — vast, visionary, and unafraid to rewire what “epic fantasy” means. The Priory of the Orange Tree is a story about queens, scholars, and dragon-riders rebuilding the world from the ashes of history.

What struck me most wasn’t the dragons, though they’re magnificent — it was the politics of power and faith, and how leadership demands both sacrifice and belief. Shannon writes like someone designing a civilization from scratch: bold, elegant, and inclusive.

Sweeping, disciplined, and fearless — a world led by conviction, not prophecy.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐